Device for measuring the angle and/or the angular velocity of a rotatable body and/or the torque acting upon said body

US6935193B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• David Heisenberg · Gerlingen, DE
• Thomas Klotzbuecher · Welzheim, DE
• Günter Haas · Aalen, DE
• Lutz Dorfmueller · Gerlingen, DE
• Henrik Siegle · Leonberg, DE
• Axel Wenzler · Rottweil, DE
• Klaus Marx · Stuttgart, DE
• Franz Jost · Stuttgart, DE
• Ralf Noltemeyer · Wernau, DE
• Martin Freitag · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 5, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 30, 2005
• Expiry date: Dec 28, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60G2204/11
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.