Temperature sensor and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a temperature sensor in which a thermistor can be accurately positioned to a case.SOLUTION: A temperature sensor 100 includes: a thermistor assembly 110; a case 120 having a storage region CA opening in a first direction; a third sealing member 130; and a cover 140 for covering the opening of the storage region CA. The thermistor assembly 110 includes: two lead lines 112; a thermistor 111 connected to a first end part 1121 of the two lead lines 112; a first sealing member 113 for sealing the thermistor 111; and a second sealing member 114 for sealing the first sealing member 113. The third sealing member 130 is arranged in the storage region CA to seal the second sealing member 114. The cover 140 has a first contact part 141 in contact with the second sealing member 114 from a first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a temperature sensor using a thermistor. In this temperature sensor, a thermistor (temperature-sensing element 4a) connected to a lead wire 5 is sealed with sealing glass (sealing glass portion 4b), and this sealing glass is further sealed with sealing resin (resin coat portion 4c). A thermistor assembly including the thermistor and lead wire 5 is inserted into a case (insertion hole H), and a filling resin (adhesive resin 7) is filled between the thermistor assembly and the case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-128010 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a temperature sensor, the sealing resin may float before the filling resin hardens, causing the position of the thermistor to change relative to the case.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature sensor in which a thermistor is accurately positioned relative to a case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a temperature sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a thermistor assembly, a case having an accommodating area that is open in a first direction, a third sealing member, and a cover that covers the opening of the accommodating area, wherein the thermistor assembly comprises two lead wires, a thermistor connected to first ends of the two lead wires, a first sealing member that seals the thermistor, and a second sealing member that seals the first sealing member, the third sealing member is positioned within the accommodating area so as to seal the second sealing member, and the cover has a first contact portion that contacts the second sealing member from the first direction.

[0007] A manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention is a manufacturing method for manufacturing a temperature sensor, and includes an insertion step of inserting a thermistor assembly into an accommodating area of ​​a case that is open in a first direction; an injection step of injecting resin into the accommodating area of ​​the case so as to seal the second sealing member of the thermistor assembly; a closing step of closing the opening of the accommodating area with a cover so that a first contact portion of the cover contacts the second sealing member from the first direction; and a curing step of curing the resin. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a temperature sensor in which the thermistor is accurately positioned relative to the case. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a temperature sensor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the temperature sensor 100. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along the line BB in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along the line CC in FIG. 2. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the temperature sensor 100 with the cover 140 removed. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing the thermistor assembly 110 in a state in which the first sealing member 113 is sealed by the second sealing member 130. FIG. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the cover 140. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the lead wire 112, the second contact portion 142 of the cover 140, and the side surface 123 of the case 120. FIG. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the lead wire 112, the third contact portion 143 of the cover 140, and the first fixed portion 121 of the case 120. FIG. [Figure 11] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing the temperature sensor 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] <Temperature sensor 100> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a temperature sensor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the temperature sensor 100, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along line AA in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along line BB in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor 100 taken along line CC in Fig. 2. In Fig. 1, the upward direction is the Z direction (first direction), and two directions perpendicular to the Z direction are the X direction and the Y direction.

[0011] The temperature sensor 100 includes a thermistor assembly 110, a case 120, a third sealing member 130, and a cover 140. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the temperature sensor 100 with the cover 140 removed.

[0012] The thermistor assembly 110 includes a thermistor 111, two lead wires 112, a first sealing member 113, and a second sealing member 114. FIG.

[0013] The thermistor 111 is a resistor whose resistance value changes depending on temperature, and is, for example, an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) thermistor or a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) thermistor.

[0014] The two lead wires 112 have a first end 1121 and a second end 1122, and the first end 1121 of the lead wires 112 is connected to the thermistor 111. That is, the thermistor 111 is connected between the two first lead wires 112, as shown in Fig. 5. The lead wires 112 extend in a first direction (Z direction) from the first end 1121 connected to the thermistor 111.

[0015] The first sealing member 113 seals and protects the thermistor 111, as shown in Fig. 5. Of the lead wire 112, a first end 1121 connected to the thermistor 111 is sealed in the first sealing member 113, as shown in Fig. 5. A second end 1122 of the first lead wire 112 is not sealed in the first sealing member 113, as shown in Fig. 1, and exists outside the second sealing member 113. The first sealing member 113 is, for example, glass.

[0016] The second sealing member 114 seals and protects the first sealing member 113 as shown in Fig. 5. The second end 1122 of the first lead wire 112 is not sealed in the second sealing member 114 and exists outside the second sealing member 114 as shown in Fig. 1. The second sealing member 114 is made of, for example, a resin and is formed by dipping. The second sealing member 114 has a shoulder portion 1141 having a surface facing in a first direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

[0017] 3, 6 and 7, the lead wire 112 has a first bent portion 1123 at a portion that is outside the second sealing member 114. The lead wire 112 is bent at the first bent portion 1123 from a first direction (Z direction) to a second direction (X direction).

[0018] 3, 6, and 7, the lead wire 112 further has a second bent portion 1124 and a third bent portion 1125 between the second end portion 1122 and the first bent portion 1123. The second bent portion 1124 is located on the first bent portion 1123 side, and the third bent portion 1124 is located on the second end portion 1122 side. The lead wire 112 is bent at the second bent portion 1124 from the second direction (X direction) to the opposite direction to the first direction (-Z direction), and at the third bent portion 1125 from the opposite direction to the first direction (-Z direction) to the second direction (X direction), forming a crank shape.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the lead wire 112 is bent at the second bending portion 1124 from the second direction (X direction) to the direction opposite to the first direction (-Z direction); however, the lead wire 112 may be bent at the second bending portion 1124 from the second direction (X direction) to the first direction (Z direction).

[0020] 3, 4 and 6, the case 120 has an accommodation area CA, which is open in the first direction (X direction). The thermistor assembly 110 is accommodated in the accommodation area CA of the case 120.

[0021] The case 120 has a first fixing portion 121 and a second fixing portion 122. As shown in Fig. 6, the first fixing portion 121 fixes a portion of the lead wire 112 between a first bent portion 1123 and a second bent portion 1124, and the second fixing portion 122 fixes a third bent portion 1125.

[0022] 3-5, the third sealing member 130 is disposed in the housing area CA of the case 120 so as to seal the second sealing member 114. The second end 1122 of the lead wire 112 is not sealed in the third sealing member 130 and exists outside the third sealing member 130 as shown in FIG. 1. The third sealing member 130 is, for example, a resin.

[0023] For example, before the third sealing member 130 is cured, it is injected into the housing area CA of the case 120 into which the thermistor assembly 110 is inserted, so that the second sealing member 114 of the thermistor assembly 110 is sealed by the third sealing member 130. Then, the second resin part 130 is cured in a state in which the first resin part 113 is sealed.

[0024] The cover 140 is a cover that closes the opening of the accommodation area CA. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the cover 140. The cover 140 and the case 120 have cover fixing parts 145, 125 as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 8. With the opening of the accommodation area CA closed, the cover 140 is fixed to the case 120 by the cover fixing parts 145, 125 as shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cover fixing part 145 of the cover 140 is an engagement hole, and the cover fixing part 145 of the case 120 is an engagement claw, and the cover 140 is fixed to the case 120 by the engagement claw of the case 120 engaging with the engagement hole of the cover 140.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the cover 140 has a first contact portion 141. The first contact portion 141 contacts the shoulder portion 1141 of the second sealing member 114 from the first direction (Z direction). Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermistor assembly 110 is pressed downward (-Z direction) by the cover 140. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the thermistor assembly 110 from floating and the position of the thermistor 111 relative to the case 140 from changing before the resin of the third sealing member 130 hardens. As a result, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide a temperature sensor in which the thermistor is accurately positioned relative to the case. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the first contact portion 141 has a surface facing in the opposite direction to the first direction (-Z direction), and the shoulder portion 1141 of the second sealing member 114 has a surface facing in the first direction (Z direction), and these two surfaces are in contact with each other.

[0026] The cover 140 sandwiches at least a portion between the second end 1122 and the first bent portion 1123 of the lead wire 112 between the case 120 and the cover 140. For example, the cover 140 further has a second contact portion 142 and a third contact portion 143 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10. Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the lead wire 112, the second contact portion 142 of the cover 140, and the side surface 123 of the case 120, and Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the lead wire 112, the third contact portion 143 of the cover 140, and the first fixing portion 121 of the case 120.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the cover 140 and the case 120 sandwich at least a portion between the second end 1122 and the third bent portion 1125 of the lead wire 112 between the second contact portion 142 and the side surface 123 of the case.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 9, cover 140 and case 120 sandwich at least a portion between first bent portion 1122 and second bent portion 1123 of lead wire 112 between third contact portion 143 and first fixed portion 121 of the case.

[0029] Thus, in this embodiment, lead wire 112 is bent, and at least a portion between the bent portion and the end portion present on the outside is sandwiched between cover 140 and case 120. For this reason, in this embodiment, even if lead wire 112 is pulled, no stress is directly applied to the members (thermistor 111, first sealing member 112, second sealing member 114) in the housing area CA of case 120. As a result, in this embodiment, even if lead wire 112 is pulled, it is possible to prevent the members (thermistor 111, first sealing member 112, second sealing member 114) in the housing area CA of case 120 from being pulled and coming out of the housing area CA of case 120.

[0030] As described above, in this embodiment, the lead wire 112 has the second bent portion 1124 and the third bent portion 1125, and has a crank-shaped portion between the second end 1122 and the first bent portion 1123, and this crank-shaped portion is fixed to the case 120 and is sandwiched between the cover 140 and the case 120. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the lead wire 112 is pulled, it is more possible to prevent the members (thermistor 111, first sealing member 112, second sealing member 114) in the housing area CA of the case 120 from being directly subjected to stress. As a result, in this embodiment, even if the lead wire 112 is pulled, it is more possible to prevent the members (thermistor 111, first sealing member 112, second sealing member 114) in the housing area CA of the case 120 from being pulled and coming out of the housing area CA of the case 120.

[0031] 4 and 8, the cover 140 may further have a protrusion 144. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the protrusion 144 is sealed in the third sealing member 130. In this manner, the cover 140 is fixed to the third sealing member 130, and it becomes possible to prevent the cover 140 from rattling with respect to the case 120. It also becomes possible to prevent the cover 140 from coming off the case 120.

[0032] The temperature sensor 100 may further include a connection member 150. The connection member 150 is a member for connecting the temperature sensor 100 to an object to be measured. In this case, the case 120 has an insertion opening 124 for inserting the connection member 150, and the connection member 150 is inserted into the insertion opening 124.

[0033] The connection member 150 is, for example, a member with high thermal conductivity. When the connection member 150 is connected to the measurement object, the connection member 150 has the same temperature as the measurement object. Furthermore, the connection member 150 is a conductor. If the measurement object is a conductor through which a current flows, when the connection member 150 is connected to the measurement object, the current flowing through the measurement object flows through the connection member 150, and the connection member 150 has the same temperature as the measurement object.

[0034] The connection member 150 has, for example, a hole 151. At this time, the connection member 150 is inserted into the insertion opening 124 of the case 120 so that the thermistor 111 is located inside the hole 151. In this way, the thermistor 111 is surrounded by the connection member 150, and it becomes possible to accurately measure the temperature of the connection member 150 (i.e., the temperature of the measurement target) without being affected by the temperatures of other members. The hole 151 is, for example, a through hole.

[0035] <Method of Manufacturing Temperature Sensor 100> FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing the temperature sensor 100.

[0036] First, the thermistor assembly 110 is inserted into the accommodation area CA of the case 120 (insertion step, step S1101). At this time, the thermistor assembly 110 is inserted, for example, so that the second sealing member 114 of the thermistor assembly 110 contacts the bottom of the accommodation area CA of the case 120. At this time, it is preferable that a guide portion for positioning the thermistor assembly 110 is provided at the bottom of the accommodation area.

[0037] Thereafter, resin is injected into the housing area CA of the case 120 so as to seal the second sealing member 114 of the thermistor assembly 110 (injection step, step S1102). The resin injected is the resin of the third sealing member 130 before it hardens.

