Researchers Submit Patent Application, “Intake Gas Sensor with Vortex for Internal Combustion Engine”, for Approval

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Life Science Weekly — From Washington, D.C., NewsRx journalists report that a patent application by the inventors Boyd, David (Greenville, SC); Magera, Craig (Simpsonville, SC), filed on March 11, 2013, was made available online on July 3, 2014 (see also Robert Bosch Gmbh).
The patent’s assignee is Robert Bosch Gmbh.
News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The present invention relates to a gas (e.g., oxygen) sensor, and more particularly to a gas sensor with a sensor protection element for use in low temperature environments.
“The use of gas sensors to monitor oxygen levels in an internal combustion engine is known. Current gas sensors are designed for high temperature areas in the engine, such as an exhaust manifold, where the exhaust gas can reach temperatures as high as 1030 degrees Celsius. The gas sensors include sensing elements extending from sensor housings for detecting the oxygen levels of the exhaust gas.
“Significant amounts of water, particles, and/or other contaminates that may damage a sensing element are not typically present in the exhaust manifolds during operation of the engine, due at least in part to the high temperatures already present in these areas. However, other areas of the engine, including the intake manifold, have significantly lower temperatures than the exhaust manifold. For example, in the intake manifold, temperatures may only reach 130 degrees Celsius. In these lower temperature areas, higher amounts of water, particles, and other contaminates are typically present, as compared with the exhaust manifold. Such water, particles, and/or other contaminants can damage and/or disrupt the sensing element. It would be advantageous therefore to have a gas sensor for use in these low temperature environments that eliminates or removes water, particles, and/or other contaminates from the gas sensor, so that the sensing element remains protected.”
As a supplement to the background information on this patent application, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “In accordance with one construction, the invention provides a gas sensor including a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element defines an axis. The sensing element has a distal end extending from the sensor housing. The gas sensor further includes a sensor protection element coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection element includes a tube having a conical portion, and a gas inlet located on the tube, the gas inlet spaced from the axis. The gas inlet is shaped to direct gas into the tube to induce a vortex gas flow within the conical portion of the tube.
“In accordance with another construction, the invention provides a gas sensor including a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element defines an axis. The sensing element has a distal end extending from the sensor housing. The gas sensor further includes a sensor protection element coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection element includes an outer tube having a conical portion. A first gas inlet is located on the outer tube. The first gas inlet is spaced from the axis. The sensor protection element further includes a waste outlet located on the conical portion. The axis extends through the waste outlet. The sensor protection element further includes an inner tube disposed within the outer tube. The sensing element is located within the inner tube. The sensor protection element further includes a second gas inlet located on the inner tube. The axis extends through the second gas inlet. The sensor protection element further includes a first gas outlet located on the inner tube. The first gas outlet is spaced from the axis. The sensor protection element further includes a second gas outlet located on the outer tube. The second gas outlet is spaced from the axis.
“Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
“FIG. 1 is a front, cross-sectional view of a gas sensor according to one construction of the invention, the gas sensor including a sensor protection element.
“FIG. 2 is a front view of the sensor protection element of FIG. 1.
“FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sensor protection element of FIG. 1.
“FIG. 4 is a front, cross-sectional view of the gas sensor of FIG. 1, illustrating a gas flow within the gas sensor protection element.
“FIG. 5 is a broken-away, perspective view of a gas sensor according to another construction of the invention.
“FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the gas sensor of FIG. 5, including an inner tube.
“FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner tube of FIG. 6.”
For additional information on this patent application, see: Boyd, David; Magera, Craig. Intake Gas Sensor with Vortex for Internal Combustion Engine. Filed March 11, 2013 and posted July 3, 2014. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=\%2Fnetahtml\%2FPTO\%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=7861&p=158&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20140626.PD.&OS=PD/20140626&RS=PD/20140626
Keywords for this news article include: Robert Bosch Gmbh.
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