JP2005345015A - Sensor mounting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor mounting apparatus capable of stably fixing a temperature sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The sensor mounting apparatus 10 fixes the temperature sensor 1 while the tip side of the temperature sensor 1 is inserted between fins 21 of an evaporator 20. The sensor mounting apparatus 10 comprises an extending section 11 that is disposed insertably between the fins 21 and extends substantially in parallel with a case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, a protrusion 12 that projects and contacts with the fins 21 while the extending section 11 is inserted between the fins 21, and a fixing section 13 for fixing the extending section 11 to the temperature sensor 1 in a non-insertion section between the fins 21 of the temperature sensor 1. The protrusion 12 is disposed so that the contact part with the extending section 11 is positioned on the insertion tip side of the extending section 11 more than the projection vertex in the longitudinal direction of the extending section 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor mounting device for fixing a temperature sensor in a state where the tip side of a temperature sensor is inserted between fins of a heat exchanger.

  For example, a cooling device in an air conditioner such as an automobile is composed of an evaporator, a compressor, etc., and the evaporator as a heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant pumped by the compressor and the air in the vehicle interior, etc. It has a function of cooling air.

  A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of air after passing through the evaporator or the temperature of the evaporator fin is installed on the leeward side of the evaporator, so that the fin of the evaporator is not frozen based on the detected temperature of the sensor. Compressor ON / OFF control is performed to control the amount of refrigerant pumped.

  Thus, the temperature sensor plays an important role for preventing the evaporator from freezing. In order to detect the temperature with high accuracy, it is necessary to stably fix the temperature sensor to the evaporator. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a temperature sensor mounting device that fixes a temperature sensor to an evaporator.

The temperature sensor mounting device (sensor mounting device) shown in Patent Document 1 has a sensor case in which the tip side can be inserted into the fin of the evaporator and the sensor part of the temperature sensor can be inserted, and the tip side is protruded. It is comprised by the resin-made case holding member holding a sensor case. The case holding member protrudes in parallel and in the same direction with respect to the sensor case, and has a support bar portion (extension portion) into which the tip end can be inserted into the fin. A plurality of uneven portions (projections) are formed. Therefore, by inserting the extending portion into the fin together with the sensor case, the frictional force between the fin and the fin is increased, and the temperature sensor is fixed to the evaporator.
JP 2002-303469 A

  However, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the sensor mounting device 10 shown in Patent Document 1, the protruding portion 12 provided in the extending portion 11 has a right-angled triangular cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 11. ing. Therefore, although the protruding portion 12 is inclined from the insertion side toward the protruding vertex, a part of the contact portion with the extending portion 11 and the protruding vertex overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 11. The portion 12 cannot sufficiently exert a rust effect on the fins 21 of the evaporator 20. That is, when receiving vibration or the like, the temperature sensor may drop from between the fins.

  An object of this invention is to provide the sensor attachment apparatus which can fix a temperature sensor stably in view of the said problem.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 relates to a sensor mounting device for fixing in a state in which the tip side of a temperature sensor is inserted between fins of a heat exchanger. And between the fins of the temperature sensor, an extension part that is provided so as to be inserted between the fins, extends substantially parallel to the temperature sensor, protrudes from the extension part, and contacts the fins with the extension part inserted between the fins. The non-insertion part includes a fixing part for fixing the extension part to the temperature sensor, and the protrusion part has a contact part with the extension part closer to the insertion tip side of the extension part than the protrusion vertex in the longitudinal direction of the extension part. It is provided so that it may be located.

  Thus, according to the sensor mounting device of the present invention, the protruding portion that protrudes from the extending portion and is in contact with the fin in a state of being inserted between the fins has a contact portion with the extending portion in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion rather than the protruding vertex. It is provided so that it may be located in the insertion front end side of the extension part. Therefore, in the direction of extracting from between the fins, the protruding portion can exhibit a wedge effect on the fins as compared with the related art. That is, the temperature sensor can be fixed more stably than in the past.

  In addition, the contact part with the extension part of a protrusion part shows the boundary part, when a protrusion part is integrally formed using the same material as the extension part.

  Further, as described in claim 2, it is preferable that the temperature sensor and the extending portion are configured to be inserted between the same fins. In the above-mentioned prior application, due to its structure, it is difficult to arrange the temperature sensor (sensor case) and the extension part (support bar part) between the same fins, for example, sandwiching the refrigerant passage plate (tube). It is set as the structure which mutually arrange | positions between adjacent fins. However, if the width between adjacent refrigerant passage plates or the width of the plate itself differs depending on the type of heat exchanger, the refrigerant passage plate does not easily deform like a fin, and the temperature sensor cannot be fixed to the fin. There is. On the other hand, according to the present invention, even if the width between the fins changes somewhat, it can be dealt with by deformation of the fins, so that the degree of freedom of mounting on the heat exchanger can be improved.

  At this time, various modes of fixing the temperature sensor are conceivable. For example, as described in claim 3, in a state where the temperature sensor is inserted between the fins, the temperature sensor comes into contact with one fin, and the protruding portion protruding from the extending portion is fixed by being in contact with the other fin. You may do it.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there are a pair of extending portions provided at positions facing each other with the temperature sensor interposed therebetween, and the protruding portions protruding from the extending portions in a state of being inserted between the fins are mutually connected. You may comprise so that it may fix by contacting a different fin. In this case, the pair of extending portions are provided at opposing positions sandwiching the temperature sensor, and the protruding portions protruding from the extending portions are in contact with different fins, so that the temperature sensor can be fixed more stably. .

  In addition, the number of the protrusion parts provided in the extension part is not particularly limited. For example, as described in claim 5, a plurality of protrusions may be provided with respect to the extension, and at least a part of the protrusion may be inserted between the fins. If it is set as the structure which a some protrusion part contacts a fin, a temperature sensor can be fixed more stably.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The sensor mounting apparatus of the present invention is suitable for mounting a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of air cooled by a heat exchanger and / or fins of the heat exchanger to the heat exchanger. In particular, it can be suitably used when attaching a temperature sensor for preventing fin freezing to an evaporator used in an air conditioner such as a vehicle or consumer air conditioner or other cooling equipment. In the following embodiments, an example in which a temperature sensor is attached to an evaporator using a sensor attachment device will be described as an example.
(First embodiment)
1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a schematic configuration of a sensor mounting device according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view seen from a temperature sensor protruding side, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA in FIG. (C) is an expanded sectional view of the extension part for demonstrating the structure of a protrusion part. In FIG. 1B, for convenience of explanation, a part of the fin of the evaporator is also illustrated, and the direction of the white arrow indicates the insertion direction. The sensor mounting device 10 is a device for holding the temperature sensor 1 and fixing it to the evaporator 20.

  First, the temperature sensor 1 will be outlined. The temperature sensor 1 includes a case 2 that houses a sensor unit (not shown) having a temperature detection element (an element whose resistance value changes according to the temperature of a thermistor, a temperature-sensitive semiconductor, etc.) that detects the temperature, And a lead portion 3 that is conductively connected to each other.

  The case 2 is formed using a material such as metal or resin, and the shape thereof is not particularly limited as long as the tip side can be inserted between the fins 21 of the evaporator 20. In the present embodiment, in order to efficiently transfer the heat from the fins 21 to the temperature detection element, it is formed of a metal such as Cu or Al. Further, the shape thereof has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical portion 2a fixed by a fixing portion of the sensor mounting device 10 described later, and a conical shape on the tip side (the insertion side between the fins 21) of the cylindrical portion 2a. And a diaphragm portion 2b provided in the.

  The lead unit 3 communicates with a lead wire that is conductively connected to the temperature detection element, and the resistance value of the temperature detection element is output as an electric signal to a control unit (not shown) of the air conditioner through the lead unit 3. . As a result, the compressor (not shown) is controlled, and the amount of heat exchanged by the air (cooling degree) in the evaporator 20 is adjusted by adjusting the amount of refrigerant pumped from the compressor to the evaporator 20.

  Next, the sensor mounting device 10 will be described. The sensor mounting device 10 includes an extending part 11, a protruding part 12, and a fixing part 13. In this embodiment, each part 11-13 is integrally shape | molded by making resin which has heat resistance into a constituent material, and using the temperature sensor 1 mentioned above as an insert component. In addition, the extension part 11 and the protrusion part 12 can also be comprised using the metal material which is excellent in durability with respect to heat resistance, a vibration, etc. rather than resin.

