U.S. patent application number 10/359210 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-07 for sensor and manufacturing method thereof.
Invention is credited to Shibayama, Susumu.
Application Number | 20030146819 10/359210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27624609 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030146819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shibayama, Susumu |
August 7, 2003 |
Sensor and manufacturing method thereof
Abstract
A temperature sensor comprises a thermistor element, a metal
tube into which the thermistor element is inserted, two electrode
wires joined to the thermistor element, two lead wires, which are
covered by covering tubes with uncovered portions remaining and
joined to the electrode wires, respectively, at the uncovered
portions, and a housing having an inner hollow space into which the
electrode wires and the lead wires are accommodated together with a
resin. The sensor further comprises an insulating case disposed
inside the housing and provided with a partition section for
separating the joined portions of the electrode wires and the lead
wires, the electrode wires and the lead wires from each other, and
the inside of the insulating case is filled up with resin in a
state that an opened end of the metal tube, the electrode wire and
portions of the covered lead wires and uncovered portions thereof
are inserted in the insulating case.
Inventors: |
Shibayama, Susumu;
(Anjo-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
1100 N GLEBE ROAD
8TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22201-4714
US
|
Family ID: |
27624609 |
Appl. No.: |
10/359210 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
338/22R ; 338/28;
374/E7.028 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01K 7/22 20130101; H01C
1/028 20130101; H01C 7/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
338/22.00R ;
338/28 |
International
Class: |
H01C 007/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 7, 2002 |
JP |
2002-30925 |
Dec 12, 2002 |
JP |
2002-360600 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sensor comprising: a thermistor element for generating an
electric signal; a metal tube having one opened end and another
closed end, into which said thermistor element is inserted; a
plurality of electrode wires joined to the thermistor element so as
to project outward over the opened end of the metal tube; a
plurality of lead wires, which are covered by covering tubes with
uncovered portions remaining and joined to the electrode wires,
respectively, at the uncovered portions; a housing having an inner
hollow space into which the electrode wires and the lead wires are
accommodated together with a resin as a filler; an insulating case
disposed inside the housing and provided with a partition section
for separating the joined portions of the electrode wires and the
lead wires from each other, the respective electrode wires from
each other and the respective lead wires from each other; and an
insulating material which is fed to fill inside the insulating case
in a state that the opened end of the metal tube and the electrode
wires extending therefrom are inserted in the insulating case and
portions of the covered lead wires and uncovered portions thereof
are also inserted therein.
2. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said insulating case is
formed of a resin material.
3. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said insulating case is
formed from glass.
4. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said insulating material
is an epoxy resin, which constitutes a resin filling layer in the
insulating case.
5. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said insulating case has
a cylindrical columnar shape and is composed of divided two case
halves, having substantially symmetrical shape, each provided with
longitudinal half of inner hollow space.
6. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said insulating case is
provided with a rib member extending in a direction normal to a
longitudinal resin flowing direction at a time of feeding the resin
in the housing and abutting against an inner peripheral surface of
the housing.
7. A sensor according to claim 6, wherein said rib member comprises
a plurality of rib pieces which are formed to outer peripheral
surfaces of the insulating case at both longitudinal end portions
thereof.
8. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein said rib member comprises
three rib pieces each having a conical shape.
9. A sensor according to claim 7, wherein said rib member comprises
four rib pieces each having a sectorial shape.
10. A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is a
temperature sensor provided for an internal combustion engine of a
vehicle for detecting a temperature of an exhaust gas of an exhaust
tube of the internal combustion engine.
11. A method of manufacturing a sensor which generally comprises a
thermistor element for generating an electric signal, a metal tube
having one opened end and another closed end, into which the
thermistor element is inserted, a plurality of electrode wires
joined to the thermistor element so as to project outward over the
opened end of the metal tube, a plurality of lead wires, which are
covered by covering tubes with uncovered portions remaining and
joined to the electrode wires, respectively, at the uncovered
portions, and a housing having an inner hollow space into which the
electrode wires and the lead wires are accommodated together with a
resin as a filler, said sensor manufacturing method comprising the
steps of; preparing an insulating case provided with a partition
section for separating the joined portions of the electrode wires
and the lead wires from each other, the respective electrode wires
from each other and the respective lead wires from each other;
inserting the opened end of the metal tube, the electrode wires
extending therefrom and portions of the covered lead wires and
uncovered portions thereof into the insulating case; joining the
electrode wires and the lead wires to each other; filling the
insulating case with an insulating material; inserting thereafter
the insulating case in the housing; and filling resin in the hollow
space of the housing.
