Patent ID: 6564654
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A vertical movement capacitive torque sensor for a rotating shaft having an axis of rotation and having two shaft portions for which applied torque to one shaft portion causes an angular displacement with respect to the other shaft portion said sensor comprising:means for capacitively sensing said angular displacement between shaft portions including, at least one dielectric vane mounted for movement perpendicular to said axis and rotatable with one said shaft portion, said vane having a cam surface on which a pin mounted for rotation with said other shaft portion rides and opposes means biasing said vane in a radially outward direction, a pair of concentric capacitor plate rings lying in a common plane encircling one shaft portion and juxtaposed with said vane, one of said rings having a greater diameter than the other, an opposed capacitor plate encircling the other shaft portion and also juxtaposed with said vane, electrical bridge means for comparing the capacitances formed between said pair of concentric rings and said opposed capacitor plate as modified by said movable vane for determining said angular displacement and applied shaft torque.