Patent US4561963A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4561963A
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US
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Antimony and graphite hydrogen ion electrode and method of making such electrode
Assignee: ZINETICS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY Corp A CORP OF UTAH
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Filing: 1984-07-30
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Granted: 1985-12-31
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Expires: 2004-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A solid state electrode that includes a graphite core as both the internal reference and the electrical conductor that is preferably formed of graphite threads maintained as a bundle that in one embodiment, has an end thereof coated with a mixture of antimony and antimony oxide as a sensor element, the graphite junction forming the internal reference to that sensor element, and in another embodiment, the graphite core is wrapped tightly around a sensor formed from section or "shot" of a mixture antimony and antimony oxide, the graphite junction forming the internal reference thereto. The connected graphite core and antimony/antimony oxide sensor are then covered with an impermeable non-conductive plastic sheath, leaving a section of the antimony/antimony oxide sensor surface exposed, and the junction of that sheath to the antimony/antimony oxide sensor is preferably sealed as with an epoxy.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Owen
- 👤 Harold M. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/30; G01N27/308; G01N27/333
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An electrode for use in measuring hydrogen ion concentration comprising, a graphite core; an antimony/antimony oxide sensor secured in electrical contact with said graphite core and having an exposed surface for immersion in a test solution; and means for electrically isolating said graphite core and antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction from said test solution when said antimony/antimony oxide exposed surface is immersed therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrode for use in measuring hydrogen ion concentration comprising, a graphite core; an antimony/antimony oxide sensor secured in electrical contact with said graphite core and having an exposed surface for immersion in a test solution; and means for electrically isolating said graphite core and antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction from said test solution when said antimony/antimony oxide exposed surface is immersed therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the means for electrically isolating said graphite core consists of an impermeable plastic coating arranged over said graphite core and over said antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction to said graphite core, so as to leave a surface of said sensor exposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrode according to claim 2, wherein the impermeable plastic coating is a tubular plastic sheath that is fitted over and shrunk to closely fit against the graphite core and graphite and antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrode according to claim 3, wherein the impermeable plastic sheath is heat-shrink polyvinylchoride (PCV) plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrode according to claim 2 further including an epoxy seal arranged as a moisture proof seal between the tubular plastic sheath inner circumference and the edge of the antimony/antimony oxide exposed surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the untreated graphite core is a bundle of flexible graphite fibers maintained together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrode according to claim 6, wherein the antimony/antimony oxide sensor surface is formed by dipping the end of the bundle of graphite fibers into molten antimony/antimony oxide to coat the fibers with that antimony/antimony oxide and allowing that coating to dry thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the antimony/antimony sensor consists of, a solid section of antimony/antimony oxide that receives the graphite core wrapped therearound forming an electrical junction where said section of antimony/antimony oxide is contacted by said graphite core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the mix of antimony and antimony oxide is obtained by heating elemental powdered antimony to approximately 700° Celsius.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrode for use in measuring hydrogen ion concentration comprising, an antimony/antimony oxide sensor; a section of graphite maintained in electrical contact to said antimony/antimony oxide sensor functioning as an internal reference; electrically conductive means connected to said section of graphite for passing an electrical potential therefrom; and means for electrically isolating said section of graphite and connected electrically conductive means from a test solution to leave exposed a portion of said antimony/antimony oxide sensor to said test solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrode for use in measuring hydrogen ion concentration comprising, an antimony/antimony oxide sensor; a section of graphite maintained in electrical contact to said antimony/antimony oxide sensor functioning as an internal reference; electrically conductive means connected to said section of graphite for passing an electrical potential therefrom; and means for electrically isolating said section of graphite and connected electrically conductive means from a test solution to leave exposed a portion of said antimony/antimony oxide sensor to said test solution.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrode according to claim 10, wherein the means for electrically isolating said section of graphite and electically conductive means consists of an impermeable plastic coating arranged over said section of graphite, the electrically conductive means and over said antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction to said section of graphite, so as to leave a surface of said sensor exposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrode according to claim 11, wherein the impermeable plastic coating is a tubular plastic sheath that is fitted over and shrunk to closely fit there against.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrode according to claim 12, wherein the impermeable plastic sheath is heat-shrink polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electrode according to claim 11, further including an epoxy seal arranged as a moisture proof seal between the tubular plastic sheath inner circumference and the edge of the antimony/antimony oxide exposed surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode according to claim 10, wherein the section of graphite and the electrically conductive means is a bundle of flexible graphite fibers maintained together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrode according to claim 15, wherein the section of graphite junction with the antimony/antimony oxide sensor surface is formed by dipping the end of the bundle of graphite fibers into molten antimony/antimony oxide to coat the fibers with that antimony/antimony oxide and allowing that coating to dry thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrode according to claim 15, wherein the section of graphite junction with the antimony/antimony oxide sensor is formed by wrapping the bundle of graphite fibers around a solid section of antimony/antimony oxide so as to form an electrical junction, while leaving an antimony/antimony oxide surface exposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electrode according to claim 10, wherein the mix of antimony and antimony oxide is obtained by heating elemental powdered antimony to approximately 700° Celsius.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for manufacturing an antimony and graphite hydrogen ion electrode comprising the steps of, connecting a section of graphite to an antimony/antimony oxide sensor so as to provide an internal reference junction; connecting that section of graphite to an electrical conductor; encasing said graphite and antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction and the electrical conductor in a liquid impervious sheath so as to leave a portion of said sensor exposed; and connecting said electrical conductor to an electrically conductive lead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
A process for manufacturing an antimony and graphite hydrogen ion electrode comprising the steps of, connecting a section of graphite to an antimony/antimony oxide sensor so as to provide an internal reference junction; connecting that section of graphite to an electrical conductor; encasing said graphite and antimony/antimony oxide sensor junction and the electrical conductor in a liquid impervious sheath so as to leave a portion of said sensor exposed; and connecting said electrical conductor to an electrically conductive lead.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 19, wherein the section of graphite and the electrical conductor is a bundle of graphite fibers consisting of approximately one thousand fibers each of an average diameter of seven (7) microns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 19, further including the step of applying an epoxy as a liquid tight seal between the sheath and the adjacent antimony/antimony oxide sensor edge providing a liquid tight seal around the junction of the antimony/antimony oxide and section of graphite.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 19, wherein the antimony/antimony oxide sensor is formed by drawing a column of a molten mix of antimony/antimony oxide into a breakable tube; allowing said mix to cool; breaking said tube away therefrom and breaking the solidified column into sections or "shots"; and wrapping the graphite bundle therearound to form the internal reference junction therebetween.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 22, wherein the molten antimony/antimony oxide mix is allowed to cool in atmosphere.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 19, wherein the antimony/antimony oxide sensor is formed by dipping an end of the untreated graphite bundle into a molten mix of antimony/antimony oxide; withdrawing that dipped end; and allowing the antimony/antimony oxide mix to dry and solidify thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of manufacture as recited in claim 19, further including the step of connecting an electrically conductive lead to the graphite above the graphite-antimony/antimony oxide junction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-30 | 1989-07-01 | 1989-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-30 | 1993-07-01 | 1993-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-07-01 | 1997-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |