A device for determines the torque and/or the rotary angle between a first shaft and a second shaft, which are coupled via a gear mechanism to rotate relative to one another about an axis of rotation. The first shaft has a first end region, a second end region, and a first direction vector pointing in parallel with the axis of rotation from the first end region to the second end region, and the second shaft has a first end region, a second end region, and a second direction vector pointing in parallel with the axis of rotation from the first end region to the second end region. The first shaft is designed as a hollow shaft and the second shaft is arranged coaxially in the first shaft in such a way that the first direction vector and the second direction vector have the same orientation.

A torque measurement system determines torque on a shaft by monitoring angular deflection of the shaft under load using phase shift measurements. Calibration of the system uses a defined offset that is determined using a reference operating condition. The offset calibration value is determined for a rotorcraft using the following steps: defining a reference operational condition in which the shaft is rotating, estimating the torque at the reference condition based on aerodynamic knowledge of the rotors coupled to the shaft, operating the shaft at the reference operational condition, capturing sensor data to determine the phase difference at the operational condition, and associating the phase difference and an estimated torque as a calibration value to enable calculation of torque in the torque measurement system.

A method for monitoring the torsion of a rotary shaft on an aircraft turbomachine based on the measurements from at least three sensors distributed along the rotary shaft to divide the shaft into at least two shaft segments, the method comprising: a step of measuring, for each sensor, a parameter dependent on the rotation of the shaft, a step of calculating, for each achievable pair of sensors, a parameter related to the torsion of the shaft, a step of comparing the different calculated parameters related to the torsion of the shaft with references, a step of detecting damage on a shaft segment at the end of the comparison step, and a step of indicating the localization of the damage on the shaft from the shaft segment for which damage has been detected.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a torque and angle sensing device. A sensor and a processing circuit are integrated into the device. The sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of a first angle and/or speed. The device includes an input contact configured to receive a second reference signal indicative of a second reference angle and/or speed. The processing circuit is configured to generate an indication of torque based on at least the first signal and the second signal. In certain applications, the processing circuit is capable of pre-programming and/or learning and storing the reference information and generating an indication of torque based on the first signal generated internally and the reference information. An output contact of the device can provide the indication of torque. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

A steer-by-wire assembly for a steering system in a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes a first shaft rotatable in response to a steering input, a second shaft adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the first shaft, a first gear (with a sensed element) that rotates in response to rotation of the first shaft, a second gear (with a sensed element) that rotates in response to rotation of the second shaft, a first sensing element adapted to sense the element carried by the first gear and provide an output associated with an angular position of the first gear, and a second sensing element adapted to sense the element carried by the second gear and provide an output associated with an angular position of the second gear. When the second shaft rotates relative to the first shaft, the outputs provide position and torque data associated with the steering input.

A rotation transmission device having a high torque measurement resolution is provided. The rotation transmission device is provided with: a rotary-shaft unit (6) having a first and second rotary shaft (13, 14) combined so as to be coaxial and such that the end sections thereof can rotate relative to each other and a torsion bar (15) that is provided on the inner-diameter side of the first and second rotary shafts so as to be coaxial therewith, has one end section connected to the first rotary shaft (13), and has the other end section connected to the second rotary shaft (14); a first gear (7) fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the first rotary shaft (13); a second gear (8) fastened to the outer peripheral surface of the second rotary shaft (14); a coupling shaft (9) provided on the inner-diameter side of the torsion bar (15) so as to be coaxial therewith, having one end section connected to one rotary shaft (13), and having the other end section protruding from an end of the torsion bar (15) in the axial direction; a first encoder disposed and fixed on the other end of the coupling shaft (9) so as to be coaxial with the first rotary shaft (13) and having a first detected section (39); a second encoder fastened on the other end of the second rotary shaft (14) so as to be close to the first encoder and having a second detected section (40); and a sensor unit having at least one sensor (42a, 42b) that faces the first and second detected sections (39, 40).

A system and method utilize a first rotation sensor that provides a first signal indicative of a first rotation of a first end of a rotating coupling. The rotating coupling has an articulating member mechanically coupling the first end to a second end. A second rotation sensor provides a second signal indicative of a second rotation of the second end of the rotating coupling. A processor is coupled to the first and second rotation sensors and is operable to determine a relationship between the first and second rotations based on the first and second signals. Based on the relationship, the processor estimates at least one of a degradation of and a remaining useful life of the rotating coupling.

A device for determining an angle of rotation and/or a torque of a rotating part, having at least one angle detector for detecting an angular position of the rotating part relative to a reference position and at least one indexer for indexing at a 360° rotation of the rotating part relative to the reference position, the angle detector having a rotor connected in a non-rotatable manner to the rotating part with a base body for attachment to the rotating part and a plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from the base body. At least one of the vanes of the rotor have a marker detectable by means of the indexer.

Systems and methods for measuring torque on a drive train component of a rotating drive system are disclosed. In some aspects, a system includes a target assembly, a sensor assembly, and a sensor processing unit. The sensor assembly is located proximate to the target assembly, and the sensor assembly includes sensors mounted radially around the shaft and configured to detect sensor targets as the target assembly rotates with the drive train component. The sensor processing unit is configured for receiving sensor signals from the sensor assembly and outputting a torque signal based on the sensor signals. The sensor processing unit is configured for receiving target calibration data for the target assembly and sensor calibration data for the sensor assembly. The sensor processing unit is configured for verifying that the target calibration data corresponds to the target assembly and that the sensor calibration data corresponds to the sensor assembly.

A monitoring system for monitoring one or more properties associated with a rotating shaft is provided. The system includes a first phonic wheel which is mounted coaxially to the shaft for rotation therewith, the first phonic wheel comprising a circumferential row of teeth. The system further includes a first sensor configured to detect the passage of the row of teeth of the first phonic wheel by generating a first alternating measurement signal. The system further includes a processor unit configured to determine the durations of successive first speed samples. Each first speed sample is a block of n successive cycles of the first alternating measurement signal, where n is an integer, and in which the beginning of each cycle is a zero-crossing point from the previous cycle and the end of each cycle is the corresponding zero-crossing point to the next cycle. At least one axial location of the first phonic wheel every m.sup.th tooth of the row of teeth of the first phonic wheel has a circumferential thickness which is different from that of the other teeth of the first phonic wheel, where m is an integer, m≠n, and m is neither a factor nor a multiple of n. When the first sensor is positioned at said axial location of the first phonic wheel and at any given rotational speed of the first phonic wheel, the durations of the successive first speed samples display a characteristic repeating pattern of longer and shorter sample durations relative to the average duration of the successive first speed samples. The amount by which the longer and shorter sample durations differ from the average duration is in proportion to the amount by which the circumferential thickness of the m.sup.th teeth differs from that of the other teeth at said axial location of the first phonic wheel. The processor unit monitors the properties associated with the rotating shaft from the characteristic repeating pattern.