Development of a disc-type torque meter for an automatic transmission vehicle

Abstract Torque is one of the key factors in describing engine performance. It is distributed to various parts of the vehicle such as the valvetrain, generator, and water pump. However, the exact torque delivered to each part cannot be determined. The first step to a full understanding of torque distribution is direct measurement of engine output torque. This paper considers the development of a disc-type torque meter that can be installed in a real vehicle. It uses the elastic deformation of a torque sensor which replaces the driveplate. It consists of a strain node, a power node, and a telemetry node, and transmits the torque signal by Bluetooth technology. The developed disc-type torque meter has good linearity and thermostability. It was installed in an in-line four-cylinder engine vehicle, and successfully measured the engine output torque.