Magnet carrier disposed within an outer housing

• US 5,414,355 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Michelhaugh, Scott E., Eaton, William E., Rowley, James W., Tessmann, Daryl L., Ulz, David W., Ross, Gordon F., Schoening, Danny R., Davidson, Robert M., Furlong, Gregory R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US08/205,668
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 324/173, 324/174, 324/207.15, 324/207.16, 324/207.2, 324/207.21, 73/DIG. 3, 123/617, 174/52.3, 174/52.5, 174/52.6
• US Class Current: 324/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/001 Constructional details of gauge heads G01B7/012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/147 influenced by the movement of a third element, the position of Hall device and the source of magnetic field being fixed in respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/00 Details of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/026 for speed measuring devices, e.g. pulse generator
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/488 delivered by variable reluctance detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9505 Constructional details

Abstract

A magnetic sensor is provided with a housing in which a carrier is inserted. The carrier is particularly shaped to retain a permanent magnet in a particular position relative to a plurality of electrical conductors and a substrate on which a magnetically sensitive component is attached. The carrier and its associated components is inserted into a housing which can be deformed to permanently retain the carrier within a cavity of the housing. All of the components of the sensor are designed to be easily assembly along a common axis to facilitate automatic assembly and manufacture of the sensor. The magnetically sensitive component can be a Hall effect element that is associated with other electrical components which are also attached to a substrate that is disposed proximate a front end of the carrier.

Claims

1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:

a carrier having a front end, a back end and an opening formed within said carrier, said opening extending into said carrier from said front end;

a plurality of electrical conductors, said plurality of electrical conductors being molded within the body of said carrier and extending from said front end of said carrier to said back end of said carrier, each of said plurality of electrical conductors being bent at two places to dispose its ends in parallel and nonaligned relationship with each other;

a permanent magnet disposed within said opening formed within said carrier;

a magnetically sensitive component disposed at said front end of said carrier within a magnetic field of said permanent magnet, said magnetically sensitive component being connected in electrical communication with at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors;

a housing having an internal cavity, said housing being shaped to receive said carrier within said internal cavity;

sealing means, disposed between said carrier and said housing, for preventing contaminants from entering said cavity of said housing in the vicinity of said magnetically sensitive component;

spacer means, disposed within said cavity of said housing, for preventing electrical communication between said magnetically sensitive component and said housing; and

a substrate disposed in contact with said front end of said carrier, said magnetically sensitive component being attached to said substrate.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said spacer means is an elastomeric washer.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said magnetically sensitive component is a Hall effect element.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said sealing means is a deformable O-ring.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said carrier is provided with an air passage to facilitate its insertion into said housing by preventing pressure buildup between said front end of said carrier and said housing.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein:

said permanent magnet is a molded magnet.

7. A magnetic sensor, comprising:

a molded plastic carrier having a front end, a back end and an opening formed within said molded plastic carrier and extending through said front end;

a plurality of electrical conductors disposed within the body of said molded plastic carrier, said plurality of electrical conductors extending from said front end of said molded plastic carrier and from said back end of said molded plastic carrier, each of said plurality of electrical conductors is bent at two places to dispose its ends in parallel and nonaligned relationship with each other;

a permanent magnet disposed within said opening formed within said carrier;

a magnetically sensitive component disposed at said front end of said molded plastic carrier within a magnetic field of said permanent magnet, said magnetically sensitive component being connected in electrical communication with at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors;

a housing having an internal cavity, said housing being shaped to receive said molded plastic carrier within said internal cavity;

spacer means, disposed within said cavity of said housing, for preventing electrical communication between said magnetically sensitive component and said housing;

sealing means, disposed between said molded plastic carrier and said housing, for preventing contaminants from entering said cavity of said housing in the vicinity of said magnetically sensitive component; and

a substrate disposed in contact with said front end of said molded plastic carrier, said magnetically sensitive component being attached to said substrate.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein:

said spacer means is an elastomeric washer.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein:

said magnetically sensitive component is a Hall effect element.

10. The sensor of claim 7, wherein:

said sealing means is a deformable O-ring.

11. The sensor of claim 7, wherein:

said housing is made of metal and deformed to retain said carrier therein.

12. A magnetic sensor, comprising:

a molded plastic carrier having a front end, a back end and an opening formed within said molded plastic carrier;

a plurality of electrical conductors disposed within the body of said molded plastic carrier, said plurality of electrical conductors extending from said front end of said molded plastic carrier and from said back end of said molded plastic carrier, each of said plurality of electrical conductors being bent at two places to dispose its ends in parallel and nonaligned relationship with each other;

a permanent magnet disposed within said opening formed within said carrier;

a magnetically sensitive component disposed at said front end of said molded plastic carrier within a magnetic field of said permanent magnet, said magnetically sensitive component being connected in electrical communication with at least one of said plurality of electrical conductors;

a housing having an internal cavity, said housing being shaped to receive said molded plastic carrier within said internal cavity;

a substrate disposed in contact with said front end of said molded plastic carrier, said magnetically sensitive component being attached to said substrate;

spacer means, disposed within said cavity of said housing, for preventing electrical communication between said magnetically sensitive component and said housing, said spacer means being an elastomeric washer; and

sealing means, disposed between said molded plastic carrier and said housing, for preventing contaminants from entering said cavity of said housing in the vicinity of said magnetically sensitive component, said housing having an internal deformation shaped to receive said sealing means within.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein:

said magnetically sensitive component is a Hall effect element.