Importance

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Abstract

A magnetoelastic torque sensor for providing an output signal indicative of the torque applied to a member, comprising, a first magnetoelstically active region in the member, the region being ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive magnetically polarized in a single circumferential direction and possessing sufficient magnetic anisotropy to return the magnetization in the region to the single circumferential direction when the applied torque is reduced to zero, whereby the ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive region produces a magnetic field varying with the torque. Magnetic field sensors are mounted proximate to the ferromagnetic, magnetostrictive region to sense the magnetic field at the sensors and provide the output signal in response thereto. The field arising from the magnetoelastically active region does not magnetize regions of the member proximate to the magnetoelastically active region to give rise to parasitic magnetic fields which are of sufficient strength to destroy the usefulness, for torque sensing purposes, of the net magnetic field seen by the magnetic field sensor means.

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First Claim