Gas Sensor Metal Terminal Vibration Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas sensors with expanding diameter connectors at the rear end suffer from metal terminal sway and breakage due to vibrations during usage.
Innovation Solution
A gas sensor design that incorporates a vibration inhibiting member positioned close to or in contact with the radially inner sides of the metal terminals, within the storage portion of the separator, to prevent inward sway and breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the connector has an expanding diameter at the rear end side, then the metal terminals are prevented from interfering with the inner surface of the connector, but the intervals between the connector and the metal terminals become great causing the metal terminals to sway and break due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration inhibiting member is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal terminals and the connector. This member includes an axis of the separator and is positioned to be close to or in contact with the radially inner sides of the metal terminals, thereby preventing the metal terminals from swaying radially inward while maintaining the expanding diameter design that prevents interference with the connector inner surface.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the metal terminals are arranged with large intervals in the expanding diameter connector, then the metal terminals are prevented from interfering with the connector inner surface, but the metal terminals become susceptible to vibration-induced breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration inhibiting member serves as a mediator that provides structural support to the metal terminals without requiring them to be closely spaced. This allows the maintaining of large intervals between metal terminals and the connector inner surface while simultaneously preventing the terminals from swaying and breaking during vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration inhibiting member is divided into multiple portions, with each portion corresponding to a metal terminal. This segmentation allows each metal terminal to be independently supported and restrained from swaying, while the overall structure maintains the expanding diameter design that prevents interference with the connector inner surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas sensor 10 including: a plate-shaped sensor element 21 extending in an axial-line O direction and having a plurality of electrode pads 21a, 21b at a main surface 20m1, 20m2 on a rear end side thereof; a plurality of plate-shaped metal terminals 71 electrically connected to the respective electrode pads; and a separator 50 having a storage portion 50h which penetrates in the axial-line direction and in which the rear end side of the sensor element and the metal terminals are stored, thus retaining the metal terminals, wherein the electrode pads and the metal terminals are arranged separately from each other in a width direction of the sensor element, and a vibration inhibiting member 80 is provided so as to be close to or in contact with radially inner sides of the metal terminals while including an axis of the separator, as seen in the axial-line direction.