[0038] Then, the opening of the accommodation area CA is closed with the cover 140 so that the first contact portion 141 of the cover 140 contacts the shoulder portion 1141 of the second sealing member 114 from the first direction (closing step, step S1103).

[0039] The resin injected into the housing area CA of the case 120 is hardened (hardening step, step S1004). As a result, the resin injected into the housing area CA of the case 120 is hardened, and the third sealing member 130 is disposed in the housing area CA of the case 120 so as to seal the second sealing member 114 of the thermistor 110, and the temperature sensor 100 is completed. In this embodiment, since the first contact portion 141 of the cover 140 contacts the shoulder portion 1141 of the second sealing member 114 from the first direction, it is possible to prevent the thermistor assembly 110 from floating and the position of the thermistor 111 from shifting relative to the case 120 before the resin of the third sealing member 130 hardens.

[0040] The present invention has been described above in terms of preferred embodiments thereof. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to specific examples, various modifications and variations can be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 100 Temperature Sensor 110 Thermistor assembly of thermistor assembly 100 111 Thermistor of the thermistor assembly 100 112 Lead wire of thermistor assembly 100 1121 First end of lead wire 112 1122 Second end of lead wire 112 1123 First bent portion of lead wire 112 1124: second bent portion of lead wire 112 1125 Third bend of lead wire 112 113 First sealing member of thermistor assembly 100 114 Second sealing member 1141 Shoulder of second sealing member 114 120 cases 121 First fixing portion of case 120 122 Second fixing portion of case 120 123 Side of case 120 124 Insertion port of case 120 125 Guide part of case 120 126 Cover fixing portion (engagement claw) of case 120 130 Third sealing member 140 Cover 141 First contact portion of cover 140 142 Second contact portion of cover 140 143 third contact portion of cover 140 144 Cover fixing portion (engagement hole) of cover 140 145 Protrusion of cover 140 150 Connection parts 151 Hole of connecting member 150

Claims

1. a thermistor assembly; a case having a storage area that is open in a first direction; A third sealing member; and a cover that closes the opening of the storage area, The thermistor assembly includes: Two leads and a thermistor connected to a first end of the two leads; a first sealing member that seals the thermistor; a second sealing member that seals the first sealing member, the third sealing member is disposed within the receiving region so as to seal the second sealing member; The cover has a first contact portion that contacts the second sealing member from the first direction.

2. The lead wire has a first bent portion, A temperature sensor, wherein the cover and the case sandwich at least a portion between the second end of the lead wire and the first bent portion.

3. The cover further includes a second contact portion. the lead wire further has a second bent portion and a third bent portion between the second end and the first bent portion; The second bent portion is located on the first bent portion side, the third bent portion is located on the second end side, The temperature sensor according to claim 2 , wherein the cover and the case sandwich at least a portion between the second end and the third bent portion between the second contact portion and a side surface of the case.

4. The temperature sensor according to claim 3 , wherein the case has a first fixing portion between the first bent portion and the second bent portion, the first fixing portion fixing the first lead.

5. The cover further includes a third contact portion. A temperature sensor, wherein the cover and the case sandwich at least a portion between the first bent portion and the second bent portion of the lead wire between the third contact portion and a first fixed portion of the case.

6. The temperature sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a guide portion for positioning the thermistor assembly is provided on a bottom of the accommodation area.

7. The temperature sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the cover further includes a protrusion that is sealed to the third sealing member.

8. Further comprising a connection member for connecting to the measurement object, The connecting member has a hole, the case has an insertion opening into which the connection member is inserted, The temperature sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the connection member is inserted into an insertion opening of the case so that the thermistor is located within the hole.

9. The temperature sensor according to claim 7 , wherein the connecting member is a conductor.

10. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a temperature sensor, comprising: an inserting step of inserting the thermistor assembly into a receiving area of ​​the case that is open in a first direction; an injection step of injecting a resin into the housing area of ​​the case so as to seal the second sealing member of the thermistor assembly; a closing step of closing the opening of the accommodation area with the cover such that a first contact portion of the cover contacts the second sealing member from the first direction; and a curing step of curing the resin.

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