Patent Description:
Conventionally, a magnetostrictive torque sensor has been known. The magnetostrictive torque sensor uses a shaft having magnetostrictive characteristic whose magnetic permeability changes when stress is applied, and detects a torque applied to the shaft by detecting a change in magnetic permeability of the shaft when the torque is applied and the shaft is twisted as a change in inductance of a detecting coil.

The citation list information relating to the invention according to the present application includes Patent Document <NUM>.

In addition, <CIT> discloses a method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft mounting a sensor portion of a magnetostrictive torque sensor, wherein the method includes conducting heat treatment on a shaft material by carburizing, quenching and tempering, and conducting shot peening on the shaft material after the heat treatment at least on a position where the sensor portion is to be mounted, and the shot peening is conducted by firing shot with a particle size of not less than <NUM> and a Rockwell hardness of not less than <NUM> at a jet pressure of not less than <NUM> MPa for a jet exposure time of not less than <NUM> minutes. Further, <CIT> discloses a method of producing magnetostriction type torque sensor shafts, in which a plurality of shot peening operations are applied to the surface of a torque sensor shaft in such a manner that the diameter of shot particles to be used is decreased each time.

It has been known that a steel material used for the shaft comprises a non-magnetic structure called retained austenite. The retained austenite is gamma-iron (γ-Fe) with face-centered cubic lattice structure in which the other elements are dissolved.

When the shaft includes a large amount of the non-magnetic retained austenite, the change in magnetic permeability when the torque is applied reduces, and thus it leads to decrease in sensitivity of the magnetostrictive torque sensor.

However, if the amount of the retained austenite in the entire shaft reduces by adjusting the conditions of heat treatment or the like, the toughness of the shaft may decrease, so that the shaft may be cracked.

In addition, the magnetostrictive torque sensor is used for, e.g., a transmission stroke control or an engine output control. Therefore, it is desirable to have a small error as much as possible to perform a reliable shift transmission.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft capable of improving sensor sensitivity and reducing an error while securing toughness.

For solving the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention, as defined in claim <NUM>, is to provide a method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft to which a sensor portion of the magnetostrictive torque sensor is to be attached, the method comprising heat treatment step of subjecting an iron-based shaft member to a carburizing, quenching, and tempering process, and a shot peening step of performing shot peening using a shot media having a Vickers hardness at least equal to <NUM> (<NUM> N/mm<NUM>) and at most equal to <NUM> (<NUM> N/mm<NUM>) and being free of boron, at least in a position on the shaft member, after the heat treatment step, to which the sensor portion is to be attached, wherein the shot media comprising zirconia is used. Advantageous Effects of Invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft capable of improving sensor sensitivity and reducing errors while securing toughness.

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in conjunction with appended drawings.

Firstly, a magnetostrictive torque sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a torque sensor) will be explained. <FIG>is a side view showing an example of a sensor portion of the torque sensor that is attached to a shaft. <FIG>is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in <FIG>. <FIG> is a plan view schematically showing a state in which a bobbin is deployed, which illustrates a first detecting coil and a fourth detecting coil. <FIG> is a plan view schematically showing a state in which the bobbin is deployed, which illustrates a second detecting coil and a third detecting coil. <FIG> is a circuit diagram showing an example of a measuring part to measure torque applied to the shaft by detection signal of the torque sensor.

As shown in <FIG>and <NUM>B, the sensor portion <NUM> of the torque sensor <NUM> is attached around a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft (hereinafter, simply referred to as a shaft) <NUM> having magnetostrictive characteristics. The torque sensor <NUM> measures torque (rotational torque) applied to the shaft <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> comprises a material having magnetostrictive characteristics (such as SCr<NUM>, SCM<NUM>, SNCM<NUM>, SUS<NUM>C, and SUS<NUM>), and is formed in a cylindrical shape (rod shape). For example, the shaft <NUM> is used for torque transmission in a powertrain system of a vehicle or a torque transmission in an engine of a vehicle.

The sensor portion <NUM> comprises a coil <NUM> and a magnetic ring <NUM>. The magnetic ring <NUM> comprises a magnetic material (a ferromagnetic material) and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The coil <NUM> is inserted into a hollow portion of the magnetic ring <NUM>. The magnetic ring <NUM> serves to suppress leakage of a magnetic flux generated by the detecting coil <NUM> of the coil <NUM> to the outside, thereby decreasing the sensitivity.

The coil <NUM> comprises a bobbin <NUM> comprising a non-magnetic resin, and a plurality of detecting coils <NUM> formed by winding insulated wires around an outer periphery of the bobbin <NUM>. The bobbin <NUM> is provided coaxially with the shaft <NUM> in such a manner as to be separated from the shaft <NUM>, and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. A plurality of first inclined grooves <NUM> inclined at a predetermined angle (herein +<NUM>°) with respect to an axial direction of the shaft <NUM> and a plurality of second inclined grooves <NUM> inclined at a predetermined angle (herein -<NUM>°) with respect to a direction opposite to the first inclined grooves <NUM> along the axial direction are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin <NUM>. The first inclined grooves <NUM> and the second inclined grooves <NUM> are formed of grooves concaved in a radial direction of the bobbin <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <NUM>B, the coil <NUM> comprises first to fourth detecting coils <NUM> to <NUM> as the detecting coils <NUM>. The first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> are formed by winding insulated wires around the bobbin <NUM> along the first inclined grooves <NUM>. The second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> are formed by winding insulated wires around the bobbin <NUM> along the second inclined grooves <NUM>.

In <FIG>A, reference signs 31a and 31b respectively indicate input and output ends of one layer of the first detecting coil <NUM>, and reference signs 34a and 34b respectively indicate input and output ends of one layer of the fourth detecting coil <NUM>. In <FIG>, reference signs 32a and 32b respectively indicate input and output ends of one layer of the second detecting coil <NUM>, and reference signs 33a and 33b respectively indicate input and output ends of one layer of the third detecting coil <NUM>. In addition, <FIG> and <NUM>B shows winding of the insulated wires for one turn. Each of the detecting coils <NUM> to <NUM> is formed by repeatedly winding the insulated wires to a target number of turns. In addition, the method for winding the insulated wires shown in <FIG>and <NUM>B is merely an example. The detecting coils <NUM> to <NUM> may be formed by using the other methods of winding.

The first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> are provided for detecting a change in magnetic permeability of the shaft <NUM> in a first direction inclined at a predetermined angle (herein +<NUM>°) with respect to the axial direction of the shaft <NUM>. The second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> are provided for detecting a change in magnetic permeability of the shaft <NUM> in a second direction inclined at the predetermined angle (herein -<NUM>°) opposite to the first direction along the axial direction of the shaft <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a measuring part <NUM> measures the torque applied to the shaft <NUM> by detecting changes in inductance of the first to fourth detecting coils <NUM> to <NUM>.

The measuring part <NUM> comprises a bridge circuit <NUM> configured by annularly arranging the first detecting coil <NUM>, the second detecting coil <NUM>, the fourth detecting coil <NUM>, and the third detecting coil <NUM> in this order, a transmitter <NUM> for applying alternating current (AC) voltage between a contact point a arranged between the first detecting coil <NUM> and the second detecting coil <NUM> and a contact point b arranged between the third detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM>, a voltage measuring circuit <NUM> for detecting voltage between a contact point c arranged between the first detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> and a contact point d arranged between the second detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM>, and a torque calculating part <NUM> for calculating a torque applied to the shaft <NUM> based on the voltage measured by the voltage measuring circuit <NUM>. The bridge circuit <NUM> is configured by arranging the first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> at one of two sides facing each other, and arranging the second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> at the other of the two sides facing each other.

In the measuring part <NUM>, inductances L<NUM> to L<NUM> of the first to fourth detecting coil <NUM> to <NUM> are equal when the torque is not applied to the shaft <NUM>, and the voltage detected by the voltage measuring circuit <NUM> becomes approximately zero.

