Ultraschallsensor

Abstract

Ultrasonic sensor (1) with: an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2) which is formed in a column shape with an axial direction that is parallel to a central axis line (CL); an elastic retaining element (3), which is an elastic plastic element that elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2), and which is designed in a cylindrical shape to allow a supported section (25) to be received at a base end face in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); and a sensor housing (6) configured to contain a cylindrical housing section (63) formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner circumferential surface (64) in contact with an outer circumferential surface (30) along the axial direction of the elastic retaining element (3), and to receive and hold the elastic retaining element (3), wherein the cylindrical housing section (63) has an engagement projection (66) which is provided in the axial direction closer to the base end face than to a tip opening (65) with an opening at a tip side in the axial direction, and is provided to project inwards in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the elastic retaining element (3) comprises: a cylindrical support section (31) which is formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening at the tip side in the axial direction to be in contact with a side surface (21) of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an outer circumferential surface along the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); a support base section (32) which is provided to project inwards in the radial direction at a base end section in the axial direction of the cylindrical support section (31) and thus to be in contact with a base (23) of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); an engagement recess (36) which is provided closer to the base end face in the axial direction than to the cylindrical support section (31) and is recessed inwards in the radial direction and thus accommodates the engagement projection (66); and a guide projection (33) which, viewed circumferentially around the central axis line (CL), is arranged parallel to the engagement recess (36) and is designed to project from the support floor section (32) in the direction towards the base end side in the axial direction, wherein the support base section (32) is designed as a thick section whose thickness in the radial direction is greater than the thickness of the support cylinder section and the guide projection (33), and wherein the intervention recess (36) is provided in the supporting floor section (32).

Description

Reference to related application

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from the earlier Japanese patent application JP 2019 - 087 803 A, filed on November 2, 2017. Technical area

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic sensor. State of the art

[0003] An ultrasonic sensor described in JP 2015-200579 A comprises a columnar ultrasonic transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, a cylindrical elastic body that covers and elastically holds the ultrasonic transceiver, and a plastic housing that houses and supports the ultrasonic transceiver and the elastic body. The elastic body has a groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic body. This groove engages with a rib formed on an inner peripheral surface of the housing.

[0004] JP 2013-024846 A discloses an ultrasonic sensor equipped with a microphone configured with a piezoelectric element. The ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the vehicle's bumper and has a connector portion connecting the microphone. The microphone's projection length can be adjusted by replacing a subcomponent.

[0005] JP 2017 - 175 291 A shows an ultrasonic sensor which is mounted on the bumper of a vehicle and has a first elastic portion which is contacted to the front side edge of a side wall portion from the front side in a state in which it is compressed in the direction of the thickness of the vibrating portion, whereby the ultrasonic sensor is capable of limiting noise which may be caused by the leakage of ultrasonic waves. Summary

[0006] The manufacturing of an ultrasonic sensor includes a step of inserting an elastic body that elastically supports an ultrasonic transceiver into a housing. During this insertion step, it is necessary to properly fix the elastic body and the housing in a prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction. The "axial direction" is a direction parallel to the center axis of the ultrasonic transceiver. In other words, a worker inserts the elastic body, to which the ultrasonic transceiver is attached, into the housing along the axial direction.

[0007] In this regard, with this type of conventional ultrasonic sensor, it was difficult for the worker to accurately determine that the elastic body and the housing were fixed in the prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction during the insertion step. Therefore, the worker might end the insertion step before the elastic body and the housing were fixed in the prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction. The worker might also continue to apply pressure to the elastic body in the insertion direction even if the elastic body and the housing were in the prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances and the like. That is, an object of the present disclosure is to improve processability during the manufacture of an ultrasonic sensor, in contrast to (during) the manufacture of a conventional ultrasonic sensor. This object is achieved by the ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1. Further developments according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic sensor is configured as follows.

[0010] This means that the ultrasonic sensor has: an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device formed in a columnar shape with an axial direction parallel to a central axis line; an elastic support member, which is an elastic plastic member that elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device, and which is formed in a cylindrical shape to allow a supported portion to be received at a base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device; and a sensor housing configured to include a cylindrical housing portion formed in a cylindrical shape having an inner peripheral surface in contact with an outer peripheral surface along the axial direction of the elastic holding member, and to accommodate and hold the elastic holding member.

[0011] The cylindrical housing portion has an engaging projection provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to a tip opening having an opening on a tip side in the axial direction, and provided to protrude inward in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0012] The elastic retaining element has: a cylindrical support portion formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening on the tip side in the axial direction to be in contact with a side surface of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an outer peripheral surface along the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device; a support bottom portion provided to protrude inward in the radial direction at a base end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical support portion and thus be in contact with a bottom of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device; an engaging recess provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to the cylindrical support portion and recessed inwardly in the radial direction and thus receiving the engaging projection; and a guide projection provided at a position corresponding to the engagement recess with respect to a circumferential direction surrounding the central axis line, and provided to protrude from the support bottom portion toward the base end side in the axial direction.

[0013] The support bottom portion is formed as a thick portion whose thickness in the radial direction is larger than the thickness of the support cylinder portion and the guide projection.

[0014] The engagement recess is provided in the support floor section.

[0015] This configuration makes it possible, first, in a step of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor, to insert the supported portion on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device into the cylindrical supported portion of the elastic support member. This insertion brings the bottom of the transmitting and receiving device, which is the end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device, into contact with the support bottom portion provided to protrude inward in the radial direction at the base end portion of the cylindrical support portion. Thus, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device is elastically supported by the elastic support member.

[0016] Subsequently, the elastic support member, which elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device, is inserted from the guide projection side of the elastic support member on the base end side in the axial direction into the cylindrical housing portion of the sensor housing along the central axis line. This insertion allows the engagement projection to be received in the engagement recess, wherein the engagement projection is provided in the cylindrical portion to protrude inward in the radial direction, and the engagement recess is provided in the elastic support member to be recessed inward in the radial direction. Thus, the sensor housing receives and holds the elastic support member.

[0017] When inserting the elastic retaining member into the cylindrical housing portion, the guide projection is brought into contact with the engagement projection before the engagement projection is received in the engagement recess. The contact of the guide projection with the engagement projection elastically deforms the guide projection, while the guide projection is bent toward the central axis line.

[0018] The guide protrusion is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement recess with respect to a circumferential direction surrounding the central axis line. Therefore, in the above-described aspect, the elastic deformation of the guide protrusion increases the opening width along the axial direction of the engagement recess. Thus, the housing of the engagement protrusion in the engagement recess, that is, the engagement of the engagement protrusion with the engagement recess, can be advantageously supported.

[0019] The housing of the engaging projection in the engaging recess sets the elastic holding member, which elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device, and the cylindrical housing portion of the sensor housing in a prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction. The housing of the engaging projection in the engaging recess restores the elastic deformation of the guide projection during insertion of the elastic holding member into the cylindrical housing portion. The action during this restoration allows a worker to accurately determine that the elastic holding member and the cylindrical housing portion are fixed to the prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction.

[0020] As previously described, these configurations can improve the processability during the manufacturing of the ultrasonic sensor compared to the manufacturing of a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

[0021] In the description and the like, the reference numeral in parentheses assigned to each means indicates an example of the corresponding relationship between the means and a specific means described in the following embodiment. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited by a description of reference numerals. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of an ultrasonic sensor according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view of an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device and an elastic holding member shown in Fig. 1 are shown. Fig. 3 is a front view of an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device and an elastic holding member shown in Fig. 2 are shown2. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device and an elastic holding member shown in Fig. 2 are shown. Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of a Fig. 1 shown sensor housing. Fig. 6 is a bottom view showing a modified example of the Fig. 4 represents the elastic holding element shown. Fig. 7 is a bottom view showing another modified example of the Fig. 4 represents the elastic holding element shown. Fig. 8 is a bottom view showing another modified example of the Fig. 4 represents the elastic holding element shown. Description of the embodiments

[0022] An embodiment will be described below based on drawings. Various applicable modified examples of an embodiment will be described together after the description of the embodiment, since mixing the description of the modified examples with the description of the embodiment may potentially lead to misunderstandings of the embodiment. Configurations

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an ultrasonic sensor 1 according to the present embodiment when the ultrasonic sensor 1 is mounted on a vehicle. Referring to Fig. 1, the vehicle-mounted ultrasonic sensor 1 or the in-vehicle ultrasonic sensor 1 is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave for detecting an object around the vehicle. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to be located on a vehicle on a bumper B. The bumper B is a panel-shaped vehicle body component bumper.

[0024] The bumper B has a bumper outer surface B1, which forms an outer surface of the vehicle, and a bumper inner surface B2, which is the rear side of the bumper outer surface B1. The bumper B further has a mounting hole B3, which is a through hole for mounting the ultrasonic sensor 1. That is, the mounting hole B3 is formed to penetrate the bumper B in the thickness direction of the bumper B.

[0025] The ultrasonic sensor 1 comprises an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2, an elastic holding element 3, an elastic covering element 4, a damper 5, a sensor housing 6 and a filler 7.

[0026] The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. That is, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is configured to transmit a probe wave along a directional axis and receive a reflected wave reflected from an object present around the vehicle.

[0027] The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 has a columnar outer shape with a central axis line CL parallel to the directional axis. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is formed in a columnar shape intended to extend in an axial direction parallel to the central axis line CL.

[0028] To simplify the description, the axial direction is Fig. 1 is defined as an upward direction, that is, the direction of an arrow D. In this case, the axial direction substantially coincides with the transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2. The axial direction may also be referred to as the protruding direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 in the ultrasonic sensor 1. The term "a tip side in the axial direction" corresponds to an upper side in Fig. 1. The term “a base end side in the axial direction” corresponds to a bottom side in Fig. 1.

[0029] The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 includes a transmitting and receiving side surface 21, a transmitting and receiving top surface 22, and a transmitting and receiving bottom surface 23. The transmitting and receiving side surface 21 is a columnar outer peripheral surface of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 and is formed along the axial direction. That is, the transmitting and receiving side surface 21 has a generatrix parallel to the central axis line CL. The transmitting and receiving top surface 22 is an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving surface provided on an end surface on the tip side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 and is formed in a substantially circular planar shape with the central axis line CL as a normal direction.The bottom 23 of the transmitting and receiving device is an end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 and is formed in a substantially circular planar shape with the central axis line CL as a normal direction.

[0030] The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 includes a protrusion 24 and a supported portion 25. The protrusion 24 is a portion on the tip side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 and is provided to protrude from the elastic support member 3 toward the tip side in the axial direction. The supported portion 25 is a portion on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 and is received in the elastic support member 3. The supported portion 25 has a support groove 26, which is a groove for engagement with the elastic support member 3.

[0031] The elastic support member 3 is an elastic plastic member that elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2. It is formed in a cylindrical shape to allow the protrusion 24 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 to protrude while accommodating the supported portion 25. In the present embodiment, the elastic support member 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a columnar outer peripheral surface 30. The elastic support member 3 is formed of an elastic plastic material with insulating and elastic properties. The elastic plastic material may be made of a viscoelastic material or an elastomer.

[0032] The configuration of the elastic holding element 3 with respect to the Fig. 1 to 4. In the present embodiment, the elastic retaining member 3 includes a cylindrical support portion 31, a support base portion 32, and a guide projection 33. The elastic retaining member 3 is seamlessly and uniformly formed from silicone rubber or the like.

[0033] The cylindrical support portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening on the tip side in the axial direction for receiving the supported portion 25 while being in contact with the side surface 21 of the transmitting and receiving device. Specifically, the cylindrical support portion 31 is provided to protrude from the support bottom portion 32 toward the tip side in the axial direction. An inner wall surface of the cylindrical support portion 31 is provided with a support projection 34 protruding therefrom. The support projection 34 is configured to engage with the support groove 26 provided in the supported portion 25 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2.

[0034] The support bottom portion 32 has a substantially annular shape provided with a penetrating portion 35, which is a through-hole penetrating a thick plate-shaped portion having a prescribed thickness in the axial direction. The penetrating portion 35 is formed to have an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical support portion 31. That is, the support bottom portion 32 is provided to protrude inward in the radial direction at a base end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical support portion 31 and thus to be in contact with the bottom 23 of the transmitting and receiving device. The support bottom portion 32 is formed as a thick portion having a thickness in the radial direction that is greater than the thicknesses of the cylindrical support portion 31 and the guide projection 33.

[0035] The guide projection 33 is provided to protrude from the bottom of the support bottom portion 32 toward the base end side in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, two guide projections 33 are provided symmetrically to each other across the center axis line CL.

[0036] Assuming that there is a virtual plane perpendicular to the central axis line CL, the guide projection 33 is as shown in Fig. 4, that is, in the bottom view, it is formed in a tongue shape with a width direction substantially parallel to a tangent direction of a circle, which is an intersection line between the outer peripheral surface 30 and the virtual plane. Specifically, the guide projection 33 has a width dimension less than or equal to half the outer diameter of the support bottom portion 32. Furthermore, the guide projection 33 is formed to have a thickness in the radial direction that is smaller than the thickness in the radial direction of the support bottom portion 32.

[0037] The outer peripheral surface 30 of the elastic retaining member 3 is provided with an engagement recess 36. The engagement recess 36 is provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to the cylindrical support portion 31. Furthermore, the engagement recess 36 is provided to protrude inward in the radial direction. The radial direction is a direction extending radially from the center axis line CL.

[0038] Specifically, the engagement recess 36 is a groove portion provided to extend in a circumferential direction and is provided in the support bottom portion 32. The circumferential direction is a direction surrounding the central axis line CL. That is, the circumferential direction is the circumferential direction of a virtual circle on the virtual plane, the virtual circle having as its center an intersection point of the virtual plane and the central axis line CL. In the present embodiment, two engagement recesses 36 are arranged symmetrically to each other across the central axis line CL.

[0039] As in Fig. 3, the engagement recess 36 is provided at a position corresponding to the guide projection 33 with respect to the circumferential direction. In other words, the engagement recess 36 is provided at a position that is a base end portion in the axial direction of the support bottom portion 32 and that is adjacent to the guide projection 33 in the axial direction. Thus, the guide projection 33 is configured to increase the opening width along the axial direction of the engagement recess 36 when it is elastically deformed and bends toward the center axis line CL.

[0040] The elastic holding member 3 further includes an auxiliary recess 37 and a conical surface 38 as components for causing or assisting the elastic deformation to cause the guide projection 33 to be bent toward the central axis line CL.

[0041] The auxiliary recess 37 is a recess provided at the bottom of the support bottom portion 32 and is formed to have an opening on the base end side in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, two auxiliary recesses 37 are arranged symmetrically to each other across the central axis line CL. Specifically, the guide projections 33 and the auxiliary recesses 37 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the auxiliary recess 37 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from below. The auxiliary recess 37 is provided between the outer peripheral surface 30 of the elastic support member 3 and an inner peripheral surface of the penetrating portion 35. That is, the two auxiliary recesses 37 are formed as isolated spaces that do not communicate with either a space outside the outer peripheral surface 30 or a space inside the penetrating portion 35 in the radial direction.

[0043] The conical surface 38 is provided continuously from the outer peripheral surface 30 of the elastic support member 3 at an end portion in the axial direction of the guide projection 33. That is, the conical surface 38 is formed as an outwardly directed inclined surface provided at a protruding end, that is, a lateral end, of the guide projection 33 protruding from the support bottom portion 32.

[0044] Again with regard to Fig. 1, the elastic cover member 4 is configured to tightly cover the protrusion 24 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2. In the present embodiment, the elastic cover member 4 includes a cylindrical portion 41 and a flange portion 42. The elastic cover member 4 is seamlessly and uniformly formed from an elastic plastic material such as silicone rubber with insulating and elastic properties.

[0045] The cylindrical portion 41 is a cylindrical portion provided along the central axis line CL and has a cylindrical inner surface as an inner peripheral surface. This inner peripheral surface is formed to be in close contact with a portion corresponding to the projection 24 of the side surface 21 of the transmitting and receiving device. The cylindrical portion 41 is disposed between the side surface 21 of the transmitting and receiving device and the mounting hole B3 when the projection 24 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is inserted into the mounting hole B3 to mount the ultrasonic sensor 1 on the bumper B. The cylindrical portion 41 is formed such that a tip surface in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 41 is substantially level with the bumper outer surface B1 when the ultrasonic sensor 1 is mounted on the bumper B.

[0046] The flange portion 42 is formed in a ring shape that protrudes outward in the radial direction from a base end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 41. The flange portion 42 contacts a tip in the axial direction of the cylindrical support portion 31 while the elastic cover member 4 is mounted on the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2. The flange portion 42 is disposed between the sensor housing 6 and the bumper inner side B2 when the ultrasonic sensor 1 is mounted on the bumper B.

[0047] The damper 5 is a disc-shaped member with an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the penetrating portion 35 and is fitted into the cylindrical space within the penetrating portion 35. The damper 5 is formed of a foamed elastic body, such as foamed silicone, with insulating and elastic properties to minimize vibration transmission from the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 to the sensor housing 6.

[0048] The sensor housing 6, which forms the housing of the ultrasonic sensor 1, is made entirely of a hard plastic such as polypropylene. The sensor housing 6 is configured to accommodate and hold the elastic support member 3. That is, the sensor housing 6 elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 via the elastic support member 3.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the sensor housing 6 comprises a housing main portion 61, a connector (plug) 62, and a cylindrical housing portion 63. The configuration of the sensor housing 6 is described below with respect to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 described in detail.

[0050] The housing main portion 61 is a box-shaped portion formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and formed in a bottom-shaped cylindrical shape with an opening on the base end side in the axial direction. The housing main portion 61 has a circuit board, a wiring portion, and the like accommodated therein. The circuit board, the wiring portion, and the like are not shown in the drawings. The connector 62 is provided to extend outward from a side wall of the housing main portion 61 for connecting the ultrasonic sensor 1 to another device such as an electronic control unit.

[0051] The cylindrical housing portion 63 is provided to protrude from the housing main portion 61 toward the tip side in the axial direction. The cylindrical housing portion 63 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner peripheral surface 64 in close contact with the outer peripheral surface 30 of the elastic retaining member 3. That is, the inner diameter of the cylindrical housing portion 63 is set to correspond to the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface 30 of the elastic retaining member 3. The cylindrical housing portion 63 has, at a tip in the axial direction of the cylindrical housing portion 63, a tip opening 65 having an opening on the tip side in the axial direction.

[0052] A cylindrical space is provided within the cylindrical housing portion 63, which communicates with a space within the housing main portion 61. Hereinafter, the space within the cylindrical housing portion 63 and the space within the housing main portion 61 are collectively referred to as a space within the sensor housing 6. The space within the sensor housing 6 is filled with a filler 7, such as silicone rubber, which has insulating and elastic properties. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary recess 37 is also filled with the filler 7.

[0053] The cylindrical housing portion 63 has an engaging projection 66. The engaging projection 66 is provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to the tip opening 65 and is designed to protrude inward in the radial direction. The engaging projection 66 is configured to be received in the engaging recess 36 of the elastic retaining member 3 and thus fit into the engaging recess 36.

[0054] That is, the elastic retaining member 3 is configured to allow contact of the guide projection 33 with the engagement projection 66 during insertion of the elastic retaining member 3 from the guide projection 33 side of the elastic retaining member into the cylindrical housing portion 63, so as to elastically deform the guide projection 33 while bending the guide projection 33 toward the central axis line CL. Furthermore, the conical surface 38 at the terminal portion in the axial direction of the guide projection 33 is brought into contact with the engagement projection 66 during insertion of the elastic retaining member 3 into the cylindrical housing portion 63, so as to cause the above-described elastic deformation of the guide projection 33.Furthermore, the auxiliary recess 37 is provided by removing a wall portion of the support bottom portion 32 which is provided to extend along the elastic deformation direction of the guide projection 33 to reduce the rigidity of the wall portion. Effects

[0055] Hereinafter, the effects exhibited by the configurations of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0056] In a step of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor 1 having the configurations of the present embodiment, the supported portion 25 on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is inserted into the cylindrical support portion 31 of the elastic support member 3. This insertion brings the bottom 23 of the transmitting and receiving device, which is the end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2, into contact with the support bottom portion 32 provided to protrude inward in the radial direction at the base end portion of the cylindrical support portion 31. During insertion, the support projection 34 of the elastic support member 3 is engaged with the support groove 26 in the support portion 25 of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2.Thus, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2 is elastically supported by the elastic holding element 3.

[0057] Subsequently, the elastic support member 3, which elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2, is inserted from the guide projection 33 side of the elastic support member on the base end side in the axial direction into the cylindrical housing portion 63 of the sensor housing 6 along the central axis line CL. This insertion allows the engagement projection 66 to be received in the engagement recess 36, with the engagement projection 66 projecting inward in the radial direction in the cylindrical housing portion 63 and the engagement recess 36 projecting inward in the radial direction in the elastic support member 3. That is, the engagement projection 66 is engaged with the engagement recess 36. Thus, the sensor housing 6 receives and holds the elastic support member 3.

[0058] When inserting the elastic retaining member 3 into the cylindrical housing portion 63, the guide projection 33 is brought into contact with the engaging projection 66 before the engaging projection 66 engages the engaging recess 36. The contact of the guide projection 33 with the engaging projection 66 elastically deforms the guide projection 33 while the guide projection is bent toward the center axis line CL.

[0059] The guide protrusion 33 is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement recess 36 with respect to the circumferential direction surrounding the center axis line CL. Therefore, in the above-described aspect, the elastic deformation of the guide protrusion 33 increases the opening width along the axial direction of the opening on the outer periphery in the radial direction of the engagement recess 36. Thus, the engagement of the engagement protrusion 36 with the engagement recess 36 can be advantageously promoted.

[0060] The engagement of the engagement projection 66 in the engagement recess 36 sets the elastic support member 3, which elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device 2, and the cylindrical housing portion 63 of the sensor housing 6 in a prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction. The engagement of the engagement projection 66 in the engagement recess 36 restores the elastic deformation of the guide projection 33 during insertion of the elastic support member 3 into the cylindrical housing portion 63. The action during this restoration produces a notch feeling. Therefore, a worker performing the step of manufacturing the ultrasonic sensor 1 is able to accurately determine that the elastic support member 3 and the cylindrical housing portion 63 are set to the prescribed positional relationship in the axial direction.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the support bottom portion 32 including the engagement recess 36 is formed as a thick portion. That is, the support bottom portion 32 is formed to have a thickness in the radial direction greater than the thickness of the cylindrical support portion 31 and the guide projection 33. The support bottom portion 32 is provided as a thick plate-shaped portion having a prescribed thickness in the axial direction, specifically, a thickness greater than the thicknesses in the radial direction of the cylindrical support portion 31 and the guide projection 33. This configuration can excellently maintain the engagement state of the elastic support member 3 with the sensor housing 6 after the completion of the attachment of the elastic support member 3 to the sensor housing 6.That is, it can be excellently prevented that the elastic holding member 3 is detached from the sensor housing 6 after the completion of the attachment of the elastic holding member 3 to the sensor housing 6.

[0062] In the present embodiment, the engagement recess 36 is provided at a position that is the base end portion in the axial direction of the support bottom portion 32 and that is adjacent to the guide projection 33 in the axial direction. In this configuration, the contact of the guide projection 33 with the engagement projection 66 elastically deforms the guide projection 33 while bending the guide projection 33 toward the central axis line CL, thus advantageously increasing the opening width of the engagement recess 36. Accordingly, this configuration can advantageously promote the engagement of the engagement projection 66 with the engagement recess 36.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the elastic retaining member 3 has the conical surface 38 provided to be continuous from the outer peripheral surface 30 at the terminal portion in the axial direction of the guide projection 33. The conical surface 38 is brought into contact with the engagement projection 66 during insertion of the elastic retaining member 3 into the cylindrical housing portion 63 to elastically deform the guide projection 33 while the guide projection 33 is bent toward the central axis line CL. Accordingly, this configuration can advantageously induce elastic deformation of the guide projection 33.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the support bottom portion 32 includes the auxiliary recess 37 having an opening on the base end side in the axial direction. The auxiliary recess 37 is formed by removing a wall portion of the support bottom portion 32, which is intended to extend along the elastic deformation direction of the guide projection 33, in order to reduce the rigidity of the wall portion. Therefore, the auxiliary recess 37 assists the elastic deformation of the guide projection 33 through contact with the engagement projection 66 during insertion of the elastic holding member 3 into the cylindrical housing portion 63. Accordingly, this configuration can excellently achieve the attachment of the elastic holding member 3 to the sensor housing 6.

[0065] After the completion of the attachment of the elastic retaining member 3 to the sensor housing 6, the space inside the sensor housing 6 is filled with the filler 7. During the filling, the auxiliary recess 37 is also filled with the filler 7. This configuration can excellently prevent the elastic retaining member 3 from detaching from the sensor housing 6 after the elastic retaining member 3 is attached to the sensor housing 6. That is, this configuration excellently achieves both the workability of the attachment work of the elastic retaining member 3 to the sensor housing 6 and the secure fixation of the elastic retaining member 3 to the sensor housing 6 after filling with the filler 7.

[0066] As described above, the configurations of the present embodiment can improve the processability during the manufacturing of the ultrasonic sensor 1, in contrast to the manufacturing of a conventional ultrasonic sensor. Modified examples

[0067] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, suitable modifications are applicable to the embodiment. Typical modified examples will be described below. In the following description of the modified examples, various points from the embodiment will be mainly described. Identical reference numerals are assigned to identical or similar portions in the embodiment and the modified examples. Accordingly, in the following description of the modified examples, the description in the embodiment can be appropriately applied to the constituent element having an identical reference numeral with the reference numeral of a constituent element in the embodiment without a technically inconsistent or specific additional description.

[0068] The present disclosure is not limited to the aspect of mounting the ultrasonic sensor 1 on the bumper B. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 1 can be mounted on a front grille or a vehicle body for vehicle use. Furthermore, the ultrasonic sensor 1 is not limited to use in vehicles. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 1 can also be mounted, for example, on a conveyor provided in a factory or the like, on agricultural equipment (e.g., a cultivator), or on a small aircraft.

[0069] The ultrasonic sensor 1 is not limited to a configuration capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. For example, the ultrasonic sensor 1 may have a configuration capable of transmitting only one ultrasonic wave. Alternatively, the ultrasonic sensor 1 may only have the function of receiving a reflected wave obtained by reflecting an ultrasonic wave transmitted as a probe wave from another ultrasonic transmitter to a nearby object.

[0070] The shapes of the portions are not limited to the specific examples described above. For example, the guide projection 33, the engagement recess 36, the auxiliary recess 37, and the engagement projection 66 are not particularly limited in the number of parts provided. Accordingly, for example, one each of the guide projection 33, the engagement recess 36, and the engagement projection 66 may be provided. Alternatively, for example, three each of the guide projection 33, the engagement recess 36, and the engagement projection 66 may be provided.

[0071] The shape of the auxiliary recess 37 is not limited to the specific example described above. For example, a plurality of round, oval, or rectangular holes aligned in the radial direction may form a plurality of auxiliary recesses 37.

[0072] As in Fig. 6, the auxiliary recess 37 may be provided with an outward opening in the radial direction. That is, the auxiliary recess 37 may be formed to communicate with the space outside the outer peripheral surface 30.

[0073] Alternatively, it can be provided that the auxiliary recess 37, as in Fig. 7, has an inward opening in the radial direction. That is, the auxiliary recess 37 may be provided that communicates with the space within the penetrating portion 35.

[0074] Alternatively, the auxiliary recess 37, as in Fig. 8, to maintain the space inside the penetration portion 35 communicating with the space outside the outer peripheral surface 30. That is, the auxiliary recess 37 may be formed in a slit shape provided along the diameter of the support bottom portion 32 in the bottom view.

[0075] In the present embodiment, the elastic cover member 4 is configured separately from the elastic support member 3. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this aspect. That is, the elastic cover member 4 may be formed seamlessly and integrally with the elastic support member 3.

[0076] The previously described plurality of constituent elements, which are seamless and uniform, may be formed by joining separate elements together. Similarly, the plurality of constituent elements, which are formed by joining separate elements together, may be seamless and uniform.

[0077] The previously described plurality of constituent elements formed from an identical material may be formed from different materials. Similarly, the plurality of constituent elements formed from different materials may be formed from an identical material.

[0078] Needless to say, the elements constituting the embodiment are not essential unless, for example, it is specifically mentioned as necessary or clearly necessary in principle. Furthermore, when numerical values ​​are referred to as the number of constituent elements, numerical values, amounts, ranges, and the like, the present disclosure is never limited to the specific numbers unless, for example, the specific numbers are specifically mentioned as necessary, or the numerical values ​​are clearly limited to the specific numbers in principle. Similarly, when referring to the shapes, directions, positional relationships, and the like of the constituent elements, etc.referred to is not limited to those described unless, for example, the shapes, directions, positional relationships and the like described are specifically mentioned as necessary, or the shapes, directions, positional relationships and the like are in principle limited to those described.

[0079] The modified example is not limited to the previously described modified examples. Furthermore, a plurality of modified examples may be combined with each other. Furthermore, the whole or part of the embodiment may be combined with the whole or part of a modified example.

Claims

[1] Ultrasonic sensor (1) with: an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2) formed in a columnar shape with an axial direction parallel to a central axis line (CL); an elastic support member (3) which is an elastic plastic member that elastically supports the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2) and which is formed in a cylindrical shape to allow a supported portion (25) to be received at a base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); and a sensor housing (6) configured to include a cylindrical housing portion (63) formed in a cylindrical shape with an inner peripheral surface (64) in contact with an outer peripheral surface (30) along the axial direction of the elastic holding member (3), and to accommodate and hold the elastic holding member (3), wherein the cylindrical housing portion (63) has an engaging projection (66) provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to a tip opening (65) having an opening on a tip side in the axial direction, and is provided to protrude inward in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein the elastic holding element (3) comprises: a cylindrical support portion (31) formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening on the tip side in the axial direction to be in contact with a side surface (21) of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an outer peripheral surface along the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); a support bottom portion (32) provided to protrude inward in the radial direction at a base end portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical support portion (31) and thus to be in contact with a bottom (23) of the transmitting and receiving device, which is an end surface on the base end side in the axial direction of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device (2); an engagement recess (36) provided closer to the base end side in the axial direction than to the cylindrical support portion (31) and recessed inwardly in the radial direction and thus receiving the engagement projection (66); and a guide projection (33) arranged in the circumferential direction around the central axis line (CL), parallel to the engagement recess (36), and provided to protrude from the support bottom portion (32) toward the base end side in the axial direction, wherein the support base portion (32) is formed as a thick portion whose thickness in the radial direction is greater than the thickness of the support cylinder portion and the guide projection (33), and wherein the engagement recess (36) is provided in the support base portion (32). [2] The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the guide projection (33) is formed in a tongue shape having a width direction substantially parallel to a tangent direction of a circle, which is an intersection line between the outer peripheral surface (30) along the axial direction of the elastic holding member (3) and a virtual plane perpendicular to the central axis line (CL). [3] The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic holding member (3) further comprises a tapered surface (38) continuously provided from the outer peripheral surface (30) of the elastic holding member (3) at a terminal portion in the axial direction of the guide projection (33) to allow contact of the guide projection (33) with the engagement projection (66) during insertion of the elastic holding member (3) into the cylindrical housing portion (63) to elastically deform the guide projection (33) while bending the guide projection (33) toward the central axis line (CL). [4] An ultrasonic sensor according to claim 3, wherein the conical surface (38) is brought into contact with the engaging projection (66) during insertion of the elastic holding member (3) into the cylindrical housing portion (63) to cause elastic deformation of the guide projection (33). [5] The ultrasonic sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support bottom portion (32) has an opening on the base end side in the axial direction as an auxiliary recess (37) for assisting elastic deformation of the guide projection (33) by the contact of the guide projection (33) with the engagement projection (66) during insertion of the elastic holding member (3) into the cylindrical housing portion (63). [6] Ultrasonic sensor according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary recess (37) is filled with a filler (7).

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