Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A lean sensor comprising: a sensor element consisting of a tubular solid electrolyte having opposed sides provided with respective electrodes and at least one electrode thereof coated with a porous coating layer; an element-fixing plate having a receiving hole to which said sensor element is fitted; and a pair of heat-resistant and insulating support plates having opposing windows, said element-fixing plate to which said element is fixed being clamped between said support plates such that said sensor element is disposed in said windows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A lean sensor comprising: a sensor element consisting of a tubular solid electrolyte having opposed sides provided with respective electrodes and at least one electrode thereof coated with a porous coating layer; an element-fixing plate having a receiving hole to which said sensor element is fitted; and a pair of heat-resistant and insulating support plates having opposing windows, said element-fixing plate to which said element is fixed being clamped between said support plates such that said sensor element is disposed in said windows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support plates, fixing plate and said element are integrated by a bond after they are arranged in a predetermined positional relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: lead wires formed integrally with the inner surfaces of said support plates; and a heater formed on at least one surface of said element-fixing plate integrally therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said element-fixing plate comprises: two heat-resistant insulating plates each including a heater formed integrally with an inner surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solid electrolyte constituting said sensor element comprises: a sintered body prepared by solidifying an oxide selected from the group consisting of ZrO 2 , CeO 2 , HfO 2 , ThO 2 and Bi 2 O 3 to a compound selected from the group consisting of CaO, MgO, Y 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 and Gd 2 O 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrodes formed on the surfaces of said sensor element comprise: a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Rn, Rd, Au and Ag, said metal deposited by a method selected from the group consisting of ion plating, chemical plating, combination of chemical plating and electroplating, baking of metal paste, thermal decomposition of metal salt and high-frequency spattering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said porous coating layer formed by melting and spraying a heat-resistant inorganic material selected from the group consisting of ZrCaCo 3 , MgAl 2 O 4 and α-Al 2 O 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: said porous coating layer formed on only a selected one of said electrode surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: said porous coating layers formed on both electrode surfaces by melting and spraying said heat-resistant inorganic material on said windows and the peripheries of said windows so as to cover the surfaces of said element, after fixing said sensor element to a predetermined position on said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said support plates and said fixing plate made from a material selected from the group consisting of ceramics, glass and heat-resistant plastics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lean sensor as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: said lead wires and said heater made from platinum or an alloy containing platinum.