Housing element for fastening at least one temperature sensor to a measuring object

Abstract

To provide a housing element which enables stable physical contact between a temperature sensor and a measuring object.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a housing element for securing at least one temperature sensor 5 on a measuring object, in particular a part of an electric drive device. The housing element is provided with at least one sensor cavity 23 for housing the temperature sensor 5 and at least one insertion channel 9 for at least partially receiving a measuring object. The housing element comprises a filling 19 configured to allow the at least one sensor cavity 23 and the at least one insertion channel 9 to be formed therein, and a sheath 17 at least partially surrounding the filling 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a housing element for fastening at least one temperature sensor to a measuring object, in particular to part of an electric drive.

[0002] The invention further relates to an apparatus with a housing element, an apparatus for manufacturing a housing element, and a method for manufacturing a housing element according to the invention. [Background technology]

[0003] In the operation of a temperature sensor, it is desirable to maintain close physical contact between the sensor and the object being measured. This contact should not be compromised by vibrations or other disturbances. If the positioning of the temperature sensor and / or the heat transfer between the temperature sensor and the object being measured is compromised, the object being measured may overheat unnoticed. In the worst case, failure of the object, e.g. the electric drive mentioned above, may occur. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention contemplates providing a housing element that allows for stable physical contact between the temperature sensor and the object being measured. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object can be achieved with respect to the above-mentioned housing element in that the housing element comprises at least one sensor cavity for accommodating a temperature sensor and at least one insertion channel for at least partially receiving a measuring object, a filling material in which the at least one sensor cavity and the at least one insertion channel are formed, and a sheath at least partially surrounding the filling material. Preferably, the housing element consists of the filling material and the sheath.

[0006] The housing element according to the invention is advantageous since it can accommodate both the temperature sensor and the measurement object in their corresponding cavities or channels. The filling material then transfers heat from the measurement object to the temperature sensor. The sheath can facilitate the manufacturing process of the housing element according to the invention, in particular in that it confines the filling material when it is in a viscous state during manufacture. The sheath can also pressurize the filling material so that it takes on the required shape. Another benefit of the housing element according to the invention is that it can be manufactured with an insertion channel for the measurement object, which has an internal diameter that is essentially the same as the external diameter of the measurement object. In other words, the insertion channel can be shaped complementarily to the measurement object, such that the measurement object can be easily inserted into the insertion channel. This allows the housing element to be fixed in a simple manner to the measurement object with the temperature sensor accommodated in its corresponding sensor cavity.

[0007] The housing element may serve as a fixing element for the temperature sensor. Preferably, the housing element is configured to accommodate exactly one temperature sensor and comprises exactly one insertion channel for receiving the measurement object. The part of the measurement object that can be inserted into the insertion channel may be a temperature lance or another element that can transfer heat from a heat source of the measurement object to the housing element. By way of example, the measurement object may comprise a temperature lance that can be inserted into the insertion channel. The insertion channel is preferably formed as a shaft, tunnel or blind hole with a constant inner diameter and closed at one end. Alternatively, the insertion channel may have a non-constant inner diameter and / or be formed as a through hole.

[0008] The system comprising the filler and the sheath can also be considered as a multiplicity of layers, with the filler forming an inner layer that may be in contact with the temperature housing and the object to be measured, and the sheath forming an outer layer on the inner layer. The invention does not exclude the presence of additional layers, which are placed between the filler and the sheath, on the outer surface of the sheath and / or surrounding the cavity for the sensor and / or the insertion channel.

[0009] The filler material may be selected and / or designed to have a particular thermal conductivity depending on the particular application.

[0010] In the following further improvements of the invention are described, which can be combined independently of one another, depending on whether the particular advantages of a particular improvement are required in a particular application.

[0011] According to a first advantageous refinement, the filling material can form a material bridge between the at least one sensor cavity and the at least one insertion channel, which allows direct transfer of heat from the measuring object to the temperature sensor when both are inserted into the housing element.

[0012] To ensure containment of the filler material and to improve the stability of the housing element, the sheath preferably extends continuously along the circumference of the housing element, which may have an overall cylindrical shape, although this is not required.

[0013] The filling material is preferably made of a fluoropolymer material, in particular perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA). The fluoropolymer material is advantageous not only because of its resistance to harsh environments, but also because of its non-stick properties. The use of a non-stick material facilitates the removal of placeholders that may be placed in the insertion channel during manufacture, and also the subsequent insertion of the measurement object. Finally, the use of a fluoropolymer material is advantageous due to its dielectric properties, especially when the housing element is used in high voltage applications.

[0014] To facilitate manufacturing of the housing element, the sheath may be made of a heat-shrinkable material, which can simplify the manufacturing process, since the heat-shrinkable sheath can compress the filler material to mold it around the inserted temperature sensor and also around the object to be measured or a surrogate for the object to be measured.

[0015] The sheath is preferably made from a fluoropolymer material, more preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), for the same reasons that the filler is preferably made from a fluoropolymer material.

[0016] According to another refinement of the housing element, the at least one sensor cavity and / or the at least one insertion channel can have a generally longitudinal, in particular cylindrical, shape. A longitudinal shape of the sensor cavity can be useful when the temperature sensor itself has a generally longitudinal shape. With regard to the insertion channel, a longitudinal shape is advantageous for facilitating the insertion of a part of the measuring object, in particular a temperature lance, and for removing a substitute for the measuring object during production.

[0017] The at least one sensor cavity and the at least one insertion channel are preferably open to both sides of the housing element, which allows for improved routing of the cable for the temperature sensor, since the cable can be guided away from the measurement object without colliding with said object.

[0018] According to another refinement of the housing element, the filling material has embedded therein at least one additional element, which can be used, for example, for further fastening the housing element.

[0019] The device according to the invention may comprise at least one temperature sensor housed in at least one sensor cavity. Preferably, the temperature sensor is embedded and / or cast into the filling material in order to properly fix the sensor and to improve heat transfer between the filling material and the sensor. The at least one sensor cavity is thus preferably formed complementary to the at least one temperature sensor.

[0020] The device according to the invention may further comprise at least one substitute for simulating the measurement object during production, in which case the at least one insertion channel is formed at least partially complementary to the substitute. The substitute may be a part of the measurement object that is inserted either during production or after production. However, preferably, a dummy object is used during production, which is simply given an external shape similar to the real measurement object. The substitute preferably has a longitudinal shape that allows the insertion channel of the measurement object to be formed.

[0021] The device according to the invention may comprise at least one heating device for heating at least the filler material of the housing element and at least one substitute for forming at least one insertion channel. Heating at least the filler material of the housing element may result in melting of the filler material. Preferably, the sheath is made of a heat-shrinkable material. Heating the housing element then melts the filler material and shrinks the sheath, thereby forming a tight fit around the temperature sensor and around the substitute for the object to be measured. The heating device may comprise a heat gun or any other suitable heater.

[0022] According to the method of the invention, the housing element is molded around at least one temperature sensor and around at least one substitute for the object to be measured. Preferably, the filling material includes cavities or channels for inserting the temperature sensor and the substitute before molding. These cavities or channels may have an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the temperature sensor and the substitute to facilitate the insertion of these elements before molding.

[0023] The at least one substitute is preferably removed after molding. If a real measurement object is used as a substitute, the measurement object may remain in the housing element.

[0024] Preferably, at least one substitute is reused to manufacture at least one further housing element.

[0025] In the following, the invention and its improvements will be described in more detail using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. As mentioned above, the various features shown in these embodiments can be used independently of one another in specific applications.

[0026] In the following figures, elements having the same function and / or the same structure are referred to by the same reference numerals.

[0027] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, comprising a housing element according to the invention and a temperature sensor; [Diagram 2] 1 is a simple sketch showing the apparatus before molding. [Diagram 3] 1 is a simple sketch showing the device after molding. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Figure 1 shows a device 1 with a housing element 3 and a temperature sensor 5. In Figure 1 the temperature sensor 5 is also shown below the device 1 and without the housing element 3.

[0030] The temperature sensor 5 may be any suitable temperature sensor, for example an NTC sensor (negative temperature coefficient) or another resistive element, for example a platinum sensor (eg Pt100 or Pt1000), or a thermocouple utilizing the thermoelectric effect.

