Carrier for mass air flow production line

A carrier for the assembly and test of a mass air flow sensor, the mass air flow sensor designed to be mounted on a sensor manifold having a main air flow passage and an isolated air flow passage, said carrier comprising:

• a support structure having a flat top surface, a flat bottom surface parallel to said top surface and at least two rectangularly-shaped side surfaces substantially parallel to each other, said side surfaces being provided at opposite ends of said support structure;
• a well provided in said top surface having an axis of symmetry, a predetermined diameter and a predetermined depth;
• an air flow channel provided through said support structure normal to said at least two sides, said air flow channel spaced a predetermined distance from said top surface, and intersecting said axis of symmetry;
• a clearance aperture concentric with said axis of symmetry connecting said well with said air flow passage, said clearance aperture having a diameter less than said predetermined diameter;
• a flat rectangularly-shaped sealing surface provided adjacent each end of said air flow channel permitting said air flow channel to be connected to an air flow source;
• and
• means for aligning said air flow sensor on said top surface relative to said well and clearance aperture.

A carrier for the assembly, test and calibration of a mass air flow sensor having a sensor head supporting at least one sensor element at an end thereof, said carrier comprising:

• a sensor support structure having a rectangularly-shaped, substantially flat top surface and a substantially parallel rectangularly-shaped base surface, said support structure further having at least two substantially parallel rectangularly-shaped side surfaces disposed normal to said top surface at opposite ends of said support structure;
• a well provided in said top surface, said well dimensioned to receive a first portion of said sensor head, said well having an axis of symmetry normal to said top surface, said well further having a bottom surface substantially parallel to said top surface;
• a bore provided through said bottom surface of said well, concentric with said axis of symmetry, said bore extending a predetermined distance into said support structure and dimensioned to receive therein a second portion of said sensor head;
• a single transverse air flow passage extending through said support structure parallel to said top surface, said transverse air flow passage being disposed normal to said substantially parallel side surfaces and intersecting with said bore, said transverse air flow passage being located a distance from said bottom surface of said well selected to have said at least one sensor element centrally located within said transverse air flow passage;
• a recessed sealing surface provided in each of said side surfaces adjacent to each end of said transverse air flow passage;
• and
• at least two locating pins protruding from said top surface engageable with said mass air flow sensor to accurately located said sensor head relative to said well.