Abstract: A method is proposed for regulating the combustion of operating mixtures in the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines. The course of the light intensity of the light resulting from combustion in the combustion chamber is detected and evaluated over the course of combustion; reference control variables derived therefrom are formed for use by subsequently disposed closed-loop control devices of the engine.

Abstract: For detecting oscillations occurring during knocking detonations in an internal combustion engine, optical detectors are located in the combustion chamber. In order to minimize the contamination of the window of the sensor system on the side of the combustion chamber, the surface of the window is provided with contours defining points and/or edges. In order to receive the largest amount of light, the window is so formed as to bulge into the combustion chamber and may be coated with a contamination-resistant layer.

Abstract: A sensor (10) optically coupled to the combustion chamber (10') of an internal combustion (IC) engine is kept free from contaminating or dirt deposits, or the like, by subjecting the sensor to mechanical shocks or vibration. The mechanical shocks or vibration are obtained by the engine itself by controlling the engine to operate for a predetermined time period as set by a monostable flip-flop (FF) (18) under controlled knocking conditions, the shock waves within the combustion chamber causing flaking off or dropping off of contaminating deposits. Controlled knocking can be obtained by advancing ignition timing by additional control of an ignition system (19) in a direction of excessive spark advance, or overriding a knocking inhibiting system already present on the engine.

Abstract: To detect detonations in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the sensor system is constructed as a unit that may be threadedly engaged with the combustion chamber wall, the unit including an antechamber in the region near the combustion chamber and a detector being disposed at the base of the antechamber. The sensor system further may be equipped with a heater for burning off contaminations. In a further embodiment, at least one filter disc is disposed in front of the detector, so that a selective processing of the received optical signals is possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is proposed for obtaining a control variable for the closed-loop control of the fuel-air ratio of the operating mixture of internal combustion engines, in which a threshold-current sensor of known structure is used. By means of varying the measurement voltage present at the threshold-current sensor by voltage amounts which correspond to a change in oxygen concentration to be expected in association with a change in operational state, the time behavior of the threshold-current sensor, which is essentially sluggish, is compensated for and it becomes possible to use it for rapidly-functioning closed-loop control systems in internal combustion engines.

Abstract: To improve operation and output voltage, particularly at 400.degree. C. and less, an oxygen sensor, especially adapted to determine oxygen content of automotive exhaust gases, is constructed by utilizing two electrodes applied on a body of stabilized zirconium dioxide, for example a closed tube, by making an electrode exposed to the exhaust gases in form of a mixture of finely dispersed ceramic material and a platinum-rhodium alloy, the ceramic material being present at about 40% (by volume) and 60% (by volume) platinum-rhodium alloy of 50-94% platinum and 50-6% rhodium (by weight). The second electrode, exposed to a reference gas comprises an alloy of palladium and another noble metal in a ratio of about 19-90% (by weight) Pd and 81-10% (by weight) noble metal. This electrode may also contain up to 40% (by volume) finely dispersed ceramic material. The electrode exposed to the exhaust gases is covered with a porous coating.

Abstract: To permit a layer construction, which is inexpensive and lends itself to mass production manufacture, a solid electrolyte body, in plate-like construction, with electrodes at either thereof is positioned in a housing with a portion thereof extending in the region where it is exposed to gases to be sensed; a porous cover is applied on one of the electrodes, the porous cover having a predetermined diffusion resistance to oxygen molecules. A flat insulating plate of approximately the same dimension as the solid electrolyte plate is positioned flat thereagainst, and a flat layer-like electrical heating element is secured on the flat insulating plate or, in other embodiments, against another insulating covering on the other side of the heating element as well, close to the electrodes and adjacent the plane surfaces of the body.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for controlling the exhaust recirculation rate in an internal combustion engine, in particular an engine with auto-ignition, which includes preferably one mixture valve in the area of the discharge opening of the exhaust recirculation line and which is characterized in that the control is accomplished via the mixture valve position ahead of the inlet valves in accordance with the concentration of at least one component of the air-exhaust gas mixture and/or at least one component of the exhaust gas. Thus it is possible to operate the engine with a relatively emission-free exhaust. An exhaust gas reservoir is further provided, with which peaks in the exhaust gas concentration due to a dynamic driving mode can be intercepted. Finally, it is also proposed that the exhaust recirculation be realized solely via a pressure, which can be controlled in open-loop or closed-loop fashion, in the exhaust line by means of a valve.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a fuel supply system for mixture-compressing, externally ignited internal combustion engines is proposed, which serves to interrupt the fuel supply to the engine during overrunning. The control apparatus comprises sensors which furnish signals according to the attitude of the throttle valve, as well as the rpm of the internal combustion engine and the temperature of a catalytic converter situated in the exhaust pipe, and further comprises means for the evaluation of these signals as well as for the interruption of the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine and the introduction of supplementary air during overrunning at catalytic converter temperatures above the proper operating temperature for that device.

