US5281313A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Selective combustible sensor and method
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1993-03-18
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2013-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of operating a selective combustible sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell includes the steps of immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the gaseous atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell, applying a pumping current to the pump cell, sensing an e.m.f. (V s ), across the sensor cell, varying at least either the V s or temperature to make the sensor insensitive to one of the combustible gases, and detecting the other combustible gases present in the gaseous atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacobus H. Visser
- 👤 Eleftherios M. Logothetis
- 👤 Lajos Rimai
- 👤 Richard E. Soltis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/417; G01N27/419
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; varying at least either the V s or temperature of the sensor to make the sensor insensitive to one of the combustible gases; and detecting the other combustible gases present in the gaseous atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; varying at least either the V s or temperature of the sensor to make the sensor insensitive to one of the combustible gases; and detecting the other combustible gases present in the gaseous atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of determining a V s for a zero change in pumping current with respect to a pumping current when no combustible is present for each combustible gas prior to said step of varying.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of determining comprises either one of calculating or calibrating the sensor for the zero change of each combustible gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of varying comprises adjusting the pumping current such that the sensor cell has a V s that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of varying comprises adjusting the temperature of the sensor such that the sensor has a temperature that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of detecting comprises measuring a pumping current of the pump cell, and calculating the concentration of various combustible gases from the measured values of the pumping current.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating the concentration of the combustible gases according to the following formula: I.sub.p =4eB(D.sub.02 /(kT))[{1-exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}C.sub.02 -nC.sub.comb {D.sub.comb /D.sub.02 -exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}]P.sub.T
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; establishing a predetermined V s ; measuring a pumping current of the pump cell; and calculating the concentration of the combustible gases from the measured values of the pumping current.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; establishing a predetermined V s ; measuring a pumping current of the pump cell; and calculating the concentration of the combustible gases from the measured values of the pumping current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of determining a V s for a zero change in pumping current with respect to a pumping current when no combustible is present for each combustible gas prior to said step of establishing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of determining comprises either one of calculating or calibrating the sensor for the zero change of each combustible gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of establishing comprises adjusting the pumping current cell such that the sensor cell has a V s that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of varying the temperature (T) of the sensor such that the sensor has a T that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases prior to said step of measuring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of calculating comprises calculating the concentration of the combustible gases according to the following formula: I.sub.p =4eB(D.sub.02 /(kT))[{1-exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}C.sub.02 -nC.sub.comb {D.sub.comb /D.sub.02 -exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}]P.sub.T
Claim 16
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; varying the pumping current and temperature (T) such that the sensor has a V s /T that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases; measuring a pumping current of the pump cell; and calculating the concentration of the combustible gases from the measured values of the pumping current.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of operating a selective combustible sensor, the sensor having a pump cell and a sensor cell, said method comprising the steps of: immersing the sensor in a gaseous atmosphere having at least two combustible gases and oxygen gas and allowing the atmosphere to enter a region between the pump cell and the sensor cell; applying a pumping current to the pump cell; sensing an electromotive force (V s ) across the sensor cell; varying the pumping current and temperature (T) such that the sensor has a V s /T that corresponds to a zero differential pumping current for one of the combustible gases; measuring a pumping current of the pump cell; and calculating the concentration of the combustible gases from the measured values of the pumping current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of determining a V s for a zero change in pumping current with respect to a pumping current when no combustible is present for each combustible gas prior to said step of varying.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step of determining comprises either one of calculating or calibrating the sensor for the zero change of each combustible gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of calculating comprising calculating the concentration of the combustible gases according to the following formula: I.sub.p =4eB(D.sub.02 /(kT))[{1-exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}C.sub.02 -nC.sub.comb {D.sub.comb /D.sub.02 -exp(-4eV.sub.s /(kT))}]P.sub.T
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-07-26 | 1998-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-07-26 | 2002-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-24 | 2005-07-26 | 2006-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |