Gas sensor

• US 5,948,963 A
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Nobuhide, Hamada, Yasuhiko, Ikoma, Nobukazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIGGINS, JOHN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/079,187
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 73/23.2, 73/31.05, 73/23.32, 73/64.47, 422/83, 422/88, 422/94, 338/34, 204/428, 204/279, 204/245
• US Class Current: 73/23.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4074 for detection of gases other than oxygen

Abstract

Disclosed is a gas sensor comprising a sensor element for measuring a predetermined gas component contained in an introduced measurement gas, and a protective cover arranged to surround a forward end of the sensor element; the gas sensor including the sensor element having a gas-introducing port which is disposed at a forward end surface thereof for introducing the measurement gas thereinto; and the protective cover comprising an inner protective cover and an outer protective cover. The inner protective cover is provided with an opening section which makes communication with the gas-introducing port. An inner protective cover space, which is formed between the inner protective cover and the sensor element, is isolated from a communication passage which makes communication from the opening section of the inner protective cover to the gas-introducing port of the sensor element so that the measurement gas principally diffuses and flows from the opening section into the gas-introducing port of the sensor element. Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously solve the element temperature drop and the crack formation caused by condensed water, and highly accurately measure the predetermined gas component.

Claims

1. A gas sensor comprising a sensor element for continuously measuring a predetermined gas component contained in an introduced measurement gas, and a protective cover arranged to surround said sensor element, said gas sensor including:

said sensor element having a gas-introducing port which is disposed at a forward end surface thereof for introducing said measurement gas there into;

said protective cover having an opening section which makes fluid communication with said gas-introducing port; and

a protective cover space formed between said protective cover and said sensor element, said protective cover space being isolated by an isolation space from a communication passage which makes fluid communication from said opening section of said protective cover to said gas-introducing port of said sensor element, wherein;

said measurement gas principally diffuses and flows from said opening section into said gas-introducing port of said sensor, providing improved resistance against water invasion, thermal shock, and/or crack formation, element.

2. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein assuming that a gas diffusion resistance of said communication passage is D1, and a gas diffusion resistance from said protective cover space to said communication passage is D2, a ratio D1/D2 between said gas diffusion resistances is not more than 1/5.

3. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein a hole for making fluid communication for at least said measurement gas with said protective cover space is provided through a side surface and/or a bottom surface of said protective cover.

4. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

assuming that a gas diffusion resistance of said communication passage is D1, and a gas diffusion resistance from said protective cover space to said communication passage is D2, a ratio D1/D2 between said gas diffusion resistances is not more than 1/5; and

said end surface of said sensor element abuts against said protective cover.

5. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

a hole for making fluid communication for at least said measurement gas with said protective cover space is provided through a side surface and/or a bottom surface of said protective cover; and

said isolation space is filled with a filler.

6. The gas sensor according to claim 1, further comprising an outer protective cover disposed to surround said protective cover and provided with at least a gas-introducing hole.

7. The gas sensor according to claim 6, wherein a gas discharge hole for said measurement gas is provided through a bottom of said outer protective cover.

8. The gas sensor according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of gas discharge holes each having a diameter of not more than 2 mm are provided through said bottom of said outer protective cover.

9. The gas sensor according to claim 6, wherein:

a gas discharge hole for said measurement gas is provided through a bottom of said outer protective cover; and

said gas discharge hole is provided at a position not opposing to said opening section.

10. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein a gas diffusion resistance of said opening section is not more than 1/10 of a gas diffusion resistance of said sensor element.

11. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein a length of said opening section in a direction to extend toward said sensor element is not less than 1.5-fold of an aperture width of said opening section.

12. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein an aperture of said opening section has a slit-shaped configuration of not more than 1 mm.

13. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said opening section is filled with a porous material.

14. The gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein:

a gas diffusion resistance of said opening section is not more than 1/10 of a gas diffusion resistance of said sensor element; and

said opening section is composed of a member which is different from that for said protective cover.

15. The gas sensor according to claim 14, wherein:

a recess is provided at a bottom of said protective cover; and

said opening section is provided at said recess.