EP0517364A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for sensing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1992-04-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method for sensing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in a measurement gas, e.g., the exhaust gas from an automobile engine. A solid state electrochemical oxygen pumping cell (10) adds oxygen into the apparatus which contains a solid state combustibles sensor (19) for sensing the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. The oxygen may be obtained from ambient air or by dissociation of gasses like water present in the measurement gas. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Eleftherios M. Logothetis
- 👤 Richard E. Soltis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/417; G01N27/419; G01N27/403; G01N27/406; G01N27/407; G01N27/4073; G01N27/4074; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/20; Y10T436/204998; Y10T436/205831; Y10T436/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for measuring hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in a measurement gas comprising: a solid state electrochemical oxygen pumping cell (10) comprising a porous electrode layer (12,13) on each of two opposite sides of an oxygen-ion conducting solid electrolyte member (11); a supporting structure (20) which together with said solid state electrochemical oxygen pumping cell (10) substantially defines a volume (15), one electrode layer (13) of said cell (10) being inside said volume (15) and the other electrode layer (12) being exposed to another gas outside said volume and during operation of said apparatus said electrochemical oxygen pumping cell (10) being capable of providing oxygen into said volume; an aperture (16) in said supporting structure (20) for providing communication between said volume (15) and said measurement gas present outside said volume; and a solid state combustibles sensor means (19) mounted within said volume (15) for generating an output signal indicative of the amount of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide present in said measurement gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a heater for heating said apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a partial barrier to the diffusion of oxygen partially separating said electrochemical cell from said combustibles sensor and said aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the partial barrier is a wall with an opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said solid state combustibles sensor means comprises a SnO₂ sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises an electrochemical oxygen sensing cell employed in combination with said electrochemical oxygen pumping cell to measure the concentration of oxygen within said volume and maintain it at a desired level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said solid state electrochromic oxygen pumping cell and said solid state combustibles sensor means are formed as one integrated laminated planar apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus of claim 7,wherein said solid state combustibles sensor means comprises a SnO₂ sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
An integrated-film apparatus for measuring hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in a measurement gas comprising in order: a supporting solid substrate; a sensor means comprising two metal film electrodes spaced apart and deposited on one side of said solid substrate and a hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide sensitive film deposited to cover a portion of said substrate between said electrodes and contacting both said electrodes; a porous inert layer deposited to substantially cover the entire substrate side carrying said sensor means; a gas impermeable film deposited on a part of the porous layer located over the area of said film so as to form a volume with said substrate; a first porous conducting electrode deposited on a portion of the porous layer that is not covered by said gas impermeable film; a gas impermeable, oxygen-ion conducting solid electrolyte layer; a second porous conducting electrode deposited on said solid electrolyte layer substantially above said first said porous conducting electrode; and wherein said first porous conducting electrode, said solid electrolyte layer, and said second porous conducting electrode form an electrochemical oxygen pumping cell for providing oxygen into said porous inert layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said substrate is alumina and said porous layer is spinel or alumina.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide sensitive film is SnO₂.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said gas impermeable layer is selected from the group comprising glass, alumina, and quartz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first and second porous electrodes are made of platinum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said solid electrolyte is Y-doped ZrO₂.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of sensing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in a measurement gas including the steps of: introducing said measurement gas into a volume while also adding oxygen into said volume by means of a solid state electrochemical oxygen pumping cell, measuring the concentration of said hydrocarbons and said carbon monoxide in said volume with a sensor means positioned within said volume and capable of generating an output signal indicative of said hydrocarbons and said carbon monoxide therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 15,wherein said step of adding oxygen into said volume includes dissociating oxygen containing compounds in said measurement gas outside said volume.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 16,wherein said step of adding oxygen into said volume includes obtaining said oxygen from ambient air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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