JP2002005757A - Temperature sensor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a temperature sensor device capable of reducing the cost and improving reliability by simplifying a structure. SOLUTION: A piping section 11 is molded with a resin material into a pipe shape in this temperature sensor device 10. An inside projection 11a protruded to the inside of a pipe is formed at the middle of the piping section 11, and an outside projection 11b protruded to the outside of the pipe is formed. A sensor element section 12 made of a heat-sensitive material is buried at the tip of the inside projection 11a, and a pair of terminal pins 13 are connected to the sensor element section 12. The outside projection 11b functions as a terminal section connected to another connector terminal (not shown in the figure), and the tips of the terminal pins 13 are protruded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature sensor device for measuring the temperature of a medium passing through a pipe, and more particularly to an improved technique for simplifying the structure and improving reliability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional temperature sensor device. In FIG. 2, the temperature sensor 31
Has a sensor element portion 31a at its tip, and a pipe 32
The temperature of the medium (air, water, etc.) passing through the inside is measured. In this case, the temperature sensor 31 is inserted into a screw hole 32a formed in the pipe 32, and the temperature sensor 31 is fixed by screwing via a packing 33 such as a metal gasket or an O-ring.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the number of steps and the number of components for assembling the temperature sensor 31 to the pipe 32 are increased, and the configuration has not sufficiently responded to the recent demand for lowering the price of sensor components. In addition, the airtightness (sealability) of the sensor mounting part
It is indispensable to consider the above, and if the airtightness of the sensor mounting portion is impaired due to the deterioration of the packing 33 or the like, there is a possibility that the reliability as the temperature sensor may be reduced.

On the other hand, as another prior art, US Pat.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 829,880 discloses a method of using a T-shaped pipe having a branch portion and a terminal component having a sensor element assembled therein, and inserting and assembling the terminal component into an end (opening) of the branch portion of the T-shaped pipe. Was composed. However, with this configuration, there is a component interface at the connection between the T-shaped pipe and the terminal component, and it is not possible to sufficiently secure airtightness.
Therefore, it is unsuitable when the demand for airtightness is relatively high. For example, there is a restriction that the measurement medium is limited to only air.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to realize a cost reduction by simplifying the configuration and further improve the reliability. It is to provide a temperature sensor device that can be achieved.

[0006]

In the temperature sensor device according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sensor element is buried in the pipe and these two members are integrated, the sensor and the pipe are provided separately. Unlike the conventional device of the configuration that was assembled later,
There is no problem that the airtightness is impaired at the component interface. There is no restriction that the measurement medium is limited to only air. Further, additional parts such as gaskets and O-rings for ensuring airtightness are not required, and the number of parts can be reduced. As a result, in the present sensor device, the cost can be reduced by simplifying the configuration, and the reliability can be further improved.

In the temperature sensor device according to the second aspect, the sensor element is embedded in the inner protrusion,
Temperature measurement by the sensor element portion can be suitably performed.
Further, in the temperature sensor device according to the third aspect, by forming the terminal portion on the outer protrusion, connection with an external device or the like is facilitated, and the sensor signal can be easily extracted.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The temperature sensor device according to the present embodiment is mounted on an automobile, is provided in a cooling water pipe that circulates engine cooling water, and measures the temperature of the engine cooling water by the sensor device.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an outline of the present sensor device. In the temperature sensor device 10, the piping unit 11
For example, it is formed in a pipe shape from a resin material such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), and one end thereof is connected to a cooling water pipe 21 communicating with the engine, and the other end is connected to a rubber hose 22 communicating with a radiator. You.

[0010] In the middle of the pipe portion 11, an inner protruding portion 11a protruding inside the pipe and an outer protruding portion 11b protruding outside the pipe are formed. Each of the projections 11a and 11b is provided coaxially and has a substantially columnar shape. A sensor element portion 12 made of a heat sensing material is embedded at the tip of the inner protrusion 11a, and a pair of terminal pins 13 are connected to the sensor element portion 12. The outer protrusion 11b functions as a terminal connected to another connector terminal (not shown), and the outer protrusion 11b is provided with the tip of the terminal pin 13 protruding.

In such a case, it is preferable that the inner projection 11a be provided with an outer diameter dimension which does not impair the sensitivity of the sensor element section 12 and does not obstruct the flow of the engine cooling water. There is no particular limitation on the outer protrusion 11b, but it is preferable that the outer protrusion 11b be provided with an outer diameter dimension according to the balance with other connector terminals. Incidentally, when the specific dimensions of the temperature sensor device 10 are exemplified, the outer diameter of the inner protrusion 11a is 5 mm, the outer diameter of the outer protrusion 11b is 19 mm, and the diameter of the pipe 11 is 30 mm.
mm. The thickness of the inner protruding portion 11a (resin portion) around the sensor element portion 12 is about 1 mm.

To manufacture the temperature sensor device 10,
First, a pair of terminal pins 1
3 is connected by soldering or the like. Then, the assembled parts are set in a molding die, and a resin material is poured into the molding die to form the pipe portion 11. Thereby, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in which the pipe section 11 and the sensor element section 12 are integrated can be manufactured without the need for assembling the separate pipe section and the sensor element section.

In the temperature sensor device 10 having the above-described structure, when the engine cooling water (measurement medium) flows in the pipe portion 11, the temperature is transmitted to the sensor element portion 12 via the resin portion of the inner protrusion 11a, and the temperature of the sensor element portion 12 is increased. The engine cooling water temperature is measured by the unit 12.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. Sensor element 12 in piping 11
The temperature sensor and the pipe are separately provided, so that there is no problem that the airtightness is impaired at the interface of the parts unlike the conventional apparatus in which the temperature sensor and the pipe are separately provided and they are assembled later. . At this time, since the engine cooling water does not leak from the sensor device, there is no restriction that the measurement medium is limited. Further, additional parts such as a gasket and an O-ring for ensuring airtightness are not required, so that the number of parts can be reduced, and there is no inconvenience that reliability is lowered due to deterioration of the gasket and the O-ring. As a result, in the sensor device 10, the cost can be reduced by simplifying the configuration, and the reliability can be further improved.

The sensor element 1 is provided on the inner projection 11a.
By burying 2, the temperature measurement by the sensor element unit 12 can be suitably performed. Further, the outer protrusion 11b
By forming a terminal portion in the device, connection with an external device or the like is facilitated, and sensor signals can be easily extracted.

The temperature sensor device of the present invention can be embodied as a refrigerant temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of a refrigerant for an air conditioner, in addition to the use as the engine cooling water temperature sensor described above. The measurement medium can be widely applied to liquid and gaseous media.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a temperature sensor device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: temperature sensor device, 11: pipe portion, 11a: inner protrusion, 11b: outer protrusion, 12: sensor element portion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A piping section made of resin for allowing a measurement medium to pass therethrough, and a sensor element section for measuring the temperature of a medium flowing in the piping section is embedded in the piping section to integrate these two members. A temperature sensor device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The temperature sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an inner protruding portion for burying the sensor element portion is provided on an inner peripheral side of the pipe portion. 3. The temperature sensor device according to claim 1, wherein an outer projection for forming a terminal for extracting a sensor signal is provided on an outer peripheral side of the pipe.