Oxygen Sensors

• US 20080202929A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chapples, John, Williamson, Martin, McLeod, Ian, Tilloston, John Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,252,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/415
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/404 Cells with anode, cathode and cell electrolyte on the same side of a permeable membrane which separates them from the sample fluid , e.g. Clark-type oxygen sensors

Abstract

An electrochemical oxygen sensor includes a micro-porous plastic membrane supported on a sealing disk and located between a gas inflow port and the sensor'"'"'s electrolyte. The membrane and disk minimize thermal shock effects due to using the sensor at a first location, at a first temperature, and then moving it to a second location at a different temperature.

Claims

1. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising:

a sealing member with at least one opening therethrough and an overlying micro-porous membrane carried therein to minimize temperature based shocks.

2. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 1 which includes sensing and counter electrodes.

3. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 1 where the micro-porous membrane is positioned in the sensor between a counter electrode and a gas inflow port.

4. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 3 which includes a compressible gasket which carries the membrane.

5. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 1 which includes a compressible foam adhesive gasket which carries the membrane.

6. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising a hollow housing which carries at least one electrode and which includes an inwardly extending, at least partly, annular support surface for a sealing element, a gasket and a membrane.

7. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 6 where the gasket carries the membrane.

8. An electrochemical sensor as in claim 7 with the sealing element comprising a generally planar structure fixedly attached to the hollow housing.

9. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 6 where the housing carries the sealing element, the gasket and the membrane in a multi-layer, stacked configuration.

10. An electrochemical gas sensor as in claim 9 where the housing is closed with a cover with a gas inflow port, the cover being adjacent to the membrane, the sealing element being adjacent to an internal region in the housing and to an electrode.

11. A portable oxygen sensor which comprises a hollow housing;

the housing carrying at least sensing and counter electrodes;

a body of electrolyte in contact with one of the electrodes;

the housing defining a gas inflow port; and

a micro-porous planar membrane closing the housing between the inflow port and a counter electrode to regulate an inflow of ambient gas.

12. An oxygen sensor as in claim 11 which includes a compressible gasket which carries the membrane.

13. An oxygen sensor as in claim 12 wherein the housing carries an internal support member for the gasket, the support member contributing to a gas tight seal between the inflow port and an internal region of the housing.

14. An oxygen sensor as in claim 13 where the electrolyte is adjacent to the support member and in the internal region of the housing.

15. An oxygen sensor as in claim 14 where the support member includes an annular plastic element to which the gasket can be attached where the annular element can be sealed to a portion of the housing adjacent to the internal region.

16. An oxygen sensor as in claim 13 where the support member is one of perforated, or, permeable to a selected electrolyte carried in the housing.

17. An oxygen sensor as in claim 16 where the support member comprises one of an annular disk, or a disk exhibiting a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough.