Torque detecting device

Abstract: A torque detecting device has a measuring shaft (2), excitation means (5a,5b) and detection means (5a,5b) for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft. The device is able to measure the torque with accuracy even if a temperature gradient is produced in the axial direction of the measuring shaft by making the measuring shaft from a material having a specified electromagnetic characteristics at least in a part in which said magnetostrictive force is detected.

Description: Field of The Invention This invention relates to a torque detecting device of the magnetostriction type used for detecting torque applied on a measuring shaft. Description of The Prior Art For example, there has been such a torque detecting device of the magnetostriction type as shown in Figure 1 to Figure 3 (Specification and Drawings of Japanese Patent Application No.63-50820), and in EP-A-0 261 980. The torque detecting device 1 shown in Figure 1 to Figure 3 is provided with a measuring shaft 2 at the center thereof. On the surface of said measuring shaft 2, concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b making a certain angle with the axial direction of said measuring shaft 2 are formed to be integral with said measuring shaft 2 at appropriate spaces, said shaped-magnetic anisotropy is given by these concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b. In this case, said concave part 3a, convex part 4a on the one side and concave part 3b, convex part 4b on the other side are provided as a pair with an inclination of 45° relative to the axial direction in opposite directions relative to each other. The torque detecting device 1 has a pair of coils 5a, 5b disposed in facing relation to the concave part 3a, convex part 4a on the one side and concave part 3b, convex part 4b on the other side which are formed on said measuring shaft 2 as an addition to the said measuring shaft 2, and has the structure providing a cylindrical yoke 7 made from a material with high permeability at the outside of said coils 5a, 5b while leaving a gap 6 between the yoke 7 and the measuring shaft 2. In this case, the coils 5a and 5b are used for excitation means for forming a magnetic circuit wherein the measuring shaft 2 is a part of said magnetic circuit in common with detection means for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft 2. In the torque detecting device 1 having such a structure, the coils 5a and 5b compose the bridge circuit in combination with resistors 11 and 12 as examplified in Figure 2. Said bridge circuit is provided with a variable resistance 13 for balancing and the excitative directions are adjusted into the same direciton by connecting an excitative oscillator 14 to connecting points A,C in the bridge circuit. And a differential amplifier 15 is connected to connecting points B, B' so as to pick up a detection output from output terminals 16, 17. The operation of the torque detecting device 1 shown in Figure 1 connected to the electric circuit shown in Figure 2 will be described as follows. In the first place, during operation AC with constant amplitude (V) and frequency (f) is applied to the coils 5a and 5b from the excitative oscillator 14. In consequence of this electric charging, lines of magnetic force forming the magnetic circuit comprised of measuring shaft 2→gap 6→ yoke 7 → gap 6→ measuring shaft 2 are generated surrounding the coils 5a and 5b. And, said lines of magnetic force flow in a part of surface of the maesuring shaft 2, in particular in the convex parts 4a, 4b mainly, because the concave parts 3a, 3b are formed on the measuring shaft 2 at a certain angle with the axial direciton of the said measuring shaft 2, they become magnetic reluctance. Hence the effect of shaped-magnetic anisotropy caused by said concave parts 3a, 3b and convex paets 4a, 4b is produced. If the torque applied on the measuring shaft 2 in the direction T shown in Figure 1, the maximum tensile stress - σ acts on it because the convex part 4a on the one side is formed in the direction of 45° to the right side on the contrary, the maximum compressive stress - σ acts on it because the convex part 4b on the other side is formed in the direction of 45° to the left side. Therefore, if the measuring shaft 2 has a positive magnetostriction effect, the permeability of the convex part 4a on the one side increases in comparison with it when the torque is zero. On the contrary the permeability of the convex part 4b on the other side decreases in comparison with it when the torque is zero. Comsequently, increasing the inductance L 1 of the coil 5a on the one side and, decreasing the inductance L 2 of the coil 5b on the other side, the balance of the bridge circuit shown in Figure 2 breaks and an output corresponding to the torque is generated between the output terminals 16 and 17. In case the torque is applied on the measuring shaft 2 in the opposite direction, according to an adverse effect, decreasing the inductance L 1 of the coil 5a on the one side and, increasing the inductance L 2 of the coil 5b on the other side, the balance of the bridge circuit shown in Figure 2 breaks and the detection output having a characteristic shown in Figure 3 corresponding to the torque is generated between the output terminals 16 and 17. In the torque detecting device 1 having such a structure, because the concave parts 3a, 3b and the convex parts 4a, 