Gas sensing element

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the concentration of oxygen in exhaust gases. A gas sensor element of yttria-stabi­ lized zirconia (Y₂O₃-ZrO₂) has at one end a gas pump of two chambers separated by intervening Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ with an orifice extending between each chamber and the exterior of the gas sensor element. Two platinum electrodes of a first set face one chamber and two platinum electrodes of a second set face the other chamber. The gas sensor element is mounted in an insulating mounting collar in close contact with two ceramic heaters of resistance heating elements on silicon nitride substrates. The mounting collar is clamped between a shield member encircling the gas pump of the sensor element and a housing member by threaded clamping nuts. The shield member has one or more apertures therein to admit exhaust gases to be analyzed to the gas pump of the sensor element. The housing member has an electrical connector at one end which is spaced from the sensor element for providing electrical connections to the sensor element and ceramic heaters.

Description: This application relates to gas sensor element in accordance with the generic clause of claim 1. More particularly, it is concerned with gas sensors employing solid electrolyte material which ionically conducts in the presence of a gas. Such a gas sensor is already known from document US-A-45 05 807 which describes an oxygen sensor including three plate-like elements disposed in parallel, a heater, an oxygen pump element with electrodes, an oxygen concentration cell element with electrodes and an insulating board disposed between the first two elements having a hole bored therethrough at a position between the opposing electrodes of the first two elements so as to defined a cavity therebetween, whereby said insulating board further has at least one passage communicating said cavity to the outside of said oxygen sensor. Also in documents US-A-4647364 ; Transmicers' 85. 1985 International Conference on solid-state sensors and actuators; Digest of Technical Papers, p. 333-335, IEEE, New York, US, S. Suzuki et al.: "Integrated Zirconia air-fuel ratio sensor for automotive engine control" ; US-A-46 34514 as well as EP-A-0 142 992 ; gas sensor elements are disclosed. Document US-A-4 547 281 discloses a gas concentration sensing or pumping device that is formed of a body of solid electrolyte material which exhibits ionic conduction when the concentration of gas is different between first and second surfaces of the body or which, upon application of a voltage across the body, will cause gas on the one side of the body to be pumped to the other side. The output current measures the gas concentration passing through the body. Various techniques and apparatus have been developed for determining the concentration of individual gases, such as oxygen, in a gas mixture, such as an exhaust gas. With some of these techniques it is difficult to determine the oxygen concentration in the range from about 0.1% to 20%. With certain types of gas sensors it is difficult to maintain accuracy over a period of time. Some techniques provide output information which varies logarithmically rather than linearly with the concentration of oxygen in the gas mixture. Some sensors are insensitive to slight changes in the partial pressure of oxygen, and therefore subject to inaccuracy. Other techniques involve complex electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the sensing apparatus and for carrying out the measurements. In one technique a solid electrolyte material which exhibits ionic conduction in the presence of oxygen is employed in an electrochemical gas pump. The oxygen concentration in the gas mixture is determined by the diffusion-limited current flow through the solid electrolyte material. This technique provides a signal output which is linearly proportional to the oxygen concentration in the gas mixture. A simple power supply provides a constant voltage to the electrodes of the pump. A series resistor is used to generate an output signal which is proportional to the concentration of oxygen in the gas being analyzed. Sensors of this type require energy in the form of an applied voltage. The applied voltage needed is a function of current density, temperature and oxygen concentration. If the applied voltage is low or the temperature is low or the oxygen concentration is high, the relationship observed between the pumping current and the oxygen concentration is non-linear. If the applied voltage is too high or the temperature is too high or the oxygen concentration is low, other oxygen-containing ingredients such as H₂O and CO₂ or the solid electrolyte material itself may dissociate contributing to faulty current in the output signal. In addition the pumping of the oxygen through the solid electrolyte material consumes energy, and the electrolyte ohmic polarization of the material is also a function of temperature and the current density. Thus, at high current density or low temperature extra voltage is needed to overcome the resistance of the electrolyte material. Because of these problems, previously available sensors based on this technique have a limited temperature range of operation. In addition the electrodes of some sensors are exposed to gas flow. After a period of use the electrodes can shift the amount of applied voltage required, and thus lead to errors in the output signal. Heating elements are required in order to maintain a proper operating temperature for the sensor. Heating elements tend to have short lifetimes due to the mechanical instability of their materials at the high operating temperature. Certain devices have pressure-dependent output signals because of the diffusion mechanism involved in the operation of the gas pump. Most of the devices presently available require fairly high voltage in order to be operable, thus creating the possibility of faulty dissocation currents at the resulting high temperature. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems. This object is met by the characterizing features of claim 1. A gas sensor element in accordance with the present invention comprises a body of solid electrolyte material exhibiting ion conduction in the presence of a gas to be detected. A first chamber is located within the body with passage between the first chamber and the exterior of the body. A second chamber within the body is spaced from the first chamber. Passage is provided between the second chamber and the exterior of the body. A first electrode has a tab portion facing the first chamber, and a second electrode has a tab portion facing the second chamber. The gas being detected is pumped from one chamber to the other chamber through the intervening solid electrolyte material upon the application of a voltage between the first and second electrodes. A gas sensing assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a gas sensor element and two ceramic heaters. The gas sensor element comprises a body of solid electrolyte material which exhibits ion conduction in the presence of a gas to be detected. The body is of generally elongated rectangular parallelepiped configuration having a major upper surface and a major lower surface. The body contains a first chamber located below the upper surface. A second chamber is located above the lower surface and directly below the first chamber with material of the body intervening between the first and second chambers. Passage is provided from the first chamber to the exterior of the body, and passage is provided from the second chamber to the exterior of the body. A first electrode has a tab portion facing the first chamber, and a second electrode has a tab portion facing the second chamber. Each of the ceramic heaters comprises a substrate of silicon nitride material of generally elongated rectangular configuration having parallel first and second flat, planar major surfaces. A thin layer of conductive material is adherent to the first major surface of the substrate in a pattern to form a resistance heating element and conductive leads thereto. One of the ceramic heaters is assembled in heat transmitting relationship with the gas sensor element with the second major surface of the substrate of the ceramic heater facing the major upper surface of the body of the gas sensor element. The other ceramic heater is assembled in heat transmitting relationship with the gas sensor element with the second major surface of the substrate of the ceramic heater facing the major lower surface of the body of the gas sensor element. Gas sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a gas sensor element including a body of solid electrolyte material which exhibits ion conduction in the presence of a gas to be detected. The body is of generally elongated rectangular parallelepiped configuration and has a gas pump adjacent to one end thereof. Electrical leads connected to electrodes of the gas pump extend from the other end of the gas sensor element. The apparatus also includes a ceramic heater of generally elongated rectangular parallelepiped configuration having a resistance heating element adjacent to one end. Electrical leads connected to the resistance heating element extend from the other end. A mounting collar supports the gas sensor element and the ceramic heater with the ceramic heater in heat transmitting relationship with the gas sensor element. The one end of the body of the gas sensor element containing the gas pump and the one end of the ceramic heater containing the resistance heating element are positioned on one side of the mounting collar. The electrical leads lie on the opposite side of the mounting collar. A shield member encloses the portions of the gas sensor element and ceramic heater positioned on the one side of the mounting collar. The shield member is in contact with the mounting collar and forms a gas-tight seal therewith. The shield member has at least one aperture therein to permit the gas to be analyzed to enter the test chamber formed by the shield member and mounting collar. External connector means are connected to the electrical leads from the gas sensor element and the ceramic heater for permitting electrical connections to be made thereto. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the components of a gas sensor element in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled gas sensor element in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a ceramic heater employed in apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 4 is an elevational view in cross-section of gas sensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing of the electrical circuitry employed in conjunction with the apparatus of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a graph illustrating curves of the output measurements of gas sensing apparatus at various concentrations of oxygen at different temperatures. For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-described drawings. The sensor element as described herein employs a body of a solid electrolyte material which exhibits ionic conduction in the presence of a gas, specifically oxygen. The material which is well known for providing this phenomenon with oxygen is yttria (Y₂O₃)-stabilized zirconia (ZrO₂). The sensor element 10 is illustrated in an exploded view in Fig. 1. The sensor element 10 is composed of seven layers or laminations of yttria-stabilized zirconia 11-17. The laminations 11-17 are fabricated from yttria-stabilized zirconia powder which is a mixture of 92 mole percent of zirconia powder and 8 mole percent of yttria powder. Specifically the mixed powder is designated as TZ-8Y yttria-stabilized zirconia powder purchased from Toyo Soda USA, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. A slurry is prepared from the yttria-stabilized zirconia powder and a binder of polyvinyl butyral, specifically Cerbind #73216 binder solution from Tam Ceramics, Inc., Niagara Falls, New York. The slurry is 54% by weight powder and 46% by weight binder. The mixture is ball milled for 18 hours in a milling media of zirconia balls. After mixing, the slurry is exposed to a vacuum of 4·10³ Pa (30 mm Hg) for 1-2 minutes to ensure that no trapped air remains in the slurry. The slurry is cast into a film with a doctor blade setting of 1·3·10⁻³ m (52 mils). The film is dried in open air for 3-4 hours, and after drying the film thickness is approximately 0,25 - 0,3 · 10⁻³ m (10-12 mils). The film is cut into suitable dimensions for the rectangular laminations, for example 0,048 m (1.9 inches) by 0,010 m (.426) inch. Holes or openings 21 and 22 which will form gas chambers in the sensor element are produced as by punching through two laminations, the next-to-the-uppermost lamination 12 and the next-to-the-lowermost lamination 16. The openings may, for example, be 0.006 m (.250 inch) in diameter. Electrodes are formed on certain of the laminations. The electrodes are of a porous conductive material which adsorbs oxygen and acts as a catalyst in dissociating oxygen into ions. The particular material used is platinum (Pt). Electrodes 25, 26, 27, and 28 are formed on the uppermost lamination 11, the lamination next below the next-to-the-uppermost lamination 13, the next-above the next-to-the-lowermost lamination 15, and the lowermost lamination 17, respectively. The electrodes are formed on the laminations by screen printing platinum ink onto the appropriate surface. Specifically the platinum ink used is designated as A4338 and is purchased from Engelhard Corp., East Newark, New Jersey. The ink is applied through a #325 mesh screen. Each of the electrodes has an enlarged tab portion at one end which is the same size as the chamber openings 21 and 22. The tabs are located in the laminations so that the tabs of the electrodes of each set face each other across the appropriate chamber of the assembly. The electrodes extend along the length of the associated laminations and terminate at end portions of the laminations so as to be adjacent to openings or holes labelled 29 and 30. The holes 29 and 30 are formed in the laminations after assembly of the laminations as will be discussed hereinbelow. The electrodes are arranged on the associated laminations such that the upper electrodes 25 and 26 constituting one set are accessible only at openings 29 and electrodes 27 and 28 constituting a second set are accessible only at openings 30. Passage between each chamber and the exterior of the sensor element for the gas being analyzed is provided by orifices 31 and 32 which are formed between the chambers 21 and 22, respectively, and the exterior during the laminating process. Alternatively, passage between each of the chambers 21 and 22 and the exterior of the sensor element may be provided by employing uppermost and lowermost laminations 11 and 17 which are porous in the regions above and below the chambers 21 and 22, respectively. In order to form the orifices 31 and 32 a plastic wire or other suitable filamentary material which is easily expended is placed between laminations 11 and 12 and between laminations 16 and 17 as the laminations are stacked for laminating. Lamination is performed at a temperature of 60°C with the laminations pressed together under a pressure of 6,8 · 10⁶ N/m² (1000 pounds per square inch) in a vacuum of 4·10³ Pa (30 mm Hg) for a period of from 10 to 15 minutes. Disks of ashless filter paper are placed inside the openings 21 and 22 before the laminating process to prevent the walls of the chambers from collapsing during the laminating process. After lamination the orifices 31 and 32 (Fig. 2) from the chambers 21 and 22, respectively, to the edge surface of the body are formed by burning away the filamentary material placed prior to lamination. The holes 29 and 30 are drilled through the laminated stack or body. The resulting body which is in the shape of a generally rectangular parallelepiped is then subjected to a bake out and sintering procedure. The temperature of the body is raised from room temperature to 400°C over a period of 15 hours, and from 400°C to 1500°C over a period of 2 hours. The body is heated for 1 hour at 1500°C, and then cooled to room temperature over a 2 hour period. This process is carried out in open air. In the completed gas sensor element as illustrated in Fig. 2 each of the chambers 21 and 22 is approximately 0,004 m (0.175 inch) in diameter and 6·10⁻⁵ m (0.0025 inch) in height. The orifices 31 and 32 are about 4·10⁻⁵ m (0.0015 inch) in diameter and about 1,3·10⁻³ m (0.05 inch) in length from the chamber to the exterior edge surface of the sensor element. As illustrated in Fig. 2 lead wire 37 which may be of 0,13 mm (5 mil) silver wire is attached to the two upper electrodes 25 and 26 through openings 29. Similarly lead wire 38 is attached to the two lower electrodes 27 and 28 through openings 30. The lead wires 37 and 38 are looped through their respective holes 29 and 30. Platinum paste is applied to ensure good electrical contact. The lead wires 37 and 38 are covered with fiberglass tubing for insulation and protection. The gas sensor element 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 forms an oxygen pump adjacent to the narrow edge surface at one end of the sensor element. A voltage applied between electrodes 25 and 26 of one set and electrodes 27 and 28 of the other set causes oxygen entering one of chambers 21 or 22 by way of orifice 31 or 32, respectively, to ionize. Ions flow through the yttria-stabilized zirconia to the other chamber. The current flows is a measure of the concentration of oxygen in the gas mixture to which the gas sensor element is exposed. The apparatus employs two ceramic heaters 50 which are assembled with the gas sensor element 10. Each ceramic heater 50 as illustrated in Fig. 3 employs a substrate of a rectangular piece of silicon nitride ceramic material. The substrate is approximately 0,03 m (1.2 inches) by 0,008 m (0.3 inches) and is .1·10⁻³ m (40 mils) thick. The silicon nitride material is densified silicon nitride. Specifically, the material is formed by employing Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃ or MgO as a densification aid and may, for example, be formed as described in U.S. Patents No. 4,383,958, 4,603,116 and 4,608,354. A resistance heating element 51 in a zig-zag pattern and conductive leads 52 and 53 therefrom are formed on a flat major surface of the ceramic substrate by screen printing. For example, platinum ink #5544 from Electro-Science Labs, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is applied through #325 mesh screen. After the pattern of heating element 51 and leads 52 and 53 is applied, the substrates are fired in air. The temperature is raised from room temperature to 1250°C over a period of 2 hours, firing at 1250°C is carried on for 10 minutes, and cooling to room temperature is over a period of 2 hours. Holes 54 and 55 are formed in the printed conductors 52 and 53, respectively, at the end of the heater substrate which is spaced from the resistance heating element 51. Wire leads 56 and 57 of 5 mil silver wire pass through the holes 54 and 55 and make electrical contact to the conductors 52 and 53, respectively. A silver paste is applied to ensure good physical and electrical contact, and the wire leads 56 and 57 are protected with fiberglass sleeving. In some of the ceramic heaters an opening 58 is made through the substrate in a region not coated by the conductive material but closely adjacent to the resistance heating element 51. Fig. 4 illustrates gas sensing apparatus employing a gas sensor element 10 sandwiched between two ceramic heaters 50 and supported in a housing which is adapted for mounting as in an engine exhaust line from an internal combustion engine. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the gas sensor element 10, the two ceramic heaters 50, and also a thermocouple 60 are mounted in a mounting collar 61. The flat major surface of each ceramic heater 50 opposite the surface containing the heating element 51 is in close physical and heat transmitting contact with a major surface of the gas sensor element 10. The mounting collar 61 is fabricated from an insulating ceramic for example #502-600 machinable ceramic purchased from Leeds and Northrop Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The mounting collar 61 is of circular cross-section and has chamfered or tapered edges 63 and 64 on the forward and rearward sides of its periphery. The gas sensor element 10 and ceramic heaters 50 extend through a central opening 62 in the mounting collar 61. The resistance heater