JP2014142327A - Sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor which is excellent in connection reliability and productivity.SOLUTION: A sensor (temperature sensor 1) comprises: a sensor element (thermo-sensitive element 2); a plurality of electrode wires (signal lines 31); a plurality of lead wires 4; a plurality of connection members 5 for connecting the plurality of electrode wires to the plurality of lead wires 4; a protection tube 6 inside which the electrode wires, the lead wires 4 and the connection members 5 are arranged; and a holding member 7 for holding at least a part of the connection members 5 and a part of the lead wires 4 in the protection tube 6, that is, the holding member 7 formed with a partition wall part 71 for insulating the plurality of connection members 5 from each other and a plurality of lead insertion holes 72. Each of the plurality of connection members 5 is formed with an opposed protrusion 51 protruding from the lead wire 4 in a direction in which the opposed protrusion 51 is opposed to at least one of the other connection members 5. The opposed protrusion 51 is pressure-welded to the partition wall part 71, and the lead wire 4 is pressure-welded to the internal wall surface opposite to the wall partition wall part 71 in the lead insertion hole 72.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor having a sensor element.

  For example, there is a temperature sensor that is disposed in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine such as an automobile engine and measures the temperature of exhaust gas or the like. The temperature sensor has a pair of connecting members that connect a pair of signal lines and a pair of lead wires connected to the temperature sensitive element (Patent Document 1). A part of the connecting member and a part of the lead wire are fixed in the protective tube by an insulator such as ceramic. This prevents the connecting member from vibrating in the protective tube when vibration of the vehicle or the like is transmitted to the temperature sensor.

JP 2002-221451 A

However, in order to fix the connecting member and the lead wire by the insulator, the pair of connecting member and the lead wire are positioned at predetermined positions, filled with a ceramic adhesive around the periphery, and further dried. It will be hardened and the manufacturing process tends to be complicated.
Therefore, it is conceivable to hold the pair of connecting members and the lead wires in the protective tube by a holding member made of a pre-formed insulating material. However, depending on how the pair of connecting members and the lead wires are held with respect to the holding member, vibration of the connecting member in the protective tube may not be sufficiently suppressed. In this case, a load is applied to the connection portion between the signal line and the connection member, which may be a factor of reducing connection reliability.
Such a problem may occur not only in the temperature sensor but also in various sensors including sensor elements.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and aims to provide a sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor element that senses a specific physical quantity;
A plurality of electrode wires connected directly or indirectly to the sensor element;
A plurality of lead wires that are electrically connected to the plurality of electrode wires on the side opposite to the sensor element and are covered with an insulating coating material; and
A plurality of connecting members for connecting the plurality of electrode wires and the plurality of lead wires, respectively;
A protective tube in which the electrode wire, the lead wire, and the connecting member are disposed inside;
A holding member that holds at least a part of the connection member and a part of the lead wire in the protective tube, and includes a partition portion that insulates the plurality of connection members from each other and a plurality of the lead wires that are inserted therethrough. The above-mentioned holding member formed with a lead insertion hole of
Each of the plurality of connection members is provided with an opposing protrusion that protrudes from the lead wire in a direction opposite to at least one other connection member,
In the sensor, the opposing projecting portion of the connecting member is in pressure contact with the partition wall, and the lead wire is in pressure contact with an inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole opposite to the partition wall.

  In the above sensor, the connection member is provided with the opposing protrusion. The opposing projecting portion is in pressure contact with the partition wall, and the lead wire is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole opposite to the partition wall. Therefore, the plurality of connection members and lead wires are stably held with respect to the holding member.

That is, one end of the connecting member on the side opposite to the lead wire is connected to one end of the electrode wire and fixed to the electrode wire. As described above, the opposing protrusion and the lead wire are in pressure contact with the holding member in opposite directions. Thereby, the said connection member and the said lead wire can be fixed to the said holding member by the three-point support including fixation with the said electrode wire. Therefore, the connection member and the lead wire can be stably fixed to the holding member.
As a result, the vibration of the connection member in the protective tube can be suppressed, and the connection reliability between the electrode wire and the connection member can be improved.

  Further, since the holding of the connecting member and the lead wire by the holding member is based on pressure contact at a plurality of locations, the manufacturing process is not particularly complicated. Therefore, the productivity of the sensor can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the temperature sensor in the vicinity of the connection member in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the holding member in the first embodiment. The top view of the holding member seen from the front end side in Example 1. FIG. The front view of the connection member connected with the lead wire in Example 1. FIG. The front view of the lead wire in Example 1. FIG. Front explanatory drawing of the state which penetrated the lead wire and the connection member in the holding member in Example 1. FIG. The front explanatory drawing of the state which made the lead wire and the connection member which penetrated the holding member in Example 1 parallel to the axial direction. The front explanatory drawing in the state where the signal line was connected to the connection member held in the holding member in Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the holding member in Example 2. FIG. The top view of the holding member seen from the front end side in Example 2. FIG. The front view of the lead wire in Example 3. FIG. Sectional drawing of the temperature sensor in Example 4. FIG. Sectional drawing of the signal wire | line etc. which were hold | maintained in the metal pipe in Example 4. FIG. Sectional drawing of the gas sensor in Example 5. FIG. The top view of the holding member seen from the front end side in Example 5. FIG. In Example 5, it is a top view of the connection part of the gas sensor element seen from the base end side, a signal terminal, and a heater terminal. Sectional drawing of the gas sensor in Example 6. FIG. The top view of the holding member seen from the front end side in Example 6. FIG. The top view of the holding member seen from the front end side in Example 7. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the temperature sensitive element in Example 7. FIG.

Examples of the specific physical quantity include temperature and gas concentration. Therefore, the sensor element can be, for example, a temperature sensitive element, a gas sensor element or the like, and the sensor can be a temperature sensor, a gas sensor or the like. Examples of the gas sensor include an oxygen sensor, an A / F sensor (air-fuel ratio sensor), and a NOx sensor.
Moreover, the electrode line is directly or indirectly connected to the sensor element, and another member may be interposed between the electrode line and the sensor element. Moreover, the electrode line and the sensor element do not necessarily have to be electrically connected. For example, in a gas sensor described later, the electrode wire may be electrically and physically connected to the heater, and the heater may be fixed to the sensor element.

  The sensor may be a temperature sensor, the sensor element may be a temperature sensing element that senses temperature, and the electrode line may be a signal line connected to the temperature sensing element. In this case, a temperature sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity can be provided.

For example, the temperature sensor can be used in an exhaust system of a vehicle or the like.
Moreover, the said temperature sensitive element can be made into the thermistor element from which resistance value changes with temperature, for example.
Moreover, the said connection member can use what formed by bending a metal plate, for example. The connecting member can be connected to the lead wire by caulking one end of the lead wire. Further, the connection member and the signal line can be connected by caulking or welding.

As the temperature sensor,
The temperature sensing element;
A sheath pin built in a state where the pair of signal lines connected to the temperature sensitive element are exposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction;
A pair of lead wires electrically connected to the pair of signal lines;
A pair of connection members for connecting the pair of signal lines and the pair of lead wires, respectively;
The protective tube in which the pair of sheath pins, the pair of lead wires, and the pair of connection members are disposed inside;
The holding member for holding at least a part of the connection member and a part of the lead wire in the protective tube, the partition member insulating the pair of connection members from each other, and the lead wire being inserted therethrough And a holding member formed with a pair of lead insertion holes.
Each of the pair of connecting members is provided with the opposing protrusions that protrude from the lead wires in directions opposite to each other,
The opposing protrusion of the connecting member is in pressure contact with the partition wall, and the lead wire is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole opposite to the partition wall. it can.

In other words, the temperature sensor
A temperature sensing element that senses the temperature;
A sheath pin built in a state in which a pair of signal lines connected to the temperature sensitive element is exposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction;
A pair of lead wires that are electrically connected to the pair of signal wires on the side opposite to the temperature sensing element and that covers the conductor wires with an insulating coating;
A pair of connecting members for connecting the pair of signal lines and the pair of lead wires, respectively;
A protective tube in which the sheath pin, the lead wire, and the connection member are disposed;
A holding member that holds at least a part of the connection member and a part of the lead wire in the protective tube, and includes a partition portion that insulates the pair of connection members from each other and a pair of the lead wires inserted through the holding member. The above-mentioned holding member formed with a lead insertion hole of
Each of the pair of connection members is provided with opposing protrusions protruding from the lead wires in directions opposite to each other,
The temperature sensor is characterized in that the opposing projecting portion of the connecting member is in pressure contact with the partition wall, and the lead wire is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole opposite to the partition wall. Can do.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said connection member has a fixing | fixed part which fixes the said conductor wire of the said lead wire, and this fixing | fixed part is formed in the side near the said electrode wire rather than the said opposing protrusion part. In this case, it is difficult for a load to be applied to the fixed portion, and connection reliability between the lead wire and the connection member can be ensured. That is, as described above, since the opposing protrusion is pressed against the partition wall, a force in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the lead wire acts on the opposing protrusion. Similarly, a force in the direction opposite to the force acting on the opposing protrusion acts on the lead wire. Therefore, if the fixed portion is formed at the same axial position as the opposed projecting portion, a large force is likely to act on the fixed portion. And when the press-contact force between the above-mentioned lead wire and opposing protrusion part and a holding member acts excessively, it is also considered that the above-mentioned fixed part changes greatly and the connection reliability falls. Therefore, by shifting the fixing portion to the side closer to the sheath pin than the opposing protruding portion, the force acting on the fixing portion can be reduced, and the connection reliability between the lead wire and the connecting member can be ensured. .
In addition, the said fixing | fixed part can be formed by caulking, welding, etc., for example.

  The sheath pin preferably holds the pair of signal lines by an insulating material made of ceramic. In this case, the signal line is stably arranged in the protective tube, and the connecting member connected to one end of the signal line can be more stably fixed in the protective tube. it can.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said insulation coating material of the said lead wire is elastically deformed in the part distribute | arranged to the said lead insertion hole. In this case, the lead wire can be brought into pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole of the holding member while sufficiently following. Therefore, the connecting member and the lead wire can be held by the holding member more stably.

Further, the distance in the radial direction between the innermost wall surface of the lead insertion hole that is farthest from the partition wall portion in the radial direction and the partition wall portion is A, the diameter of the lead wire is B, and When the protrusion amount is H, it is preferable that AB <H holds. In this case, the opposing projecting portion of the connection member and the lead wire can be reliably brought into pressure contact with the holding member. Therefore, the above three-point support state can be reliably formed.
In addition, the diameter B of the lead wire is a diameter measured at a general portion other than the portion inserted through the lead insertion hole. That is, the diameter of the lead wire in a state where no external force is applied to the lead wire. In other words, it can be said that it is the diameter of the lead wire in a state before the connection member and the lead wire are assembled to the holding member.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said opposing protrusion part is formed in the taper shape at the edge on the said lead wire side. In this case, the mounting workability of the lead wire and the connecting member to the holding member can be improved. That is, when the lead wire with the connection member attached is mounted on the holding member, the lead wire is normally inserted into the lead insertion hole from the lead wire side. At this time, since the said opposing protrusion part protrudes rather than a lead wire, it may contact the edge part of the partition part in a holding member. Therefore, the edge on the lead wire side of the opposing protruding portion is formed in a tapered shape, so that the opposing protruding portion is introduced to the inside of the holding member along the partition wall portion without being caught by the partition wall portion. Become.

Example 1
Examples of the temperature sensor will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature sensor 1 of this example includes a temperature sensing element 2 as a sensor element that senses a specific physical quantity, and a signal line 31 as a plurality of electrode lines connected to the temperature sensing element 2. Have. That is, the temperature sensor 1 includes a temperature sensing element 2 that senses temperature, and a sheath pin 3 in which a pair of signal lines 31 connected to the temperature sensing element 2 are exposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. A pair of lead wires 4 (FIG. 6) formed by covering the conductor wire 41 with the insulating coating material 42 are electrically connected to the pair of signal wires 31 on the side opposite to the temperature sensing element 2.

  The pair of signal lines 31 and the pair of lead wires 4 are connected to each other by a pair of connecting members 5. The sheath pin 3, the lead wire 4, and the connecting member 5 are disposed inside the protective tube 6. A part of the connection member 5 and a part of the lead wire 4 are held in the protective tube 6 by the holding member 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the holding member 7 includes a partition wall portion 71 that insulates the pair of connecting members 5 from each other and forms a pair of lead insertion holes 72 through which the lead wires 4 are inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of connecting members 5 are provided with opposing protrusions 51 that protrude from the lead wires 4 in directions opposite to each other. The opposing protruding portion 51 of the connecting member 5 is in pressure contact with the partition wall portion 71, and the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 opposite to the partition wall portion 71.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheath pin 3 holds a pair of signal lines 31 by an insulating material 32 made of ceramic. That is, the sheath pin 3 is formed by inserting a pair of signal lines 31 inside a metal cylindrical body 33, and an insulating material 32 is filled between the cylindrical body 33 and the signal line 31. As described above, the sheath pin 3 is disposed inside the protective tube 6, but protrudes from the protective tube 6 toward the distal end side. The temperature sensitive element 2 is connected to the tip of the sheath pin 3. The temperature sensing element 2 is a thermistor element whose resistance value changes with temperature. In the present specification, the side on which the temperature sensing element 2 is provided is referred to as the distal end side, and the opposite side is referred to as the proximal end side.

  The temperature sensitive element 2 is covered with an element cover 12 from the tip side. The element cover 12 is welded to the tip of the sheath pin 3 from the outer peripheral side. Further, a rib 13 is disposed at the tip of the protective tube 6, and the sheath pin 3 is held on the rib 13. A nipple 14 for attaching the temperature sensor 1 to a measurement site such as an exhaust pipe of a vehicle is disposed on the outer periphery of the protective tube 6.

  In addition, a cylindrical metal spacer 15 is disposed on the proximal end side of the holding member 7 in the protective tube 6. The spacer 15 is caulked and fixed by the protective tube 6 and is configured to prevent the holding member 7 from shifting to the proximal end side. A rubber bush 16 that closes the gap between the protective tube 6 and the pair of lead wires 4 is disposed on the proximal end side of the spacer 15. The rubber bush 16 is caulked by the protective tube 6.

The holding member 7 is made of ceramic, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the entire shape has a substantially cylindrical shape. The holding member 7 is formed by penetrating a pair of lead insertion holes 72 in the axial direction. Further, the holding member 7 is formed with a pair of concave portions 73 larger than the lead insertion hole 72 on the distal end side in the axial direction. Each lead insertion hole 72 communicates with each concave portion 73. The concave portion 73 is formed as two spaces surrounded by a partition wall portion 71 that separates the pair of lead insertion holes 72 when viewed from the axial direction, and an outer peripheral wall portion 74 formed over the entire circumference of the holding member 7. ing.
As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the axial direction, the lead insertion hole 72 is in contact with the main surface of the partition wall 71. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 is partly continuous with the main surface of the partition wall 71.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection member 5 is formed by bending a metal plate. The connecting member 5 has a fixing portion 53 that fixes the conductor wire 41 of the lead wire 4. The fixing portion 53 is formed on the side closer to the sheath pin 3 than the opposing protruding portion 51, that is, on the distal end portion 52 side of the opposing protruding portion 51. In this example, the fixing portion 53 is a caulking portion for caulking the conductor wire 41 of the lead wire 4. That is, the connecting member 5 is connected to the lead wire 4 by caulking the conductor wire 41 exposed at one end of the lead wire 4.

  The connecting member 5 is formed with an opposing protruding portion 51 at an end portion (base end portion) near the lead wire 4. The opposing protrusion 51 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from the lead wire 4. The opposing protrusion 51 is formed at the end (base end) on the lead wire 4 side in the longitudinal direction of the connection member 5. Further, the opposing protruding portion 51 has an end edge (base end portion) on the lead wire 4 side formed in a tapered shape. In this example, the opposing protrusion 51 protrudes in a substantially trapezoidal shape, and the distal end side and the proximal end side thereof are formed in a tapered shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in a state of being held by the holding member 7, the pair of connection members 5 protrudes the opposing protruding portions 51 in the directions facing each other. The opposing protrusion 51 is in pressure contact with the partition wall 71 of the holding member 7. That is, the partition wall 71 is sandwiched from both sides by the opposing protruding portions 51 of the pair of connection members 5.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the lead wire 4 has a conductor wire 41 and an insulating covering material made of a resin such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer). 42 is covered. As shown in FIG. 2, the insulating coating material 42 of the lead wire 4 is elastically deformed in the portion disposed in the lead insertion hole 72 of the holding member 7. That is, a part of the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with a part of the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 of the holding member 7, and the insulating coating material 42 is elastically deformed by this pressure contact force.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distance in the radial direction between the innermost wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 and the partition wall portion 71 that is farthest in the radial direction from the partition wall portion 71 is A, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Assuming that the diameter of the lead wire 4 is B and the protruding amount of the opposing protruding portion 51 is H as shown in FIG. 5, A−B <H holds. In this example, the distance A is equal to the diameter of the lead insertion hole 72. Further, the diameter B is a diameter measured at a general portion other than the portion arranged in the lead insertion hole 72. That is, the diameter B of the lead wire 4 when no external force is applied to the lead wire 4 is the diameter B. In other words, it can be said that it is the diameter of the lead wire 4 in a state before the connection member 5 and the lead wire 4 are assembled to the holding member 7. Further, as described above, the protrusion amount H of the opposing protrusion 51 is set to be larger than (A−B), but the difference between H and (A−B) is the difference between the insulation coating material 42 of the lead wire 4. It is preferable that the thickness is smaller than C. That is, it is preferable that H <(A−B) + C.

  When the temperature sensor 1 is assembled, as shown in FIG. 7, the lead wire 4 and the connection member 5 that are connected in advance are inserted into the holding member 7. That is, the pair of lead wires 4 are inserted through the pair of concave portions 73 and the pair of lead insertion holes 72 from the distal end side of the holding member 7, respectively. A part of the lead wire 4 and a part of the connecting member 5 are disposed in the lead insertion hole 72 and the concave part 73, respectively. At this time, since the sum (B + H) of the diameter B of the lead wire 4 and the protrusion amount H of the opposing protrusion 51 of the connecting member 5 is larger than the distance A, the lead wire 4 and the connecting member 5 are 7 is in an oblique state with respect to the axial direction. And a pair of connection member 5 is in the state where the space | interval of the front-end | tip parts 52 spreads mutually.

  From this state, the front-end | tip part 52 of a pair of connection member 5 is moved to the direction (arrow F) which mutually approaches. At this time, the opposing protrusions 51 of the pair of connection members 5 abut against the partition wall 71 of the holding member 7. And if the attitude | position of a pair of connection member 5 is changed so that the mutual front-end | tip part 52 may be approached as it is, the connection member 5 and the lead wire 4 with the contact part of the partition part 71 and the opposing protrusion part 51 as a fulcrum Rotate. And as shown in FIG. 8, a pair of connection member 5 and a pair of lead wire 4 will be in the state parallel to an axial direction. At this time, the opposing projecting portion 51 of the connecting member 5 is in pressure contact with the partition wall portion 71, and the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 on the side opposite to the partition wall portion 71. And the insulation coating material 42 of the lead wire 4 will be in the state compressed and deformed.

