Temperature Sensor Fixing Pipe Elastic Contraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Crimping techniques for connecting electrical wires in temperature sensors can cause mechanical damage and are costly due to high man-hours required.

Innovation Solution

A temperature sensor design featuring a heat-sensitive body, electrical wires, and a fixing pipe made of a material with elastic properties that can expand and contract, allowing for secure attachment without special devices and minimizing damage to insulating coverings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If crimping is used to connect electrical wires, then reliable connection is achieved, but mechanical damage to wires and insulating covering occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical damage to wires
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the crimping mechanical connection system with a bonding system using conductive adhesive. Instead of using a crimping tool that applies mechanical force to deform connectors, the invention uses an adhesive layer that chemically bonds the first electrical wire to the second electrical wire, eliminating mechanical damage to the insulating covering while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the connection method from mechanical (crimping) to chemical (adhesive bonding). The conductive adhesive provides both electrical conductivity and mechanical bonding strength, altering the fundamental parameters of how the electrical wires are connected without causing damage to the insulating covering

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If crimping is used to connect electrical wires, then secure fixation is achieved, but production cost increases due to high man-hours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire fixationVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual crimping process with an automated adhesive application process. The conductive adhesive can be applied using automated dispensing systems, eliminating the need for skilled operators to perform manual crimping operations, thereby reducing labor costs and increasing production efficiency while maintaining secure wire fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The conductive adhesive performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical conductivity, mechanical bonding, and insulation protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate crimping tools and operations, allowing the connection process to be simpler and more automated, thereby improving productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces mechanical damage to electrical wires and lowers production costs by enabling quick, efficient attachment of the fixing pipe without specialized tools, ensuring reliable wire fixation and reduced man-hours.

Implementation Method 1

a fixing pipe covering a periphery of the pair of electrical wires and the holding body and being a member made of a material having elastic property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic property: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a fixing pipe covering a periphery of the pair of electrical wires and the holding body and being a member having a property of contracting when being heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP4030156B1Temperature sensor
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 SHIBAURA ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4030156B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4030156B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4030156B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object is to provide a temperature sensor including a connection part that makes it possible to restrain a mechanical damage to an electrical wire, particularly, to an insulating covering, with little man-hours. The object is achieved by a temperature sensor 1 including: a sensor element 10 including a heat-sensitive body 11, a pair of electrical wires 17 electrically connected with the heat-sensitive body 11, and a protective body 19 covering the heat-sensitive body 11 and a part of the pair of electrical wires 17, 17; a holding body 30 for the sensor element 10; and a fixing pipe 50 covering a periphery of the pair of electrical wires 17, 17 and the holding body 30 and being capable of expanding and contracting.