Integrated sensor device

• US 6,267,010 B1
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeda, Kazuhisa, Hatanaka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AW MUSSE, ABDULLAHI H
• Application Number:
  US08/948,826
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 737/08, 737/21, 737/27, 737/56, 702/99, 374/145, 374/144
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/142 Multiple part housings

Abstract

An integrated sensor device includes first and second housings combined together and is attached to a wall of a conduit via a joint portion thereof. Specifically, the first housing has the joint portion and a pressure conducting hole and holds a temperature measuring unit therein for detecting a temperature of a medium flowing in the conduit. The second housing holds a pressure measuring unit therein for measuring a pressure of the medium which has been conducted through the pressure conducting hole. Accordingly, several measuring units (sensors) can be attached to one portion of the conduit, so that the attachment process is simplified.

Claims

1. An integrated sensor device for attaching to an attachment device holding a medium therein to detect a state of the medium, said integrated sensor device comprising:

a first housing having a first joining portion;

a first measuring unit installed in said first housing for detecting a first state of said medium;

a second housing, having a second joining portion, wherein said second joining portion detachably connects to a specific portion of said attachment device; and

a second measuring unit installed in said second housing for detecting a second state of said medium;

wherein said second housing holding said second measuring unit therein detachably connects to said first housing holding said first measuring unit therein through said first joining portion;

wherein said first measuring unit communicates with an external area of said second housing to detect said first state when said second housing is connected to said first housing and said second joining portion is connected to said attachment device.

2. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first measuring unit comprises a pressure measuring unit for measuring a pressure of the medium; and

said second measuring unit comprises a temperature measuring unit for measuring a temperature of the medium.

3. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, further including a first O-ring disposed on said second joining portion to create an air-tight connection between said second joining portion of said second housing and the attachment device.

4. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first measuring unit has a first output terminal for outputting a first output signal therefrom;

said second measuring unit has a second output terminal for outputting a second output signal therefrom; and

said first housing has a connector portion in which said first and second output terminals are arranged.

5. An integrated sensor device according to claim 4, further comprising an output wiring for connecting said second measuring unit to said second output terminal arranged in the connector, said output wiring protruding from said second housing and having an end which is adapted to be inserted into said first housing and to be electrically connected to said second output terminal.

6. An integrated sensor device according to claim 5, wherein said first housing has a socket on an outer surface thereof into which the end of said output wiring is to be inserted, said socket being electrically connected to said second output terminal.

7. An integrated sensor device according to claim 4, wherein:

said second housing has an output pin for connecting said second measuring unit and said second output terminal arranged in the connector, said output pin being electrically connected to said second measuring unit and protruding from a contacting surface of said second housing, said contacting surface contacting said first housing when said first and second housings are combined together; and

said first housing has a socket into which said output pin is adapted to be inserted, said socket being electrically connected to said second output terminal.

8. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a second O-ring disposed between said first housing and said second housing to create an air-tight connection therebetween.

9. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second housings are welded together.

10. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second housings are made of different materials.

11. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second joining portions of said first and second housings comprise cylindrical threaded portions having the same diameter.

12. An integrated sensor device according to claim 11, wherein:

said first and second joining portions comprise external threads;

said second housing has a portion forming an internal thread for receiving said first joining portion of said first housing; and

said attachment device has a portion forming an internal thread for receiving said second joining portion of said second housing.

13. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said integrated sensor device is adapted to be attached to an air conditioning apparatus, and wherein said medium is a refrigerant of a refrigerating cycle.

14. An integrated sensor device according to claim 1, wherein said second housing comprises a conducting hole for conducting the medium into said first housing.

15. An integrated sensor device according to claim 14, wherein said second measuring unit is disposed in said second housing perpendicularly relative to an axial direction of the conducting hole.

16. An integrated sensor device according to claim 14, wherein the first measuring unit is disposed in said housing in parallel with an axial direction of said conducting hole.

17. An integrated sensor device for detecting a state of a medium, comprising:

a first sensor unit for detecting a first state of said medium, said first sensor unit including;

a first housing defining a first passage therein and having a first joining portion having a first structure; and

a first sensor accommodated in said first housing and exposed to said first passage for detecting said first state of said medium; and

a second sensor unit connected to said first sensor unit through said first joining portion for detecting a second state of said medium, said second sensor unit including;

a second housing defining therein a second passage for introducing said medium toward said first sensor by communicating with said first passage, and having a second joining portion, said second joining portion having a second structure identical with said first structure of said first joining portion; and

a second sensor accommodated in said second housing for detecting said second state of said medium.

