Integrated sensor

Abstract

The utility model discloses an integrated sensor which comprises a shell, an enclosure groove is arranged at the upper end of the shell, a circuit board is arranged in the enclosure groove, and the enclosure groove is fixedly connected with a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating sheet, a water level sensor, a temperature sensor, a temperature control switch and four connector pins; the lower end of the shell is connected with a connector slot, and the outer end of each connector pin extends into the connector slot to form a connector; the PTC heater and the temperature control switch are connected in series between the first positive electrode pin and the first negative electrode pin through the circuit board; the water level sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in parallel between the second positive electrode pin and the second negative electrode pin through the circuit board. According to the utility model, a lead wire is replaced by the connector pin without the flexible characteristic of the lead wire, so that the phenomenon that the part penetrating out of the shell is flexible and is easy to deform and leak is avoided. The water level sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in parallel and share the second positive electrode pin and the second negative electrode pin, the number of conductive parts is reduced, the sealing number is reduced, the leakage risk is reduced, and the manufacturing efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technology of automotive fuel filters, especially to sensor integration technology. Background Art

[0002] Automotive fuel filters usually have components such as fuel heaters, water level sensors, and temperature sensors. They are often installed at the bottom of the filter and connected to the vehicle through wiring harnesses and connectors.

[0003] The fuel heater is used to heat and keep the fuel warm, reduce the viscosity of the fuel to prevent it from waxing in low-temperature environments, and make the vehicle easier to start in low-temperature environments.

[0004] The water level sensor is used to detect the amount of water filtered out by the fuel. When the water level in the water accumulation cup of the fuel filter reaches the height of the water accumulation probe, the water level sensor detects the water level signal and transmits it to the vehicle ECU through the connector to remind timely drainage.

[0005] The temperature sensor usually works together with the fuel heater. The temperature sensor detects the real-time temperature of the fuel in the fuel filter through the temperature probe and transmits the temperature information to the vehicle ECU. The vehicle ECU controls the working state of the heater to regulate the temperature of the fuel in the fuel filter.

[0006] In most existing fuel filters, heaters, water level sensors, temperature sensors, etc. are respectively connected to the vehicle through wires and connectors.

[0007] The common connection is that the wire is crimped with the terminal and then connected to the connector through a sealing plug. The device is connected to the vehicle through the mating connector of the connector. After the wire is crimped with the terminal, it needs to pass through the sealing plug. The sealing plug is usually made of rubber material. Rubber materials usually have good elasticity and shrinkability. And the working environment of the connector is exposed to the vehicle exterior environment. The connector may often come into contact with liquids such as water, which may cause the sealing plug to expand. And affected by temperature, such as the change of seasons, it may also cause the sealing plug to shrink or expand. This may lead to poor sealing after the wire passes through the sealing plug, resulting in a risk of water ingress inside the connector. Water ingress inside the connector usually causes faults such as false alarms of the sensor, short circuit of the positive and negative wires of the heater, and abnormal operation of the temperature sensor, resulting in the fuel filter being unable to be used normally and posing a great safety hazard to the vehicle.

[0008] In order to improve the system integration degree, reduce the number of cases where wires pass through the sealing plug, and improve the sealing performance, integrated sensors have emerged. For example, Chinese Patent CN201721361570.9 of Hebei Zhongci Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. discloses an integrated heater and filter, which integrates a heater, a temperature sensor, a water level sensor, and a temperature controller. Such integrated sensors have the following defects:

[0009] Although the heater, temperature sensor, water level sensor, and temperature controller are integrated inside a housing, the leads of the temperature sensor, water level sensor, and heater (heating rod) are still separated from each other. The temperature sensor has two leads, the water level sensor has three leads, and the heating rod has two leads. Thus, a total of seven leads need to be led out of the housing separately. In this patent, PVC pipes are used to enclose the multiple leads.

[0010] In the prior art, only the heater, temperature sensor, and water level sensor are simply integrated together, but the leads of the heater, temperature sensor, and water level sensor are still led out separately, resulting in the following problems:

[0011] 1. Multiple leads are all led from inside the housing to outside the housing. The leads have a soft characteristic. At the place where the leads pass through the housing, due to the softness and easy deformation of the leads, it is easy to leak. With seven leads passing through the housing, there are seven places where the sealing needs to be enhanced. This not only increases the sealing cost but also easily causes the problem of poor sealing during long-term use, which is harmful to various electronic components inside the housing.

[0012] 2. Multiple leads need to be respectively connected to the vehicle-mounted circuit, and the wiring is troublesome. Summary of the Utility Model

[0013] The purpose of the present utility model is to provide an integrated sensor in one piece, which integrates the heater, temperature sensor, and water level sensor commonly used in a fuel filter, optimizes the wiring structure, and all components are connected to the vehicle-mounted circuit through the same connector, greatly simplifying the connection operation and enhancing the sealing performance.

[0014] To achieve the above purpose, the present utility model provides an integrated sensor in one piece for a fuel filter, which includes a housing. One end of the housing extending into the fuel filter is provided with an enclosing groove; a circuit board is arranged in the enclosing groove, and two PTC heating sheets, a water level sensor, a temperature sensor, a temperature control switch, and four connector pins are fixedly connected to the enclosing groove; the connector pins are made of rigid materials;

[0015] One end of the housing extending out of the fuel filter is connected with a connector groove. The inner ends of the four connector pins are located in the enclosing groove and are connected to the circuit board, and the outer ends of the four connector pins pass through the housing and extend into the connector groove to form a connector, which is used to connect to the vehicle-mounted circuit;

[0016] The circuit board is connected to the respective PTC heating sheets, water level sensor, temperature sensor, and temperature control switch;

[0017] The four connector pins are divided into two positive pins and two negative pins. The PTC heater and the temperature control switch are connected in series between the first positive pin and the first negative pin through a circuit board to form a heating circuit;

[0018] The water level sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in parallel between the second positive pin and the second negative pin through a circuit board.

[0019] It also includes a fuse, and the fuse is connected in series in the heating circuit through a circuit board.

[0020] The middle parts of the four connector pins are located inside the housing to form the parts passing through the housing. Two annular sealing grooves are provided at intervals on the outer surfaces of the parts passing through the housing of each connector pin. An annular sealing ring is embedded in each annular sealing groove. The annular sealing ring is used to enhance the sealing performance between each connector pin and the housing, so as to maintain the sealed state between the enclosure groove and the connector groove.

[0021] Two annular assembly sealing grooves are provided on the circumferential surface of the housing. The assembly sealing grooves are used to embed annular sealing rings and keep sealed with the outer shell of the fuel filter.

[0022] The utility model has the following advantages:

[0023] The structure of the utility model is simple. The leads are cancelled and replaced by connector pins without the flexible characteristics of wires, and there will be no deformation and leakage due to the softness of the parts passing through the housing. By connecting each component through a circuit board, the messy wiring can be avoided, and the components can be arranged more regularly and reliably. The water level sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in parallel and share the second positive pin and the second negative pin, which further reduces the number of conductive parts that need to pass out of the housing from the inside of the housing, not only reducing the leakage risk, but also reducing the number of seals and improving the manufacturing efficiency. The utility model is connected to the vehicle-mounted circuit through a unified connector, and there is no need to connect each lead one by one, which greatly simplifies the connection operation and improves the assembly efficiency of connecting to the whole vehicle.

[0024] The fuse is used to prevent excessive current. In the past, flexible wires passed through the housing, which was not suitable for sealing with an annular sealing ring, and the seal was easily damaged. In the utility model, rigid connector pins pass through the housing and cooperate with the annular sealing ring, which can ensure good sealing at the connector pins and maintain it for a long time.

[0025] The overall idea of the utility model is: to improve the structure in which the leads of the existing components are led out separately, to integrate the leads of each component into four connector pins and a connector, to enhance the sealing performance by canceling the leads from the housing and unifying the connection to a connector with the vehicle-mounted circuit, and to greatly simplify the wiring operation. Description of the Drawings

[0026] Figure 1 It is a schematic top view structure diagram of the utility model.

[0027] Figure 2 is Figure 1 the A-A sectional view of

[0028] Figure 3 is the three-dimensional structure schematic diagram of the present utility model.

[0029] Figure 4 is the circuit structure schematic diagram formed by each component through a circuit board. Detailed implementation mode

[0030] As Figures 1 to 4 shown, the integrated sensor of the present utility model for a fuel filter includes a housing 1. One end of the housing 1 extending into the fuel filter is provided with a surrounding groove 2; a circuit board 3 is arranged in the surrounding groove 2. Two PTC heating elements 4 (for heating fuel), a water level sensor 5 (for monitoring the accumulated water in the fuel filter), a temperature sensor 6 (for monitoring the fuel temperature and providing a temperature signal to the whole vehicle), a temperature control switch 7 (for controlling the on and off of the PTC heating element 4 according to the oil temperature), and four connector pins 8 are fixedly connected to the surrounding groove 2; the connector pins 8 are made of a rigid material (such as a steel column or a copper column); the water level sensor 5 has two accumulated water probes 51, and both of the two accumulated water probes 51 are fixed on the housing and connected to the circuit board.

[0031] One end of the housing 1 extending out of the fuel filter is connected with a connector slot 9. The inner ends of the four connector pins 8 are located in the surrounding groove 2 and connected to the circuit board 3, and the outer ends (i.e., the lower ends) of the four connector pins 8 pass through the housing 1 and extend into the connector slot 9 to form a connector, and the connector is used for connecting with an on-vehicle circuit;

[0032] The circuit board 3 is connected to the respective PTC heating elements 4, water level sensor 5, temperature sensor 6, and temperature control switch 7;

[0033] The four connector pins 8 are divided into two positive connector pins 81 and two negative connector pins 82. The PTC heater and the temperature control switch 7 are connected in series through the circuit board 3 between the first positive connector pin 81 and the first negative connector pin 82 to form a heating circuit;

[0034] The water level sensor 5 and the temperature sensor 6 are connected in parallel through the circuit board 3 between the second positive connector pin 81 and the second negative connector pin 82.

[0035] It further includes a fuse 10, and the fuse 10 is connected in series to the heating circuit through the circuit board 3. The fuse 10 is used to prevent excessive current.

[0036] The middle parts of the four connector pins 8 are located inside the housing 1 to form the parts passing through the housing. On the outer surfaces of the parts of the connector pins 8 passing through the housing, two annular sealing grooves 11 are provided at upper and lower intervals. Annular sealing rings are embedded in each of the annular sealing grooves 11. The annular sealing rings are used to enhance the sealing performance between each connector pin 8 and the housing 1, so as to maintain the sealed state between the enclosure groove 2 and the connector groove 9.

[0037] In the past, flexible wires passed through the housing 1, which was not suitable for sealing with annular sealing rings, and the sealing was easily damaged. In the present utility model, rigid connector pins 8 pass through the housing 1. Cooperating with the annular sealing rings, it can ensure good sealing at the connector pins 8 and maintain it for a long time.

[0038] Two annular assembly sealing grooves 12 are provided on the circumferential surface of the housing 1. The assembly sealing grooves 12 are used to embed annular sealing rings and maintain sealing with the outer shell of the fuel filter.

[0039] During use, the present utility model is assembled at the bottom of the fuel filter. The circumferential surface of the housing 1 is embedded at the bottom of the outer shell of the fuel filter. The sealing performance between the present utility model and the bottom of the outer shell of the fuel filter is maintained through the assembly sealing grooves 12 and the annular sealing rings embedded therein. The enclosure groove 2 in the present utility model extends upward into the outer shell of the fuel filter, and the connector groove 9 extends downward out of the lower part of the outer shell of the fuel filter and is used to connect the vehicle-mounted circuit. The PTC heating sheet 4 extends out of the enclosure groove 2 and contacts the fuel, so as to be able to heat the fuel.

[0040] When the fuel temperature is lower than the opening temperature of the temperature control switch 7, the temperature control switch 7 is turned on to heat the fuel; when the fuel temperature is higher than the closing temperature of the temperature control switch 7, the temperature control switch 7 is turned off to stop heating the fuel. The water level sensor 5 and the temperature sensor 6 transmit water level and fuel temperature signals to the vehicle-mounted ECU. The working modes of the respective components of the present utility model are the same as those in the past, but the present utility model cancels the lead wires and replaces them with connector pins 8 without the soft characteristics of wires, and will not be easily deformed and leaked due to the softness of the components passing through the housing 1. By connecting the components through the circuit board 3, the wiring mess can be avoided, and the components can be arranged more regularly and reliably. The water level sensor 5 and the temperature sensor 6 are connected in parallel and share the second positive electrode pin 81 and the second negative electrode pin 82, further reducing the number of conductive parts that need to pass out of the housing 1 from inside the housing 1. This not only reduces the leakage risk, but also reduces the number of seals and improves the manufacturing efficiency. The present utility model is connected to the vehicle-mounted circuit through a unified connector, and there is no need to connect each lead wire one by one, greatly simplifying the connection operation and improving the assembly efficiency of connecting to the whole vehicle.

[0041] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate rather than limit the technical solutions of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: modifications or equivalent replacements can still be made to the present invention, and any modification or partial replacement without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall be covered by the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integrated sensor for a fuel filter, comprising a housing, characterized in that: One end of the housing that extends into the fuel filter is provided with a surrounding groove; a circuit board is arranged in the surrounding groove, and two PTC heating elements, a water level sensor, a temperature sensor, a temperature control switch and four connector pins are fixedly connected to the surrounding groove; the connector pins are made of rigid materials; One end of the housing that extends out of the fuel filter is connected with a connector slot, the inner ends of the four connector pins are located in the surrounding groove and are connected to the circuit board, and the outer ends of the four connector pins pass through the housing and extend into the connector slot to form a connector, and the connector is used to connect with the vehicle-mounted circuit; The circuit board is connected to the respective PTC heating elements, water level sensor, temperature sensor and temperature control switch; The four connector pins are divided into two positive connector pins and two negative connector pins, and the PTC heater and the temperature control switch are connected in series between the first positive connector pin and the first negative connector pin through the circuit board to form a heating circuit; The water level sensor and the temperature sensor are connected in parallel between the second positive connector pin and the second negative connector pin through the circuit board.

2. The integrated sensor according to claim 1, wherein: It further includes a fuse, and the fuse is connected in series in the heating circuit through the circuit board.

3. The integrated sensor according to claim 1, wherein: The middle parts of the four connector pins are located inside the housing to form the parts passing through the housing, and two annular sealing grooves are respectively arranged at intervals on the outer surfaces of the parts of the connector pins passing through the housing, and annular sealing rings are respectively embedded in the annular sealing grooves, and the annular sealing rings are used to enhance the sealing performance between the connector pins and the housing, so as to maintain the sealing state between the surrounding groove and the connector slot.

4. The integrated sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two annular assembly sealing grooves are arranged on the circumferential surface of the housing, and the assembly sealing grooves are used to embed annular sealing rings and keep sealing with the outer shell of the fuel filter.

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