US4334510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species in a fluid mixture and a system comprising said sensor, especially for regulation
Assignee: Thales SA
•
Filing: 1979-11-19
•
Granted: 1982-06-15
•
Expires: 1999-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species in a fluid mixture with a first catalytic enclosure for bringing the fluid mixture into thermodynamic equilibrium, and a second enclosure having an electrochemical cell which is responsive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to stoichiometry of the reaction. Additional structure for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed are located upstream of or combined with the first enclosure and serve to modify the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species of the fluid mixture in predetermined proportions.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Croset
- 👤 Gonzalo Velasco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4071; G01N27/416; G01N27/417
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture, comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture, comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said transfer-impeding means consist of an inert porous body through which the fluid mixture to be analyzed passes along a predetermined length of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sensor according to claim 1, wherein said catalyst means and said additional means are combined so as to form a unitary structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sensor according to claim 3, wherein said catalyst means combined with said transfer-impeding means consists of a catalytic porous body through which the fluid mixture to be analyzed passes along a predetermined length of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sensor according to claim 3, wherein said catalyst means combined with said transfer-impeding means consists of a catalytic solid body, said body being permeable to the species of the fluid mixture which passes through said body along a predetermined length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A sensor comprising transfer-impeding means according to claim 2, wherein the direction of variation of the ratio of relative concentrations of two of the species of a fluid mixture during the passage of said mixture through said transfer-impeding means is wholly determined by the nature of the species which are present in the fluid mixture, the amplitude of said variation of the ratio of said relative concentrations being solely dependent on said predetermined length of said porous body which constitutes said transfer-impeding means and on the ratio of the square roots of the molecular masses of said two species.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A sensor comprising transfer-impeding means according to claim 5, wherein the direction of variation of the ratio of relative concentrations of two of the species of a fluid mixture during the passage of said mixture through said transfer-impeding means is determined by the nature of the catalytic solid body which constitutes said transfer-impeding means, the amplitude of the variation of the ratio of said relative concentrations being dependent on said predetermined length of said catalytic solid body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for regulating the air-fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine by electrochemical analysis of the exhaust gases composed of species to be analyzed, comprising a device for proportioning said air-fuel mixture, a control intake for said device, and a measuring unit comprising at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture, comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell, the output signals of said unit being transmitted to said control intake of said proportioning device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for regulating the air-fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine by electrochemical analysis of the exhaust gases composed of species to be analyzed, comprising a device for proportioning said air-fuel mixture, a control intake for said device, and a measuring unit comprising at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture, comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell, the output signals of said unit being transmitted to said control intake of said proportioning device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein said measuring unit comprises a plurality of said sensors and having different values of transfer impedance for defining a corresponding number of air-fuel proportions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for regulating the proportions of a fluid mixture comprising two reactive species, wherein said system is provided for each species with a separate admission pipe and each pipe is fitted with an adjustable valve, a mixer for said species which is supplied through said pipes and a regulating loop comprising a control unit for actuating said adjustable valve, said control unit being provided with a control intake and a measuring unit connected to said control intake and comprising at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for regulating the proportions of a fluid mixture comprising two reactive species, wherein said system is provided for each species with a separate admission pipe and each pipe is fitted with an adjustable valve, a mixer for said species which is supplied through said pipes and a regulating loop comprising a control unit for actuating said adjustable valve, said control unit being provided with a control intake and a measuring unit connected to said control intake and comprising at least one electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture comprising: first catalyst means for bringing the fluid mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium; second means in cascade with said first means including an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction; and additional means located upstream of said second means for selectively impeding the transfer of species of the fluid mixture to be analyzed, the ratio of relative concentrations of the reactive species contained in the fluid mixture to be analyzed being modified in predetermined proportions by said transfer-impeding means to obtain a substantial and predetermined shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at said cell.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of manufacturing an electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture of the type having an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction, a catalyst in cascade with the cell for bringing the mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium and a fluid impedance upstream of said cell for impeding the transfer of species of the mixture to be analyzed comprising the steps of: selecting a desired shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at the cell and forming said impedance to selectively impedance transfer of species to modify the ratio and relative concentrations of the reactive species in predetermined proportions to thereby shift said stoichiometric concentration measured at the cell.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of manufacturing an electrochemical sensor for measuring relative concentrations of reactive species contained in a fluid mixture of the type having an electrochemical cell which is sensitive to an excess of one of the reactive species with respect to the stoichiometry of the reaction, a catalyst in cascade with the cell for bringing the mixture to be analyzed into thermodynamic equilibrium and a fluid impedance upstream of said cell for impeding the transfer of species of the mixture to be analyzed comprising the steps of: selecting a desired shift of the stoichiometric concentration measured at the cell and forming said impedance to selectively impedance transfer of species to modify the ratio and relative concentrations of the reactive species in predetermined proportions to thereby shift said stoichiometric concentration measured at the cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein said step of forming includes forming a catalytic body constituting said impedance of a length so as to cause said desired shift.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 11 including the further step of selecting said impedance so as to cause modification in a desired direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3787308A
Cited
US3952710A
Cited
US3907657A
Cited
US4132615A
Cited
US4117815A
Cited
US4101403A
Cited
DE2711880A1
Cited
US4231334A
Cited
US4140611A
Cited
US4227496A
Cited
US4264425A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-14 | 1985-12-14 | 1986-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-14 | 1989-12-14 | 1990-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-14 | 1993-12-14 | 1994-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |