Patents by Inventor Sandra B. Corcoran

Sandra B. Corcoran has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 3940327
    Abstract: Measuring cell for determining oxygen concentration in a combustion engine exhaust stream utilizes a wafer or disc of stabilized ZrO.sub.2 as a solid electrolyte. A pair of concentric metal tubes having oppositely directed flanges contact electrode surfaces on the wafer and provide rugged electrical connections thereto. A pair of tubular ceramic sleeves positioned between the metal tubes electrically insulate the metal tubes from each other, seal (with the help of high temperature ceramic fiber gaskets) the wafer from leakage of exhaust gases to the reference side of the cell and space the wafer from the outer metal housing. The ceramic sleeves also maintain high temperature sealing and contact pressure between the tube flanges and the electrodes by virtue of the fact that they have a greater longitudinal length subject to temperature expansion than does the metal housing, thus making up for the fact that their temperature expansion coefficient per unit of length is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Universal Oil Products Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Wagner, Sandra B. Corcoran, Carl F. Bauer