12. A method of manufacturing a sensor according to claim 11,
wherein said resin in fed into the housing through an injection
molding process.
13. A method of manufacturing a sensor according to claim 11,
wherein said insulating case is formed of a resin material.
14. A method of manufacturing a sensor according to claim 11,
wherein said insulating case is formed from glass.
15. A method of manufacturing a sensor according to claim 11,
wherein said insulating material is an epoxy resin, which
constitutes a resin filling layer in the insulating case.
16. A method of manufacturing a sensor according to claim 11,
wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor provided for an
internal combustion engine of a vehicle for detecting a temperature
of an exhaust gas of an exhaust tube of the internal combustion
engine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor, particularly, a
temperature sensor, having an element generating an electric signal
such as thermistor element of which resistance is variable in
response to a temperature and also relates to a method of
manufacturing such sensor.
[0002] In a prior art, Japanese Patent Laid-open (KOKAI)
Publication No. SHO 54-159684 discloses a connector in which a lead
wire and a connector pin are joined together at a plurality
portions and such joined portions are accommodated in an insulating
sleeve, which is filled up with thermoplastic resin such as epoxy
resin. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-open (KOKAI) Publication
No. HEI 6-174557 discloses a sensor in which a mica plate is
disposed between a plurality of joined portions of an element wire
of a detection portion and an element wire of a lead wire, and the
surrounding of the plural joined portions is covered by an
insulating tube. A metal tube is disposed around the insulating
tube and the lead wire and the resin such an epoxy resin then fills
the inside of the metal tube.
[0003] In the connector of the former prior art, however, uncovered
portions of a plurality of element wires near the joined portions
are arranged near one by one, so that there is a fear of
short-circuiting at a time of pouring the resin.
[0004] On the other hand, in the sensor of the latter prior tubes
with uncovered portions remaining and joined to the electrode
wires, respectively, at the uncovered portions;
[0005] a housing having an inner hollow space into which the
electrode wires and the lead wires are accommodated together with a
resin as a filler;
[0006] an insulating case disposed inside the housing and provided
with a partition section for separating the joined portions of the
electrode wires and the lead wires from each other, the respective
electrode wires from each other and the respective lead wires from
each other; and
[0007] an insulating material which fills inside the insulating
case in a state that the opened end of the metal tube and the
electrode wires extending therefrom are inserted in the insulating
case and portions of the covered lead wires and uncovered portions
thereof are also inserted therein.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the following
features may be additionally provided.
[0009] The insulating case may be formed of a resin material, glass
and the like.
[0010] The insulating material is an epoxy resin, which constitutes
a resin filling layer in the insulating case.
[0011] The insulating case has a cylindrical columnar shape and is
composed of longitudinally divided two case halves, having
substantially symmetrical shape, each provided with longitudinal
half of inner hollow space.
[0012] The insulating case may be provided with a rib member
extending in a direction normal to a longitudinal resin flowing
direction at a time of feeding the resin in the housing and
abutting against an inner peripheral surface of the housing. The
rib member comprises a plurality of rib pieces which are formed to
outer peripheral surfaces of the insulating case at both
longitudinal end portions thereof. The rib member may comprises
three rib pieces each having a conical shape or four rib pieces
each having a sectorial shape.
[0013] In another aspect, the above object can be also achieved by
providing a method of manufacturing a sensor which generally
comprises a thermistor element for generating an electric signal, a
metal tube having one opened end and another one closed end, into
which the thermistor element is inserted, a plurality of electrode
wires joined to the thermistor element so as to project outward
over the opened end of the metal tube, a plurality of lead wires,
which are covered by covering tubes with uncovered portions
remaining and joined to the electrode wires, respectively, at the
uncovered portions, and a housing having an inner hollow space into
which the electrode wires and the lead wires are accommodated
together with a resin as a filler,
[0014] the sensor manufacturing method comprising the steps of;
[0015] preparing an insulating case provided with a partition
section for separating the joined portions of the electrode wires
and the lead wires from each other, the respective electrode wires
from each other and the respective lead wires from each other;
[0016] inserting the opened end of the metal tube, the electrode
wires extending therefrom and portions of the covered lead wires
and uncovered portions thereof into the insulating case;
[0017] joining the electrode wires and the lead wires to each
other;
[0018] filling the insulating case with an insulating material;
[0019] inserting thereafter the insulating case in the housing;
and
[0020] filling the hollow space of the housing with resin.
[0021] In this method, the resin is fed into the housing through an
injection molding process.
[0022] Furthermore, in a preferred example of the present
invention, the sensor is a temperature sensor provided for an
internal combustion engine of a vehicle for detecting a temperature
of an exhaust gas of an exhaust tube of the internal combustion
engine.
[0023] According to the sensor and its manufacturing method of the
characters mentioned above, the insulated state of portions which
may be short-circuited, that is, the joined portions of the
electrode wire and the lead wire, a portion of the electrode wire
projecting over the metal tube and the uncovered portion of the
lead wire can be surely maintained in the insulating case. Thus,
the short-circuiting at the time of injecting the resin in the
housing can be prevented from causing.
[0024] When the insulating case is formed from glass, heat
resisting property can be further improved.
[0025] In a case where the insulating case is displaced by the
resin filling pressure in a direction normal to the resin flow
direction in the insulating case, a certain force maybe applied to
the joined portion of the electrode wire and the lead wire, which
will adversely result in imperfect contact therebetween.
[0026] According to the present invention in which the rib member
is provided for the insulating case, since the insulating case is
positioned in the direction normal to the resin flow direction, the
fear of undesired displacement of the insulating case will be
substantially eliminated.
[0027] The nature and further characteristic features of the
present invention will be made more clear from the following
description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] In the accompanying drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a sensor, i.e., temperature
sensor, according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 includes illustrations of FIGS. 2A to 2D of the
sensor of FIG. 1 for the purpose of explaining manufacturing steps
thereof;
[0031] FIG. 3 represents an insulating case of the sensor of FIG. 1
and includes FIG. 3A of a plan view of the insulating case, FIG. 3B
of a sectional view thereof taken along the line IIIB-IIIB in FIG.
3A, FIG. 3C of a left side view of FIG. 3B and FIG. 3D of a right
side view of FIG. 3B;
[0032] FIG. 4 relates to a second embodiment of a sensor of the
present invention and represents one of divided case halves of an
insulating case and includes FIG. 4A showing a front view thereof
and FIG. 4B showing a sectional view taken along the line IVB-IVB
in FIG. 4A;
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a state that an integral structure of an
essential portion of the sensor of FIG. 4 is accommodated in one
divided case half;
[0034] FIG. 6 is an illustration of the combined insulating case,
including FIG. 6A of a front view, FIG. 6B of a left side end view
and FIG. 6C of a right side end view thereof;
[0035] FIG. 7 represents a third embodiment of a sensor according
to the present invention and includes FIG. 7A of a plan view of an
insulating case, FIG. 7B of a front view thereof, FIG. 7C of a left
side view thereof and FIG. 7D of a right side view thereof; and
[0036] FIG. 8 represents a fourth embodiment of a sensor according
to the present invention and includes FIG. 8A of a plan view of an
insulating case, FIG. 8B of a front view thereof, FIG. 8C of a left
side view thereof and FIG. 8D of a right side view thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBIDIMENTS
[0037] A first embodiment of a sensor (i.e., temperature sensor for
detecting a temperature of an exhaust gas from an internal
combustion engine of a vehicle, according to the present invention,
will be first described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the temperature sensor is
provided with a thermistor element 10, for high temperature use,
capable of withstanding the use in an environment of exhaust gas
having a temperature of more than 500.degree. C. This thermistor
element 10 is for generating an electric signal and composed of a
ceramics or silicone semiconductor and has a resistance variable in
response to a temperature. The thermistor element 10 is inserted
into a metal tube 20 composed of a stainless steel tube having one
end opened and the other end closed, constituting a bottomed
cylindrical metal structure.
[0039] To the thermistor element 10, a pair of electrode wires 30
composed of Fe'Cr wire are joined so as to project outward from the
opened end of the metal tube 20 when the thermistor element 10 is
inserted into the metal tube 20. Furthermore, a pair of lead wires
40 covered by covering tubes are electrically joined by means of,
for example, welding, to the projecting end portions of the
electrode wires 30, respectively, so as to provide joined portions
A (FIG. 2B).
[0040] Portions near the joined portions A of the electrode wires
30 and the lead wires 40 are accommodated in an insulating case 50
formed of a material such as nylon having an electrically
insulating property. An epoxy resin is fed so as to fill inside the
insulating case 50 to form a resin filler layer 60.
[0041] The insulating case 50 has approximately a rectangular shape
in section, having an inner hollow space for accommodating the
joined portions A. This inner space is sectioned into first and
second spaces 52 and 53 by means of partition member 51. A tube
insertion hole 54 is formed to one longitudinal end side of the
insulating case 50 so as to communicate with the first and second
spaces 52 and 53, and on the other hand, a first lead wire
insertion hole 55 communicated with the first space 52 and a second
lead wire insertion hole 56 communicated with the second space 53
are formed to the other longitudinal end side of he insulating case
50, respectively. Furthermore, these first and second spaces 52 an
53 are opened outward through a common opening 57, through which
the epoxy resin is fed into these spaces 52 and 53.
[0042] The lead wires 40 have end portions extending outward the
insulating case 50 and a pair of metal terminals 70 are joined to
these end portions by means of, for example, welding.
[0043] According to the manner mentioned above, the thermistor
element 10, the metal tube 20, the electrode wires 30, the lead
wires 40 ant the terminals 70 are formed integrally as an integral
structure as shown in FIG. 2C. This integral structure is inserted
and fitted into a cylindrical housing 80 formed of a metal material
such as stainless steel and provided with a staged (different
level) portion. Then, an insulating material such as nylon is fed
into the housing 80 and a connector housing 91 is thereafter
injection-molded.
[0044] Further, with reference to FIG. 1, reference numeral 90
represents a resin mold portion which is formed through an
injection molding and to which the connector housing 91 extending
from the housing 80 is integrally formed. The connector hosing 91
has an inner space into which the one end portions of the terminals
70 project.
[0045] In the integral structure mentioned above, the bottom side
of the metal tube 20 projects outside the housing 80, and the metal
tube 20 is secured air-tightly to the housing 80 as an intermediate
thin thickness portion 81 thereof. This thin thickness portion 81
is calked and welded by means of laser welding. The housing 80 has
an outer peripheral surface to which male threaded portion 82 is
formed, and the temperature sensor of the present invention is then
mounted to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine of a
vehicle, not shown through an engagement of this male threaded
portion 82 with a female threaded portion formed to the exhaust
pipe in a manner such that the bottom side of the metal tube 20 is
positioned inside the exhaust pipe. According to such arrangement,
the resistance of the thermistor element 10 varies in response to
the temperature change of the exhaust and the varying resistance is
detected as temperature change of the exhaust gas.
[0046] The temperature sensor of the structure mentioned above will
be manufactured in accordance with steps or processes described
with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D.
[0047] That is, the thermistor element 10 is inserted into the
metal tube 20 as shown in FIG. 2A. Then, the opened end portion of
the metal tube 20 is inserted into the tube insertion hole 54 so
that the first and second lead wires 40, 40 are inserted through
the first and second lead wire insertion holes 55 and 56,
respectively. In this process, portions of the cover tubes of the
lead wires 40, 40 are inserted into the first and second spaces 52
and 53, and the lead wires 40, 40 are thereafter joined to the
electrode wires 30, 30, respectively, so that the joined portions A
of the electrode wires 30, 30 and the lead wires 40, 40 are
accommodated respectively in the first and second spaces 52 and 53.
Under the state mentioned above, a portion between the two
electrode wires 30, 30, a portion between the two lead wires 40, 40
and a portion between the two joined portions A, A are separated
respectively from each other by means of partition section 51 as
shown in FIG. 2B.
[0048] Next, with reference to FIG. 2C, the first and second spaces
52 and 53 are filled up with the epoxy resin, and then, the end
portions of the lead wires 40 extending outside the insulating case
50 are joined to the terminals 70. According to this manner, an
insulated state of portions which may be short-circuited, that is,
the insulated state of the portions of the electrode wires 30
projecting over the metal tube 20, the joined portions A, and the
uncovered portions of the lead wires 40 can be ensured in the
insulating case 50.
[0049] In the next step, as shown in FIG. 2D, the integral
structure provided with the joined terminals 70 is inserted into
the housing 80. Thereafter, the resin is fed into the housing 80,
thus injection molding the resin mold portion 90. Then, the thin
thickness portion 81 of the housing 80 is calked and welded to the
metal tube 20 through the laser welding process.
[0050] According to the steps or processes mentioned above with
reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D, the temperature sensor of the present
invention represented by FIG. 1 is manufactured and completed.
[0051] In the above manufacturing processes, the injection molding
of the resin mold portion 90 will be performed by using a known
injection molding machine in the following conditions.
[0052] That is, for example, when liquid crystal polymer is used as
material for the resin mold portion 90, the injection molding is
performed at a temperature of a cylinder of 340 to 380.degree. C.,
at a temperature of a metal mold of 120 to 180.degree. C., at an
injection pressure of 100 to 140 Mpa. and for injecting time of 1.5
sec.
[0053] According to this first embodiment, the insulated state of
the portions which may be short-circuited, that is, the insulated
state of the two electrode wires 30, the two lead wires 40 and the
two joined portions A thereof can be separated from each other by
means of partition section 51, and in such state, the epoxy resin
is fed to fill the first and second spaces 52 and 53, so that the
insulated state of the portions which may be short-circuited can be
surely maintained in the insulating case 50. Thus, the
short-circuiting at the injection molding process of the resin mold
90 can be prevented from causing.
[0054] According to the described embodiment, although the epoxy
resin is fed into the nylon insulating case 50 as one typical
example, in an alternation, the heat resisting property can be
further improved by feeding a silicone binder into the insulating
case 50 made of PTFE.
[0055] [Second Embodiment]
[0056] In the first embodiment, the nylon insulating case 50 is
utilized, in this second embodiment, a cylindrical insulating case
100 is composed of two longitudinally divided case halves 100a and
100b formed from glass.
[0057] This second embodiment will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 4 to 6, in which FIG. 4 represents one of divided case halves
cases 100a or 100b and includes FIG. 4A showing a front view
thereof and FIG. 4B showing a sectional view taken along the line
IVB-IVB in FIG. 4A, FIG. 5 illustrating a state that the integral
structure of the essential portion of the temperature sensor is
accommodated in one divided case half 100a (that is, the joined
portion A is accommodated therein), and FIG. 6 is an illustration
of the combined insulating case 100 including FIG. 6A of front
view, FIG. 6B of left side end view and FIG. 6C of right side end
view.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the divided case halves 100a and
100b each has a shape obtainable by vertically dividing a
cylindrical columnar insulating case 100 into two halves having an
inner space into which the joined portions A and its near portions
are to be accommodated. This inner space is sectioned into first
and second spaces 102 and 103 by means of partition section 101,
and longitudinal one end side of the combined case halves 100a and
100b is formed with a tube insertion hole 104 which communicate
with the first and second spaces 102 and 103 as shown in FIG. 4A.
That is, the longitudinally divided case halves 100a and 100b are
respectively formed with semi-circular grooves (104) which are
formed into the circular hole 104 when combined.
[0059] The temperature sensor of this second embodiment is
assembled and manufactured in the following manner.
[0060] The thermistor element 10 is first inserted into the metal
tube 20 in the state shown in FIG. 2A and the electrode wires 30
and the lead wires 40 are joined together.
[0061] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the opened end side of the metal
tube 20 is inserted into tube insertion groove 104 of one divided
case half 100a and the lead wires 40, 40 are inserted (fitted) into
the first and second spaces 102 and 103 of the one divided case
half 100a. Moreover, the joined portion A of one electrode wire 30
and one lead wire 40 is accommodated in the first space 103 and the
other one joined portion A of the other one electrode wire 30 and
the other one lead wire 40 is also accommodated in the second space
103 in the state shown in FIG. 5.
[0062] Under the state mentioned above, the portion between the two
electrode wires 30, 30, the portion between the two lead wires 40,
40 and the portion between the two joined portions A, A are
separated respectively from each other by means of partition
section 101 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0063] Thereafter, the first and second spaces 102 and 103 of the
respective divided case halves 100a and 100b are filled up with an
insulating material such as cement having an electrically
insulating property, and both these divided case halves 100a and
100b are then assembled into the case 100. In this process, the
divided case halves 100a and 100b are joined and bonded by the
cement as an integral structure of the case 100.
[0064] According to this manner, the insulated state of the
portions which may be short-circuited, that is, the insulated state
of the portions of the electrode wires 30 projecting over the metal
tube 20, the joined portions A, and the uncovered portions of the
lead wires 40 can be ensured in the insulating case 100.
[0065] In the next step, as like as shown in FIG. 2D, the terminals
70 are joined to the end portions of the respective lead wires 40
extending outward the insulating case 100, and after the integral
structure provided with the joined terminals 70 is inserted into
the housing 80, the resin is fed so as to fill the housing 80, thus
injection molding the resin mold portion 90. Then, the thin
thickness portion 81 of the housing 80 is calked and welded to the
metal tube 20 through the laser welding process.
[0066] According to the steps or processes mentioned above, the
temperature sensor of the second embodiment of the present
invention is completed and thus manufactured.
[0067] Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the insulating case
100 is formed from glass, so that the improved heat resisting
property can be obtained.
[0068] [Third Embodiment]
[0069] The third embodiment is represented by FIG. 7 including FIG.
7A of a plan view of the insulating case 50, FIG. 7B of a front
view thereof, FIG. 7C of a left side view thereof and FIG. 7D of a
right side view thereof. In this third embodiment, a rib 200 is
additionally provided for the insulating case 50 of the first
embodiment.
[0070] Incidentally, with reference to FIG. 1, an arrow D indicates
the flow of the resin in the insulating case 50 at the time of the
injection molding of the resin mold portion 90. In the first
embodiment mentioned hereinbefore, there may case a case, in
accordance with the pressure at the injection molding process, that
the insulating case 50 is displaced in a direction E normal to the
resin flow direction D. In such adverse case, a certain force may
be applied to the joined portion A of the electrode wire 30 and the
lead wire 40, which will cause an imperfect contact.
[0071] In order to obviate such defect, in this third embodiment of
the present invention, the rib 200 is integrally formed with the
insulating case 50. This rib 200 has substantially conical shape
extending along the direction E normal to the resin flow direction
D, and totally three ribs 200 are formed to the insulating case 50
at longitudinal one and the other end side outer peripheral
surfaces of the insulating case 50, respectively, as shown in FIG.
7.
[0072] In the state shown in FIG. 7D, in which the insulating case
50 is inserted into the housing 80, the front end portions of the
ribs 200 abut against the inner peripheral surface of the housing
80 to thereby position the insulating case in the direction E.
[0073] According to this third embodiment, as mentioned above,
since the positioning of the insulating case 50 in the direction E
can be achieved by means of ribs 200, the displacement of the
insulating case 50 in the direction E by the pressure at the
injection molding process can be effectively prevented and the
defective imperfect contact between the electrode wire 30 and the
lead wire 40 can be prevented from causing.
[0074] [Fourth Embodiment]
[0075] The fourth embodiment is represented by FIG. 8 including
FIG. 8A of a plan view of the insulating case 50, FIG. 8B of a
front view thereof, FIG. 8C of a left side view thereof and FIG. 8C
of a right side view thereof. In this fourth embodiment, the
structure of a rib 300 has a different shape from that of the rib
200 of the third embodiment.
[0076] With reference to FIG. 8, the rib 300 of this embodiment has
a sectorial shape, and totally four ribs 300 are formed to each of
the outer peripheral surfaces of the longitudinal end portions of
the insulating case 50. In the state that the insulating case 50
provided with such ribs 300 are inserted into the housing 80, the
outer peripheral surfaces of the ribs 300 abut against the inner
peripheral surface 83 of the housing 80 to thereby position the
insulating case 50 in the direction E normal to the resin flow
direction D in the housing 80.
[0077] According to this fourth embodiment, as mentioned above,
since the positioning of the insulating case 50 in the direction E
by means of ribs 300 can be performed, the displacement of the
insulating case 50 to the direction E by the pressure at the
injection molding process can be prevented and the imperfect
contact between the electrode wire 30 and the lead wire 40 can be
also prevented from causing.
[0078] It is further to be noted that the present invention is not
limited to the described embodiments and many other changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the scopes of the
appended claims. For example, the invention is described with
reference to the embodiments of the temperature sensor, but it may
be applicable to sensors other than such temperature sensors.
* * * * *