Developed under a DTI Link programme, Torqsense Transducers are the world's first low cost non-contact rotary torque transducers designed for OEM applications
Sensor Technology of Banbury announces a radical new technology for measuring rotary torque.
Developed under a DTI Link programme, Torqsense Transducers are the world's first low cost non-contact rotary torque transducers designed for OEM applications.
Rotary torque has always been difficult and expensive to measure, but, by using existing technology in a novel way, inexpensive transducers can be produced for situations where monitoring or control of drive mechanisms is required.
The patented method uses a surface acoustic wave device used as a frequency dependent strain gauge and measures the change in resonant frequency caused by the applied strain in the shaft.
The signal is transmitted via an RF couple from the rotating shaft to a fixed pick-up.
By using a frequency based device, the signal bandwidth is increased, and the problem of electronic interference common with analogue signals is eliminated.
In viscosity or extrusion applications the transducer is mounted in line with the drive shaft, and measures the drive torque required to operate the mixer or extruder.
This enables measurements to be made of the relative viscosity or consistency of either small scale laboratory mixes or full scale production quantities, for example in process control situations where ingredients are added to the mix until a desired viscosity is achieved.
Monitoring of slurry, chocolate and cement mixers and extrusion machines are among current applications.
The Torqsense transducers are designed to operate direct from a PLC or a PC, removing the need for conventional instrumentation, and will interface with standard DPM's.
They require minimum length of shaft, have low inertia, no physical contact between shaft and housing, wide bandwidth, high resolution and accuracy, and excellent noise immunity.
The technology lends itself to design of OEM transducers for specific customer applications.
Other applications for the technology include automotive, manufacturing machines, and condition monitoring where knowledge of torque is critical to the performance of the systems, and torque control of tightening procedures.
It is envisaged that the technology will replace existing types of rotary torque transducers by providing better performance at a lower price.
