GB2356054A

GB2356054A - Structure of a temperature sensor

Info

Publication number: GB2356054A
Application number: GB0021210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Ji-Hong Park
Original assignee: James Tech Co Ltd
Current assignee: James Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-09-02
Filing date: 2000-08-29
Publication date: 2001-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-29
Also published as: KR200167956Y1; IT1316608B1; ITRM20000477A0; CN1287268A; GB0021210D0; GB2356054B; ITRM20000477A1

Abstract

A temperature sensor for use in a refrigerator or air conditioning system comprising a sensing element (6, see figure 2) electrically connected to electrical wires 5 covered with an insulating material. The sensing element is contained within a supporting pipe (3, see figure 2) made of the same insulating material as the wire coverings. The sensor, supporting pipe and a portion of the electric wire coverings are contained within an injection moulded body made of the same insulative material as the wire coverings. The device incorporates a clip 7 for attachment to a pipe 11 of the refrigerator or air conditioner.

Description

2356054 STRUCTURE OF TEMPERATURE SENSOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a structure of a temperature sensor which senses a temperature of cool air in refrigerators and air conditioners, etc. and controls the same and, more particularly, to a structure of a temperature sensor which can be easily f ixed to a cool air exhausting pipe in refrigerators or air conditioners and includes a body made from PVC for surrounding sensing elements by means of an injection molding so that a productivity is improved and an inflow of moisture into the sensing elements is prevented. 2) Description of Related Art

Generally, a refrigerator or an air conditioner is an equipment for cooling air inside a predetermined space by circulating a refrigerant and generating heat-exchanged cool air. In such a refrigerator or an air conditioner, a temperature sensor is mounted to a portion through which the cool air is exhausted so as to maintain the temperature inside the space to be cooled within the preset range.

However, a conventional temperature sensor is provided on a f ront end of a wire made f rom PVC and surrounded with a body made from ABS. Accordingly, since the materials of the wire covering and the body of the sensor are dif f erent f rom each other, a perf ect sealing ef f ect can not be achieved, thus moisture flows in between the wire covering and the body, thereby inducing an error or malfunction of the sensor.

Also, the aforementioned conventional temperature sensor 1 includes coupling parts on both sides of the body for being fixed to the refrigerator or air conditioner by fastening screws therethrough, therefore the body should be made from ABS and a mounting process becomes complicated.

Especially, since the sensing element of the conventional temperature sensor is surrounded with the body made from ABS, the sensing element moves from its original position when surrounding the same with the body, so the temperature - sensing effect is deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an ef fort to solve the above problems.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a structure of a temperature sensor which can be easily fixed to a cool air exhausting pipe in refrigerators or air conditioners and includes a body made from PVC for surrounding sensing elements by means of an injection molding so that the body is attached integrally around the wire covering, thereby improving a productivity and preventing an error or malfunction due to the inflow of moisture between the body and the wire covering.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a structure of a temperature sensor fixed inside a refrigerator or air conditioner and including sensing elements provided on front ends of wires, further comprising a supporting pipe made from the same material as that of the wire covering and into which the sensing elements are inserted, two couples of protrusions formed on an outer circumferential surface of the 2 supporting pipe, and a body made from the same material as that of the wire covering and surrounding the supporting pipe and a part of the wire covering by means of an injection molding.

Two couples of protrusions formed on the supporting pipe are protruded exposedly outside the body.

A clip into which the body is fixed is provided. The clip includes an inner hole and an outer hole which are communicated with each other, and the outer hole is exposed outside by an opening portion.

A part of the body between the protrusions is fixed into the inner hole of the clip via the opening portion and the outer hole in such a manner that the both sides of the clip are guided by the protrusions, and then a cool air exhausting pipe of a refrigerator or air conditioner is fixed into the outer hole of the clip via the opening portion.

Further, a plurality of coupling holes are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a temperature sensor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a temperature sensor in Fig. 1; 3 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure of a temperature sensor in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of a temperature sensor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a temperature sensor in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a structure of a temperature sensor in Fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate a structure of a temperature sensor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A temperature sensor 1 includes sensing elements 6 provided on front end portions f wires 5, a supporting pipe 3 made from the same material as that of the wire 5 covering and into which the sensing elements 6 are inserted, and a body 2 made from the same material as that of the wire 5 covering and surrounding the supporting pipe 3 having the sensing elements 6 therein and a part of the wire 5 covering by means of an injection molding.

on outer circumferential surface of the supporting pipe 3 are formed two couples of protrusions 4 which are protruded exposedly outside the body 2. And, a clip 7 into which the body 2 is fixed is provided. The clip 7 includes an inner hole 8 and an outer hole 9 which are communicated.with each other, and the outer hole 9 are exposed outside by an opening portion 10. Apart of the body 2 between 4 the protrusions 4 is fixed into the inner hole 8 of the clip 7 via the opening portion 10 and the outer hole 9 in such a manner that the both sides of the clip 7 are guided by the protrusions 4. And then a cool air exhausting pipe 11 of a refrigerator or air conditioner is fixed into the outer hole 9 of the clip 7 via the opening portion 10, as shown in Fig. 1.

As described above, since the supporting pipe 3 is surrounded with the body 2 by means of the injection molding after the sensing elements 6 provided on the f ront ends of the wires 5 are inserted into the supporting pipe 3, the sensing elements 6 are prevented from moving from their original positions during the injection molding of the body 2, thereby preventing the deterioration of the temperature-sensing effect.

Further, the body 2 and the supporting pipe 3 are made f rom PVC identically with the wire 5 covering, and the body 2 surrounding the supporting pipe 3 having the sensing elements 6 therein and a part of the wire 5 covering is attached integrally around the wire 5 covering by the injection molding, thereby preventing an error or malfunction of the sensor 1 due to the inflow of moisture between the body 2 and the wire 5 covering.

Also, when fixing the body 2 into the inner hole 8 of the clip 7, the both sides of the clip 7 are guided by two couples of protrusions 4 which are formed on outer circumferential surface of the supporting pipe 3 and protruded exposedly outside the body 2, thereby preventing the body 2 and the clip 7 f rom moving freely.

Especially, since the cool air exhausting pipe 11 of a refrigerator or air conditioner is fixed into the outer hole 9 of the clip 7 via the opening portion 10 after the body 2 is fixed into the inner hole 8 of the clip 7, the temperature sensor 1 adheres closely to the exhausting pipe 11 so that the sensor 1 can sense the temperature exactly.

Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate a structure of a temperature sensor according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

A temperature sensor 1 in this embodiment includes a supporting pipe 31 for covering sensing elements 6 and a body 21 for surrounding the supporting pipe 31. Protrusions 41 are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the supporting pipe 31 and protruded to the extent of not being exposed outside the body 21 during the injection molding of the body 21. The body 21 has a plurality of coupling holes 22 formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof through which screws are fastened to be fixed to the clip 7 or to be directly fixed inside the refrigerator or air conditioner.

That is, if the protrusions 41 of the supporting pipe 31 are formed so as not to be exposed outside the body 21, when fixing the temperature sensor 1 directly inside the refrigerator or air conditioner, only coupling holes 22 are formed on the body 21 correspondingly to the location where the sensor 1 is f ixed, thereby simplifying the structure for fixing the sensor 1.

Also, the body 21 is made from the same material as that of the wire 5 covering, and the body 21 is attached integrally around the wire 5 covering by the injection molding, thereby preventing the inflow of moisture between the body 21 and the wire 5 covering.

As described above in detail, since the temperature sensor includes the supporting pipe having two couples of protrusions which are exposed outside the body and the clip into which the body 6 and the cool air exhausting pipe of refrigerators or air conditioners are fixed, the temperature sensor can be easily fixed inside the refrigerators or air conditioners.

Also, the temperature sensor includes the body made from PVC and surrounding sensing elements by means of an injection molding so that the body is attached integrally around the wire covering, thereby improving a productivity and preventing an error or malfunction due to the inflow of moisture between the body and the wire covering.

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Claims

1 A temperature sensor for a refrigerator or air conditioner including:

at least one sensing element electrically connected to electric wires, each said wire being insulated by a covering of electrically insulating material respectively, supporting pipe means, of the same insulating material as the coverings, for receiving the at least one sensing element, and a body, of the same insulating material as the coverings, injection moulded around the supporting pipe means and around a portion of the electric wire coverings.

2. A temperature sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one pair of spaced apart protrusions on the supporting pipe means protrude through the injection moulded body; the temperature sensor further comprising a clip having an inner bore and an outer bore substantially parallel to and communicating with the inner bore, the outer bore further including an opening in a wall of the bore, such that a portion of the body between the spaced apart protrusions may be received in the inner bore and the outer bore may be clipped over a pipe of the refrigerator or air conditioner.

3. A temperature sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the body is provided with fixing apertures for fixing the sensor to the refrigerator or air conditioner.

4. A temperature sensor substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

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