Internal combustion exhaust catalytic reactor monitoring system
First Claim
1. Catalytic reactor monitoring system to supervise operation of a catalytic reactor (12) connected to the exhaust system of an internal combustion engines, to detoxify exhausted gases from the engine, comprisingat least two oxygen sensor elements (19, 38), one exposed to exhaust gases upstream, and the other downstream of the reactor (12) to respectively determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine upstream, and downstream of the reactor each including an ion conductive solid electrolyte (21) forming an ion concentration chain;
- a detection circuit (20) including a difference circuit having its respective terminal connected to the respective sensor elements to determine the difference in output signals from the sensor elementsand response means (39,
34) responsive to the output signal from the detection circuit (20).
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Accused Products
Abstract
To supervise operational effectiveness of catalytic reactors included in exhaust emission detoxification systems, an oxygen sensor is located downstream of the reactor to determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, the oxygen sensor comprising an ion conductive solid electrolyte forming an ion concentration chain and having catalytically inactive contacts, connected to a detection circuit which provides an output signal in dependence on a signal from the sensor, the output signal operating an alarm, or a transducer which interferes with proper engine operation to force the operator to have the reactor repaired. Preferably, two ion conductive chains are used, in a single sensor, or in two sensors, one being exposed to exhaust gases upstream of the catalytic reactor and the other downstream of the catalytic reactor, the output signals being provided to a differentially connected operational amplifier, to balance out extraneous influences.
80 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Catalytic reactor monitoring system to supervise operation of a catalytic reactor (12) connected to the exhaust system of an internal combustion engines, to detoxify exhausted gases from the engine, comprising
at least two oxygen sensor elements (19, 38), one exposed to exhaust gases upstream, and the other downstream of the reactor (12) to respectively determine oxygen content in the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine upstream, and downstream of the reactor each including an ion conductive solid electrolyte (21) forming an ion concentration chain; -
a detection circuit (20) including a difference circuit having its respective terminal connected to the respective sensor elements to determine the difference in output signals from the sensor elements and response means (39,
34) responsive to the output signal from the detection circuit (20). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification