US3909385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxygen sensor for automotive use
Assignee: Bank of Nova Scotia
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract Oxygen sensor for automotive use utilizes a disc shaped wafer of a solid electrolyte, preferably zirconia stabilized with MgO, which is extremely resistant to abrasion and the effects of repeated temperature excursions over long periods of use. The housing comprises a hollow metal tube stepped at one end to support the electrolyte wafer and hermetically sealed to the wafer by a metal oxide frit which is melted in a vauum. The electrodes comprise a thick film Ag - Pd alloy which is bonded to the wafer by means of a glass forming binder.
Inventors
- 👤 David H Spielberg
- 👤 Roy E Svacha
- 👤 Kenneth R Janowski
- 👤 George L Hervert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4071; F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/02; F02D41/14; F02D41/1438; F02D41/1444; F02D41/1454; G01N27/4075; G01N27/4076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
AN OXYGEN SENSOR ADAPTED FOR USE IN AN AUTOMOTIVE EXHAUST STREAM WHEREIN IT MUST BE REPEATEDLY SUBJECTED TO RAPIDLY CHANGING TEMPERATURES FROM AMBIENT TO AS HIGH AS 1700*F, COMPRISING A CORROSION RESISTANT TUBULAR METAL HOUSING PORTION, COUPLING MEANS ON A BODY PORTION INTEGRAL WITH THE HOUSING PORTION FOR MOUNTING THE SENSOR TO COMPLEMENTARY COUPLING MEANS IN THE ENGINE EXHAUST PATH SO THAT THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE HOUSING PORTION CAN BE POSITIONED IN THE SAID EXHAUST PATH TO BE CONTACTED BY THE EXHAUST STREAM AND THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE HOUSING PORTION CAN BE CONTACTED BY A REFERENCE OXYGEN SOURCE, A WAFER OF OXYGEN SENSITIVE SOLID ELECTROLYTE MATERIAL POSITIONED IN A PLANE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF THE TUBULAR HOUSING PORTION, SAID WAFER BEING MOUNTED IN A RECESS IN SAID ONE END OF THE HOUSING PORTION SO AS TO BE MECHANICALLY RESTRAINED AGAINST INWARD AXIAL MOVEMENT BY A LEDGE PORTION FORMED IN SAID HOUSING PORTION, SAID WAFER CLOSING THE END OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING PORTION AND HAVING OPPOSED OUTER AND INNER SAMPLING GAS AND REFERENCE CONTACTING SURFACES, HERMETIC FASTENING AND SEALING MEANS COMPRISING A METAL OXIDE FRIT FIRED TO SAID BODY MEMBER AT A TEMPERATURE HIGHER THAN 1700*F AFTER SAID BODY MEMBER HAS BEEN PRE-OXIDIZED, AND TO SAID WAFER, SAID SEALING MEANS, SAID TUBULAR METAL HOUSING PORTION, AND SAID WAFER HAVING THERMAL EXPANSION CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ARE SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE TO PERMIT SAID
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
AN OXYGEN SENSOR ADAPTED FOR USE IN AN AUTOMOTIVE EXHAUST STREAM WHEREIN IT MUST BE REPEATEDLY SUBJECTED TO RAPIDLY CHANGING TEMPERATURES FROM AMBIENT TO AS HIGH AS 1700*F, COMPRISING A CORROSION RESISTANT TUBULAR METAL HOUSING PORTION, COUPLING MEANS ON A BODY PORTION INTEGRAL WITH THE HOUSING PORTION FOR MOUNTING THE SENSOR TO COMPLEMENTARY COUPLING MEANS IN THE ENGINE EXHAUST PATH SO THAT THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE HOUSING PORTION CAN BE POSITIONED IN THE SAID EXHAUST PATH TO BE CONTACTED BY THE EXHAUST STREAM AND THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE HOUSING PORTION CAN BE CONTACTED BY A REFERENCE OXYGEN SOURCE, A WAFER OF OXYGEN SENSITIVE SOLID ELECTROLYTE MATERIAL POSITIONED IN A PLANE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF THE TUBULAR HOUSING PORTION, SAID WAFER BEING MOUNTED IN A RECESS IN SAID ONE END OF THE HOUSING PORTION SO AS TO BE MECHANICALLY RESTRAINED AGAINST INWARD AXIAL MOVEMENT BY A LEDGE PORTION FORMED IN SAID HOUSING PORTION, SAID WAFER CLOSING THE END OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING PORTION AND HAVING OPPOSED OUTER AND INNER SAMPLING GAS AND REFERENCE CONTACTING SURFACES, HERMETIC FASTENING AND SEALING MEANS COMPRISING A METAL OXIDE FRIT FIRED TO SAID BODY MEMBER AT A TEMPERATURE HIGHER THAN 1700*F AFTER SAID BODY MEMBER HAS BEEN PRE-OXIDIZED, AND TO SAID WAFER, SAID SEALING MEANS, SAID TUBULAR METAL HOUSING PORTION, AND SAID WAFER HAVING THERMAL EXPANSION CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ARE SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE TO PERMIT SAID
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said pair of electrodes covers only a portion of the surface of the wafer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pair of electrodes comprise an Ag-Pd alloy bonded to the wafer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means which includes a lead wire portion further includes a hollow metal tube to which said lead wire portion is welded internally of said body member, said hollow metal tube extending through and beyond said insulation member so as to provide a rigid, external electrical connection point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said insulation member is bonded to said body member and to said hollow metal tube by a high temperature electrically insulating cement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wafer comprises ZrO2 stabilized with MgO.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frit comprises a mixture of CrO3, TiO2 and SiO2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An oxygen sensor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a male pipe thread.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3738341A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |