Temperature sensor

Abstract

To provide a temperature sensor with excellent temperature measurement performance. [Solution] The temperature sensor 1 comprises a temperature measuring element 11, a housing 13 in which the temperature measuring element 11 is embedded and housed, and a housing 20 that houses the housing 13 inside, and is attached to a predetermined mounting target 2. The housing 13 is a molded product having a predetermined molded shape. The housing 20 has an insertion portion 31 that is inserted into a hole 3 in the mounting target 2, and openings 33 and 34 provided in the insertion portion 31 that are opened so that at least a part of the housing 13 is exposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature sensor including a temperature measuring element, a container in which the temperature measuring element is embedded and accommodated, and a housing that stores the container inside.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures of various temperature measurement targets (for example, gases, liquids, etc.) have been proposed. For example, one of the conventional temperature sensors incorporates a thermistor for temperature measurement and is attached to an in-vehicle pipe to measure the temperature of a fluid flowing through the in-vehicle pipe (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the thermistor generally used in the above-described type of temperature sensor is usually configured to cover the temperature measuring element with a coating such as resin for protecting the temperature measuring element and the contact portion between the temperature measuring element and the electric wire. As a method of forming the resin coating, generally, a temperature measuring element to which an electric wire is connected is immersed in a molten resin liquid and then pulled out from the resin liquid, so that the resin liquid is wrapped around the temperature measuring element and the contact portion, and then the resin liquid is cured (so-called flow dipping method). However, in this method, it is difficult to control the shape and thickness of the resin coating, so variations in the coating shape and the like may occur for each product. Such variations in the coating shape and the like may affect the temperature measurement performance of the temperature sensor.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a temperature sensor having excellent temperature measurement performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the temperature sensor according to the present invention is characterized by the following:

[0007] A temperature sensor comprising a temperature measuring element, a housing in which the temperature measuring element is embedded and housed, and a housing that houses the housing inside, which is attached to a predetermined mounting object, The aforementioned housing is A molded product having a predetermined molded shape, The aforementioned housing is It has an insertion portion which is inserted into a hole in the object to be attached, and an opening provided in the insertion portion which is opened to expose at least a part of the housing, It must be a temperature sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the temperature sensor of the present invention, the housing in which the temperature-measuring element is embedded is a molded product having a predetermined molded shape. In other words, the housing is not formed by the conventional fluid immersion method, but is formed using a mold designed to have a predetermined molded shape. As a result, variations in the shape of the housing are reduced compared to the conventional method. Therefore, the housing can be accurately formed to have a shape suitable for temperature measurement corresponding to, for example, a gas or liquid to be measured. Furthermore, by having an opening in the housing that exposes at least a part of the housing, the gas or liquid to be measured can be brought into direct contact with the housing through the opening. Thus, because the housing is a molded product and at least a part of the housing is exposed to the opening in the housing, the temperature-measuring performance, such as the responsiveness of the temperature sensor, can be improved. Therefore, the temperature sensor of the present invention has excellent temperature-measuring performance.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Further details of the present invention will be clarified by referring to the accompanying drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a temperature sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention and a mounting object having a mounting hole. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the thermistor housed inside the temperature sensor shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the temperature sensor shown in Figure 1, viewed from a different angle. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a front view of the temperature sensor shown in Figure 1, installed in the mounting hole of the target object. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a rear view of the temperature sensor shown in Figure 1, installed in the mounting hole of the target object. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 4. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of BB in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the temperature sensor 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The temperature sensor 1 shown in Figure 1 is used, for example, by being inserted into and fixed in a mounting hole 3 of a mounting object 2. The mounting object 2 is, for example, a wall that defines an intake passage through which air passes for cooling a high-voltage battery mounted on a vehicle, and in this case, the temperature sensor 1 attached to the mounting object 2 performs the function of measuring the temperature of the air flowing through the intake passage. The temperature sensor 1 consists of a thermistor 10 (see Figures 2 and 7) and a housing 20 (see Figure 1, etc.) that houses the thermistor 10 inside.

[0012] For the sake of clarity, as shown in Figure 1, we define "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," and "down." The "front-rear direction," "left-right direction," and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction do not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the vehicle on which the temperature sensor 1 is mounted. The components that make up the temperature sensor 1 will be described in order below.

[0013] First, let's describe the thermistor 10. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the thermistor 10 is integrated into the resin housing 20 by insert molding so that it is housed (embedded) inside the housing 20. As shown in Figures 2, 6, and 7, the thermistor 10 consists of a thermistor element 11, a pair of rod-shaped metal terminals 12 extending from the thermistor element 11, and a resin housing 13 that houses the entire thermistor element 11 so that it is embedded inside.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, each of the pair of terminals 12 is composed of a first portion 14 extending linearly upward from the thermistor element 11 and a second portion 15 extending linearly backward from the upper end of the first portion 14, and has an L-shape when viewed from the left-right direction. The pair of terminals 12 are arranged side by side with a gap between them in the left-right direction.

[0015] The resin housing 13 is a molded product having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. In other words, the housing 13 is molded using a mold to have a pre-designed shape. This suppresses variations in the shape of the housing 13. The housing 13 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape with an outer surface composed of six faces. Generally, with a housing of this shape, if a work jig or the like comes into contact with the boundary between adjacent faces, stress concentration occurs in that area, which can cause deformation of the housing. However, in the temperature sensor 1, since the housing 13 is housed inside the housing 20, deformation of the housing 13 can be properly suppressed even if the housing 13 has such a molded shape.

[0016] Next, the housing 20 will be described. The housing 20 is a resin molded product and integrally includes a main body portion 30 and a connector portion 40 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 and the like. As can be understood from FIG. 7 and the like, the thermistor 10 is embedded inside the housing 20 such that a part of the housing body 13 is exposed at the main body portion 30 and the second portion 15 of the pair of terminals 12 is exposed at the connector portion 40.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the main body portion 30 includes an insertion portion 31 having a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and a flange portion 32 extending radially outward from the upper end portion of the insertion portion 31 over the entire circumferential direction of the insertion portion 31. The insertion portion 31 is a portion to be inserted into the mounting hole 3 of the mounting target 2. For this reason, the side surface of the insertion portion 31 has an outer peripheral shape corresponding to the mounting hole 3 (see FIGS. 1 and the like) of the mounting target 2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, a first opening 33 is formed at the front end portion of the side surface of the insertion portion 31. The first opening 33 is a concave portion that recesses backward from a rectangular first opening 33a located at the front end portion of the side surface of the insertion portion 31 toward the housing body 13 of the thermistor 10 embedded inside the main body portion 30 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Due to the formation of the first opening 33, a part of the front surface 13a (see FIGS. 2 and the like) of the housing body 13 of the thermistor 10 is exposed to the outside through the first opening 33a (see FIG. 4). The rectangular first opening 33a has a size such that a working jig or a user's finger cannot enter.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, a second opening 34 is formed at the rear end portion of the side surface of the insertion portion 31. The second opening 34 is a concave portion that recesses forward from a rectangular second opening 34a located at the rear end portion of the side surface of the insertion portion 31 toward the housing body 13 of the thermistor 10 embedded inside the main body portion 30 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Due to the formation of the second opening 34, a part of the rear surface 13b (see FIGS. 2 and the like) of the housing body 13 of the thermistor 10 is exposed to the outside through the second opening 34a (see FIG. 5).

[0020] The second opening 34 is provided with a partition wall 35 that extends in the front-to-back direction both inside and outside the second opening 34, dividing the internal space extending in the front-to-back direction of the second opening 34 into two smaller areas (see Figures 3 and 6). The partition wall 35 extends continuously in the front-to-back direction from the position of the rear surface 13b of the housing 13 for the thermistor 10 embedded inside the main body 30 to a position behind the rear end of the side surface of the insertion portion 31. The portion of the partition wall 35 that protrudes further rearward from the rear end of the side surface of the insertion portion 31 functions as an engaging portion 35a that engages with an engaging recess 3a (see Figure 1) provided on the rear edge of the mounting hole 3 of the mounting target 2. Each of the left and right openings partitioned by the partition wall 35 of the rectangular second opening 34a is large enough to prevent the entry of work tools or the user's fingers.

[0021] A pair of locking pieces 36 are provided at both the left and right ends of the side surface of the insertion portion 31. Each locking piece 36 is an elastic piece that extends upward in a cantilevered manner from the lower part of the side surface of the insertion portion 31 and is elastically deformable in the radial direction of the insertion portion 31. The pair of locking pieces 36 engage with the edges of the mounting holes 3 of the mounting target 2 (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0022] Specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the connector portion 40 has a roughly rectangular, box-shaped hood that extends from the top of the main body portion 30 and protrudes to the rear, with an open rear end. As shown in Figure 7, the second portion 15 of the pair of terminals 12 of the thermistor 10 protrudes to the rear from the back wall (front end wall) of the connector portion 40. The second portion 15 of the pair of terminals 12 located inside the connector portion 40 is exposed to the outside through the rear end opening of the connector portion 40 (see Figure 7). A mating connector (not shown) provided at the end of a wire extending from a temperature detection device (not shown) will be connected to the connector portion 40. When the mating connector is connected to the connector portion 40, the electrical signal output from the thermistor element 11 (a signal indicating the temperature around the thermistor element 11) is input to the temperature detection device, and the temperature around the thermistor element 11 can be detected. The components constituting the temperature sensor 1 have been described above.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the temperature sensor 1 having the above configuration is used with the insertion portion 31 of the main body 30 inserted into the mounting hole 3 of the mounting target 2 from above, such that the engaging portion 35a of the partition wall 35 is accommodated in the engaging recess 3a of the mounting hole 3. When the temperature sensor 1 (insertion portion 31) is fully inserted into the mounting hole 3, the pair of left and right locking pieces 36 and flange portion 32 of the main body 30 engage with the edge of the mounting hole 3 so as to clamp the edge of the mounting hole 3 (see Figures 4 and 5, etc.). This prevents the temperature sensor 1 from coming loose (separating) from the mounting target 2. The engaging portion 35a of the partition wall 35 is accommodated in the engaging recess 3a of the mounting hole 3. This suppresses displacement that would cause the temperature sensor 1 to rotate within the mounting hole 3, so that the orientation of the temperature sensor 1 relative to the mounting target 2 can be maintained in the desired orientation.

[0024] <Effects and Actions> As described above, according to the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment, the housing 13 in which the temperature measuring element (thermistor element 11) is embedded and housed is a molded product having a predetermined molded shape (a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape). In other words, the housing 13 is not molded by the conventional fluid immersion method, but is molded using a mold designed to have a predetermined molded shape. As a result, variations in the shape of the housing 13 are suppressed compared to the conventional method. Furthermore, by providing openings (first opening 33 and second opening 34) in the housing 20 that expose at least a part of the housing 13 (front surface 13a and rear surface 13b), the liquid to be measured can be brought into direct contact with the housing 13 through the openings (first opening 33 and second opening 34). As a result, the temperature measuring performance, such as the responsiveness of the temperature sensor 1, can be improved. Therefore, the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment has excellent temperature measuring performance.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment, a partition wall 35 is provided to partition the opening 34 of the housing 20. By partitioning the opening area of ​​the second opening 34 into multiple small areas, it is possible to prevent work jigs, the worker's fingers, and surrounding materials from accidentally entering the second opening 34. Furthermore, this partition wall 35 has an engaging portion 35a that engages with the edge of the hole (mounting hole 3) of the mounting target 2. This prevents the temperature sensor 1 from being displaced in a way that causes it to rotate within the hole 3, and the fact that the partition wall 35 also serves as the engaging portion 35a prevents the housing 20 from becoming larger. Moreover, by suppressing the rotation of the temperature sensor 1, damage to the wires caused by the rotation of the temperature sensor 1 is less likely to occur, and the workability of the work when the worker attaches and detaches the temperature sensor 1 is also improved.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the temperature sensor 1 of this embodiment, the housing 13 has a molded shape having an outer surface composed of multiple surfaces (six surfaces). Such a molded shape is a common shape for molded products. In this case, for example, if a work jig or the like comes into contact with the boundary between adjacent surfaces, deformation of the housing 13 may occur. However, since the housing 13 is housed inside the housing 20, deformation of the housing 13 can be properly suppressed even if the housing 13 has such a molded shape.

[0027] <Other embodiments> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0028] Here, the features of the embodiments of the temperature sensor 1 according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0029] [1] A temperature sensor (1) comprising a temperature measuring element (11), a housing (13) in which the temperature measuring element (11) is embedded and housed, and a housing (20) that houses the housing (13) inside, which is attached to a predetermined mounting target (2), The aforementioned containment (13) is A molded product having a predetermined molded shape, The housing (20) is The mounting object (2) has an insertion portion (31) which is inserted into a hole (3), and the insertion portion (31) has openings (33, 34) which are made to expose at least a part of the housing (13), Temperature sensor (1).

[0030] In the temperature sensor configuration described in [1] above, the housing into which the temperature-measuring element is embedded is a molded product having a predetermined molded shape. In other words, the housing is not formed by the conventional fluid immersion method, but is formed using a mold designed to have a predetermined molded shape. This reduces variations in the shape of the housing compared to conventional methods. Therefore, the housing can be accurately formed to have a shape suitable for measuring the temperature of, for example, a gas or liquid to be measured. Furthermore, by having an opening in the housing that exposes at least a part of the housing, the gas or liquid to be measured can be brought into direct contact with the housing through the opening. Thus, because the housing is a molded product and at least a part of the housing is exposed to the opening in the housing, the temperature-measuring performance, such as the responsiveness of the temperature sensor, can be improved. Therefore, the temperature sensor with this configuration has excellent temperature-measuring performance.

[0031] [2] In the temperature sensor (1) described in [1] above, The housing (20) is The opening (34) has a partition wall (35) that extends both inside and outside the opening (34) to divide the opening area into a plurality of smaller areas. The aforementioned partition wall (35) is The hole (3) has an engaging portion (35a) that engages with the edge of the hole, Temperature sensor (1).

[0032] In the temperature sensor configuration described in [2] above, a partition wall is provided to divide the opening of the housing. By dividing the opening area into multiple smaller areas, it is possible to prevent work jigs, the worker's fingers, and surrounding components from accidentally entering the opening. Furthermore, this partition wall has an engaging portion that engages with the edge of the hole to be mounted. This prevents the temperature sensor from being displaced in a way that causes it to rotate within the hole, and the fact that the partition wall also serves as the engaging portion prevents the housing from becoming too large. Moreover, by preventing the rotation of the temperature sensor, damage to the wires caused by the rotation of the temperature sensor is less likely to occur, and the workability of the worker when attaching and detaching the temperature sensor is also improved.

[0033] [3] The temperature sensor (1) described in [1] above, The molded shape of the housing (13) is It has a shape with an outer surface composed of multiple faces. Temperature sensor (1).

[0034] According to the temperature sensor configuration described in [3] above, the housing has a molded shape with an outer surface composed of multiple surfaces. In this case, for example, if a work jig or the like comes into contact with the boundary between adjacent surfaces, stress concentration may occur in this area, potentially causing deformation of the housing. However, since the housing is housed inside the housing, deformation of the housing can be properly suppressed even if the housing has such a molded shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Temperature sensor 2. Target installation 3. Mounting holes (holes) 11. Thermistor element (temperature measuring element) 13 containment units 20 Housing 31 Insertion part 33 First opening (opening) 34. Second opening (opening) 35 Partition Wall 35a Engagement part

Claims

1. A temperature sensor comprising a temperature measuring element, a housing in which the temperature measuring element is embedded and housed, and a housing that houses the housing inside, which is attached to a predetermined mounting object, The aforementioned housing is A molded product having a predetermined molded shape, The aforementioned housing is It has an insertion portion which is inserted into a hole in the object to be attached, and an opening provided in the insertion portion which is opened to expose at least a part of the housing, Temperature sensor.

2. In the temperature sensor according to claim 1, The aforementioned housing is The opening has partition walls that extend both inside and outside the opening so as to divide the opening area of ​​the opening into a plurality of smaller areas. The aforementioned partition wall is, Having an engaging portion that engages with the edge of the hole, Temperature sensor.

3. A temperature sensor according to claim 1, The molded shape of the housing is, It has a shape with an outer surface composed of multiple faces. Temperature sensor.

Images