Torque sensor

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In order to solve the aforesaid problems in the prior art, the present invention has been designed.
A first object thereof is to provide a torque sensor which is provided with a cylinder whose magnetic coupling state is not variable with respect to one of two cylinders whose magnetic coupling state is variable, thereby enabling variation in torque to be detected with high sensitivity.
A second object of the invention is to provide a torque A second object of the invention is to provide a torque sensor which is provided at the outer periphery of each cylinder with a large number of grooves extending axially, thereby cutting off an eddy current flowing on the outer periphery of the cylinder and restraining a generation of heat caused by an eddy current loss.
A third object of the invention is to provide a torque sensor in which one of the opposite cylinders is made at the axial end edge smaller in thickness than the other, or a cylindrical member fixing the opposite cylinders is supported on a casing through a bearing, thereby eliminating the influence of deflection of the torsion bar.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide a torque sensor which is provided at the end edges of opposite cylinders with a large number of cutouts so as to form teeth whose opposite ends are opposite at about a half width thereof to each other.
Regulation means are provided for regulating the teeth to be not completely opposite or not opposite even when subjected to a steering torque, thereby obtaining a large and stable rate of impedance change of a magnetic coupling detecting coil and also obtaining a detection output not different in the lateral direction.
A fifth object of the invention is to provide a torque sensor in which two cylinders which are non-variable of the magnetic coupling state are made identical at the opposite end edges in configuration with those of two cylinders variable of the same, thereby enabling a proper torque to be detected without being affected by ambient temperature