Torque determination system and method

• Main Authors: Appleton, Andy B, White, Robert J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.03.2021
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MEASURING; MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER,MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PHYSICS; TESTING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

The system and method determines the torque applied to a rotating shaft by a load. A first sensor detects rotation of a first wheel and a second sensor detects rotation of a second wheel. A third sensor is proximate to the first sensor. A processor determines: 1) a magnitude of a phase angle (φA) based on the first and second sensors and having an unknown sign; 2) a magnitude of a phase angle (φB) based on the second and third sensors and having an unknown sign; and 3) a magnitude of a phase angle (φC) based on the first and third sensors and having a known sign. The processor determines a sign of the phase angle (φA) based on the values of the phase angles (φB) and (φC) and determines a torque value from the load applied to the shaft at least in part based on the magnitude and sign of the phase angle (φA).