  While maintaining such a state, the pair of signal lines 31 of the sheath pin 3 are welded to the tip portions 52 of the pair of connecting members 5 as shown in FIG. Note that the connection between the connecting member 5 and the signal line 31 can be performed by caulking. The signal line 31 is made of stainless steel.

Next, the function and effect of this example will be described.
In the temperature sensor 1, the connection member 5 is provided with an opposing protrusion 51. The opposing protrusion 51 is in pressure contact with the partition wall 71, and the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 opposite to the partition wall 71. Therefore, the pair of connecting members 5 and the lead wires 4 are stably held with respect to the holding member 7.

That is, one end of the connection member 5 on the side opposite to the lead wire 4 is connected to one end of the signal line 31 and fixed to the signal line 31. As described above, the opposing protrusion 51 and the lead wire 4 are in pressure contact with the holding member 7 in opposite directions. Thereby, the connection member 5 and the lead wire 4 can be fixed to the holding member 7 by three-point support including fixing to the signal line 31. Therefore, the connecting member 5 and the lead wire 4 can be stably fixed to the holding member 7.
As a result, the vibration of the connection member 5 in the protective tube 6 can be suppressed, and the connection reliability between the signal line 31 and the connection member 5 can be improved.

  Further, since the holding member 7 and the lead wire 4 are held by the press contact at a plurality of locations, the manufacturing process is not particularly complicated. Therefore, the productivity of the temperature sensor 1 can be improved.

  Further, in the state of being held by the holding member 7, the insulating coating material 42 of the lead wire 4 is elastically deformed at the portion disposed in the lead insertion hole 72. As a result, the lead wire 4 can be brought into pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 of the holding member 7 while sufficiently following. Therefore, the connecting member 5 and the lead wire 4 can be held by the holding member 7 more stably.

  Further, since AB <H is established between the distance A, the diameter B, and the protrusion amount H, the opposing protrusion 51 and the lead wire 4 of the connecting member 5 are securely attached to the holding member 7. Can be pressed. Therefore, the above three-point support state can be reliably formed.

  Moreover, since the opposing protrusion 51 has a taper-shaped end edge (base end) on the lead wire 4 side, the workability of mounting the lead wire 4 and the connecting member 5 to the holding member 7 is improved. Can do. That is, when the lead wire 4 to which the connecting member 5 is attached is attached to the holding member 7, as shown in FIG. 7, the lead wire 4 is inserted into the lead insertion hole 72 from the lead wire 4 side. At this time, the opposing protrusion 51 may come into contact with the end of the partition wall 71 in the holding member 7. Therefore, the edge on the lead wire 4 side of the opposing protruding portion 51 is formed in a tapered shape, so that the opposing protruding portion 51 is introduced into the concave portion 73 along the partition wall portion 71 without being caught by the partition wall portion 71. The Rukoto.

  In addition, since the fixing portion 53 provided on the connection member 5 is formed on the distal end portion 52 side with respect to the opposing protruding portion 51, it is difficult for a load to be applied to the fixing portion 53, and the connection reliability between the lead wire 4 and the connection member 5 is ensured. Sex can be secured. That is, a force in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the lead wire 4 acts on the opposing protrusion 51, and a force in a direction opposite to the force acting on the opposing protrusion 51 acts on the lead wire 4. Therefore, if the fixing portion 53 is formed at the same axial position as the opposing protruding portion 51, a large force is likely to act on the fixing portion 53. And when the pressure contact force between the above-mentioned lead wire 4 and the opposing protrusion part 51 and the holding member 7 acts excessively, it is also considered that the fixing | fixed part 53 deform | transforms greatly and the connection reliability falls. Therefore, by shifting the fixing portion 53 toward the distal end portion 52 side with respect to the opposing protruding portion 51, the force acting on the fixing portion 53 can be reduced, and the connection reliability between the lead wire 4 and the connecting member 5 can be ensured. it can.

  The sheath pin 3 holds a pair of signal lines 31 by an insulating material 32 made of ceramic. Thereby, the signal line 31 is stably arranged in the protective tube 6, and the connecting member 5 connected to one end of the signal line 31 can be more stably fixed in the protective tube 6.

  As described above, according to this example, a temperature sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity can be provided.

(Example 2)
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the holding member 7 has a shape different from that in the first embodiment.
That is, in this example, the lead insertion hole 72 is formed at a position away from the partition wall portion 71 in the radial direction. Therefore, the distance A, that is, the radial distance between the partition wall portion 71 and the innermost wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 in the radial direction from the partition wall portion 71 is different from the diameter of the lead insertion hole 72. That is, the distance A is larger than the diameter of the lead insertion hole 72.
The distance A, the diameter B of the lead wire 4, and the protruding amount H of the opposing protruding portion 51 satisfy A−B <H.

