FlELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of automobile engineering. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system for measuring torque acting on a wheel of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
A system for measuring braking torque on wheels of the automotive vehicle is well known in the art and finds many applications. For example, the measurement system is used in i) drive line torque estimation, ii) brake efficiency evaluation and design, iii) wheel rim design, and so on. The conventional sensor used for measuring the torque acting on a wheel is a wheel force transducer. However, obtaining accurate reading using the wheel force transducer is difficult since Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) in the signals generated by the wheel force transducer is very low. This is not desired.
Therefore, in light of the above discussion, there is a need to develop a low cost sensor with high sensitivity to get better SNR and at the same time reducing the data transmission complexity and data loss while measuring the braking torque on wheels of the automotive vehicle.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a system for measuring torque acting on a wheel of a vehicle. The system comprises an

attachment connectable to the wheel; a first plate mounted on the attachment, the first plate having a plurality of slots extending radially on the first plate, the plurality of slots defining a plurality of mounting locations on the first plate; at least one sensor mounted at the plurality of mounting locations to sense torque acting on the wheel and generate torque signals; and a telemetry system communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor for facilitating transmission of the torque signals to a remote server.
[0005] In one embodiment, the at least one sensor includes a first plurality of sensors and a second plurality of sensors, wherein the first plurality of sensors are mounted on a face of the first plate at the plurality of mounting locations; and the second plurality of sensors are mounted on a surface defining the depth of the first plate at the plurality of mounting locations.
[0006] In an embodiment, the first plurality of sensors are connected to form a first Wheatstone bridge, and also the second plurality of sensors are connected to form a second Wheatstone bridge.
[0007] In an embodiment, the number of sensors in the first and second plurality of sensors is sixteen.
[0008] In an embodiment, the sensors in the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors are strain gauged flexural elements.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The principal object of the present invention is to provide a low cost system to measure torque acting on the wheels.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a sensor with higher sensitivity to get better Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) in the data transmission without sacrificing the functionality of the component from a strength view-point.
[0011] Another object is to provide a sensor which could work on both the shear and bending principles.
[0012] Yet another object is to use a single channel telemetry system in the measurement system for reducing the data transmission complexity and data loss.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0013] The aspects and other features of the subject matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying figures. The use of the same reference number in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
[0014] Figure 1 shows conventional wheel force transducer.
[0015] Figure 2 shows the vehicle co-ordinate system.
[0016] Figure 3 shows braking moment component (My).
[0017] Figure 4 shows a wheel torque cell (WTC) according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0018] Figure 5 illustrates strain gauge locations in the WTC according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0019] Figure 6 shows Wheatstone bridge configuration for WTC according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] As discussed previously, the conventional wheel force transducer used to measure the torque acting on the wheel of vehicle does not provide very accurate results. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of the conventional wheel force transducer 10. The wheel force transducer 10 includes an adaptor 12 and a sensor 14 mounted on the adaptor 12. An encoder 16 is coupled to the sensor 14, wherein the encoder can be a part of a multichannel telemetry system. This configuration of the conventional wheel force transducer 10, which includes the multichannel telemetry system and the sensor 14, fails to provide accurate values of the torque acting on the wheel. The use of the multichannel telemetry system also results in data transmission complexity and data loss. This is not desired.
[0021] To overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional wheel force transducer, the present disclosure envisages a wheel torque cell that is specifically designed to deliver relatively more accurate torque results.
[0022] Figure 2 shows the vehicle co-ordinate system. Figure 3 shows braking moment component (My). Figure 4 shows a wheel torque cell (WTC) according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted that the wheel torque cell (WTC) is also interchangeably referred to as a system for measuring torque acting on a wheel of a vehicle 20 (hereinafter referred to as system 20). The purpose of the system 20 is to facilitate the provision of accurate results associated with the measurement of the torque acting on the wheels of the vehicle.

[0023] The system 20 comprises an attachment 22 connectable to a wheel 23. The attachment 22 has a configuration that facilitates the connection of the attachment 22 to the wheel 23. The attachment 22 is provided to facilitate mounting of a first plate 24 thereon. The first plate 24 is the plate that includes the sensors mounted thereon for the measurement of the torque acting on the wheel 23.
[0024] In an embodiment, the first plate 24 has a plurality of slots 24A extending radially on the first plate 24. The plurality of slots 24A are configured on the first plate 24 in a manner that the slots 24A define a plurality of mounting locations 28 on the first plate 24. In the present embodiment, the first plate 24 includes four radial slots wherein the ends of the slots are spaced apart and separated by solid portion of the first plate 24. These solid portions of the first plate 24 form the mounting locations 28.
[0025] The system 20 further comprises at least one sensor 1-16, 101-116 mounted at the plurality of mounting locations 28 to sense the torque acting on the wheel 23 and generate torque signals. The system 20 further comprises a telemetry system 30 communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor 1-16, 101-116 for facilitating transmission of the torque signals to a receiver and to a Data Acquisition System 36 for further processing. In an embodiment, the telemetry system 30 is a single channel telemetry system. The use of the single channel telemetry system 30 facilitates the provision of transmitting torque signals without complexity and prevent data loss.
[0026] In one embodiment, the at least one sensor includes a first plurality of sensors 1-16 and a second plurality of sensors 101-116, wherein the first plurality of sensors are mounted on a face of the

