Why is Torque Sensors So Crucial to Automotive Industry Revolution?

Torque Transducer

A torque sensor is an automotive measuring device which is installed to record and monitor torque on a given rotator system. The torque sensors find their use for a variety of purposes, strain measurement, testing of the clutch & gearbox, brake, suspension system, and much more making it the most sought-after commodity in today’s automotive industry. Before it goes any deep, it is imperative to know what this device is, in terms of technology. 

A torque sensor is a high-precision device that converts torsional input into the electrical signal that helps in calculating the torque force on a given system.

Torque Importance in the Automotive Sector

The markets of the torque transducer are getting big, especially in developed nations such as the United States of America. This is largely because top car manufacturing companies across the globe are inversing big times to achieve high fuel efficiency. Other areas where the torques sensors find its extensive use are in the electrical power steering and the condition-based maintenance of the car. 

Type of the Torque Sensors

The Torque Sensors are broadly divided into two categories, one is the static torque sensor and the dynamics torque sensor. The key difference is, for the former one the dynamics forces doesn’t involve acceleration, where the latter doesn’t. A fundamental example of the static torque sensor is the force produced by the clock mechanism to shift the second hand. When a four-wheeler is moving at a steady speed, then it is rotating static torque. This is because the car is rotating, but there is no acceleration. A four wheeler produce both the type of the torque forces. When you are calculating torque in crankshaft, then that very force is the rotating torque since acceleration is invoiced in here. 

Torque Sensors

It is of paramount importance to do a thorough research work of the market in order to find a trustworthy supplier of the torque sensors. 

Datum Electronics is an industry leading torque sensor brand that is popular on the global scale. Bring in the industry for the last 25 years, they have gained dominance in over 30 nations selling high-performance, quality products.

What Is a Torque Sensor & its Various Types?

Rotary Torque Sensor

The Torque sensors are prominent industrial devices with many automotive sector applications meant to record & monitor torque force on a system.

These sensors are subcategorized into two broad varieties based on the kind of torque to be measured; one is the reactive sensors while the other being the rotation torque transducer type. Both the types have the strain gauge as the DNA which controls the mechanism of torque measurement; it is confined to the Wheatstone bridge. In a nutshell, the strain gauge acts as the primary sensing element. 

Types of the Torque Sensors

 

Reactive Torque Sensors

This variety of torque sensors is typically fixed, somewhat rigid in structure with no moving parts; it measures torque which is directly proportional to the torsional force. The common automotive use of the Reactive Torque Sensors includes brake testing, torsional force measurement, dynameters, and lubrication studies. 

Rotational Torque Sensors

The Rotational Torque Sensors varies from the Reactive Torque Sensors as the former has a freely rotating shaft within the fixed housing. That shaft act as a coupling between the absorber/load and the driving mechanism. When the shaft is torsionally stressed, then a variation in the output is observed. The variation in the load and the rotational speed affect the torque force being measured. The many popular areas of use of Rotational Torque Sensors include electric motor testing, dynamometer testing, drive train measurement, gearbox testing and more.

Torque Sensor

Comparison Overview of Each Type

A reaction torque sensor does not rotate as it has no moving part, typically it behaves like load cell. The key advantage highlights of this torque meter are that they are pretty inexpensive in compassion to the rotary torque sensor, in this type no changes are needed for the rotating shaft and most importantly fewer factors considering including the rpm. However, there are few notable shortcomings of a reaction torque sensor such as it doesn’t record true torque shaft. This type of sensor lacks in precision when compared to its counterpart rotational torque transducer.

To Wrap Up

Selecting the right torque transducer is a tough ask therefore it requires you to devote time in research work analyzing the pros and cons of each type to make the best investment.