High-response corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor

Abstract

The invention, which relates to the technical field of the temperature and pressure sensor, discloses a high-response corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor comprising a main housing, a circuit board installed in the main housing, and a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor electrically connected with the circuit board. The pressure measuring cylinder is fixed and communicated with the main shell and is used for guiding the air inlet pressure to the pressure sensor; the temperature measuring cylinder is fixed with the pressure measuring cylinder, and a temperature sensing chamber for accommodating the temperature sensor is formed in the temperature measuring cylinder; wherein the temperature measuring cylinder comprises an air inlet cylinder, an exhaust hole and a cyclone separation structure, the cyclone separation structure is arranged between the air inlet cylinder and the temperature sensing chamber, and the cyclone separation structure is configured to perform centrifugal separation on pollutants in air flow before the air flow enters the temperature sensing chamber, so that the accuracy of temperature and pressure detection is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of temperature and pressure sensor technology, and specifically to a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor. Background Technology

[0002] In engine electronic control technology, accurately monitoring the absolute pressure and intake air temperature within the intake manifold is crucial for achieving precise air-fuel ratio control, optimizing combustion efficiency, and reducing emissions. To address this, integrated pressure and temperature sensors have emerged, integrating pressure and temperature sensors into a single housing for a compact design and easy installation. However, when directly installed in harsh operating conditions such as the intake manifold, the performance and lifespan of these sensors face significant challenges.

[0003] Firstly, regarding temperature measurement, the sensing element of a temperature sensor is typically directly exposed or only comes into contact with the intake airflow through a simple protective mesh. During engine operation, contaminants such as oil mist, water vapor, and dust inevitably adhere to the surface of the sensing element. This deposited layer acts like a "heat shield," severely hindering heat exchange, leading to an increase in the sensor's thermal response time constant. This prevents the sensor from quickly tracking dynamic changes in intake air temperature, resulting in a loss of its high-response characteristics, and may also lead to corrosion.

[0004] Secondly, in the integrated design of pressure and temperature measurement, existing technologies inherently suffer from path coupling problems. To simplify the structure, the airflow paths for both measurements are often interconnected or partially shared. This design leads to cross-interference. Furthermore, this coupling design results in poor system robustness and a risk of single-point failure. Failure of any measurement path can affect the function of the entire sensor, causing the loss of both pressure and temperature signals, severely impacting the overall stability and safety of the system.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the above problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor, comprising:

[0007] The main housing, the circuit board installed in the main housing, and the pressure sensor and temperature sensor electrically connected to the circuit board;

[0008] A pressure measuring cylinder, which is fixed and connected to the main housing, is used to guide the intake pressure to the pressure sensor;

[0009] And a temperature measuring cylinder, which is fixed to the pressure measuring cylinder, and forms a temperature sensing chamber inside to accommodate the temperature sensor;

[0010] The temperature measuring cylinder includes an air inlet and an exhaust port, as well as a cyclone separation structure disposed between the air inlet and the temperature sensing chamber. The cyclone separation structure is configured to centrifuge and separate pollutants in the airflow before the airflow enters the temperature sensing chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the pressure measuring cylinder includes a stepped cylinder, the stepped cylinder having a first end communicating with the main housing and a second end isolated from the temperature measuring cylinder, and a pressure measuring hole opposite to the pressure sensor is provided on the side wall of the stepped cylinder.

[0012] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the cyclone separation structure includes a spiral cylinder that defines a spirally descending airflow channel. The inlet end of the airflow channel is connected to the air inlet cylinder, and the outlet end is connected to the temperature sensing chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional diameter of the spiral cylinder gradually decreases from top to bottom to accelerate the airflow during its descent.

[0014] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the spiral cylinder includes a coaxially arranged outer spiral cylinder and an inner spiral cylinder. The inner spiral cylinder has a mesh structure, and an attachment film is applied to the side facing the airflow. The attachment film is provided with funnel-shaped micropores.

[0015] Furthermore, preferably, the outer spiral cylinder and the inner spiral cylinder are connected by an elastic support member so that the inner spiral cylinder can generate mechanical vibration.

[0016] Furthermore, preferably, the adhesive film is any one of polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, or fluororubber;

[0017] The inlet diameter of the trumpet-shaped micropore is between 50 and 200 micrometers, and the outlet diameter is between 5 and 20 micrometers.

[0018] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensing chamber includes a spherical chamber that is connected to the outlet end of the spiral cylinder and has an internal space for accommodating the temperature sensor. The spherical chamber is connected to the exhaust port via a connecting pipe.

[0019] Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment, the main housing is also provided with a plug-in terminal for connecting to an external circuit, a cover plate for encapsulating the circuit board, and a fixing ear for fixing the main housing.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] In this invention, instead of simply using corrosion-resistant materials, a cyclone separation structure is used to centrifuge and remove particles. A variable-diameter spiral acceleration method is used to enhance the capture efficiency of tiny oil mists. Furthermore, mechanical vibration is introduced through an elastic support to actively remove surface dust and prevent membrane pore blockage, thus ensuring the accuracy of temperature sensor monitoring.

[0022] In this invention, by setting a separator plate inside the pressure measuring cylinder, the complex airflow environment of the pressure measurement path and the temperature measurement path is completely isolated, so that the pressure sensor will not be affected by any interference such as cyclone airflow and vibration in the temperature path. Even if the temperature measuring cylinder malfunctions, the pressure measurement function can still work independently and normally. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional exploded structure diagram of a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pressure measuring cylinder and the temperature measuring cylinder;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the spiral cylinder;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the sphere compartment;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the sectional structure of the side wall of the spiral cylinder;

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Main housing; 2. Circuit board; 3. Temperature sensor; 4. Pressure sensor; 5. Cover plate; 6. Plug-in terminal; 7. Pressure measuring cylinder; 8. Temperature measuring cylinder; 9. Fixing lug; 10. Conductive copper sheet; 71. First cylinder; 72. Second cylinder; 73. Pressure measuring hole; 74. Divider plate; 81. Mounting cylinder; 82. Air inlet cylinder; 83. Exhaust port; 84. Spiral cylinder; 85. Ball chamber; 86. Connecting pipe; 841. Spiral outer cylinder; 842. Spiral inner cylinder; 843. Attachment film; 844. Support component; 851. Outer ball chamber; 852. Inner ball chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate; this is merely a way of distinguishing objects with the same attributes in the embodiments of this application. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not explicitly listed or inherent to those processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0032] Example: In this embodiment of the invention, please refer to... Figures 1-7 A high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor is provided, comprising:

[0033] The main housing 1, the circuit board 2 installed in the main housing 1, and the pressure sensor 4 and temperature sensor 3 electrically connected to the circuit board 2;

[0034] A pressure measuring cylinder 7 is fixed and connected to the main housing 1 and is used to guide the intake pressure to the pressure sensor 4.

[0035] And a temperature measuring cylinder 8, which is fixed to the pressure measuring cylinder 7, and forms a temperature sensing chamber inside for accommodating the temperature sensor 3;

[0036] The temperature measuring cylinder 8 includes an air inlet cylinder 82 and an exhaust port 83, as well as a cyclone separation structure disposed between the air inlet cylinder 82 and the temperature sensing chamber. The cyclone separation structure is configured to centrifuge and separate pollutants in the airflow before the airflow enters the temperature sensing chamber.

[0037] The dimensions of the air intake cylinder 82 should meet the following requirements: it should not interfere with the mounting holes of the air intake manifold, and it should ensure that some structures of the temperature measuring cylinder 8 and the pressure measuring cylinder 7 can extend into them.

[0038] Among them, the pressure measuring cylinder 7 acts as a pressure transmission conduit, which guides the gas pressure in the intake manifold to the sensing surface of the pressure sensor 4, thereby realizing direct pressure measurement. The design focus of this path is to transmit pressure quickly and without attenuation.

[0039] Before measuring the temperature, the airflow does not directly contact the temperature sensor 3. Instead, it must first pass through a temperature measuring cylinder 8. Inside the temperature measuring cylinder 8, a temperature sensing chamber is formed to accommodate the temperature sensor 3, which provides an independent measurement environment for the temperature sensor 3. Most importantly, before the airflow enters this temperature sensing chamber, it must first pass through a cyclone separation structure set between the air inlet cylinder 82 and the temperature sensing chamber. The working principle of the cyclone separation structure is to use the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the gas. When the airflow containing pollutants such as oil and dust enters the structure, the denser pollutant particles are thrown towards the inner wall of the structure under the action of centrifugal force, while the relatively clean gas continues to move along the central area and eventually enters the temperature sensing chamber. Of course, this method does not capture 100% of the pollutants, but rather minimizes the impact of the pollutants.

[0040] Furthermore, it's important to explain that traditional temperature sensors are directly exposed to engine intake air containing oil and impurities, making their surfaces susceptible to contamination and corrosion. This can lead to slower thermal response, inaccurate measurements, and even failure. In this embodiment, a cyclone separation structure is incorporated at the front end of the measurement path, eliminating most contaminants at the source. This significantly improves the cleanliness of the gas entering the sensing chamber, ensuring that the temperature sensor surface remains relatively clean. This guarantees that the sensor can quickly and accurately reflect the true temperature of the gas, achieving the high-response performance requirement. Additionally, this fundamentally protects the temperature sensor, effectively preventing performance degradation and shortened lifespan due to contamination and corrosion, reflecting the corrosion-resistant design goal.

[0041] In this embodiment, the pressure measuring cylinder 7 includes a stepped cylinder, which has a first end communicating with the main housing 1 and a second end isolated from the temperature measuring cylinder 8. A pressure measuring hole 73 opposite to the pressure sensor 4 is provided on the side wall of the stepped cylinder.

[0042] Specifically, the stepped cylinder includes a first cylinder 71 and a second cylinder 72 coaxially connected. The first cylinder 71 is connected to the main housing 1, and the second cylinder 72 is connected to the temperature measuring cylinder 8. Furthermore, a partition plate 74 is fixed inside the second cylinder 72 to isolate it from the temperature measuring cylinder 8. Therefore, even if complex airflow processing is underway inside the temperature measuring cylinder 8, its airflow, vibration, and contaminants cannot affect the pressure measurement area through the partition plate 74.

[0043] In addition, the side wall of the second cylinder is provided with a pressure measuring hole 73 opposite to the pressure sensor 4. In this way, the gas pressure that has passed through the pressure measuring hole 73 and stabilized can be directly applied to the pressure sensor 4 to complete the pressure measurement.

[0044] In other words, in this embodiment, even if the internal structure of the temperature measuring cylinder 8 is blocked or fails, the pressure measurement path will not be affected at all due to the presence of the separator 74, and the engine ECU can still obtain an accurate pressure signal to maintain the basic operation of the engine.

[0045] Furthermore, in actual manufacturing, the stepped cylinder can be a single, integrally formed metal component, for example, machined using a CNC lathe. Its stepped nature is reflected in the fact that the diameter of the first cylinder 71 is larger than the diameter of the second cylinder 72, forming a distinct shoulder. This shoulder can be used to install the sealing ring and provide it with an upper limit. Of course, a retaining ring also needs to be fixed to the second cylinder 72 to provide a lower limit for the sealing ring.

[0046] In this embodiment, the cyclone separation structure includes a spiral cylinder 84, which defines a spirally descending airflow channel. The inlet end of the airflow channel is connected to the air inlet cylinder 82, and the outlet end is connected to the temperature sensing chamber.

[0047] In addition, the cross-sectional diameter of the spiral cylinder 84 gradually decreases from top to bottom to accelerate the airflow during its descent.

[0048] Specifically, the spiral cylinder 84 includes a coaxially arranged spiral outer cylinder 841 and spiral inner cylinder 842. The spiral inner cylinder 842 has a mesh structure, and an attachment film 843 is attached to the side facing the airflow. The attachment film 843 is provided with funnel-shaped micropores.

[0049] The spiral cylinder 84 defines a spirally descending airflow channel, which prolongs the movement distance of the airflow within a limited space, thereby significantly enhancing the action time of centrifugal force on pollutant particles.

[0050] More importantly, the cross-sectional diameter of the spiral cylinder 84 gradually decreases from top to bottom. According to the principle of continuity in fluid mechanics, under constant flow conditions, a decrease in the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow channel inevitably leads to an increase in airflow velocity. Therefore, the airflow velocity continuously increases during its spiral descent, which means that the centrifugal force also continuously strengthens. This dynamic acceleration design allows the structure to generate sufficient centrifugal force even for small oil mist particles, effectively separating them from the airflow.

[0051] Under the action of strong centrifugal force, pollutants with higher density (such as dust, water droplets, and larger oil droplets) are thrown towards the attachment membrane 843. Once the oil mist particles enter the funnel-shaped micropores, it is difficult for them to escape from the micropores, thus achieving efficient unidirectional capture. Finally, the clean airflow enters the temperature sensing chamber after being processed by the attachment membrane 843 and comes into contact with the temperature sensor 3.

[0052] It needs to be explained that a mesh structure is a substrate that provides structural support and airflow channels. For example, it can be a perforated mesh made of stainless steel or high-temperature alloy with evenly distributed round or square holes; it can also be a woven metal wire mesh with higher porosity and flexibility; or it can even be a porous plate of sintered metal powder with a more complex and uniform pore structure.

[0053] In this embodiment, the funnel-shaped micropores on the attachment film 843 can be formed by laser processing, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0054] a) Provide a laser beam and focus the laser beam onto the surface of the thin film material;

[0055] b) During the drilling process, at least one processing parameter of the laser beam is dynamically changed to form a trumpet-shaped micropore that gradually narrows from the inlet to the outlet in the thin film material;

[0056] The processing parameters include at least one of the following: laser energy density, spot size, and focal position.

[0057] The step of dynamically changing the processing parameters includes: during the drilling process, adjusting at least one of the energy, repetition frequency, and focal position of each laser pulse in real time through a computer program to construct the trumpet-shaped microhole layer by layer.

[0058] The laser beam is a femtosecond laser or a picosecond laser.

[0059] Furthermore, the outer spiral cylinder 841 and the inner spiral cylinder 842 are connected by an elastic support member 844 so that the inner spiral cylinder 842 can generate mechanical vibration. The support member 844 can be a plurality of metal leaf springs evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, or a spiral tension spring, or even a rubber or silicone buffer block with good elasticity.

[0060] The adhesion film 843 is any one of polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, or fluororubber. All three materials are engineering polymers that are resistant to high temperatures and chemical corrosion, meeting the stringent environmental requirements of automotive engines and ensuring the long-term stability and lifespan of the adhesion film 843.

[0061] The inlet diameter of the trumpet-shaped micropore is between 50 and 200 micrometers, and the outlet diameter is between 5 and 20 micrometers.

[0062] In this embodiment, the temperature sensing chamber includes a ball-containing chamber 85, which is connected to the outlet end of the spiral cylinder 84 and has an internal space for accommodating the temperature sensor 3. The ball-containing chamber 85 is connected to the exhaust port 83 through a connecting pipe 86.

[0063] To better achieve the dust collection function, in this embodiment, the accommodating sphere 85 includes an outer sphere 851 and an inner sphere 852, wherein the outer sphere 851 is connected to the spiral outer cylinder 841, and the inner sphere 852 is connected to the spiral inner cylinder 842.

[0064] In this embodiment, the main housing 1 is further provided with a plug-in terminal 6 for connecting to an external circuit, a cover plate 5 for encapsulating the circuit board 2, and a fixing ear 9 for fixing the main housing 1. The plug-in terminal 6 is a sealed multi-pin automotive connector that conforms to specific industry standards in the automotive industry. For example, it may be a nylon or PBT plastic housing with 3 or 4 pins, embedded with brass terminals, and equipped with a rubber sealing ring and a secondary locking clip to ensure waterproofing and robustness of the connection.

[0065] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor, characterized in that, include: The main housing (1), the circuit board (2) installed in the main housing (1), and the pressure sensor (4) and temperature sensor (3) electrically connected to the circuit board (2); A pressure measuring cylinder (7) is fixed and connected to the main housing (1) and is used to guide the intake pressure to the pressure sensor (4). And a temperature measuring cylinder (8), which is fixed to the pressure measuring cylinder (7), and forms a temperature sensing chamber inside for accommodating the temperature sensor (3); The temperature measuring cylinder (8) includes an air inlet (82) and an exhaust port (83), as well as a cyclone separation structure disposed between the air inlet (82) and the temperature sensing chamber. The cyclone separation structure is configured to centrifuge and separate pollutants in the airflow before the airflow enters the temperature sensing chamber.

2. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure measuring cylinder (7) includes a stepped cylinder, which has a first end communicating with the main housing (1) and a second end isolated from the temperature measuring cylinder (8). A pressure measuring hole (73) opposite to the pressure sensor (4) is provided on the side wall of the stepped cylinder.

3. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cyclone separation structure includes a spiral cylinder (84) that defines a spirally descending airflow channel. The inlet end of the airflow channel is connected to the air inlet cylinder (82), and the outlet end is connected to the temperature sensing chamber.

4. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The diameter of the cross-section of the spiral tube (84) gradually decreases from top to bottom to accelerate the airflow as it descends.

5. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The spiral cylinder (84) includes a coaxially arranged spiral outer cylinder (841) and spiral inner cylinder (842). The spiral inner cylinder (842) has a mesh structure, and an attachment film (843) is attached to the side facing the airflow. The attachment film (843) is provided with trumpet-shaped micropores.

6. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer spiral cylinder (841) and the inner spiral cylinder (842) are connected by an elastic support (844) so ​​that the inner spiral cylinder (842) can generate mechanical vibration.

7. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The adhesion film (843) is any one of polyimide, polytetrafluoroethylene or fluororubber; The inlet diameter of the trumpet-shaped micropore is between 50 and 200 micrometers, and the outlet diameter is between 5 and 20 micrometers.

8. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The temperature sensing chamber includes a ball chamber (85), which is connected to the outlet end of the spiral cylinder (84) and has an internal space for accommodating the temperature sensor (3). The ball chamber (85) is connected to the exhaust port (83) through a connecting pipe (86).

9. The high-response, corrosion-resistant temperature and pressure sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main housing (1) is also provided with a plug-in terminal (6) for connecting to an external circuit, a cover plate (5) for encapsulating the circuit board (2), and a fixing ear (9) for fixing the main housing (1).

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