Others are the same as in the first embodiment. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment represent the same components as in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.
Also in this example, it has the same effect as Example 1.

(Example 3)
In this example, as shown in FIG. 12, the connecting member 5 has a shape different from that in the first embodiment.
In other words, in the present example, the opposing protrusion 51 is extended to the tip 52 of the connection member 5. That is, in Example 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a protrusion is partially formed at the proximal end portion of the connection member 5, and this is used as an opposing protruding portion 51, but in this example, the connection member 5 is It protrudes in the radial direction from the lead wire 4 over the entire area in the longitudinal direction. A portion of the protruding portion that is disposed inside the holding member 7 serves as an opposing protruding portion 51 that presses against the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 of the holding member 7.

Others are the same as in the first embodiment. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment represent the same components as in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.
Also in the case of this example, the opposing protrusion 51 can be brought into pressure contact with the partition wall 71 of the holding member 7 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, also in the case of this example, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained.

(Example 4)
This example is an example of the temperature sensor 1 in which a temperature-sensitive element 2 and a pair of signal wires 31 are disposed in a rib 13 in a bottomed cylindrical metal pipe 310 as shown in FIG. is there. That is, in the first embodiment, the sheath pin 3 is used, but in the present embodiment, the above-described metal tube 310 is used without using the sheath pin 3.

The metal tube 310 is filled with a filler 320 made of, for example, an inorganic adhesive. The filler 320 is filled and cured in the metal tube 310 together with the temperature sensing element 2 and the signal line 31, whereby the temperature sensing element 2 and the signal line 31 are held in the metal tube 310.
One end of the signal line 31 is exposed from the proximal end side of the metal tube 310 and is connected to the connection member 5.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the signal line 31 may be inserted into the insulator tube 321 inside the metal tube 310. That is, the substantially cylindrical insulator tube 321 is formed with a plurality of (two in this example) through-holes penetrating in the longitudinal direction, and the signal line 31 is inserted through the through-holes. The insulator tube 321 is sealed with a filler 320 in the metal tube 310 together with the signal line 31 and the temperature sensing element 2.

  Others have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and have the same functions and effects. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment represent the same components as in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

(Example 5)
This example is an embodiment of the gas sensor 10 as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 15, the gas sensor 10 includes a gas sensor element 20 as a sensor element that senses a specific physical quantity, and a signal terminal 311 and a heater terminal 312 as a plurality of electrode wires connected to the gas sensor element 20. That is, the gas sensor 10 is a sensor element 20 that senses a specific gas concentration in the gas to be measured, a pair of signal terminals 311 that are electrically connected to the sensor element 20, and a heater for heating the gas sensor element 20. A pair of electrically connected heater terminals 312; Two pairs of lead wires 4 formed by covering the conductor wire 41 with the insulating coating material 42 are electrically connected to the pair of signal terminals 311 and the pair of heater terminals 312 on the side opposite to the sensor element 20. .

  Each signal terminal 311, each heater terminal 312, and each lead wire 4 are connected by a connecting member 5. The lead wire 4 and the connection member 5 are disposed inside the protective tube 6. A part of the connection member 5 and a part of the lead wire 4 are held in the protective tube 6 by the holding member 7. As shown in FIG. 16, the holding member 7 includes partition walls 71 that insulate the four connection members 5 from each other and four lead insertion holes 72 through which the lead wires 4 are inserted.

  Each of the four connecting members 5 is provided with an opposing protruding portion 51 that protrudes from the lead wire 4 in a direction facing the other connecting member 5. The opposing protruding portion 51 of the connecting member 5 is in pressure contact with the partition wall portion 71, and the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole 72 opposite to the partition wall portion 71. A point P1 in FIG. 16 is a pressure contact portion of the opposing protrusion 51 with respect to the holding member 7, and a point P2 is a pressure contact portion of the lead wire 4 with respect to the holding member 7.

  In this example, the pressing directions of the two pairs of connecting members 5 with respect to the partition wall 71 are parallel to each other. Further, the opposing protrusion 51 is provided in a direction in which the connecting member 5 connected to the signal terminal 311 and the connecting member 5 connected to the heater terminal 312 face each other. That is, the pair of lead insertion holes 72a through which the lead wires 4 connected to the pair of signal terminals 311 are inserted are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the pressure contact direction. Similarly, a pair of lead insertion holes 72b through which the lead wires 4 connected to the pair of heater terminals 312 are inserted are also arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the pressure contact direction. The direction in which the pair of lead insertion holes 72a is arranged and the direction in which the other pair of lead insertion holes 72b are arranged are parallel to each other.

