JP2016211895A - Axis type torque converter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an axis type torque converter capable of correctly measuring torque acting on a rotational axis, which rotates at high speed, continuously without interruption.SOLUTION: An axis type torque converter 1 for converting torque acting on a rotational axis into an output signal comprises a rotational axis 100 on which torque acts, an axial support part 200 which rotatably supports the rotational axis, and a torque detection part 300 which detects torque acting on the rotational axis and transmits a detection signal. The torque detection part includes a torque detection element 310 detecting torque of the rotational axis, a light emission part 330 emitting a torque value obtained from the torque detection element as a light signal, a light path change part 340 changing a light path of the light signal from the light emission part, and a light reception part 350 receiving the light signal the light path of which has been changed by the light path change part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a shaft type torque converter used for torque measurement of, for example, inspection equipment for automobile parts, a generator, a motor and the like.

  For example, inspection equipment for automobile parts, and a shaft-type torque converter used for measuring torque of a generator or a motor are conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The configuration of the shaft-type torque converter described in Patent Document 1 is provided on a substrate fixed to a casing, and a detection circuit that processes an electrical signal from a strain gauge and transmits it as a detection signal by infrared communication. And an output circuit for receiving a detection signal from the detection circuit and outputting the same to the outside.

JP 2014-098718 A

  When torque measurement is performed using a shaft-type torque converter as described in Patent Document 1, the rotation shaft may be rotated at a very high speed of, for example, 25,000 rpm. In this case, the rotating shaft and the rotating shaft fixing portion (stator) are firmly fixed to each other by the bearings, and the constantly changing torque signal detected by the rotating shaft is always transmitted accurately to the rotating shaft fixing portion without interruption. A non-contact signal transmission structure is required.

  Along with this, in the case of a shaft type torque converter, not only a strain gauge for torque detection but also a small output signal obtained from this strain gauge on the rotating shaft and variously transmitted to the fixed rotation part at all times. It is indispensable to mount various electronic parts and electric parts on the rotating shaft.

  The reason is that when measuring the torque of a generator or motor, the torque changes abruptly in a short time, so if the transmission of the output signal is interrupted even for a short time, the output signal of this part is sent to the rotating shaft fixing part side. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to predict and calculate the missing output signal. This is because if this output signal is estimated for a part of the output signal that could not be transmitted, it does not match the actual torque characteristic value.

  In the shaft-type torque converter described in Patent Document 1, the above-described electronic components and electrical components are mounted on a disk-shaped substrate provided on a rotating shaft, but the rotation rotates at a high speed as described above. No mention is made of a configuration in which an output signal from a strain gauge provided on the shaft is constantly and continuously transmitted to the rotation fixing portion.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a shaft type torque converter capable of accurately measuring continuously and continuously torque acting on a rotating shaft that rotates at a high speed.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an axial torque converter according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
In a shaft type torque converter that converts torque acting on the rotating shaft into an output signal,
A rotation shaft on which torque acts, a shaft support portion that rotatably supports the rotation shaft, and a torque detection portion that detects a torque acting on the rotation shaft and transmits a detection signal,
The torque detection unit includes a torque detection element that detects torque of the rotating shaft, a light emitting unit that emits a torque value obtained from the torque detection element as an optical signal, and an optical path of the optical signal from the light emission unit. An optical path changing unit to be changed and a light receiving unit for receiving the optical signal whose optical path has been changed by the optical path changing unit are provided.

Moreover, the shaft type torque converter according to claim 2 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to claim 1,
The light emitting unit is arranged on the rotating side, and the light receiving unit is arranged on the fixed side.

Moreover, the shaft type torque converter according to claim 3 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical path changing unit and the light emitting unit are provided on a support plate attached to the rotating side, and the optical path changing unit is arranged radially inward of the light emitting unit.

The shaft type torque converter according to claim 4 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to claim 1 or 2,
The light emitting unit is provided on a support plate attached to the rotating side, and the optical path changing unit is provided on the fixed side so as to surround the support plate.

The shaft type torque converter according to claim 5 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The light emitting unit includes at least one light emitting element, and the optical path changing unit includes at least one light reflecting plate.

The shaft type torque converter according to claim 6 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to claim 5,
The optical path changing unit includes a light reflecting plate provided on the support plate and a light diffusing member interposed between the light reflecting plate and a light emitting element corresponding to the light reflecting plate.

The shaft type torque converter according to claim 7 of the present invention is the shaft type torque converter according to claim 1,
The optical path changing unit and the light emitting unit are provided on a support plate attached to the rotating side, the optical path changing unit is made of a light diffusing member, and the light diffusing member is positioned between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. As described above, the support plate is provided.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the shaft type torque converter which can always measure continuously and correctly the torque which acts on the rotating shaft which rotates at high speed can be provided.

It is sectional drawing which shows the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the torque detection part shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the torque detection part and housing which were shown in FIG. It is a top view of the support plate explaining the optical path in the axial type torque converter shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the shaft type torque converter shown in FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows the 1st modification of the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the 2nd modification of the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the 3rd modification of the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the 4th modification of the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view showing the 5th modification of a shaft type torque converter concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the torque detection part and housing which were shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the modification of the shaft type torque converter which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an axial torque converter 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the torque detector 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the torque detector 300 and the housing 400 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the electrical connection relationship of each component is not shown. In the following description, the rotation side is a generic name for so-called rotating parts such as the rotation shaft 100 and the support plate 500, and the fixed side is the shaft support part 200, the housing 400, the circuit board 615 provided for the same, and the like. This is a general term for fixed parts that do not rotate.

  The shaft type torque converter 1 includes a rotating shaft 100, a shaft support unit 200, a torque detection unit 300, and a housing 400. The torque detection unit 300 includes a torque detection element 310 that detects the torque of the rotating shaft 100, a light emitting unit 330 that emits a torque value obtained from the torque detection element 310 as an optical signal, and an optical signal from the light emitting element 330. The optical path changing unit 340 that changes the optical path of the optical path, and the light receiving unit 350 that receives the optical signal whose optical path has been changed by the optical path changing unit.

  The rotating shaft 100 is made of a metal shaft, and a torque is applied when an inspection facility for an automobile part as a measurement object, a generator, a motor, or the like is operated. The rotation shaft 100 is partially formed with a torque detection shaft portion 110 having an outer diameter smaller than that of the rotation shaft 100, and a torque detection element 310 is attached to the torque detection shaft portion 110. A rotation side coil 603, which will be described later, is fixed to the rotation shaft 100.

  A support plate 500 is attached to the rotating shaft 100. The support plate 500 is, for example, a single printed circuit board called a PCB formed in a disk shape having a predetermined thickness and diameter, or a resin molded product obtained by molding a resin or the like on the printed circuit board in the same shape. It consists of an attached assembly and rotates together with the rotating shaft 100. The support plate 500 may have a polygonal shape such as a triangle, a quadrangle, or a pentagon instead of the disc shape. Further, a semicircular or 1/3 circular support plate may be used in combination. In the present embodiment, an optical path changing unit 340 described later is attached to the support plate 500.

  The shaft support unit 200 includes a bearing 210 and fixes the rotary shaft 100 so as to be rotatable.

  As described above, the torque detection unit 300 includes the torque detection element 310, the light emitting unit 330, the optical path changing unit 340, and the light receiving unit 350. Torque acting on the rotating shaft 100 is detected by the torque detector 300, and this detection signal is transmitted to the fixed side detection circuit 700, and an output signal corresponding to the torque is taken out.

  The torque detection element 310 is disposed in the circumferential direction of the torque detection shaft portion 110 formed on the rotating shaft 100. The torque detection element 310 is a Wheatstone bridge circuit configured by a strain gauge, and although a detailed configuration is not shown here, the strain gauge includes a flexible sheet made of, for example, polyimide resin, and the like. A strain gauge element formed by folding a narrow copper foil pattern on a sheet into a ninety-nine fold shape with a narrow interval, and the same direction as the extension direction of each element from both ends of the strain gauge element And a rectangular solder tab formed so as to be connected to each pattern extending portion.

  The light emitting unit 330 includes a light emitting element made of a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as “light emitting element 330”). The light emitting element 330 emits light according to the output of the torque detecting element 310. In the case of this embodiment, the light emitting element 330 is attached toward the axial center direction (rotating shaft 100 side) of the support plate 500.

  In the present embodiment, the optical path changing unit 340 includes three plane mirrors (hereinafter referred to as “plane mirrors 340”) that function as light reflecting plates, and is attached to the support plate 500. The optical path changing unit 340 reflects the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 and transmits the optical signal α to the light receiving unit 350 on the fixed side without contact.

  The positional relationship between the light emitting element 330 and the flat mirror 340 on the support plate 500 is such that the light emitting elements 330 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the support plate 500 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the flat mirror 340 is on the inner peripheral side of the support plate 500. Are attached at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The light-emitting elements 330 and the reflecting surfaces of the plane mirror 340 face each other.

  The flat mirror 340 is press-fitted into a slit (not shown) of the support plate 500, for example, and is firmly fixed with an appropriate adhesive. This prevents the direction of the reflecting surface of the plane mirror 340 from changing while the rotating shaft 100 is rotating.

  The reflectance of the flat mirror 340 is, for example, 93% in the case of a silver surface as a regular reflection material, and 80% to 85% in the case of a glass mirror surface. The material of the plane mirror 340 is appropriately selected.

  The light receiving unit 350 is attached to the circuit board 615 on the fixed side. In the case of the present embodiment, the light receiving unit 350 is a single light receiving element (hereinafter referred to as “light receiving element 350”) made of a photodiode or a phototransistor, The optical signal α reflected by the plane mirror 340 is received and converted into an electrical signal.

  The housing 400 is made of, for example, metal, and includes bearings 210 on both side portions 401a and 401b via the shaft support portion 200, and includes a cylindrical upper portion 402 and a flat bottom portion 403 (see FIG. 3). In the meantime, a stationary coil 602 of an electromagnetic coil 601 described later is fixed. Then, electric power is supplied from the fixed side to the rotating side by electromagnetic induction in a combination of the fixed side coil 602 and the rotating side coil 603. Since the housing 400 is combined with the shaft support portion 200 to form a sealed space, the housing 400 has a function of shielding external light existing outside so as not to enter the light receiving element 350. The housing 400 has been described as having a cylindrical upper portion 402 and a flat bottom portion 403. However, the bottom portion 403 may be cylindrical, and the housing 400 may have a cylindrical shape as a whole, and vice versa. The upper portion 402 may be flat and the housing 400 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

  The circuit board 615 is arranged on the fixed side with the light receiving element 350 and the fixed side detection circuit 700 attached thereto. In the fixed side detection circuit 700, the lead wire 350 a is electrically connected to the connector 616 disposed outside the upper portion 402 of the housing 400. The connector 616 performs signal input / output with the outside.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of a support plate 500 for explaining an optical path in the shaft type torque converter shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, three light emitting elements 330 and plane mirrors 340 are arranged for each angle of θ1 = 120 degrees with the rotation center C1 of the rotation shaft 100 as the center. As a result, in the torque detection unit 320, the optical signal α of the light emitting element 330 that rotates with the rotating shaft 100 is reflected by the plane mirror 340 (that is, the optical path is changed) and received by the light receiving element 350. Whatever the rotational position of the rotary shaft 100, light from at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 is reflected by the plane mirror 340 and received by the light receiving element 350. In FIG. 4, a state where the light signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the rotational position of the rotating shaft 100 is shown as an example.

  FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the shaft type torque converter 1 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the shaft-type torque converter 1 includes an electromagnetic coil 601 that forms a rotary transformer, a rotation-side control circuit 600, and a fixed-side detection circuit 700.

  Electric power is transmitted to the rotating side coil 603 of the electromagnetic coil 601 from the fixed side coil 602 of the facing electromagnetic coil 601, and the fixed side coil 602 is supplied with an oscillation circuit 702 using a power source 703 as a power source, for example, 15 to 20 kHz. Electric power is applied by oscillating an alternating voltage of a certain frequency.

The rotation side control circuit 600 includes a smoothing circuit 604, a stabilizing power supply circuit 605, a strain gauge power supply circuit 606, a Wheatstone bridge circuit 607, an amplifier 608, a filter circuit 609, a voltage / frequency converter 610, and the like.

  The fixed side detection circuit 700 includes an amplifier 701, an oscillation circuit 702, a power supply 703, an AGC circuit 704, a waveform shaping circuit 705, a frequency / voltage conversion circuit 706, a low-pass filter circuit 707, an output buffer circuit 708, an output terminal 709, and the like. Yes.

  In the rotation side control circuit 600 and the fixed side detection circuit 700, the power source of the Wheatstone bridge circuit 607 configured by the strain gauge 310 is a smoothing circuit 604 that rectifies and smoothes the AC voltage induced in the rotation side coil 603 of the electromagnetic coil 601. This is obtained from a strain gauge power supply circuit 606 that uses a DC power supply with a small ripple voltage, further reduces fluctuations in the power supply voltage as much as possible by the stabilized power supply circuit 605, and uses the voltage necessary for the Wheatstone bridge circuit 607.

  The output of the Wheatstone bridge circuit 607 is amplified by the amplifier 608, and after the noise of the extra frequency component is removed by the filter circuit 609, in order to remove the non-linear effects of the light emitting element 330 and the light receiving element 350 to be used later, The signal is converted into a frequency-modulated signal by a voltage / frequency converter (V / F converter) 610 that converts the magnitude into a frequency level.

  Then, the optical signal α emitted from the light emitting element 330 is reflected by the plane mirror 340 (that is, the optical path is changed) and received by the light receiving element 350. At this time, since the electrical signal received by the light receiving element 350 has a small amplitude, the amplitude variation is adjusted by an AGC circuit (Automatic Gain control Circuit) 704 and the amplitude is amplified to a logic level. The amplified signal is converted into a voltage fluctuation by a frequency / voltage conversion circuit (F / V conversion) 706 through a waveform shaping circuit 705, and further unnecessary noise components are removed by a low-pass filter circuit 707.

  The low-pass filter circuit 707 uses, for example, a known secondary or tertiary Butterworth filter. The low-pass filter circuit 707 is connected to the output buffer circuit 708, and the measured torque value is output to the output terminal 709.

  In the above example, the output signal from the Wheatstone bridge circuit is frequency-modulated and transmitted as it is, but it is A / D converted into a digital signal, and if necessary, further modulated and transmitted. . In that case, the signal received on the fixed side may be output as a digital signal, or may be D / A converted and output as an analog signal.

  As described above, in the axial torque converter 1, the torque information of the rotating shaft 100 detected by the torque detection element 310 is emitted by the light emitting element 330, and the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 is transmitted by the plane mirror 340. The light path is reflected to change the light path, and the light receiving element 350 receives the light. As a result, the light signal α from the light emitting element 330 is always received by the light receiving element 350 while the support plate 500 rotating integrally with the rotating shaft 100 is rotating. That is, while the rotating shaft 100 is rotating, the optical signal α can be transmitted from the light emitting element 330 to the light receiving element 350 without interruption, and the torque acting on the rotating shaft 100 rotating at high speed is always continuously and accurately measured. be able to.

  In the case where it is not always necessary to transmit the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 to the light receiving element 350 without interruption, that is, in the case where the optical signal α is intermittently transmitted, at least one light emitting element 330 is different from the present embodiment. The number of plane mirrors 340 may be at least one corresponding to the number of light emitting elements 330. As a result, the number of optical elements can be reduced, and productivity can be improved and costs can be reduced.

  Next, a modification of the shaft type torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, regarding this modification and each embodiment described below and its modification, the same reference numerals are given to the same configuration as the above-described embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a first modification of the axial torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the shaft type torque converter according to the present modification includes three support mirrors 341 that function as a light reflecting plate of the optical path changing unit instead of the above-described plane mirror 340. .

  The diffusion mirror 341 receives the light signal α of the light emitting element 330 rotating with the rotating shaft 100 by the light receiving element 350 while changing its optical path without uneven illuminance. The light signal α of at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 is reflected by the diffusion mirror 341 and received by the light receiving element 350 regardless of the rotational position of the rotating shaft 100. In FIG. 6, a state where the light signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the rotation position of the rotation shaft 100 is shown as an example.

  According to this modified example, the light receiving element 350 can receive light by changing the optical path so that the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 is reflected in a wider range. That is, according to the present modification, the light signal α of the light emitting element 330 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 100 can be reflected by the diffusion mirror 341 at a large reflection angle without uneven illuminance. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, it is only necessary to provide the support plate 500 with a diffusing mirror 341 that is smaller than the flat mirror 340. Thereby, the inertia weight and air resistance accompanying rotation of the support plate 500 accompanying rotation of the rotating shaft 100 can be reduced, and the occurrence of uneven rotation of the support plate 500 can be more reliably prevented.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second modification of the axial torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In addition, about the structure equivalent to the above-mentioned embodiment, a corresponding code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. As shown in the figure, the shaft type torque converter according to the present modification includes a curved mirror 342 having a convex curved surface 342a on the surface facing the light emitting element 330 instead of the flat mirror 340 serving as an optical path changing unit. The support plate 500 is provided.

  The curved mirror 342 changes the optical path of the light signal α of the light emitting element 330 rotating together with the rotating shaft 100 and applies the light signal α to the light receiving element 350 while changing the optical path. The light signal α of at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 is reflected by the diffusion mirror 342 and received by the light receiving element 350 regardless of the rotational position of the rotating shaft 100. In FIG. 7, a state where the light signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the rotation position of the rotation shaft 100 is shown as an example.

  According to this modification, the optical path of the light signal α of the light emitting element 330 rotating together with the rotating shaft 100 can be changed so as to be reflected by the curved mirror 342 over a wide range. Can be reliably received by the light receiving element 350 at all times. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, it is only necessary to provide the support plate 500 with curved mirrors 342 that are smaller than the flat mirror 340. As a result, the inertia weight and air resistance accompanying the rotation of the support plate 500 accompanying the rotation of the rotating shaft 100 can be reduced, and the occurrence of uneven rotation of the support plate 500 can be more reliably prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a third modification of the axial torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the axial torque converter according to this modification includes a plane mirror 340 and a light emitting element 330 facing the plane mirror 340 in addition to the plane mirror 340 functioning as a light reflecting plate of the optical path changing unit. Between the two, a hologram diffusion plate 343 is provided.

  The axial torque converter according to the present modification diffuses the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 100 by the hologram diffusion plate 343, and then reflects the light by the plane mirror 340 to change the optical path. Change and apply to the light receiving element 350.

  As a result, regardless of the rotational position of the rotary shaft 100, at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 is reflected by the plane mirror 340 and received by the light receiving element 350. In FIG. 8, a state where the light signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the rotation position of the support plate 500 illustrated is shown as an example.

  According to this modification, the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 that rotates together with the rotation shaft 100 is diffused and reflected by the plane mirror 340 by the combination of the plane mirror 340 and the hologram diffusion plate 343, so that the optical signal α On the other hand, the light receiving element 350 can receive light by changing the optical path while performing desired diffusion control. In addition, in this modification, since the hologram diffusion plate 343 is provided, a laser light source with strong irradiation directivity may be used instead of the light emitting diode as the light emitting element 330 as the light source.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where a hologram diffusion plate is used as an example of the light diffusion member is described. However, the member is not necessarily a hologram diffusion plate as long as it is a member having a property of diffusing light. Other light diffusing members such as those of the above composition may be used.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a fourth modification of the axial torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the shaft type torque converter according to the present modification has a convex curved surface 344a that faces the light emitting element 330 instead of the plane mirror 340 serving as an optical path changing unit, and reflects light. The support plate 500 is provided with a plurality of petal-shaped curved mirrors 344 that function as plates.

  The plurality of curved mirrors 344 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the support plate 500, and this interval is such that the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 is transmitted by the curved mirror 344 during the rotation of the rotating shaft 100. The dimensions are such that the light can be reflected and always received by the light receiving element 350 without interruption.

  Accordingly, the plurality of curved mirrors 344 change the optical path of the light signal α from the light emitting element 330 rotating together with the rotating shaft 100 toward the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 350, and receive the light by the light receiving element 350. . The light signal α of at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 is reflected by the curved mirror 344 and can be received by the light receiving element 350 regardless of the rotational position of the rotating shaft 100. In FIG. 9, a state in which the optical signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the illustrated rotational position of the support plate 500 is shown as an example.

  According to this modification, a plurality of curved mirrors 344 are arranged on the support plate 500 instead of a single curved mirror, so that the light emitting element is formed by the curved mirror 344 while reducing the manufacturing cost of each curved mirror itself. The light receiving element 350 can receive light efficiently while condensing the optical signal α from 330.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a fifth modification of the shaft torque converter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the shaft type torque converter according to the present modification includes a light reflecting plate in which a surface facing the light emitting element 330 is formed as a concave curved surface 345a instead of the flat mirror 340 as an optical path changing unit. The support plate 500 is provided with a so-called trumpet-shaped curved mirror 345 functioning as

  The curved mirror 345 changes the optical path while condensing the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 rotating together with the rotating shaft 100 toward the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 350 as in the above-described fourth modification, and changes the optical path. Light is received at 350. In FIG. 10, a state in which the light signals α <b> 2 and α <b> 3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the illustrated rotational position of the support plate 500 is shown as an example.

  According to this modification, the optical path is changed by the light receiving element 350 while the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 rotating together with the rotating shaft 100 is condensed toward the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 350 by the curved mirror 345. Since the light can be received, the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 can always be transmitted to the light receiving element 350 without interruption during the rotation of the rotating shaft 100. Further, since the curved mirror 345 is integrally formed in a trumpet shape, even if a part of the mirror surface is contaminated, the light signal α from the light emitting element 330 is reflected by another part and received by the light receiving element 350. The shaft type torque converter 1 can be used over a long period of time.

  Subsequently, an axial torque converter according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a shaft-type torque converter 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the torque detector and the housing shown in FIG. In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, the description thereof is omitted, and only different configurations will be described.

  The shaft type torque converter 2 of the present embodiment includes a light reflection plate 346 as an optical path changing portion around the support plate 500 in the housing 400. In this case, the light emitting element 330 is attached to the support plate 500 so as to emit an optical signal α toward the outer peripheral side (circumferential outer side) of the support plate 500, and the light reflecting plate 346 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Then, it is attached to the housing 400 so that the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 is reflected.

  The light reflecting plates 346 are continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 100. However, the light reflecting plates 346 are arranged in the longitudinal direction as long as they do not interfere with light transmission without interruption. You may arrange | position intermittently in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 100 in the state which spaced apart the direction edge part slightly.

  In the axial torque converter 2, the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 that rotates with the rotating shaft 100 is reflected by the light reflecting plate 346, the optical path thereof is changed, and the light receiving element 350 receives the light. Regardless of the rotational position of the rotating shaft 100, at least one of the three light emitting elements 330 receives the light signal α by the light receiving element 350 via the light reflecting plate 346. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the optical signals α2 and α3 are received by the light receiving element 350 at the illustrated rotational position of the support plate 500.

  According to the axial torque converter 2 of the present embodiment, the optical path of the light signal α of the light emitting element 330 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 100 is changed by the light reflecting plate 346 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment and its modifications. Thus, the light receiving element 350 can always receive light.

  In addition, since the light reflection plate 346 is attached to the housing 400 instead of being attached to the support plate 500, the number of components mounted on the support plate 500 is reduced, and the size can be reduced. As a result, the inertia weight and air resistance accompanying the rotation of the rotating shaft 100 can be reduced, and the occurrence of blurring of the support plate 500 during the rotation of the rotating shaft 100 can be reliably prevented.

  Next, a shaft type torque converter according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a plan view of an axial torque converter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the axial torque converter 3 of this embodiment includes a hologram diffusion plate 347 for light diffusion between the light emitting element 330 and the light receiving element 350 in the support plate 500. Further, as the light emitting element 330, a laser light source having excellent irradiation directivity may be used instead of using a light emitting diode as in the above-described embodiment and its modifications.

  In the axial torque converter 3, the optical signal α of the light emitting element 330 that rotates together with the rotating shaft 100 is diffused toward a predetermined region via the hologram diffusion plate 347, and its optical path is directed toward the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 350. The light receiving element 350 receives light. As a result, the torque acting on the rotating shaft that rotates at high speed can be reliably transmitted without interruption as an optical signal α from the rotating side to the fixed side as an optical signal α by the optical path changing unit.

  According to the axial torque converter 3 according to the present embodiment, the optical path α can be changed toward the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 350 while diffusing the optical signal α from the light emitting element 330 by the hologram diffusion plate 347. The light signal α from the light emitting element 330 can be reliably received by the light receiving element 350.

  As described above, according to the shaft type torque converter of the present invention, the torque acting on the rotating shaft that rotates at high speed can be reliably and without interruption as an optical signal at the optical path changing unit from the rotating side to the fixed side. Since the torque can be transmitted, the torque detected by the torque detector can always be accurately measured continuously.

  Note that the shape, size, material, and the like of each component described in each of the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof are merely examples. Therefore, it goes without saying that the shape, size, material, and the like thereof can be appropriately changed within a range in which the effects of the present invention can be exhibited.

1, 2 and 3 shaft type torque converter 100 Rotating shaft 110 Torque detection shaft part 200 Shaft support part 210 Bearing 300 Torque detection part 310 Torque detection element 330 Light emitting element (light emitting part)
340 plane mirror (light path changing unit, light reflector)
341 Diffuse mirror (light path changing unit, light reflector)
342, 344, 345 Curved surface mirror (light path changing unit, light reflector)
343, 347 Hologram diffusion plate (optical path changing unit)
346 Light reflector (light path changing part)
350 Light receiving element (light receiving part)
400 Housing 500 Support plate α Optical signal (α1, α2, α3)

Claims (7)

In a shaft type torque converter that converts torque acting on the rotating shaft into an output signal,
A rotation shaft on which torque acts, a shaft support portion that rotatably supports the rotation shaft, and a torque detection portion that detects a torque acting on the rotation shaft and transmits a detection signal,
The torque detection unit includes a torque detection element that detects torque of the rotating shaft, a light emitting unit that emits a torque value obtained from the torque detection element as an optical signal, and an optical path of the optical signal from the light emission unit. An axial torque converter comprising: an optical path changing unit that changes; and a light receiving unit that receives the optical signal whose optical path has been changed by the optical path changing unit.   The shaft type torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit is disposed on a rotating side, and the light receiving unit is disposed on a fixed side.   The said optical path change part and a light emission part are provided in the support plate attached to the said rotation side, The said optical path change part is arrange | positioned in the radial inside rather than the said light emission part, The Claim 1 or Claim characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The shaft type torque converter according to 2.   The said light emission part is provided in the support plate attached to the said rotation side, The said optical path change part was provided in the said fixed side so that the said support plate might be enclosed, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. A shaft type torque converter as described in 1.   5. The axial torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit includes at least one light emitting element, and the optical path changing unit includes at least one light reflecting plate. .   6. The optical path changing unit includes a light reflecting plate provided on the support plate and a light diffusing member interposed between the light reflecting plate and a light emitting element corresponding to the light reflecting plate. A shaft type torque converter as described in 1. The optical path changing unit and the light emitting unit are provided on a support plate attached to the rotating side, the optical path changing unit is made of a light diffusing member, and the light diffusing member is positioned between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The shaft type torque converter according to claim 1, wherein the shaft type torque converter is provided in the support plate.

Images