Adapter for mass air flow sensor

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of adapter for mass air flow sensor, the mass air flow sensor (10) has for receiving the receiving portion (20) of the adapter (100), the adapter includes: annular main body (1), the annular main body has the first end (11) suitable for fixedly connected to the receiving portion (20), the second end (12) opposite this first end, and the annular outer circumferential surface (13) extending between this first end and this second end;Mounting mechanism (2) is arranged on the annular outer circumferential surface;And sealing mechanism (3) is arranged at the end surface of the second end.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive engine intake systems, and more specifically to an adapter structure for a mass air flow (MAF) sensor, particularly an adapter for a plug-in MAF sensor. Background Technology

[0002] The MAF sensor is a key sensor in the intake system of a car engine, used to measure the mass flow rate of air entering the engine in real time. It is one of the important inputs to the engine electronic control unit (ECU) to better control the engine operation.

[0003] Currently, the installation of tube-type MAF sensors (i.e., products with tubes) requires the tube to be directly welded to the sensor body for installation and positioning. This means that the product design itself lacks a detachable or quick-installation structure, heavily relying on on-site welding operations to complete the final assembly step. The accurate positioning of the product at the client's location depends on the presence of the welded tube, indicating that its structural design lacks independent mechanical limits or installation benchmarks, and the installation accuracy and reliability are significantly affected by the welding quality.

[0004] In contrast, while existing tubeless MAF sensors offer greater structural versatility, they lack installation interfaces, preventing direct installation and positioning at the client's location. Consequently, they cannot functionally replace tubed products. This results in a limited product range, and the inability to share a common structure necessitates the creation of new molds to accommodate different tubed product models, leading to long development cycles and high investment costs.

[0005] Therefore, there is still considerable room for improvement in terms of structural adaptability, processing flexibility, and cost control of existing products. Utility Model Content

[0006] To overcome at least one of the above problems, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an adapter structure for MAF sensors, especially insertable MAF sensors, so that existing products can achieve the installation and positioning functions of the client by welding the adapter, without changing the sensor body structure, thereby avoiding the situation that a new mold must be made every time there is a new requirement.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention provides an adapter for a mass air flow sensor, the mass air flow sensor having a receiving portion for receiving the adapter, the adapter comprising: an annular body having a first end adapted to be fixedly connected to the receiving portion, a second end opposite to the first end, and an annular outer peripheral surface extending between the first end and the second end; a mounting mechanism disposed on the annular outer peripheral surface; and a sealing mechanism disposed at the end face of the second end.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the annular body is constructed as a rectangular annular body. The outer circumferential surface of the annulus includes opposing first and second side surfaces along its length direction, and opposing third and fourth side surfaces along its width direction. A first mounting lug is provided at the first side surface, and a second mounting lug is provided at the second side surface. The first and second mounting lugs are flush with the end face of the second end. By constructing the annular body as a rectangle and providing mounting lugs flush with the end face of the second end on its opposing side surfaces, efficient arrangement and secure installation of the adapter in confined spaces are achieved, improving structural stability, assembly accuracy, and sealing reliability, further enhancing the compatibility and service life of the adapter and the mass air flow sensor. However, it should be understood that the rectangular annular body construction is merely exemplary, and the specific shape depends on the structural shape of the sensor's receiving portion.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this invention, the mounting mechanism may include a first mounting lug, a second mounting lug, and mounting through holes respectively disposed in both. The mounting through holes can engage with other fastening mechanisms, such as bolts, and holes provided in, for example, an engine intake system, to securely connect the insertable MAF sensor to the engine intake system. Alternatively, the mounting mechanism may also include a first mounting lug, a second mounting lug, and a snap-fit ​​element disposed on the surface of the first and second mounting lugs near their second ends, thereby connecting the MAF sensor to the engine intake system via a snap-fit ​​engagement.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the first end of the adapter is fixedly connected to the receiving part of the mass air flow sensor via vibration friction welding, thereby securing the adapter to the mass air flow sensor. Here, vibration friction welding is a solid-state joining process without additional materials, enabling a strong and uniform welded connection between the adapter and the sensor's receiving part. This process eliminates the need for adhesives or screws, simplifying the structure and improving reliability.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the end face of the first end is provided with a first annular groove extending circumferentially therein. The first annular groove has a groove bottom, an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, and a welding flange extending outward perpendicular to the groove bottom is provided in the first annular groove for welding to the receiving part during vibration friction welding.

[0012] By setting the first annular groove, the welding area is effectively defined, improving welding precision. The welding flange ensures concentrated contact area and energy during friction welding, resulting in higher fusion efficiency. The flange structure melts preferentially during welding, achieving a pilot fusion mechanism, which helps form a good weld structure and improves connection strength and sealing. The bottom of the groove, the inner peripheral wall, and the outer peripheral wall together form a confined space, which restricts the flow path of molten material during welding, preventing it from diffusing into non-target areas.

[0013] According to one aspect of this invention, the height of the welding flange is greater than the height of the inner peripheral wall and less than the height of the outer peripheral wall. The lower height of the welding flange than the outer peripheral wall creates a closed space, which facilitates the flow of molten material, confining it to the weld interface area and preventing molten material overflow or uneven welding.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a second annular groove is provided in the end face of the second end, and the sealing mechanism is constructed as a separate O-ring seal accommodated within the second annular groove. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing mechanism may be configured to include an annular sealing flange formed within the second annular groove by two-color injection molding. Two-color injection molding is a process that molds two different materials in the same mold in a single step. By directly molding the annular sealing flange within the second annular groove of the adapter using a two-color injection molding process, the sealing structure is integrated with the adapter body, which not only improves the sealing performance and structural stability of the product but also reduces subsequent assembly processes and human error, improving manufacturing efficiency and product consistency. It is suitable for high-reliability, mass production scenarios and has significant engineering practical value.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the adapter further includes a positioning and error-prevention structure. This structure comprises a first positioning protrusion on the end face of the second end and a second positioning protrusion on the surface of the second mounting lug that is flush with the end face of the second end. By providing this positioning and error-prevention structure, the correct installation direction and position of the adapter can be achieved, significantly improving assembly accuracy and efficiency, reducing the risk of failure caused by incorrect assembly, and enhancing structural stability and reliability.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the adapter of this utility model can produce at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: the introduction of the adapter allows the originally complex field pipeline connection to be completed by welding standardized components, thereby improving assembly efficiency; the customer side does not need to make additional modifications to the product, only needing to weld the adapter to achieve the expected connection and positioning effect. Existing products without pipes can achieve customer installation and positioning functions by welding the adapter, without changing the sensor body structure, thus avoiding the need to re-mold for each new customer requirement; it improves the modularity and versatility of the product, forming a standardized MAF body + adapter assembly, improving overall production efficiency and reducing inventory pressure. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Referring to the accompanying drawings and reading the following detailed description, further features and advantages of this utility model will become clearer:

[0018] Figure 1 A perspective view from the top side showing an adapter fixedly connected to a MAF sensor (which may be referred to as an adapter-MAF sensor assembly) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Perspective view of the adapter-MAF sensor assembly shown from the bottom side;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of one embodiment of an adapter for an MAF sensor according to the present invention, showing the side to be coupled to the MAF sensor;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Another perspective view of the adapter shown illustrates its connection to a client, such as the other side of an intake manifold;

[0022] Figure 5 A perspective view of another embodiment of the adapter for an MAF sensor according to the present invention, showing the other side to be coupled to the client;

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The perspective view of the MAF sensor shown illustrates the receiving surface to accommodate the adapter; and

[0024] Figure 7 It shows Figure 1 An exploded view of the adapter-MAF sensor assembly shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The descriptions of orientation used in the following description, such as "upper," "lower," "inner," and "outer," are for convenience only unless explicitly stated otherwise and are not intended to limit the technical solution of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are used below to describe elements of this application; these terms are only used to distinguish individual elements and are not intended to limit the nature, sequence, order, or number of these elements. Additionally, it should be noted that in this specification, the same technical features are represented by the same or similar reference numerals.

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An adapter-sensor assembly 200 is shown, formed by mounting an adapter 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention to a mass air flow sensor 10 (hereinafter referred to as the MAF sensor). Figure 6 A perspective view of an MAF sensor 10 is shown, which has a receiving portion 20 adapted to receive an adapter 100.

[0027] Figure 3 and Figure 4 An embodiment of the adapter 100 according to the present invention is shown. As can be seen from the figure, the adapter 100 has a rectangular annular body 1, a mounting mechanism 2, and a sealing mechanism 3. The annular body has a first end 11 (along its axial direction), a second end 12 opposite to the first end, and an annular outer peripheral surface 13 extending between the first end 11 and the second end 12. The first end is adapted to be fixedly connected to a receiving portion 20. The shape design of the adapter body depends mainly on the shape of the sensor receiving portion. In this embodiment, the sensor receiving portion is rectangular, so the shape of the adapter body is correspondingly constructed as a rectangular annular shape to facilitate the assembly of the adapter. The annular outer peripheral surface 13 includes opposing first side surfaces 131 and second side surfaces 132 along its length direction and opposing third side surfaces 133 and fourth side surfaces 134 along its width direction.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in the figure, the mounting mechanism 2 is disposed on the annular outer peripheral surface 13, including a first mounting lug 131a on a first side 131 and a second mounting lug 132a on a second side 132 of the annular outer peripheral surface 13. Each mounting lug is provided with a mounting through hole 130 to facilitate the mechanical connection of the adapter 100 and the MAF sensor 10 (i.e., the adapter-sensor assembly 200) to a client such as an engine intake system by means of fasteners such as screws.

[0029] Figure 5 Another embodiment of the mounting mechanism 2 is shown, which is related to Figure 4The adapter shown differs only in that it employs an opening (not shown) penetrating each mounting lug and a snap-fit ​​element 4 surrounding the opening. In this embodiment, the snap-fit ​​element 4 consists of multiple individual claws surrounding the opening. The adapter-sensor assembly 200 can be securely connected to the engine intake system by engaging with a corresponding snap-fit ​​part in a client, such as an engine intake system, via the snap-fit ​​element 4. This snap-fit ​​engagement enables tool-less or minimal-tool quick assembly, avoiding the tightening process of threaded fasteners and saving time. Furthermore, this snap-fit ​​element eliminates the need for additional nuts, bolts, and other parts, reducing the number of parts and procurement costs; the claw structure is integrally formed with the mounting lugs or is easy to assemble, reducing manufacturing complexity.

[0030] In this invention, the first end 11 of the adapter 100 is preferably fixedly connected to the receiving part 20 of the mass air flow sensor 10 by vibration friction welding. See again Figure 3 The first end 11 has a first annular groove 111 extending circumferentially on its end face. This groove includes a bottom, an outer peripheral wall 113, and an inner peripheral wall 114. Advantageously, a welding flange 115 is provided within the first annular groove 111. The welding flange 115 extends outward perpendicular to the bottom of the groove, and its extension height is less than the height of the outer peripheral wall 113 but greater than the height of the inner peripheral wall 114. This configuration allows the welding flange 115 to first contact the receiving portion 20 of the MAF sensor during vibration friction welding. Under the heat generated by friction, the welding flange 115 fuses with the receiving portion 20, forming a high-strength and reliable connection interface, ensuring the overall stability of the adapter and the sensor. Furthermore, due to the annular groove, when the welding flange melts, the molten material flows into the annular groove.

[0031] See Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 7 An embodiment of the sealing mechanism 3 is shown, which is disposed in the end face of the second end 12 of the adapter body 1 of the adapter 100. The sealing mechanism 3 includes a second annular groove 121 and a separate O-ring 30 accommodated in the second annular groove to ensure the sealing of the connection. The O-ring 30 fitted in the annular groove 121 of the second end 12 is compressed and deformed when the adapter-sensor assembly 200 engages with the engine intake system, forming an effective airtight and liquid-tight seal to prevent dust, moisture or other impurities from entering the sensor and to ensure the normal operation and measurement accuracy of the sensor.

[0032] In another embodiment of the sealing mechanism 3, the sealing mechanism 3 includes a second annular groove 121 and an annular sealing flange formed within the second annular groove by two-color injection molding. The two-color injection molding completes the main structure and sealing flange in one step, eliminating the need for separate O-ring installation, simplifying the assembly process. The injection-molded sealing flange is firmly bonded to the main structure, avoiding leakage problems caused by seal displacement, detachment, or aging. The annular sealing flange and the adapter body can be made of the same material.

[0033] See you again Figure 4 In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the adapter 100 further includes a positioning and error-proofing structure 6, which includes a first positioning protrusion 61 disposed on the end face of the second end 12 and a second positioning protrusion 62 disposed on the surface 135 of the second mounting lug 132a that is flush with the end face of the second end 12. The positioning and error-proofing structure 6, through the cooperation of the first positioning protrusion 61 and the second positioning protrusion 62, ensures the correct assembly direction of the adapter, avoids functional failure or mechanical interference caused by incorrect assembly, and improves the convenience of assembly and the reliability of the product.

[0034] In this invention, by providing an adapter with a rationally designed annular main structure, welding flange, sealing mechanism, and error-proof positioning structure, efficient connection, reliable sealing, and convenient assembly of the mass air flow sensor and adapter are achieved, meeting the requirements for durability and sealing performance in practical applications. It should be understood that this adapter is a structural component used to connect or convert interfaces of different parts, and can be used to connect the MAF sensor to an intake pipe, air filter, or other structures.

[0035] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. Any combination, change and modification made by any person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An adapter for a mass air flow sensor (10), the mass air flow sensor (10) having a receiving portion (20) for receiving the adapter (100), Its features are, The adapter includes: The annular body (1) has a first end (11) adapted to be fixedly connected to the receiving part (20), a second end (12) opposite to the first end, and an annular outer peripheral surface (13) extending between the first end and the second end; The mounting mechanism (2) is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the ring; and A sealing mechanism (3) is provided at the end face of the second end.

2. The adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular body (1) is a rectangular annular body, and the annular outer peripheral surface (13) includes opposing first side surfaces (131) and second side surfaces (132) along its length direction, and opposing third side surfaces (133) and fourth side surfaces (134) along its width direction; and The first side is provided with a first mounting lug (131a), and the second side is provided with a second mounting lug (132a). The first mounting lug (131a) and the second mounting lug (132a) are flush with the end face of the second end.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting mechanism includes a first mounting lug (131a), a second mounting lug (132a), and mounting through holes (130) respectively disposed in both.

4. The adapter according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting mechanism includes the first mounting lug (131a), the second mounting lug (132a), and a snap fastener (4) disposed on the surface of the first mounting lug and the second mounting lug near the second end.

5. The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first end (11) is fixedly connected to the receiving part (20) of the mass air flow sensor (10) by vibration friction welding, thereby fixing the adapter to the mass air flow sensor.

6. The adapter according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end face of the first end (11) is provided with a first annular groove (111) extending circumferentially therein. The first annular groove has a groove bottom, an outer peripheral wall (113) and an inner peripheral wall (114). A welding flange (115) extending outward perpendicular to the groove bottom is provided in the first annular groove for welding to the receiving part during vibration friction welding.

7. The adapter according to claim 6, characterized in that, The height of the welding flange is less than the height of the outer peripheral wall but greater than the height of the inner peripheral wall.

8. The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The end face of the second end (12) is provided with a second annular groove (121), and the sealing mechanism (3) is a separate O-ring seal ring accommodated in the second annular groove.

9. The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The end face of the second end (12) is provided with a second annular groove (121), and the sealing mechanism (3) includes an annular sealing flange formed in the second annular groove by two-color injection molding.

10. The adapter according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The adapter is further provided with a positioning and error prevention structure (6), which includes a first positioning protrusion (61) disposed on the end face of the second end and a second positioning protrusion (62) disposed on the surface (135) of the second mounting lug (132a) that is flush with the end face of the second end.

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