Development of a Clutch Disk Torque Sensor for An Automobile

This study presents a torque sensor system for an engine which can be utilized on a vehicle with a manual transmission in real-time while the vehicle is in motion.

The sensor system consists of the clutch disk, a pick-up sensor and an electronic circuit. The clutch disk is slightly modified by incorporating several short metallic posts on two separate parts of the disk. Damper springs on the clutch disk act as the primary sensor. Damper springs deform when a torque is applied on the clutch disk. The deformation is directly proportional to the applied torque. Hence, one can acquire the torque information by measuring the deformation of the damper springs. The pick -up sensor is a non-contact magnetic reluctance type sensor.

The torque sensor was installed on a small vehicle with a 3-cylinder engine, and test data were acquired on the street during a normal driving. The test results indicate that the sensor is accurate, very sensitive to the extent that the torque variation during the ignition intervals are observable. As a byproduct, the rpm of the clutch disk, hence the transmission input shaft is produced.