Patent ID: 6367337
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B62D,G01L

Abstract:
A sensor for attachment between a first and second rotating shaft for measuring the relative displacement between the first and second rotating shaft, comprising:a) a housing having a first and second aperture at each end thereof, the first shaft extending through the first aperture into the housing and the second shaft extending through the second aperture into the housing, the shafts each having an end that is located adjacent each other in the housing such that the shafts are co-axial to each other; b) a planetary gear assembly connected to the first and second shafts, the planetary gear assembly having a first ring gear connected to the first shaft and a second ring gear connected to the housing, the first and second shafts when rotating in a non-coaxial manner causing the first ring gear to change an angular position relative to the second ring gear. c) a variable magnetic field generator connected to the planetary gear assembly, the variable magnetic field generator moving proportional to the relative angular change between the first ring gear and the second ring gear; d) a magnetic field sensor located adjacent the variable magnetic field generator and connected to the housing, the magnetic field sensor generating an electrical signal in response to rotational movement of the variable magnetic field generator; and e) an electrical connector, located in the housing and electrically connected to the magnetic field sensor for providing the electrical signal to an external electrical circuit.