Torque sensing instruments

Claim 2

An instrument for measuring torque, said instrument comprising: a. a torque sensing unit adapted to transmit torque, said torque sensing unit including; 1. a shaft member, 2. a sleeve member, 3. sleeve support means supporting said sleeve member to said shaft member with a substantially tubular portion of said sleeve member extending along said shaft member in radially spaced concentric relation thereto, 4. means defining a plurality of relatively small radial holes in said tubular portion of said sleeve member beyond said sleeve support means, 5. a plurality of first reference members supported to said shaft member beyond said sleeve support means in radial relation to said shaft member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in said sleeve member, 6. a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in confronting spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that radial hole, 7. adjusting means for moving said second reference members individually to provide selective adjustment of the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface in confronting spaced relation thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces in confronting spaced relation thereto.

Claim 3

An annular collar integral at one end thereof with said shaft member and extending toward said one end of said shaft member in spaced surrounding concentric relation to said segment,

Claim 4

An annular collar integral at one end thereof with said shaft member and extending toward said one end of said shaft member in spaced surrounding concentric relation to said segment,

Claim 5

a plurality of restrictor members supported by said sleeve membeR in equally spaced confronting relation to the orifices of the corresponding ones of said nozzle members,

Claim 6

a plurality of restrictor members supported by said sleeve membeR in equally spaced confronting relation to the orifices of the corresponding ones of said nozzle members,

Claim 7

a sleeve member,

Claim 8

a sleeve member,

Claim 9

a sleeve member surrounding said support member,

Claim 10

a sleeve member surrounding said support member,

Claim 11

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said second reference members comprise threaded reference screws adjustably supported in tangential relation to said sleeve member in mating threaded reference screw holes therein and facing in the same circumferential direction, said second reference surfaces being defined by the respective end faces of said threaded reference screws at right angles to the axes thereof and in parallel confronting relation to the corresponding first reference surfaces defined by said first reference members.

Claim 12

a sleeve member surrounding said support member,

Claim 13

a sleeve member surrounding said support member,

Claim 14

An instrument according to claim 1 in which all of said first reference surfaces face in the same circumferential direction, said instrument including nozzle means defining in each of said first reference members a tangentially facing orifice surrounded by the corresponding first reference surface of that reference member and passageway means providing passageways for conducting a pressurized fluid to all of such orifices, said gaging means being adapted to measure the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces by determining the restriction to fluid flow imposed on said orifices by the respective second reference surfaces in confronting relation thereto.

Claim 15

connecting means connecting said sleeve member and said support member, said connecting means being adapted to distort under the influence of torque transmitted through said unit to produce torque responsive relative rotation between said sleeve member and said support member,

Claim 16

connecting means connecting said sleeve member and said support member, said connecting means being adapted to distort under the influence of torque transmitted through said unit to produce torque responsive relative rotation between said sleeve member and said support member,

Claim 17

connecting means connecting said sleeve member and said support member, said connecting means being adapted to distort under the influence of torque transmitted through said unit to produce torque responsive relative rotation between said sleeve member and said support member,

Claim 18

connecting means connecting said sleeve member and said support member, said connecting means being adapted to distort under the influence of torque transmitted through said unit to produce torque responsive relative rotation between said sleeve member and said support member,

Claim 19

sleeve support means supporting said sleeve member to said shaft member with a substantially tubular portion of said sleeve member extending along said shaft member in radially spaced concentric relation thereto,

Claim 20

sleeve support means supporting said sleeve member to said shaft member with a substantially tubular portion of said sleeve member extending along said shaft member in radially spaced concentric relation thereto,

Claim 21

passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to said orifices, and

Claim 22

passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to said orifices, and

Claim 23

a tubular sleeve surrounding said shaft member in spaced concentric relation thereto, said sleeve being supported by said collar and extending axially along said shaft member beyond said collar toward the other end of said shaft member opposite said one end thereof, and

Claim 24

a tubular sleeve surrounding said shaft member in spaced concentric relation thereto, said sleeve being supported by said collar and extending axially along said shaft member beyond said collar toward the other end of said shaft member opposite said one end thereof, and

Claim 25

means adapting said shaft member to be coupled to a device for transmitting torque through said shaft member, and b. gaging means for sensing relative rotational displacement produced by such torque between said sleeve and a predetermined increment of said shaft member between said collar and said other end of said shaft member, said gaging means comprising

Claim 26

means adapting said shaft member to be coupled to a device for transmitting torque through said shaft member, and b. gaging means for sensing relative rotational displacement produced by such torque between said sleeve and a predetermined increment of said shaft member between said collar and said other end of said shaft member, said gaging means comprising

Claim 27

means for monitoring the escape of pressurized fluid from said passageway means through said orifices.

Claim 28

means for monitoring the escape of pressurized fluid from said passageway means through said orifices.

Claim 29

means defining a plurality of relatively small radial holes in said tubular portion of said sleeve member beyond said sleeve support means, 5. a plurality of first reference members supported to said shaft member beyond said sleeve support means in radial relation to said shaft member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in said sleeve member,

Claim 30

means defining a plurality of relatively small radial holes in said tubular portion of said sleeve member beyond said sleeve support means, 5. a plurality of first reference members supported to said shaft member beyond said sleeve support means in radial relation to said shaft member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in said sleeve member,

Claim 31

means defining a plurality of radial holes in said sleeve member radially adjacent said support membEr,

Claim 32

means defining a plurality of radial holes in said sleeve member radially adjacent said support membEr,

Claim 33

An instrument according to claim 3 including valve means for selectively blocking the passage of pressurized fluid to each of said nozzle means.

Claim 34

means defining a plurality of openings in said sleeve member adjacent said support member,

Claim 35

means defining a plurality of openings in said sleeve member adjacent said support member,

Claim 36

a plurality of first reference members supported by said support member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said openings in said sleeve member,

Claim 37

a plurality of first reference members supported by said support member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said openings in said sleeve member,

Claim 38

An instrument according to claim 3 in which said gaging means is responsive to changes in fluid pressure within said passageways.

Claim 39

a plurality of first reference members radially supported by said support member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in said sleeve member,

Claim 40

a plurality of first reference members radially supported by said support member, each of said first reference members including means defining a first reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in said sleeve member,

Claim 41

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in confronting spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that radial hole,

Claim 42

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in confronting spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that radial hole,

Claim 43

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in confronting spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that radial hole,

Claim 44

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said radial holes in confronting spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that radial hole,

Claim 45

An instrument according to claim 3 in which said passageway means includes a central passageway extending along the axis of said shaft member, said shaft member also including a stiffness reducing hole larger than said central passageway and coaxial therewith, said stiffness reducing hole extending into the portion of said shaft member between said sleeve support means and said first reference members to reduce the torsional stiffness of that portion of said shaft member.

Claim 46

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said openings in adjacent spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that opening,

Claim 47

a plurality of second reference members supported by said sleeve member, each of said second reference members including means defining a second reference surface located within a corresponding one of said openings in adjacent spaced relation to the first reference surface located within that opening,

Claim 48

adjusting means for individually adjusting the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface adjacent thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding adjacent second reference surfaces.

Claim 49

adjusting means for individually adjusting the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface adjacent thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding adjacent second reference surfaces.

Claim 50

adjusting means for moving said second reference members individually to provide selective adjustment of the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface in confronting spaced relation thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces in confronting spaced relation thereto.

Claim 51

adjusting means for moving said second reference members individually to provide selective adjustment of the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface in confronting spaced relation thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces in confronting spaced relation thereto.

Claim 52

An instrument according to claim 3 in which said sensing unit includes a filter means adapted to filter fluid conducted to said nozzle means through said passageways.

Claim 53

adjusting means for moving said second reference members individually to provide selective adjustment of the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface in confronting spaced relation thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces in confronting spaced relation thereto.

Claim 54

adjusting means for moving said second reference members individually to provide selective adjustment of the spacing between each of said first reference surfaces and the corresponding second reference surface in confronting spaced relation thereto, and b. gaging means for measuring variations in the combined distance by which said first reference surfaces are spaced from the corresponding second reference surfaces in confronting spaced relation thereto.

Claim 55

An instrument according to claim 7 in which said filter means comprises an annular filter disk supported by a removable annular member surrounding said shaft member.

Claim 56

An instrument according to claim 3 in which said sensing unit includes sealing means defining a circuituous channel through which said fluid exhausts from said sensing unit.

Claim 57

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said shaft member, said sleeve member and said sleeve support means are integral with each other.

Claim 58

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said shaft member is provided with a central stiffness reducing hole extending along the axis of said shaft member into the portion tHereof between said sleeve support means and said first reference members to reduce the resistance of that portion of said shaft member to torsional deflection.

Claim 59

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said sleeve support means comprises: a. an annular sleeve support collar integral with said shaft member, said sleeve support collar being supported at one end to said shaft member and extending axially of said shaft member in radially spaced relation thereto, b. means defining a first sleeve support surface on said sleeve support collar, and c. means defining a second sleeve support surface on said sleeve member engaged with said first sleeve support surface of said sleeve support collar.

Claim 60

An instrument according to claim 12 in which said first sleeve support surface comprises a peripheral surface of said sleeve support collar, said second sleeve support surface comprising an internal surface of said sleeve member in mating interference engagement with said peripheral surface of said sleeve support collar.

Claim 61

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said sensing unit is provided with at least three pairs of said first and second reference surfaces spaced in equiangular relation to each other with respect to the axis of said shaft member.

Claim 62

An instrument according to claim 1 including an indicator member provided with a deformable tip and means adjustably supporting said indicator member to said sleeve member to position said tip in adjustable spaced relation to a lateral surface of one of said first reference members opposite the corresponding second reference surface associated with that one of said first reference members.

Claim 63

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said sleeve support means comprises: a. an annular sleeve support flange integral with said shaft member, b. an annular sleeve support collar integral with said sleeve support flange and extending axially of said shaft member in radially spaced relation thereto, c. means defining a first sleeve support surface on said sleeve support collar, and d. means defining a second sleeve support surface on said sleeve member engaged with said first sleeve support surface of said sleeve support collar.

Claim 64

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said first reference members are of generally cylindrical configuration, and are supported by mating engagement with radial supporting holes in said shaft member.

Claim 65

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said sensing unit includes: a. an annular reference member support collar integral with said shaft member, said reference member support collar being supported at one end to said shaft member and extending axially of said shaft member in radially spaced relation thereto, and b. means supporting said first reference members from said reference member support collar.

Claim 66

An instrument according to claim 1 including substantially frictionless annular bearing means surrounding said shaft member and engaged with a portion of said sleeve member adjacent said reference members to prevent radial movement of that portion of said sleeve member relative to said shaft member without significantly effecting relative rotational movement between said shaft member and said sleeve member.

Claim 67

An instrument according to claim 1 in which said radial holes in said sleeve member are substantially cylindrical.

Claim 68

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. a torque transmitting unit including:

Claim 69

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. a torque transmitting unit including:

Claim 70

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. a torque transmitting unit including:

Claim 71

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. a torque transmitting unit including:

Claim 72

A torque measuring instrument for measuring the torque to which a rotatable torque transmitting member is subjected, said instrument comprising: a. at least three sets of reference members each of which includes a nozzle member provided with an orifice facing circumferentially of said torque transmitting member and a restrictor member defining a restrictor surface confronting said orifice in spaced relation thereto, b. nozzle support means supporting said nozzle members to a first portion of said torque transmitting member with no two of said nozzle members diametrically opposite each other relative to the rotational axis of said torque transmitting member, c. restrictor member support means supporting said restrictor members to a second portion of said torque transmitting member adapted to rotate relative to said first portion thereof under the influence of torque transmitted through said torque transmitting member, d. passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to the orifices of all of said nozzle members, and e. gaging means for monitoring the flow capacity of all of said orifices while said shaft member is subjected to torque, said reference members being disposed relative to each other and to the axis of rotation of said torque transmitting member such that bending of said torque transmitting member along a bending plane coincident with said axis causes a reduction in the flow capacity oF the orifices at one side of said plane and an equal counteracting increase in the flow capacity of the orifices at the opposite side of said plane.

Claim 73

A torque measuring instrument for measuring the torque to which a rotatable torque transmitting member is subjected, said instrument comprising: a. at least three sets of reference members each of which includes a nozzle member provided with an orifice facing circumferentially of said torque transmitting member and a restrictor member defining a restrictor surface confronting said orifice in spaced relation thereto, b. nozzle support means supporting said nozzle members to a first portion of said torque transmitting member with no two of said nozzle members diametrically opposite each other relative to the rotational axis of said torque transmitting member, c. restrictor member support means supporting said restrictor members to a second portion of said torque transmitting member adapted to rotate relative to said first portion thereof under the influence of torque transmitted through said torque transmitting member, d. passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to the orifices of all of said nozzle members, and e. gaging means for monitoring the flow capacity of all of said orifices while said shaft member is subjected to torque, said reference members being disposed relative to each other and to the axis of rotation of said torque transmitting member such that bending of said torque transmitting member along a bending plane coincident with said axis causes a reduction in the flow capacity oF the orifices at one side of said plane and an equal counteracting increase in the flow capacity of the orifices at the opposite side of said plane.

Claim 74

An instrument according to claim 23 in which said nozzle members project radially outwardly relative to the rotational axis of said torque transmitting member.

Claim 75

An instrument according to claim 23 comprising three nozzle members projecting radially outwardly relative to said torque transmitting member at an angle of approximately 120* with respect to each other, said nozzle members being substantially in radial alignment with a common point along said axis of said torque transmitting member.

Claim 76

A torque measuring instrument for measuring the torque to which a rotatable torque transmitting member is subjected, said instrument comprising: a. an odd numbered plurality of sets of reference members each of which includes a nozzle member provided with an orifice facing circumferentially of the said torque transmitting member and a restrictor member defining a restrictor surface confronting said orifice in spaced relation thereto, b. nozzle support means supporting said nozzle members to a first portion of said torque transmitting member in substantially equiangular relation to each other relative to the rotational axis of said torque transmitting member, whereby no two of said nozzle members are diametrically opposite each other, c. restrictor member support means supporting said restrictor members to a second portion of said torque transmitting member that is rotationally displaced relative to said first portion of said torque transmitting member by the torsional distortion experienced by said torque transmitting member under the influence of torque transmitting therethrough, d. passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to the orifices of all of said nozzle members, and e. gaging means for monitoring the combined fluid conducting capacity of all of said orifices while said torque transmitting member is subjected to transmitted torque, said reference members being disposed relative to each other and to the axis of rotation of said torque transmitting member such that bending of said torque transmitting member along a bending plane coincident with said axis causes a reduction in the flow capacity of the orifices at one side of said plane and an equal counteracting increase in the flow capacity of the orifices at the opposite side of said plane.

Claim 77

A torque measuring instrument for measuring the torque to which a rotatable torque transmitting member is subjected, said instrument comprising: a. an odd numbered plurality of sets of reference members each of which includes a nozzle member provided with an orifice facing circumferentially of the said torque transmitting member and a restrictor member defining a restrictor surface confronting said orifice in spaced relation thereto, b. nozzle support means supporting said nozzle members to a first portion of said torque transmitting member in substantially equiangular relation to each other relative to the rotational axis of said torque transmitting member, whereby no two of said nozzle members are diametrically opposite each other, c. restrictor member support means supporting said restrictor members to a second portion of said torque transmitting member that is rotationally displaced relative to said first portion of said torque transmitting member by the torsional distortion experienced by said torque transmitting member under the influence of torque transmitting therethrough, d. passageway means for conducting a pressurized fluid to the orifices of all of said nozzle members, and e. gaging means for monitoring the combined fluid conducting capacity of all of said orifices while said torque transmitting member is subjected to transmitted torque, said reference members being disposed relative to each other and to the axis of rotation of said torque transmitting member such that bending of said torque transmitting member along a bending plane coincident with said axis causes a reduction in the flow capacity of the orifices at one side of said plane and an equal counteracting increase in the flow capacity of the orifices at the opposite side of said plane.

Claim 78

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. A sensing unit including

Claim 79

A torque sensing instrument comprising: a. A sensing unit including

Claim 80

An instrument according to claim 27 in which the smallest external diameter of the portion of said shaft member surrounded by said sleeve beyond said collar is larger than the internal diameter of said collar.

Claim 81

A torque sensing unit comprising a. a rotatable assembly, b. a nozzle member carried by and rotatable with said rotatable assembly, said nozzle member including an orifice spaced radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of said rotatable assembly, c. a restrictor member adapted to restrict the fluid conducting capacity of said orifice in accordance with the rotational distortion experienced by a predetermined portion of said rotatable assembly under the influence of a torsional load transmitted therethrough, d. means defining a chamber within said rotatable assembly surrounding said orifice, e. first passageway means in said rotatable assembly defining a first opening to the exterior of said rotatable assembly radially inwardly from the rotational path of said orifice and in communication with said orifice through said nozzle member, f. second passageway means in said rotatable assembly defining a second opening to the exterior of said rotatable assembly radially inwardly from the rotational path of said orifice and in communication with said chamber, and g. rotary sealing means defining a stationary fluid passageway in fluid-tight communication with one of said openings.

Claim 82

A torque sensing unit comprising a. a rotatable assembly, b. a nozzle member carried by and rotatable with said rotatable assembly, said nozzle member including an orifice spaced radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of said rotatable assembly, c. a restrictor member adapted to restrict the fluid conducting capacity of said orifice in accordance with the rotational distortion experienced by a predetermined portion of said rotatable assembly under the influence of a torsional load transmitted therethrough, d. means defining a chamber within said rotatable assembly surrounding said orifice, e. first passageway means in said rotatable assembly defining a first opening to the exterior of said rotatable assembly radially inwardly from the rotational path of said orifice and in communication with said orifice through said nozzle member, f. second passageway means in said rotatable assembly defining a second opening to the exterior of said rotatable assembly radially inwardly from the rotational path of said orifice and in communication with said chamber, and g. rotary sealing means defining a stationary fluid passageway in fluid-tight communication with one of said openings.