US3742340A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inductive angle position transducer
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-25
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1992-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An angular position transducer wherein the stator comprises a generally cup-shaped housing of high permeability material the bottom thereof supporting diametrically opposed primary and secondary pole pieces and windings and the side walls thereof constituting a portion of the return path for magnetic flux; the rotor comprises a windingless shorted turn member including a ring or annulus of electrically conductive, non-magnetic material with a diametric shorting portion and adapted to overlie the open ends of the side walls of the housing. The radial spacing of the primary and secondary pole pieces is less than the internal radius of the rotor ring and the diametric shorting portion of the rotor at its null position symmetrically overlies the secondary overlying pole pieces. The magnetic flux return path is provided as an integral part of the rotor and comprises a further ring or annulus of high permeability material concentric with the conductive non-magnetic ring but having an internal diameter substantially less than that of the conductive ring so that it overlies both primary and secondary pole pieces. Alternatively, the rotor flux return path can be a complete disk. This configuration provides an axial running clearance only and thereby eliminates the precision machining normally required with stationary iron-to-iron air gaps. The construction is such that the output signal null position is insensitive to axial and radial translations sometimes unavoidable in the bearings supporting the rotor. The transducer is simple in construction and economical to manufacture using conventional fabrication techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kiedrowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/20; G01D5/204; G01D5/2053; G01D5/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
An angular position transducer comprising an input member mounted for rotation about an axis, a rotor mounted on said member and rotatable therewith, and a stator positioned adjacent to said rotor and disposed symmetrically about said axis, said rotor including a generally planar shorted-turn member and a generally planar high permeability member, both fixedly mounted in adjacent relation on said member and disposed transversely and symmetrically about said axis, said shorted-turn member being constructed of a high conductivity non-magnetic material and containing a ring-like portion intersected by a diametrical portion so as to form first and second current paths, each of said current paths consisting of a different semi-circular region of said ringlike portion and said diametrical portion, said high permeability member being diametrically substantially coextensive with said ring-like portion, said stator including a housing fabricated from a high permeability material and including a transversely extending base means and longitudinally extending outer wall means together forming an open-ended housing, said rotor and stator being so relatively positioned that said shorted-turn member overlies the open end of said housing, first magnetic means within said housing for inducing oppositely directed currents in the ring-like portions of said first and second current paths respectively, and second magnetic means within said housing inductively coupled to said shorted-turn member and positioned to respond to currents flowing in the region of the intersection of said ring-like portion and said diametrical portion for proving an output signal proportional to the relative angular displacement of said rotor and stator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
An angular position transducer comprising an input member mounted for rotation about an axis, a rotor mounted on said member and rotatable therewith, and a stator positioned adjacent to said rotor and disposed symmetrically about said axis, said rotor including a generally planar shorted-turn member and a generally planar high permeability member, both fixedly mounted in adjacent relation on said member and disposed transversely and symmetrically about said axis, said shorted-turn member being constructed of a high conductivity non-magnetic material and containing a ring-like portion intersected by a diametrical portion so as to form first and second current paths, each of said current paths consisting of a different semi-circular region of said ringlike portion and said diametrical portion, said high permeability member being diametrically substantially coextensive with said ring-like portion, said stator including a housing fabricated from a high permeability material and including a transversely extending base means and longitudinally extending outer wall means together forming an open-ended housing, said rotor and stator being so relatively positioned that said shorted-turn member overlies the open end of said housing, first magnetic means within said housing for inducing oppositely directed currents in the ring-like portions of said first and second current paths respectively, and second magnetic means within said housing inductively coupled to said shorted-turn member and positioned to respond to currents flowing in the region of the intersection of said ring-like portion and said diametrical portion for proving an output signal proportional to the relative angular displacement of said rotor and stator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The transducer of claim 1 in which said second magnetic means includes first and second secondary coils each mounted on separate longitudinally extending magnetic cores positioned diametrically opposite each other on said transverse base means, said cores being mounted at a distance from said axis no greater than the internal radius of said ring-like portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The transducer of claim 2 wherein said first and second secondary coils are connected in series opposing relationship whereby to provide an output signal proportional to the relative angular displacement of said rotor and stator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The transducer of claim 3 wherein the first magnetic means includes first and second primary coils each mounted on separate longitudinally extending magnetic cores positioned diametrically opposite each other in said transverse base means on a line at right angles to the diameter containing said secondary coils, all of said coils being further positioned equidistant from said axis, said first and second coils being connected to induce first and second counter-rotating currents, respectively, in said ring-like portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transducer of claim 4 wherein the shorted turn Member has an electrical conductivity much greater than the high permeability member and wherein the shorted turn member and high permeability member form an integral, unitary transducer rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transducer of claim 5 wherein the outside transverse dimension of the housing is substantially equal to the diameter of the shorted-turn member and the high permeability member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said wall means is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The transducer of claim 1 wherein said wall means includes a plurality of flat tab-like members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
241 words
An angular position transducer comprising a rotor supported for rotation about an axis and a stator arranged symmetrically about the same axis, said stator member including: a housing formed of high permeability material, including transverse circular base means and longitudinally extending wall means formed along the periphery of the base means, a plurality of coil means supported on individual longitudinally extending magnetic cores within said housing and disposed at 90* intervals along an annulus on said base means, a first pair of said coil means being supported on diametrically opposite magnetic cores and connected in series opposing relationship, a second pair of said coil means being supported on the remaining magnetic cores and connected in series opposing relationship, said rotor including: a planar electrically conducting non-magnetic member and a high permeability disk member both mounted integrally on a common rotatable input member and coaxial with said axis, said conducting member including a flat ring-line portion intersected by a flat diametrical portion, said ring-like member having an internal diameter at least as great as the diameter of said annulus and being symmetrically disposed about said axis in a transverse plane in close proximity to the open end of said housing, said high permeability disk member being symmetrically disposed about said axis in a transverse plane adjacent said conducting member, means to supply alternating current to the first pair of coils, and means to connect output apparatus across said second pair of coils.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
241 words
An angular position transducer comprising a rotor supported for rotation about an axis and a stator arranged symmetrically about the same axis, said stator member including: a housing formed of high permeability material, including transverse circular base means and longitudinally extending wall means formed along the periphery of the base means, a plurality of coil means supported on individual longitudinally extending magnetic cores within said housing and disposed at 90* intervals along an annulus on said base means, a first pair of said coil means being supported on diametrically opposite magnetic cores and connected in series opposing relationship, a second pair of said coil means being supported on the remaining magnetic cores and connected in series opposing relationship, said rotor including: a planar electrically conducting non-magnetic member and a high permeability disk member both mounted integrally on a common rotatable input member and coaxial with said axis, said conducting member including a flat ring-line portion intersected by a flat diametrical portion, said ring-like member having an internal diameter at least as great as the diameter of said annulus and being symmetrically disposed about said axis in a transverse plane in close proximity to the open end of said housing, said high permeability disk member being symmetrically disposed about said axis in a transverse plane adjacent said conducting member, means to supply alternating current to the first pair of coils, and means to connect output apparatus across said second pair of coils.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrical transducer of the inductive, shorted turn type having stator and rotor members supported for relative movement and having an air gap therebetween, said stator member including a base of high permeability material including a plurality of input and output core and winding elements and magnetic flux return portions, said core elements and flux return portions being arranged to provide substantially parallel magnetic flux paths across said air gap, said rotor comprising a first rotor member including a substantially planar shorted turn element of electrically conductive non-magnetic material disposed for movement in a plane perpendicular to said parallel flux paths and cooperable therewith to couple currents between said input and output windings dependent upon relative movement of said rotor member therebetween, and a second substantially planar flux return path member of high permeability material integrally mounted on and moveable with said rotor whereby to define but a single axial air gap threaded by said magnetic flux.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
An electrical transducer of the inductive, shorted turn type having stator and rotor members supported for relative movement and having an air gap therebetween, said stator member including a base of high permeability material including a plurality of input and output core and winding elements and magnetic flux return portions, said core elements and flux return portions being arranged to provide substantially parallel magnetic flux paths across said air gap, said rotor comprising a first rotor member including a substantially planar shorted turn element of electrically conductive non-magnetic material disposed for movement in a plane perpendicular to said parallel flux paths and cooperable therewith to couple currents between said input and output windings dependent upon relative movement of said rotor member therebetween, and a second substantially planar flux return path member of high permeability material integrally mounted on and moveable with said rotor whereby to define but a single axial air gap threaded by said magnetic flux.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electrical position transducer comprising stator and rotor parts supported for relative rotation about a common axis and defining an air gap therebetween, said stator part comprising a base portion extending transversely of said axis and input and output core and coil means supported thereon in spaced symmetrical relation to said axis, said input core and coil means adapted to produce magnetic flux paths through said air gap parallel to said axis, said rotor part comprising a generally planar, shorted turn member of high conductivity non-magnetic material including an arcuate portion and a shorted turn portion and arranged in said air gap flux paths to couple currents between said input and output core and coiL means dependent upon the movement of said rotor member therebetween, and said rotor part comprising a further member of high permeability material integrally mounted on and rotatable with said rotor shorted turn member and having radial dimensions sufficient to provide radial return paths for the magnetic flux paths through said shorted turn portion back to said stator base part whereby to provide but a single axial air gap for said magnetic flux.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electrical position transducer comprising stator and rotor parts supported for relative rotation about a common axis and defining an air gap therebetween, said stator part comprising a base portion extending transversely of said axis and input and output core and coil means supported thereon in spaced symmetrical relation to said axis, said input core and coil means adapted to produce magnetic flux paths through said air gap parallel to said axis, said rotor part comprising a generally planar, shorted turn member of high conductivity non-magnetic material including an arcuate portion and a shorted turn portion and arranged in said air gap flux paths to couple currents between said input and output core and coiL means dependent upon the movement of said rotor member therebetween, and said rotor part comprising a further member of high permeability material integrally mounted on and rotatable with said rotor shorted turn member and having radial dimensions sufficient to provide radial return paths for the magnetic flux paths through said shorted turn portion back to said stator base part whereby to provide but a single axial air gap for said magnetic flux.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
146 words
The transducer as set forth in claim 10 wherein said stator member includes a semi-circular base portion and having flux return side wall portions extending therefrom generally parallel to said axis, said input and output core and coil means being supported thereon in radially spaced relation in orthogonal planes intersecting at said axis and cooperating with said side wall portions to define said magnetic flux paths, said rotor arcuate portion is semicircular and said shorted turn portion is diametrical, said arcuate member magnetically coupling one of said input and output core and coil means and diametrical portion magnetically coupling the others of said core and coil means, and said rotor high permeability member including a corresponding generally planar semicircular portion having a radial dimension such as to provide said radial magnetic flux return path between said core and coil means and said stator side wall portions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |