JP4742923B2 - Ultrasonic sensor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor provided with an ultrasonic transducer (microphone) having a piezoelectric element.

  For example, a sensor body having an ultrasonic transducer is attached to a bumper of a vehicle, and an ultrasonic sensor generates an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer and receives a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave so that the vicinity of the bumper. Detect obstacles present in

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a structure for fixing the conventional ultrasonic sensor 100 to the bumper 101. As shown in this figure, the sensor main body 102 of the ultrasonic sensor 100 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the sensor main body 102 is inserted into a circular hole 101 a formed in the bumper 101 from the outside of the bumper 101. To be fixed to the bumper 101. Specifically, a flange 102 a is provided on the rear end side of the sensor body 102 in the direction of insertion into the bumper 101, and a mountain-shaped metal spring 103 is provided on the outer periphery of the sensor body 102. Therefore, when the sensor main body 102 is inserted into the hole 101a of the bumper 101, the diameter of the sensor main body 102 in which the metal spring 103 is generated in a state where movement of the sensor main body 102 in the insertion direction is restricted by the flange 102a. Since a force spreading in the direction is applied to the wall surface constituting the hole 101 a of the bumper 101, the sensor main body 102 is firmly fixed to the bumper 101.
JP 2003-9270 A

  In recent years, the intelligentization of ultrasonic sensors has been promoted, and not only ultrasonic transducers but also circuit boards on which signal processing circuits and the like are formed are being accommodated in sensor bodies. As a result, the size of the sensor main body is increased, and there is a problem that the sensor main body cannot be inserted into the hole of the bumper from the outside of the bumper as in the past. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to fix the ultrasonic sensor to the bumper with a structure different from the conventional one.

  In contrast, the present inventors have a bezel (cover) that is configured in a cylindrical shape and that has a flange at one end, and the bezel is fixed to the bumper by inserting the bezel into the hole of the bumper from the outside of the bumper. After that, the cylindrical part where the ultrasonic transducer in the sensor body is arranged in the hollow part of the bezel is inserted from the inside of the bumper (that is, the direction opposite to the direction of insertion into the hole of the bezel), so that the bezel is The structure to fix the sensor body to the bumper was considered.

  However, in such a structure, since the enlarged sensor body must be held by the bezel that functions as a fixing member, the bezel is firmly fixed to the bumper, and the sensor body is firmly fixed to the bezel. I have to do so.

  Although the case where the ultrasonic sensor is fixed to the bumper has been described here, the same problem as described above also occurs when the ultrasonic sensor is assembled to parts other than the bumper of the vehicle body.

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides an ultrasonic that can firmly fix a bezel to a vehicle body part and firmly fix the sensor body to the bezel when the sensor body is fixed to the vehicle body part such as a bumper via the bezel. An object is to provide a sensor.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a through hole (4h) penetrating to the hollow portion is opened in the side wall of the bezel (4), and the spring member (5) is positioned in the through hole (4h). To fix. When the insertion portion (10, 32) is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel (4) in a state where the bezel (4) is inserted into the hole (2a) of the vehicle body part (2), the spring member (5) Is elastically compressed and deformed between the outer wall surface of the insertion portion (10, 32) and the wall surface of the hole portion (2a), and the sensor reaction body (3) and the bezel (4) are deformed by the elastic reaction force accompanying this compression deformation. It is characterized by being fixed to the wall surface of the hole (2a).

  Thus, the spring member (5) is elastically compressed and deformed between the outer wall surface of the insertion portion (10, 32) and the wall surface of the hole (2a), and the sensor main body is caused by the elastic reaction force accompanying the compression deformation. (3) and the bezel (4) can be fixed to the wall surface of the hole (2a). Therefore, in the structure in which the sensor body (3) is fixed to the vehicle body part (2) via the bezel (4), the bezel (4) can be firmly fixed to the vehicle body part (2), and the bezel (4) The sensor body (3) can be firmly fixed.

Further, in the present invention, the above features, that have used the metallic spring as the spring member (5). The metal spring (5) has a fixed end fixed to the bezel (4) and a displaceable free end, and the free end is positioned in a through hole (4h) formed in the bezel (4). in Rukoto is, the elastic due to compressive deformation due to the free end reaction force by a sensor body (3) and bezel (4) can be fixed to the wall of the hole (2a).

The flange for restricting the amount of insertion of the bezel (4) of the hole in the insertion direction of the rear end of the hole portion of the body component (2) to (2a) of the bezel (4) to (2a) (4a) is while being formed, is fixed to the front in the insertion direction into the hole of the body component (2) (2a) of the fixed end of the metal spring (5) is bezel (4), the free end is inserted in the bezel (4) It is configured to disposed in the direction of the rear, and, because it to be a structure having convex portion is inclined to the insertion direction of the bezel (4) (5c), the bezel (4 ) Is inserted into the hole (2a) of the vehicle part (2), the vehicle part (2) can be clamped by the elastic reaction force of the convex part (5c) and the flange (4a). Thereby, bezel (4) can be firmly fixed to body parts (2) more firmly.

Further, the metal spring (5) is formed by bending a rod-shaped member, and is shaped so as to reach the free end from the fixed end via the convex portion (5c), and the tip end position of the rod-shaped member is folded back to the fixed end side at the free end. A folded portion (5d) is provided, and the tip position of the rod-like member folded at the folded portion (5d) is in contact with the wall surface forming the through hole (4h) formed in the bezel (4). The tip position is prevented from entering the through hole (4h).

Thereby, it becomes possible to increase the spring load of the metal spring (5), can secure the bezel (4) more strongly bodywork parts (2).
For example, when the bezel (4) is inserted into the hole (2a) of the vehicle body part (2), the spring member (5) contacts the wall surface of the hole (2a) and protrudes into the hollow portion. When the insertion portion (10, 32) is inserted into the hollow portion of 4), the portion of the spring member (5) that protrudes into the hollow portion is pushed back by the outer wall surface of the insertion portion (10, 32), thereby being elastic. It is configured to obtain a reaction force.

  Further, the bezel (4) is prevented from coming out of the hole (2a) of the vehicle component (2) at a position separated from the flange (4a) by the thickness of the vehicle component (2) on the side wall of the bezel (4). It is preferable to provide a slip-off preventing claw (4e).

  By providing such a removal preventing claw (4e), when the insertion part (10, 32) of the sensor body (3) is to be inserted into the hollow part of the bezel (4), the bezel (4) It is possible to prevent the car body part (2) from coming out of the hole (2a).

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

(First embodiment)
The ultrasonic sensor according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment will be described. The ultrasonic sonar of this embodiment is attached to a bumper of a vehicle, for example, and used as a back sonar or a corner sonar.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state when the ultrasonic sensor 1 of the present embodiment is attached to the bumper 2. In FIG. 1, only the bumper 2 is shown in cross section.

  As shown in this figure, the ultrasonic sensor 1 is fixed in the hole 2 a of the bumper 2. The ultrasonic sensor 1 is configured to include a sensor body 3 and a bezel 4. After inserting the bezel 4 into the hole 2 a of the bumper 2 from the outside of the bumper 2 (left side of the paper), the sensor body 3 is attached to the bezel 4. It is fixed to the bumper 2 by being inserted into the hollow portion of the bumper 2 from the inside (right side of the drawing).

  Hereinafter, detailed structures of the sensor body 3 and the bezel 4 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the sensor main body 3. FIG. 2 (a) is a front view of the sensor main body 3. FIG. 2 (b) is a right side view of the sensor main body 3. FIG. FIG. 2D is a rear view of the sensor main body 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor body 3 and corresponds to a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sensor main body 3 is one in which the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the circuit board 20 are integrally accommodated in a case 30. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic transducer 10 provided in the sensor body 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the ultrasonic transducer 10 includes a housing 11, a piezoelectric element 12, a spacer 13, a base 14, and a connection pin 15.

  The housing 11 is made of a conductive material (a metal material or an insulating material having a conductive film formed on the surface), and has a bottomed cylindrical shape so that an internal space 16 is formed inside the housing 11. A piezoelectric element 12 is adhered to the inner surface of the bottom portion 11a of the housing 11, and the outer surface of the bottom portion 11a is a vibration surface 11b. In the present embodiment, aluminum is used as the conductive material, and the vibration surface 11b has a circular shape.

  The piezoelectric element 12 is made of piezoelectric ceramics (for example, lead zirconate titanate), and includes electrodes (not shown) on both front and back surfaces. One electrode of the piezoelectric element 12 is electrically connected to one of the pair of connection pins 15 by a lead 17a. The other electrode of the piezoelectric element 12 is attached to the bottom 11a of the housing 11 with a conductive adhesive, for example, and connected to the lead 17b via the housing 11 made of a conductive material. Is electrically connected to the other. Note that the inner space 16 of the housing 11 is filled with felt and silicon, and unnecessary vibration transmitted from the vibration surface to the connection pin 15 is suppressed.

  The spacer 13 is disposed between the opening of the housing 11 and the base 14. The spacer 13 is an elastic body for suppressing unnecessary vibration generated in the cylindrical portion 11c of the housing 11 due to vibration of the bottom portion 11a of the housing 11 from being transmitted to the base 14 to which the connection pin 15 is fixed. For example, it is made of silicon rubber. Although the spacer 13 is disposed here, a configuration in which the spacer 13 is eliminated may be employed.

  The base 14 is fixed to the housing 11 by being fitted to the outer peripheral surface on the opening side of the housing 11 via the spacer 13. The base 14 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin (for example, ABS resin). The base 14 is provided with a protection portion 18 for covering the connection pin 15 so as to protrude toward the circuit board 20, and the connection pin 15 is disposed so as to penetrate the protection portion 18. When the base 14 is molded, the connection pin 15 is insert-molded so that a part of the connection pin 15 is embedded and fixed in the base 14.

  The connection pin 15 is made of, for example, a conductive material whose main component is copper, and is formed of, for example, a rod-shaped member having a thickness of 0.5 mmφ.

  Further, the ultrasonic transducer 10 is provided with a foamed elastic body 19 made of, for example, foamed silicon. The foamed elastic body 19 is for suppressing transmission of vibration to the base 14, and the connection pin 15 is disposed so as to penetrate the foamed elastic body 19.

  The housing 11, the spacer 13, the base 14, and the foamed elastic body 19 are bonded to each other with an adhesive (for example, a silicon-based adhesive) or the like, so that the ultrasonic vibrator 10 having an integral structure is configured. .

  The ultrasonic sensor 1 is configured by assembling the ultrasonic transducer 10 thus configured together with the circuit board 20 in a hollow case 30 made of synthetic resin.

  Case 30 is formed of a hollow, substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The case 30 is provided with a guide portion 31 for positioning the connection pin 15 with respect to the connection position of the circuit board 20. The guide portion 31 is constituted by a plate-like portion that divides the internal space of the case 30 into an arrangement space for the ultrasonic transducer 10 and an arrangement space for the circuit board 20, and positioning for inserting the connection pin 15 and the protection portion 18. It is set as the structure provided with the use hole 31a.

  In addition, an opening surface 32 having a circular top surface is formed on one surface of the case 30 (the surface above the paper in FIG. 3), and a cylindrical elastic body 33 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the opening surface 32. In addition, the ultrasonic vibrator 10 in which the foamed elastic body 34 serving as an elastic body that suppresses vibration is disposed below the base 14 is inserted into the case 30. In a state where the ultrasonic transducer 10 is assembled to the case 30 in this way, the connection pin 15 is inserted into the positioning hole 31 a of the guide portion 31, and the tip portion of the connection pin 15 is formed in the circuit board 20. Has been inserted. And the electrical connection of the front-end | tip part of the connection pin 15 and the through hole 21 is made by soldering etc.

  The vibration surface 11 b of the ultrasonic transducer 10 is exposed from the opening surface 32 of the case 30, and the ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 10 is transmitted to the outside of the case 30.

  The cylindrical elastic body 33 is made of silicon rubber, and in order to suppress transmission of unnecessary vibration from the ultrasonic vibrator 10 to the case 30, the outer peripheral surface (the cylindrical portion 11 c surface of the housing 11) and the bottom surface of the ultrasonic vibrator 10. It is attached to.

  The foamed elastic body 34 is made of foamed silicon, like the foamed elastic body 19 disposed in the housing 11 of the ultrasonic transducer 10, and the connection pin 15 and the protective portion 18 are disposed therethrough. The foamed elastic body 34 is provided with a cut, and the protection portion 18 can be inserted into the cut. In addition, the ultrasonic transducer | vibrator 10 (base 14), the cylindrical elastic body 33, and the foaming elastic body 34 are mutually adhere | attached and fixed with the silicon-type adhesive agent.

  In addition, a moisture-proof member 35 is filled in a hollow portion in which the circuit board 20 is disposed in the case 30 partitioned by the guide portion 31. As the moisture-proof member 35, for example, a silicon resin or a urethane resin can be applied. In this embodiment, silicon resin is applied. As shown in FIG. 3, an external output terminal 36 for outputting from the circuit board 20 to the outside is provided, and one end side of the external output terminal 36 is exposed from a connector 37 formed on one surface of the case 30. It is said that.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, a lance 38 is provided on the upper surface of the case 30 (the surface above the paper surface of FIG. 2A), and the bottom surface (FIG. 2A). A receiving portion 39 is provided on the lower surface of the drawing.

  The lance 38 constitutes a claw-shaped locking portion formed so as to protrude from the upper surface of the case 30 in the same direction as the opening surface 32, and is used for fixing to the bezel 4. Specifically, the column diagram 38 has a rod-shaped portion 38a and a claw portion 38b. A rod-shaped portion 38a is projected from the upper surface of the case 30 in the same direction as the opening surface 32, and a claw portion 38b is formed on the opening surface 32 side at the tip position of the rod-shaped portion 38a.

  Further, the receiving portion 39 constitutes a frame-like locking portion provided so as to protrude further downward from the bottom surface of the case 30, and this is also used for fixing to the bezel 4. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (d), the receiving portion 39 has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the protruding direction of the opening surface 32. A snap fit 4b provided on a bezel 4 to be described later can be inserted into the hole.

  Of the sensor body 3 configured in this manner, the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the opening surface 32, that is, the portion of the case 30 that protrudes in a cylindrical shape is an insertion portion that is inserted into the bezel 4. For this reason, the protruding direction of the opening surface 32 is the direction in which the sensor body 3 is inserted into the bezel 4.

  5A and 5B are diagrams showing the bezel 4. FIG. 5A is a front view of the bezel 4, FIG. 5B is a left side view of the bezel 4, and FIG. 5C is a view of the bezel 4. FIG. 5D is a top view of the bezel 4, and FIG. 5E is a bottom view of the bezel 4. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the bezel 4 corresponding to the BB cross section of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the bezel 4 is constituted by a substantially cylindrical member made of, for example, resin or the like, and a flange 4a having a partially enlarged diameter is formed at one end portion. Has been. The shape and size of the hollow portion of the bezel 4 correspond to the shape of the opening surface 32 in the sensor main body 3, and the opening surface 32 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 are inserted into the hollow portion.

  A snap fit 4 b is provided on the lower surface of the bezel 4. The snap fit 4b functions as a claw-shaped locking portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the claw portion 4c formed at the tip of the snap fit 4b is inserted into the hole of the receiving portion 39 of the case 30 described above. As a result, it is caught by the receiving portion 39. Thereby, the bezel 4 and the sensor body 3 are more firmly fixed. In addition, as shown in FIG.4 (e), the slit 4j is formed in the both sides of the nail | claw part 4c, and the part for the nail | claw part 4c arrange | positioned between this slit 4f is easy to carry out a stress deformation | transformation.

  A locking hole 4 d is formed on the upper surface of the bezel 4. The locking hole 4d is a square-shaped hole when viewed from the front, and is for inserting the claw portion 38b of the lance 38 provided in the case 30 described above. As shown in FIG. 1, when the claw portion 38b of the lance 38 is inserted into the locking hole 4d, the claw portion 38b is caught on the inner wall of the locking hole 4d. Thereby, the bezel 4 and the sensor body 3 are more firmly fixed.

  In addition, on the outer peripheral surface of the bezel 4, removal prevention claws 4 e are provided at positions on the left and right sides of the bezel 4. The removal preventing claw 4e is formed at a position that takes into account the thickness of the bumper 2, and is provided at a position spaced from the end face of the flange 4a by the thickness of the bumper 2 or slightly larger. The removal preventing claw 4e is provided to prevent the bezel 4 from coming off the bumper 2. After the bezel 4 is attached to the bumper 2, a force is applied in the direction in which the bezel 4 comes out of the bumper 2 when inserting the opening surface 32 of the case 30 in the sensor body 3 into the bezel 4. For this reason, when the bezel 4 is inserted into the bumper 2, the removal-preventing claw 4 e is caught on the end surface of the bumper 2, so that the removal from the bezel 4 bumper 2 can be prevented. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), slits 4f are provided on both sides of each removal preventing claw 4e, and the rod-shaped portion between the slits 4f is easily deformed by stress. The removal preventing claw 4e does not obstruct the insertion at the time of attachment.

  Furthermore, a plurality of (here, four) grooves 4g are formed in the bezel 4 at equal intervals with respect to the center of the bezel 4. In each groove 4g, as shown in FIG. 6, two through holes 4h and 4i arranged in the direction of the central axis of the bezel 4 are formed. And the metal spring 5 is arrange | positioned along each groove | channel 4g. The through holes 4h and 4i may be one through hole, but by forming a wall surface between them, the spring load of the metal spring 5 can be increased. That is, since the tip position of the metal spring 5 is in contact with the wall surface of the through hole 4h, the metal spring 5 functions to restrict the penetration of the metal spring 5 into the through hole 4h, so that the elastic reaction force generated by the metal spring 5 can be increased. It becomes possible.

  Specifically, the metal spring 5 is configured by bending a thin rod-shaped metal, and matches the claw portion 5a in which one end of the rod-shaped metal is bent into a claw shape and the end shape of the opening portion of the bezel 4. A U-shaped portion 5b bent into a U-shape, a convex portion 5c projecting radially from the outer peripheral surface of the bezel 4, and a folded portion 5d in which the other end of the rod-shaped metal is folded back toward the claw portion 5a. Configured. When the claw portion 5a of the metal spring 5 is inserted from the opening end of the bezel 4 and inserted until the U-shaped portion 5b contacts the opening end of the bezel 4, the claw portion 5a enters the through hole 4i, and the end surface of the through hole 4i The metal spring 5 is fixed to the bezel 4 by being hooked on the bezel 4. For this reason, the side fixed to the bezel 4 of the metal spring 5, that is, the U-shaped portion 5b serves as a fixed end, and the folded portion 5d serves as a free end to perform a spring function.

  That is, at the free end of the metal spring 5, the side surfaces of the opening surface 32 of the bumper 2 and the sensor body 3 are both in contact with the metal spring 5. In addition, the elastic force of the metal spring 5 is applied to the opening surface 32 of the sensor body 3 in the direction in which the bezel 4 shrinks in the radial direction.

  Therefore, in the structure in which the sensor body 3 is fixed to the bumper 2 via the bezel 4, the bezel 4 can be firmly fixed to the bumper 2, and the sensor body 3 can be firmly fixed to the bezel 4. It becomes possible. Thereby, the ultrasonic sensor 1 can be firmly fixed to the bumper 2.

  Next, how the ultrasonic sensor 1 is attached to the bumper 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state before the ultrasonic sensor 1 is attached to the bumper 2.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, the bezel 4 is inserted into the hole 2 a of the bumper 2 from one side of the bumper 2, that is, from the outside of the bumper 2. At this time, the removal preventing claw 4e is inserted until it enters the inside of the bumper 2. Thereby, the opening end of the hole 2a of the bumper 2 and the inclined portion of the convex portion 5c in the metal spring 5 come into contact with each other. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state at this time.

  As shown in this figure, when the bezel 4 is inserted into the hole 2 a of the bumper 2, the metal spring 5 is elastically deformed and bent by the opening end of the hole 2 a of the bumper 2, and becomes the free end of the metal spring 5. The folded portion 5 d enters the through hole 4 h and protrudes from the inner wall surface of the bezel 4.

  Thereafter, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 7, the opening surface 32 and the ultrasonic transducer 10 in the sensor body 3 are inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel 4 from the opposite side of the bumper-2, that is, from the inside of the bumper 2. As a result, the tip end of the snap fit 4b enters the hole of the receiving portion 39, and the claw portion 4c formed between the slits 4j comes into contact with the inner wall of the receiving portion 39 and is elastically deformed. Then, the claw portion 4c and the receiving portion 39 are engaged with each other by returning the elastically deformed portion to the original state. Further, the claw portion 38b of the lance 38 is in contact with the outer wall surface of the bezel 4, the rod-shaped portion 38a is elastically deformed, and the claw portion 38b enters the locking hole 4d. Engages with the locking hole 4d.

  Further, the outer wall surface of the opening surface 32 comes into contact with the portion of the free end of the metal spring 5 that enters the through hole 4 h of the bezel 4 and protrudes from the inner wall surface of the bezel 4. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing the situation at this time.

  As shown in this figure, since the free end of the metal spring 5 is in contact with the outer wall surface of the opening surface 32, the bezel 4 is pushed back in the radial direction. Therefore, at the free end of the metal spring 5, the side surfaces of the bumper 2 and the opening surface 32 of the sensor body 3 are both in contact with the metal spring 5, and with respect to the bumper 2, the elastic force of the metal spring 5 extends in the radial direction of the bezel 4. And the elastic force of the metal spring 5 is applied to the opening surface 32 of the sensor body 3 in the direction in which the bezel 4 shrinks in the radial direction. That is, the free end of the metal spring 5 is elastically compressed and deformed between the outer wall surface of the opening surface 32 and the wall surface of the hole 2a of the bumper 2, and the sensor body 3 and the bezel 4 are elastically reacted by the compression deformation. Is fixed to the wall surface of the hole 2a.

  Accordingly, in the structure in which the sensor main body 3 is fixed to the bumper 2 via the bezel 4, the bezel 4 can be firmly fixed to the bumper 2, and the sensor main body 3 can be firmly fixed to the bezel 4. It becomes possible. Thereby, the ultrasonic sensor 1 can be firmly fixed to the bumper 2.

  As described above, in the ultrasonic sensor 1 of the present embodiment, the metal spring 5 is disposed on the side wall of the cylindrical bezel 4 into which the ultrasonic transducer 10 and the opening surface 32 of the sensor body 3 are inserted, and the bezel 4 A through hole 4h is provided in the side wall of the metal plate 5 and the free end of the metal spring 5 is disposed in the through hole 4h. When the bezel 4 is inserted into the hole 2 a of the bumper 2, the free end of the metal spring 5 is pushed by the wall surface of the hole 2 a and protrudes from the inner wall surface of the bezel 4. 10 and the opening surface 32 are pushed back in contact with the opening surface 32.

  Therefore, in the structure in which the sensor main body 3 is fixed to the bumper 2 via the bezel 4, the ultrasonic sensor 1 can be firmly fixed to the bumper 2 and the sensor main body 3 can be firmly fixed to the bezel 4. It becomes possible.

  Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the bumper 2 can be sandwiched between the slope formed by the convex portion 5c of the metal spring 5 and the flange 4a, so that the bezel 4 can be more firmly fixed to the bumper 2. It becomes possible.

(Other embodiments)
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications.

  For example, the metal spring 5 may have a shape as shown in FIG. That is, the metal spring 5 bent by the U-shaped part 5b is made to extend to the through hole 4h as it is, and a bent part 5e is formed so as to enter the through hole 4h, and the metal spring 5 is opposite to the claw part 5a. The convex part 5c is comprised by inclining the edge part of the side from the bending part 5e as it is. Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to the said 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

  In the above embodiment, when the bezel 4 is inserted into the hole 2a of the bumper 2, the free end of the metal spring 5 is pushed into the through hole 4h by the wall surface of the hole 2a. It is arranged in a state where it is pushed into the hole 4h, and when a part of the sensor main body 3 is inserted into the hollow part of the bezel 4, the free end of the metal spring 5 is pushed out in a direction to expand in the radial direction of the bezel 4, The configuration may be such that the wall surface of the hole 2a of the bumper 2 is pushed.

  Further, the shape of the cylindrical bezel 4 and the shape of a part of the sensor main body 3 inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel 4 may not be a shape based on a circle. For example, the bezel 4 has an elliptical cylindrical shape or a polygonal cylindrical shape, and the portion of the sensor body 3 that is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel 4 is an elliptical columnar shape or a polygonal columnar shape corresponding to the hollow portion of the bezel 4. It doesn't matter.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the ultrasonic sensor 1 was fixed using the bumper 2 as a to-be-fixed member, also regarding the case where the ultrasonic sensor 1 is fixed to vehicle body components other than the bumper 2, this invention. Can be applied.

  Furthermore, although the metal spring 5 is retrofitted to the bezel 4 in the above embodiment, the metal spring 5 may be integrated with the bezel 4 by insert molding the metal spring 5 when the bezel 4 is molded. Absent.

  In the above-described embodiment, the metal spring 5 is used as a spring member for fixing the sensor body 3 and the bezel 4, but other materials may be used as long as the spring is formed of an elastic body. . Although the number of spring members is four, it is sufficient if there are two or more. In this case, it is preferable that the spring members are equally spaced so that the balance of force is equal, but it is not always necessary to be equally spaced.

It is the side view which showed the state when the ultrasonic sensor 1 concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention was attached to the bumper 2. FIG. It is the figure which showed the sensor main body 3, (a) is a front view of the sensor main body 3, (b) is a right view of the sensor main body 3, (c) is a top view of the sensor main body 3, (d). FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sensor body 3. It is AA sectional drawing of Fig.2 (a). 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic transducer 10. It is the figure which showed the bezel 4, (a) is a front view of the bezel 4, (b) is a left side view of the bezel 4, (c) is a rear view of the bezel 4, and (d) is a bezel 4. FIG. 4E is a bottom view of the bezel 4. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the bezel 4 equivalent to the BB cross section of FIG.5 (c). It is the figure which showed the mode before attaching the ultrasonic sensor 1 to the bumper 2. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state when the bezel 4 is inserted into the hole 2a of the bumper 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state when the opening surface 32 of the sensor body 3 is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel 4. It is a partially expanded sectional view of the bezel 4 demonstrated by other embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a structure for fixing a conventional ultrasonic sensor 100 to a bumper 101.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic sensor, 2 ... Bumper, 2a ... Hole part, 3 ... Sensor main body, 4 ... Bezel, 4a ... Flange, 4b ... Snap fit, 4c ... Claw part, 4d ... Locking hole, 4e ... Prevention claw, 4f ... slit, 4g ... groove, 4h, 4i ... through hole, 4j ... slit, 5 ... metal spring, 5a ... claw part, 5b ... U-shaped part, 5c ... convex part, 5d ... folded part, 5e ... bent part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Ultrasonic vibrator, 12 ... Piezoelectric element, 15 ... Connection pin, 20 ... Circuit board, 30 ... Case, 32 ... Opening surface, 33 ... Cylindrical elastic body, 38 ... Lance, 38a ... Rod-shaped part, 38b ... Claw Part, 39 ... receiving part.

Claims (5)

A cylindrical bezel (4) having an opening formed on one end side and having a hollow portion;
And a sensor body with an ultrasonic transducer (10) (3),
The insertion portion (10, 32) is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel (4) with a part including the ultrasonic transducer (10) of the sensor body (3) from the opening as an insertion portion (10, 32). After the bezel (4) is inserted into the hole (2a) formed in the vehicle body part (2) from the outside of the vehicle body part (2), the vehicle body part (2 ) From the inside of the bezel (4) into the hollow part of the bezel (4), the sensor body (3) is inserted into the vehicle body part (2) via the bezel (4). ) Is configured to be assembled,
On the side wall of the bezel (4), a through hole (4h) penetrating to the hollow portion is opened, and a spring member (5) is fixed so as to be positioned in the through hole (4h),
In a state where the bezel (4) is inserted into the hole (2a) of the vehicle body part (2), when the insertion portion (10, 32) is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel (4), The spring member (5) is elastically compressed and deformed between the outer wall surface of the insertion portion (10, 32) and the wall surface of the hole (2a), and the sensor main body ( 3) and is configured to fix the bezel (4) to the wall surface of the hole (2a),
The spring member is a metal spring (5), and the metal spring (5) has a fixed end fixed to the bezel (4) and a displaceable free end, and the free end is the bezel (4). ) Is formed in the through-hole (4h) formed in the hole portion (2a), and the sensor body (3) and the bezel (4) are brought into contact with the hole portion (2a) by elastic reaction force accompanying compression deformation by the free end. The fixed end is fixed to the front of the bezel (4) in the insertion direction of the body part (2) into the hole (2a), and is configured to be fixed to the wall surface. An end is configured to be arranged rearward in the insertion direction of the bezel (4) and has a convex portion (5c) inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the bezel (4); Has been
A flange for restricting the amount of the bezel (4) inserted into the hole (2a) at the rear end of the bezel (4) in the insertion direction of the body part (2) into the hole (2a). (4a) is formed,
When the bezel (4) is inserted into the hole (2a) of the vehicle component (2), the vehicle component (2) is clamped by the elastic reaction force of the convex portion (5c) and the flange (4a). Configured to be
Further, the metal spring (5) is formed by bending a rod-shaped member, and has a shape extending from the fixed end to the free end via the convex portion (5c). A folding portion (5d) is provided, wherein the tip end position of the rod-shaped member is folded back to the fixed end side, and the tip position of the rod-shaped member folded back by the folding portion (5d) is formed in the bezel (4). An ultrasonic sensor, wherein the tip position is restricted from entering the through hole (4h) by contacting a wall surface forming the hole (4h) . The spring member (5), the bezel (4) when the you insert into the hole portion (2a) of the body part (2), the hole (2a) in contact with the wall surface in the hollow portion of the When the insertion portion (10, 32) is inserted into the hollow portion of the bezel (4), the portion of the spring member (5) protruding into the hollow portion is the insertion portion (10, 32). The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1, wherein the elastic reaction force is obtained by being pushed back by an outer wall surface. Of the side wall of the bezel (4), the bezel (4) extends from the hole (2a) of the vehicle component (2) at a position separated from the flange (4a) by the thickness of the vehicle component (2). The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a removal prevention claw (4e) for preventing the removal. The bezel (4) has a cylindrical shape,
The ultrasonic sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the insertion portion (10, 32) in the sensor body (3) has a cylindrical shape. The ultrasonic sensor according to claim 4 , wherein a plurality of the spring members (5) are arranged at equal intervals with respect to the center of the bezel (4).

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