first plate 24 at the plurality of mounting locations 28, and the second plurality of sensors are mounted on a surface defining the depth of the first plate 24 at the plurality of mounting locations 28. In an embodiment, the first plurality of sensors 1-16 are connected to form a first Wheatstone bridge, and also the second plurality of sensors 101-116 are connected to form a second Wheatstone bridge.
[0027] It is to be noted that according to an exemplary aspect, as shown in Figure 6, the first plurality of sensors 1-16, provided on the face of the first plate 24, are configured to capture shear and the second plurality of sensors 101-116 are configured to capture bending moment in-order to accurately measure rotating moment with higher SNR.
[0028] It is to be noted that in the present embodiment of the system 20, the number of sensors in the first and second plurality of sensors is sixteen. More specifically, a total of thirty two sensors is employed by the system 20. However, the number of sensors is not restricted to being thirty two. Other designs of employing the same inventive concept with different number of sensors are well within the ambit of the present invention.
[0029] The sensors in the first plurality of sensors 1-16 and the second plurality of sensors 101-116, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, are strain gauged flexural elements.
[0030] In accordance with the present invention, as seen in Figure 6, the sensors 1, 5, 9, 13 are connected in series to form one branch of the first Wheatstone bridge; the sensors 4, 8, 12, 16 are

connected in series to form second branch of the first Wheatstone bridge; the sensors 3, 7, 11, 15 are connected in series to form third branch of the first Wheatstone bridge; and the sensors 2, 6, 10, 14 are connected in series to form fourth branch of the first Wheatstone bridge.
[0031] Similarly, the sensors 101, 105, 109, 113 are connected in series to form first branch of the second Wheatstone bridge; the sensors 104, 108, 112, 116 are connected in series to form second branch of the second Wheatstone bridge; the sensors 103, 107, 111, 115 are connected in series to form third branch of the second Wheatstone bridge; and the sensors 102, 106, 110, 114 are connected in series to form fourth branch of the second Wheatstone bridge.
[0032] The use of the strain gauged flexural elements facilitates in the capture of the minutest changes in the torque acting on the wheel. More specifically, any torque acting on the wheel would cause a change in dimension of at least one of the first and second plurality of sensors 1-16, 101-116. The change in the dimension is measured via the strain gauged feature of the sensors. More specifically, any change in the dimensions of the sensors is captured as an output of the first and the second plurality of sensors 1-16, 101-116. The output of the system is received by the telemetry system 30.
[0033] The telemetry system 30 comprises a transmitter 32 in communication with the first and second Wheatstone bridges formed by the first and the second plurality of sensors 1-16, 101-116. The transmitter 32 is configured to transmit the torque signals from the

first and the second plurality of sensors 1-16, 101-116. The telemetry system 30 further comprises a receiver 34 communicatively coupled to the transmitter 32. The receiver 34 receives the torque signals from the transmitter 32. The receiver 34 can be a standalone component or part of the data acquisition system 36. The torque signal received by the Data Acquisition System 36 are processed further for computing the value of the torque acting on the wheels of the vehicle.
[0034] According to one exemplary aspect, both the Wheatstone bridge circuits may be powered and amplified independently. The outputs may then summed and transmitted using the single channel telemetry system 30 to reduce data transmission complexity and data loss.
[0035] The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope of this invention.
[0036] Although embodiments for a system for measuring torque acting on a wheel have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary embodiments of the system and the method described herein.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
[0037] Thus some of the advantages of the wheel torque cell (WTC) and the measurement system proposed in the invention are:
. providing the low cost sensor which could measure moment
acting on the wheels; . providing a sensor with higher sensitivity to get better Signal to
Noise Ratio (SNR) in the data transmission without sacrificing
the functionality of the component from a strength view-point; . providing a sensor which could work on both the shear and
bending principles; and . using a single channel telemetry system in the measurement
system for reducing the data transmission complexity and data
loss.

WE CLAIM:
1. A system (20) for measuring torque acting on a wheel (23) of a
vehicle, the system (20) comprising:
a. an attachment (22) connectable to the wheel (23);
b. a first plate (24) mounted on the attachment (22), the first
plate (24) having a plurality of slots (24A) extending radially
on the first plate (24), the plurality of slots (24A) defining a
plurality of mounting locations (28) on the first plate (24);
c. at least one sensor (1-16, 101-116) mounted at the plurality
of mounting locations (28) to sense torque acting on the
wheel (23) and generate torque signals; and
d. a telemetry system (30) communicatively coupled to the at
least one sensor (1-16, 101-116) for facilitating
transmission of the torque signals to a receiver and to a
Data Acquisition System (36).
2. The system (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor (1-16, 101-116) includes a first plurality of sensors (1-16) and a second plurality of sensors (101-116).
3. The system (20) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sensors (1-16) are mounted on a face of the first plate (24) at the plurality of mounting locations (28).
4. The system (20) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second plurality of sensors (101-116) are mounted on a surface defining the depth of the first plate (24) at the plurality of mounting locations (28).

5. The system (20) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first plurality of sensors (1-16) are connected to form a Wheatstone bridge.
6. The system (20) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second plurality of sensors (101-116) are connected to form a Wheatstone bridge.
7. The system (20) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first plurality of sensors (1-16) includes sixteen sensors connected together to form the Wheatstone bridge.
8. The system (20) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second plurality of sensors (101-116) includes sixteen sensors connected together to form the Wheatstone bridge.
9. The system (20) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensors in the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors (1-16, 101-116) are strain gauged flexural elements.