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Oxygen sensor

  • US 4,526,672 A
  • Filed: 03/23/1984
  • Issued: 07/02/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An exhaust gas sensor for sensing the oxygen content in an exhaust system relative to the oxygen content of air, comprising:

  • a solid electrolyte sensor element having a generally conical shape with one closed end and one open end surrounded by an annular surface, the sensor element having an outer electrode formed on the exterior surface of the sensor element and an inner electrode formed on the interior surface of the sensor element extending to the annular surface;

    a housing for supporting said sensor element and having a conical shoulder;

    an electrically conductive seal for sealing engagement between the conical shoulder on the housing and the outer electrode of the sensor element;

    a member forming an enclosed elongate hollow tube and a sealing disk, both the elongate hollow tube and the sealing disk being electrically conductive, the hollow tube having an opening at the first end thereof and an opening at the second end thereof, the opening at the second end thereof being a notch through the wall of the hollow tube, the hollow tube extending beyond the notch forming a crimping portion having a wire crimped therein to connect the inner electrode of the exhaust gas sensor to the wire, the sealing disk being positioned on the hollow tube adjacent the first end for sealing engagement with the annular surface of the sensor element for insuring that the only gases present in the interior of the sensor element enter the second end of the hollow tube and pass through the hollow tube to the sensor element;

    a cover secured to the housing, the second end of the hollow tube extending out of the cover;

    means for urging the sealing disk into contact with the inner electrode so that sealing contact is made between the member and the annular surface of the gas sensor and between the conical shoulder of the housing and outer electrode through said electrically conductive seal; and

    a vent cap housing secured to the cover with at least one gap between the cover and vent cap housing to admit air into the interior of the vent cap housing, the second end of the hollow tube being within the interior of the vent cap housing with said at least one gap positioned between said second end of the hollow tube and the electrically conductive seal between the housing and the outer electrode to reduce the potential for contamination of the air within the hollow tube with exhaust gas.

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  • 4 Assignments
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