Patent ID: 8047051

Claim:
A high temperature gas sensor ( 10 ), comprising: a sensor shell ( 30 ) having an attachment portion ( 35 ), a sealing portion ( 36 ) and a central bore ( 34 ); a packing disposed in sealing and compressed engagement within the central bore ( 34 ); a flat-plate ceramic sensor ( 40 ) having a reference end and a sensing end ( 12 ), which is sealingly disposed within the packing in the central bore ( 34 ), the reference end extends from the sealing portion ( 36 ) and the sensing end extends from the attachment portion ( 35 ), the reference end having a plurality of electrical contacts; an electrical connector assembly ( 100 ) comprising a ceramic connector body ( 110 ) having a pair of ceramic body portions ( 111 ), each having a pivot portion ( 120 ) and a plurality of conductive terminals disposed in a sensor pocket portion ( 122 ), the pivot portions ( 120 ) and sensor pocket portions ( 122 ) disposed in opposing relation to form a sensor pocket ( 123 ), and a retainer having a pair of retainer bands ( 312 , 313 ), each having a generally U-shaped or C-shaped profile comprising a base portion and a pair of opposed extending legs ( 316 , 317 ), the legs of each band extending toward the other in opposing arrangement to provide the retainer ( 114 ), the legs of the respective bands which are in opposing arrangement are joined together by a respective pair of outwardly arched hinges ( 326 , 327 ) opposite the sensor pocket ( 122 ), the conductive terminals, in signal or power communication with the electrical contacts of the sensor and the ceramic connector body ( 102 ) disposed in the retainer ( 114 ); wherein the ceramic body portions ( 110 , 111 ) are operative to pivot about the pivot portions ( 120 ) in a hinged clamshell configuration and provide a contact force between the conductive terminal and the respective electrical contact; a sealing member ( 58 ) proximate the electrical connector assembly ( 100 ) disposed opposite the flat-plate sensor ( 40 ); an upper shield ( 60 ) having an upper shield bore ( 60 ), a shell end and a seal end, the shell end sealingly engaged with the sealing portion ( 36 ) of the sensor shell ( 30 ), the seal end sealingly engaged with the sealing member ( 58 ) and the electrical connector assembly ( 100 ) disposed within the upper shield bore ( 60 ); and a spring member disposed within the upper shield bore ( 60 ) and biased between the upper shield member and the retainer ( 114 ).