Torque detecting device

Claim 1

A torque detecting system comprising: an input shaft positionable in a neutral position; an output shaft defining first and second slits, said first and second slits each having opposite slit ends; a converting means for converting torque applied to said input shaft to an axial force between said input shaft and said output shaft, said converting means comprising a rotatable bearing and a pin extending perpendicularly through said input shaft, said pin having first and second pin ends projecting from said input shaft and positioned in said first and second slits, respectively, said rotatable bearing being attached to said first pin end; a slider fitted about said output shaft and having a slider axis, said slider being movable axially along said output shaft by said converting means and rotatable with said output shaft about the slider axis, said slider defining a spiral groove in which said rotatable bearing is disposed and along which said bearing is rotatably movable, said spiral groove having spiral groove ends; a detecting means for electrically detecting axial movement of said slider; and a returning means for returning said input shaft to the neutral position; wherein said pin and said first and second slits define at least in part a manual locking mechanism which can limit axial movement of said slider and transmit manual rotation of said input shaft to said output shaft; and wherein said first and second slits, said spiral groove, said pin and said rotatable bearing are structurally configured and interrelated so that said first and second ends of said pins engaged said slit ends of said first and second slits, respectively, before said rotatable bearing engages either of said spiral groove ends, to thereby minimize an forces imposed on said rotatable bearing by the operation of said manual locking mechanism.