Torque Sensor
Torque sensors measure the rotary movement of a force or system of forces that cause rotation in an engine. They gauge the torque transferred along the drive-line axis at the place where the sensor is positioned. These sensors measure torque by either sensing the shaft deflection caused by a twisting force or by sensing the effects that the deflection causes. Torque sensors are used to determine the amount of power in an engine, motor, turbine and crankshaft within the automotive, industrial machinery and engineering industries. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles all measure torque using these sensors. They also act as quality control for factory machinery, and measure the metal removal rates, the calibration of torque, peel forces and friction.
There are two main types torque sensors used today. Reaction sensors measure both static and dynamic torque by using a stationary or non rotating transducer. Static torque is simple and easy to measure because it requires no angular acceleration, but dynamic is more difficult because it requires electric or magnetic transfer from the shaft to a static system and involves acceleration. An example of static torque would be the torque a car produces while driving down a highway at a constant speed. Because there is no acceleration, it is not considered dynamic. Rotary sensors use moving transducers to measure torque. They are mounted on the actual shaft, but because of this may cause space concerns.