Thermal sensor device and method of assembly
View Patent ↗A thermal sensor having a robust mechanical connection between a thermal sensor housing and thermal sensor tube is provided having a cross-sectional shape configured to provide a reduced thermal conductivity between the sensor and the housing.
1. A sensor assembly comprising:
a sensor housing having a first bore with a first diameter;
a sensor tube configured to fit within said first bore of said sensor housing, said sensor tube having a first section, a second section and a second bore;
a thermal sensor element disposed in said second bore of said sensor tube,
wherein said first section of said sensor tube comprises a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs formed integrally with and equally spaced about the circumference of said sensor tube,
wherein the at least three ribs of the sensor tube extend axially along the sensor tube from a first end proximate a first open end of the first bore to a second end proximate a second open end of the first bore,
wherein the sensor tube forms a shoulder at the first end, the shoulder having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the first bore,
wherein the shoulder is disposed in a corresponding feature of the sensor housing at the first open end,
wherein the at least three ribs are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from said sensor tube to said sensor housing, and
wherein said first section of said sensor tube is configured to contact a surface of said first bore at said at least three ribs.
2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least three ribs provide an interference fit between the surface of said first bore and said first section of said sensor tube.
3. A sensor assembly comprising:
a sensor housing having a first bore with a first diameter;
a sensor tube configured to fit within said first bore, said sensor tube having a second bore and at least three ribs;
a thermal sensor element disposed in said second bore of said sensor tube,
wherein said first bore of said sensor housing has a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs formed integrally with and equally spaced about the circumference of said first bore,
wherein the at least three ribs of the sensor tube extend axially along the sensor tube from a first end proximate a first open end of the first bore to a second end proximate a second open end of the first bore,
wherein the sensor tube forms a shoulder at the first end the shoulder having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the first bore,
wherein the shoulder is disposed in a corresponding feature of the sensor housing at the first open end,
wherein the at least three ribs of said sensor tube and the at least three ribs of said first bore of said sensor housing are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from said sensor tube to said sensor housing, and
wherein said first bore of said sensor housing, is configured to contact the surface of said sensor tube at said at least three ribs.
4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , wherein said at least three ribs of said sensor tube and said at least three ribs of said sensor housing provide an interference fit between the surface of said first bore and said surface of said sensor tube.
5. A method of assembling a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly having a sensor tube, a sensor housing, and a thermal sensor element, said method comprising:
configuring the sensor housing with a first bore with a first diameter;
configuring the sensor tube with a first section to fit within the first bore and a second bore in which the thermal sensor element is disposed;
configuring the first section of the sensor tube to have a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs formed integrally with and equally spaced about the circumference of said sensor tube, wherein the at least three ribs of the sensor tube extend axially along the sensor tube from a first end proximate a first open end of the first bore to a second end proximate a second open end of the first bore, wherein the sensor tube forms a shoulder at the first end, the shoulder having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the first bore, wherein the shoulder is disposed in a corresponding feature of the sensor housing at the first open end, and wherein the at least three ribs are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from said sensor tube to said sensor housing; and
configuring the surface of the first section of the sensor tube to contact the surface of the bore at said at least three ribs of said first section of said sensor tube.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising configuring said at least three ribs of said first section of said sensor tube to provide an interference fit between the surface of the first bore of said sensor housing and the first section of the sensor tube.
7. A method of assembling a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly having a sensor tube, a sensor housing, and a thermal sensor element, said method comprising:
configuring the sensor housing with a first bore with a first diameter;
configuring the sensor tube with a first section to fit within the bore, a second bore in which the thermal sensor element is disposed, and at least three ribs;
configuring the first bore of said sensor housing to have a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs firmed integrally with and equally spaced about the circumference of said first bore, wherein the at least three ribs of the sensor tube extend axially along the sensor tube from a first end proximate a first open end of the first bore to a second end proximate a second open end of the first bore, wherein the sensor tube forms a shoulder at the end, the shoulder having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the first bore, wherein the shoulder is disposed in a corresponding feature of the sensor housing at the first open end, and wherein said at least three ribs of said sensor housing are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from the sensor tube to the sensor housing;
configuring the first section of said sensor tube to have a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs equally formed integrally with and spaced about the circumference of said first section, and wherein said at least three ribs of said sensor tube are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from the sensor tube to the sensor housing; and
configuring the surface of the first bore of said sensor housing and the surface of the first section of said sensor tube to be in contact at said at least three ribs on said first bore and said at least three ribs on said sensor tube.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising configuring said at least three ribs of said first bore of said sensor housing and said at least three ribs on said first section of said sensor tube to provide an interference fit between the first bore of said sensor housing and the first section of said sensor tube.