Temperature sensor

Abstract

To provide a temperature sensor capable of minimizing the temperature difference between two sensors and ensuring redundancy.SOLUTION: The temperature sensor is provided with a pair of thermal elements 2, lead wires 3 connected at one end to the thermal elements, and a crimp terminal 4 having a screw mounting portion 4a that can be fixed to an object to be measured with a screw and an element mounting portion 4b to which the pair of thermal elements 2 are attached. Furthermore, the screw mounting portion has a circular mounting hole 4c for screw insertion, the center of the circular mounting hole is aligned with the central axis AX of the crimp terminal, the screw mounting portion is located on the central axis of the crimp terminal, and the pair of thermal elements are preferably positioned at equal distances from the screw mounting portion and symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the crimp terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature sensor that is easy to attach to an object to be measured and has excellent redundancy. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a known temperature sensor is one in which a thermistor element such as a chip thermistor or a flake thermistor is attached to a crimp terminal (for example, Patent Document 1). This temperature sensor has a circular ring portion that can be screwed onto a crimp terminal, known as an R terminal. By inserting a screw into this portion and screwing it into a female thread on the object to be measured, the temperature sensor can be easily screwed onto the object to be measured.

[0003] Conventionally, two temperature sensors with the same characteristics and crimp terminals are used to attach to the object to be measured, ensuring redundancy so that if one temperature sensor fails, the other can function as a backup. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-124125 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above conventional techniques still have the following problems. In conventional methods where a pair of temperature sensors is attached to an object to be measured with redundancy in mind, if there is a difference in the attachment when the crimp terminals of the two temperature sensors are fastened to the object to be measured with screws, a temperature difference occurs due to a difference in the heat absorption of the two temperature sensors, making it difficult to ensure redundancy even when a pair of temperature sensors with highly accurate electrical characteristics is used.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a temperature sensor that can reduce the temperature difference between two sensors and ensure redundancy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention employs the following configuration to solve the above problems: That is, a temperature sensor according to a first invention is characterized by comprising a pair of heat-sensitive element units, lead wires connected at one end to the heat-sensitive element units, and a crimp terminal having a screw mounting part that can be fixed to a measurement object with a screw and an element installation part to which the pair of heat-sensitive element units are attached.

[0008] This temperature sensor is equipped with a crimp terminal that has a screw mounting portion that can be fixed to the object to be measured with a screw and an element mounting portion to which a pair of thermal elements are attached. Since the pair of thermal elements are mounted on the same crimp terminal, the pair of thermal elements are in the same thermal environment and there is almost no temperature difference. Therefore, even if one thermal element loses function, the other thermal element can maintain the same temperature measurement, ensuring redundancy.

[0009] The temperature sensor of the second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the screw mounting portion has a circular mounting hole for screw mounting through which the screw can be inserted, the center of the circular mounting hole is positioned on the central axis of the crimp terminal, and the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are positioned at the same distance from the screw mounting portion and symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the crimp terminal. In other words, in this temperature sensor, the pair of heat-sensitive element parts are at the same distance from the screw mounting part and are arranged in positions that are symmetrical left and right with respect to the central axis of the crimp terminal, so that the pair of heat-sensitive element parts are in thermally symmetric positions, which further reduces the temperature difference between the pair of heat-sensitive element parts.

[0010] A temperature sensor according to a third invention is the temperature sensor according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same element mounting portion. In other words, in this temperature sensor, a pair of heat-sensitive element parts are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same element installation part, so that even if one of the pair of heat-sensitive element parts is damaged by an impact or the like, it is possible to prevent damage to the other part which is spaced apart from the other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved. In other words, the temperature sensor of the present invention is equipped with a crimp terminal having a screw mounting portion that can be fixed to the object to be measured with a screw and an element mounting portion to which a pair of heat-sensitive element portions are attached.Since the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are installed in the same crimp terminal, the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are in the same thermal environment, and there is almost no temperature difference. Therefore, in the temperature sensor of the present invention, there is almost no temperature difference between the two thermal element sections, so even if one thermal element section loses function, the other thermal element section can maintain equivalent temperature measurement, thereby ensuring redundancy. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a temperature sensor according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of a temperature sensor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Note that in the drawings used in the following description, the scale has been appropriately changed so that each component is recognizable or easily recognizable.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment comprises a pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2, a lead wire 3 having one end connected to the heat-sensitive element portion 2, and a crimp terminal 4 having a screw mounting portion 4a that can be fixed to the object to be measured with a screw and an element installation portion 4b to which the pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 are attached.

[0015] The screw mounting portion 4a has a circular mounting hole 4c through which a screw can be inserted. The center of the circular mounting hole 4c is located on the central axis AX of the crimp terminal 4. The pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 are disposed at the same distance from the screw mounting portion 4a and are symmetrical with respect to the central axis AX of the crimp terminal 4. The pair of heat-sensitive element sections 2 are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same element mounting section 4b.

[0016] The heat-sensitive element portion 2 includes a heat-sensitive element 2a such as a chip thermistor to which a pair of lead wires 3 are connected by a solder material 2b, and a resin portion 2c such as an epoxy resin that seals the heat-sensitive element 2a. The lead wire 3 includes a core wire 3a connected to the heat-sensitive element 2a with a solder material 2b, and a resin coating 3b that covers the core wire 3a.

[0017] The element installation portion 4b is provided with a pair of element fixing portions 4d formed symmetrically on both sides of the central axis AX into a cylindrical shape such as a substantially cylindrical or substantially elliptical cylindrical shape by sheet metal processing. Therefore, the pair of heat sensitive element portions 2 are disposed at equal distances from the circular mounting hole 4c.

[0018] The central axes of the pair of element fixing portions 4d are set parallel to the central axis AX of the crimp terminal 4. Furthermore, lead wires 3 extend from the pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 fixed to the pair of element fixing portions 4d in the opposite direction to the screw mounting portions 4a. Resin is filled into the element fixing portion 4d with the thermal element 2a joined to a pair of core wires 3a inserted, and the formed resin portion 2c seals the thermal element 2a and core wires 3a and fixes them within the element fixing portion 4d.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, the resin portion 2c is formed to protrude from both ends of the cylindrical element fixing portion 4d, and is formed to cover at least a portion of both end surfaces of the cylindrical element fixing portion 4d to obtain a prevention effect. The thermal element 2a inserted into the element fixing portion 4d may be a glass-molded chip thermistor connected to the core wire 3a.

[0020] The screw mounting portion 4a and the element installation portion 4b are formed from a single metal plate made of copper or the like, and may be bent at their intermediate portions. The crimp terminal 4 having the screw mounting portion 4a and the element installation portion 4b functions as a heat guide plate for the heat sensitive element portion 2.

[0021] As described above, the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a crimp terminal 4 having a screw mounting portion 4a that can be fixed to the object to be measured with a screw and an element mounting portion 4b to which a pair of thermal element portions 2 are attached, and since the pair of thermal element portions 2 are mounted on the same single crimp terminal 4, the pair of thermal element portions 2 are in the same thermal environment and there is almost no temperature difference. Therefore, even if one thermal element portion 2 loses function, it is possible to maintain equivalent temperature measurement with the other thermal element portion 2, ensuring redundancy.

[0022] Furthermore, since the pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 are at the same distance from the screw mounting portion 4a and are arranged in positions symmetrical with respect to the central axis AX of the crimp terminal 4, the temperature difference between the pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 can be further reduced by the pair of heat-sensitive element portions 2 being in thermally symmetric positions.

[0023] Furthermore, since the pair of heat-sensitive element parts 2 are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same element installation part 4b, the distance between the pair of heat-sensitive element parts 2 makes it possible to suppress damage to the other part, which is spaced apart from the first, even if one is damaged by an impact or the like.

[0024] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0025] For example, in the above embodiment, a screw mounting portion having a circular mounting hole for mounting a screw is used, but the screw mounting portion may have any other shape as long as it can be fastened with a screw. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1...Temperature sensor, 2...Thermal element portion, 3...Lead wire, 4...Crimp terminal, 4a...Screw mounting portion, 4c...Circular mounting hole, 4b...Element mounting portion, AX...Central axis of crimp terminal

Claims

1. A pair of heat-sensitive element portions; a lead wire having one end connected to the heat-sensitive element; A temperature sensor comprising a crimp terminal having a screw mounting portion that can be fixed to an object to be measured with a screw and an element installation portion to which the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are attached.

2. 2. The temperature sensor according to claim 1, the screw mounting portion has a circular mounting hole for screw mounting, through which the screw can be inserted; The center of the circular mounting hole is located on the central axis of the crimp terminal, A temperature sensor characterized in that the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are disposed at the same distance from the screw mounting portion and are positioned symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the crimp terminal.

3. 3. The temperature sensor according to claim 1, A temperature sensor characterized in that the pair of heat-sensitive element portions are arranged spaced apart from each other on the same element mounting portion.

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