IP Library Granted Patent US 6,952,973
Granted Patent B2
US 6,952,973 · App. 10/479,071 · Granted Oct 11, 2005

Method for attaching a torque measuring device

Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,952,973
App. No.
10/479,071
Granted
Oct 11, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, e.g., of a rack-and-pinion power-assisted steering system, the torque measurement device is integrally formed locally into the input shaft and/or the output shaft by deformation elements.

Claims (49)

1. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at lease one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steering system includes a rack-and-pinion power-assisted steering system.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the torque measurement device includes a magnetic ring and a sensor, the method further comprising integrally forming the magnetic ring and the sensor into one of the input shaft and the output shaft by the deformation elements.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

arranging the magnetic ring on a cylindrical sheet-metal ring; and

integrally forming the cylindrical sheet-metal ring into the input shaft by the deformation elements.

5. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, the torque measurement device including a magnetic ring and sensor;

integrally forming the magnetic ring and the sensor into one of the input shaft and the output shaft by the deformation elements;

arranging the sensor on a holding plate by a spiral spring; and

integrally forming the holding plate into the output shaft by the deformation elements.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft includes a reception point arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed locally.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the reception point includes at least one of a depression, a countersink and a bore.

8. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising aligning the deformation elements and the reception point.

9. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft including a reception point arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed locally;

aligning the deformation elements and the reception point;

integrally forming one of:

(a) a sheet-metal ring and a magnetic ring of the torque measurement device; and

(b) a holding plate and a sensor of the torque measurement device; into the reception point of one of the input shaft and the output shaft by the deformation elements.

10. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft including a reception point arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed locally, the reception point including at least one of a depression, a countersink and a bore; and

aligning the deformation elements with an unoccupied reception point.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising applying to one of the input shaft and the output shaft and one of setting and positioning in relation to the one of the magnetic ring and the sensor integrally formed in the integral forming step:

(a) the sheet-metal ring and the magnetic ring; and

(b) the holding plate and the sensor.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising integrally forming into the reception point of one of the input shaft and the output shaft by the deformation elements the one of (a) the sheet-metal ring and the magnetic ring and (b) the holding plate and the sensor applied in the applying step.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the torque measurement device is integrally formed in the integrally forming step by deep-drawing.

14. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements;

wherein the deformation elements include three deformation rams.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein a number and position of reception points on at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed locally correspond to a number and position of the deformation rams.

16. A method for fastening a torque measurement device for detecting a relative torque between an input shaft and an output shaft of a steering system, comprising:

integrally forming the torque measurement device locally into at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements; and

checking the integral forming of the torque measurement device by force/path monitoring.

17. A device, comprising:

at least one of an input shaft and an output shaft arranged for integral formation of a torque measurement device locally into the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, the torque measurement device configured to detect a relative torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft including reception points arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed.

18. The device according to claim 17 , wherein the reception points include at least one of a countersink, a depression and a bore.

19. A device comprising:

at least one of an input shaft and an output shaft arranged for integral formation of a torque measurement device locally into the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, the torque measurement device configured to detect a relative torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft including reception points arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed;

wherein the reception points include three cylindrical bores offset at 120° and countersinks.

20. A device comprising:

at least one of an input shaft and an output shaft arranged for integral formation of a torque measurement device locally into the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft by deformation elements, the torque measurement device configured to detect a relative torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft including reception points arranged to receive material of the torque measurement device to be integrally formed;

wherein the reception points include a bore diameter of 1 to 4 mm, a bore depth of 1 to 3 mm, and a countersink at 45°.

21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the bore diameter is 2 to 3 mm.

22. The device according to claim 20 , wherein the bore depth is 1.5 to 2 mm.

23. The device according to claim 20 , wherein a countersink depth is 0.5 to 1 mm.

24. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the forming step includes deformation of the deformation elements.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 20, 2015
From: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
To: ROBERT BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE STEERING GMBH
Reel/Frame 035463/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2003
From: ABELE, WOLFGANG; FAHRIAN, MATTHIAS; FROEHLICH, STEFAN; HABBELL, WERNER; WEESE, THOMAS; WETTEMANN,; ZILLER, CHRISTOPH
To: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 015275/0586 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 101 26 791 · Jun 1, 2001 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040144187A1 · Jul 29, 2004