Abstract: A rodlike ceramic member of a heater projects towards and into the active tip of the solid electrolyte tube of an oxygen sensor, extending out from the bottom end of the principal insulating member of the sensor which is made of the same ceramic material. Conducting paths of the heater are brought up to a shoulder where the wider insulating part joins with the carrier of the heater, for connection with conductors leading to the end of the main insulator which is remote from the measuring gas and, furthermore, on this shoulder, connections are also made between conducting paths of the solid electrolyte sensor probe and conductors leading to the end of the main insulator remote from the measuring gas. At that end of the main insulator, sleeve connections are made to connection wires for external connections.

Abstract: To measure partial oxygen pressure in gases, particularly exhaust gases of automotive-type combustion engines, a solid electrolyte plate of elongated rectangular configuration has at least one electrode pair applied to a single surface thereof, which is exposed to the measuring gas. Preferably, the gap between electrodes is elongated, by forming the electrodes in comb-interdigited form. A thermocouple - temperature sensor can be applied between connecting tracks for the electrodes which extend longitudinally of the electrolyte plate towards the other end thereof, through a sealing mass holding the plate within a housing, the other end forming, simultaneously, a connection terminal for connection to an electric connector or plug. A heating element can be placed on the obverse side of the plate, preferably in the position in the gap between the electrodes.

Abstract: To improve the response speed of an electrochemical oxygen sensor, particularly for automotive use, to sense the oxygen content in exhaust gases, and which can be operative either as a polarographic sensor (requiring application of a voltage thereto), or as a potentiometric sensor (having one catalytically active electrode and another which is less catalytically active), an elongated insulating carrier plate (29), for example of a ceramic, has layer electrodes (30, 31) applied to one major surface thereof and a layer of solid electrolyte material (32) over the electrodes, so that the electrodes will be embedded in the solid electrolyte material. The carrier plate (29) is of a material pervious to oxygen molecules. A gas-impervious insulating cover (33), for example of a ceramic glass, covers the layer of solid electrolyte material (32). A heating element (34) protected by a protective cover (35), for example of aluminum oxide, can be applied against the gas-impervious cover layer (33).

Abstract: To simplify the circuitry and improve reliability of pre-heat, glow-plug or the like operation while using a conventional automotive OFF-ON-START switch, a momentary-operation pre-heat switch is included in the circuit, as well as a heat-sensitive relay and a timing circuit, the heat-sensitive relay determining if pre-heating has been sufficient, and the timing relay then providing a limited time period to permit starting of the engine while still maintaining pre-heat conditions but discontinuing pre-heat conditions if starting is not commanded.

Abstract: To provide for mechanical isolation between the connection to the interior of a solid electrolyte material, such as zirconium dioxide, used in an oxygen ion concentration cell, for example to sense the composition of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engines, an electrical connection element which may be a metal cap, a cup-shaped element, or a resilient electrically conductive mass such as granular material, graphite, copper powder, or the like, is conductively arranged with respect to at least one of the conductor strips or paths connected to the solid electrolyte body, and an axially extending spiral compression spring is interposed between an electrical contact terminal and the connection element to provide for resilient, yielding connection between the terminal and the conductive paths, and avoid placing of stresses on the solid electrolyte body during manufacture thereof.