US4040930A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxygen sensor
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
•
Filing: 1976-02-05
•
Granted: 1977-08-09
•
Expires: 1996-02-05
Abstract
Abstract Oxygen sensor for automotive use incorporates a disc of solid electrolyte material which is mounted in the end of a short ceramic tube so as to be positioned near the end of a metal body member in which the tube is mounted and adjacent to the wall of an exhaust pipe into which the body member is mounted. For improved stability against vibration damage, the ceramic tube has an unsupported length which is less than about 150% of its diameter. Precious metal stripes on the ceramic tube carry the electrical signal generated between the electrodes on the hot electrolyte to relatively cool portions of the body member where they are conducted to external terminals through spring biased contacts. A tubular metal shield, which may enclose a porous ceramic filter, protects the electrolyte from exhaust particles and directs heat from the center of the exhaust pipe to the electrolyte disc.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Dillon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4062; G01N27/4077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
An oxygen sensor for use in an automotive exhaust stream comprising a metal housing having a shouldered recess portion intermediate its ends, fastening means on the inner end of said metal housing adapted to cooperate with complementary fastening means on the side wall of an exhaust member containing gases to be sensed, a hollow, generally tubular, ceramic insulating body positioned within said metal housing and having an enlarged diameter shoulder portion intermediate its ends which is restrained against forward movement toward said inner end of said metal housing by said shouldered recess portion, the forward portion of said insulating body being unsupported and radially spaced from the inner wall of said metal housing, a solid electrolyte member of a material different from the ceramic body sealed to said ceramic insulating body at the inner end thereof and having electrodes on the opposed sides thereof, the combined length of the forward portion of said insulating body and said solid electrolyte member being less than 150% of the outer diameter of said forward portion, said solid electrolyte member being positioned axially at about the inner end of said metal housing, a generally tubular, apertured metal shield member extending axially from said metal housing a sufficient distance that its inner end will be in or near the center of the exhaust stream when said sensor is mounted in the side wall of an exhaust conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
An oxygen sensor for use in an automotive exhaust stream comprising a metal housing having a shouldered recess portion intermediate its ends, fastening means on the inner end of said metal housing adapted to cooperate with complementary fastening means on the side wall of an exhaust member containing gases to be sensed, a hollow, generally tubular, ceramic insulating body positioned within said metal housing and having an enlarged diameter shoulder portion intermediate its ends which is restrained against forward movement toward said inner end of said metal housing by said shouldered recess portion, the forward portion of said insulating body being unsupported and radially spaced from the inner wall of said metal housing, a solid electrolyte member of a material different from the ceramic body sealed to said ceramic insulating body at the inner end thereof and having electrodes on the opposed sides thereof, the combined length of the forward portion of said insulating body and said solid electrolyte member being less than 150% of the outer diameter of said forward portion, said solid electrolyte member being positioned axially at about the inner end of said metal housing, a generally tubular, apertured metal shield member extending axially from said metal housing a sufficient distance that its inner end will be in or near the center of the exhaust stream when said sensor is mounted in the side wall of an exhaust conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 1 wherein a porous ceramic filter member is positioned inside said shield member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 2 wherein said shield member comprises inner and outer radially spaced apertured wall portions, said filter member being positioned in the space between said wall portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 1 wherein said hollow ceramic insulating body has stripe-like metallic coatings on the inner and outer surfaces of its forward portion in contact with the electrodes on said electrolyte.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 4 wherein said metallic coatings are platinum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 4 wherein said coating on the outer surface is recessed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The oxygen sensor of claim 4 wherein said metallic coatings are contacted by spring biassed conductive gaskets at the ends thereof which are remote from said electrolyte.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3768259A
Cited
US3928161A
Cited
US3835012A
Cited
US3960693A
Cited
US3909385A
Cited
US3960692A
Cited
US3844920A
Cited
US3847778A
Cited
US3915828A
Cited
US3940327A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |