Patent ID: 11892364
Assignee: ATI INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A torque sensor configured to measure an axial torque between first and second objects, comprising:
a generally circular, generally planar transducer plate having a center area with a perpendicular center axis z and a periphery;
one or more first mounting holes proximate the center area and configured to be attached the first object;
one or more second mounting holes proximate the periphery and configured to be attached to the second object;
a plurality of voids through the transducer plate between the center area and periphery, wherein adjacent voids define spokes connecting the center area and periphery;
one or more radial slots through the transducer plate between the center area and periphery, each adjacent at least one void, wherein the transducer plate between a radial slot and a void defines an instrumentation beam connecting the center area and periphery, each instrumentation beam oriented generally radially along its entire length, and having the same thickness as the transducer plate along its entire length;
a strain gage attached to an instrumentation beam; and
a strain gage circuit connected to the strain gage and configured to output a voltage dependent on a strain-dependent resistance of the strain gage.