Electrochemical sensor

• US 7,651,597 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alphasense Limited (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alphasense Limited (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Richard, Saffell, John R., Dawson, Darry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Bach T
• Application Number:
  US11/012,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 204412-432, 204/400, 204/409
• US Class Current: 204/415
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4045 for gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/004 for CO, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0044 for H2S, sulfides

Abstract

A dual gas sensor is described, having first and second working electrodes separated by a gas impermeable portion. The electrodes are preferably located on a gas permeable polymer support, with the gas impermeable portion being formed by compression of the permeable support. The sensor may also include one or more filters for location adjacent the electrodes to filter certain gases from the air. The preferred sensor is able to detect carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. The sensor housing is formed with four connection pins, allowing a standard sensor housing to be used for dual sensors as well as single sensors having a dummy pin.

Claims

1. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising first and second working electrodes, the electrodes being located on a gas permeable support common to said electrodes, the support having an integral gas impermeable portion separating the first and second working electrodes, and further including a contact portion arranged to apply compression to the impermeable portion to render it impermeable.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a porous polymer.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a fluoropolymer.

4. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising one or more filters located adjacent the first or second working electrodes.

5. The sensor of claim 1 comprising first and second filters located adjacent the first and second working electrodes respectively.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein one of the filters is inactive.

7. The sensor of claim 5 wherein the first and second filters are separated by an impermeable member.

8. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a cap.

9. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising an electrolyte reservoir.

10. The sensor of claim 9 wherein the reservoir is located within a base of the sensor.

11. The sensor of claim 10 wherein the base carries pins for connection to the electrodes of the sensor, to allow the sensor to be connected into a circuit.

12. The sensor of claim 1 comprising a base having four pins for connection to the electrodes of the sensor.