The efficiency, reliability and quality of all rotating Torquemeters Limited, founded in 1951, have a

machinery, large and small, is of paramount worldwide reputation for torquemeters of very high
importance to end users, and to remain competitive accuracyand credibility both for test stand Research
suppliers need to test prototype and production and Development applications and also for
machines with increasing thoroughness. permanent installation on large turbomachines.
The margins for improvement are already so much
reduced that success depends on highly accurate Their'Torquetronic' phase shift system, originally
licensed from Rolls Royce, is used by many of the
test stand measurements, particularly torque.
world's leading aero engine and turbomachinery
Operators of large turbomachines are also companies and is available as a 0.1% accuracy
increasingly interested in their in service standard model range or custom engineered to suit
performance and use permanently installed specific requirements.
torquemeters for condition monitoring, maximising
Torquemeters Limited are also the world leaders in
plant output and control purposes.
continuous duty torquemeters for the oil, gas and
Applications fall into two categories. petrochemical industries, with over 350 units in
service on turbomachines up to 80MW and
Power Absorption Measurement -of pumps, 20,000rpm with exceptional reliabili~
fans, compressors, generators, gearboxes, etc using a
torquemeter and any convenient prime mover: The mechanical design and interfacing of
torquemeters to the coupled machines can be
Power Output Measurement -of turbines, I.C critical to their success. and the Company's
engines, electric and hydraulic motors, etc using a reputation is based on their unique capability in high
torquemeter and any convenient load absorption speed transmission engineering at high powers
device. speeds up to I 50.000rpm.

Some practical applications: Operating from a purpose built factory with

Performance measurement -Research and

modern production, calibration and design facilities,

Development testing of prototype machines to the the Company are certified to ISO 900 I. Sales,

highest levels of accurac~ such as aero engine or

technical support and after sales service for the
Company's international customer base is handled
industrial compressor development.
by a network of sales offices and agencies covering
Production testing -Pass off testing of production 20 countries worldwide.
machines such as helicopter or automotive engines,
pumps, etc.

Acceptance testing -Works or on-site acceptance

of performance guarantees of coupled machines.

Machinery protection -Indication of peak

operating torque to prevent damage to process

machinerr

Process control -Optimisation of process plant

machinery to maximise output, efficiency and product

quality.

Condition monitoring -Continuous indication of

performance deterioration of process machines
guides maintenance and cleaning scheduling.

I
Phase shift principle

This simple form of phase shift torquemeter is well

known. As torque is applied to the rotating shaft, a
change of phase is produced between the signals of
the two pickups. Howeve~ large inaccuracies are
introduced by any relative movements between the
shaft and the pickups. i
I
i
I
..

To Phasemeter

Torquetronic system
The 'Torquetronic' system's key feature is the use of
a pair of multipole pickups in the form of internally
toothed rings, which provide compensation for any
relative movement between shaft and stator:

The circumferential pickup / field coils provide a

toroidal flux path such that as the shaft rotates, the
teeth generate sinusoidal signals in stationary coils,
whose phase dispJacement is directly proportional
to shaft twist and hence torque. .
I .
I I
I I
..
The integrity of the phase measurement electronics can
Complement ~
be conclusively proved by inverting the two signals using switch ~
a built in Complement switch. If the sum of the original
and Complement readings add up to exactly 100% the ~
phase measurement must be correct.
TORQUE

(as % phase displacement)

Rotastat feature

'Torquetronic' test stand models feature a built in

Rotastat system in which the pickup teeth can be
rotated to generate signals with the shaft stationary.
This allows static calibration with lever arms and
weights and zero speed torque measurement.

The calibration constant of the system is simply the

torque to twist the shaft through one tooth pitch which
must clearly correspond to exactly 100% phase
displacement. The stiffness of the high tensile steel shaft
~ ~
is as stable as Youngs modulus and exceptionally linear: To Phasemeter

2
Standard 'ET' models
The ET model range of high
precision transducers covers 1-
75,000Nm, up to 120,000rpm
in 4 frame sizes. Available in
suspended or pedestal versions
and Low, Medium and High Speed

bearing contigurations.The unique

interchangeable shaft facility
typically allows each model to
cover a 40: 1 torque range at full

accuracy.

ET I SOHS -14OONm, JO,OOOrpm

ET9000HS- 75,OOONm,6,500rpm

Custom designs

For special test rig applications at

high or low speed,Torquemeters
Limited can provide custom
designed solutions, including the
complete transmission. Any rating
considered.

Turbinetest rig- 24000kW 13,OOOrpm

3
Continuous Duty

For condition monitoring of large

turbomachines in the oil, gas
petrochemical industries,
Torquetronic is widely regarded as
the most reliable and credible
system available with over 300
installations on virtually every
turbine type from I -80MW.

(Ref Brochure PSL 9.05.65)

Gas pipeline booster 20MW @ 6,500rpm

Tordisc couplings

For exacting test stand applications

Torquemeters Limited offer a range
of standard or custom designed
ultra lightweight low moment
TORDISC diaphragm couplings.
Torques up to 30,OOONm, speeds
up to 80,OOOrpm.

Electronics

All 'Torquetronic' transducers

use common electronics, the
"613" Readout Unit or the
'700" Signal Processor Unit,
available with a wide range of
digital and analog interfaces.

(Ref Brochures PSL 9.05.55 /56)

Specifications -ET models
.0
Resolution: 0.0 I % RD.
Linearity + Hysteresis

r
0.02% RD. .9
Zero Repeatability :t 0.05% RD.
Temperature Compensation :t 0.05% w .8
::>
--'
Static Calibration :t 0.05%
~
O .7
Speed :t Irpm
~
::>
';:i .6
The combination of the errors above in relation w
L
to the full scale Phase Displacement (PD.), 0\! .5
1/1
typically 75% gives: « i-i\
>-
U .4
~
Overall accuracy: @ 95% Confidence level ::>
U
U .3
« JTE

.2
Absolute :!: 0.13% F.S.D. RJPEATABltl~ ~ ~

Repeatability
:!: 0.10% F.S.D. R~PEATABI~ITY I ~

Operating temperature -40 + 100°C

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

% PHASE DISPlACEMENT

5
The "Torquetronic" principle was
Fig
2
conceived to provide the highest level
of torque measurement accuracy and
credibility for the exacting task of
aero engine development. However;
the practical accuracy of any
Torquemeter is no more than can be
proved to the users own satisfaction.
Unlike most measuring instruments
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
the transmission Torquemeter cannot OBSERVED READING ~P.D)

be calibrated against any standard.

The "Torquetronic" system was
designed from the outset so that its
integrity'can be readily proved by the
following indirect tests.

.Static calibration -
Application of torque without
rotation

.Dynamic calibration -

Application of rotation without

torque

Static calibration

The torsional stiffness of the shaft or the

calibration constant is simply determined with
lever arms, normally provided, and weights. The
calibration is thereafter as stable as Youngs
modulus and is strictly linear:Very large shafts are
usually supplied works calibrated on our 140kNm rig. Fig.1 shows the results of a typical calibration model, to
a linearity of 0.0 I %RMS. The minor effect of shaft temperature on stiffness is precisely known and may be
corrected for; using a shaft thermocouple.

Dynamic calibration

The Torquemeter is run with the

driven machine uncoupled to establish
the Zero Torque Datum (Z.TD.) Fig.2
shows the results of a typical
calibration.
Any systematic variation with speed is
compensated electronicallf
All transducers undergo no load
testing and calibration up to their
maximum operating speed on the
company's 120,OOOrpm spinning facilitf
Readout integrity is proven by a
Reading + Complement check, Fig.3.

6
 Standard ET models

Nominal ratings for standard Torquemeters L.$. Low Speed, Grease Lubricated
Special consideration for each application is advisable M.$, Medium Speed. Grease Lubricated
H.$, High Speed. Oil Lubricated
$, Suspended, Low Speed. Grease Lubricated

105 105

~
~ET5000~

1""'::- IU
~ET3000

-ET2000
I
104 ,~ET1000 10.
I~ET12°1! ~
;ET1000
r ' I
1- ETiiiO ~
~
"ET600'
""::-

~M.S.
~ ET250
rrf{
rET150
~
I~
103 ~ETio~ - 103
"

I. ET60 .
L
~
1- ET25 .
~ ~
-ET26-

-ET25'

~ ET12!T15.

102 102
, -

~ ET10 ~

i "
~ ~
~ ~
~ET6 ~~ H,S
rETS

10 10
~

E E
~ ~
w w
::> :J
O O
Q: Ix:
~ ~

'rque Range )g Interchangeable Shafts

INm 0.74 Ibf ft

que shaft ratings are made to customel specification.

Easi terchangeable ti N full accuracy t inel ler a very wide je range.

7
Installation

Pedestal type

The transducer is fixed to a

bedplate. The couplings each side
must have two flexible planes.
Preferred choice for high speeds.
Convenient for calibration

Suspended type

The transducer is supported by the

shafts of the associated machines.
The couplings on each side must
have a single flexible plane. Casing
rotation is restrained by a link

Coupling selection
Whilst the 'Torquetronic' transducers are designed to be insensitive to external shaft loading, Torquemeters
Limited's extensive transmission engineering experience is available to assess or recommend coupling selection.
For higher speeds and powers Torquemeters Limited manufacture the TORDISC, an advanced Low Mass
Moment, profiled membrane coupling for speeds up to 80,OOOrpm and torques up to 30,OOONm.

Lubrication
Low and medium speed models are grease lubricated. High speed models are oil lubricated with air packed
seals pressurised from an external fan.Type K bearing thermocouples are standard on Medium Speed and High

Speed models.

Temperature Compensation
For the highest possible accuracy or for use in high ambient conditions, a shaft thermocouple/RTD can be

supplied for automatic modulus compensation (O.O25%/OC)

Torque helix

This is a useful way of defining the sense oftorque.T ransducers can be specified for unidirectional or

bidirectional use.

RIGHT HAND HELIX - LEFT HAND HELIX -

Shaft is twisted as a right hand thread Shaft is twisted as a left hand thread

9
 GEC MARCONI
GIRDLESTONE
GKN
ABB
PEUGEOT
AEROsPATIALE GLAENZER SPICER
PHlLIPS
AEROTEsT GODIVA
PIAGGIO
AGUsTA GODWIN
PLESSEY
ALLIED SIGNAL GRASSO
ALLISON PRATT & WHITNEY
ALVis
ARIEL
AUXILEC

HAYWARD TYLER
REM
HELIKOPTER SERVICES
RENAULT
HOBOURN
RICARDO
BHEL , HONDA
ROLLS ROYCE
BMW-RR HOWDEN
ROVER
BUM HPI
RWTH
BW/IP

IAC
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY SAUER SUNDSTRAND
IFP
CATERPILLAR SNECMA
ILMOR
CEAT STORK
CEGELEC ITP
SULZER
CEPR SACLAY
SUNDSTRAND
COMPAIR
SVERDRUP
COSWORTH
CRANFIELD
KAWASAKI
KSB

TECHNOFAN

DEMAG DELAVAL THOMASSEN

DELPHI TOYOTA
DFVLR LEROY SOMER TURBOMECA
DOWN LUCAS AEROSPACE

u s NAVY
EDF
MAN GHH
EGT
MAWDSLEYS
MHI
MTU
VOlVO
FIAT
FISCHER
FLEMING
FROUDE NAL
WEIRS
NASA
WESTLANDS
NIJHUIS
NISSAN
GARRETT NORMALAIR- GARRETT
GE NOVENCO
GEC ALSTHOM NUOVO PIGNONE YORK

10