Abstract: To improve uniformity of heating of a sensor element carried on a plate-like carrier, in which electrodes are applied to one or both of the major surfaces of a carrier plate to form the sensor element, the heater element is constructed in form of a zig-zag or meander track surrounding the flat electrodes and positioned adjacent the edge portion of the carrier plate, so that, in a direction transverse to the major plane of the carrier plate, the heater element will be positioned closely adjacent the electrode, and prevent the formation of temperature gradients which might lead to fissures or breaks in the elements of the sensor construction.

Abstract: To apply a measured quantity of air to the electrodes applied to a plate-like solid electrolyte body, which may be a chip on a carrier or may, itself, form the carrier, grooves, flutes, ducts, or depressions are formed in the carrier and/or a cover plate, the grooves terminating at an edge portion with access to the gas to be supplied, and having a size such that their clear height is preferably in the lower micron region, and a width, preferably under 1 mm, and particularly between 0.2 and 0.4 mm. The higher limits are applicable to apply, for example, air to a reference electrode, to apply ambient oxygen thereto; the lower limits are appropriate when operating the sensor as a polarographic sensor, in which the diffusion limited current, upon application of a bias voltage, is an analog measure of the oxygen concentration in the gas, and the gas supply to the electrode must be suitably controlled to prevent saturation conditions.

Abstract: To simplify manufacture and provide a polarographic sensor of high response speed, operating according to the current limiting principle, an oxygen molecule migration barrier is provided leading to the cathode by separating the cathode from the space where the gas to be tested exists by a wall through which a hole is provided which extends therethrough to a small space immediately above the cathode defined by support elements placed immediately on the cathode. The hole, or a plurality of holes, is so dimensioned that the diameter thereof, with respect to its length, is small, with diameters of between 0.01 to 0.06 mm and a length of at least about 1 mm being suitable.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the temperature of a heat measuring sensor such as an oxygen sensor located in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine so that the oxygen sensor will operate within optimal operating temperature. To accomplish this, a heating system including a control mechanism is provided for the oxygen sensor which adjusts the temperature of the oxygen sensor by controlling the output of a heater during the operation of the internal combustion engine according to characteristic engine operating conditions which have an effect on the temperature of the oxygen sensor, the most significant of which is engine load status. These conditions are sensed as a quantity by probes located so as to measure such operating conditions and send a signal to the control mechanism and its sensor heater.

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: An electrical heating element 35, 35' is located in a thin walled, closed metal tube or sleeve 37, 37' which is packed with a packing material 38, 38' of good heat conductive, insulating properties; the electrical heating element is a spirally wound resistance heater embedded in the insulating packing. A solid electrolyte body 11, 68 surrounds at least a portion of the thin walled metal sleeve and is positioned in heat exchange relation therewith. The solid electrolyte body may be a closed tube 11 or may be applied as a ring element 68 over the thin walled metal tube with an insulating material layer 66 interposed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is equipped with an air line for admitting supplementary air to the induction manifold or the exhaust manifold in order to compensate for an intentional air deficiency, so as to make the mixture stoichiometric. The air line is throttled by a pneumatically activated throttle valve which is subject to at least two control pressures, one of these being the atmosphere or a constant pressure and the other being, for example, the induction tube vacuum. The termini of the two lines which admit these control pressures are so disposed in the valve as to be jointly openable and closable, in opposite phase, by an electromagnetically controlled valve-closing leaf-spring. The electromagnet is energized by a current of variable frequency, the frequency being dependent on the exhaust gas composition as monitored by an oxygen sensor.

Abstract: A fuel metering system of an internal combustion engine is regulated by a data processor which has stored data prescribing the proper amount of fuel to be metered out for particular positions of the throttle valve and for particular values of the engine rpm. This preliminary adjustment is further refined by providing the data processor with feedback data concerning actual engine operating parameters, e.g. the exhaust gas composition, engine speed fluctuation and temperature. The feedback data is used by the data processor to override and further adjust the fuel quantity metered out to the engine.

Abstract: To provide rapid, external heating of a solid electrolyte body exposed to gases, the solid electrolyte is applied, for example by plasma spraying, to a disk-like metallic carrier plate which has an insulated coating thereover, in which the carrier plate is formed with openings throughout its circumference leaving connecting strips between the openings. Heating current conductors are connected at locations opposite the openings so that the connecting strips will form resistance paths heating the electrolyte body on the plate. A catalytically inactive electrode is applied to the electrolyte at one side of the plate, and a catalytically active coating is applied to the electrolyte at the other side of the plate.

Abstract: An electro-chemical sensor to determine the oxygen content of exhaust gases, particularly from internal combustion engines. The sensor contains a tubular solid electrolyte closed at one end having a catalytically active layer on the outside to be exposed to the exhaust gas. The inside of said solid electrolyte tube is exposed to the ambient air and is provided with a contact portion arranged at the bottom of said solid electrolyte tube. The sensor contains an elongated axial center electrode which is pressured against the bottom (closed end) of the inside of the tubular solid electrolyte, preferably by means of a compression spring which may be mounted internal of said center electrode or external thereof. The central electrode comprises an insulating body having a heating element in the area which will be adjacent the portion of the solid electrolyte in contact with the exhaust gases. Additionally the central electrode also carries an electric lead to said contact portion.