JPH01312432A - Temperature measuring probe and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a temperature sensitive probe having excellent heat conductivity by pushing a temperature sensitive element which is mounted on a substrate to the inner side surface of a cap, and accelerating the conduction of heat which is transferred through the heat sensitive element. CONSTITUTION:A metal cap 3 having high heat conductivity is provided at a tip 2a of a main body 2 of a cylindrical temperature measuring probe 1. Since the shape of the metal cap 3 is tapered, a tip part 5a of a substrate 5 which is extending in the direction of an arrow S brings a thermister 6 into contact with the inner side surface of the metal cap so that the tip part is slidden. The cap is provided in this way. The bendable, flexible substrate 5 is bent in the reverse direction with respect to the bending direction at the space part 4 of the main body 2. In this way, the thermister 6 is in contact with the metal cap 3 when the cap 3 is applied. Thus, difference in thermal responses due to the probe is decreased, and the temperature of a body at the time of the measurement of the bodily temperature can be quickly outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to, for example, a temperature measuring probe with improved heat conduction characteristics and a method for manufacturing the same.

[Prior art] Conventionally, electronic thermometers for measuring human body temperature using this type of probe have a flat printed circuit board with a thermistor element (hereinafter referred to as a "thermistor") as a temperature sensing element mounted on the tip. By attaching it to the center of the case and covering it with a metal cap filled with a thermally conductive botting material, or by covering a thermistor covered with glass or resin with a metal cap filled with a thermally conductive botting material as well. Body temperature was being measured.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An example of a conventional temperature measuring probe will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional side view showing the configuration of a conventional temperature measuring probe. In FIG. 9, a cylindrical body 101 of a temperature measuring probe 100 has a tip covered with a cylindrical metal cap 102. metal cap 1
A substrate 104 attached to the main body 101 extends through the space 103 formed by the main body 101, and
A thermistor 105 is mounted on the tip of the substrate 104,
Thermistor 1 is made of thermally conductive botting material 106.
The position of 05 is fixed.

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional temperature measurement probe, the space between the inner wall of the metal cap and the thermistor is filled with thermally conductive potting material, so the thermistor and the metal There are drawbacks such as variations in the distance to the inner wall of the cap or the amount of botting agent filled, and furthermore, the heat capacity increases, resulting in inconsistent thermal response characteristics of the thermometer.

Moreover, if it becomes difficult to manufacture a temperature measuring probe, it becomes extremely difficult to properly install a thermistor in a heat collecting part.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional examples, and its purpose is to eliminate disparity or delay in thermal response characteristics when used as, for example, an electronic thermometer or an electronic thermometer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a temperature measuring probe. Another point is to provide a method for manufacturing a temperature measuring probe that is easy to manufacture.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the purpose, a temperature measuring probe according to the present invention includes a substrate on which a temperature sensing element is mounted at least at the tip portion, and a tip portion of the substrate. In the temperature measuring probe, the temperature sensing probe has a cap for accommodating the tip portion, and the temperature sensing portion is formed by fixing the tip portion so as to conduct heat to the temperature sensing element through the cap. It is characterized in that the upper temperature sensing element is biased against the inner surface of the cap.

Preferably, the probe body is characterized by including a guide member inside the probe body that directs the tip end portion of the substrate in a direction to press it against the inner surface of the cap.

Preferably, the substrate is characterized in that the tip portion is curved in advance.

Preferably, the step of inserting the substrate from the rear of the hollow probe body, moving the temperature sensing element on the tip of the substrate to a position where it can be inscribed on the inner surface of the cap, and fixing it in a predetermined position. The method is characterized by a manufacturing method including a step of positioning a substrate, and a step of attaching the cap so as to press the temperature sensing element against the inner surface of the cap.

[Function] According to the above configuration, since the temperature sensing element mounted on the substrate is pressed against the inner surface of the cap, the conduction of heat to the temperature sensing element is accelerated, and good heat conduction characteristics can be obtained. Further, during manufacturing, the temperature sensing element can be easily pressed against the inner surface of the cap.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view showing the structure of the temperature measuring probe according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A--A of the temperature measuring probe according to FIG. 1 and 2, the tip 2a of the main body 2 of the cylindrical temperature measuring probe 1 is covered with a tapered metal cap 3 made of stainless steel with high conductivity to seal the inside of the main body 2. ing. The temperature measuring probe 1 is detachably attached to an electronic thermometer main body (not shown).

In a space 4 provided in the main body 2, a flexible substrate 5 is inserted and attached from the rear 2b of the main body 2 so as to pass through the center of the dowel. A thermistor 6 serving as a temperature-sensitive member is mounted on the tip end portion 5a of the substrate 5. This substrate 5 is provided with protruding guide ribs 7.8 for guiding the substrate 5 in the direction of arrow S in FIG. 1 in the space 4 of the main body 2 made of polyimide film. As shown in FIG. 2, there are two guide ribs 7.8 at the top and three at the bottom. When the metal cap 3 is placed on the distal end portion 2a, the distal end portion 2a of the substrate 2 is first inserted from the rear of the main body 2, and as the insertion progresses, it is guided by the guide ribs 7.8, and the metal cap 3 is guided by the guide ribs 7.8. It is bent at the position 4a of the sandwiched space 4. The arrow S exposed outward from the main body 2 in this way
A botting material 9 containing thermally conductive aluminum filler is further applied to the tip portion 5a of the substrate 5 extending in the direction, and the metal cap 3 is placed over the tip portion 2a of the main body 2 in this coated state. be. Here, the botting material 9 is applied only to the periphery of the thermistor 6.

In the above-mentioned capping step, since the shape of the metal cap 3 is tapered, the thermistor 6 is inscribed in the inner surface of the metal cap 3 at the tip end portion 5a of the substrate 5 extending in the direction of the arrow S, and the thermistor 6 is slid and covered. As a result, the flexible and pliable substrate 5 bends in the opposite direction to the bending direction when bent in the space 2a of the main body 2. Here, as the tip portion 5a of the substrate 5 is capped with the metal cap 3 in the direction shown by the arrow T in FIG. 6 reaches the state where it is in contact with the metal cap 3.

In this way, the main body 2 is covered with the metal cap 3,
By changing the direction in which the substrate 5 is exposed to the outside, the substrate 5 can be
The thermistor 6 mounted on the metal cap 3 is directly inscribed with the metal cap 3 without any interposition.

In the above explanation, the method for inserting the board 5 into the main body 2 has been omitted, but this can be done, for example, by providing a hole at the rear of the main body 2 (not shown) and inserting the board 5 through this hole. A known technique will be used to fix the substrate 5 to the main body 2.

Further, a botting material 9 is applied to the tip end portion 5a of the substrate 5, and the thermistor 6 inscribed in the inner surface of the metal cap 3
Even if a small amount of the botting material 9 is applied to the inscribed surface of the electronic thermometer, it is assumed here that it has little effect on the body temperature value output by the electronic thermometer because it is a very small amount.

In addition, in order to smoothly guide the substrate 5 when inserting the tip end portion 2a of the substrate 2 into the guide path 1o formed by the guide ribs 7.8 in the space 4, the guide ribs 7 are provided with a guide path 10. As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined surface 7a may be provided on the entrance side.

As described above, the present embodiment provides a temperature measuring probe that functions to reduce differences in thermal response characteristics between probes and quickly output body temperature when measuring body temperature. Further, in the manufacturing process, the thermistor can be easily pressed against the inner surface of the cap, which serves as a heat collector, so that it is inscribed therein, so that manufacturing is easy and it is suitable for mass production.

Now, the number of guide ribs 7 and 8 shown in FIG. You may do so.

Next, a first example in which the temperature measurement probe body and guide rib of the above-mentioned example were modified. A second modification will be explained using FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view showing the first modification. In the first modification, the guide rib is constructed from a separate member from the main body,
As shown in FIG. 3, a flange portion 21 is provided on the tip portion 20a of the main body 20 to be covered with a metal cap (not shown), and the inner surface 21a of this flange portion 21 has the same shape as the guide rib described in the previous embodiment. , guide ribs 22 made of the same number of separate members.
, 23 are attached, and a board (not shown) is first inserted from the rear of the main body 2o and guided through the space 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow ■ in the figure. Here, too, the thermistor can be pressed against the inner surface of the metal cap by the bias of the substrate.

In this way, the first modified example can also provide the same functions and effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment.

Moreover, FIG. 4 is a partially sectional side view showing a second modification. In a second modification, a protruding guide rib 32 is provided at the tip portion 30a of the main body 30, as shown in FIG. 4, instead of a gentle slope like the guide rib described above. A substrate (not shown) may be guided by the guide ribs 32. In this case, the substrate (not shown) can be exposed by guiding it in the direction indicated by the arrow W in the figure.

In this way, the second modified example can also provide the same functions and effects as those of the above-described embodiment.

Next, a third modification of the substrate of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a substrate according to a third modification, and FIG. 6 is a partially sectional side view showing the third modification. In FIG. 5, a flexible substrate 40 made of polyimide film has the thermistor 6 described above mounted at the tip portion 40a, and the substrate 5
Bent portions 41 and 42 are provided in advance by bending portions corresponding to the bent positions when the metal cap 3 is placed on the metal cap 3.

Therefore, a configuration in which only the substrate 40 is replaced with the temperature measuring probe 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

According to FIG. 6, the bent portions 41 and 42 are located exactly at the bent portions of the substrate 5 as described in FIG.

In this way, even if the third modification is used, the force applied to the inner surface of the metal cap 3 by the tip portion 40a of the substrate 40 is reduced to some extent, but the assembly of the temperature measuring probe becomes easier.
It is possible to obtain the same functions and effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiments.

Now, in the above-mentioned embodiments and the first to third embodiments, guide ribs were provided on the main body, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention,
A guide rib may be provided on the metal cap.

Therefore, a fourth modification will be explained using FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional side view showing a fourth modification, and FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a guide rib member according to the fourth modification.

In FIG. 7, a temperature measuring probe 50, which is provided in a cylindrical shape similar to the temperature measuring probe 1 shown in FIG. A board 53 having a thermistor 52 having a temperature sensing function similar to the thermistor 6 mounted on the tip part is installed inside the board 53.
The distal end portion 53a exposed to the outside extends along the center line of the main body 51. The metal cap 54 has the same structure as the metal cap 3, and as shown in FIG. 8, an annular guide rib member 55 made of a separate member is attached inside. The guide rib member 55 widens toward the end in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. There is.

Therefore, before the metal cap 54 is placed on the tip of the main body 51, a botting material 57 made of the same material as the botting material 9 is applied to the tip portion 53a of the substrate 53 as in the previous embodiment. crowned from In this case, the guide surface 56 of the guide rib member 55 tilts the direction of the distal end portion 53a inserted into the metal cap 54 upward from the center line of the main body 51 as shown in FIG. 7, thereby further increasing the amount of crown coverage. The thermistor 52 is inscribed in the inner surface of the metal cap 54. When the metal cap 54 is completely covered in this manner, two bent portions 58 are formed on the substrate 53 as in the previous embodiment.
．． 59 is formed, and the thermistor 52 can be reliably brought into contact with the inner surface of the metal cap 54 by the biasing of the substrate 53.

According to the above explanation, the same operations and effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained in the fourth modification.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the disparity in thermal response characteristics between probes is reduced, the body temperature can be quickly output when measuring body temperature, and the temperature sensing part can be easily removed during manufacturing. Since it can be pressed against and inscribed on the inner surface of the cap that serves as a heat collector, manufacturing is facilitated.

For example, a guide member provided within the probe body facilitates orientation of the cap toward the inner surface. Alternatively, by using a substrate whose tip portion is curved in advance, the temperature sensing element can be easily pressed against the inner surface of the cap with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially sectional side view showing the configuration of the temperature measuring probe according to this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the temperature measuring probe according to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is the first modification. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing an example; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a second modification; FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a substrate according to a third modification; FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a fourth modification; FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing the configuration of a guide rib member according to the fourth modification. FIG. 9 is a partially sectional side view showing the configuration of a conventional temperature measuring probe. In the figure, 1.1', 50, 100-- Temperature measurement flow probe, 2, 20, 51, 101-- Main body, 2a. 20 a-tip, 2 b...rear, 3,54°1
02...Metal cap, 4, 24, 31, 103.
...Space part, 5, 40, 53, 104...Substrate, 5a
, 40a, 53a... tip portion, 6. ．． 52°105
...Thermistor, 7,8,22.23°32...Guide rib, 7a...Slope, 9,57°106...Botting material, 21...Flange part, 22... Inner surface, 30a... Tip part, 41, 42° 58.59...
・Bending portion, 55...Guiding rib member, 55a, 55b・
... Tip, 56 ... Guide surface. Figure 3

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) It has a substrate on which a temperature sensing element is mounted at least at the tip portion, and a cap that houses the tip portion of the substrate, and the tip portion is configured to conduct heat to the temperature sensing element through the cap. A temperature measuring probe having a fixed temperature sensing portion, wherein the substrate biases the temperature sensing element on the tip portion against the inner surface of the cap. probe. (2) The temperature measuring probe according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member inside the probe body that directs the tip portion of the substrate in a direction to press it against the inner surface of the cap. (3) The temperature measuring probe according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has a tip portion curved in advance. (4) Inserting the substrate from the rear of the hollow probe body, moving the temperature sensing element on the tip of the substrate to a position where it can be inscribed on the inner surface of the cap, and inserting the substrate into the predetermined position. A method for manufacturing a temperature measuring probe, comprising the steps of: positioning; and attaching the cap so as to press the temperature sensing element against the inner surface of the cap.