High accuracy from non-contact torque transducer
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Sensor Technology product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Mar 16, 2000
New Torque Transducer gives exceptional accuracy without the need for contact Sensor Technology Ltd of Banbury has perfected a non-contact torque measuring transducer, which has a potential accuracy o
Sensor Technology Ltd of Banbury has perfected a non-contact torque measuring transducer, which has a potential accuracy of one part in a million.
The transducer, called Torqsense, makes use of the little known Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) phenomenon.
This SAW approach has allowed the development of small transducers, which are not only exceptionally accurate, but more importantly, require no physical contact between the revolving shaft and its housing.
In a SAW type transducer, the surface waves are produced by passing an alternating voltage across the terminals of two interleaved comb-shaped arrays that are laid onto one end of piezoelectric substrate.
A similar 'receiving' array, at the other end of the transducer, converts the wave back in to an electric signal.
The frequency of the wave generated is dependant on the spacing of the 'teeth' in the comb array and as the direction of the wave propagation is at right angles to the teeth, any change in its length alters the spacing of the teeth and hence the operating frequency.
Tension in the transducer reduces the operating frequency while compression increases it.
To measure torque in a shaft, two SAW transducers are bonded rigidly to a shaft at 45 degrees to the axis and connected in a "half bridge" configuration, so that when the shaft is subjected to a torque, outputs can be combined to produce either 'difference' or 'sum' signals leading respectively to torque or temperature signals.
The SAW transducers are self-contained and require no physical connection to the shaft`s housing.
Instead the signals are exchanged via a capacitive coupling device comprising of two discs, one of which rotates with the shaft while the other is stationary.
The frequency of the exciting oscillation used is typically 100 to 1,000MHz, with the frequency shaft produced varying by up to 1MHz.
On this basis, the torque can be measured to an accuracy of one part in a million.
Over a typical bandwidth of 1MHz, the overall accuracy does not vary by more than 0.1%.
Applications include Automotive, Aerospace, Viscosity and Consistency Measurement, and Motor and Machinery Control and Condition Monitoring.
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Contact Sensor Technology
Tel +44 1869 238400
Other Sensor Technology stories
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ST offers RWT310/320 and RWT330/340 torque sensors
Sensor Technology's digital RWT310/320 torque sensors with integrated electronics and RWT330/340 torque sensors with separate electronics include the latest Torqsense (SAW) technology. -
Powertrain selects Torqsense transducer
A Torqsense transducer from Sensor Technology is a key part of a test rig designed by Powertrain Technologies to accurately measure small changes in drive torque. -
Torqsense RWT330/340 to be unveiled at M-Tec
Sensor Technology is to unveil the Torqsense RWT330/340 series of non-contact measurement sensors for space-critical applications at M-Tec 2009. -
Sensor offers Torqsense to monitor torque
Torqsense provides a non-contact method of taking torque readings. -
Torqsense helps development of dry bulk handling
Dry bulk handling is on its way to becoming a precision science with a high level of control due to 20 years of research and development into digital non-contact torque monitoring.
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