US4132615A — Internal combustion engine exhaust gas oxygen sen…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 337 words

Internal combustion engine exhaust gas sensor and gas catalyzer combination unit to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the presence of oxygen in the exhaust gases being conducted through a duct means (1) from an internal combustion engine comprising an oxygen sensing element including an ion conductive solid electrolyte body (3) shaped to form a tube, open at one end, the closed end of the tube being adapted to be exposed to the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, a first electrode (5) applied to the outside surface of the tube, and a second electrode (6) applied to the inside of the tube, the sensing signal indicative of presence or absence of oxygen in the exhaust gas being measured across said electrodes (5,6); and a protective and catalyst unit to catalyze the gas equilibrium of gas to which the sensing unit is exposed and to protect the outside of both the body (3) and the first electrode (5) thereon, including a spacing tube (18) of mesh material surrounding the ion conductive solid electrolyte body (3), with clearance; a surrounding outer essentially tubular holding element (14, 15) extending into the exhaust gas stream and located to surround the spacing tube (18) and the ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) and leaving a space between the spacing tube and the outer holding element to form a chamber; a catalyst means (16) comprising a carrier coated at least in part with a layer of catalytic material located in said chamber; and means providing for flow of a sampling gas portion through said chamber comprising at least two openings (15, 17) formed in said outer holding element (14) and located to induce flow of exhaust gases therethrough, whereby the catalyst will be spaced from the surface of said electrolyte body and will be upstream thereof, with respect to the flow direction of the sampling portion of the stream of exhaust gases through the duct means (1) to which the sensor and gas catalyzer combination is adapted to be exposed.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 337 words

Internal combustion engine exhaust gas sensor and gas catalyzer combination unit to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the presence of oxygen in the exhaust gases being conducted through a duct means (1) from an internal combustion engine comprising an oxygen sensing element including an ion conductive solid electrolyte body (3) shaped to form a tube, open at one end, the closed end of the tube being adapted to be exposed to the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, a first electrode (5) applied to the outside surface of the tube, and a second electrode (6) applied to the inside of the tube, the sensing signal indicative of presence or absence of oxygen in the exhaust gas being measured across said electrodes (5,6); and a protective and catalyst unit to catalyze the gas equilibrium of gas to which the sensing unit is exposed and to protect the outside of both the body (3) and the first electrode (5) thereon, including a spacing tube (18) of mesh material surrounding the ion conductive solid electrolyte body (3), with clearance; a surrounding outer essentially tubular holding element (14, 15) extending into the exhaust gas stream and located to surround the spacing tube (18) and the ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) and leaving a space between the spacing tube and the outer holding element to form a chamber; a catalyst means (16) comprising a carrier coated at least in part with a layer of catalytic material located in said chamber; and means providing for flow of a sampling gas portion through said chamber comprising at least two openings (15, 17) formed in said outer holding element (14) and located to induce flow of exhaust gases therethrough, whereby the catalyst will be spaced from the surface of said electrolyte body and will be upstream thereof, with respect to the flow direction of the sampling portion of the stream of exhaust gases through the duct means (1) to which the sensor and gas catalyzer combination is adapted to be exposed.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 77 words

Unit according to claim 1, wherein the holding element includes an essentially tubular portion and a bottom closing portion, said bottom closing portion comprising a mesh screen (15) closing off the tubular portion at the region where the holding element is exposed to the stream of gas flow in said duct means, said tubular portion, the mesh screen, and the mesh spacing tube (18) defining said chamber therebetween and forming a holding basket for said catalyst means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

Unit according to claim 1, wherein one of said openings (17) is in communication with ambient air.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

Unit according to claim 1, including means on said sensor to locate the sensor and the outer tube in the main exhaust gas stream from the internal combustion engine.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

Unit according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) has an electron conductive layer (30) applied thereto, said layer being porous and catalyzing the gas equilibrium condition at the surface of the ion conductive tube (3).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

Unit according to claim 1, wherein the carrier of the catalyst means (16,) comprises pellet-like elements having their surfaces coated with the layer of catalytic material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 10 words

Unit according to claim 6, wherein said pellets are porous.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 11 words

Unit according to claim 6, wherein said pellets comprise aluminum oxide.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

Unit according to claim 1 wherein the layer of catalytic material comprises at least one of: platinum, an alloy of platinum with at least one of: aluminum, cobalt, nickel, chromium, or another platinum metal.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

Unit according to claim 1 wherein the carrier of the catalyst means comprises mineral wool having at least a portion of its surface coated with the layer of catalytic material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

Unit according to claim 10, wherein the carrier of the catalyst means comprises at least one of: glass wool, formed of glass fibers; and asbestos wool, formed of asbestos fibers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

Unit according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is of catalytically inactive material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 307 words

Internal combustion engine exhaust gas sensor and gas catalyzer combination unit for installation in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the presence of oxygen in the exhaust gases from the engine having an oxygen sensing subunit comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) which is closed at one end and open at the other, the open end being adapted to be in gas communication with ambient atmosphere to provide a reference oxygen level, the surface of the tube surrounding the closed end being adapted for exposure to the exhaust gases from the engine; electrode means (5, 6) located at the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the tube; and a catalyst subunit, to catalyze the gas equilibrium located with respect to contact of the gas with the tube in advance thereof, so as to be interposed between the gas and the outside surface of the tube comprising a catalyst including a carrier material and a layer of catalytically active material at least in part coating the carrier material; and retaining and positioning means (18, 14, 15) retaining said catalyst carrier material coated with the catalytically active material and positioning said coated carrier material adjacent to, and spaced from the electrolyte tube (3) to prevent physical contact with the outer surface of the tube while shielding the tube from direct contact with non-catalyzed gas from the engine, including a mesh tube spaced from and surrounding the solid electrolyte tube (14); and a perforate, basket-like holder (14, 15) surrounding said mesh tube to form a chamber therewith and positioning and confining the carrier material coated with the catalytically active material in said chamber; and wherein said sensing subunit forms a separate assembly, removable from the catalyst subunit and separable as an individual subunit from the sensor-catalyzer combination unit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 307 words

Internal combustion engine exhaust gas sensor and gas catalyzer combination unit for installation in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the presence of oxygen in the exhaust gases from the engine having an oxygen sensing subunit comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) which is closed at one end and open at the other, the open end being adapted to be in gas communication with ambient atmosphere to provide a reference oxygen level, the surface of the tube surrounding the closed end being adapted for exposure to the exhaust gases from the engine; electrode means (5, 6) located at the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the tube; and a catalyst subunit, to catalyze the gas equilibrium located with respect to contact of the gas with the tube in advance thereof, so as to be interposed between the gas and the outside surface of the tube comprising a catalyst including a carrier material and a layer of catalytically active material at least in part coating the carrier material; and retaining and positioning means (18, 14, 15) retaining said catalyst carrier material coated with the catalytically active material and positioning said coated carrier material adjacent to, and spaced from the electrolyte tube (3) to prevent physical contact with the outer surface of the tube while shielding the tube from direct contact with non-catalyzed gas from the engine, including a mesh tube spaced from and surrounding the solid electrolyte tube (14); and a perforate, basket-like holder (14, 15) surrounding said mesh tube to form a chamber therewith and positioning and confining the carrier material coated with the catalytically active material in said chamber; and wherein said sensing subunit forms a separate assembly, removable from the catalyst subunit and separable as an individual subunit from the sensor-catalyzer combination unit.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

Unit according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the ion conductive solid electrolyte tube (3) has an electron conductive layer (30) applied thereto, said layer being porous and catalyzing the gas equilibrium condition at the surface of the ion conductive tube (3).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

Unit according to claim 13, wherein the carrier of the catalyst means (16,) comprises pellet-like elements having their surfaces coated with the layer of catalytic material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 10 words

Unit according to claim 15, wherein said pellets are porous.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 11 words

Unit according to claim 15, wherein said pellets comprise aluminum oxide.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

Unit according to claim 13, wherein the layer of catalytic material comprises at least one of: platinum; an alloy of platinum with at least one of: aluminum, cobalt, nickel, chromium, or another platinum metal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

Unit according to claim 13, wherein the carrier of the catalyst means comprises mineral wool having at least a portion of its surface coated with the layer of catalytic material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

Unit according to claim 19, wherein the carrier of the catalyst means comprises at least one of: glass wool, formed of glass fibers; and asbestos wool, formed of asbestos fibers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

Sensor according to claim 13, wherein the carrier is of catalytically inactive material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-01-01	1982-07-03	1983-01-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-01-01	1986-07-03	1987-01-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-01-01	1990-07-03	1991-01-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Internal combustion engine exhaust gas oxygen sensor and catalyzer combination

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