Gas Sensor Assembly

• US 20100158758A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gustin, Ronald R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/83
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/008 Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0013 by a chemical reaction a chemical reaction taking place or a gas being eliminated in one or more analysing channels G01N33/0024
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0037 NOx
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49345 Catalytic device making

Abstract

A gas sensor assembly may include a housing defining a chamber. A gas sensor may be mounted in the chamber. An inlet tube may be secured to the housing and extend into the chamber of the housing: The inlet tube may define a passage providing fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber of the housing.

Claims

1. A gas sensor assembly comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a gas sensor mounted in the chamber; and

an inlet tube secured to the housing and extending into the chamber of the housing, the inlet tube defining a passage providing fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber of the housing.

2. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inlet tube contains a catalysts material.

3. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 2, further including an outlet tube secured to the housing and extending into the chamber of the housing, the outlet tube defining a passage providing fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber of the housing.

4. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the housing includes a shell having a length extending between opposite longitudinal ends, at least a portion of the gas sensor being between the inlet tube and the outlet tube in a transverse direction relative with respect to the shell.

5. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the gas sensor includes a heating element, the heating element being between the inlet tube and the outlet tube.

6. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein a portion of the exterior surface of the inlet tube is in thermal contact with the heating element.

7. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein the portion of the exterior surface of the inlet tube in thermal contact with the heating element is generally planar.

8. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the housing further includes a mounting component secured to one of the longitudinal ends of the shell, the inlet tube and the outlet tube being mounted on the mounting component and extending in the chamber generally longitudinally with respect to the shell.

9. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 8, further including a cover secured to the mounting component outside the housing, the mounting component and the cover together defining an inlet port in fluid communication with the inlet tube and an outlet port in fluid communication with the outlet tube.

10. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port extend generally transversely faith respect to the shell.

11. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 1, further including a housing mount, the housing mount including

a mounting boss defining an axial opening extending through opposite longitudinal ends of the boss, the axial opening being sized and shaped to receive the gas sensor assembly and to secure the gas sensor assembly to an exhaust system of a machine, and

a heat shield extending axially outward from one of the longitudinal ends of the mounting boss with respect to the axial opening of the boss, the heat shield adapted to surround at least a longitudinal portion of the gas sensor assembly when the gas sensor assembly is secured to the boss.

12. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 11, in combination with an exhaust system of a machine, the exhaust system including an exhaust tube defining an exhaust passage through which exhaust gases flow, wherein the housing mount is secured to the exhaust tube and extends into the exhaust passage so that at least a portion of the heat shield is in the exhaust passage, wherein the housing is mounted on the housing mount so that the inlet tube is in fluid communication with the exhaust passage,

13. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the mounting component includes first and second openings in which the respective inlet tube and the outlet tube are secured and extend into the chamber of the housing, the mounting component further including first and second transverse openings fluidly connected to the respective first and second longitudinal openings and extending generally transversely with respect to the shell.

14. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the mounting component includes first and second longitudinal openings in which the respective inlet tube and the outlet tube are secured, each of the passages of the inlet tube and the outlet tube including an exposed transverse opening outside the housing and the mounting component and extending generally transversely with respect to the shell.

15. A method or making a gas sensor assembly comprising:

securing a gas sensor in a chamber of a housing;

securing an inlet tube to the housing in an arrangement so that the inlet tube extends into the chamber of the housing provides fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber of the housing.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15, further including:

securing the inlet tube to a mounting component;

securing an outlet tube to the mounting component; and

securing the mounting component to an open longitudinal end of a shell to form the housing in an arrangement so that the outlet tube extends into the chamber of the housing and the outlet tube provides fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber or the housing.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, further including attaching a cover to the mounting component outside the housing in generally spaced relation to the component to define an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the inlet tube the outlet port being in fluid communication with the outlet tube, the inlet and outlet ports extending generally transversely with respect to the shell.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17, further including inserting a catalyst material in the passage of the inlet tube.

19. A gas sensor assembly comprising

a housing defining a chamber and having a length extending between opposite longitudinal ends;

a gas sensor in the chamber extending longitudinally with respect to the housing;

an inlet tube secured to the housing and extending into the chamber of the housing, the inlet tube defining a passage extending longitudinally with respect to the housing and being arranged to provide fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber or the housing;

an outlet tube secured to the housing and extending into the chamber of the housing, the outlet tube defining a passage extending longitudinally With respect to the housing and being arranged so as to provide fluid communication between outside the housing and the chamber of the housing; and

the gas sensor positioned between the inlet tube and the outlet tube inside the chamber.

20. A gas sensor assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein the inlet tube includes a catalyst material in the passage of the inlet tube.