Patent ID: 6477887
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A gas sensor comprising:a housing having a base end; a sensor element inserted into the housing and fixed with respect to the housing, the sensor element having a base end; terminal electrodes provided on the base end of the sensor element; an atmosphere-side cover provided on the base end of the housing; an insulator provided in the atmosphere-side cover and having terminal accommodation holes, the insulator having an element accommodation hole in which the base end of the sensor element is placed, the element accommodation hole communicating with the terminal accommodation holes, the insulator having ribs forming inner surfaces defining the element accommodation hole, the ribs having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the base end of the sensor element; leads; and metal terminals at least partially placed in the terminal accommodation holes, respectively, and having connecting portions connected with the leads, the ribs being located between the metal terminals; wherein as the base end of the sensor element is placed in the element accommodation hole, the terminal electrodes on the base end of the sensor element come into contact with the metal terminals so that the terminal electrodes are electrically connected with the leads via the metal terminals; wherein the metal terminals include resilient contact portions which are resiliently deformable wherein before the terminal electrodes on the base end of the sensor element come into contact with the metal terminals, the resilient contact portions are in contact with the ribs while being resiliently deformed, and wherein when the terminal electrodes on the base end of the sensor element come into contact with the metal terminals, the resilient contact portions meet the terminal electrodes on the base end of the sensor element.