Patent ID: 6170340
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: F16H,G01L

Abstract:
A torque detection mechanism for a flexed meshing type gear which has a circular rigid internal gear, a circular flexible external gear disposed inside the rigid internal gear and formed on its circumferential surface with external teeth meshable with internal teeth of the rigid gear, and a wave generator fixed into the flexible external gear for flexing it radially to mesh the external teeth with the internal teeth at both ends on a diametrical direction thereof and for moving meshed portions in a circumferential direction, the torque detection mechanism comprises:a first torque detector which has a pair of first torque detection elements arranged on at least one of outer and inner surfaces of the flexible external gear except for where the external teeth are formed, the first torque detection elements being arranged at an angular interval of 90.degree. around a center axis of the flexible external gear, and a second torque detector which has a pair of second torque detection elements arranged on at least one of outer and inner surfaces of the flexible external gear except for where the external teeth are formed, the second torque detection elements being arranged at an angular interval of 90.degree. around the center axis of the flexible external gear;the second torque detector is arranged at a (k.times.45.degree.) rotated angular position from the first torque detector around the center axis (k is odd number); andmeans for synthesizing detection outputs of the first and the second torque detectors to obtain a synthesized output, based on which synthesized output a torque transferred via the flexed meshing type gear drive is detected.