JP3129885B2 - Sensor cell - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor for holding a quartz oscillator type gas sensor element used for an odor sensor or the like.
The present invention relates to a cell, and more particularly, to a sensor cell capable of easily performing a sensor replacement operation while protecting a quartz oscillator type gas sensor element from mechanical shock.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A quartz oscillator type gas sensor element has a thickness of 0.1 mm.
Since it is a thin plate of about 1 to 0.3 mm, it is weak against mechanical shock. For this reason, a mechanical shock must not be applied when replacing the quartz-crystal-type gas sensor element, and actions such as direct contact with the hand must be avoided.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a sensor cell for holding such a conventional quartz-crystal-type gas sensor element. In FIG. 4, 1 is a quartz oscillator type gas sensor element (hereinafter, referred to as a sensor element), 2 is a sensor cell, 3
Is a sensor probe.

[0004] A sensor element 1 is fixedly held by a sensor cell 2, and the sensor cell 2 is inserted into a sensor probe 3 and fixedly connected to the sensor probe 3.

In order to replace the sensor, the side of the sensor cell 2 to be replaced, which is indicated by "a" and "b" in FIG. 4, is grasped with a finger, and is pulled out from the sensor probe 3 in the direction of "c" in FIG. Remove the sensor cell 2 to be replaced. Next, the side of the new sensor cell 2 is similarly grasped, and the sensor probe 3 is inserted in the direction of "d" in FIG.

[0006]

However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 4, since the sensor element 1 is exposed to the outside, the sensor element 1 may be directly touched when the sensor is replaced.

Further, since the sensor element 1 and the sensor cell 2 are integrated with each other, when the sensor cell 2 is picked up with a finger and pulled out or inserted, care must be taken when working.
There is a problem that the mechanical shock may cause the sensor element 1 to be damaged. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor which can easily perform a sensor replacement operation.
The realization of a cell.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sensor which holds a quartz oscillator type gas sensor element and is inserted into a sensor probe and fixedly connected. In the cell, the crystal resonator element used as the crystal resonator type gas sensor element, a base for fixing the crystal resonator piece, and two or more openings are included and include the crystal resonator piece. And the protective cover fixed to the base, and the sensor / probe connection means are fixedly connected.
The sensor up the output from Rutotomoni the crystal oscillator piece
Connection means for outputting to the lobe .

[0009]

By covering the periphery of the crystal unit with a metal cylinder or the like, there is no danger that the sensor unit will be directly touched by hand during sensor replacement work, and the possibility of damage to the crystal unit due to mechanical shock is reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view and a plan view showing a first embodiment of a sensor cell according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 4a, 4b and 4c denote quartz oscillator pieces used as sensor elements, 5 denotes a metal cylinder, 6a and 6b denote metal rods, 7 denotes a circular base made of a printed circuit board or the like, and 8 denotes connection means. There is a certain connector.

Here, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5, 6a, 6
b, 7 and 8 represent sensor cells 50, 5, 6a and 6b
Each constitute a protective cover 51.

Quartz vibrator piece 4 as three sensor elements
a, 4b and 4c are strip-shaped AT-cut vibrators,
It is fixed to the base 7. The output terminals of the crystal units 4 a, 4 b and 4 c are connected to the wiring pattern of the base 7.

Further, two ends of two metal rods 6a and 6b are fixed to the circumferential portion of the base 7 so as to face each other, and a metal cylinder 5 is fixed to the other end of the metal rods 6a and 6b. You. At this time, the metal cylinder 5 is
a, 4b and 4c are fixed so as to be included in the inside of the metal cylinder 5.

Further, a connector 8 is fixed to the base 7, and a wiring pattern of the base 7 is connected thereto. That is, the outputs of the quartz-crystal vibrating pieces 4a, 4b and 4c are output to the outside of the sensor cell 50 by the connector 8 as the connecting means.

FIG. 2 shows the sensor cell 50 as a sensor cell.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the probe is mounted on the probe. In FIG. 2, 9 is a cap, 10 is a sensor / probe main body, 11
Is a connector as connection means, 12 is a board, and 13 is a fan.

The fan 13 is provided with a sensor
The substrate 12 is fixed on the upper surface of the exhaust port provided in the probe main body 10, and further on the fan 13.

A connector 11 for connecting to the connector 8 constituting the sensor cell 50 is fixed to the substrate 12.

The sensor cell 50 is inserted into the sensor probe body 10, and the connector 8 is fixedly connected to the connector 11. Further, the cap 9 is connected to the sensor cell 5
0 is fixed to the sensor / probe main body 10 so as to cover 0.

Here, the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described using the flow of gas, and the operation of replacing the sensor cell 50 will be described.

First, the gas in the sensor / probe main body 10 is exhausted from the exhaust port “A” by the fan 13. As a result, the inside of the sensor / probe main body 10 becomes a negative pressure.

On the other hand, since the tip of the cap 9 is open, the gas to be measured flows into the sensor / probe main body 10 from the opening as shown by "b" in FIG.

