JP2021085668A - Sensor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sensor unit that can press a pressure sensor uniformly against a body.SOLUTION: A sensor unit 1 is provided to a body 20 including a flow channel 201 where a fluid Q can pass. This sensor unit 1 includes: a pressure sensor 2 that detects the pressure of the fluid Q passing the flow channel 201; a bracket 3 with a plate shape that presses the pressure sensor 2 against the body 20, the bracket 3 including a sensor hole 31 penetrating in a thickness direction and having the pressure sensor 2 attached thereto and two bolt holes 32 disposed through the sensor hole 31, penetrating in the thickness direction, and having a bolt 30 inserted therein; and a positioning unit 4 that positions the bracket 3 to the body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor unit.

For example, a hydraulic control device that is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and controls the flood control is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The hydraulic control device described in Patent Document 1 presses an oil passage body having an oil passage through which oil flows, a hydraulic sensor for measuring the pressure of oil flowing in the oil passage, and a hydraulic sensor against the oil passage body via bolts. It is provided with a fixing member for fixing.

JP-A-2018-169309

However, in the hydraulic control device described in Patent Document 1, the pressure sensor is not accurately positioned depending on the position and posture of the fixing member with respect to the oil passage body, and the pressure sensor cannot be pressed uniformly against the body. was there. If the pressure sensor cannot be pressed evenly against the body, the pressure measured by the pressure sensor may be inaccurate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor unit capable of uniformly pressing a pressure sensor against a body.

One aspect of the sensor unit of the present invention is a sensor unit used by being installed on a body having a flow path through which a fluid can pass, and a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid passing through the flow path. A plate-shaped bracket that presses the pressure sensor against the body, which penetrates in the thickness direction and is arranged via a sensor hole to which the pressure sensor is attached and a sensor hole, and is arranged in the thickness direction. It is characterized by including a bracket having two bolt holes through which a bolt is inserted, and a positioning portion for positioning the bracket with respect to the body.

According to one aspect of the sensor unit of the present invention, the pressure sensor can be uniformly pressed against the body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the sensor unit of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bracket included in the sensor unit shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the sensor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are set as the three axes orthogonal to each other. As an example, the XY plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis is horizontal, and the Z-axis is vertical. In the present specification, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the upper side and the lower side are simply names for explaining the relative positional relationship of each part, and the actual arrangement relationship and the like are the arrangement relationship and the like indicated by these names. The arrangement relationship may be other than the above.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure control device 100 includes a body 20 and a sensor unit 1 installed on the body 20. The pressure control device 100 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile and is used as a hydraulic control device for controlling the flood control.
As shown in FIG. 3, the body 20 has a flow path 201 inside through which the fluid Q can pass. The body 20 is composed of, for example, an assembly in which a plurality of plate-shaped members are overlapped and assembled. The fluid Q is not particularly limited, and for example, when the pressure control device 100 is used as a hydraulic control device for an automobile, it can be a transmission oil.

The sensor unit 1 is used by being installed on the upper part of the body 20. The sensor unit 1 includes a pressure sensor 2, a bus bar 6, a case 5, a cap 8, a bracket 3, and a positioning unit 4. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part will be described.
The pressure sensor 2 detects the pressure of the fluid Q passing through the flow path 201. The pressure sensor 2 includes a sensor body 23 having a built-in circuit board (not shown), three terminals 21 protruding above the sensor body 23, and a pressure detecting element 24 installed below the sensor body 23. Has.

The sensor body 23 is a portion having a columnar or disk-like outer shape. A ring-shaped flange portion 22 along the circumferential direction is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the sensor main body 23. In the present embodiment, the flange portion 22 is in a state of projecting in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the terminal 21, that is, in a direction parallel to the XY plane.
Each terminal 21 projects in the Z-axis direction and is electrically connected to the circuit board inside the sensor body 23.