4b are formed in a pair with reverse inclination facing the coils 5a and 5b respectively, and the difference of magnetism variation at said concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b is detected by means of a bridge circuit, the temperature of the measuring shaft 2 changes uniformly on the whole, the zero point of the output can cease to shift and it is possible to heighten the detecting accuracy of the torque even if the permeability of the measuring shaft 2 is varied on the whole according to the temperature. However, in such the conventional torque detecting device 1 of the magnetostriction type, if a temperature gradient is produced in the axial direction of the measuring shaft 2 owing to heat generated by a motor connected on the one side of the measuring shaft 2 for example, the permeability of the measuring shaft 2 is varied in the axial direction and the inductance L 1 and L 2 of the coils 5a and 5b change respectively. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the zero point of output may shift owing to the unbalance produced between the connecting points B and B' shown in Figure 2, and the remarkable drift of the detection output sometimes occurs. This invention is made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and seeks to provide a torque detecting device of the magnetostriction type which is able to prevent the occurrence of the serious drift of the detection output even if a temperature gradient is produced in the axial direction of the measuring shaft. According to the present invention there is provided a torque detecting device having a measuring shaft, excitation means for forming a magnetic circuit wherein said measuring shaft is a part of said magnetic circuit, and detection means for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft, said measuring shaft being formed, at least in a portion in which the magnetostrictive force is detected, from a steel, characterised in that: the steel includes specific amounts of the following elements, in by weight percentage, not more than 1.5% of C, not more than 4.0% of Si, not more than 3.0% of Mn, one or both of not more than 5.0% of Ni and not more than 5.0% of Cr, and not more than 5.0% Co; the steel optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 1.0% of Cu, not more than 1.0% of Mo, not more than 0.05% of B, not more than 0.5% of W, not more than 0.5% of V, not more than 0.5% of Ti, not more than 0.5% of Nb, not more than 0.5% of Ta, not more than 0.5% of Zr, not more than 0.5% of Hf and not more than 0.1% of N; the steel also optionally further comprising not more than 3.0% of Al; and the steel additionally optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 0.5% of Pb, not more than 0.5% of Bi, not more than 0.5% of S, not more than 0.3% of P, not more than 0.5% of Te, not more than 0.5% of Se and not more than 0.05% of Ca, with the remainder being Fe and impurities, and in that the steel has the following electromagnetic characteristics at least in the portion thereof in which said magnetostrictive force is detected: specific resistance ρ RT of not less than 30 µΩ -cm at room temperature; temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance of not more than 0.25 X 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C; and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L of not more than 0.07 X 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C. Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the torque detecting device of the magnetostriction type: Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the electric circuit of the torque detecting device used for detecting the torque ; Figure 3 is a graph showing the output characteristics of the torque detecting device ; Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the experimental procedures for producing the temperature gradient in the measuring shaft of the torque detecting device ; Figure 5 is a graph examplifying the results of the investigation on the relation between the specific resistance and the drift ; Figure 6 is a graph examplifying the results of the investigation on the relation between the temperature coefficient of the specific resistance and the drift ; and Figure 7 is a graph examplifying the results of the investigation on the relation between the temperature coefficient of the inductance and the drift. As described above, the torque detecting device according to this invention has the structure provided with a measuring shaft, excitation means for forming a magnetic circuit wherein said measuring shaft is a part of said magnetic circuit, and detection means for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft. It is applicable to the torque detecting device having the same or similar structure of the torque detecting device 1 examplified in Figure 1, it is needless to say that it is not restricted to the torque detecting device 1 having structure shown in Figure 1. For example, excitation means and detection means may be constructed from different coils, namely, from the excitation coils and the detection coil respectively in place of forming said excitation and detection means from common coils 5a and 5b. And, when the magnetic anisotropy is given to the measuring shaft 2, it is not restricted to forming concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b as shown in Figure 1, said magnetic anisotropy may be given by sticking the magnetic material on the measuring shaft 2 or by performing surface treatment on the measuring shaft 2. And, in the torque detecting device 1 according to this invntion, at least a part in which magnetostrictive force is detected of the measuring shaft 2 has electromagnetic characteristics that specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature is not less than 30 µΩ -cm, temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.25× 10 -2 /°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C. Namely, at least in a part of the measuring shaft 2 which forms a part of the magnetic circuit excited by an alternating magnetic field, the higer specific resistance of said measuring shaft 2 is desirable at least in the part in which the magnetostrictive force is detected. That is, because an eddy current is generated at said measuring shaft 2 in the alternating magnetic field, a loss increases, and so an increase of heat generation and lowering of transmissivity are induced when the specific resistance of the part forming the magnetic circuit of the measuring shaft 2 is low. And it has been confirmed that the higher specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature is, the smaller its temperature change is. Considering from such a viewpoint it has been confirmed that it is required to use a material having specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature not less than 30 µΩ-cm for the measuring shaft 2 at least in the part in which the magnetostrictive force is detected. And when the temparature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ of the measuring shaft 2 at least in the part in which the magnetostrictive force is detected is small, the range of fluctuation becomes narrow. Consequently, it has been confirmed that the thermal characteristics of the torque detecting device 1 is improved. And considering from such a viewpoint, it has been confirmed that it is required to use a material having temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ not more than 0.25 × 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C for the measuring shaft 2 at least in the part in which the magnetostrictive force is detected. In this invention, the temperature range of said characteristics is defined in a range of -50 to 150°C considering the temperature range in which machinery structure such as a motor vehicle is used generally. The measuring shaft is formed, at least in a portion in which the magnetrostrictive force is detected, from a steel which includes specific amounts of the following elements, in by weight percentage, not more than 1.5% of C, not more than 4.0% of Si, not more than 3.0% of Mn, one or both of not more than 5.0% of Ni and not more than 5.0% of Cr, and not more than 5.0% Co; the steel optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 1.0% of Cu, not more than 1.0% of Mo, not more than 0.05% of B, not more than 0.5% of W, not more than 0.5% of V, not more than 0.5% of Ti, not more than 0.5% of Nb, not more than 0.5% of Ta, not more than 0.5% of Zr, not more than 0.5% of Hf and not more than 0.1% of N; the steel also optionally further comprising not more than 3.0% of Al; and the steel additionally optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 0.5% of Pb, not more than 0.5% of Bi, not more than 0.5% of S, not more than 0.3% of P, not more than 0.5% of Te, not more than 0.5% of Se and not more than 0.05% of Ca, with the remainder being Fe and impurities. The steel, at least in that portion has electromagnetic characteristics that the specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature is not less than 30 µΩ -cm, temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.25 × 10 -2 /°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C. In this case, C is a necessary element to maintain the strength required in shaft-structural substances of a power transmission system and the like such as a drive shaft, a colum shaft. In order to obtain required strength, it is preferable to contain not less than 0.1% of C. However, if the amount is too large the toughness is rather degraded and plastic workability in cold is adversely affected, so that it is the case that an upper limit of C is defined as 1.5%. And in the case of carburizing, it is preferable to contain not more than 0.35% of C so as to contain not more than 1.5% of C in the carburized layer. Si is effective to increase the sensitivity, and to decrease the hysteresis. However, if the amount is too large, the toughness is degraded so that the composition is required to contain not more than 4.0% of Si. Mn acts as a deoxidizer and a desulfurizing agent in steel making and an effective element for increasing the strength by improving the hardenability of steel. It is required to contain not more than 3.0% of Mn because the workability is degraded when contained too much. Furthermore, Ni and Cr are effective elements for increasing the strength in consequence of improving the hardenability of the steel and reinforcing the matrix. It is required to contain not more than 5.0% of Ni because the hysteresis increases when Ni is contained too much, and to contain mot more than 5.0% of Cr because the sensitivity is degraded when Cr is contained too much. Al may be contained according to demand in the range of not less than 3.0% because it is effective to increase the sensitivity and to decrease the hysteresis similarly to the case of Si. Co is contained in the range of not more than 5.0% because it is effective to increase the sensitivity similarly to the case of Si or Al. And Pb, Bi, S, P, Te, Se, and Ca are effective to improve the machinability, so that it is preferable to contain at least one of them in the ranges not more than 0.5% of Pb, not more than 0.5% of Bi, not more than 0.5% of S, not more than 0.3% of P, not more than 0.5% of Te, not more than 0.5% of Se, and not more than 0.05% of Ca. Cu and Mo may be contained according to demand in the range of not less than 1.0% respectively, because Cu and Mo are effective elements equally for reinforcing the matrix of steel and improving the strength. In addition to above, B may be contained in the range of not more than 0.05% in order to improve the hardenability of steel, and at least one of not more than 0.5% of W, not more than 0.5% of V, not more than 0.5% of Ti, not more than 0.5% of Nb, not more than 0.5% of Ta, not more than 0.5% of Zr, not more than 0.5% of Hf and not more than 0.1% of N may be contained in order to improve the strength by grain refining and precipitation hardening. Furthermore, in the measuring shaft 2 having such chemical compositions, it is desirable according to demand to perform not only ordinary quenching-tepmering but also carburizing carburizing-tempering, carbonitriding, nitriding, induction hardening-tempering. When carburizing is employed, and it is preferable to keep the amount of C in the carburized layer in the range of more 0.1% to 1.5% according to demand for example. In the torque detecting device according to this invention, the measuring shaft, at least in the part in which the magnetostrictive force is detected, has electromagnetic characteristics that specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature is not less than 30 µΩ -cm, temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.25 × 10 -2 /°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C. Therefore, it is a remarkably improved torque detecting device in the thermal characteristics. The performance characteristics of the torque detecting device never change remarkably and the drift caused by fluctuation of the zero point is never produced even when the temperature gradient is produced in the measuring shaft. Accordingly, the accuracy of the measurement of the torque detecting device is never deteriorated. A torque detecting device 1 as shown in Figure 4, which has the measuring shaft 2 (having concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b of 2mm in width, and 1mm of difference in level) of 20mm in diameter made from a steel not having chemical compositions required by the present invention, has one end of said measuring shaft 2 dipped in oil 22 heated by a heater 21, so that a temperature gradient was produced in the measuring shaft 2. The temperature was taken at the respective convex part 4a, 4b using thermoelectric couples 23a and 23b. Furthermore, the drift per 1°C of temperature diffrerence between the respective convex parts 4a and 4b was obtained by connecting coils 5a and 5b to the bridge circuit shown in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the drift and specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature. It has been found that the drift decreases in proportion to the increase of specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature. Figure 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the drift and temperature coefficient αρ of the specific resistance. It has been found that the drift decreased in proportion to decrease of temperature coefficient αρ of the specific resistance. Furthermore, Figure 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the drift and temperature coefficient α L of the iuductance. It has been found that the drift decreases in proportion to decrease of temperature coefficient α L of the inductance. The following non-limiting Example illustrates the present invention. EXAMPLE 1 Each of steels having a chemical composition as shown in Table 1-1 was used as a raw material of the measuring shaft 2 of the torque detecting device 1 shown in Figure 1. Said measuring shaft 2 of 20mm in diameter having concave parts 3a, 3b and convex parts 4a, 4b of 2mm in width and 1mm of difference in level, was subjected to heat treatment shown also in Table 1-2 respectively. And the measuring values also shown in Table 1-2 were obtained as a result of measuring specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature, temperature coefficient αρ of the specific resistance and temperature coefficient α L of the inductance of the respective measuring shaft 2 by the following procedures. Test pieces having a height of 3mm, a width of 3mm and a length of 100mm were prepared in order to measure respective specific resistance of the steels having such chemical compositions, and different test pieces having an outer diameter of 30mm, an inner diameter of 25mm and a thickness of 2 mm were also in order to measure respective inductance of the steels. Each of the test pieces was subjected to a carburizing at 910°C for 2 hours and quenched into oil, then tempered at 170°C for 2hours. The measurement of the specific resistance was carried out by the four terminal method, specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature was measured, and temperature coefficient αρ of the specific resistance per 1°C was obtained by measuring the specific resistance at temperature of -50 to 150°C. And the measurement of the inductance was carried out using an inductance meter, temperature coefficient α L of the inductance per 1°C was obtained by measuring the inductance at temperature of -50 to 150°C in frequency of 30 KHz. By connecting the coils 5a and 5b so as to make the electric circuit shown in Figure 2, the respective drift was investigated. The results of the investigation were shown together in Table 1-2. As shown in Table 1-2, in case of Example 1 with the measuring shaft 2 having electromagnetic characteristics that specific resistance ρ RT at room temperature is not less than 30 µΩ-cm, temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.25 × 10 -2 /°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L at temperature of -50 to 150°C is not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C, it has been confirmed that the drift of the detecting device 1 is small. On the contrary, it has been confirmed that the drift is large in cases of comparative Example Nos. 1 to 3 which do not satisfy condition of electromagnetic characteristics. As described above, the torque detecting device according to this invention has a measuring shaft, excitation means for forming a magnetic circuit wherein said measuring shaft is a part of said magnetic circuit, and detection means for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft, wherein said measuring shaft has following electromagnetic characteristics at least in a part in which said magnetostrictive force is detected : specific resistance ρ RT of not less than 30 µΩ -cm at room temperature, tempeature coefficient αρ of specific resistance ρ of not more than 0.25 × 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C, and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L of not more than 0.07 × 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C. Therefore, the serious drift in the detection output does not occur even when the temperature gradient is produced in the axial direction of the measuring shaft. And very excellent effects are obtained since it is possible to measure the torque with accuracy more than ever.

Claims: A torque detecting device having a measuring shaft (2), excitation means (5a,5b) for forming a magnetic circuit wherein said measuring shaft (2) is a part of said magnetic circuit, and detection means (15,16) for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft (2), said measuring shaft being formed, at least in a portion in which the magnetostrictive force is detected, from a steel, characterised in that: the steel includes specific amounts of the following elements, in by weight percentage, not more than 1.5% of C, not more than 4.0% of Si, not more than 3.0% of Mn, one or both of not more than 5.0% of Ni and not more than 5.0% of Cr, and not more than 5.0% Co; the steel optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 1.0% of Cu, not more than 1.0% of Mo, not more than 0.05% of B, not more than 0.5% of W, not more than 0.5% of V, not more than 0.5% of Ti, not more than 0.5% of Nb, not more than 0.5% of Ta, not more than 0.5% of Zr, not more than 0.5% of Hf and not more than 0.1% of N; the steel also optionally further comprising not more than 3.0% of Al; and the steel additionally optionally further comprising at least one element selected from not more than 0.5% of Pb, not more than 0.5% of Bi, not more than 0.5% of S, not more than 0.3% of P, not more than 0.5% of Te, not more than 0.5% of Se and not more than 0.05% of Ca, with the remainder being Fe and impurities, and in that the steel has the following electromagnetic characteristics at least in the portion thereof in which said magnetostrictive force is detected: specific resistance ρ RT of not less than 30 µΩ -cm at room temperature; temperature coefficient αρ of specific resistance of not more than 0.25 X 10 2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C; and temperature coefficient α L of inductance L of not more than 0.07 X 10 -2 /°C at temperature of -50 to 150°C. A torque detecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring shaft is carburized and the amount of C in the carburized layer is more than 0.1% but not more than 1.5%. A torque detecting device as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the measuring shaft (2) is formed with concave (3a,3b) and convex (4a,4b) regions extending about said shaft (2) at a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of said measuring shaft at a predetermined spacing on said measuring shaft (2). A torque detecting device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said excitation means is an excitation coil (5a,5b) forming a magnetic circuit wherein said measuring shaft (2) is a part of said magnetic circuit and said detection means is a detection coil for detecting a magnetostrictive force passing through said measuring shaft. A torque detecting device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said excitation coil and said detection coil are formed from a common coil with a common yoke (7).

Inventors: AOKI HIROYUKI, SAITO TAKANOBU, YAHAGI SHINICHIRO, AOKI, HIROYUKI, SAITO, TAKANOBU, YAHAGI, SHINICHIRO, AOKI, HIROYUKI C/O NISSAN MOTOR
Applicants: DAIDO STEEL CO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR, DAIDO TOKUSHUKO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01R33
IPC codes: G01R33, G01L3, G01D3, G01D5