System and method for operating an exhaust gas sensor system
First Claim
1. An exhaust gas sensor system, comprising:
- a sensor element;
an inner conical chamber disposed around the sensor element; and
an outer chamber having an inclined end for collecting exhaust gas particles, said outer chamber being substantially disposed around the inner chamber to redirect a flow of an exhaust gas stream having an original direction by allowing the exhaust gas stream to strike a surface of the inner chamber to change the original direction of the flow to a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the original direction, then to substantially reverse the substantially perpendicular direction of the flow to create a substantially reversed flow within the inner chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exhaust gas sensor system includes an inner chamber disposed around a sensor element. The inner chamber has either a cylindrical shape or a frusto-conical shape. The system further includes an outer chamber disposed substantially around the inner chamber to redirect a flow of an exhaust gas stream having an original direction by allowing the exhaust gas stream to strike a surface of the inner chamber to change the original direction of the flow to a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the original direction, then to substantially reverse the substantially perpendicular direction of the flow to create a substantially reversed flow within the inner chamber. Alternately the exhaust sensor system includes a sintered metal filter that prevents exhaust gas particles from fouling a sensor element. The system further includes an electric source coupled to the sintered metal filter to heat the sintered metal filter to a temperature sufficient to remove the exhaust gas particles from the sintered metal filter.
30 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An exhaust gas sensor system, comprising:
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a sensor element; an inner conical chamber disposed around the sensor element; and an outer chamber having an inclined end for collecting exhaust gas particles, said outer chamber being substantially disposed around the inner chamber to redirect a flow of an exhaust gas stream having an original direction by allowing the exhaust gas stream to strike a surface of the inner chamber to change the original direction of the flow to a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the original direction, then to substantially reverse the substantially perpendicular direction of the flow to create a substantially reversed flow within the inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of operating an exhaust gas sensor system, comprising:
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directing a flow of an exhaust gas stream having an original direction through an opening formed at one end of an outer chamber, said outer chamber having an inclined end for collecting exhaust gas particles; and redirecting the flow of the exhaust gas stream having the original direction by allowing the exhaust gas stream to strike a surface of an inner chamber substantially enclosed within the outer chamber to change the original direction of the flow to a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the original direction, then to substantially reverse the substantially perpendicular direction of the flow to create a substantially reversed flow within the inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a combustion unit; an exhaust unit coupled to the combustion unit and configured to eject exhaust gas generated from the combustion unit; an exhaust gas sensor system located in the exhaust unit, comprising; a sensor element; an inner chamber disposed around the sensor element; and an outer chamber having an inclined end for collecting exhaust gas particles, said outer chamber being disposed around the inner chamber to redirect a flow of an exhaust gas stream having an original direction by allowing the exhaust gas stream to strike a surface of the inner chamber to change the original direction of the flow to a substantially perpendicular direction relative to the original direction, then to substantially reverse the substantially perpendicular direction of the flow to create a substantially reversed flow within the inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification