A torque-sensor strain beam structure and a torque sensor are provided. The torque-sensor strain beam structure comprises an external ring, a connecting hub and at least two strain beams. The external ring has a first joint. The connecting hub is located in the external ring and arranged coaxially with the external ring. The connecting hub has a second joint. A first end of each of the at least two strain beams is fixedly connected to an inner wall of the external ring and a second end of each of the at least two strain beams is fixedly connected to the connecting hub. A strain grid is provided on each of the at least two strain beams. A load inputting point is located at the first joint or the second joint. Arrangement of the torque-sensor strain beam structure allows the torque sensor to have smaller volume while having higher measurement sensitivity.

An integrated circuit is described herein that includes a semiconductor substrate. First and second piezoresistive sensors are on or in the substrate where each have a respective sensing axis extending in first and second directions respectively parallel with a surface of the substrate, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A third piezoresistive sensor is on or in the substrate and has a respective sensing axis extending in a third direction parallel with the surface of the substrate and neither parallel nor perpendicular to the first and second directions.

A method includes transmitting an instruction to a motive power supply of an elastically deformable device to drive the elastically deformable device in accordance with a drive setting; measuring a force exerted on the elastically deformable device with a sensor; outputting an observed value representative of the force; comparing the observed value with a reference value corresponding with a predetermined force to be exerted on the elastically deformable device; and adjusting the drive setting based on a determination that the observed value is outside of a predetermined range of the reference value. The method prevents slack in the elastically deformable device over time. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

The aspects described herein assist in mitigating vibrations arising from torsional energy accumulating on a drill string in a wellbore during drilling operations. A first sensor obtains torque measurement data at or near the top drive of the drilling rig. A second sensor may obtain weight on bit information. The controller receives the measured data, combines it with a first gain to obtain a first output value and a second gain to obtain a second output value. The first output value is provided to the top drive to adjust a speed of operation of the top drive, and the second output value is provided to the axial drive providing motion along a vertical axis of the drilling rig to adjust a speed of the vertical motion. In combination, the adjustments to the top drive and axial drive movements mitigate stick-slip in an automated manner more effectively than either individually.

The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

A driver socket arranged for installation of a ground reinforcement bolt, wherein the driver socket includes a rotation sensor arranged for measuring rotation of the driver socket 1. The driver socket includes a processing unit configured to receive a signal from the rotation sensor and to derive, based on the signal from the rotation sensor, rotation data related to the number of revolutions the driver socket has been rotated.

A portable shippable automated calibration system for high torque power tools is disclosed. The system includes a self-contained highly durable and shippable container that may comprise a power source, central processor, visual user interface, mechanical interface for coupling with power tools to be calibrated, communications systems for communicating with a power tool being calibrated and/or with on-site or cloud based data systems. The system may be delivered to sites desiring on-site power tool calibration, tools are calibrated and updated calibration factors are automatically uploaded into the calibrated tool and a calibration certificate is published with the particulars of the calibration completion.

Provided is a portable apparatus for measuring a manipulation force. The apparatus includes a manipulation force measurement unit configured to measure a manipulation force applied on a manipulated part in a first direction of pushing forward or pulling backward and measure a manipulation force in a second direction of moving toward left or right, and a controller configured to process the measured manipulation force to generate manipulation force information over time.

A control apparatus includes: a data acquisition part that is configured to acquire torque data indicating a drive torque of an electric motor, rotation number data indicating a rotation number of the electric motor, and DC voltage data indicating a DC voltage supplied to an inverter which supplies an AC current to the electric motor; a determination basis derivation part that is configured to derive a determination basis based on a drive efficiency of the electric motor by using the torque data, the rotation number data, and the DC voltage data; and a control method determination part that is configured to determine, based on the determination basis, which one of a one-pulse control and a pulse-width modulation control is employed as a control method of the inverter.

A tangential force sensor is used instead of a coaxial strain gauge to measure the torque required to produce the rotation of a part. The force sensor is coupled tangentially to the rotating part through a non-slip contact produced by a force applied radially on the part. A progressively increasing tangential force produced by translating the force sensor in a direction normal to the axis of rotation of the part is then applied to initiate and maintain its rotation. The radial force applied to the part is judiciously selected and measured such that the part is engaged with enough friction to ensure a non-slip condition. By measuring the tangential force applied to the part, the torque characteristics of the rotatable part are determined. By sensing and controlling the radial force applied to the part, damage to the part or the mechanism supporting it is avoided.