elements at the ends of the ceramic heaters 50 are closely adjacent to the gas pump at the end of the gas sensor element 10 and lie on the forward side of the mounting collar 61. The opposite ends of the gas sensor element and the ceramic heaters which have the lead wires attached thereto extend from the rearward side of the mounting collar 61. The thermocouple 60 fits within the opening 58 in the uppermost ceramic heater 60 and its lead wires 66 and 67 pass through the opening 62 to the rearward side of the mounting collar 61. The assembled elements are sealed within the opening 62 of the ceramic mounting collar 61 by a suitable ceramic cement 65, for example standard 3333 foreign joint cement purchased from Leeds and Northrop Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the cement is applied, it is air dried for 24 hours at room temperature followed by a 1 hour anneal in an oven at 100°C. The cured ceramic cement 65 is in the form of a mass completely surrounding the ends of the assembled elements on the rearward side of the mounting collar 61. The cement 65 adheres to the surface of the mounting collar forming a gas-tight seal around the elements and sealing the opening 62. The lead wires from the gas sensor element, ceramic heaters, and thermocouple pass through the cement 65 without disrupting the gas-tight seal. A hollow cylindrical housing member 70 has an outwardly flared portion or flange 71 at one end. A standard electrical connector 72 with seven contact members 73 extending therethrough is mounted at the other end of the housing member 70. The lead wires from the assembled elements pass through the hollow cylindrical member and are connected to the contacts 73 of the connector 72 to enable electrical connections to be made thereto. The flange 71 at the end of the housing member 70 abuts the chamfered surface 64 of the mounting collar 61 and is held in close physical contact therewith as will be explained hereinbelow. The active portions of the assembled elements containing the gas pump and resistance heaters which extend from the forward side of the mounting collar 61 are encircled by a shield member 80. The shield member which preferably may be of stainless steel is of cylindrical shape and is closed at one end. The other end has an outwardly flared portion or flange 81 for mating with the chamfered surface 63 of the mounting collar 61. The shield member 80 has one or more apertures 82 through its wall in order to enable the gas to be analyzed to enter the enclosed test chamber formed by the shield member 80 and mounting collar 61. The test chamber is filled with porous thermal insulation 85 which encircles the portions of the assembled elements protruding beyond the forward surface of the mounting collar. The insulation 85 is preformed by wrapping fiberglass material around a dummy sensor assembly and then wrapping the fiberglass with fiberglass electrical tape. The fiberglass wrapped dummy sensor assembly is inserted into the shield member. This assemblage is fired at 650°C for one-half hour to burn away the binders within the fiberglass insulation and tape. The dummy sensor assembly is then removed and the shield member 80 with the insulation 85 in place is assembled over the gas sensor assembly with the flange portion 81 abutting the chamfered edge 63 of the mounting collar 61. The housing member 70 and the shield member 80 are both clamped in position against the mounting collar 61 by a clamping arrangement of a gland nut 90 and a housing nut 91. The gland nut 90 (which is placed over the housing member 70 prior to attachment of the electrical connector 72) has a chamfered or tapered surface 92 for abutting the flange 71 of the housing member 70. The gland nut has external threads 93 in the forward region adjacent to the tapered surface 92. The housing nut 91 has internal threads 95 at its rearward end for mating with the external threads 93 of the gland nut, and in its middle region has a tapered surface 96 for abutting the flange 81 of the shield member 80. The gland nut 90 and the housing nut 91 are threaded together to urge the housing member 70 and the shield member 80 against the opposite sides of the mounting collar 61. The tapered surface 92 of the gland nut 90 clamps the flange 71 of the housing member 70 against the chamfered surface 64 of the mounting collar 61, and the tapered surface 96 of the housing nut 91 clamps the flange 81 of the shield member 80 against the chamfered surface 63 of the mounting collar 61. The physical connections between the housing nut 91, the shield member 80, and the mounting collar 61 are gas-tight seals. The housing nut 91 has a threaded external surface 97 at the forward end for mounting the apparatus with the shield member 80 protruding into a gaseous atmosphere to be analyzed. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical connections to the apparatus for measuring the concentration of oxygen in a gas mixture. The leads 56 and 57 from the two ceramic heaters 50 and the leads 66 and 67 from the thermocouple 60 are connected to a heater control 100. (Leads 56 are shown connected in common.) The heater control provides electrical power to the ceramic heaters 50 at from 24 to 30 volts AC. Their temperature is monitored by the thermocouple 60, and the heater control 100 operates to maintain the gas sensor assembly at the desired temperature level for operation of the apparatus. One of the leads 38 of the gas sensor element 10 is connected to a positive source of voltage (about 3 volts DC) and the other lead 37 is connected through a series resistor 101 to ground. The potential across the resistor 101 is measured by a suitable instrument 102 to determine the current flow through the gas sensor element 10. Fig. 7 is a plot of the measured output of a gas sensor element as described in detail hereinabove at different operating temperatures. The applied voltage is such as to produce 500 millivolts of applied polarization across the two sets of electrodes and a series resistor 101 of 100 ohms. The apparatus as described can measure oxygen concentration between 0.1% and air at temperatures from 450°C to 800°C. The apparatus is relatively simple and uncomplicated and may be approximately of standard automobile spark plug size and configuration. As can be seen the measured output current is linear with respect to the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas being analyzed. With the device as described the limiting current density is kept low, specifically at 450°C with air as the reference gas the current density range is between 0.8 mA/cm² and 3mA/cm². Since the apparatus requires only 500 millivolts of applied polarization, no reduction of the solid electrolyte material will occur. The use of the double electrode design with a set of two electrodes at each chamber provides high pumping efficiency. The electrodes are completely enclosed except at the chambers with only tiny orifices providing access of the gases to the exposed electrode surface. Thus the electrodes are well protected from gas erosion and contamination. The silicon nitride heaters provide temperature stability during operation of the gas pump. The performance and service life of the silicon nitride heaters is superior by virtue of the thermal shock resistance of the silicon nitride material. The gas sensor assembly may include a thermocouple which is located in good position for monitoring the heat produced by the ceramic heaters and transmitted to the gas sensor element. Different modifications of the shield member may be employed. For pressure dependent measurements and rapid response to changes in oxygen concentration in the gas several apertures are provided in the portion of the shield member exposed to the exhaust gas. For pressure independent measurements and slower response to changes in oxygen concentration, a single aperture is provided in the shield member rearwardly of the forward end of the housing nut with passage provided between the housing nut and the shield member for the exhaust gas being tested. While there has been shown and described what is considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: A gas sensor element comprising a body (10) of solid electrolyte material exhibiting ion conduction in the presence of a gas to be detected; a first chamber (21) within said body; a passage (31) between said first chamber and the exterior of the body; and first and second electrode means (25-28) having tab portions characterized by a second chamber (22) within said body spaced from said first chamber; a passage (32) between said second chamber and the exterior of the body; said first electrode means (25,26) having a tab portion facing said first chamber (21); said second electrode means (27,28) having a tab portion facing said second chamber, whereby said first electrode means includes a first set of two electrodes (25,26), a tab portion of each facing each other across said first chamber; said second electrode means includes a second set of two electrodes (27,28), a tab portion of each facing each other across said second chamber; and said gas being pumped from one chamber (21) to the other (22) through the intervening solid electrolyte material upon application of a voltage between said first set of electrodes and said second set of electrodes. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body (10) is of generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration having a major upper surface (11) and a major lower surface (17); said first chamber (21) is located below said upper surface (11), and said second chamber is located above said lower surface (17) and directly below said first chamber with material of said body intervening between said first and second chambers; said first passage is formed as a first orifice (31) which extends from said first chamber parallel to said major surfaces and terminates at an edge surface normal to said major surfaces; said second passage is formed as a second orifice (32) which extends from said second chamber parallel to said major surfaces and terminates at an edge surface normal to said major surfaces; said two electrodes (25,26) of said first set and said two electrodes (27,28) of said second set are flat and planar and lie parallel to said major surfaces; one of the electrodes (25) of said first set has said tab portion disposed across the upper wall surface of said first chamber, and the other of the electrodes (26) of said first set has said tab portion disposed across the lower wall surface of said first chamber; and one of the electrodes (27) of said second set has said tab portion disposed across the upper wall surface of said second chamber, and the other of the electrodes (28) of said second set has said tab portion disposed across the lower wall surface of said second chamber. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said chambers (21,22) is located adjacent to one of the narrower of the edge surfaces of said body; each of said electrodes (25,26,27,28) extends from said tab portion and terminates adjacent to the other of the narrower of the edge surfaces of said body; the two electrodes of the first set terminate closely adjacent to each other for permitting a common electrical connection (29) to be made thereto; and the two electrodes of the second set terminate closely adjacent to each other for permitting a common electrical connection (30) to be made thereto. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 3, wherein said solid electrolyte material is yttria-stabilized zirconia. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 3, wherein said electrodes are a porous film of a conductive material which catalyzes the ionization of the gas to be detected. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 5, wherein said conductive material of said electrodes is platinum. A gas sensor element in accordance with claims 1 or 3, wherein said body is a unitary body (10) of laminations of a solid electrolyte material which ionically conducts oxygen; each of said laminations being of generally rectangular parallelepiped configuration with a major upper surface and a major lower surface; the next-to-the-uppermost lamination (12) having an opening therethrough from its major upper surface to its major lower surface defining said first chamber (21); the uppermost lamination (11) having an electrode (25) of said first set of electrodes (25,26) of a layer of conductive material adherent to the major lower surface thereof, said electrode (25) having said tab portion disposed across said opening (21) in the next-to-the-uppermost lamination; the lamination next-below (13) the next-to-the-uppermost lamination having an electrode (26) of said first set of electrodes (25,26) of a layer of conductive material adherent to the upper major surface thereof, said electrode (26) having a tab portion disposed across said opening in the next-to-the-uppermost lamination; the next-to-lowermost lamination (16) having an opening (22) therethrough from its major upper surface to its major lower surface located directly below said opening (22) in the next-to-the-uppermost lamination, defining said second chamber (22); the lowermost lamination having an electrode (28) of said second set of electrodes (27,28) of an adherent layer of conductive material adherent to the major upper surface thereof, said electrode (28) having a tab portion disposed across said opening in the next-to-the-lowermost lamination; the lamination next-above (15) the next-to-the-lowermost lamination having an electrode (27) of a layer of said second set of electrodes (27,28) of conductive material adherent to the lower major surface thereof, said electrode (27) having a tab portion disposed across said opening (22) in the next-to-the lowermost lamination; said first orifice (31) extending from said first chamber next-to-the-uppermost (12) lamination to an edge surface of the lamination; and said second orifice (32) extending from said second chamber in the next-to-the lowermost (16) lamination to an edge surface of the lamination. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 7, wherein said chambers (21,22) are generally cylindrical of about 0.44mm (0.0175 inch) in diameter and 0.06mm (0.0025 inch) in heighth; and said orifices (31,32) are about 0.04mm (0.0015 inch) in diameter and about 1.27 (0.05 inch) in length from the opening to the exterior edge surface. A gas sensor element of one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising two ceramic heaters (50) each comprising a substrate (50) of silicon nitride material of generally elongated rectangular configuration having parallel first and second flat planar major surfaces, and a thin layer of conductive material (51) adherent to said first major surface of the substrate (50) in a pattern to form a resistance heating element and conductive leads thereto; one of said ceramic heaters being assembled in heat transmitting relationship with said gas sensor element (10) with the second major surface of the substrate of the ceramic heater facing the major upper surface of the body of the gas sensor element; and the other of said ceramic heaters (50) being assembled in heat transmitting relationship with said gas sensor element with the second major surface of the substrate of the ceramic heater facing the major lower surface of the body of the gas sensor element. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 9 or 3, wherein said thin layer of conductive material (51) is adjacent to one end of the ceramic heaters thereof and said conductive leads (56,57) extending from the resistance heating element to the other end of the substrate; and said ceramic heaters (50) being assembled with said gas sensor element (10) with said one end of the substrates of the ceramic heaters being positioned adjacent to said one of the narrower of the edge surfaces of the body of the gas sensor element. A gas sensor element of one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a ceramic heater having a substrate (50) of silicon nitride material having a flat, planar major surface; and a thin layer (51) of conductive material adherent to said major surface of the substrate in a pattern to form a resistance heating element and conductive leads thereto. A gas sensor element of claim 11, whereby said substrate is of a generally elongated rectangular configuration and the conductive leads extend from the resistance heating element adjacent to the other end of the substrate. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 12, wherein said substrate of said ceramic heater is of densified silicon nitride. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 13, wherein said conductive material is platinum screened and fired on said major surface of the substrate. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a mounting collar (61) supporting said gas sensor element and said ceramic heater (50) with said ceramic heater in a heat transmitting relationship with said gas sensor element (10), said one end of said body of the gas sensor element and said one end of the ceramic heater being positioned on one side of the mounting collar (61) and said electrical leads lying on the opposite side thereof; and external connector means connected to the electrical leads from the gas sensor element and the ceramic heater for permitting electrical connections to be made thereto. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 15, including porous heat insulating material (85) filling said test chamber within said shield member (80) and encircling the portion of the gas sensor element and ceramic heaters positioned therein. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 16, wherein said ceramic heater (50) has an opening (58) therethrough adjacent to the resistance heating element; and including a thermocouple (60) mounted within said opening in the ceramic heater and in physical contact with the underlying gas sensor element and having electrical leads (66,67) extending therefrom, and wherein said external connector means is connected to the electrical leads (66,67) from the thermocouple for permitting an electrical connection to be made thereto. A gas sensor element in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a mounting collar (61) of insulating material having a central opening therethrough from one side to the opposite side thereof; said gas sensor element (10) and said two ceramic heaters (50) being mounted in the opening of said mounting collar with a major surface of one of the ceramic heaters (50) in close physical contact with said first major surface of said gas sensor element and with a major surface of the other of the ceramic heaters in close physical contact with said second major surface of the gas sensor element; the one end of the gas sensor element having the gas pump and the one end of each of the ceramic heaters having the resistance heating element being positioned on said one side of the mounting collar and said electrical leads from the gas sensor element and the ceramic heaters lying on said opposite side of the mounting collar; sealing means sealing the gas sensor element (10) and ceramic heaters (50) in the opening of the mounting collar to provide a gas-tight seal of the opening; a housing member (70) having one end in contact with said mounting collar (61) at said opposite side thereof and having another end spaced therefrom; an electrical connector mounted at said other end of said housing member and having contacts connected to the electrical leads from the gas sensor element and the ceramic heaters and extending externally of the housing member; and clamping means (90,91) holding said shield member (80) and said housing member (70) in physical contact with said mounting collar at said one side and at said opposite side thereof, respectively, with said shield member forming a gas-tight seal with said mounting collar. A gas sensor element according to claims 15 or 18, further comprising a shield member (80) enclosing the portions of the gas sensor element and ceramic heater positioned on said one side of the mounting collar (61), said shield member (80) being in contact with said mounting collar (61) and forming a gas-tight seal therewith; said shield member (80) having at least one aperture therein to permit gas to be analyzed to enter the test chamber formed by the shield member and mounting collar.

Inventors: KENNEDY DANIEL T, MAC ALLISTER BURTON W JR, WANG DA YU, KENNEDY, DANIEL T., MAC ALLISTER, BURTON W.,JR., WANG, DA YU
Applicants: GTE LABORATORIES INC, GTE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G01N27
IPC codes: G01N27