Arrangement and method for measuring the deformation of a shaft
View Patent ↗A method for measuring deformation of a shaft by a device includes illuminating a pattern applied on the shaft before the deformation is applied; and detecting a first reference position by detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern, after the deformation is applied illuminating the pattern and detecting a second reference position by detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern. Based on the distance between the first and the second reference positions, the shaft circumferential deformation and/or torque is determined.
1. Arrangement of a shaft with a device for measuring a deformation thereof, the device comprising:
a curved pattern applied on the shaft;
a radiation source for illuminating the pattern,
a sensor for detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern, and
a carrier movable in a predefined direction to the shaft axis over a zone facing the pattern, wherein the carrier carries at least the sensor.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier also carries the radiation source.
3. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined direction is a direction substantially parallel to the shaft axis.
4. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the curved pattern together with an axis parallel to the shaft axis defines angles that change over the curved pattern.
5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, which senses an axial position of the shaft.
6. The arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, which activates the radiation source only when the pattern faces the radiation source.
7. The arrangement according to claim 6 , further comprising an angle sensor associated with the shaft and connected to the control unit.
8. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation source is a light source.
9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the light source is a laser.
10. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of discrete angled lines.
11. Method for measuring a deformation of a shaft using a device comprising:
a curved pattern applied on the shaft;
a radiation source for illuminating the pattern,
a sensor for detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern,
a carrier movable in a predefined direction to the shaft axis over a zone facing the pattern, wherein the carrier carries at least the sensor; or the sensor includes a plurality of sensors that define an array that extends over a zone facing the pattern, the method comprising:
illuminating the pattern, before deformation;
detecting a first reference position by detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern;
illuminating the pattern, after deformation;
detecting a second reference position by detecting the radiation reflected by the pattern; and
determining the shaft circumferential deformation and/or torque based on a distance between the first and the second reference positions.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the carrier also carries the radiation source.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the distance between the first and the second reference positions is ascertained along a direction parallel to a shaft axis.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the array also comprises a plurality of radiation sources.