DE102016124331A1 - Flux guide, torque sensor device and method of making a flux guide - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flux guide (10A, 10B) for a torque sensor device, a torque sensor device and a method for producing a flux guide according to the invention (10A, 10B), wherein the flux conductor (10A, 10B) for collecting a magnetic flux of a stator of a torque sensor device to a a first axis having annular or ring-shaped circumferentially extending flux guide body (11) and for propagating the collected magnetic flux to at least one magnetic field sensor (30A, 30B) of a torque sensor device at least one first tab (12, 13) projecting from the flux guide body (11) ), and wherein the flux guide (10A, 10B) is integrally formed by forming from a wire.

Description

The invention relates to a flux guide for a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, wherein the flux guide for collecting a magnetic flux of a stator of a torque sensor device comprises a circumferentially extending around a first axis Flußleiterkörper and for forwarding the collected, magnetic flux to at least one magnetic field sensor of a torque sensor device at least one, protruding from the flux guide body, first tab.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, wherein the torque sensor device has at least one flux guide.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a flux guide for a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle.

Torque sensor devices are usually designed to detect a torque applied to a shaft, wherein in particular motor vehicle torque sensor devices are provided to detect an applied by the driver on a steering shaft steering torque. Such torque sensor devices are used, for example, in electric steering systems to control the electric drive motor of the steering system based on the steering torque applied by a driver, for example, to provide a corresponding steering assistance.

Typically, torque sensor devices are used in conjunction with an axially split shaft and a torsion bar of defined, known torsional stiffness, the torsion bar connecting a first portion of the axially split shaft to a second portion of the axially split shaft. If a torque is applied to the shaft, this causes a rotation of the two parts of the shaft to each other by a measurable angle of rotation, wherein the angle of rotation adjusts depending on the applied torque and the stiffness of the torsion bar, so that from the detected angle of rotation at a defined, known stiffness of the Torsionsstabes the applied torque can be determined.

Various measuring principles and sensor arrangements are known for measuring the angle of rotation resulting as a result of an applied torque. Magnetic sensor systems are very frequently used, in which a circumferential ring magnet, which is usually designed as a permanent magnet, is non-rotatably connected to the first part of the steering shaft and in which a stator holder, in which magnetically conductive stator elements are accommodated, is non-rotatably connected to the second part of the shaft, wherein the stator holder is usually arranged concentrically in the radial direction with a small air gap around the ring magnet.

The magnetic flux of the ring magnet is thereby usually via the stator attached to the stator, which usually consists of two separate parts, each with an annular disc-shaped in the radial direction away from the shaft outwardly extending region or a cylinder jacket-shaped, extending in the axial direction region and consist of extending in the axial direction tabs, using at least one flux guide to a magnetic field sensor, such as a Hall sensor, passed to be subsequently evaluated.

Generic torque sensor devices with at least one flux guide are basically known from the prior art, for example from US Pat DE 103 46 332 A1 , of the EP 1 584 908 A2 or the EP 2 295 310 A2 ,

The in the aforementioned publications DE 103 46 332 A . EP 1 584 908 A2 and EP 2 295 310 A2 Each of the flux guides used in the described torque sensor devices has a strip-shaped, ring-shaped or ring-segment-shaped region, which in the following, in particular in the sense of the invention, is referred to as flow conductor body and which can be arranged with a defined gap to the adjacent stator in the torque sensor device To surround the stator in the circumferential direction. Thus, the largest possible area is available for collecting the magnetic flux. In addition, the flux conductors each have one or more tabs, which extend generally transversely to the strip-shaped region in the radial direction to the outside and by means of which the collected magnetic flux can be passed to one or more magnetic field sensors.

The production of such flux guide designed in such a rule by a correspondingly wide band (required width = length of the tabs in the radial direction + width of the strip in the radial direction) is provided, cut away from the circumferentially laterally of the tabs except for the strip-shaped area everything will and which is then shaped annularly. Alternatively, a strip with the width of the total diameter can be used, a strip-shaped area with the required width (see above: required width = length of the tabs in the radial direction + width of the strip in the radial direction) are punched and deep drawn, and then the tabs punched out and bent. Both variants attract a lot of waste.

In order to provide a torque sensor with a low hysteresis, flux guides made of a high-quality, soft magnetic material are required. However, the suitable, soft magnetic materials are costly, so that a resulting in the production of the flux conductor waste leads to high costs and is therefore undesirable.

To solve this problem proposes the JP 2011232318 A to produce the flux guide by forming a suitably cut ribbon. However, the production of a flat strip has the disadvantage that the flux conductor has a considerable space requirement, wherein the in the JP 2011232318 A flux conductor described in particular in the axial direction has a considerable space requirement. Depending on the design of the tabs requires one according to the JP 2011232318 A manufactured flux also a considerable space requirement in the radial direction.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative flux guide, in particular a flux guide with a small space requirement, which can be produced virtually waste-free, and an alternative torque sensor device with an alternative flux guide and a method for producing an alternative flux guide.

This object is achieved by a flux guide according to the invention, by a torque sensor device according to the invention and by a method according to the invention in accordance with the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures and are explained in more detail below.

An inventive flux guide is characterized in that the flux guide is made in one piece by forming from a wire.

For the purposes of the invention, a wire is understood to mean a band-shaped semifinished product whose thickness is not less than one-tenth of its width, preferably not less than five times its width, in particular not less than twice its width.

A flux guide according to the invention is preferably made of a wire whose thickness is not less than 1.5 times its width, the thickness of which in particular corresponds to its width.

By using a wire as the starting material, a flux guide according to the invention can be produced in a simple manner by forming, in particular almost free of cuts. A great advantage of a flux guide according to the invention in particular the use of a wire as a semifinished product for the production of the flux guide is that a flow conductor produced in this way has a very small space requirement, in particular a much smaller space requirement compared to flux conductors which are made for example of a flat ribbon. As a result, with the aid of a flux guide according to the invention, a torque sensor device with a smaller space requirement can be provided.

The wire is preferably made of a metallic material or contains a metallic material. In particular, the wire from which a flux guide according to the invention is made is a sheet-metal wire, preferably of electric wire. Particularly preferably, the wire is made of magnetic material or contains magnetic material, for example ferromagnetic material. Particularly preferably, the wire contains a soft magnetic material or consists thereof, in particular soft magnetic metal.

Soft magnetic materials are materials or materials that can be easily magnetized in a magnetic field, in particular ferromagnetic materials are known in this context. The magnetization of these materials or the magnetic polarization can be generated for example by an electric current in a current-carrying coil or by the presence of a permanent magnet, as it is usually present in a torque sensor device. The polarization of the magnetic material leads in all soft magnetic materials to a much higher magnetic flux density than how the externally acting magnetic field generated in air flux density. Thus, in simplified terms, a soft magnetic material enhances an external magnetic field. Accordingly, by means of a soft magnetic flux guide, the magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet of a torque sensor device or the magnetic flux detected by a stator assembly of a torque sensor device can be easily amplified, thereby providing better resolution in detecting the magnetic field can be achieved and thus a higher sensor resolution can be made possible.

The flux conductor body of a flux guide according to the invention preferably serves for collecting a magnetic flux in the circumferential direction about a stator element of a torque sensor device, wherein the flux guide body preferably extends in total over at least an angle of 180 ° in the circumferential direction. In other words, in the case of a flux guide according to the invention, the flux guide body extends in the circumferential direction overall over a range of more than 180 °. In this case, the flux guide body does not have to extend in one piece over an angular range in the circumferential direction of more than 180 °. Rather, the flux conductor body of a flux guide according to the invention may also have a plurality of segments each extending over an angular range of less than 180 °, for example extending over an angular range of 70 ° in the circumferential direction but in total over an angular range of more than 180 °, as in this example over an angular range of 210 °.

The tabs of a flux guide according to the invention preferably serve to forward the magnetic flux collected by means of the flux conductor body to at least one magnetic field sensor of a torque sensor device, preferably via each tab of a flux guide according to the invention a respective magnetic flux can be forwarded to a magnetic field sensor associated with the tab.

In an advantageous embodiment of a flux guide according to the invention, the wire has a circular, oval or elliptical cross section or is a square wire or a profiled wire, wherein the wire preferably has a square or rectangular cross section. With such a wire can be solved in a simple manner, the most diverse requirements in a good compromise. On the one hand, a wire with such a cross section has good forming properties, in particular significantly better forming properties than, for example, a flat wire. On the other hand, such a wire sufficiently enables the collection of the magnetic flux.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a flux guide according to the invention, the flux conductor in the region of the flux conductor body in the radial direction has an average thickness, based on the length of the flux conductor body in the circumferential direction, of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, but in particular not more than 3 mm.

The thickness of the wire is preferably chosen to be just so large that a sufficient transmission of a magnetic flux collected by the stator of a torque sensor device to a magnetic field sensor of the torque sensor device or the transmission of sufficient quality is possible. Because the smaller the thickness of the wire, the easier it is to reshape the wire.

For the purposes of the invention, the average thickness is understood to mean the arithmetic mean of the thickness and the wire over its unwound length in the region of the flux conductor body.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a flux guide according to the invention, the wire in the axial direction parallel to the first axis has a mean width, relative to the length of the flux conductor body in the circumferential direction, of at least 3 mm, preferably at least 5 mm, but in particular not more than 8 mm.

For the purposes of the invention, the mean width is understood to mean the arithmetic mean of the width of the wire over its unwound length in the region of the flux conductor body.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a flux guide according to the invention, the flux guide has at least one tab which is folded over the flux conductor body, in particular around a first bending edge running parallel to the axis. By folding, a tab for the collected, magnetic flux can be formed in a particularly simple manner in a flux conductor made of a wire formed by forming into at least one magnetic field sensor.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a flux guide according to the invention, at least one tab of the flux guide is also folded around a second bending edge, wherein the second bending edge preferably extends perpendicular to the first axis and / or the first bending edge. By means of such a tab, if necessary, an axial distance to a magnetic field sensor can be bridged in a simple manner. In particular, a flux guide can thus be provided with a tab whose tab (s) can be arranged at a defined gap at a distance from a magnetic field sensor.

Preferably, at least one tab forms an end portion of the flux guide, the tab particularly preferably having a first end connected to the flux conductor body and a second, free end, in particular the free end of the tab forming a free end of the flux conductor.

A torque sensor device according to the invention is characterized in that the torque sensor device has a flux guide according to the invention. With regard to the basic structure of the operation of a torque sensor device according to the invention is based on the already mentioned above DE 103 46 332 A1 which also mentioned EP 1 584 908 A2 as well as the mentioned EP 2 295 310 A2 referenced, wherein a torque sensor device according to the invention, in contrast to the torque sensor devices described in these documents each having a flux guide according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, wherein the torque sensor device comprises at least one stator element with an annular disk-shaped or cylinder jacket-shaped stator ring and a plurality of axially extending and circumferentially arranged, adjacent to the stator ring tabs, and wherein the flux guide in a functional use state of Torque sensor device is arranged concentrically to the stator and this from the outside at least partially surrounds, preferably in the region of the tabs, the flux conductor is supported on the stator in the radial and / or axial direction via a sliding bearing. In this case, the flux guide is supported in particular on the axially extending tabs of the stator in the radial and / or axial direction via a sliding bearing. Thereby, a torque sensor device can be provided, which has a particularly small, radial space requirement. In this case, the torque sensor device, in particular a housing of the torque sensor device designed to receive the stator elements and the flux guide, preferably has an anti-rotation lock, preferably one or more protrusions or a suitably formed recess, in order to prevent the flux guide slidably mounted on the stator elements from twisting.

In particular, in this way a torque sensor device can be provided which has a smaller space requirement in the radial direction than a torque sensor device in which the flux guides, as known from the prior art, are arranged concentrically outside the stator elements, in particular around the stator elements Stator rings around, and in which the flux conductors are usually received stationary in a housing.

In an alternative embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, however, a flux guide according to the invention may also, as known from the prior art, be fixedly received, preferably around the stator elements, by a housing and in particular spaced therefrom without a slide bearing therebetween. It has been found to be advantageous if the flux conductor is held by the housing, wherein the flux conductor may be, for example, at least partially encapsulated by the housing, may be glued to the housing and / or held by terminals in the housing.

Preferably, at least one flux guide body of at least one flux guide with a gap defined in the axial direction is arranged at a distance from the adjacently arranged stator ring within the torque sensor device.

The fact that at least one stator element of a torque sensor device according to the invention need not be a closed ring, but may also be designed as an open ring or as a ring segment.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, wherein the torque sensor device comprises a first stator element and a second stator element each having a disc-shaped stator ring or a cylinder jacket-shaped stator ring with a plurality of axially extending and distributed circumferentially disposed adjacent to the stator ring tabs and a According to at least one of claims 1 to 6 formed, the first flux guide and a formed according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, second flux guide, the flux conductor body of the two flux conductors are arranged in the axial direction between the two stator rings, in particular each with a defined gap in the axial Direction to the respective adjacent stator ring. In this way, a torque sensor device can be provided with a particularly small installation space requirement in the axial direction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, at least one flux conductor body of at least one flux guide has a smaller outer diameter than at least one of the stator elements, preferably as the adjacent stator element, wherein in particular all flow conductor body of the torque sensor device have a smaller outer diameter than all the stator elements. In other words, in other words, preferably the flux conductor body of at least one flux conductor does not protrude in the radial direction outwardly beyond the stator ring of at least one stator element, preferably not via the stator ring of the adjacent stator element. Such a trained inventive Torque sensor device has the advantage that it has a particularly low space requirement in the radial direction in the stator rings.

Because a flux guide according to the invention is made of a wire or a torque sensor device according to the invention has a flux conductor of wire, the axial arrangement of the flux conductors between the stator rings also requires only a small space in the axial direction, in particular no more space than a pre-described known in the art torque sensor device, wherein the flux conductors are arranged concentrically outside around the stator rings around.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, at least one stator element has a radially outwardly extending, annular disk-shaped stator ring, wherein preferably at least one flux guide has at least one folded edge opposite the flux conductor body about a first bending edge extending parallel to the first axis. In particular, the tab is also folded around a second bending edge, wherein the second bending edge is preferably perpendicular to the first bending edge. By means of a flap configured in this way, in particular a flap bent in such a way, a particularly small gap can be achieved between the flap and a magnetic field sensor of the torque sensor device, in particular an axial distance, ie. parallel to the first axis A, are bridged by the flux conductor body to a magnetic field sensor, and thus in particular a good quality of the transmission of the magnetic flux from the flux guide to the magnetic field sensor can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of a torque sensor device according to the invention, at least one stator element has a stator ring extending in a cylinder jacket around a first axis, wherein at least one flux guide and at least one bent edge opposite to the flux conductor body has a first bending edge extending parallel to the first axis.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a torque sensor device according to the invention, wherein the torque sensor device has at least one perpendicular to the first axis carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate is preferably a printed circuit board, at least one flux guide is arranged with the carrier plate in a common plane. In this case, the carrier plate preferably has at least one recess into which a tab of the flux guide protrudes at least partially in the radial direction. Preferably, the recess in the carrier plate is in the region of a magnetic field sensor on one side of the magnetic field sensor. As a result, a torque sensor device with a particularly small axial space requirement in the region of the carrier plate or of the magnetic field sensor can be realized so that the flux conductor does not additionally apply in the axial direction in this region.

An inventive method for producing a flux guide is characterized in that the flux guide is made in one piece by forming from a wire.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. All features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the following features and feature combinations mentioned in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, if this is technically possible makes sense.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to two advantageous embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Components or components with the same function and / or configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals.

• 1a zwei, gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel ausgebildete, erfindungsgemäße Flussleiter sowie zwei Statorelemente und eine Leiterplatte mit zwei darauf angeordneten Magnetfeldsensoren eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer nicht weiter dargestellten, erfindungsgemäßen Drehmomentsensorvorrichtung in Explosionsdarstellung,
• 1b die Komponenten aus 1a in einer, für einen funktionsgemäßen Verwendungszustand der erfindungsgemäßen Drehmomentsensorvorrichtung vorgesehenen Anordnung,
• 2a zwei, gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel ausgebildete, erfindungsgemäße Flussleiter sowie zwei Statorelemente und eine Leiterplatte mit zwei darauf angeordneten Magnetfeldsensoren eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer nicht weiter dargestellten Drehmomentsensorvorrichtung in Explosionsdarstellung und
• 2b die Komponenten aus 2a in einer, für einen funktionsgemäßen Verwendungszustand des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Drehmomentsensorvorrichtung vorgesehenen Anordnung.

Show it:

• 1a two, designed according to a first embodiment of the invention, flux guide according to the invention and two stator elements and a printed circuit board with two magnetic field sensors arranged thereon of a first embodiment of a non-illustrated invention, the torque sensor device in exploded view,
• 1b the components off 1a in a, intended for a functional use state of the torque sensor device according to the invention arrangement,
• 2a two, designed according to a second embodiment of the invention, flux guide according to the invention and two stator elements and a circuit board with two magnetic sensors arranged thereon of a second embodiment of a torque sensor device not shown in exploded view and
• 2 B the components off 2a in a, for a functional use state of the second embodiment of the torque sensor device according to the invention provided arrangement.

1a shows two, designed according to a first embodiment, inventive flux guide 10A and 10B as well as two stator elements 40A and 40B and a circuit board 31 with plug contacts 32 with two magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B arranged thereon of a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive torque sensor device (not shown) in an exploded view. In particular, one, a magnetic field generating ring magnet and one with the two stator elements 40A and 40B a stator forming stator holder not shown.

The two flux guides 10A and 10B are each made according to the invention by forming from a soft magnetic, metallic wire, in particular a square wire with an edge length of about 1.5 mm, ie with a thickness D of about 1.5 mm and a width B of about 1.5 mm, which is available in the form of an endless semi-finished product and before forming into a flux guide 10A respectively. 10B has been shortened to the required length.

The stator elements 40A and 40B are also made of soft magnetic material and are in a functional use state of the torque sensor device according to the invention concentric to the two flux guides 10A and 10B and to the axis of rotation of a steering shaft, which in a functional use state of the torque sensor device according to the invention preferably with the first axis A coincides. The actually within the stator elements 40A and 40B , with a defined gap in the radial direction therebetween, also concentric with the axis of rotation of the steering shaft arranged, non-rotatably connected to a part of the steering shaft ring magnet is not shown.

In the 1a illustrated stator elements 40A and 40B each have a cylinder jacket-shaped, in the circumferential direction about the first axis A extending stator ring 41 and extending in the axial direction tabs 42 which are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction.

In the 1a illustrated, inventive flux guides 10A and 10B each have one, in this case ring segment-shaped flux guide body 11 which extends in the circumferential direction over an angle of more than 180 ° about a first axis A extends, the two flux conductors 10A and 10B are each formed open in the circumferential direction, ie in the circumferential direction over an angle <360 ° about the axis A extend.

The two flux guides 10A and 10B each have a first tab 12 and a second tab 13 on, with the two tabs 12 and 13 each also in the radial direction outward from the flux guide body 11 protrude and by bending the wire forming the flux guide to a first bending edge 14 have been produced, wherein the first bending edge 14 in this case, in each case parallel to the first axis A runs.

The flux guides made in accordance with the invention and designed in this way 10A and 10B allow the provision of a torque sensor device with a particularly small space requirement in the radial direction without requiring a significant, additional space in the axial direction, which in the following with reference to 1b is explained in more detail.

1b shows the components 1a in a, intended for a functional use state of the torque sensor device according to the invention arrangement in which the flux conductors 10A and 10B in the axial direction between the two stator rings 42 the two stator elements 40A and 40B are arranged and in particular in the radial and / or axial direction in each case via an unillustrated sliding bearing on the tabs 42 the stator elements 40A and 40B are supported in the radial and / or axial direction.

As based on 1b clearly recognizable, the two flux conductor bodies protrude 11 the two flux guides 10A and 10B in each case in the radial direction not or only insignificantly over the stator rings 41 the two stator elements 40A and 40B In addition, so that a particularly small space requirement can be achieved in the radial direction, which is in particular not or only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stator rings 41 the stator elements 40A and 40B , Thus, a torque sensor device according to the invention formed in this way has a significantly smaller outer diameter than a torque sensor device having the same stator elements 40A and 40B at the flux guides the stator rings 41 the stator elements 40A and 40B encase from the outside cylinder-shaped.

Furthermore, the flux guides according to the invention 10A and 10B each only a small width in the axial direction, so that they have only a small space requirement in this direction and thus in particular no appreciable additional space in the axial direction for the flux conductors 10A and 10B must be provided to this in axial Direction between the stator rings 41 the stator elements 40A and 40B to arrange.

The two flux guides 10A and 10B are in particular designed such that the two tabs 12 and 13 each with a defined gap therebetween opposite from the two magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B can be arranged, which on a perpendicular to the first axis A oriented arranged printed circuit board 31 are arranged and electrically connected thereto.

For forwarding of the magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B generated signals has the circuit board 31 each plug contacts 32 on, via which the means of the magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B generated signals using one of the plug contacts 32 connected cables can be transmitted to a control device, not shown here for evaluation.

Indicates the circuit board 31 doing so, as in 1a and 1b shown, also still in each case in the field of magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B a recess in which in each case a tabs 12 respectively. 13 a flux conductor 10A can engage, a particularly small length can be achieved in the axial direction.

2a shows two, according to a second embodiment formed, inventive flux guide 110A and 110B as well as two stator elements 140A and 140B and a circuit board 131 with two magnetic field sensors arranged thereon 30A and 30B a second embodiment of a torque sensor device not shown in exploded view, in which case the stator elements 140A and 140B unlike the stator elements 40A and 40B from the 1a and 1b in each case no cylinder jacket-shaped around the first axis A extending stator ring 41 but each have a ring-shaped in the radial direction outwardly extending stator ring 141 ,

Another difference is that the in 2a illustrated, inventive flux guides 110A and 110B two tabs each 112 and 113 which additionally additionally along a second bending edge 15 are folded. As a result, in each case an axial distance from the flux conductor body 11 or the plane in which the Flußleiterkörper 11 is arranged to the magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B be bridged.

Another difference is that the recesses in the circuit board 131 in the field of magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B in each case not extend in part also in the radial direction, but it is purely axial recesses, in each of which the tabs 112 and 113 engage with their free ends so from one side, especially the tabs 112 and 113 of the river chief 110B that the tabs 112 and 113 of the river chief 110B with a defined gap to the two magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B are arranged in a functional use state in a torque sensor device.

2 B shows the components 2a in a, for a functional use state of the second embodiment of the torque sensor device according to the invention provided arrangement, wherein the tabs 112 and 113 of the other flux conductor 110A with a defined gap to the magnetic field sensors 30A and 30B are arranged.

The flux guide according to the invention 110A and 110B However, each also made of a soft magnetic square wire with an edge length of about 1.5 mm and formed open in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, also form the free ends of the tabs 112 and 113 each the free ends of the flux conductors 110A and 100B.

Furthermore, the two flux guides according to the invention 110A and 110B with their flux conductor bodies 11 also in each case in the axial direction between the two stator rings 141 the two stator elements 140A and 140B arranged and protrude in the radial direction not over the stator rings 141 the stator elements 140A and 140B out.

The river ladder 110A and 110B are also each in the radial direction via a slide bearing, not shown, on the tabs 42 the stator elements 140A and 140B supported in the radial and / or axial direction.

A particularly short, axial length can be achieved by flow conductors according to the invention, which according to the 1a and 1b described flux conductors 10A and 10B are formed, in combination with stator elements 140A and 140B as they are in 2a and 2 B are shown, but with a shorter axial length of the tabs 42 as far as possible in relation to the collection of magnetic flux.

Compared to the illustrated embodiments, a variety of modifications, in particular to structural modifications, possible without departing from the content of the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10A, 10B, 110A, 110B

inventive flux guide

11

Flow conductor body

12, 112

first tab of the flux guide

13, 113

second tab of the flux guide

14

first bending edge

15

second bending edge

30A, 30B

magnetic field sensor

31, 131

circuit board

32

plug contacts

40A, 40B, 140A, 140B

stator

41, 141

stator

42

Statorlasche

A

first axis

B

Width of the wire

D

Thickness of the wire

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10346332 A1 [0008, 0032]
• EP 1584908 A2 [0008, 0009, 0032]
• EP 2295310 A2 [0008, 0009, 0032]
• DE 10346332 A [0009]
• JP 2011232318 A [0012]

Claims (14)

Flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) for a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, wherein the flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) for collecting a magnetic flux of a stator of a torque sensor device extends around a first Axial ring or ring-shaped circumferentially extending Flußleiterkörper (11) and for forwarding the collected magnetic flux to at least one magnetic field sensor (30A, 30B) of a torque sensor device at least one, from the Flußleiterkörper (11) projecting, first tab (12, 112; , 113), characterized in that the flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) is made in one piece by forming from a wire. Flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the wire has a circular, oval or elliptical cross section or is a square wire or a profiled wire, wherein the wire preferably has a square or rectangular cross section. Flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the flux conductor (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) in the region of the flux conductor body (11) in the radial direction has an average thickness (D), relative to the length of the flux conductor body (11) in the circumferential direction, of at least 1 mm , preferably of at least 1.5 mm, but in particular not more than 3 mm. Flux conductor (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire in the axial direction parallel to the first axis of an average width (B), relative to the length of the flux conductor body (11) in the circumferential direction of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, but in particular not more than 3 mm. Flux conductor (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one tab (12, 112; 13, 113) is folded relative to the flux conductor body (11), in particular around a parallel to the first axis ( A) extending, first bending edge (14). Flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that at least one tab (112, 113) is folded around a second bending edge (15), wherein the second bending edge (15) preferably perpendicular to the first axis (A) and / or the first bending edge (14). A torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, the torque sensor device comprising at least one flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B), characterized in that the flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) of any one of Claims 1 to 6 is trained. Torque sensor device according to Claim 7 wherein the torque sensor device comprises at least one stator element (40A, 140A, 40B, 140B) with an annular disk-shaped or cylindrical jacket-shaped stator ring (41, 141) and a plurality of axially extending and circumferentially-spaced stator teeth (41, 141) In a functional use state of the torque sensor device, the flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) is arranged concentrically with the stator element (40A, 140A, 40B, 140B) and surrounds it at least partially from outside, preferably in the region the tabs (42), characterized in that the flux conductor (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) is supported on the stator element (40A, 140A; 40B, 140B) in the radial and / or axial direction via a sliding bearing, wherein the flux guide ( 10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) in particular on the axially extending tabs (42) of the stator (40A, 140A, 40B, 140B) in the radial direction supported by a slide bearing. Torque sensor device according to Claim 7 or 8th wherein the torque sensor device comprises a first stator element (40A, 140A) and a second stator element (40B, 140B) each having an annular disk-shaped or cylinder-jacket stator ring (41, 141) and a plurality of axially-extending and circumferentially-distributed stator rings (41, 141) has adjacent tabs (42) and one according to at least one of Claims 1 to 6 formed first flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) and one according to at least one of Claims 1 to 6 formed second flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B), characterized in that the flux conductor bodies (11) of the two flux conductors (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) are arranged in the axial direction between the two stator rings (41, 141), in particular each with a defined gap in the axial direction to the respective adjacent stator ring (41, 141). Torque sensor device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 9 characterized in that at least one flux guide body (11) of at least one flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) has a smaller outer diameter than at least one of the stator elements (40A, 140A, 40B, 140B), preferably as the adjacent stator element (40A , 140A, 40B, 140B), wherein in particular all flow conductor bodies (11) of the Torque sensor device having a smaller outer diameter than all the stator elements (40A, 140A, 40B, 140B). Torque sensor device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 10 characterized in that at least one stator element (140A, 140B) has a radially outwardly extending annular disk-shaped stator ring (141), preferably at least one flux conductor (110A, 110B) at least one opposite the flux conductor body (11) parallel to the first axis (A) extending first bending edge (14) folded flap (112, 113), in particular a also about a second bending edge (15) bent tab (112, 113), wherein the second bending edge (15) preferably perpendicular to first bending edge (14) extends. Torque sensor device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 11 characterized in that at least one stator element (40A, 40B) has a stator ring (41) extending in a cylinder jacket around a first axis (A), at least one flux conductor (10A, 10B) surrounding at least one flux conductor body (11) Having parallel to the first axis (A) extending first bending edge (14) folded flap (12, 13). Torque sensor device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 12 , especially after Claim 12 in that the torque sensor device has at least one carrier plate (31) arranged perpendicularly to the first axis (A), preferably a printed circuit board (31), characterized in that at least one flux conductor (10A, 10B) is arranged with the carrier plate (31) in a common plane is, wherein the support plate (31) preferably has at least one recess into which a tab (113) of the flux guide (110 B) projects at least partially in the radial direction. A method for producing a flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) for a torque sensor device for detecting a torque applied to a steering shaft of a motor vehicle, in particular for producing a according to at least one of Claims 1 to 6 formed flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B), characterized in that the flux guide (10A, 10B, 110A, 110B) is made in one piece by forming from a wire.

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