Positive engagement torque sensor
US4597480A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 24, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/19084
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A redundant drive having primary and secondary load paths may have a torque sensor to indicate a failure of the primary load path and make a drive connection for transmitting torque through the secondary load path. The positive engagement torque sensor has a pair of adjacent facing plates connected to coaxial shafts of the secondary load path, with one plate having a series of circularly-arrayed pairs of spaced-apart openings and the other plate having a series of circularly-arrayed movable pins engageable with the first plate and movable within a dead zone between openings of a pair of openings. When there is a failure in the primary load path, the movable pins move into the openings to lock the plates together and provide for torque transmission through the secondary load path. Additionally, the movement of the plates into locked relation causes the functioning of a signalling device to signal the failure of the primary load path through signalling elements including a noncontactable sensor in the form of a magnetic pickup unit which has a magnetic field through which a flag tab may pass upon the lock-up of the plates. The flag tab is part of a flag pivotally carried on one of th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.