Rotatable torque-measuring apparatus and method

摘要

A torque-measurement device that has a rotational axis, and wherein the torque-measurement device includes an inner tubular structure, an outer tubular structure, and a plurality of ribs that each have a length dimension in a rib-length direction parallel to the rotational axis, a rib-width dimension in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending radially rotational axis, and a minimum rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction, wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension and the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension, wherein each of the plurality of ribs has a center plane that lies in the rib-length direction and the rib-width direction, and wherein a torque applied between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure results in an angular displacement of inner tubular structure relative to the outer tubular structure.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a torque-measurement device that has a rotational axis, wherein the torque-measurement device includes:
an inner tubular structure,an outer tubular structure, anda plurality of ribs coupled between the inner tubular structure and the outer tubular structure, wherein each respective one of the plurality of ribs has:
a respective rib-length dimension in a length direction parallel to the rotational axis,a respective rib-width dimension in a respective width direction perpendicular to the length direction and extending in a respective plane from a respective first geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a minimum outside radial dimension of the inner tubular structure to a respective second geometric line that is parallel to the rotational axis and that lies within the respective rib next to a maximum inside radial dimension of the outer tubular structure, anda respective rib-thickness dimension in a thickness direction perpendicular to the length direction and perpendicular to the width direction,wherein the outer tubular structure includes a front stiffening wall that is detached from a portion of the plurality of ribs, wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer rib-support structure, and wherein the outer tubular structure further includes an outer perimeter wall that connects the front stiffening wall to the outer rib-support structure; wherein a torque applied between the outer tubular structure and the inner tubular structure results in an angular displacement of the outer tubular structure relative to the inner tubular structure.