The gas to be measured flows into the metal cylinder 5 of the sensor cell 50 as shown by "c" in FIG. 2, and the metal cylinder 5 as shown by "d" and "e" in FIG.
Flows into the sensor / probe main body 10 through an opening between the base and the base 7.

The gas to be measured flowing into the sensor / probe main body 10 is exhausted again from the exhaust port "A" by the fan 13 as shown by "F" in FIG.

As a result, the gas to be measured is stored in the sensor cell 50.
Inside the metal cylinder 5, that is, the quartz oscillator piece 4
The odors are detected by flowing around the a, 4b and 4c and attaching the odor substance to the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c.

In particular, since there are two openings, an opening at the tip of the metal cylinder 5 functioning as an intake port and an opening on the base 7 side functioning as an exhaust port, the flow path of the gas to be measured is secured. You.

In addition, since the flow path cross-sectional area is the smallest and the flow velocity is large around the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c,
The absorption efficiency of the odor substance in the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c is increased, and the response speed of the sensor is improved.

On the other hand, when replacing the sensor cell 50, first, the cap 9 is removed from the sensor / probe main body 10. Next, the side surface of the sensor cell 50 to be replaced, that is, the side surface of the metal cylinder 5 is picked up with a finger and extracted, and a new sensor cell 50 is inserted in the same manner.

The electrical connection between the sensor cell 50 and the sensor probe main body 10 is made by connectors 8 and 11.

Here, the quartz oscillator piece 4 as a sensor element
a, 4b and 4c are covered with a metal cylinder 5;
There is no risk of touching the sensor directly with the hand when replacing the sensor.

Further, since the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c and the metal cylinder 5 are not integrated, mechanical shock applied to the metal cylinder 5 when the sensor cell 50 is replaced is not affected. It is not easily transmitted to 4b and 4c, and the risk of damage to the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c due to mechanical shock is reduced.

As a result, the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4
By covering the periphery of c with the metal cylinder 5, the sensor cell 50 can be easily replaced.

FIG. 3 is a front view and a plan view showing a second embodiment of the sensor cell according to the present invention. Here, 4a,
4b, 4c, 6a, 6b, 7 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes a metal cylinder formed by processing three circular holes along the center axis direction, and 4a, 4b, 4
c, 6a, 6b, 7 and 8 and 14 are sensor cells 50
a, 6A, 6b and 14 constitute a protective cover 51a, respectively.

The connection and the like are almost the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that a metal cylinder 14 is used in place of the metal cylinder 5. The quartz-crystal vibrating pieces 4a, 4b and 4c are inserted so as not to contact the inner surfaces of the three circular holes formed in the metal cylinder 14, and the metal rod 6a
And 6b are fixedly connected to the base 7.

As a result, the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4
By covering the periphery of c with the metal cylinder 14, there is no danger that the sensor will be directly touched by hand at the time of replacing the sensor, and the risk of damage to the quartz vibrator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c due to mechanical shock is reduced, and it is easy. The replacement work of the sensor cell 50a can be performed.

By inserting the quartz oscillator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c into the three circular holes formed in the metal cylinder 14, respectively, the cross-sectional area of the flow path becomes smaller, the absorption efficiency becomes higher, and the sensor Response speed is improved.

The metal cylinder 5, the metal cylinder 14, and the metal rods 6a and 6b can be formed by punching a sheet metal, using a plastic mold, or the like.

It is also possible to integrally form the protective covers 51 and 51a by using sheet metal punching, plastic molding, or the like, thereby further reducing costs.

The protective cover 51 shown in FIGS.
And 51a have the shape of a cylinder and a cylinder for the sake of convenience in preparation, but are not limited to this shape, and may have at least two or more openings for intake or exhaust. It doesn't matter.

Further, by using a rectangular AT-cut vibrator as the quartz vibrator pieces 4a, 4b and 4c, the sensor cells 50 and 50a can be reduced in size.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. By covering the periphery of the crystal unit with a metal cylinder, etc., there is no danger of touching it directly by hand when replacing the sensor, and the risk of damage to the crystal unit due to mechanical shock is reduced. A sensor cell that can be replaced can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a plan view showing a first embodiment of a sensor cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a sensor cell is mounted on a sensor probe.

FIG. 3 is a front view and a plan view showing a second embodiment of the sensor cell according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a sensor cell holding a conventional quartz-crystal-type gas sensor element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Quartz crystal type gas sensor element 2 Sensor cell 3 Sensor probe 4a, 4b, 4c Quartz crystal piece 5 Metal cylinder 6a, 6b Metal rod 7 Base 8, 11 Connector 9 Cap 10 Sensor probe body 12 Substrate 13 Fan 14 Metal cylinder 50, 50a Sensor cell 51, 51a Protective cover

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A quartz oscillator type gas sensor element ,
A sensor cell which is inserted into the sensor probe and fixedly connected thereto; a quartz oscillator piece used as the quartz oscillator type gas sensor element; a base for fixing the quartz oscillator piece; and two or more openings And a protective cover fixed to the base so as to include the quartz-crystal vibrating piece, and fixedly connected to the sensor / probe connection means.
Sensor cell, characterized in that a connecting means for outputting the output from the crystal oscillator piece to the sensor probe <br/> to.