[0031] The housing element 3 has a generally longitudinal shape and extends along a longitudinal direction L. The temperature sensor 5 is embedded in the housing element, in particular in a sensor cavity (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0032] The electrical conductor 7 extends essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction away from the housing element 3 to establish an electrical contact with the temperature sensor 5 .

[0033] The housing element 3 comprises an insertion channel 9 for at least partially receiving a measuring object 11. The measuring object 11 is only shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the measuring object 11 is part of an electric drive. However, the housing element according to the invention can also be used for other purposes. The measuring object 11 can in particular be a temperature lance, which is arranged to transfer heat from a heat source in the object to a temperature sensor 5 inside the housing element 3.

[0034] The insertion channel 9 preferably has a generally longitudinal, in particular cylindrical, shape. The insertion channel 9 opens up to the object end 13 of the housing element 3, while the temperature sensor 5 is accessible from its sensor end 15 via its electrical conductors 7. The object end 13 and the sensor end 15 are arranged opposite each other along the longitudinal direction L.

[0035] The housing element 3 consists of a filler material (not shown yet) and a sheath 17 which at least partially surrounds the filler material. At least the sensor cavity and the insertion channel 9 are accessible through the sheath 17.

[0036] The sheath 17 preferably surrounds the filler material along a circumferential direction C that extends around the longitudinal direction L. More preferably, the sheath 17 extends continuously along the circumferential direction C. The sheath 17 may have an overall tubular shape.

[0037] The device 1 can be manufactured according to customer requirements, in particular with regard to the insertion channel 9. Preferably, the insertion channel 9 is shaped complementarily to the measuring object 11 for which the housing element 3 is intended to be used. At the customer's premises, the device 1 can be reliably connected to the measuring object 11 by simply plugging the object 11 into the insertion channel 9.

[0038] Further details of the housing element 3 and its manufacture are described below with respect to Figures 2 and 3, where Figure 2 shows the material for the housing element 3 before shaping and Figure 3 after shaping. Figure 2 shows a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0039] The housing element 3 is composed of a filler material 19 and a sheath 17. Preferably, the sheath 17 is in direct contact with the filler material 19, in particular after molding of the housing element 3. Before molding, there may be two cavities 21 in the filler material 19, which will later be molded to form the insertion channel 9 and a sensor cavity 23 for accommodating the temperature sensor 5.

[0040] In the molded state, the filling material 19 preferably forms a material bridge 25 between the insertion channel 9 and the sensor cavity 23. The material bridge 25 is intended to transfer heat from the measuring object 11 to the temperature sensor 5, when the temperature sensor 5 and the measuring object 11 are arranged in a tight fit in their corresponding cavities in the housing element 3.

[0041] The filler 19 is preferably made of a fluoropolymer material, such as perfluoroalkoxyalkane (PFA), which, due to its non-stick properties, can aid in removing the substitute 27 after molding of the housing element 3. The substitute 27 is shown in dotted lines in FIG.

[0042] The sheath 17 is also preferably made from a fluoropolymer material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The sheath 17 may be made from a heat shrinkable material. Most preferably, the sheath is made from a heat shrinkable fluoropolymer material.

[0043] To manufacture the device 1, a temperature sensor 5 can be placed inside one of the cavities 21 and a substitute 27 can be placed in the other cavity 21.

[0044] The substitute 27 is preferably given the same diameter as the measurement object 11 for which the housing element 3 is intended to be used. The filling material 19 and the material of the sheath 17 can then be heated using a heating device 29, which is only indicated by the hot wire 29 in Fig. 2. The heating device 29 and the substitute 27 together can form a setup 33 according to the invention.

[0045] The heating device 29 is capable of heating the material of the housing element 3, so that the filling material 19 increases its viscosity, or in other words melts.

[0046] At the same time, if the sheath 17 is made from a heat shrinkable material, the sheath 17 will shrink and exert pressure on the material of the filler 19 towards the temperature sensor 5 and the substitute 27 .

[0047] Thereby, the sensor cavity 23 is shaped complementarily to the temperature sensor 5 and the insertion channel 9 is formed complementarily to the substitute 27 .

[0048] The substitute 27 can be removed from the housing element 3 after molding of the insertion channel 9 by simply pulling it out of the insertion channel 9 .

[0049] The substitute 27 can then be used to mold the insertion channel 9 of another housing element 3 at a later stage.

[0050] The housing element 3 with the temperature sensor 5 present in the sensor cavity 23 can be placed on the measuring object 11 by inserting a part of the measuring object 11 into the insertion channel 9. The insertion channel 9 is formed complementary to the measuring object 11 so that the measuring object 11 fits tightly into the insertion channel 9 in direct contact with the filling material 19 and thus with the material bridge 25.

[0051] At the same time, due to the complementary shapes of the insertion channel 9 and the measuring object 11 , the housing element 3 is securely fixed to the measuring object 11 .

[0052] If this fixation is not sufficient, additional elements 31, such as fixation elements, may be embedded in the filler material 19. The additional elements 31 may be placed in the filler material 19 before molding and then remain in the filler material 19 after production.

[0053] By way of example only, the additional element 31 may be a latching device which projects outwardly from the housing element and which can lock it with a complementary shaped element of the measurement object 11 .

[0054] Furthermore, the additional element 31 may be formed by a screw, a latch, a screw nut or other suitable element. It should also be mentioned that the housing element 3 may be provided with two or more temperature sensors 5 and / or two or more measuring objects 11 as well as corresponding cavities 23 or insertion channels 9.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) comprising a housing element (3), The housing element (3) is a housing element (3) for fixing at least one temperature sensor (5), The housing element (3) comprises: - at least one sensor cavity (23) for accommodating said temperature sensor (5); at least one insertion channel (9) for at least partially receiving a measurement object (11), a filling material (19) in which said at least one sensor cavity (23) and said at least one insertion channel (9) are formed; - a sheath (17) at least partially surrounding the outer surface of said filling material (19), The filler (19) is integrally and monolithically formed; The at least one insertion channel (9) is formed at least partially complementary to the measurement object (11), The device (1) comprises: at least one temperature sensor (5) housed in said at least one sensor cavity (23); Device (1).

2. the filler (19) forms a material bridge (25) between the at least one sensor cavity (23) and the at least one insertion channel (9); 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

3. The sheath (17) extends continuously along the circumferential direction (C) of the housing element (3).

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

4. The filler (19) is made of a fluoropolymer material.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

5. The sheath (17) is made from a heat shrinkable material.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

6. The sheath (17) is made of a fluoropolymer material.

2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

7. the at least one sensor cavity (23) and / or the at least one insertion channel (9) have a generally longitudinal shape; 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

8. said at least one sensor cavity (23) and said at least one insertion channel (9) are open to both sides (13, 15) of said housing element (3); 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

9. At least one additional element (31) is embedded in said filler material (19); 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1.

10. The measurement object (11) is an electrically driven device. An apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The filler (19) is made of a fluoropolymer material, and said sheath (17) being made of a different fluoropolymer material than said filler material (19); An apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. An apparatus (33) for manufacturing a housing element (3), comprising: The housing element (3) is a housing element (3) for fixing at least one temperature sensor (5), The housing element (3) comprises: - at least one sensor cavity (23) for accommodating said temperature sensor (5); at least one insertion channel (9) for at least partially receiving a measurement object (11), - a filling material (19) in which the at least one sensor cavity (23) and the at least one insertion channel (9) are formed, The device (33) for manufacturing the housing element (3) comprises: at least one heating device (29) for heating at least said filling material (19) of said housing element (3) and at least one substitute (27) for forming said at least one insertion channel (9), The at least one substitute (27) is a substitute (27) for the object to be measured (11); Apparatus (33).

13. A method for manufacturing a housing element (3), comprising the steps of: The housing element (3) is a housing element (3) for fixing at least one temperature sensor (5), The housing element (3) comprises: - at least one sensor cavity (23) for accommodating said temperature sensor (5); at least one insertion channel (9) for at least partially receiving a measurement object (11), - a filling material (19) in which the at least one sensor cavity (23) and the at least one insertion channel (9) are formed, said housing element (3) being molded around at least one temperature sensor (5) and around at least one representative (27) of the object to be measured (11); method.

14. said at least one substitute (27) being removed after molding; The method of claim 13.

15. said at least one substitute (27) being reused for manufacturing at least one further housing element (3); The method of claim 13.

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