Gas sensor

• US 20060219552A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Akihiro, Oishi, Hidetoshi, Sasaki, Takashi, Saito, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,360,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/16 caused by burning or catalytic oxidation of surrounding material to be tested, e.g. of gas
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/005 H2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/006 Avoiding interference of water vapour with the gas to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0447 of cathode exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A gas sensor which includes walls delimiting a gas detection chamber, and having an introduction port (or an inlet) through which an observed gas is introduced into the gas detection chamber, a measuring element disposed in the gas detection chamber and measuring concentration of a subject gas contained in the observed gas, and a heater constituting at least a portion of the walls, the portion facing the gas detection chamber.

Claims

1. A gas sensor comprising:

walls delimiting a gas detection chamber, and having an introduction port through which an observed gas is introduced into the gas detection chamber;

a measuring element disposed in the gas detection chamber, and measuring concentration of a subject gas contained in the observed gas; and

a heater constituting at least a portion of the walls, the portion facing the gas detection chamber.

2. A gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein the heater is provided facing the gas detection chamber.

3. A gas sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first dehumidifier absorbing water in a reversible manner, and disposed on a portion of the walls that is located opposite the introduction port with respect to the measuring element.

4. A gas sensor according to claim 3, wherein the heater includes a first heater which is tube-shaped and a second heater which is ring-shaped,

and wherein the first dehumidifier is provided to be sandwiched between the first heater and the second heater.

5. A gas sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second dehumidifier absorbing water in a reversible manner, and disposed between the measuring element and the introduction port.

6. A gas sensor according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second dehumidifier absorbing water in a reversible manner, and disposed between the measuring element and the introduction port.

7. A gas sensor according to claim 6, wherein the heater is provided to be sandwiched between the first dehumidifier and the second dehumidifier.

8. A gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein the heater constitutes an entirety of the walls.

9. A gas sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third dehumidifier absorbing water in a reversible manner, and disposed on the heater.