Sensing assembly and method of making same

Details Sensing assembly and method of making same Sensing assembly and method of making same

2003-03-18

2004-11-16

Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2855)

Measuring and testing

Engine detonation

C073S117020

Reexamination Certificate

active

06817226

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND ART
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sensing assemblies for internal combustion engines. More particularly, the invention relates to a sensing assembly capable of being manufactured to produce fewer false positive occurrences of a sensed event in an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sensing assemblies are used throughout the internal combustion engine to measure and detect various parameters of the operation of the internal combustion engine. Given the harsh environment created by the internal combustion engine during its operation, especially when the internal combustion engine is used to power an automobile or other such vehicle, care must be taken to ensure the sensors are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment. Even with such robust design considerations, the sensors must be sensitive enough to identify the parameters for which they are designed to sense.
Sensors designed to detect detonations, commonly referred to as “engine knocks,” are typically mounted to an engine block or cylinder head. Vibrations generated by the internal combustion engine are received by the sensors during normal operation. In addition to these normal vibrations, the sensors must detect the detonations amongst the white noise generated by the internal combustion engine during normal operation. Wire leads that are connected to the detonation sensors are prone to shorting the electrical circuit resulting in the malfunctioning of the spark control system. It is, therefore, important to have electrical connections to the detonation sensor connected in a manner that would reduce the probability of having the detonation sensor shorted out of the electrical circuit.
Detonation sensors are typically configured in two ways. First, a cable with electrical leads are connected to the terminals of the detonation sensor using a connector at the end of the sensor. In the other configuration, the connector is integrated with the cable. In the situation where the detonation sensor includes the cable, each terminal of the detonation sensor has a thin portion protruding allowing the cable to be mechanically bonded thereto. Because the sensing unit is not very thick in the detonation sensors, strands of wire could potentially cause an electrical short across those terminals. In addition, this detonation sensor configuration requires the two terminals of the detonation sensor are typically designed independently of each other requiring an inventory to be maintained for each of those two terminals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sensing assembly identifies detonations in a plurality of cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block. The sensing assembly includes a base that is fixedly secured to the engine block of the internal combustion engine. The sensing assembly also includes a sleeve that is fixedly secured to the base and extends outwardly therefrom. A sensor element extends around a portion of the sleeve. The sensor element receives vibrations generated by the detonations of the internal combustion engine and converts those vibrations into an electrical current. The sensing assembly includes a first terminal abutting the sensor element. The first terminal includes a first terminal pad directed in a first direction. The sensing assembly also includes a second terminal abutting the sensor element. The second terminal includes a second terminal pad directed in a second direction opposite the first direction such that leads connected to each of the first and second terminal pads are prevented from shorting the sensor element.


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