CN222502500U - Spiral spring and electric connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses a coil spring and an electric connection structure, which can perform reliable electric connection on three elements. The coil spring comprises a first sparse coiled elastic part, a first tightly coiled rigid part and a second tightly coiled rigid part, wherein the first tightly coiled rigid part and the second tightly coiled rigid part are respectively and integrally connected to two axial ends of the first elastic part, the outer diameters of the first tightly coiled rigid part and the second tightly coiled rigid part gradually decrease towards the side far away from the first elastic part to form a conical outer contour, the second sparse coiled elastic part is integrally connected to one end of the second rigid part far away from the second rigid part, the outer diameters of the second sparse coiled elastic part are smaller than the outer diameter of the first elastic part, and the central axes of the first elastic part, the first rigid part, the second rigid part and the second elastic part are arranged in a collinear mode.

Description

Spiral spring and electric connection structure

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of sensors, in particular to a spiral spring and an electric connection structure.

Background

In the prior art, pressure sensors typically include a pressure interface, a housing, and an electrical connector that enclose an interior cavity in which a pressure sensitive element and an electronics module assembly are disposed. In order to avoid electromagnetic shielding protection of the electronic module assembly, it is necessary to enclose the electronic module assembly by a metal shield. These metal shields need to be secured in the cavity and preferably electrically connected to ground, which requires multiple welds, which is a relatively complex process. On the other hand, the electronic module assembly also needs to be electrically connected with the electrical terminals. As described above, there is a need to electrically connect three elements arranged in this order of the electric terminals, the electromagnetic shield, and the electronic module assembly, and there is currently no relatively simple electrical connection structure for reliable electrical connection of such three elements.

Disclosure of utility model

In order to overcome the defects in the prior art, the application provides a spiral spring and an electric connection structure so as to reliably and electrically connect three elements.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the application provides a coil spring, which comprises:

A first, sparsely coiled, resilient portion;

A tightly coiled first rigid portion and a second rigid portion integrally connected to both axial ends of the first elastic portion, respectively, and having an outer diameter gradually decreasing toward a side away from the first elastic portion to form a tapered outer profile;

and a sparsely coiled second elastic part integrally connected to an end of the second rigid part remote from the second rigid part, and having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first elastic part;

The first elastic part, the first rigid part, the second rigid part and the central axis of the second elastic part are arranged in a collinear way.

The application also provides an electric connection structure which comprises the spiral spring, a first element, a second element and a third element, wherein the first element, the second element and the third element are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the spiral spring, a through hole allowing the second elastic part to pass through is formed in the second element, a horn-shaped crimping surface facing to one side of the first terminal is formed in the through hole, the horn-shaped crimping surface elastically contacts with the conical outer contour of the second rigid part towards one side of the middle coiled part, one end of the third elastic part, which is far away from the middle coiled part, elastically contacts with the first element, and one end of the second elastic part, which is far away from the middle coiled part, elastically contacts with the third element.

Preferably, the above-mentioned electric connection structure further includes a fourth element in which a holding groove for holding the coil spring is provided.

Preferably, the first elastic portion is held in the holding groove.

Preferably, the first element is fixed to the fourth element.

Preferably, the first element is fixed to the bottom of the holding groove.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a pressure sensor according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pressure sensor according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a pressure sensor according to a third embodiment;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a first coil spring of a third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a partial structure of a pressure sensor of a third embodiment;

FIGS. 6 (a) - (c) are schematic structural diagrams of some modified electrical connection structures of the third embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of a pressure sensor of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a portion of the structure of a fourth embodiment;

Detailed Description

The technical solutions of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following examples are illustrative only and are not to be construed as limiting the application. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or equivalent elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "left", "right", etc. are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, or the directions or positional relationships in which the product of the present application is conventionally put in use, or the directions or positional relationships in which those skilled in the art conventionally understand are merely for convenience of describing the present application and for simplifying the description, and are not indicative or implying that the apparatus or element to be referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

In addition, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, mechanically connected, electrically connected, directly connected, or indirectly connected via an intermediate medium, or may be in communication with the interior of two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood as appropriate by those of ordinary skill in the art.

It should be further understood that the term "and/or" as used in the present description and the corresponding claims refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items.

First embodiment:

As shown in fig. 1. The pressure sensor 100 of the first embodiment includes a housing (not labeled) enclosing the mounting cavity 10, the housing including a pressure port 11, an electrical connector 15, and a metal shell 12 sealingly connecting the pressure port 11 and the electrical connector 15. The pressure port 11 is located at a lower side of the electrical connector 15, and includes a pressure introduction channel 110, an outer end of the pressure introduction channel 110 is connected to a pressure medium to be measured, and an inner end of the pressure introduction channel 110 is hermetically coupled to a pressure sensitive element 102. The pressure sensor 102 is used to convert the pressure of the pressure medium into an electrical signal. Within the mounting cavity 10 is disposed a seat 13 and an electronic module assembly 14 secured to the seat 13. The electronics module assembly 14 is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive element 102 to process electrical signals measured by the pressure sensitive element 102. When the pressure sensitive element 102 is a passive device (resistive element, capacitive element, etc.), the electronics module assembly 14 also powers its pressure sensitive element 102. In this embodiment, a metal diaphragm may be used as the pressure sensitive element, and a measuring circuit composed of strain resistors is arranged on the upper surface of the metal diaphragm in an insulating manner to convert the strain generated by the metal diaphragm under the action of the pressure medium into an electrical signal, and the measuring circuit is electrically connected to the electronic module assembly 14, preferably, the metal diaphragm is horizontally arranged.

The pressure port 11 at least includes a metal portion, the metal shell 12 at least includes a ring of welding portion 121 sealed and welded with the metal portion of the pressure port 11, an outer edge of the welding portion 121 extends upward to form a ring of outer side portion 122, and an inner edge of the welding portion 121 extends upward toward the side of the mounting cavity 10 to form an inner side portion 123 integrally molded in the seat 13. A groove 12a is formed between the inner portion 123, the welded portion 121, and the outer portion 122. The pressure port 11 is preferably made of a metallic material. The metal shell 12 may be made by a stamping process.

The pressure port 11 may include a port portion 111 forming the pressure introduction passage 110 described above and a plate-like portion 112 (i.e., the metal portion described above) connected to the port portion 111 and welded to the welding portion 121, for example, an upper portion of the port portion 111 may be protruded outwardly to form a disk-shaped connection portion 11a, and the disk-shaped connection portion 11a is fitted over and welded to a hole 11c formed in the plate-like portion 112. The lower end of the disc-shaped connecting portion 11a may extend outwardly to form a support flange 11b for supporting the plate-like portion 112 upwardly. The lower surface of the welded portion 121 is welded to the upper surface of the plate-like portion 112 to form a weld 12c. In other aspects, the interface portion 111 may also be integrally connected with the plate portion 112.

The electrical connector 15 includes a plug portion 151 connected to an external arrangement, a cover portion 152 provided over the electronic module assembly 14, and a support portion 153 formed by extending the cover portion 152 toward the metal shell 12 side. The lower end 15a of the support portion 153 is supported by the bottom 12b of the groove 12a (i.e., the upper surface of the welded portion 121). The upper end of the outer portion 122 extends inward to form a crimp 125, and the crimp 125 presses the upward stepped surface 15b formed on the outer side of the cover portion 152 downward to the welded portion 121. The step surface 15b and the pressure contact portion 125 are sealed by providing a seal ring 101. The press-contact portion 125 presses the seal ring 101 down to the stepped surface 15b.

The seat 13 is formed with a hole 13a for receiving at least a portion of the pressure sensitive element 102. The electronic module assembly 14 includes a circuit board 141 disposed horizontally, an electronic component 142 disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board 141, and a plurality of conductive connection portions 144. The conductive connection 144 is electrically connected to the measurement circuit via an electrical connection wire 143. The circuit board 141 may be provided with a hole 14a allowing the electric connection wire 143 to pass therethrough. The pressure sensitive element 102 may be sealingly secured to a boss 113 formed by an inward projection of an inner end (i.e., upper end) of the pressure introduction channel 110 to minimize the difference in planar height of the measurement circuit from the upper surface of the circuit board 141. Wherein, a plurality of connection holes (not marked) may be provided on the circuit board 141, a connection structure to be matched and connected with the connection holes of the circuit board 141 may be formed on the seat 13, for example, a connection post 131 to be tightly matched with the connection hole of the circuit board 141 may be formed on the seat 13, alternatively or additionally, a riveting post 132 to be riveted with the connection hole of the circuit board 141 may be formed on the seat 13. A gap 109 is left between the bottom of the seat 13 and the disc-shaped connection 11 a.

In other embodiments, a positioning connection may be formed between the electrical connector 15 and the seat 13, for example, the outer side wall of the seat 13 forms at least one circumferentially spaced snap-fit portion 15c (for example, a snap-fit groove extending up and down), and the inner side of the supporting portion 153 forms a plurality of snaps 154 that circumferentially engage with the snap-fit portion 15c, and at the same time, the snaps 154 may also radially abut against the outer periphery of the seat 13 to form a horizontal positioning. Preferably, the inner portion 223 may include a compression molded connection (not labeled) and an inner barrel 124 adjacent to the side of the weld 121. The inner cylindrical portion 124 may be adjacent to the lower end 15a of the support portion 153 to horizontally position it.

The electrical connector 15 has a plurality of connection terminals 150 fixed thereto, and one end of the inner side thereof is exposed into the mounting cavity 10 and electrically connected to the circuit board 141 through the flexible electrical connection member 145. Preferably, the flexible electrical connection element 145 includes a plurality of coil springs, a side of the cover portion 152 facing the circuit board 141 is provided with a holding hole 15d for receiving and holding the coil springs, an inner side end of the connection terminal 150 is exposed to a bottom (i.e., an upper end) of the holding hole 15d, and a lower end of the holding hole 15d may continue to extend into the mounting cavity 10 to form an outer extension 15e. One end of the coil spring is electrically contacted with the inner end 15f of the connection terminal 150, and the other end is electrically abutted against the circuit board 141. In other aspects, the flexible electrical connection element 145 may alternatively comprise a flexible plate or a plurality of leaf springs.

Second embodiment:

As shown in fig. 2. The pressure sensor 200 of the second embodiment includes a housing (not labeled) enclosing the mounting cavity 20, the housing including a pressure port 21, an electrical connector 25, and a metal shell 22 sealingly connecting the pressure port 21 and the electrical connector 25. The pressure port 21 is located at a lower side of the electrical connector 25, and includes a pressure introduction channel 210, an outer end of the pressure introduction channel 210 is connected to a pressure medium to be measured, and an inner end of the pressure introduction channel 210 is hermetically coupled to a pressure sensitive element 202. The pressure sensor 202 is used to convert the pressure of the pressure medium into an electrical signal. Within the mounting cavity 20 is disposed a seat 23 and an electronic module assembly 24 secured to the seat 23. The electronics module assembly 24 is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive element 202 to process the electrical signals measured by the pressure sensitive element 202. When the pressure sensitive element 202 is a passive device (resistive element, capacitive element, etc.), the electronics module assembly 24 also powers its pressure sensitive element 202. In this embodiment, a semiconductor pressure chip may be used as the pressure sensitive element, which includes a diaphragm, and a measuring circuit composed of a diffusion resistor is provided on the upper surface of the diaphragm to convert strain generated by a pressure medium into an electric signal, and the semiconductor pressure chip is electrically connected to the electronic module assembly 24.

The metal shell 22 at least comprises a circle of welding part 221 which is welded with the pressure interface 21 in a sealing way, the outer edge of the welding part 221 extends upwards to form a circle of outer side part 122, and the inner edge of the welding part 221 extends upwards towards the side of the mounting cavity 20 to form an inner side part 223 which is integrally molded outside the seat 23. A groove 22a is formed between the inner portion 223, the welded portion 221, and the outer portion 222.

The pressure port 21 may include a port portion 211 forming the pressure introduction passage 210 described above, and a plate portion 212 connected to the port portion 211 and welded to the welding portion 221, the plate portion 212 being integrally connected to an upper portion of the port portion 211. The lower surface of the welded portion 221 is welded to the upper surface of the plate-like portion 212 to form a weld 22c.

The electrical connector 25 includes a plug portion 251 connected to an external arrangement, a cover portion 252 provided over the electronic module assembly 24, and a support portion 253 formed by the cover portion 252 extending toward the metal shell 22 side. The lower end 25a of the support portion 253 is supported by the bottom 22b of the groove 22a (i.e., the upper surface of the welded portion 221). The upper end of the outer portion 222 extends inward to form a press-fit portion 225, and the press-fit portion 225 presses the upward stepped surface 25b formed on the outer side of the cover portion 252 downward to the welded portion 221. The step surface 25b and the pressure contact portion 225 are sealed by providing a seal ring 201. Preferably, the lower portion of the inner portion 223 may be recessed inwardly to form an annular cavity (not labeled) with the support 253, the annular cavity being sealingly filled with a sealing ring 26 to seal between the inner portion 223 and the support 253. This may create a double seal to better protect the components within the mounting cavity 20.

The electronic module assembly 24 includes a circuit board 241 disposed horizontally, an electronic component 242 disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board 241, and a plurality of conductive connection portions 244. The conductive connection 244 is electrically connected to the measurement circuit via an electrical connection wire 243. The circuit board 241 may be provided with a hole 24a allowing the electric connection wire 243 to pass therethrough. The pressure sensitive element 202 may be sealingly disposed on a boss 213 formed by an inward projection of the inner end of the pressure introduction channel 210 to minimize the difference in planar height of the measurement circuit from the upper surface of the circuit board 241. The seat 23 is formed with a hole 23a for the boss 213 to pass upward. The circuit board 241 may be disposed in a recess formed downward on the top of the seat 23, and several fasteners 233 may lock the edge of the circuit board 241 to the seat 23. A gap 209 is left between the bottom of the seat 23 and the plate-like portion 212.

In other embodiments, a positioning connection may be formed between the electrical connector 25 and the seat 23, for example, by a plurality of positioning holes and positioning posts respectively provided on the electrical connector 25 and the seat 23.

The electrical connector 25 has a plurality of connection terminals 250 fixed thereto, and one end of the inner side thereof is exposed into the mounting cavity 20 and electrically connected to the circuit board 241 by the flexible electrical connection member 245. Preferably, the flexible electrical connection element 245 is a coil spring, and a side of the cover portion 252 facing the circuit board 241 is provided with a holding hole 25d for receiving and holding the coil spring, and an inner side end of the connection terminal 250 is exposed to a bottom (i.e., an upper end) of the holding hole 25d, and a lower end of the holding hole 25d may continue to extend into the mounting cavity 20 to form an outer extension portion 25e. One end of the coil spring is electrically contacted with the inner side end 25f of the connection terminal 250, and the other end is electrically abutted against the circuit board 241. In other aspects, the flexible electrical connection element 245 may also be a flexible plate or leaf spring.

Preferably, the pressure sensor 200 of the present embodiment further includes a metallic housing 27 fixedly disposed within the mounting cavity 20 and covering the electronic module assembly 24. The cover 27 may be fixed to the base 23, for example, the rim portion 272 thereof may be provided with a connection hole (not shown) which is closely fitted over the connection post 231 formed by upwardly protruding the base 23, and the cover 27 is preferably electrically connected to the upper end 226 of the inner portion 223, for example, a cylindrical portion 271 may be formed by downwardly extending the outer edge of the rim portion 272, and the cylindrical portion 271 is electrically contacted with the outer periphery of the upper end 226 to be electrically connected to the metal shell 22. The outer edge of the cover 27 preferably partially overlaps or engages the upper edge of the upper end 226 of the inner portion 223 to enclose the electronic module assembly 24 therein.

This allows an effective electromagnetic shielding of the electronic module assembly 24 by means of the housing 27, the pressure connection 21 and the metal shell 22. Wherein the housing 27 is provided with a via (not labeled) through which the flexible electrical connection element 245 can pass. In addition, the housing 27 may preferably be grounded to discharge static electricity, for example, the housing 27 may be electrically connected to a ground terminal on the circuit board 241 by a ground connection 203. The ground connection 203 may be a conductive sheet that is soldered at one end to a ground on the circuit board 241 and at the other end is penetrated by the connection post 231 and clamped between the housing 27 and the seat 23.

Third embodiment:

As shown in fig. 3. The pressure sensor 300 of the third embodiment includes a housing (not labeled) enclosing the mounting cavity 30, the housing including a pressure port 31, an electrical connector 35, and a metal shell 32 sealingly connecting the pressure port 31 and the electrical connector 35. The pressure port 31 is located at a lower side of the electrical connector 35, and includes a pressure introduction channel 310, an outer end of the pressure introduction channel 310 is connected to a pressure medium to be measured, and an inner end of the pressure introduction channel 310 is hermetically coupled to a pressure sensitive element 302. The pressure sensor 302 is used to convert the pressure of the pressure medium into an electrical signal. Within the mounting cavity 30 is disposed a seat 33 and an electronic module assembly 34 secured to the seat 33. The electronics module assembly 34 is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive element 302 to process the electrical signals measured by the pressure sensitive element 302. When the pressure sensitive element 302 is a passive device (resistive element, capacitive element, etc.), the electronics module assembly 34 also powers its pressure sensitive element 302. In this embodiment, a semiconductor pressure chip may be used as the pressure sensitive element, which includes a diaphragm, and a measuring circuit composed of a diffusion resistor is provided on the upper surface of the diaphragm to convert strain generated by the pressure medium into an electric signal, and the semiconductor pressure chip is electrically connected to the electronic module assembly 34.

The metal shell 32 includes at least one ring of welding portion 321 sealed and welded with the pressure port 31, an outer edge of the welding portion 321 extends upward to form a ring of outer side portion 122, and an inner edge of the welding portion 321 extends upward toward the mounting cavity 30 to form an inner side portion 323 integrally molded on the outside of the seat 33. A groove 32a is formed between the inner portion 323, the welded portion 321, and the outer portion 322.

The pressure port 31 may include a port portion 311 forming the pressure introduction passage 310 described above, and a plate portion 312 connected to the port portion 311 and welded to the welding portion 321, the plate portion 312 being integrally connected to an upper portion of the port portion 311. The lower surface of the welded portion 321 is welded to the upper surface of the plate-like portion 312 to form a weld 32c.

The electrical connector 35 includes a plug portion 351 connected to an external arrangement, a cover portion 352 provided over the electronic module assembly 34, and a support portion 353 formed by extending the cover portion 352 toward the metal shell 32 side. The lower end 35a of the support portion 353 is supported by the bottom portion 32b of the groove 32a (i.e., the upper surface of the welded portion 321). The upper end of the outer portion 322 extends inward to form a crimp 325, and the crimp 325 presses the upward stepped surface 35b formed on the outer side of the cover portion 352 downward to the welded portion 321. The step surface 35b and the pressure contact portion 325 are sealed by providing a seal ring 301. Preferably, the lower portion of the inner portion 323 can be recessed inward to form an annular cavity (not labeled) with the support portion 353, and a seal ring 36 is sealingly disposed in the annular cavity to seal between the inner portion 323 and the support portion 353. This may create a double seal to better protect the components within the mounting cavity 30.

The electronic module assembly 34 includes a circuit board 341 disposed horizontally, an electronic component (not labeled) disposed on an upper surface of the circuit board 341, and a plurality of conductive connection portions (not labeled). The conductive connection is electrically connected to the measurement circuit by an electrical connection wire 343. The circuit board 341 may be provided with holes 34a allowing the electric connection wires 343 to pass therethrough. The pressure sensitive element 302 may be sealingly disposed on a boss 313 formed by an inward projection of the inner end of the pressure introduction channel 310 to minimize the difference in planar height of the measurement circuit from the upper surface of the circuit board 341. The seat 33 is formed with a hole 33a for the boss 313 to pass upwardly. The circuit board 341 may be disposed in a recess formed downward on the top of the seat 33, and a plurality of buckles 333 may lock the edge of the circuit board 341 to the seat 33. A gap 309 is left between the bottom of the seat 33 and the plate-like portion 312.

In other embodiments, a positioning connection may be formed between the electrical connector 35 and the seat 33, for example, by a plurality of positioning holes (not labeled) and positioning posts (not labeled) respectively provided on the electrical connector 35 and the seat 33.

A plurality of connection terminals 350 are fixed to the electrical connector 35, and one end of the inner side thereof is exposed into the mounting cavity 30 and electrically connected to the circuit board 341 through a flexible electrical connection member. Preferably, the flexible electrical connection element includes a plurality of coil springs 38, a side of the cover portion 352 facing the circuit board 341 is provided with a holding hole 35d for receiving and holding the coil springs 38, an inner side end of the connection terminal 350 is exposed to a bottom (i.e., an upper end) of the holding hole 35d, and a lower end of the holding hole 35d may continue to extend into the mounting cavity 30 to form an outer extension 35e. One end of the coil spring 38 is electrically contacted to the inner end 35f of the connection terminal 350, and the other end is electrically abutted against the circuit board 341.

Preferably, the pressure sensor 300 of the present embodiment further includes a metallic housing 37 fixedly disposed within the mounting cavity 30 and covering the electronic module assembly 34. The housing 37 is provided with a through hole (not shown) through which the coil spring 38 can pass. The middle of the cover 37 is upwardly formed with a ridge (not shown) which is secured within a recess (not shown) formed in the bottom of the cover portion 252. The edge portion 372 of the cover 37 arches downward to form a first abutment 37a, the first abutment 37a being in downward electrical contact with the upper end 326 of the inner portion 323, the first abutment 37a may be in the form of a bump, alternatively or additionally, the cover 37 may be torn downward to form a third abutment 37c in the form of a sheet, the third abutment 37c being in downward electrical contact with the upper end 326 of the inner portion 323. The middle portion of the cover 37 may be further upwardly depressed to form a cup portion 371 and the cup portion 371 may be fixedly secured to a recess 356 formed by upwardly depressing the lower end of the cover portion 352, the two being conveniently secured together by a mating clamping action between the cup portion 371 and the inner wall of the recess 356.

The edge of the cover 37 is torn downwards to form a sheet-shaped second abutting portion 37b, and the second abutting portion 37b is electrically contacted with a grounding end 346 on the electronic module assembly 34, so that the cover 37 is electrically connected to the grounding end of the electronic module assembly 34. The second abutting portion 37b may be omitted, and the cover 37 is directly connected to the ground terminal of the connection terminals 350. Specifically, please refer to fig. 4 in combination. The plurality of coil springs 38 includes a first coil spring 381 and a plurality of second coil springs 382. The plurality of connection terminals 350 includes a first terminal 354 and a plurality of second terminals 355. One end of the first coil spring 381 is electrically connected to the first terminal 354, the other end of the first coil spring 381 is electrically connected to the conductive connection part 344 on the circuit board 341, and one end of the second coil spring 382 is electrically connected to one second terminal 355, respectively, and the other end is electrically connected to the conductive connection part 345 on the circuit board 341. The second coil spring 382 may be a conventional metal coil spring, and the first coil spring 381 has a different structure from the second coil spring 382. Referring to fig. 5, the first coil spring 381 includes a first elastic portion 38b which is sparsely coiled, and a first rigid portion 38a and a second rigid portion 38c which are relatively tightly coiled integrally connected at both axial ends thereof, and the outer diameters of the first rigid portion 38a and the second rigid portion 38c are gradually reduced to form a tapered outer profile toward a side far from the first elastic portion 38 b. The second rigid portion 38c is also integrally connected at an end thereof remote from the first elastic portion 38b with a sparsely coiled second elastic portion 38D, the second elastic portion 38D having an outer diameter D2 smaller than an outer diameter D1 of the first elastic portion 38 b. The housing 37 is provided with a through hole 374 through which the second coil spring 382 passes. The cover 37 is also provided with a through hole 375 to allow the second elastic portion 38d of the first coil spring 381 to pass downward. The edge of the via 375 is pressed concave toward the side away from the first elastic portion 38b to form a bellmouth-shaped press-contact surface 373 which is elastically and electrically contacted upward on the tapered outer contour of the second rigid portion 38c, and compresses the first elastic portion 38b upward. Since the housing 37 is fixed to the electrical connector 35, the electrical connector 35 is also capable of compressing the second elastic portion 38d toward the circuit board 341 side at the time of assembly. The present embodiment can easily achieve electrical contact connection among the first terminal 354, the conductive connection part 344, and the housing 37 by the first coil spring 381 by such an electrical connection structure. The cross-section of the bellmouth-shaped crimping surface 373 (the cross-section taken perpendicular to the spring plane) increases gradually in the direction of the first terminal 354, which is preferably a conical surface.

Fig. 6 (a) - (c) also show three alternative embodiments that may be used to electrically connect the three elements of the first terminal 354, the housing 37, and the conductive connection 344, respectively, via other electrical connections. Hereinafter, the first element 391, the second element 392 and the third element 393 are described in abstract terms as the first terminal 354, the housing 37 and the conductive connection 344, respectively, and it should be understood that the connection relationships between the first terminal 354, the housing 37 and the conductive connection 344 described above are equally applicable after being correspondingly replaced by the first element 391, the second element 392 and the third element 393.

As shown in fig. 6 (a), in the first variant embodiment of the electrical connection structure, the electrical connection structure includes three elements, namely, a first element 391, a second element 392 and a third element 393, which are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the first coil spring 381. The first coil spring 381 includes a first elastic portion 38b which is sparsely coiled, and a first rigid portion 38a and a second rigid portion 38c which are relatively tightly coiled are connected at both ends thereof, and the outer diameters of the first rigid portion 38a and the second rigid portion 38c are gradually reduced to form a tapered outer contour toward a side distant from the first elastic portion 38 b. The second rigid portion 38c is further connected at an end thereof remote from the first elastic portion 38b with a second elastic portion 38d which is sparsely coiled, and an outer diameter of the second elastic portion 38d is smaller than an outer diameter of the first elastic portion 38 b. The first coil spring 381 further includes a sparsely coiled third elastic portion 38e connected to a side of the first elastic portion 38b remote from the second elastic portion 38 d. The second member 392 is provided with a through hole 39b for allowing the second coil spring 382 to pass therethrough, and a bellmouth-shaped press-contact surface 39a formed in the through hole 39b toward the first elastic portion 38b is elastically and electrically contacted to the tapered outer contour of the first rigid portion 38a, and the first elastic portion 38b, the second elastic portion 38c are axially compressed toward the third member 393. Wherein the outer end of the third elastic portion 38e (i.e., the end far from the first elastic portion 38 b) is elastically and electrically contacted to the first element 391, and the outer end of the second elastic portion 38d (i.e., the end far from the first elastic portion 38 b) is elastically and electrically contacted to the third element 393. The third resilient portion 38e is retained in a retaining hole 39c formed in a fourth member 394, which fourth member 394 may be fixedly coupled to the first member 391, with the first member 391 preferably being located at the bottom of the retaining slot 39 c. The third elastic portion 38e is compressed toward the first elastic portion 38b side by the first element 391. In this way, by the elastic portions and the tapered outer profile provided on both sides respectively being in contact with the third element, a common electrical connection between the first element 391, the second element 392 and the third element 393 can be achieved.

As shown in fig. 6 (b), the second modified embodiment of the electrical connection structure is different from the first modified embodiment in that a flare-shaped press-contact surface 39a formed in the via hole 39b toward the side of the third elastic portion 38e elastically contacts the tapered outer contour of the second rigid portion 38c and axially compresses the first elastic portion 38b toward the side of the third element 393.

As shown in fig. 6 (c), the first modified embodiment of the electrical connection structure is different from the second modified embodiment in that the holding groove 39c may be omitted, and instead the first coil spring 381 is directly fixed to the second member 392 by the fourth member 395, so that the axial direction of the first coil spring 381 is maintained in a proper posture. Specifically, the fourth element 395 has a via 39d formed therein for allowing the third elastic portion to pass upward, and the edge of the via 39d is concavely formed with a flare-shaped press-contact surface 39e facing the side 38b toward the side away from the second element 392, and the flare-shaped press-contact surface 39e is elastically and electrically contacted (either electrically or non-electrically) on the tapered outer contour of the first rigid portion 38a toward the side of the second element 392 (i.e., toward the side of the first elastic portion 38 b). The fourth element 394 may be an electrical conductor or an electrical insulator.

In various alternative embodiments of the electrical connection structure, the spring portions are compressed, and in addition, the spring portion 38e may be replaced by a tightly coiled third rigid portion (not shown) when present, wherein the third spring portion 38e is compressed, and the third rigid portion and the first spring portion 38b may be collectively referred to as or encompassed by the intermediate coiled portion. Wherein the central axes of the parts of the first coil spring 381 extend in the same direction (i.e., the alignment direction of the first element 391, the second coil spring 382, and the third element 393), i.e., are collinear, preferably the through hole 39b accommodates at least a portion of the first elastic portion 38b to hold the first elastic portion 38 b.

Fourth embodiment:

As shown in fig. 7 and 8. The pressure sensor 500 of the fourth embodiment includes a housing (not labeled) enclosing the mounting cavity 50, the housing including a pressure port 51, an electrical connector 55, and a metal shell 52 sealingly connecting the pressure port 51 and the electrical connector 55. The pressure interface 51 is located on the lower side of the electrical connector 55 and includes a pressure introduction channel 510, an outer end of the pressure introduction channel 510 is connected to the pressure medium to be measured, and an inner end of the pressure introduction channel 510 is sealingly coupled to a pressure sensitive element 502. The pressure sensor 502 is used to convert the pressure of the pressure medium into an electrical signal. Within the mounting cavity 50 is disposed a seat 53 and an electronic module assembly 54 secured to the seat 53. The seat 53 comprises a first portion 531 and a second portion 532, the second portion 532 extending substantially vertically. The electronics module assembly 54 is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive element 502 to process the electrical signals measured by the pressure sensitive element 502. When the pressure sensitive element 502 is a passive device (resistive element, capacitive element, etc.), the electronics module assembly 54 also powers its pressure sensitive element 502. In this embodiment, a metal diaphragm may be used as the pressure sensitive element, and a measuring circuit composed of strain resistors is arranged on a side surface of the metal diaphragm in an insulating manner to convert the strain generated by the metal diaphragm under the action of the pressure medium into an electrical signal, and the measuring circuit is electrically connected with the electronic module assembly 54, preferably, the pressure sensitive element 502 includes a vertical diaphragm 503, the measuring circuit is arranged on a vertical surface 504 arranged outside the vertical diaphragm 503, and the inner side of the vertical diaphragm 503 is connected to the pressure introducing channel 510.

The pressure port 51 includes at least one metal portion, the metal shell 52 includes at least one ring of welding portion 521 sealed and welded with the metal portion of the pressure port 51, the outer edge of the welding portion 521 extends upward to form a ring of outer side portion 122, and the inner edge of the welding portion 521 extends upward toward the mounting cavity 50 to form an inner side portion 523 integrally molded in the first portion 531. The groove 52a is formed between the inner portion 523, the welded portion 521, and the outer portion 522. Preferably, the inner portion 523 may include a compression molded connection (not labeled) and an inner barrel 524 proximate to one side of the weld 521. The inner cylinder 524 may be adjacent to the lower end 55a of the support portion 553 to horizontally position it. A gap 509 is left between the bottom of the seat 53 and the plate-like portion 512.

The pressure port 51 may include a port portion 511 forming the pressure introduction passage 510 described above and a plate-like portion 512 (i.e., the metal portion described above) connected to the port portion 511 and welded to the welding portion 521, for example, an upper portion of the port portion 511 may be protruded outwardly to form a disc-shaped connection portion 51a, and the disc-shaped connection portion 51a is fitted over and welded to a hole 51c formed in the plate-like portion 512. The lower end of the disc-shaped connecting portion 51a may extend outwardly to form a support flange 51b for supporting the plate-like portion 512 upwardly. The lower surface of the welded portion 521 is welded to the upper surface of the plate-like portion 512 to form a weld 52c. In other aspects, the interface portion 511 may also be integrally connected with the plate portion 512.

The electrical connector 55 includes a cover portion 552 and a support portion 553 formed by extending the cover portion 552 toward the metal shell 52 side. The lower end 55a of the support portion 553 is supported by the bottom 52b of the groove 52a (i.e., the upper surface of the welded portion 521). The upper end of the outer portion 522 extends inward to form a crimp portion 525, and the crimp portion 525 presses the upward stepped surface 55b formed on the outer side of the cover portion 552 downward to the welded portion 521. The step surface 55b and the pressure contact portion 525 are sealed by providing a seal ring 501. Wherein, the supporting portion 553 of the electrical connector 55 is circumferentially and positionally covered outside the seat 53, for example, a vertically extending positioning groove 534 may be disposed on an outer wall of the second portion 532, and an inner wall of the supporting portion 553 extends inwards to form a vertical positioning portion 555, and the positioning portion 555 is disposed in the positioning groove 534.

The first portion 531 defines an aperture 53a for receiving at least a portion of the pressure sensitive element 502. The lower end of the second portion 532 is connected to the left and right sides of the first portion 531. The electronic module assembly 54 includes a circuit board 541 disposed vertically, an electronic component 542 disposed on a side surface of the circuit board 541, and a plurality of first conductive connecting portions 544. The measurement circuit on the vertical surface 504 is located on the upper side of the upper end of the first portion 531, and the vertical surface 504 is disposed parallel to the circuit board 541. The first conductive connection portion 544 is electrically connected to the measurement circuit via an electrical connection lead 543. The pressure sensitive element 502 may be sealingly disposed on a boss 513 formed by an inward projection of the inboard end of the pressure inlet channel 510.

The two lateral ends of the circuit board 541 are respectively inserted and fixed downward into two insertion grooves 53e formed on the second portion 532. The opening directions of the two insertion grooves 53e are arranged opposite to each other. The lower end of the circuit board 541 is positioned and supported at the upper end of the first portion 531. In this way, the circuit board 541 is stably fixed to the seat 53. In other embodiments, the circuit board 541 may be additionally fixed in the socket 53e by an adhesive.

The electrical connector 55 has a plurality of connection terminals 550 fixed thereto, and one end of the inner side thereof is electrically connected to the circuit board 541. For example, the second portion 532 may be molded with a first electrical contact member 546, the first electrical contact member 546 having a first vertical portion 54c provided on a side wall of the insertion groove 53e facing the circuit board 541 and a first lateral portion 54a provided on an upper side surface of the second portion 532, the first vertical portion 54c being electrically connected to a second conductive connecting portion 545 provided on the circuit board 541 by an electrical connection wire 548, the second portion 532 may be also molded with a second electrical contact member 547, the second electrical contact member 547 having a second vertical portion 54d provided on a side wall of the second portion 532 and a second lateral portion 54e exposed on an upper side surface of the second portion 532 and extending horizontally, the second vertical portion 54d being electrically connected to one of the second conductive connecting portions 545 provided on the circuit board 541 by the electrical connection wire 549. The inner end 55f of the connection terminal 550 is connected to the first lateral portion 54a or the second lateral portion 54e by a flexible electrical connection element 540. The second portion 532 has a generally arcuate horizontal cross-section that forms an opening 533 laterally opposite the vertical surface 504 in the circumferential direction to facilitate electrical connection of the measurement circuitry on the outside surface of the vertical surface 504 to the first electrically conductive connection 544 by way of the electrical connection lead 543. The first transverse portion 54a and the first vertical portion 54c may be connected by an embedded portion 54b embedded inside the second portion 532. The second lateral portion 54e may be provided on a side wall of the extension portion 53d formed by extending the circumferential both side edges of the opening 533 toward a side away from the circuit board 541.

Wherein the flexible electrical connection element 540 may be a flexible plate, a coil spring or a leaf spring. In this embodiment, the flexible electrical connection element 540 may be an electrical contact spring having a lower end in elastic electrical contact with the first lateral portion 54a or the second lateral portion 54e, and an upper end thereof is formed with a rigid portion having a tapered outer contour by tightly winding, and the connection terminal 550 may be integrally connected with the rigid portion and have a certain rigidity due to the tight winding, so as to be capable of being plugged into an external device. Accordingly, a stepped holding hole 55d may be formed in the electrical connector 55, and a downward pressure contact surface (not shown) is formed on the inner wall of the holding hole 55d, and the pressure contact surface is elastically and electrically contacted with the rigid portion downward.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the claims and their equivalents, and all modifications within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims (6)

1. A coil spring, comprising:

A first, sparsely coiled, resilient portion;

A tightly coiled first rigid portion and a second rigid portion integrally connected to both axial ends of the first elastic portion, respectively, and having an outer diameter gradually decreasing toward a side away from the first elastic portion to form a tapered outer profile;

and a sparsely coiled second elastic part integrally connected to an end of the second rigid part remote from the second rigid part, and having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first elastic part;

The first elastic part, the first rigid part, the second rigid part and the central axis of the second elastic part are arranged in a collinear way.

2. An electrical connection structure comprises a spiral spring as claimed in claim 1, and a first element, a second element and a third element which are sequentially arranged along the axial direction of the spiral spring, wherein a through hole for allowing a second elastic part to pass through is formed in the second element, a bell-mouth-shaped crimping surface facing one side of the first terminal is formed in the through hole, the bell-mouth-shaped crimping surface elastically and electrically contacts with the conical outer contour of the second rigid part towards one side of the middle coiled part, one end of the third elastic part far away from the middle coiled part is elastically and electrically contacted with the first element, and one end of the second elastic part far away from the middle coiled part is elastically and electrically contacted with the third element.

3. The electrical connection of claim 2, further comprising a fourth member having a retaining groove disposed therein for retaining the coil spring.

4. The electrical connection structure of claim 3, wherein the first resilient portion is retained in the retention groove.

5. The electrical connection of claim 4, wherein the first element is secured to the fourth element.

6. The electrical connection of claim 5, wherein the first member is secured to the bottom of the retention slot.