  In the gas sensor 10, as shown in FIG. 15, the gas sensor element 20 is held by the front end side insulator 121 held inside the housing 11. The gas sensor element 20 is formed by laminating a plurality of ceramic layers including a solid electrolyte body, and has a plate bar shape. And the sensor cell (not shown) provided in the front-end | tip part vicinity of the gas sensor element 20 is comprised so that it may be exposed to to-be-measured gas. The gas sensor element 20 is integrated with a heater so that the sensor cell portion can be heated. A front end cover 131 that covers the front end portion of the gas sensor element 20 is attached to the front end side of the housing 11.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a pair of sensor electrode pads 211 electrically connected to the sensor cell and a pair of heater electrode pads 212 electrically connected to the heater are provided at the base end portion of the gas sensor element 20. Is provided. The sensor electrode pad 211 and the heater electrode pad 212 are provided on the main surfaces on the opposite sides of the base end portion of the gas sensor element 20.

  A pair of signal terminals 311 are joined to the pair of sensor electrode pads 211, and a pair of heater terminals 312 are joined to the pair of heater electrode pads 212, respectively. The signal terminal 311 and the heater terminal 312 are joined to the gas sensor element 20 by brazing or the like.

  The signal terminal 311 and the heater terminal 312 are each connected to the lead wire 4 by the connecting member 5. The connection member 5 is held by the holding member 7 as described above. The basic configuration, shape, arrangement, and the like of the holding member 7, the connecting member 5, and the lead wire 4 are the same as those in the temperature sensor of the first embodiment.

  In the case of this example, a gas sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity can be provided. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment represent the same components as in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

(Example 6)
This example is an example of the gas sensor 10 having a bottomed cylindrical gas sensor element 20 as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 18, the gas sensor element 20 is held inside the housing 11 so that the opening side is the base end side. A cylindrical heater 22 is inserted and arranged inside the gas sensor element 20. The gas sensor element 20 is provided with a pair of sensor electrode pads (not shown) on the inner side and the outer side of the base end. A pair of signal terminals 311 are arranged so as to be in pressure contact with these sensor positive electrode pads. The heater 22 is fixed to the gas sensor element 20 by a part of the signal terminal 311 that is in pressure contact with the inside of the gas sensor element 20.

The heater 22 is formed by connecting a pair of heater terminals 312 to the side surface at the base end. The heater terminal 312 is brazed to a pair of heater electrode pads 212 provided at the base end of the heater 22.
A pair of signal terminals 311 and a pair of heater terminals 312 are connected to the lead wires 4 by connecting members 5, respectively. The connection member 5 is held by the holding member 7. The holding member 7 has four lead insertion holes 72 as shown in FIG. The pair of lead insertion holes 72 a through which the lead wires 4 connected to the pair of signal terminals 311 are inserted are arranged at positions opposite to each other across the center of the holding member 7. Similarly, the pair of lead insertion holes 72b through which the lead wires 4 connected to the pair of heater terminals 312 are inserted are also arranged at positions opposite to each other with the center of the holding member 7 interposed therebetween. The arrangement direction of the pair of lead insertion holes 72a and the arrangement direction of the other pair of lead insertion holes 72b are orthogonal to each other.

Each connection member 5 is in pressure contact with the partition wall 71 toward the center of the holding member 7. On the other hand, the lead wire 4 is in pressure contact with the inner wall of the lead insertion hole 72 toward the inside on the diagonal line of the holding member 7. A point P <b> 1 in FIG. 19 is a pressure contact portion of the opposing protruding portion 51 with respect to the holding member 7, and a point P <b> 2 is a pressure contact portion of the lead wire 4 with respect to the holding member 7.
Others are the same as in the fifth embodiment. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the fifth embodiment denote the same components as in the fifth embodiment unless otherwise specified. Also in the case of this example, a gas sensor excellent in connection reliability and productivity can be provided.

(Example 7)
In this example, as shown in FIG. 20, the holding member 7 is provided with three lead insertion holes 72.
That is, this example can be applied to a sensor (not shown) having three lead wires, three electrode wires, and three connection members that connect the lead wires and the electrode wires. An example of such a sensor is a temperature sensor using a temperature sensitive element 200 as shown in FIG.

  The temperature sensing element 200 includes two types of thermistor chips. That is, one thermistor chip is a low-temperature chip 201 suitable for measurement in a relatively low temperature region, and the other thermistor chip is a high-temperature chip 202 suitable for measurement in a relatively high temperature region. The temperature sensing element 200 is connected with three signal lines 31. The three signal lines 31 are connected to the common ground line 31G connected to both the low temperature chip 201 and the high temperature chip 202, the low temperature signal line 31L connected to the low temperature chip 201, and the high temperature chip 202. There is a high temperature signal line 31H. The temperature sensitive element 200 is sealed with a glass sealing portion 203.

  The temperature sensing element 200 applies a voltage between the ground line 31G and the low temperature signal line 31L when measuring the temperature in the low temperature range, and connects the ground line 31G when measuring the temperature in the high temperature range. A voltage is applied between the high temperature signal line 31H and an output signal can be obtained. Thereby, highly accurate temperature detection can be performed.

In the case of this example, the point P1 in FIG. 20 is the pressure contact portion of the opposing protruding portion of the connecting member with respect to the holding member 7, and the point P2 is the pressure contact portion of the lead wire with respect to the holding member 7.
Others are the same as in the first embodiment. Of the reference numerals used in the drawings relating to this example, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment represent the same components as in the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the said Examples 1-6, although the example of the temperature sensor and the gas sensor was shown as a sensor, the technical thought of this application is applicable also to another sensor suitably. Moreover, about the number of an electrode wire, a connection member, and a lead wire, it is not restricted to 2-4, For example, it can also be 6 etc. What is necessary is just two or more.

1 Temperature sensor (sensor)
10 Gas sensor (sensor)
2 Temperature sensing element (sensor element)
20 Gas sensor element (sensor element)
3 Seaspin 31 signal line (electrode line)
4 Lead wire 41 Conductor wire 42 Insulation coating material 5 Connection member 51 Opposing protrusion 6 Protective tube 7 Holding member 71 Bulkhead 72 Lead insertion hole

Claims (8)

A sensor element (2, 20) for sensing a specific physical quantity;
A plurality of electrode wires (31, 311, 312) directly or indirectly connected to the sensor element (2, 20);
A plurality of electrodes which are electrically connected to the plurality of electrode wires (31, 311, 312) on the side opposite to the sensor elements (2, 20) and whose conductor wires (41) are covered with an insulating covering material (42). Lead wire (4),
A plurality of connecting members (5) for connecting the plurality of electrode wires (31, 311, 312) and the plurality of lead wires (4), respectively;
A protective tube (6) in which the electrode wires (31, 311, 312), the lead wire (4), and the connection member (5) are disposed;
A holding member (7) for holding at least a part of the connection member (5) and a part of the lead wire (4) in the protective tube (6), wherein the plurality of connection members (5) The holding member (7), which includes partition walls (71) that are insulated from each other and that has a plurality of lead insertion holes (72) through which the lead wires (4) are inserted,
Each of the plurality of connecting members (5) is provided with an opposing protruding portion (51) protruding from the lead wire (4) in a direction facing at least one other connecting member (5).
The opposing protrusion (51) of the connecting member (5) is in pressure contact with the partition wall (71), and the lead wire (4) is opposite to the partition wall (71) in the lead insertion hole (72). A sensor (1, 10) characterized in that it is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface.   The sensor is a temperature sensor (1), the sensor element (2, 20) is a temperature sensing element (2) for sensing temperature, and the electrode wire is connected to the temperature sensing element (2). Sensor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a signal line (31). The temperature sensing element (2);
A sheath pin (3) built in a state in which the pair of signal lines (31) connected to the temperature sensitive element (2) is exposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction;
A pair of lead wires (4) electrically connected to the pair of signal lines (31);
A pair of connection members (5) for connecting the pair of signal lines (31) and the pair of lead wires (4), respectively;
The protective tube (6) in which the pair of sheath pins (3), the pair of lead wires (4), and the pair of connecting members (5) are disposed inside;
The holding member (7) for holding at least a part of the connection member (5) and a part of the lead wire (4) in the protective tube (6), wherein the pair of connection members (5) And the holding member (7) formed with a pair of the lead insertion holes (72) through which the lead wires (4) are inserted and the partition walls (71) that insulate each other.
Each of the pair of connecting members (5) is provided with the opposing projecting portions (51) projecting from the lead wire (4) in directions opposite to each other,
The opposing protrusion (51) of the connecting member (5) is in pressure contact with the partition wall (71), and the lead wire (4) is opposite to the partition wall (71) in the lead insertion hole (72). A sensor (1) characterized in that it is in pressure contact with the inner wall surface.   The sensor (1) according to claim 3, wherein the sheath pin (3) holds the pair of signal lines (31) by an insulating material (32) made of ceramic.   The insulation coating material (42) of the lead wire (4) is elastically deformed at a portion disposed in the lead insertion hole (72). The described sensor (1, 10).   Of the inner wall surface of the lead insertion hole (72), the distance in the radial direction between the partition wall portion (71) and the farthest portion in the radial direction from the partition wall portion (71) is A, and the lead wire (4) The sensor (1, 10) according to claim 5, wherein A-B <H is established, where B is a diameter and H is a protruding amount of the opposing protruding portion (51).   The connecting member (5) has a fixing portion (53) for fixing the conductor wire (41) of the lead wire (4), and the fixing portion (53) is more than the opposing protruding portion (51). The sensor (1, 10) according to claim 3, wherein the sensor (1, 10) is formed on a side close to the electrode wire (31, 311, 312).   The sensor (1, 10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the opposing protrusion (51) has an end edge on the lead wire (4) side formed in a tapered shape. ).

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