18. An integrated sensor device according to claim 17, wherein both said first structure and said second structure comprise threads having the same diameter as each other.

19. An integrated sensor device according to claim 17, wherein only a part of said first sensor communicates with said first passage for detecting said first state of said medium.

20. An integrated sensor device according to claim 17, wherein said second sensor is disposed in a portion of said second housing other than in said second passage.

21. An integrated sensor device according to claim 17, wherein each of said first housing and said second housing is a single member.

22. An integrated sensor device according to claim 21, wherein said second sensor unit is detachably connected to said first sensor unit.

23. An integrated sensor device according to claim 17, wherein said medium is introduced toward said first sensor via said first passage and said second passage.

24. An integrated sensor device for detecting a pressure and temperature of a medium, comprising:

a pressure sensor unit which detects a pressure of a medium, said pressure sensor unit including;

a first housing defining a passage therein, said passage containing a pressure sensor, said first housing having a first joining portion, said passage opening to one surface of said first housing;

a temperature sensor unit which detects a temperature of a medium, said temperature sensor unit having a second housing, said second housing including;

an attachment device joining portion provided on an external surface of said second housing, said attachment device joining portion detachably connectable to an attachment device, said reachment device joining portion substantially fluidly sealing an outer surface of an inside portion from an outside surface of an outside portion when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device;

an outside portion disposed on one side of said attachment device joining portion said outside portion external to said attachment device when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device,

an inside portion disposed on an opposite side of said attachment device joining portion with respect to said outside portion, said inside portion positioned within said attachment device when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device, said inside portion having a temperature sensing portion which senses a temperature of a medium inside said attachment device,

a channel disposed in said second housing which connects a surface of said inside portion and a surface of said outside portion;

a temperature sensor thermally communicating with a surface of said inside portion to detect a temperature of said medium when said attachment device joining portion is attached to said attachment device, said temperature sensor outputting a signal representative of a temperature of said medium when said attachment device joining portion is attached to said attachment device;

a temperature-sensor-unit joining, portion disposed on said outside portion, said temperature-sensor-unit joining portion detachably engageable to said first joining portion, an opening of said channel on said surface of said outside portion fluidly communicating with said first passage opening when said first joining portion is joined to said temperature-sensor-unit joining portion, whereby said medium is communicated to said pressure sensor.

25. An integrated sensor device for detecting a first state and second state of a medium, comprising;

a first state sensor unit which detects a first state of a medium, said first state sensor unit including;

a first housing defining a passage therein, said first passage containing a first state sensor, said first housing having a first joining portion, said first passage opening to one surface of said first housing;

a second state sensor unit which detects a second state of a medium, said second state sensor unit having a second housing, said second housing including;

a attachment device joining portion provided on an external surface of said second housing, said attachment device joining portion detachably connectable to an attachment device, said attachment device joining portion substantially fluidly sealing an outer surface of an inside portion from an outside surface of an outside portion when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device;

an outside portion disposed on one side of said attachment device joining portion, said outside portion external to said attachment device when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device,

an inside portion disposed on an opposite side of said attachment device joining portion with respect to said outside portion, said inside portion positioned within said attachment device when said attachment device joining portion is connected to said attachment device, said inside portion having a second state sensing portion which senses a second state of a medium inside said attachment device,

a channel disposed in said second housing which connects a surface of said inside portion and a surface of said outside portion;

a second state sensor communicating with a surface of said inside portion to detect a second state of said medium when said attachment device joining portion is attached to said attachment device, said second state sensor outputting a signal representative of a second state of said medium when said attachment device joining portion is attached to said attachment device;

second sate-sensor-unit joining portion disposed on said outside portion, said second state-sensor-unit joining portion detachably engageable to said first joining portion, an opening of said channel on said surface of said outside portion fluidly communicating with said first passage opening when said first joining portion is joined to said second state-sensor-unit joining portion, whereby said medium is communicated to said first state sensor.