Magnetic shear force sensor

摘要

A shear sensor includes a stator structure, a transformer, and a ferromagnetic core. The stator structure distorts in two perpendicular axes upon application thereto of a shear force. The transformer is coupled to the stator structure, and includes a primary winding and a pair of differentially wound secondary windings. The ferromagnetic core is non-rotationally coupled to the stator structure and is at least partially surrounded by the primary and secondary windings. The core is spaced apart from the transformer stator poles to define an air gap between the core and the stator poles. The air gap varies in the two perpendicular axes upon application of the shear force to the stator structure.