  The extending part 11 extends substantially parallel to the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, protrudes from the extending part 11 over a predetermined range from the tip, and the extending part 11 is inserted between the fins 21 of the evaporator 20. A plurality of protrusions 12 that are in contact with the fins 21 in the state are provided. The protruding portion 12 protrudes from the extending portion 11 in the opposite direction to the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, and in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion 11, the contact portion with the extending portion 11 (see FIG. 1C by a one-dot chain line). Inclined in the direction of the protruding vertex from the insertion side so that the boundary portion shown, for example, the solid line arrow section) is located closer to the insertion tip side of the extension portion 11 than the protruding vertex (broken line arrow shown in FIG. 1C) Is provided. The effect will be described later. In addition, the length of the extension part 11 is a length in which the extension part 11 is also inserted between the fins 21 in a state where the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 is inserted between the fins 21 and the protruding part 12 is in contact with the fins 21. If it is, it will not specifically limit.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the extension part 11 consists of a pair, and is provided in the position which mutually opposes on both sides of the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1. The extending portion 11 is provided such that the facing distance d1 between the respective tips is smaller than the width d0 between the fins 21 so that it can be inserted between the fins 21 together with the temperature sensor 1 from the tip side. Further, in the formation region of the protrusion 12, the facing distance d <b> 2 between the protrusion vertices of the protrusion 12 is slightly larger than the width d <b> 0 between the fins 21. Therefore, when the extension part 11 is inserted between the fins 21, the protrusion part 12 provided in each extension part 11 contacts the upper and lower fins 21 in a pressed state.

  The configuration of the fixing portion 13 is not particularly limited as long as the extending portion 11 is fixed to the temperature sensor 1 in the non-insertion portion between the fins 21 of the temperature sensor 1 (case 2). . In the present embodiment, as described above, the temperature sensor 1 and the extension part 11 are formed integrally with the fixing part 13, and the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 protruding from the fixing part 13 extends from the fixing part 13. The part 11 is extended substantially in parallel.

  Next, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 2 (a), (b). 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the sensor mounting device 10 is inserted between the fins 21, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view viewed from the insertion side, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the evaporator 20 includes a plurality of refrigerant passage plates 22 and, for example, bellows-like fins 21 disposed between the refrigerant passage plates 22. When the air passes between the fins 21 and the air passage 23 including the refrigerant passage plate 22, the air contacts the fins 21 and the refrigerant passage plate 22 and is deprived of heat, thereby cooling the air. . The sensor mounting device 10 including the temperature sensor 1 is inserted between the fins 21 (the air passage 23) from the wind surface side of the evaporator 20, and the temperature sensor 1 is mounted on the evaporator 20.

  At that time, when the extension part 11 is inserted between the fins 21 together with the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, the protruding part 12 provided on the extension part 11 comes into contact with the fin 21 in a pressed state, and the fin 21 corresponds to the protruding part 12. The temperature sensor 1 is deformed and fixed to the evaporator 20. Here, the protrusion part 12 in this embodiment is provided so that the contact part with the extension part 11 may be located in the insertion front end side of the extension part from the protrusion vertex in the longitudinal direction of the extension part 11. That is, the protruding portion 12 has a shape protruding from the extended portion 11 to the rear end side opposite to the insertion side. Therefore, even when stress is applied in the direction in which the temperature sensor 1 (case 2) is extracted from between the fins 21 in the fixed state, the protrusion 12 shown in the present embodiment is conventional (a protrusion having a right-angled triangular cross-section). As a result, the wedge effect on the fins 21 can be exhibited. That is, the temperature sensor 1 can be fixed to the evaporator 20 more stably than in the prior art.

  In the present embodiment, the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 and the extending portion 11 are configured to be inserted between the same fins 21 (the same air passage 23). In this case, even if the width between the fins 21 is slightly changed, the thickness is small and it can be dealt with by the deformation of the fin 21 that can be deformed by pressing the extending portion 11, so that the degree of freedom of mounting on the evaporator 20 can be improved.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the extension part 11 consists of a pair, and it is provided in the position which mutually opposes on both sides of the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1. And the protrusion part 12 which protrudes from each extension part 11 in the state inserted between the fins 21 is comprised so that a mutually different fin 21 may be contacted in a press state. Therefore, since the protrusion 12 can exert a wedge effect on both the upper and lower fins 21, the temperature sensor 1 can be more stably fixed to the evaporator 20.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications.

  In the present embodiment, the heat exchanger is the evaporator 20, but is not particularly limited as long as the heat exchanger is configured to fix the temperature sensor 1 between the fins 21.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the temperature sensor 1 was provided integrally with the sensor attachment apparatus 10, and the structural example which the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 protrudes from the fixing | fixed part 13 was shown. However, the form of the fixing portion 13 that fixes the temperature sensor 1 is not limited to the above example. For example, you may comprise by the two fixing plates integrally provided in the extension part 11, projecting in the direction of the temperature sensor 1 from the extension part 11. FIG. In this case, the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 can be held and the temperature sensor 1 can be fixed to the sensor mounting device 10 by bending the two fixing plates.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the extension part 11 showed the example arrange | positioned between the fins 21 (air passage 23) same as the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, the extension part 11 is between the fins 21 different from the case 2 ( It is good also as a structure arrange | positioned in the air passage 23). However, depending on the type of the evaporator 20, the width between the adjacent refrigerant passage plates 22 and the width of the plate 22 itself may be different, and the refrigerant passage plate 22 is not easily deformed like the fins 21. Depending on the type of 20, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the extension 11 and the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1. On the other hand, if the extending portion 11 and the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 are arranged between the same fins 21 (air passages 23), even if the width between the fins 21 is slightly changed, the deformation of the fins 21 can cope with it. Therefore, the freedom degree of mounting on the evaporator 20 can be improved.

  Furthermore, the form of the extending part 11 inserted between the same fins 21 as the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 is not limited to the above example. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, one extending portion 11 is provided for the case 2 of the temperature sensor 1, and the protruding portion of the extending portion 11 is formed on one surface of the fin 21 while being inserted between the fins 21. The case 2 of the temperature sensor 1 may be in contact with the other surface of the fin 21 in the pressed state while 12 is in contact with the pressed state. In this case as well, the wedge effect of the protrusion 12 can be expected, and the degree of freedom of mounting on the evaporator 20 can be improved. However, since only one surface of the fin 21 is in contact with the protruding portion 12, in order to fix the temperature sensor 1 more stably, it is preferable that the pair of extending portions 11 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the plurality of protrusions 12 are inserted between the fins 21 and in contact with the fins 21 with the temperature sensor 1 fixed to the evaporator 20 has been shown. The number of protrusions 12 provided is not particularly limited. For example, one may be sufficient. However, if the plurality of projecting portions 12 are in contact with the fins 21 as shown in the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 1 can be more stably fixed.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the example in which the extension part 11, the protrusion part 12, and the fixing | fixed part 13 were integrally formed using the same resin material was shown. However, at least one of the extending portion 11, the projecting portion 12, and the fixing portion 13 may be configured using different materials. For example, the fixing portion 13 may be made of resin, and the extending portion 11 and the protruding portion 12 may be made of metal. Moreover, you may comprise the extension part 11 and the protrusion part 12 using a different material. In addition, if the extension part 11 and the protrusion part 12 are comprised from a metal, it will become easy to transmit the temperature of the fin 21 to the temperature sensor 1. FIG.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the extension part 11 showed the example spaced apart and predetermined distance with respect to case 2 of the temperature sensor 1. As shown in FIG. However, it may be provided such that at least a part of the extended portion 11 is in contact with the case 2 in a state of being inserted between the fins 21. In this case, the temperature of the fin 21 is easily transmitted to the temperature sensor 1.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the sensor attachment apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the top view seen from the temperature sensor protrusion side, (b) is sectional drawing in the AA cross section of (a), (C) is an expanded sectional view of the extension part for demonstrating the structure of a protrusion part. It is a figure which shows the state which inserted the sensor attachment apparatus between the fins, (a) is the top view seen from the insertion side, (b) is sectional drawing. It is sectional drawing which shows a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Temperature sensor 2 ... Case 10 ... Sensor mounting apparatus 11 ... Extension part 12 ... Protrusion part 13 ... Fixing part 20 ... Evaporator 21 ... Fin

Claims (5)

A sensor mounting device for fixing in a state where the tip side of the temperature sensor is inserted between the fins of the heat exchanger,
An extending portion provided so as to be insertable between the fins and extending substantially parallel to the temperature sensor;
A protruding portion that protrudes from the extending portion and contacts the fin in a state in which the extending portion is inserted between the fins;
A non-insertion portion between the fins of the temperature sensor, and a fixing portion for fixing the extension portion to the temperature sensor,
The sensor mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion is provided such that, in the longitudinal direction of the extending portion, the contact portion with the extending portion is located on the insertion tip side of the extending portion with respect to the projecting vertex.   The sensor mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor and the extending portion are inserted between the same fins.   3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the temperature sensor is in contact with one of the fins and the protruding portion protruding from the extending portion is in contact with the other fin while being inserted between the fins. Mounting device.   The extending portions are formed in a pair and are provided at positions facing each other with the temperature sensor interposed therebetween, and the protruding portions protruding from the extending portions are in contact with the different fins while being inserted between the fins. The sensor mounting device according to claim 2.   5. The sensor mounting device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the protruding portions are provided with respect to the extending portion, and at least a part of the protruding portions is inserted between the fins.

Images