Oxygen sensors
First Claim
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1. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising:
- a housing with an open end;
a partition carried on the open end with the partition including at least a rigid support member that carries a selected membrane, the support member is sandwiched between the membrane and the open end of the housing, and the support member is sealed to the open end of the housing with an air tight seal;
a cap which carries an electrode, the cap is sealed to the housing adjacent to the open end; and
a current collector which extends from within the housing, through the seal between the end of the housing and the support member and into a region between the electrode carried by the cap and the membrane wherein the membrane further comprises liquid held in the pores of the membrane, the pores having a diameter that requires a predetermined minimum pressure to force the liquid out of the pores and before gas is able to cross the membrane, the minimum pressure exceeding that created by environmental temperature changes thereby preventing the bulk transport of gas across the membrane and eliminating temperature transient effect.
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Abstract
An electrochemical oxygen sensor includes a micro-porous plastic membrane supported on a sealing disk and located between a gas inflow port and the sensor'"'"'s electrolyte. The membrane and disk minimize thermal shock effects due to using the sensor at a first location, at a first temperature, and then moving it to a second location at a different temperature.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising:
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a housing with an open end; a partition carried on the open end with the partition including at least a rigid support member that carries a selected membrane, the support member is sandwiched between the membrane and the open end of the housing, and the support member is sealed to the open end of the housing with an air tight seal; a cap which carries an electrode, the cap is sealed to the housing adjacent to the open end; and a current collector which extends from within the housing, through the seal between the end of the housing and the support member and into a region between the electrode carried by the cap and the membrane wherein the membrane further comprises liquid held in the pores of the membrane, the pores having a diameter that requires a predetermined minimum pressure to force the liquid out of the pores and before gas is able to cross the membrane, the minimum pressure exceeding that created by environmental temperature changes thereby preventing the bulk transport of gas across the membrane and eliminating temperature transient effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gas sensor which comprises a housing having first and second chambers;
- the housing carrying at least sensing and counter electrodes;
a body of electrolyte in contact with at least one of the electrodes;
the housing defining a gas inflow port;
a planar membrane located within an interior of the housing, closing the interior of the housing between the first and second chambers, to regulate an inflow of ambient gas, the membrane allowing electrolyte to pass therethrough and preventing an exchange of air between the first and second chambers, the membrane holding liquid in the pores thereof by surface tension and capillary action;
an air tight seal between one of the chambers and a rigid support member that underlies the membrane, and a second air tight seal between at least portions of the membrane and the rigid support member wherein the pores have a diameter that requires a predetermined minimum pressure to force the liquid out of the pores and before gas is able to cross the membrane, the minimum pressure exceeding that created by environmental temperature changes thereby preventing the bulk transport of gas across the membrane and eliminating temperature transient effect. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- the housing carrying at least sensing and counter electrodes;
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18. An electrochemical gas sensor comprising a housing with a gas inflow port, the housing carries at least one electrode and which includes an inwardly extending, at least partly annular support surface for a support element, a gasket and a membrane where the gasket is located between the at least one electrode and the support element, and the gasket provides at least in part an air tight seal between the membrane and the support element;
- and at least one filter element between the support element and the at least partly annular support surface wherein the membrane further comprises liquid held in the pores of the membrane, the pores having a diameter that requires a predetermined minimum pressure to force the liquid out of the pores and before gas is able to cross the membrane, the minimum pressure exceeding that created by environmental temperature changes thereby preventing the bulk transport of gas across the membrane and eliminating temperature transient effect.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification