Force hub sensor for control wheel steering

Claim 2

In combination with first and second concentric sleeve members, the inside diameter of the outer one of said sleeve members exceeding the outside diameter of the inner one of said sleeve members, means for establishing a predetermined force to mechanical displacement ratio between said first and second concentric sleeve members, comprising bearing means communicating with said sleeve members and mounted therebetween, said bearing means maintaining concentricity between said first and second sleeve members and permitting both relative rotation about a rotational axis common to said sleeve members and axial translation between said sleeve members along said rotational axis, an annular ring-like elastic member carried within the radial space between said first and second sleeve members, said first and second sleeve members having respective radial dimensions establishing a predetermined radial clearance between said elastic member and each of said sleeve members, said elastic member communicating with first and second diametrically opposed mounting surfaces, said mounting surfaces having respective radial dimensions establishing juxtaposition of one of said mounting surfaces with the outer surface of said inner sleeve member and the other of said mounting surfaces with the inside surface of said outer sleeve member while maintaining concentricity between said elastic member and said sleeve members, and means for rigidly affixing said elastic member mounting surfaces with said respective juxtaposed ones of said inner and outer sleeve member surfaces, whereby said relative rotation and axial translation between said first and second sleeve members is effected against predetermined restraints imposed by the geometry and resilient characteristics of said elastic member.

Claim 3

Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic member comprises at least one pair of coplanar annular segments terminated in said first and second mounting surfaces, each of said segments being rectangular in cross section and having a radially extending dimension generally in excess of the thickness thereof.

Claim 4

Means as defined in claim 1 further comprising mechanical stop means associated with said inner sleeve member and cooperating with mechanical stop limit means associated with said outer sleeve member to establish predetermined maximum relative rotation and relative translation limits between said first and second sleeve members.

Claim 5

Means as defined in claim 3 wherein said mechanical stop means comprises a through-aperture formed in said outer sleeve member and generally juxtaposed with a first one of said mounting surfaces associated with said elastic member, the radial dimension of first elastic member mounting surface being extended to project within the confines of said through-aperture to establish a predetermined clearance between the extreme dimensions of surface extension and the radially extending walls of said through-aperture, whereby application of forces in response to which predetermined rotational and translational limits are exceeded between said first and second sleeve members effects an abutting communication between said mounting member extension and the walls of said through-aperture.

Claim 6

Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic member comprises a paralleled plurality of coplanar pairs of said annular segments.

Claim 7

Means as defined in claim 5 wherein said elastic member and the first and second mounting surfaces associated therewith are integrally formed from a common elastic material.

Claim 8

In combination with first and second concentric sleeve members, means for measuring forces applied to effect relative rotation about a rotational axis common to said sleeve members and axial translation of said first sleeve member with respect to said second sleeve member along said rotational axis comprising means for mounting said second sleeve member concentrically within said first sleeve member, said means for mounting establishing a spaced relationship between said sleeve members and permitting relative rotation and axial translation therebetween, said second sleeve member being connected to a mechanical load presenting predetermined forces resisting said rotation and axial translation between said sleeve members, an annular ring-like elastic member carried transverse the longitudinal axes of said sleeve members and within the radial space therebetween and having dimensions establishing radial clearance with said respective sleeve members, said elastic member communicating with first and second diametrically opposed mounting surfaces the respective radial dimensions of which permit juxtaposition of one of said mounting surfaces with the outer surface of said inner sleeve member and of the other of said mounting surfaces with the inside surface of said outer sleeve member while maintaining concentricity between said elastic member and said first and second sleeve members, means for rigidly affixing said mounting surfaces with said respective juxtaposed ones of said inner and outer sleeve member surfaces whereby application of forces to said first sleeve member effecting relative rotation between said sleeve members and axial translation between said sleeve members against the restraints of said elastic member bear a predetermined applied force-to-mechanical displacement rAtio defined by the geometry and resilient characteristics of said elastic member, and transducer means responsive to relative rotation and translation between said sleeve members to establish first and second output signals respectively proportional to said relative rotation and translation.

Claim 9

In combination with first and second concentric sleeve members, means for measuring forces applied to effect relative rotation about a rotational axis common to said sleeve members and axial translation of said first sleeve member with respect to said second sleeve member along said rotational axis comprising means for mounting said second sleeve member concentrically within said first sleeve member, said means for mounting establishing a spaced relationship between said sleeve members and permitting relative rotation and axial translation therebetween, said second sleeve member being connected to a mechanical load presenting predetermined forces resisting said rotation and axial translation between said sleeve members, an annular ring-like elastic member carried transverse the longitudinal axes of said sleeve members and within the radial space therebetween and having dimensions establishing radial clearance with said respective sleeve members, said elastic member communicating with first and second diametrically opposed mounting surfaces the respective radial dimensions of which permit juxtaposition of one of said mounting surfaces with the outer surface of said inner sleeve member and of the other of said mounting surfaces with the inside surface of said outer sleeve member while maintaining concentricity between said elastic member and said first and second sleeve members, means for rigidly affixing said mounting surfaces with said respective juxtaposed ones of said inner and outer sleeve member surfaces whereby application of forces to said first sleeve member effecting relative rotation between said sleeve members and axial translation between said sleeve members against the restraints of said elastic member bear a predetermined applied force-to-mechanical displacement rAtio defined by the geometry and resilient characteristics of said elastic member, and transducer means responsive to relative rotation and translation between said sleeve members to establish first and second output signals respectively proportional to said relative rotation and translation.

Claim 10

Means as defined in claim 7 wherein said transducer means comprises respective strain gauge means mounted on said elastic member.

Claim 11

Means as defined in claim 7 wherein said elastic member comprises at least one pair of coplanar annular segments terminated in said first and second mounting surfaces, each of said segments being rectangular in cross section and having a radially extending dimension generally in excess of the thickness thereof.

Claim 12

Means as defined in claim 7 wherein said elastic member comprises a paralleled plurality of coplanar pairs of said annular segments.

Claim 13

Means as defined in claim 7 further comprising mechanical stop means associated with said inner sleeve member and cooperating with mechanical stop limit means associated with said outer sleeve member to establish predetermined maximum relative rotation and relative translation limits between said first and second sleeve members.

Claim 14

Means as defined in claim 11 wherein said mechanical stop means comprises a through-aperture formed in said outer sleeve member and generally juxtaposed with a first one of said mounting surfaces associated with said elastic member, the radial dimension of first elastic member mounting surface being extended to project within the confines of said through-aperture to establish a predetermined clearance between the extreme dimensions of surface extension and the radially extending walls of said through-aperture, whereby application of forces in response to which predetermined rotational and translational limits are exceeded between said first and second sleeve members effects an abutting communication between said mounting member extension and the walls of said through-aperture.

Claim 15

Means as defined in claim 12 wherein said transducer means comprises respective strain gauge means mounted on said elastic member.

Claim 16

Means as defined in claim 12 wherein said elastic member comprises at least one pair of coplanar annular segments terminated in said first and second mounting surfaces, each of said segments being rectangular in cross section and having a radially extending dimension generally in excess of the thickness thereof.

Claim 17

Means as defined in claim 14 wherein said elastic member and the first and second mounting surfaces associated therewith are integrally formed from a common elastic material.

Claim 18

Means as defined in claim 12 wherein said elastic member comprises a paralleled plurality of coplanar pairs of said annular segments.

Claim 19

Means as defined in claim 16 wherein said elastic member and the first and second mounting surfaces associated therewith are integrally formed from a common elastic material.