TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS

A temperature sensor applied to a wire harness includes a temperature-sensitive element, a main body part that holds the temperature-sensitive element, a clamp part, and a connector. The main body part includes a holding part that holds the temperature-sensitive element on the tip side in an insertion direction and is positioned inside the clamp part by being inserted into the clamp part along that direction. The clamp part includes a pair of window parts that allow the temperature-sensitive element to be exposed to outside of the clamp part. Furthermore, the holding part includes a pair of protection wall parts positioned by sandwiching a window part in a state of being inserted into the clamp part. An end part of the wall part on a tip side in the insertion direction is positioned by protruding more than an end part of the temperature-sensitive element on the tip side does.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-069862 filed in Japan on Apr. 21, 2022.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a temperature sensor and a wire harness.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-281787A discloses a temperature sensor with simplified fixing function, which is configured with a mounting clamp inserted and fixed through a through-hole of a mounting target, and a thermistor element embedded near a tip inside the mounting clamp. The temperature sensor with simplified fixing function is formed compact and can be easily attached to a mounting target by integrally molding the thermistor element, terminals, and lead wires or the like connected to the terminals embedded in the clamp.

Such a temperature sensor with simplified fixing function described above may have each part separately molded considering versatility such as mountability and maintainability after mounting. In such a case, a temperature-sensitive element such as a thermistor element needs to be mounted to the clamp, and it is desired to have a configuration capable of properly protecting the temperature-sensitive element until the temperature-sensitive element is mounted to the clamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed in view of the aforementioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a temperature sensor and a wire harness capable of properly protecting a temperature-sensitive element.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a temperature sensor according to one aspect of the present invention includes a temperature-sensitive element that detects a temperature of a measurement target; a main body part that holds the temperature-sensitive element; a clamp part that is capable of being attached to and detached from a fixing target area along a first direction and capable of fixing the main body part to the fixing target area in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area; and a connector that is provided at an end part of a wiring material exhibiting conductivity and allows, in a state of being fitted to the main body part, the temperature-sensitive element and the wiring material to be electrically connected, wherein the main body part includes: a holding part that extends along an insertion direction aligned with the first direction, the holding part holding the temperature-sensitive element on a tip side in the insertion direction and being positioned inside the clamp part by being inserted inside the clamp part along the insertion direction; and a connector part to which the connector is capable of being fitted in a state of being fixed to the fixing target area via the clamp part, the clamp part includes, in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area, a pair of window parts for exposing the temperature-sensitive element held by the holding part to outside of the clamp part, the pair of window parts being provided at end parts positioned inside the fixing target area and being formed along a direction intersecting with the first direction, the holding part includes a pair of protection wall parts positioned by sandwiching the window parts in a state of being inserted inside the clamp part, and an end part of the protection wall part on a tip side in the insertion direction is positioned by protruding more to the tip side than an end part of the temperature-sensitive element on the tip side does.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a wire harness according to another aspect of the present invention includes a wiring material exhibiting conductivity; and a temperature sensor that includes: a temperature-sensitive element that detects a temperature of a measurement target; a main body part that holds the temperature-sensitive element; a clamp part that is capable of being attached to and detached from a fixing target area along a first direction and capable of fixing the main body part to the fixing target area in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area; and a connector that is provided at an end part of a wiring material exhibiting conductivity and allows, in a state of being fitted to the main body part, the temperature-sensitive element and the wiring material to be electrically connected, wherein the main body part includes: a holding part that extends along an insertion direction aligned with the first direction, the holding part holding the temperature-sensitive element on a tip side in the insertion direction and being positioned inside the clamp part by being inserted inside the clamp part along the insertion direction; and a connector part to which the connector is capable of being fitted in a state of being fixed to the fixing target area via the clamp part, the clamp part includes, in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area, a pair of window parts for exposing the temperature-sensitive element held by the holding part to outside of the clamp part, the pair of window parts being provided at end parts positioned inside the fixing target area and being formed along a direction intersecting with the first direction, the holding part includes a pair of protection wall parts positioned by sandwiching the window parts in a state of being inserted inside the clamp part, and an end part of the protection wall part on a tip side in the insertion direction is positioned by protruding more to the tip side than an end part of the temperature-sensitive element on the tip side does.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note, however, that the present invention is not limited by the embodiment. Furthermore, structural components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

First Embodiment

A wire harness WH illustrated inFIG.1andFIG.2is a bundle of a plurality of wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication formed into an assembly component so as to connect the wiring materials W to each device via a connector and the like for connecting each of the devices loaded on a vehicle, for example.

The wire harness WH includes: a wiring material WT with terminal, which includes the wiring material W exhibiting conductivity and a terminal T provided at an end part of the wiring material W; and a temperature sensor1connected to the wiring material WT with terminal. In addition, the wire harness WH may further include various structural components such as a corrugated tube, a grommet, an electrical junction box, a connector, and the like.

The wiring material W is, for example, an insulated electric wire with the core wire, which is a bundle of a plurality of conductive metal element wires, covered with an insulation coating part. The wiring material W may also be a bundle of a plurality of insulated electric wires. Note that the wiring material W may be an insulated metal rod, which is a conductive metal rod covered with an insulation coating part.

The terminal T (seeFIG.6) is, for example, a crimp terminal that is configured with a conductive metallic material and crimped to the terminal of the wiring material W. For example, the terminal T is formed into a prescribed shape by performing pressing such as bending and cutting on a metal plate that is a base material. The terminal T provided at an end part of the wiring material W is housed and held in a connector300to be described later.

The temperature sensor1includes a main body part100, a clamp part200, and the connector300. The temperature sensor1can electrically connect a temperature-sensitive element E and the wiring material W by fitting the connector300that holds the terminal T of the wiring material WT with terminal to the main body part100that holds the temperature-sensitive element E that detects the temperature of a measurement target. The temperature sensor1is, for example, applied to an air duct used for a battery pack or the like. For example, battery packs loaded on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles generate heat through electrochemical reactions, and the higher the temperature, the lower the power generation efficiency. Therefore, the air duct needs to blow cooling air as necessary to cool the battery pack, and the temperature sensor1is used as a member that is fixed to a fixing target area A provided on the intake side of the air duct for detecting the air temperature inside the air duct to control the airflow.

Furthermore, the temperature sensor1according to the present embodiment has the main body part100and the clamp part200molded separately and, for example, has a structure for protecting the temperature-sensitive element E when the main body part100is attached to the clamp part200along an insertion direction that is aligned with a fixing direction (corresponding to a first direction) to the fixing target area A. As such a structure, the temperature sensor1implements a configuration capable of properly protecting the temperature-sensitive element E until the temperature-sensitive element E is mounted to the clamp part200, by applying a pair of wall parts110a(corresponding to protection wall parts) to the main body part100. Hereinafter, configurations of each of the main body part100, the clamp part200, and the connector300configuring the temperature sensor1will be described in detail by referring toFIG.1toFIG.6.

Note that XY direction inFIG.1toFIG.6typically corresponds an extending direction and the like of the fixing target area A, X direction corresponds to a depth direction of the fixing target area A, and Y direction corresponds to a width direction and the like of the fixing target area A. Furthermore, Z direction corresponds to a height direction (thickness direction) and the like of the fixing target area A. Unless otherwise noted, each of the directions used in the following description is described as the direction in a state where the temperature sensor1is being mounted to the fixing target area A via the clamp part200, and the X direction is referred to as the depth direction X, the Y direction as the width direction Y, and the Z direction as the height direction Z.

Furthermore, the tip side in the depth direction X corresponds to the side where the connector300is positioned relative to the main body part100, for example, and the base end side in the depth direction X corresponds to the side where the clamp part200is positioned relative to the main body part100, for example. In addition, the upper side in the height direction Z corresponds to the side where the connector300is positioned relative to the fixing target area A (outer side of the duct that is the fixing target area A), for example, and the lower side in the height direction Z corresponds to the side where the clamp part200is positioned relative to the fixing target area A (inner side of the duct), for example.

In the following description, a first direction is the direction in which the clamp part200is inserted into an insertion hole Ah of the fixing target area A when fixing the temperature sensor1to the fixing target area A, and it corresponds to the direction from the upper side toward the lower side in the height direction Z. Furthermore, the insertion direction aligned with the first direction described above is the direction in which the main body part100is inserted into an insertion hole200hof the clamp part200and, like the first direction, it corresponds to the direction from the upper side toward the lower side in the height direction Z. Furthermore, the direction in which the connector300is fitted to the main body part100in a state where the main body part100is being fixed to the fixing target area A is described as a direction that is aligned with the depth direction X, that is, a direction orthogonal to the height direction Z. Thus, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the clamp part200is inserted into the insertion hole Ah of the fixing target area A and the direction in which the main body part100is inserted into the insertion hole200hof the clamp part200are referred to as insertion direction Z1, and the direction in which the connector300is fitted to the main body part100is referred to as fitting direction X1(seeFIG.5andFIG.6).

As illustrated inFIG.2andFIG.6, the main body part100is configured including a holding part110and a connector part120, and each of those parts is integrally formed with an insulating resin material.

The holding part110is a part that extends along the insertion direction Z1and capable of holding the temperature-sensitive element E on the tip side in the insertion direction Z1. The holding part110is inserted into the clamp part200along the insertion direction Z1to be positioned inside the clamp part200, and it is positioned on the inner side of the fixing target area A in a state of being fixed to the fixing target area A via the clamp part200.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.2,FIG.3, andFIG.6, the holding part110is configured including a pair of wall parts110aand a wall part110b.

The pair of wall parts110aare sidewalls parts that extend along the depth direction X and the height direction Z with the width direction Y being the thickness direction. The wall parts110aare positioned opposing to each other with a space provided therebetween along the width direction Y, and are positioned by sandwiching a window part210K provided to the clamp part200in a state of being inserted into the clamp part200. Note that the configuration of the window part210K will be described later.

On the other hand, the wall part110bis a sidewall part that extends along the width direction Y and the height direction Z with the depth direction X being the thickness direction. The wall part110bhas both end parts in the width direction Y connected to the ends of each of the wall parts110aon the base end side in the depth direction X, and it is positioned in the window part210K provided to the clamp part200in a state of being inserted into the clamp part200.

Note that each of the wall parts110ais set such that the length in the height direction Z is longer than the temperature-sensitive element E in a state where the holding part110is holding the temperature-sensitive element E, and it is formed such that a position K1(seeFIG.3andFIG.6) of an end part110azon the lower side in the height direction Z (that is, the tip side of the insertion direction Z1) is lower than the position of an end part Ez of the temperature-sensitive element E on the lower side in the height direction Z and positioned by protruding toward the lower side in the height direction Z. Furthermore, the wall part110bis set such that the length in the height direction Z is shorter than the temperature-sensitive element E in a state where the holding part110is holding the temperature-sensitive element E, and it is formed such that the position of the end part on the lower side in the height direction Z is higher than the position of the temperature-sensitive element E.

Therefore, the holding part110has a U-shaped cross-section orthogonal to the height direction Z, and the temperature-sensitive element E can be housed in an internal space110S with the tip side in the depth direction X being opened. The holding part110can also hold the temperature-sensitive element E in an exposed state along the depth direction X.

The connector part120is a part that, in a state of being fixed to the fixing target area A via the clamp part200, is positioned on the outer side of the fixed target area A, and extends from the holding part110along the fitting direction X1that intersects with (is orthogonal to) the insertion direction Z1to allow the connector300to be fitted along the fitting direction X1. As illustrated inFIG.2,FIG.5, andFIG.6, the connector part120is configured including a pair of wall parts120a, a pair of wall parts120b, and a wall part120c, and each of the parts is formed integrally. Each of the wall parts120ais a sidewall part that extends along the fitting direction X1and the height direction Z with the width direction Y being the thickness direction, and the wall parts120aare positioned by opposing to each other with a space provided therebetween along the width direction Y. Furthermore, each of the wall parts120bis a top wall part or a bottom wall part that extends along the fitting direction X1and the width direction Y with the height direction Z being the thickness direction, and the wall parts120bare positioned by opposing to each other with a space provided therebetween along the height direction Z. Furthermore, the wall part120cis an end wall part that extends along the width direction Y and the height direction Z with the fitting direction X1being the thickness direction, and both end parts in the width direction Y are connected to the end parts of the wall parts120apositioned on the base end side in the fitting direction X1, respectively, while both end parts thereof in the height direction Z are connected to the end parts of the wall parts120bpositioned on the base end side in the fitting direction X1, respectively. Therefore, the connector part120is formed in a rectangular box shape, and capable of housing the connector300in an internal space120S by inserting the connector300through an opening part120K positioned on the tip side in the fitting direction X1.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.4, andFIG.6, the main body part100is configured including a locking part130formed in the connector part120.

The locking part130is a part that locks the connector part120at a prescribed position (L2indicated inFIG.6) in a state where the main body part100is being fitted to the connector300. As illustrated inFIG.2, the locking part130is a frame part that is provided in a top wall outer face120b1of the wall part120bpositioned on the upper side in the height direction Z, and it is formed by a slit extending from the base end side toward the tip side in the fitting direction X1.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.2,FIG.3, andFIG.6, the main body part100holds a terminal ET extending from the temperature-sensitive element E. The terminal ET is, for example, an L-shaped terminal configured with a conductive metallic material, and it is connected to the terminal T of the connector300when the connector300is fitted to the main body part100. The main body part100holds the terminal ET with one end of the terminal ET being exposed to the internal space110S and the other end of the terminal ET being exposed to the internal space120S, and it is insert-molded with the terminal ET, for example. At this time, a lead terminal Ea extending from the temperature-sensitive element E is connected to a part of the terminal ET exposed in the internal space110S by welding or the like, while the terminal T of the connector300is connected to a part of the terminal ET exposed in the internal space120S. The temperature sensor1can electrically connect the temperature-sensitive element E and the wiring material W by physically and electrically connecting the terminal ET on the temperature-sensitive element E side and the terminal T on the wiring material W side in the internal space120S. Note that the shape of the terminal ET is not specifically limited and can be changed as necessary in accordance with the shape of the main body part100.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.5, andFIG.6, the main body part100is configured including a pressure plane part121formed in the connector part120. The pressure plane part121is a part that can press the outer face of the connector part120along the insertion direction Z1when fixing the clamp part200to the fixing target area A. The pressure plane part121is positioned by partially overlapping with the clamp part200when viewed from the insertion direction Z1, and it is formed in the top wall outer face120b1of the wall part (top wall part)120bpositioned on the front side of the insertion direction Z1(upper side of the height direction Z). The wall part120bextends along the XY direction, and the base end side thereof overlaps with the clamp part200in the fitting direction X1. Therefore, when the wall part120bis pressed, the main body part100can efficiently transmit the force to each of the parts of the clamp part200.

As illustrated inFIG.1toFIG.6, the clamp part200is configured including a shaft part210, a positioning part220(seeFIG.6), and a pair of fixing parts230, and each of those parts is integrally formed with an insulating resin material.

The shaft part210is configured including a housing part211and a hat part212. The housing part211is a wall part that extends along the height direction Z and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The housing part211is in a size (diameter) that can be inserted into the insertion hole Ah of the fixing target area A, and its length along the height direction Z is formed to be longer than the thickness of the fixing target area A. On the other hand, the hat part212is a wall part extending from the housing part211radially, and it is formed at an end part of the housing part211on the upper side in the height direction Z. The hat part212is disposed at a position to cover the insertion hole Ah, in a state where the temperature sensor1is being fixed to the fixing target area A.

The positioning part220is a part that is supported by the housing part211in a cantilever-like shape and has a positioning claw part221formed at its tip part, thereby allowing the holding part110to be locked at a prescribed position L1(seeFIG.6) when mounting the holding part110to the shaft part210. The positioning part220is formed protruding from the inner face of the housing part211to the depth direction X, and extends from the lower side toward the upper side in the height direction Z. Furthermore, each of the positioning claw parts221is formed protruding inwardly in the depth direction X, and locks the wall part of the holding part110, such as the wall part110bor the like.

Note that the shaft part210can house the temperature-sensitive element E held by the holding part110together with the holding part110, when the holding part110is locked by the positioning part220.

Furthermore, the shaft part210is configured including a pair of window parts210K formed along the depth direction X at the end part on the lower side in the height direction Z. Each of the window parts210K is a part that allows the temperature-sensitive element E to be in contact with outside air (air flowing outside the shaft part210) by exposing the temperature-sensitive element E held by the holding part110to outside (outside of the clamp part200) in a state where the holding part110is being mounted to the shaft part210and locked at the prescribed position L1by the positioning part220. Air flowing through the fixing target area A comes into contact with the temperature-sensitive element E as it passes through the shaft part210along the depth direction X through the pair of window parts210K. Therefore, the temperature-sensitive element E can efficiently detect the temperature of the air as a measurement target. While the shape of the window part210K illustrated inFIG.1toFIG.4and the like is an arch shape, the shape thereof is not specifically limited as long as it is a structure that allows the temperature-sensitive element E to more easily come into contact with air, and it can be changed as necessary in accordance with the specifications of each part of the temperature-sensitive element E and the like.

The pair of fixing parts230are parts that are supported by the housing part211in a cantilever-like shape and have fixing claws231formed at the tip parts, respectively, capable of fixing the main body part100to the fixing target area A when the clamp part200is inserted into the insertion hole Ah. As illustrated inFIG.6, the pair of fixing parts230are formed protruding from the outer face of the housing part211to the depth direction X. Furthermore, the fixing parts230are formed at positions opposing to each other with the housing part211interposed therebetween with respect to the depth direction X, and extend from the lower side to the upper side in the height direction Z. Moreover, each of the fixing claws231is formed protruding outwardly in the depth direction X, and locked to the edge of the insertion hole Ah when the clamp part200is inserted into the insertion hole Ah. The pair of fixing parts230have flexibility and are formed such that each of the fixing parts230is capable of being inserted into the insertion hole Ah while being bent, and each of the fixing claws231is locked at the edge of the insertion hole Ah, whereby the clamp part200can fix the temperature sensor1to the fixing target area A because.

As illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.6, the connector300is configured including a plurality of terminal housing parts310, a locked part320that is locked to the main body part100, and a locking release operation part330, and each of those parts is integrally formed with an insulating resin material.

The terminal housing part310is a part that can house the terminal T of the wiring material W when the wiring material WT with terminal is mounted. As illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.4, two terminal housing parts310are provided, and each of the terminal housing parts310is positioned with a space provided therebetween along the width direction Y in a state where the connector300is being fitted to the connector part120.

As illustrated inFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.4, the connector300is configured including a housing formed with a plurality of wall parts (sidewall parts)300aand a plurality of wall parts (a top wall part and a bottom wall part)300b, and a plurality of terminal housing parts310are formed in the housing. Each of the terminal housing parts310is formed (sectioned) by the wall parts300aand the wall parts300bconfiguring the housing. More specifically, each of the wall parts300ais a wall part that extends along the height direction Z and the fitting direction X1that is aligned with the depth direction X with the width direction Y being the thickness direction, and is positioned by opposing to each other with a space provided therebetween along the width direction Y. Furthermore, each of the wall parts300bis a wall part that extends along the fitting direction X1and the width direction Y with the height direction Z being the thickness direction, and is positioned opposing to each other with a space provided therebetween along the height direction Z. With such configurations, each of the terminal housing parts310is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape, and the terminal T can be inserted and housed therein through an insertion port310K (seeFIG.5) positioned on the tip side (base end side of the connector300) in the fitting direction X1. Furthermore, each of the terminal housing parts310can lock the terminal T by a lance310aand a retainer310bdisposed inside thereof (seeFIG.6).

The lance310ais a member that is disposed on the base end side of each of the terminal housing parts310in the fitting direction X1. When the terminal T is inserted through the insertion port310K, the lance310aelastically deforms in a direction that intersects with the fitting direction X1(inward side in the height direction Z) to be fitted to the terminal T, thereby making it possible to hold the terminal T at a prescribed position (housing completed position) inside each of the terminal housing parts310. On the other hand, the retainer310bis a member that is disposed on the tip side of each of the terminal housing parts310in the fitting direction X1, and it can properly lock the terminal to the terminal housing part310by suppressing positional misalignment of the terminal T to be housed in each of the terminal housing parts310.

The locked part320is a part that is locked to the locking part130of the main body part100at the prescribed position L2(seeFIG.6), in a state where the connector300is being fitted to the main body part100. As illustrated inFIG.2, the connector300is configured including a flexible part that is formed by a pair of support parts300cerected from a top wall outer face300b1of the wall part300bpositioned on the upper side of the height direction Z and a deformation part300dthat extends along the extending direction of the wall part300band has both end parts connected to each of the support parts300c. The locked part320is formed in the deformation part300dof the flexible part, and extends from the tip side toward the base end side in the fitting direction X1. Furthermore, a locked claw321is formed at the tip of the locked part320, that is, on the base end side of the fitting direction X1, and the locked claw321is formed protruding outwardly in the height direction Z.

The locking release operation part330is a part capable of releasing a locking relation between the locked part320and the locking part130. The locking release operation part330is configured with the flexible part described above including the pair of support parts300cand the deformation part300d, which is formed on the tip side (insertion port310K side) of the deformation part300din the fitting direction X1. Therefore, the locking release operation part330elastically deforms the pair of support parts300cinwardly in the height direction Z together with the deformation part300dwhen a deformation part outer face300d1of the deformation part300dpositioned on the front side of the insertion direction Z1along the extending direction XY of the fixing target area A is pressed along the insertion direction Z1, in a state where the connector300is being fitted to the main body part100.

Next, an operation of the wire harness WH will be described.

First, an operator prepares the main body part100, the clamp part200, and the connector300of the temperature sensor1. Although each of the parts of the temperature sensor1is transported to an installation site in an unassembled state, the holding part110of the main body part100can prevent external forces from being applied to the temperature-sensitive element E by the pair of wall parts110apositioned by sandwiching the temperature-sensitive element E. Therefore, the main body part100can properly protect the temperature-sensitive element E.

Then, the operator mounts the main body part100to the clamp part200. At this time, the holding part110of the main body part100is inserted into the housing part211from the insertion hole200hof the clamp part200along the insertion direction Z1. The end part Ez on the tip side of the holding part110in the insertion direction Z1is positioned by protruding more to the tip side in the insertion direction Z1than the end part110azof the temperature-sensitive element E on the tip side in the insertion direction Z1does. Therefore, when the main body part100is inserted inside the clamp part200, it is possible to prevent the temperature-sensitive element E positioned on the inner side (upper side in the height direction Z) than the end part Ez of the holding part110from contacting each of the parts of the clamp part200and possible to prevent external forces from being applied to the temperature-sensitive element E. Furthermore, the holding part110is locked at the prescribed position L1by the positioning part220. Therefore, the temperature-sensitive element E held by the holding part110is housed in the housing part211of the clamp part200and fixed at a position exposed through each of the window parts210K formed in the housing part211.

The operator then prepares the wiring materials WT with terminal, and houses each of the terminals T of the wiring materials WT with terminal in each of the terminal housing parts310formed in the connector300. At this time, each of the terminals T is inserted through the insertion port310K of each of the terminal housing parts310, and fixed by the lance310aand the retainer310bdisposed inside each of the terminal housing parts310.

The operator then fits the connector300to the main body part100by fitting the tip of the connector300connected to the end part of the wiring material WT with terminal into the internal space120S from the opening part120K of the connector part120. At this time, the locked part320of the connector300is locked at the prescribed position L2by the locking part130of the main body part100. Furthermore, while maintaining the locked state between the connector300and the main body part100, the terminal T on the connector300side and the terminal ET on the main body part100side are physically and electrically connected, and the wiring material W and the temperature-sensitive element E are electrically connected.

Then, in a state where the housing part211of the clamp part200is being inserted into the insertion hole Ah, the operator fixes the temperature sensor1to which the wiring material WT with terminal is mounted, that is, the wire harness WH, to the fixing target area A by pressing the pressure plane part121along the insertion direction Z1. At this time, the pressure plane part121is positioned on the front side of the insertion direction Z1. Therefore, the operator can press the pressure plane part121with a single finger F1, for example, to fix the wire harness WH to the fixing target area A by a simple operation method. Furthermore, the pressure plane part121is formed at a position partially overlapping with the clamp part200when viewed from the height direction Z. Thus, the operator can press a position close to an axial center Za of the clamp part200, and the main body part100can efficiently transmit the external force applied to the pressure plane part121to the clamp part200. Therefore, the operator can fix the wire harness WH to the fixing target are A with less force.

Furthermore, in a state where the wire harness WH is being fixed to the fixing target area A, the connector part120of the main body part100and the connector300are disposed along the fitting direction X1that intersects with (orthogonal to) the insertion direction Z1, with the connector part120and the connector300being disposed adjacent to the fixing target area A, as illustrated inFIG.5. Therefore, with the wire harness WH, it is possible to route the wiring material W extending from the connector300along the fixing target area A and to suppress the amount of protrusion (length in the height direction Z) from the fixing target area A.

The operator then removes the connector300from the main body part100fixed to the fixing target area A by pressing the locking release operation part330of the connector300as necessary, during maintenance work or replacement work of the temperature-sensitive element E. At this time, the locking release operation part330is provided on the insertion port310K side. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG.4, the operator can release the locking relation between the locked part320and the locking part130by, for example, pressing the locking release operation part330with the finger F1and elastically deforming the locked part320inwardly in the height direction Z. Furthermore, the operator can remove the connector300from the main body part100by pinching the end part of the connector300on the insertion port310K side with two fingers F2and F3from the width direction Y side in a state where the locking relation between the locked part320and the locking part130is released.

The wire harness WH to which the temperature sensor1described above is applied includes: the temperature-sensitive element E that detects the temperature of a measurement target; the main body part100that holds the temperature-sensitive element E; the clamp part200that is capable of being attached to and detached from the fixing target area A along the insertion direction Z1(a first direction) and capable of fixing the main body part100to the fixing target part A in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area A; and the connector300that is provided at an end part of the wiring material W exhibiting conductivity, and the temperature-sensitive element E and the wiring material W are electrically connected in a state of being fitted to the main body part100. Furthermore, the main body part100includes the holding part110extending along the insertion direction Z1(insertion direction along the first direction), which holds the temperature-sensitive element E on the tip side in the insertion direction Z1and is positioned inside the clamp part200by being inserted inside the clamp part200along the insertion direction Z1; and the connector part120capable of allowing the connector300to be fitted thereto in a state of being fixed to the fixing target area A via the clamp part200. The clamp part200includes, in a state of being mounted to the fixing target area A, the pair of window parts210K for exposing the temperature-sensitive element E held by the holding part110to outside of the clamp part200, which are provided at end parts positioned inside the fixing target area A and formed along a direction intersecting with the insertion direction Z1. Furthermore, the holding part110includes the pair of wall parts110a(protection wall parts) positioned by sandwiching the window part210K in a state of being inserted inside the clamp part200, and the end part110azof the wall part110aon the tip side in the insertion direction Z1is positioned by protruding more toward the tip side than the end part Ez of the temperature-sensitive element E on the tip side does.

With such a configuration, the temperature sensor1can prevent external forces from being applied to the temperature-sensitive element E during transportation and assembling operations by the pair of wall parts110athat are provided in the holding part110of the main body part100and positioned by sandwiching the temperature-sensitive element E. Furthermore, the temperature sensor1has the end part110azof the wall part110apositioned by protruding more toward the tip side in the insertion direction Z1than the end part Ez of the temperature-sensitive element E does, thereby making it possible to prevent the end part Ez of the temperature-sensitive element E from contacting each part of the clamp part200and to prevent the external forces from being applied to the temperature-sensitive element E when the main body part100is inserted inside the clamp part200along the insertion direction Z1. Therefore, the temperature sensor1and the wire harness WH can properly protect the temperature-sensitive element E.

Note that the temperature sensor1and the wire harness WH according to the embodiment of the present invention described above are not limited to the embodiment described above, and various changes are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, while the direction in which the connector is fitted to the main body part is described as the direction along the depth direction X that is orthogonal to the height direction Z, it is not limited thereto. The direction in which the connector is fitted to the main body part may be in a direction that intersects with the depth direction X when viewed from the width direction Y or may be a direction along the height direction Z.

Furthermore, while the fixing target area A is described as a structure of an air duct on the intake side, it is not limited thereto. The fixing target area A may also be a structure other than an air duct of a vehicle.

The temperature sensor and the wire harness according to the present embodiment may be configured by combining the structural components of the embodiment described above and modification examples as appropriate.

The temperature sensor and the wire harness according to the present embodiment can properly protect the temperature-sensitive element.