Ngk Spark Plug Company, Limited

Tomohiro Nakamura

Noboru Matsui

Tatsuya Okumura

Makoto Kume

Tomohiko Funahashi

Kumiko Yoshikawa

A sensor () including a plate-shaped sensor element () extending in a front-rear direction and having at least 3 electrode terminals () provided on at least one side surface () of the sensor element at intervals in a lateral direction; a plurality of metallic terminal members () connected to the electrode terminals () of the sensor element (); and a separator () surrounding and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members (). The metallic terminal members () each has a crimp portion () formed at a rear end thereof and a lead wire () is crimp-connected to the crimp portion (). The crimp portions () located at opposite sides with respect to the lateral direction face the side surface () of the sensor element (), whereas the crimp portion () faces away from the side surface () of the sensor element ().

Sensor

A sensor including: a detecting element () as defined herein; a plurality of metallic terminal members () as defined herein; and an insulating separator () as defined herein, wherein the insulating separator includes: an outer separator () which surrounds the electrode terminal portions of the detecting element and the metallic terminal members; and an inner separator () at least a portion of which is disposed radially inwardly of the outer separator and which has partition walls () for positioning the plurality of metallic terminal members and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members from one another.

To provide a gas sensor in which connection terminals are stably brought into contact with electrode terminal portions of a sensor element without superfluous load applied on the sensor element. A pair of element guide portionsare provided in a sleevein which a plate-like sensor elementis inserted. The pair of element guide portionsprotrude from an opening end surface on a rear end side of an axial hole, store either of widthwise opposite side ends of the sensor elementand restrain the sensor elementfrom being inclined. The sensor elementis positioned coaxially with the sleeveby the element guide portions. Electrode holdersin which electrode fitmentsare held are fitted to the element guide portionsso that the electrode fitmentsare brought into contact with electrode terminal portionsandof the sensor element. Because the positional relation between the two is decided on the basis of the element guide portions, there is no superfluous load applied on the sensor element, so that the sensor elementis prevented from being broken. In addition, pressure of contact of the electrode fitmentswith the electrode terminal portionsandof the sensor elementis kept substantially constant, so that electrically stable connection can be obtained.

Gas sensor

In a waterproof connector (), a filter (), which is impermeable to liquid and permeable to air, is arranged between an outer circumferential surface of an insulating coating layer () of a first electric wire () and a wall surface of the first hole (). On the other hand, a seal member (), which is impermeable to liquid and air, is arranged between an outer circumferential surface of an insulating coating layer () of a second electric wire () and a wall surface of the second hole ().

Growing community of inventors

Aichi, Japan

Tomohiro Nakamura