Pressure sensor
View Patent ↗A pressure sensor includes a sense element port, a support ring and a plurality of interference fit slits to provide a flexible interference fit between the sense element port and the support ring to form a substantially flush lap joint. The sensor also includes an electronics board inside the support ring and attached to planar mounting tabs which provide a stable mounting. Gel flow barriers protect electronics board features from unwanted non-conductive gel. Double-ended symmetrical, tapered contact springs provide manufacturing cost savings and contribute to improved alignment of an interface connector of the sensor.
1. A contact housing sub-assembly comprising:
an upper spring guide that retains retaining an elastic contact member; and
a lower spring guide adapted to attach to the upper spring guide,
wherein the elastic contact member comprises a double-ended symmetrical spring having dual tapered ends such that a contact point at each end of the double-ended symmetrical spring is closer to a center axis of the double-ended symmetrical spring.
2. The sub-assembly of claim 1 , wherein the double-ended symmetrical spring is variably-pitched to minimize tangling and thereby facilitate automatic assembly.
3. The sub-assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper spring guide is snap fit to the lower spring guide.
4. The sub-assembly of claim 1 , wherein the double-ended symmetrical spring includes a spring tip center aligned to a center of a contact receiving pad.
5. The sub-assembly of claim 4 , wherein the dual tapered ends are conically tapered to further align the spring tip center towards the center of the contact receiving pad.
6. The sub-assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower spring guides have mating orientation features to ensure proper alignment.
7. The sub-assembly of claim 1 , wherein the double-ended symmetrical spring includes a plurality of dead coils at a first end, a plurality of dead coils at a second end and a plurality of active coils disposed between the first and second end.
8. The sub-assembly of claim 7 , wherein the upper spring guide includes an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the plurality of active coils.
9. The sub-assembly of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the plurality of active coils have a variable pitch.
10. The contact housing sub-assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the contact housing sub-assembly is contained in a control system that uses an electronic control unit.