Patent Application
20190161139
The present disclosure relates to the technical filed of transportation, and particularly to a torque sensor system, a torque signal measuring method and an electric power-assisted bicycle.
An electric power-assisted bicycle is a personal vehicle equipped with a motor, a controller, etc. on the basis of an ordinary bicycle and using battery as the auxiliary energy source. When an electric power-assisted bicycle assists the man power with the electric power to provide the kinetic energy required for the bicycle to move, the torque sensor system can be used to detect the force applied by the rider to the bicycle during riding, so that the controller can determine the intention of the rider. The controller controls the output of the motor according to the power output of the rider, so that the power output of the rider matches with the output of the motor to drive the bicycle together.
In a torque sensor system of the prior art, the torque sensor is provided on a center shaft of the bicycle and rotates with the center shaft, and transmits the measurement signal of the torque sensor to the controller through a wireless signal emitting and receiving device (or other non-contact signal transmission device), so as to detect the change of the torque.
In another torque sensor system of the prior art, as for three components of a sun gear, a planetary gear (planetary carrier) and a ring gear in the planetary gear mechanism, the torque sensor takes one of them as a power input component, one of them as a power output component and the other component is provided with a limiting mechanism that limits the rotation angle thereof. Specifically, the torque input externally can be transmitted to the planetary gear mechanism through a power input component, and a reset spring acting on the limiting mechanism with an active torque is generated. When the active torque is greater than a reverse torque generated by the reset spring, an oscillating bar of the limiting mechanism will be driven to oscillate a certain angle, at the same time, since the oscillating angle information of the oscillating bar is obtained instantaneously by a torque signal mechanism, the magnitude of the torque can be determined accordingly.
However, the inventor of the application finds out that, a torque sensor system in the first type above generally has a complex structure and high production cost, and has a high power consumption for the wireless transmission and wireless power supply; as for a torque sensor system in the second type above, the planetary gear mechanism needs to generate a certain displacement each time starting the measurement, therefore the sensitivity for obtaining the torque signal is not high, and since the torque signal is obtained by the reset spring driving the oscillating bar to oscillate an angle, the measurement accuracy is inadequate.
The present disclosure provides a torque sensor system, a torque signal measuring method and an electric power-assisted bicycle, so as to solve the technical problem of the current torque sensor systems generally rotating a power input shaft to accurately measure stepping force provided by a rider.
The present disclosure provides a torque sensor system, including a planetary gear mechanism, the planetary gear mechanism including a power input component, a power output component and a torque detecting component; wherein the torque detecting component is provided with an elastomer on which a torque sensor is provided; when an external force is input via the power input component and output via the power output component of the planetary gear mechanism, a reaction force of output power of the planetary gear mechanism can be transmitted to the elastomer at the torque detecting component, initiating deformation of the elastomer, while the torque sensor obtains a magnitude of input torque by means of measuring the deformation of the elastomer.
In one of the embodiments of the application, the torque sensor system further includes a signal processing device configured to receive a torque signal of the torque sensor and transmit the torque signal to a control device.
Alternatively, the power input component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the gearing gear are fixedly connected coaxially.
Alternatively, the power input component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the ring gear are fixedly connected coaxially.
Alternatively, the power input component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the sun gear are fixedly connected coaxially.
Alternatively, the power input component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the sun gear are fixedly connected coaxially.
Alternatively, the power input component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the planetary carrier are fixedly connected coaxially.
Alternatively, the power input component is a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism, the power output component is a ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism and the torque detecting component is a planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism; the elastomer and the planetary carrier are fixedly connected coaxially.
Compared with the prior art, the torque sensor system of the present disclosure has the following advantages:
The torque sensor system provided by the present disclosure includes a planetary gear mechanism, the planetary gear mechanism including a power input component, a power output component and a torque detecting component; wherein the torque detecting component is provided with an elastomer on which a torque sensor is provided. Specifically, when an external force is input via the power input component and output via the power output component of the planetary gear mechanism, a reaction force of output power of the planetary gear mechanism can be transferred to the elastomer at the torque detecting component, initiating deformation of the elastomer, while the torque sensor obtains a magnitude of input torque by means of measuring the deformation of the elastomer. It can be known from the analysis that, in the torque sensor system provided by the present disclosure, since the torque sensor is fixedly provided on the elastomer at the torque detecting component of the planetary gear mechanism, there is no need for the torque sensor to be rotated with the rotating component (the power input component or the power output component), so that the torque signal can be transmitted to the controller directly without non-contact signal transmission, thereby effectively reducing the complexity of the structure. In addition, the original torque signal can be measured directly by the torque sensor system of the present disclosure without converting the signal, so that the sensitivity and accuracy for measuring the torque signal are also high. Further, since there is no need to use the wireless transmission and wireless power supply, the use of the signal modulation device, signal amplification device, signal emission device, signal receiving device, signal demodulation device, etc. for wireless signal transmission and the conductive slip ring, inductor coil, wireless power emitting device, wireless power receiving device, rectifier and filter device, etc. for wireless power supply are avoided, so that the cost and the system power consumption are effectively reduced.
The present disclosure also provides a torque signal measuring method, including the following steps: an external force being input via a power input component of a planetary gear mechanism and output via a power output component of the planetary gear mechanism; a reaction force of output power of the planetary gear mechanism being transmitted to an elastomer at a torque detecting component, initiating deformation of the elastomer; a torque sensor obtaining a magnitude of input torque by means of measuring the deformation of the elastomer, and the magnitude of the input torque being a torque signal of the external force.
The advantages of the torque signal measuring method are the same with that of the torque sensor system above compared with the prior art, which are not repeated herein.
The present disclosure further provides an electric power-assisted bicycle, including any one of the torque sensor systems above.
Alternatively, the electric power-assisted bicycle includes a center motor connected to the torque sensor system; the planetary gear mechanism of the torque sensor system is provided on a center shaft of the electric power-assisted bicycle.
Alternatively, the planetary carrier of the torque sensor system is fixedly connected to the center shaft of the electric power-assisted bicycle, so as to be configured to receive power input through the center shaft; the sun gear of the torque sensor system is transmittedly connected to an output disk of the electric power-assisted bicycle to output power; the elastomer of the torque sensor system is fixedly provided within the center motor; the ring gear of the torque sensor system is connected to the elastomer.
Alternatively, an isolator is provided between the planetary carrier and the center shaft of the center motor; the isolator is configured to receive input power from the center shaft of the center motor, and transmit the input power to the planetary carrier.
Alternatively, the planetary gear mechanism of the torque sensor system is provided on a center shaft of the electric power-assisted bicycle.
Alternatively, the planetary carrier of the torque sensor system is fixedly connected to the center shaft, and configured to receive power input through the center shaft; the sun gear of the torque sensor system is fixedly connected to a chain disk of the electric power-assisted bicycle, and the sun gear is configured to output power; the elastomer of the torque sensor system is fixedly provided on a bicycle frame of the electric power-assisted bicycle; the ring gear of the torque sensor system is connected to the elastomer.
Alternatively, the planetary gear mechanism is configured that the planetary carrier inputs and the ring gear outputs; the torque detecting component is the sun gear; the elastomer can be fixedly connected coaxially to the sun gear through a connector.
Alternatively, the planetary gear mechanism is configured that the ring gear inputs and the planetary carrier outputs; the torque detecting component is the sun gear; the elastomer can be fixedly connected coaxially to the sun gear through a connector.
Alternatively, the electric power-assisted bicycle includes a wheel hub motor, and the planetary gear mechanism is provided in the wheel hub motor.
Alternatively, the planetary carrier of the planetary gear mechanism is fixedly connected to a wheel hub chain disk of the electric power-assisted bicycle, and power is input through the planetary carrier; the ring gear is connected to an outer rotor of the wheel hub motor and outputs power; the sun gear is fixedly connected to a wheel hub motor center shaft; the elastomer is provided on the sun gear.
Alternatively, the planetary gear mechanism is configured that the ring gear inputs power, the sun gear outputs power and the torque detecting component is the planetary carrier; the elastomer of the torque detecting component can be fixedly connected coaxially to the planetary carrier through a connector.
The advantages of the electric power-assisted bicycle are the same with that of the torque sensor system above compared with the prior art, which are not repeated herein.
In order to more clearly describe the specific implementations of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings to be used in describing the specific implementations or the prior art will be briefly described below, obviously, the drawings in the following description are some specific implementations of the present disclosure, for those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings may also be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.
Wherein:
The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter. Obviously, the described embodiments are a part but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. On the basis of the embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by the person of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
It should be noted that, in the description of the present disclosure, the orientation or position relations indicated by the terms “center”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inner”, “outer” etc. are the orientation or position relations shown based on the drawings, which is merely for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, and is not to indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have the specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in the specific orientation. Therefore it cannot be construed as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, the terms “first”, “second” and “third” are for the purpose of description and cannot be construed as indicating or implying the relative importance.
In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless specifically defined or limited, the terms “mount”, “connect to”, and “connect with” should be understood in a broad sense, for example, they may be fixed connections or may be removable connections, or integrated connections; they may be mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may also be direct connections or indirect connections through intermediate medium, or may be the internal communication between two components. For a person of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the terms above in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.
As shown in
Compared with the prior art, the torque sensor system of the embodiments of the present disclosure has the following advantages:
In the torque sensor system provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in
It should be additionally noted herein that, as shown in
In the practical application, the torque sensor system provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure further includes a signal processing device that can be configured to receive the torque signal of the torque sensor 3 above and transmit the torque signal to the control device, thereby facilitating the controller to reasonably adjust the assisting force of the motor according to the riding situation of the rider.
Wherein, as shown in
It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the connector 4 can be provided to connect the ring gear 103 with the elastomer 2 by means of key connection.
Embodiment I provides a center motor torque sensor system for electric power-assisted bicycle. In the present embodiment, the electric power-assisted bicycle includes a center motor, a center motor center shaft 51, an output disk 53, a pedal assembly (including a pedal and a crank connected with each other) and the torque sensor system as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Embodiment II provides a center shaft torque sensor system for electric power-assisted bicycle. In the present embodiment, the electric power-assisted bicycle includes a bicycle frame, a bicycle center shaft 54, a chain disk 55, a pedal assembly (including a pedal and a crank connected with each other) and the torque sensor system as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
It should be noted that, alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively (which is not shown in the drawings), the power input component can be the ring gear 103; the power output component can be the planetary carrier 101 and the torque detecting component can be the sun gear 102; correspondingly, the elastomer 2 can be fixedly connected to the sun gear 102 coaxially through the connector 4.
In the present embodiment, the electric power-assisted bicycle includes a wheel hub motor, a wheel hub motor center shaft 58, a wheel hub chain disk 56, a pedal assembly (including a pedal and a crank connected with each other) and the torque sensor system above. Wherein the wheel hub motor and the pedal assembly are both connected to the wheel hub motor center shaft 58 through the planetary gear mechanism 1 of the torque sensor system, and one end of the wheel hub motor center shaft 58 is connected to the wheel hub chain disk 56.
Alternatively, as shown in
It should be noted herein that, the inventor discovers that in the case of achieving the functions above, when the sun gear 102 of the planetary gear mechanism 1 is the elastomer 2, the structure of the torque sensor system is simpler, so as to facilitate the stability and convenience of the torque sensor system.
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively (which is not shown in the drawings), the power input component can be the sun gear 102, the power output component can be the ring gear 103 and the torque detecting component can be the planetary carrier 101; correspondingly, the elastomer 2 can be fixedly connected to the planetary carrier 101 coaxially through the connector 4.
The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a torque signal measuring method, as shown in
The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an electric power-assisted bicycle, including the torque sensor system according to any of the embodiments above.
The torque sensor system, the torque signal measuring method and the electric power-assisted bicycle provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure mainly have the following four advantages:
1. The torque sensor is arranged on the elastomer provided at the torque detecting component of the planetary gear mechanism, therefore the torque signal can be obtained without rotation; and the torque signal is the original torque signal directly collected rather than the converted signal, therefore the complexity of the structure is effectively reduced.
2. The torque signal is directly transmitted to the controller through the torque sensor without non-contact signal transmission, which reduces the intermediate process for conversing and processing signal, therefore the sensitivity and accuracy for measuring signal by the torque sensor are effectively improved.
3. There is no need for the torque sensor to use the wireless power supply, therefore the use of conductive slip ring, inductor coil, wireless power emitting device, wireless power receiving device, rectifier and filter device, etc. are avoided, so that not only the interference sources are effectively reduced, but also the production cost and the system power consumption are effectively reduced.
4. There is no need for the torque sensor to use the wireless signal transmission, and therefore the use of signal modulation device, signal amplification device, signal emission device, signal receiving device, signal demodulation device, etc. are avoided, so that not only the interference sources are effectively reduced, but also the signal completeness is enhanced since the signal is prevented from being interfered, and the cost and the system power consumption are reduced.
Finally, it should be noted that each embodiment above is only used to illustrate rather than to limit the technical solutions of the present disclosure; although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalently replace some or all of the technical features therein; and these modifications or replacements do not separate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of each of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201610516807.X | Jul 2016 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of International Patent Application Number PCT/CN2017/085180 filed May 19, 2017, which claims priority to CN Patent Application Number 201610516807.X filed Jul. 1, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2017/085180 | May 2017 | US |
| Child | 16230824 | US |
