1. A rotation detecting device characterized by having:
first and second members that are rotatable relative to each other around a rotation axis;
a magnetic member fixed to the first member, the magnetic member having N-poles and S-poles alternately arranged around the rotation axis;
a detecting member arranged to face the magnetic member, the detecting member being constructed of a magnetic material;
a holding member fixed to the second member for holding the detecting member, the holding member being constructed of a thermoplastic resin and including first and second holding members that are welded and fixed to each other having the detecting member put therebetween while avoiding a relative contact between the detecting member and the second member; and
a magnetic sensor that detects a relative rotation between the first and second members by sensing a change of magnetic field in the detecting member, the change of magnetic field being caused by a relative rotation between the magnetic member and the detecting member caused by a relative rotation between the first and second members.
2. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 1, which is further characterized in that:
the detecting member includes a first detecting member and a second detecting member that is separate from the first detecting member; and
the holding members hold the first and second detecting members by putting therebetween the first and second detecting members without contacting the first and second detecting members.
3. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 2, which is further characterized in that:
a housing is provided which holds therein the first and second members in such a manner that the first and second members are rotatable around the rotation axis;
the first and second members are connected to each other through a torsion bar;
the detecting member comprises a first yoke member that includes plate-like first pawl portions that are concentrically arranged around the rotation axis while facing the magnetic member, a first annular portion that is shaped concentric with the rotation axis, plate-like first connecting portions that respectively extend from the first pawl portions to the first annular portion, each first connecting portion extending radially outward, and a first detected portion that is connected to the first annular portion, each plate-like first pawl portion extending perpendicular to a radial direction of the rotation axis, and each plate-like first connecting portion extending perpendicular to the rotation axis, and, a second yoke member that includes plate-like second pawl portions that are concentrically arranged around the rotation axis while facing the magnetic member, a second annular portion that is shaped concentric with the rotation axis, plate-like second connecting portions that respectively extend from the second pawl portions to the second annular portion, each second connecting portion extending radially inward, and a second detected portion that is connected to the second annular portion, each plate-like second pawl portion extending perpendicular to a radial direction of the rotation axis and being arranged between neighboring two of the first paw portions, the first and second pawl portions being arranged on a common circular that is concentric with the rotation axis, the second annular portion being separate from the first annular portion, the plate-like second connecting portions extending perpendicular to the rotation axis and being arranged alternately with the plate-like first connecting portions;
the magnetic sensor is a Hall element mounted to the housing, the Hall element detecting a torque produced between the first and second members by sensing a change of magnetic field between the first and second detected portions caused by a change of a relative angle between the first and second pawl portions and the magnetic member caused by a torsion of the torsion bar; and
the holding member holds the detecting member by causing the first and second holding members to be welded and fixed to each other while putting therebetween the first and second connecting portions.
4. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 3, which is further characterized in that:
a portion where the first and second holding portions are welded and fixed to each other comprises a smaller diameter portion that passes through a radially inside part of the first connecting portions, a larger diameter portion that passes through a radially outside part of the second connecting portions and a radially extending connecting portion that connects the smaller and larger diameter portions.
5. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 3, which is further characterized in that:
the first and second holding members are provided with positioning engaging portions by which positioning of the first and second holding members around the rotation axis is carried out.
6. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 5, which is characterized in that:
the positioning engaging portion comprises engaging projected portions that are provided by the first holding member and extend toward the rotation axis and engaging recessed portions that are provided by the second holding member and face the engaging projected portions to receive therein the engaging projected portions, and
when it is assumed that a direction around the rotation axis is a circumferential direction, the first holding member has, at circumferential both ends of the engaging projected portion, a welding portion that is projected in a direction to face the second holding member and welded in a welding and fixing process, and has recessed cutout portions that are arranged at a border area between the welding portion and the engaging projected portion and face the second holding member, so that even after completion of the welding and fixing between the first and second holding members, the first and second holding members are kept separated from each other.
7. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 3, which is further characterized in that:
the first holding member or the second holding member is provided with a recessed portion for receiving therein the first and second connecting portions.
8. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 7, which is further characterized in that:
the recessed portion is provided with a rotation suppressing portion by which a rotational movement of the first and second connecting members around the rotation axis is suppressed.
9. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 8, which is further characterized in that:
when it is assumed that a direction around the rotation axis is a circumferential direction, the depth at circumferential ends of the recessed portion is larger than that of the other portion.
10. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 3, which is further characterized in that:
the first holding member or the second holding member is provided with a plurality of through openings through which the first and second pawl portions extending along the rotation axis pass.
11. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 3, which is further characterized in that:
the first holding member or the second holding member is provided with a radial movement restriction portion that restricts a radial movement of the first and second yoke members relative to the rotation axis by contacting with an inner cylindrical surface of each first pawl portion as well as an inner cylindrical surface of each second pawl portion.
12. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 11, which is further characterized in that:
the radial movement restriction portion of the holding member is provided at a position that is spaced apart from the magnetic member in the direction of the rotation axis.
13. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 2, which is further characterized in that:
when it is assumed that a direction around the rotation axis is a circumferential direction, the first and second detecting members are shaped to surround the rotation axis and have each at a given circumferential portion a cut portion and a pair of circular arc-shaped portions that extend along an imaginary circle whose center is in the rotation axis,
a diameter of the imaginary circle along which the paired circular arc-shaped portions of the first detecting member extend is larger than the imaginary circular along which the paired circular arc-shaped portion of the second detecting member extend,
the second detecting member is provided, at a position between the paired circular arc-shaped portions and radially opposite to the cut portion with respect to the rotation axis, with a second detecting member side engaging portion that projects radially outside,
the holding member is provided with an engaging projection for the second detecting member, which makes both positioning of the second detecting member in a circumferential direction and positioning of the holding member relative to the first detecting member in a radial direction by engaging with the second detecting member side engaging portion.
14. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 13, which is further characterized in that:
the second holding member is provided, at a position between the first and second detecting members, with a wall portion that projects toward the first detecting member,
the first holding member is provided with both a welding portion that is in contact with a surface of the wall portion of the second holding member that faces the first holding member and welded and fixed to the surface in a welding and fixing process, and holding portions that are provided at radially opposed portions of the welding portion to hold the first and second detecting members by contacting the first and second detecting members,
the welding portion of the first holding member is shaped to have a smaller diameter portion that is in contact with and welded and fixed to a radially inside portion of the wall portion, a larger diameter portion that is in contact with and welded and fixed to a radially outside portion of the wall portion and connecting portions that are shaped to connect the smaller and larger diameter portions and alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.
15. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 14, which is further characterized in that:
the second holding member is formed with recessed cut-off portions at a position opposite to the position where the first detecting member of the wall portion is provided.
16. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 13, which is further characterized in that:
the holding member is provided with detecting member engaging portions that are recessed to open in the direction of the rotation axis and receive therein axial ends of the first and second detecting members with respect to the direction of the rotation axis.
17. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 1, which is further characterized in that:
the first holding member is provided with both a welding portion that is in contact with the second holding member and welded and fixed to the second holding member in a welding and fixing process, and a holding portion that is provided at a radially inside or outside portion of the welding portion to contact with an axial end of the detecting member with respect to the direction of the rotation axis,
the holding portion of the first holding member is shaped to have a small axial thickness relative to the welding portion, so that after the welding and fixing process the holding portion is able to exhibit a resilient deformation.
18. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 17, which is further characterized in that:
the second holding member is provided with both a second holding member side contacting portion that is in contact with the welding portion of the first holding member and a detecting member receiving portion that receives the detecting member,
the detecting member is arranged to the second holding member in such a manner as to project toward the first member side from the second holding member side contact portion.
19. A rotation detecting device as claimed in claim 17, which is further characterized in that:
the first holding member is resiliently deformably welded and fixed to the given portion in such a manner that the welding portion projects toward the second holding member side from the holding portion.
20. A power steering device characterized by having:
a steering mechanism that includes an input shaft rotating with a steering wheel and an output shaft connected to the input shaft through a torsion bar, so that a steering operation of the steering wheel is transmitted to steered road wheel;
a housing for rotatably receiving therein the input shaft and the output shaft;
a magnetic member fixed to the output shaft and having N-poles and S-poles arranged alternately around a rotation axis;
a detecting member arranged to face the magnetic member and made of a magnetic material;
a holding member for holding the detecting member, the holding member being fixed to the input shaft and including first and second holding members made of a thermoplastic resin, the first and second holding members being welded and fixed to each other having the detecting member put therebetween while avoiding contact between the detecting member and the input shaft;
a magnetic sensor that detects a relative rotation between the input and output shafts by sensing a change of magnetic field in the detecting member which is caused by the relative rotation of the detecting member;
an electric motor that provides the steering mechanism with a steering assist force; and
a motor control circuit that calculates an instruction signal to the electric motor based on a torque that is produced between the input and output shafts and derived from an output signal of the magnetic sensor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A connector for a fluid line of an extracorporeal circuit, comprising a tubular body which internally defines a fluid passage, said tubular body having:
at least a first connection port predisposed for coupling with said fluid line;
at least a second connection port configured to rotatably couple with a projection of an external element; and
at least a closure element of said second connection port, said closure element being openable towards an inside of said second connection port, said closure element having an open configuration wherein the closure element is positioned and squeezed between the projection of the external element and an internal lateral wall of the second connection port and is completely covered by the projection.
2. A blood chamber for an extracorporeal circuit comprising:
the connector of claim 1;
at least one access port; and
at least one connection line having a first end connected to said at least one access port and a second end connected with said first connection port.
3. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element is provided with at least one hinge, at least a part of said closure element being able to assume an open configuration in which, with respect to a closed configuration thereof, said at least a part of the closure element is rotated about said at least one hinge.
4. The chamber of claim 3, wherein said hinge comprises a localised thickened part of said closure element.
5. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element comprises a breakable body.
6. The chamber of claim 5, wherein said breakable body exhibits at least one zone predisposed for easier breakage.
7. The chamber of claim 6, wherein said zone predisposed for easier breakage comprises one or more weakened lines.
8. The chamber of claim 7, wherein said zone predisposed for easier breakage comprises a plurality of weakened lines arranged in a spoke-fashion departing from a central zone of said breakable body.
9. The chamber of claim 5, wherein said breakable body has a perimeter part which is constrained to said connection port, and a central part which gradually becomes thinner in a direction towards a centre of said breakable body.
10. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element is a membrane which transversally occludes said connection port.
11. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection port is associated to a tubular connector and wherein said closure element is realised in a single piece with said tubular connector.
12. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection line defines a main fluid pathway which develops between said first end and said second end, said main fluid pathway being interrupted by said closure element.
13. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element is at least partially openable in an opening direction which is parallel to or which coincides with a longitudinal axis of a main fluid pathway defined by said connection line.
14. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element is arranged transversally with respect to a longitudinal axis of a main fluid pathway defined by said connection line between said first end and said second end.
15. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection port is located on a tubular connector made of a plastic material, and wherein said closure element is made of a same material as said tubular connector.
16. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said closure element has a perimeter which is solidly connected to a wall of said connection port.
17. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection line comprises a flexible tube, extended between said first end and said second end, and a tubular connector connected to said flexible tube at said second end, said closure element being located on said tubular connector.
18. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection port exhibits an end opening which is predisposed, in a configuration of connection with said closure element, at least partially to receive a projection exhibited on said external element, said closure element being openable by effect of a contact thrust exerted by said projection during insertion thereof into said opening.
19. The chamber of claim 18, wherein said closure element is situated at a distance from said end opening which distance is less than twice a diameter of said end opening.
20. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection port exhibits an end opening, and wherein said closure element is arranged internally of said connection port and is distanced from said end opening.
21. The chamber of claim 20, wherein said distance is greater than half a diameter of said end opening.
22. The chamber of claim 20, wherein between said closure element and said end opening, said connection port exhibits an internal surface having at least a sealing part which is destined to seal with said external element, said sealing part having a decreasing section in a direction departing from said end opening and going towards said closure element.
23. The chamber of claim 2, comprising, apart from said access port, at least a second access port and a third access port.
24. The chamber of claim 23, wherein said second access port is a blood inlet port and said third access port is a blood outlet port.
25. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said access port is a service port predisposed for fluid connection with a device for detecting a pressure, said device being associated to a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment.
26. The chamber of claim 2, wherein between said first end and said second end said connection line is provided with a transducer-protector device having an anti-contamination barrier which is permeable to gas.
27. The chamber of claim 2, wherein said connection line is a service line of said extracorporeal circuit.
28. An extracorporeal circuit comprising at least a blood chamber realised according to claim 2.
29. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is realised in a single piece with said tubular body.
30. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is arranged internally of said tubular body and is distanced from an end opening of said second connection port.
31. The connector of claim 30, wherein an internal surface is predisposed between said closure element and said end opening, which internal surface has a passage section which decreases in a direction departing from said end opening and going towards said closure element.
32. The connector of claim 30, wherein said axial distance is greater than a half of a diameter of said end opening.
33. The connector of claim 1, wherein said fluid passage has a straight axis and wherein said first and second connection ports are coaxial one to another.
34. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is provided with at least one hinge, at least a part of said closure element being able to assume an open configuration in which, with respect to a closed configuration thereof, said at least a part of the closure element is rotated about said at least one hinge.
35. The connector of claim 34, wherein said hinge comprises a localised thickened part of said closure element.
36. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element comprises a breakable body.
37. The connector of claim 36, wherein said breakable body exhibits at least a zone predisposed for easy breakage.
38. The connector of claim 37, wherein said at least a zone predisposed for easy breakage comprises one or more weakened lines.
39. The connector of claim 38, wherein said at least a zone predisposed for easy breakage comprises a plurality of weakened lines arranged in a spoke fashion departing from a central zone of said breakable body.
40. The connector of claim 36, wherein said breakable body has a perimeter part which is constrained to said tubular body and a central part which thins gradually towards a centre of said central part.
41. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is a membrane which transversally occludes said fluid passage.
42. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is at least partially openable in an opening direction which is parallel to or coincides with a longitudinal axis of said tubular body.
43. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is arranged transversally to a longitudinal axis of said tubular body.
44. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element is made of a same material as said tubular body.
45. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element has a perimeter which is solidly connected to an internal wall of said tubular body.
46. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second connection port exhibits an end opening which is predisposed at least partially to receive a projection borne on said external element, said closure element being openable by effect of a contacting thrust exerted by said projection during insertion thereof into said end opening.
47. The connector of claim 46, wherein said closure element is situated at a distance from said end opening which is less than twice a diameter of said end opening.
48. The connector of claim 1, wherein said second connection port exhibits an end opening, and wherein said closure element is arranged internally of said second connection port and is distanced from said end opening.
49. The connector of claim 48, wherein said distance is greater than half of the diameter of said end opening.
50. The connector of claim 1, wherein said closure element can assume an open configuration in which said closure element is arranged between a projection of said external element and an internal surface of said second connection port.
51. A circuit for extracorporeal blood circulation, comprising a plurality of fluid lines, at least one of which is provided with a connector made according to claim 1.
52. The circuit of claim 51, wherein said plurality of fluid lines comprises two or more fluid lines selected from a group comprising:
at least an arterial line, or a blood removal line, having at least a first end which is destined to be connected to a vascular access device, and at least a second end destined to be connected to a blood treatment device;
at least a venous line, or a blood return line, having at least a first end which is destined to be connected to a blood treatment device, and at least a second end which is destined to be connected to a vascular access device; and
at least a service line having at least a first end which is fluidly connected to a blood pathway of the circuit, and at least a second end destined to be fluidly connected to an external element.
53. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to connect a service line connected to a blood chamber of an extracorporeal circuit to a device for pressure detection, said device being associated to a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment.
54. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to connect an arterial line to a vascular access device andor to a blood treatment device.
55. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to connect a venous line to a blood treatment device andor to a vascular access device.
56. An apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising an extracorporeal circuit made according to claim 28.
57. The apparatus of claim 56, which is able to perform one or more of following treatments: hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, pure ultrafiltration, and plasmapheresis.
58. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second connection port exhibits a female Luer coupling which is configured to rotatably couple with a male Luer coupling defined by the external element.
59. A machine for performing an extracorporeal blood treatment comprising:
a pressure sensor;
an external element fluidly connected to the pressure sensor, the external element being provided with a projection; and
a connector as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the projection, in a coupled configuration, at least partially enters the opening of the second connection port.
60. The machine of claim 59, wherein the external element has a Luer coupling.
61. The machine of claim 59, wherein the projection is externally truncoconical.
62. The machine of claim 59, wherein the projection has a truncoconical external surface for fluidly-sealed coupling with an internal surface of the connector.