Flow rectifier for an air mass sensor

[0001] This application is a national stage of International Application No. PCT/DE03/00343 which was published on Aug. 21, 2003, and which claims the benefit of priority to German Application No. 102 05 757.5 filed Feb. 12, 2002.

[0002] The invention relates to a measuring tube for an air mass sensor and method for producing same, and in particular, to a measuring tube for an air mass sensor with a metal grid arranged therein transversely to the air flow and functioning as a flow straightener and method for producing same.

[0003] A conventional measuring tube is known from EP 0 458 998 B1 for use in a motor vehicle. The flow straightener consists of a honeycomb grid made from plastic, with a metal grid welded to its edge. The flow straightener is fastened to the measuring tube inlet, for example, by means of hot caulking.

[0004] In the known flow straightener, vibrations occurring in the vehicle may result in a mechanical failure of the metal grid. Moreover, it is possible that, on account of ageing, the influence of temperature, moisture absorption and/or a change in the measuring tube geometry, the metal grid buckles in an undefined manner, which may lead to a swirling of the air flow.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, the measuring tube has arranged on it at least two fastening elements which extend radially inward and to which the metal grid is fastened under prestress. In the method according to the invention, the prestress is generated such that the fastening elements are bent by means of a suitable tool. Thereafter, the metal grid is fastened to the fastening elements, and the tool is subsequently removed again.

[0006] So as not to influence the air flow needlessly, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fastening elements are designed as narrow rib-like structures. In this case, two fastening elements are basically sufficient. However, better fastening is obtained with a greater number of fastening elements which are preferably arranged equidistantly on the inner wall of the measuring tube, for example are integrally formed in one piece on the measuring tube.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the ends of two fastening elements in each case are connected to one another by means of a connecting element in such a way as to produce a stirrup-shaped fastening structure or stirrup-shaped fastening structures. The connecting elements may in this case be bent concentrically to the measuring tube.

[0008] In one advantageous embodiment, before the fastening of the metal grid, the fastening elements are curved in or opposite to the air flow direction. As a result, by means of the tool, they can be brought into a straight state, that is to say bent opposite to their direction of curvature. In this straight state, it is simpler to handle the fastening of the metal grid.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a measuring tube 1 for a mass air flow which is indicated by an arrow 2. An air mass sensor arrangement 3, not explained in any more detail, is plugged into the measuring tube. A metal grid 4 functioning as a flow straightener is arranged, transversely to the flow direction 2, upstream of the air mass sensor arrangement 3 with respect to the mass air flow 2. Said metal grid is connected to the measuring tube 1 under prestress by means of fastening elements 5 in the way according to the invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows that, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, 6 narrow rib-shaped fastening elements 5 are arranged on the inner wall of the measuring tube 1, preferably are integrally formed in one piece on the inner wall. In this case, they run radially into the interior of the measuring tube 1. Their length is dimensioned such that they allow a reliable and resistant fastening of the metal grid 4, but do not appreciably influence the flow profile. The region of connection of the metal grid to the fastening elements 5 is indicated by a broken line 6.

[0016] The operation of producing the measuring tube 1 is explained in more detail by means of the illustration of the detail A in FIG. 3. Three positions or states of a fastening element 5 are designated there by the letters a, b and c.

[0017] The state a designates the production-related state of the fastening element 5, in that the latter is curved in the flow direction 2. The fastening element 5 is brought by means of a tool, not illustrated in any more detail, into the state b, in which it is virtually perpendicular to the measuring tube 1, that is to say virtually straight. In this state b, the metal grid 4 is connected, for example welded by ultrasonic welding, to the fastening element 5. Thereafter, the tool is removed, whereupon the fastening element 5 seeks to return to its initial state a again, but is prevented from doing so by the metal grid 4, so that the fastening element can bend back into the state b in which it holds the metal grid 4 under prestress. What is achieved thereby, on the one hand, is that the metal grid 4 cannot buckle in an undefined manner, and, moreover, it can be excited to vibrations only at markedly higher frequencies, so that it has higher vibration resistance.

[0018] A development of the measuring tube 1 according to the invention can be seen in a front view in FIG. 4. There, in each case two of the fastening elements 7 are connected by means of connecting element 8 bent concentrically to the inner wall of the measuring tube 1, so as to produce stirrup-shaped fastening structures for the metal grid 4. The fastening surface for the metal grid 4 is illustrated by a broken line 9. By means of the connecting elements 8, which are preferably formed in one piece with the fastening element 7, a better fastening of the metal grid 4 in the inner region of the measuring tube 1 is possible.