When the torque is applied to the shaft <NUM>, the magnetic permeability in the direction of +<NUM>° with respect to the axial direction decreases (or increases) while the magnetic permeability in the direction of -<NUM>°with respect to the axial direction increases (or decreases). Thus, the inductances in the first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> decrease (or increase) while the inductances in the second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> increase (or decrease), when the torque is applied to the shaft <NUM> while the AC voltage is applied from the transmitter <NUM>. As a result, the voltage detected by the voltage measuring circuit <NUM> changes, and thus the torque calculating part <NUM> calculates the torque applied to the shaft <NUM> based on the change in voltage.

Since the first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> have the same structure as the second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> except the winding direction being different, the effects of the temperature or the like on the inductances of the first to fourth detecting coils <NUM> to <NUM> can be canceled by using the bridge circuit <NUM> shown in <FIG>. And thus, the torque applied to the shaft <NUM> can be accurately detected. In addition, for the torque sensor <NUM>, when the inductances in the first detecting coil <NUM> and the fourth detecting coil <NUM> increase (or decrease), while the inductances in the second detecting coil <NUM> and the third detecting coil <NUM> decrease (or increase). Thus, the detection sensitivity can be further improved by using the bridge circuit <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, an iron-based shaft member subjected to a carburizing, quenching and tempering process, thereafter shot peening, and then surface polishing is used as the shaft <NUM>.

That is, the method for manufacturing the shaft <NUM> according to the present embodiment comprises a heat treatment step of subjecting an iron-based shaft member to a carburizing, quenching, and tempering process, a shot peening step of performing shot peening at least in a position on the shaft member, after the heat treatment step, to which the sensor portion is to be attached, and a surface polishing step of subjecting the shaft member after the shot peening to surface polishing.

For the shaft member used for the shaft <NUM>, iron-based materials such as SCr<NUM> (chromium steel), SCM420 (chromium-molybdenum steel), SNCM<NUM> (nickel-chromium molybdenum steel), SUS<NUM>C (martensitic stainless), SUS<NUM> (precipitation hardening stainless steel), and the like can be used. In the present embodiment, SCr<NUM> is used for the shaft member.

The mechanical strength including the toughness of the shaft <NUM> can be enhanced by performing the carburizing, quenching, and tempering process on the entire shaft member. In the present embodiment, surface hardness of the shaft member after the heat treatment step is determined as not less than HV (Vickers hardness) <NUM>. This is because if the surface hardness of the shaft member after the heat treatment step is low, the sensor sensitivity may decrease, or the hysteresis error may increase. The surface hardness of the shaft member after the heat treatment step is preferably at least equal to HV <NUM> in order to suppress deterioration of the sensor sensitivity and the hysteresis error. That is, in the heat treatment step, it is preferable to perform heat treatment in such a manner that the surface hardness of the shaft member after the heat treatment step is not less than HV <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the heat treatment step is performed by gas carburization (at <NUM>°C for <NUM> hours, then at <NUM>°C for <NUM> min, and then oil quenching and tempering at <NUM>°C for <NUM> hours).

The shaft member is crooked when being subjected to the heat treatment step. Thus, it is preferable to perform a step of press-unbending the shaft member and a grinding step of grinding the surface of the shaft member to provide the shaft member with a straight shape, in addition to the heat treatment step. In the grinding step, it is preferable to perform grinding in such a manner that a grinding amount (grinding depth) at the part (referred to as the measuring part), to which the sensor portion <NUM> is to be attached, is even in the circumferential direction. This is because that a composition varies along the depth direction (radial direction) of the shaft member, and when the grinding amount (grinding depth) is uneven in the measuring part, portions with different compositions are generated on the surface of the measuring part and may cause the angle errors to be described later. In order to obtain the desired outer diameter after the grinding step, the shaft member before the heat treatment is preferably slightly larger than the finished outer diameter (for example, the shaft member before the heat treatment having a diameter of about <NUM> mm).

In the shot peening step, the shaft member after the heat treatment is subjected to the shot peening. Martensitic transformation (diffusionless transformation) occurs at the surface (a region distant with a predetermined depth from the surface) of the shaft <NUM> by shot peening the shaft member after heat treatment, so that non-magnetic retained austenite decreases, and ferromagnetic martensite can increase. As a result, the change in magnetic permeability when the torque is applied increases by reducing the non-magnetic area on the surface of the shaft <NUM> and increasing the magnetic area on the surface of the shaft <NUM>. And thus, the sensitivity of the torque sensor <NUM> can be improved. The retained austenite is iron (γ-Fe) with face-centered cubic lattice structure in which the other elements are dissolved. The martensite is a solid solution in which carbon enters into a crystal of iron with body-centered tetragonal lattice structure.

In addition, the surface of the shaft member is work hardened by shot peening the shaft member after the heat treatment and thus the hysteresis characteristic is improved. More specifically, by shot peening the shaft member after the heat treatment, the magnetic domains (areas in which the direction of the magnetic moment is aligned) on the surface of the shaft <NUM> are subdivided, and the retained austenite serving as a pinning site for preventing movement of the magnetic domain wall, which is the boundary of the magnetic domains, is reduced. As a result, when the applied torque is released, the magnetic domains and the magnetic walls will be easily returned to the original state, and thus the hysteresis error decreases.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensitivity of the torque sensor <NUM> is defined by dividing the sensor output V (mV) by the torque T (Nm) applied to the shaft <NUM>, and expressed as V/T (mV/Nm). The sensor sensitivity is expressed as (V<NUM>-V<NUM>)/(T<NUM>×T<NUM>) = Vs/Ts, where the torque T applied to the shaft <NUM> is not less than -T<NUM> and not more than +T<NUM>, the sensor output corresponding to the torque -T<NUM> is V<NUM>, and the sensor output corresponding to the torque +T<NUM> is V<NUM>. The hysteresis error, which is also referred to as a linearity error, is a ratio of the maximum value Vh of a sensor output difference at the same torque between the torque increase and the torque decrease with respect to the sensor output Vs (= V<NUM>-V<NUM>), and is expressed as Vh/Vs (%FS, FS means a full-scale).

In the present embodiment, in addition to the hysteresis error, the variation of the sensor output in the circumferential direction of the shaft <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as the angle error) is evaluated. As shown in <FIG>, the angle error means an error generated when the shaft is rotated. The angle error is expressed as (Vmax-Vmin)/Vs (%), where the maximum value of the sensor output is Vmax and the minimum value is Vmin. Hereinafter, the sum of the hysteresis error and the angle error is referred to as a total error. In the present embodiment, a target value of the total error is not more than <NUM>%.

In the present embodiment, chromium steel (SCr<NUM>) was used for the shaft member of the shaft <NUM>, and optimum shot peening conditions was studied. In the present embodiment, the diameter of the shaft <NUM> was set as <NUM> mm. When performing the shot peening, the shot media was injected while rotating the shaft <NUM> at a low speed (e.g., <NUM> rpm).

Firstly, <FIG> shows error measuring result when using a steel shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) and setting injection pressure as <NUM> MPa and <NUM> MPa. As shown in <FIG>, the total error is increased to not less than <NUM>% when using the shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV). The error (hysteresis error and angle error) shown in <FIG> represents the maximum value including temperature characteristics (measured under conditions of ambient temperature from - <NUM>°C to <NUM>°C). The horizontal axis of <FIG>represents the injection time of the shot media, and the injection time of the shot media is represented by dividing the total injection time by the length of the shaft <NUM>. That is, the injection time of the shot media represents the injection time per <NUM> cm in the axial direction of the shaft <NUM> (hereinafter, simply referred to as the injection time).

Next, <FIG> shows error measuring result when using a steel shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) and setting injection pressure as <NUM> MPa and <NUM> MPa. As shown in <FIG>B, when using the shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV), the hysteresis error decreases as compared with the case using the shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV). Meanwhile, the angle error increases. As a result, the total error increases.

As described above, it has been found that the total error cannot be reduced only by increasing the hardness of the shot media. Therefore, the inventors studied the reason why the angle error increases. As the result of studies, the inventors have found that the angle error is largely increased due to Fe<NUM>B formed on the surface of the shaft member caused by boron included in the shot media.

In more detail, the steel shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) is doped with Fe<NUM>B in order to increase the hardness of the shot media. Thus, Fe<NUM>B is formed on the surface of the shaft member when such a shot media is used. Fe<NUM>B is considered to have a large angle error due to the large crystal magnetic anisotropy.

Thus, in the present embodiment, shot peening is performed by using a shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) and not including (i.e., being free of) boron in the shot peening step in order to reduce the angle error. In accordance with the present invention, the shot media comprising zirconia (ZrO<NUM>) is used. In the meantime, since hardness in the shot media varies, the shot media may have the Vickers Hardness of not less than <NUM> and not more than <NUM> (HV).

Further, Fe<NUM>B is not generated on the surface of the shaft member in shot peening by using the zirconia shot media that does not include boron. As a result, even though the shot media having high hardness such as Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) is used, it is possible to suppress the increase in angle error. And thus, both the hysteresis error and the angle error can decrease and the sensor sensitivity can be improved.

For the case using the zirconia shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV), optimum shot peening conditions were studied. <FIG> shows error measuring results when the particle diameter is set as not less than <NUM> mm and not more than <NUM> mm, or not less than <NUM> mm and not more than <NUM> mm, and injection pressure is set as <NUM> MPa or <NUM> MPa.

As shown in <FIG>, when using the zirconia shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV) and setting injection pressure of not less than <NUM> MPa and not more than <NUM> MPa, it is preferable to use the shot media having the particle diameter of not less than <NUM> mm and not more than <NUM> mm. In addition, it was understood from the measuring result in <FIG> that the total error is minimized when setting the injection pressure of <NUM> MPa and the injection time of <NUM> sec/cm.

<FIG> shows the error measuring result of ten samples of the shaft <NUM> that have been prepared under this condition for minimizing the total error. As shown in <FIG>, although the total error varies within approximately <NUM> %, each sample indicates the hysteresis of not more than <NUM> % and the angle error of not more than <NUM> %, and thus the total error of not more than <NUM> %. It was confirmed that the target value has been obtained.

As described above, a method for manufacturing a torque sensor <NUM> according to the present embodiment comprises a heat treatment step of subjecting an iron-based shaft member to a carburizing, quenching, and tempering process, and a shot peening step of performing shot peening using a shot media having a Vickers hardness at least equal to <NUM> and at most equal to <NUM> and being free of boron, at least in a position on the shaft member, after the heat treatment step, to which the sensor portion <NUM> is to be attached.

The non-magnetic retained austenite can decrease only on the surface of the shaft <NUM> by providing the shot peening step, and thus the deterioration of the toughness of the shaft <NUM> can be suppressed. The hysteresis error can decrease and the sensor sensitivity can be improved by performing the shot peening step with using a shot media having the high hardness of <NUM> (HV). However, the angle error may increase due to the influence of boron when using the steel shot media having the Vickers hardness of <NUM> (HV), since such a shot media includes boron. In the present embodiment, by using the shot media free of boron, Fe<NUM>B is not generated on the surface of the shaft member and thus the angle error can decrease. As a result, it is possible to obtain the torque sensor <NUM> having high sensor sensitivity while securing toughness and having the total error of not more than <NUM>%.

Next, the technical concept grasped from the above-described embodiment is described with reference to the signs or the like in the embodiment. However, each reference sign or the like in the following description is not limited to a member or the like specifically showing the elements in the following claims in the embodiment.

Although the embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention according to claims is not to be limited to the embodiments. In addition, please note that all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not necessary to solve the problem of the invention. Furthermore, the various kinds of modifications can be implemented without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor shaft (<NUM>) to which a sensor portion (<NUM>) of a magnetostrictive torque sensor (<NUM>) is to be attached, the method comprising:
a heat treatment step of subjecting an iron-based shaft member to a carburizing, quenching, and tempering process; and
a shot peening step of performing shot peening using a shot media at least in a position on the shaft member, after the heat treatment step, to which the sensor portion (<NUM>) is to be attached,
wherein
the shot media having a Vickers hardness at least equal to <NUM> N/mm<NUM> (<NUM> HV) and at most equal to <NUM> N/mm<NUM> (<NUM> HV), characterized in that the shot peening media is free of boron, and the shot media comprises zirconia.