Sensor Mounting Structure for Accurate Ambient Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting structures for temperature sensors in condensing units often result in inaccurate temperature readings due to exposure to sunlight or heat from the condensing unit, and are labor-intensive to secure, leading to a need for a reliable and strain-free mounting solution that accurately measures ambient air temperature.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure featuring a flat sheet with an aperture and extending tabs that securely hold a sensor in place without additional fasteners, allowing the sensing portion to extend outside for accurate ambient air temperature measurement while shielding it from solar effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the thermistor is located outside of the control box, then the sensor can measure ambient air temperature, but the thermistor is exposed to sunlight and provides inaccurate temperature data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mounting structure with a flat sheet and aperture as an intermediary between the sensor and the environment. The aperture allows the sensing portion to extend outward for ambient air measurement while the flat sheet provides shade to block harmful sunlight exposure, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and sunlight exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the thermistor is located inside the condensing unit, then the thermistor is protected from sunlight, but the sensor is exposed to warm air and heat from the compressor, resulting in inaccurate temperature readings
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure with flat sheet and aperture serves as an intermediary that allows the sensor to be positioned inside the condensing unit for protection while enabling the sensing portion to extend through the aperture to measure ambient air temperature without being exposed to internal heat sources.
3Reliability
If wire ties are used to fasten the thermistor to the inside of the condensing unit, then the sensor is secured, but the process is labor intensive and may result in inaccurate temperature data
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is designed to be self-securing through the combination of the flat sheet with aperture and the sensor's base portion geometry. The sensor is secured by simply inserting it through the aperture and allowing the base portion to rest on the flat sheet, eliminating the need for additional wire ties or fasteners and reducing labor intensity.
4Reliability
If additional fasteners are used to secure the sensor, then the sensor is firmly mounted, but the mounting process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure achieves secure sensor mounting through its inherent design - the flat sheet with aperture and the sensor base portion geometry work together to provide automatic retention. The sensor is firmly mounted simply by inserting it through the aperture, with no additional fasteners needed, thereby maximizing mounting process efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting structure (34) for receiving a sensor (18) having a sensing portion (26) and a base portion (30) includes a substantially flat sheet of material (20) having a first surface (20a), a second surface (20b) opposite the first surface (20a), and an aperture (36). The aperture (36) is configured such that the sensing portion (26) of the sensor (18) is passable through the aperture (36), and the base portion (30) is not passable through the aperture (36), but instead rests on the first surface (20a). The mounting structure (34) also includes a pair of tabs (38) that extend in a downward direction away from the second surface (20b) of the sheet of material (20) and are configured to immobilize the sensor (18) within the aperture (36).