The pressure detecting element 24 has, for example, a strain gauge, and is configured such that the resistance value of the strain gauge changes depending on the force acting from the fluid Q. Then, the circuit board can convert the resistance value of the pressure detecting element 24 as the pressure value of the fluid Q. As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the body 20 is provided with a side hole 202 connected to a flow path 201 parallel to the XY plane along the Z-axis direction. The fluid Q that has passed through the flow path 201 can enter the side hole 202 and press the pressure detecting element 24. At this time, the pressure detecting element 24 receives a force from the fluid Q, and the pressure value of the fluid Q is detected as described above.

Further, between the pressure sensor 2 and the body 20, a ring-shaped packing 203 is arranged concentrically with the side hole 202. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fluid Q from leaking from between the pressure sensor 2 and the body 20. It is preferable that the packing 203 has elasticity and is in a compressed state between the pressure sensor 2 and the body 20. As a result, the liquidtightness between the pressure sensor 2 and the body 20 is enhanced, which contributes to the prevention of leakage of the fluid Q.

The bus bar 6 is arranged on the side opposite to the body 20 with respect to the pressure sensor 2, that is, on the upper side of the pressure sensor 2. The bus bar 6 is made of a linear, conductive metal material. The bus bar 6 is electrically connected to each terminal 21 of the pressure sensor 2, and includes a current supply bus bar 6A, a grounding bus bar 6B, and an output bus bar 6C, as shown in FIG. The current supply bus bar 6A is used to supply current to the pressure sensor 2. The grounding bus bar 6B is used for grounding the pressure sensor 2. The output bus bar 6C is used for the output of the pressure sensor 2. The current supply bus bar 6A, the grounding bus bar 6B, and the output bus bar 6C are arranged at equal intervals in one direction parallel to the XY plane.

An external connector (not shown) is electrically connected to the bus bar 6. Then, in a state where the bus bar 6 and the external connector are electrically connected, a current from the outside is supplied to the pressure sensor 2 via the current supply bus bar 6A. Further, the pressure sensor 2 is grounded to the outside via the grounding bus bar 6B. Further, the output of the pressure sensor 2 is transmitted to the outside via the output bus bar 6C.

The bus bar 6 has bent or curved bent portions 63 at two points in the middle in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction). Of the two bent portions 63, the bent portion 631 on one end side has a bending direction around the X axis, and the bent portion 632 located on the other end side has a bending direction around the Z axis. As described above, the bus bar 6 has a shape that is bent or curved with one end side in the length direction as the lateral direction of the bracket 3 and the other end side as the longitudinal direction of the bracket 3. As a result, the sensor unit 1 can be miniaturized at least in the plane direction.

The bus bar 6 is supported and fixed inside the case 5. As a result, the bus bar 6 can be prevented from being unintentionally deformed, and the bus bar 6 can be electrically connected to each terminal 21 of the pressure sensor 2 more accurately.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 5 is arranged in the middle of the elongated bracket 3 in the longitudinal direction. As will be described later, the bracket 3 is a member that presses the pressure sensor 2 against the body 20. Further, the case 5 has a fixing portion 50 fixed to the bracket 3. As a result, the case 5 can be prevented from being separated from the bracket 3, and thus the positional relationship between the bus bar 6 and the pressure sensor 2 is maintained, that is, the electrical connection between the bus bar 6 and the pressure sensor 2 is maintained. be able to.

The fixed portion 50 has a hollow portion 51 that penetrates the fixed portion 50 in the Z-axis direction. In the hollow portion 51, one end portion 64 in the length direction of the bus bar 6 is exposed. A part of the pressure sensor 2 is housed below the hollow portion 51, that is, each terminal 61 is exposed. As a result, each terminal 21 of the pressure sensor 2 and the bus bar 6 electrically connected to each terminal 21 can be protected, and a more reliable electrical connection between the bus bar 6 and the pressure sensor 2 becomes possible.

Further, the case 5 has a connector portion 52 that continuously extends from the fixing portion 50. The connector portion 52 includes a recess 521 into which the external connector is inserted from the negative side in the X-axis direction. In the recess 521, the other end 65 of the bus bar 6 in the length direction is exposed. This enables electrical connection with the external connector with a simple configuration.
The case 5 is preferably made of resin. As a result, the weight of the entire sensor unit 1 can be reduced. The resin material constituting the case 5 is not particularly limited, and for example, polyester such as polybutylene terephthalate can be used.

A cap 8 is detachably attached to the fixing portion 50 of the case 5. The cap 8 has a plate portion 81 and a pair of projecting portions 82 projecting from the plate portion 81 on the lower side in the thickness direction, that is, on the negative side in the Z-axis direction.
The plate portion 81 can cover the hollow portion 51 of the fixing portion 50 from above in a state where the cap 8 is attached to the fixing portion 50 of the case 5 (hereinafter referred to as “attached state”). As a result, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the terminals 21 and a malfunction of the pressure sensor 2 due to, for example, dust or foreign matter of dust entering the hollow portion 51.

Further, in the hollow portion 51, the plate portion 81 of the cap 8 and the one end portion 64 of the bus bar 6 are separated from each other, that is, they are in a non-contact state. Thereby, for example, even if the pressure sensor 2 moves slightly in the Z-axis direction due to the pressure fluctuation of the fluid Q passing through the flow path 201, the one end portion 64 of the bus bar 6 can be deformed following the pressure sensor 2. At that time, since the plate portion 81 is separated from the one end portion 64, the deformation of the one end portion 64 can be allowed. As a result, the state of electrical connection between the bus bar 6 and each terminal 21 can be preferably maintained.

The pair of protrusions 82 are arranged apart from each other in the X-axis direction. Further, each protruding portion 82 is composed of an elastic piece that can be elastically deformed. Then, in the mounted state, each of the protruding portions 82 comes into contact with the inner wall portion of the fixing portion 50, whereby the cap 8 is fixed to the fixing portion 50. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cap 8 from being detached from the fixed portion 50, thereby preventing the inside of the hollow portion 51 from being unintentionally exposed and reliably protecting the inside of the hollow portion 51. Can be done.

Further, the protruding portion 82 has a claw 822 whose thickness gradually increases toward the plate portion 81 side. In the mounted state, the claw 822 can be hooked on the inner wall portion of the fixing portion 50. The synergistic effect of the hooking of the claw 822 with the fixing portion 50 and the contact of the protruding portion 82 with the fixing portion 50 makes it possible to more reliably prevent the cap 8 from coming off from the fixing portion 50.

The cap 8 is also preferably made of resin, like the case 5. As a result, the weight of the sensor unit 1 as a whole can be reduced together with the case 5. The resin material constituting the cap 8 is not particularly limited, and for example, the same resin material as in the case 5 can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bracket 3 is arranged on the upper side of the pressure sensor 2. The bracket 3 is composed of an elongated plate member along the X-axis direction. The bracket 3 can press the pressure sensor 2 downward, that is, against the body 20 in a posture in which the thickness direction is parallel to the Z-axis direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 3 has a sensor hole 31, two bolt holes 32, and two case holes 35.

The sensor hole 31 is a circular hole that penetrates in the Z-axis direction and into which the pressure sensor 2 is inserted and attached from below. Further, the flange portion 22 of the pressure sensor 2 comes into contact with the edge portion of the sensor hole 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, if the bracket 3 is fixed to the body 20 via the bolt 30, the pressure sensor 2 can be pressed against the body 20. As a result, the pressure detection element 24 of the pressure sensor 2 can receive a force from the fluid Q.

Further, one end 64 of the bus bar 6 is exposed from the sensor hole 31. As a result, when the bus bar 6 is electrically connected to each terminal 21 of the pressure sensor 2, the bus bar 6 and each terminal 21 can be collectively visually recognized from above via the hollow portion 51, and thus the electrical connection work can be performed. It can be done more easily.

The two bolt holes 32 are arranged on both sides in the X-axis direction via the sensor holes 31. Each bolt hole 32 is a circular hole that penetrates in the Z-axis direction and into which the bolt 30 is inserted from above. As shown in FIG. 3, in the bolt 30 inserted into each bolt hole 32, a male screw 301 is fastened to a female screw 204 provided in the body 20. As a result, the bracket 3 can be fixed to the body 20. The number of bolt holes 32 arranged is not limited to two in the present embodiment, but may be three or more, for example. Further, the bolt 30 preferably has a screw nominal value of M5 or more and M10 or less, and more preferably M6 or more and M8 or less.

The two case holes 35 are also arranged on both sides in the X-axis direction via the sensor holes 31. Each case hole 35 is arranged between the two bolt holes 32, that is, is arranged closer to the sensor hole 31 than the bolt hole 32. Each case hole 35 is a hole that penetrates in the Z-axis direction and is used for fixing the case 5. When the case 5 is molded on the bracket 3, the liquid resin material constituting the case 5 enters the holes 35 for each case and solidifies. As a result, the case 5 is fixed to the bracket 3. The shape of each case hole 35 in a plan view is not limited to the shape shown in FIG.

The constituent material of the bracket 3 is not particularly limited, and for example, a metal material such as stainless steel, the same resin material as the case 5, and the like can be used.
Further, in the sensor unit 1, the bracket 3, the bus bar 6, and the case 5 are preferably integrally molded products by insert molding. As a result, the sensor unit 1 can be easily manufactured.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket 3 has an elongated shape and has an asymmetrical outer shape (non-axisymmetric with respect to the center line) via the center line in the longitudinal direction thereof. This makes it possible to prevent the bracket 3 from being used upside down. Here, the "center line O3" is a line parallel to the X-axis direction passing through the center O31 of the sensor hole 31.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the thickness direction of the bracket 3 and the length direction of the bus bar 6 are orthogonal to each other. Thereby, for example, the sensor unit 1 can be miniaturized, particularly in the height direction, as compared with the configuration in which the thickness direction of the bracket 3 and the length direction of the bus bar 6 are the same direction.

The positioning unit 4 is a portion that positions the bracket 3 with respect to the body 20 in the XY plane direction, the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the pressure sensor 2 direction (Z-axis direction).
For example, when the positioning unit 4 is omitted, the position and posture of the bracket 3 with respect to the body 20 may change depending on the skill of the assembling worker who assembles the sensor unit 1. If the position and posture of the bracket 3 with respect to the body 20 are changed by the assembling worker, the bracket 3 may not be accurately positioned and the pressure sensor 2 may not be uniformly pressed against the body 20 by the bracket 3. If the pressure sensor 2 is not pressed uniformly, the measured pressure may be inaccurate.
On the other hand, in the sensor unit 1, the bracket 3 is accurately positioned with respect to the body 20 by the positioning portion 4, so that the edge portion of the sensor hole 31 is displaced with respect to the flange portion 22 of the pressure sensor 2. The pressure sensor 2 can be uniformly pressed against the body 20 because the contact can be made without any trouble. As a result, the pressure sensor 2 can perform accurate measurement.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present embodiment, the positioning portion 4 has two positioning holes 33 penetrating in the Z-axis direction of the bracket 3 and a positioning pin 41 press-fitted into each positioning hole 333. .. As a result, the positioning unit 4 can be configured in a simple manner.
As shown in FIG. 4, the two positioning holes 33 are arranged on both sides in the X-axis direction via the sensor holes 31. That is, the sensor hole 31 is arranged between the two positioning holes 33. As a result, the two positioning holes 33 can be separated from each other as much as possible, and thus the positioning accuracy of the bracket 3 with respect to the body 20 is improved.

Further, each positioning hole 33 is arranged at a position away from the virtual line VL3-1 connecting the center O31 of the sensor hole 31 and the center O32 of each bolt hole 32, that is, at a position not intersecting with the virtual line VL3-1. Will be done. Thereby, for example, it is possible to prevent the bracket 3 from being used upside down.

The intersection O30 between the virtual line VL3-2 connecting the centers O33 of the two positioning holes 33 and the virtual line VL3-3 connecting the centers O32 of the two bolt holes 32 is inside the sensor hole 31 (for the sensor). (Including on the contour line of the hole 31). As a result, the pressure sensor 2 can be pressed against the body 20 in a stable and more uniform manner.

Although the positioning unit 4 has two positioning holes 33, the number of arrangements of the positioning holes 33 is not limited to two, and may be, for example, one or three or more.
The diameter of each positioning hole 33 is, for example, preferably 3 mm or more and 8 mm or less, and more preferably 5 mm or more and 6 mm or less.
Further, each positioning hole 33 is a through hole penetrating the bracket 3 in the present embodiment, but is not limited to this, and may be a non-through hole halfway in the thickness direction of the bracket 3.

A positioning pin 41 is press-fitted into each positioning hole 33. As a result, each positioning pin 41 is in a state of protruding downward. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, each positioning pin 41 is inserted into and fitted into the positioning hole 205 provided in the body 20. As a result, the bracket 3 can be accurately positioned with respect to the body 20 in the XY plane direction, the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the pressure sensor 2 direction. The fitting of the positioning pin 41 and the positioning hole 205 is preferably "clearance fit".

The positioning unit 4 has a configuration having a positioning hole 33 and a positioning pin 41 in the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the positioning pin 41 may be omitted. When the positioning pin 41 is omitted, the body 20 is provided with a positioning pin that is inserted into and fitted into the positioning hole 33.

Further, in the positioning unit 4, the positioning pin 41 is formed separately from the bracket 3 in the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the positioning pin 41 and the bracket 3 may be a single member. Good.
Further, in the present embodiment, the positioning portion 4 is arranged between the two bolt holes 32. This makes the configuration effective, for example, when it is desired to arrange the positioning portion 4 close to the sensor hole 31.

Although the sensor unit of the present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and each part constituting the sensor unit has an arbitrary configuration capable of exhibiting the same function. Can be replaced with. Further, any component may be added.

Further, the bracket 3 may have two bolt holes 32 arranged between the two positioning holes 33.
Further, in the bracket 3, bolt holes 32 and positioning holes 33 may be alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction of the bracket 3.
Further, the terminal 21 of the pressure sensor 2 and the bus bar 6 may be joined by, for example, laser welding.

100 ... Pressure control device, 1 ... Sensor unit, 2 ... Pressure sensor, 21 ... Terminal, 22 ... Flange, 23 ... Sensor body, 24 ... Pressure detection element, 3 ... Bracket, 31 ... Sensor hole, 32 ... Bolt Hole, 33 ... Positioning hole, 35 ... Case hole, 4 ... Positioning part, 41 ... Positioning pin, 5 ... Case, 50 ... Fixed part, 51 ... Hollow part, 52 ... Connector part, 521 ... Recessed part, 6 ... Bus bar, 6A ... current supply bus bar, 6B ... grounding bus bar, 6C ... output bus bar, 63 ... bending part, 631 ... bending part, 632 ... bending part, 64 ... one end, 65 ... other end, 8 ... cap, 81 ... Plate part, 82 ... Protruding part, 822 ... Claw, 20 ... Body, 201 ... Flow path, 202 ... Side hole, 203 ... Packing, 204 ... Female screw, 205 ... Positioning hole, 30 ... Bolt, 301 ... Male screw, O3 ... Center line, O30 ... intersection, O31 ... center, O32 ... center, O33 ... center, Q ... fluid, VL3-1 ... virtual line, VL3-2 ... virtual line, VL3-3 ... virtual line

Claims (8)

A sensor unit that is installed and used in a body that has a flow path through which fluid can pass.
A pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the fluid passing through the flow path, and
A plate-shaped bracket that presses the pressure sensor against the body, which penetrates in the thickness direction and is arranged via a sensor hole to which the pressure sensor is attached and a sensor hole, and is arranged in the thickness direction. A bracket with two bolt holes through which the bolt is inserted, and
A sensor unit including a positioning portion for positioning the bracket with respect to the body. The sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein the positioning portion has at least one positioning hole penetrating in the thickness direction of the bracket. The sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein the positioning hole is separated from an imaginary line connecting the center of the sensor hole and the center of the bolt hole. The sensor unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein two positioning holes are arranged via the sensor holes. The sensor unit according to claim 4, wherein the intersection of the virtual line connecting the centers of the two positioning holes and the virtual line connecting the centers of the two bolt holes is located inside the sensor holes. The sensor unit according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning pin press-fitted into the positioning hole. The sensor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the positioning portion is arranged between the two bolt holes. The sensor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bracket has an elongated shape and an asymmetrical shape via a center line in the longitudinal direction thereof.

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