Patent ID: 6360841
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A steering mechanism for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle, said steering mechanism comprising:an input member rotatable about a first axis; an output member rotatable about a second axis coaxial with said first axis; a torsion bar connecting said input member and said output member, said torsion bar being fixedly connected to said output member and twisting upon relative rotation between said input member and said output member about said axes; said torsion bar being made of a magnetoelastic material and having a defined axially extending and circumferentially extending surface area which carries a magnetic field, which magnetic field varies upon twisting of said torsion bar; and at least one magnetic field detector located to sense variance in said magnetic field; said input member having a portion completely circling said torsion bar, said portion being radially aligned with and interposed between said torsion bar and said at least one magnetic field detector and being made of a non-magnetic material.