Gas Of Combustion Patents (Class 73/23.31)
  • Patent number: 9797288
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining if a diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, and determining if the vehicle is currently operating in a low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol. If the vehicle is not currently operating in the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol, and the diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, then a temporary minimum diesel emission fluid mass may be defined to prevent entry of the vehicle into the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca J Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Kyle E Crawford, Jason Daniel Mullins, Matthew King
  • Patent number: 9778160
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for sensing particulate matter in an exhaust system of a vehicle. An example system comprises a first outer tube with a plurality of intake apertures on an upstream surface, a second inner tube with a plurality of intake apertures on a downstream surface, and a particulate matter sensor placed within the second inner tube. The second inner tube may be positioned within the first outer tube such that a central axis of the second inner tube is parallel to a central axis of the first outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9759107
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device includes a diesel particulate filter (DPF) for capturing particulate matter (PM) in an exhaust gas, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device for reducing NOx in the exhaust gas, detecting units for detecting the DPF electrostatic capacity, an estimating unit for estimating the inside temperature of the DPF based on the electrostatic capacity, and a controlling unit for executing forced DPF regeneration. A lower limit temperature is defined as a temperature to trigger PM combustion, and an upper limit temperature is defined as a temperature to avoid filter erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadashi Uchiyama, Mitsuhiro Aso, Masafumi Noda
  • Patent number: 9759586
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a gas sensor element, a metallic shell, and a tubular protector fixed at a front side of the metallic shell. A front end of the gas sensor element faces an internal space formed between an inner surface of the protector and an inner surface of the metallic shell. The protector includes: a fixing portion surrounding the front side of the metallic shell and fixed to the metallic shell; a space partition portion extending radially and having inner gas introduction holes communicating with the internal space; a side wall connected to a radially inner side of the space partition portion; and a bottom wall formed on a front side of the side wall with an inner gas discharge hole. The gas sensor element is located rearward relative to an inner surface of an inner gas introduction hole located on the frontmost side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kentaro Mori
  • Patent number: 9655222
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiation source comprising: a reservoir configured to retain a volume of fuel; a nozzle, in fluid connection with the reservoir, and configured to direct a stream of fuel along a trajectory towards a plasma formation location; a laser configured to direct laser radiation at the stream at the plasma formation location to generate, in use, a radiation generating plasma; and a contamination filter assembly located in a fuel flow path of the radiation source, upstream of a nozzle outlet, a filter medium of that contamination filter assembly being held in place within the contamination filter assembly by a clamping force provided by one or more objects that at least partially surround the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Van Den Akker, Antonius Theodorus Wilhelmus Kempen, Adriaan Cornelis Kuijpers
  • Patent number: 9599598
    Abstract: An SOx gas sensor includes a first solid electrolyte member composing a part of a wall of a gas reduction chamber and provided with a first gas introducing hole for introducing sample gas into the gas reduction chamber, an oxidation part for oxidizing noise gas other than the SOx gas in the sample gas, and a reduction mechanism for reducing the SOx gas in the sample gas, in the gas reduction chamber; a communication unit provided with a second gas introducing hole for introducing the sample gas into a gas measurement chamber from the gas reduction chamber; and a second solid electrolyte member composing a part of a wall of the gas measurement chamber and provided with an oxidation mechanism for oxidizing the SOx gas, and a measurement mechanism for measuring the concentration of the SOx gas, in the gas measurement chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuhei Katayama, Shigeaki Suganuma
  • Patent number: 9581564
    Abstract: A device for signal processing. The device includes a signal generator, a signal detector, and a processor. The signal generator generates an original waveform. The signal detector detects an affected waveform. The processor is coupled to the signal detector. The processor receives the affected waveform from the signal detector. The processor also compares at least one portion of the affected waveform with the original waveform. The processor also determines a difference between the affected waveform and the original waveform. The processor also determines a value corresponding to a unique portion of the determined difference between the original and affected waveforms. The processor also outputs the determined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: EmiSense Technologies, LLC, Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Leta Yar-Li Woo, Robert Scott Glass, Joseph Jay Fitzpatrick, Gangqiang Wang, Brett Tamatea Henderson, Anthoniraj Lourdhusamy, James John Steppan, Klaus Karl Allmendinger
  • Patent number: 9568396
    Abstract: The present invention is one that is, in an exhaust gas analyzing apparatus used together with a CVS mechanism, adapted to be able to make an analysis with high accuracy, and an analyzing mechanism is provided with: a target component concentration meter that measures a moisture-influenced concentration related value that is a value related to concentration of a measuring target component in a state of being influenced by moisture; and a moisture concentration meter that measures a moisture concentration related value that is a value related to concentration of the moisture, and adapted to, on the basis of the moisture concentration related value, eliminate the influence of the moisture from the moisture-influenced concentration related value to calculate each of the first concentration related value and the second concentration related value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Miyai
  • Patent number: 9494096
    Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of an exhaust gas purification device of a diesel internal combustion engine for motor vehicles, having a first NOx sensor, arranged ahead of an oxidation catalyst and/or a particulate filter, and a second NOx sensor, arranged downstream of a reduction catalyst, and having a device for the metered supply of a reducing agent, wherein the method includes feeding the signals from the two NOx sensors are fed to a control unit, by means of which at least one feed quantity of the reducing agent is specified. To determine an efficiency of the oxidation catalyst and/or of the particulate filter, the NO and NO2 concentration and/or the NO2/NO ratio of the exhaust gas flow at the measurement position of the second NOx sensor and/or downstream of the reduction catalyst is determined by the control unit solely of the signal values acquired by the two NOx sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventor: Andreas Pfaffinger
  • Patent number: 9482125
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a first comparison module that at least one of (i) compares a first temperature of an adsorber to an adsorber release temperature and (ii) compares a second temperature of an engine to a predetermined temperature, and generates a first comparison signal. A second comparison module that compares a particulate matter output of the engine with a predetermined output and generates a second comparison signal. A mode selection module that selects a mode and generates a mode signal based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal. A bypass valve control module that adjusts position of a bypass valve to bypass at least one of a particulate matter (PM) filter and the adsorber based on the mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9476807
    Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 9470650
    Abstract: Sensors for sensing/measuring one or more analytes in a chemical environment. Each sensor is based on a semiconductor structure having an interfacial region containing a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). A catalyst reactive to the analyte(s) is in contact with the semiconductor structure. Particles stripped from the analyte(s) by the catalyst passivate the surface of the semiconductor structure at the interface between the catalyst and the structure, thereby causing the charge density in the 2DEG proximate the catalyst to change. When this basic structure is incorporated into an electronic device, such as a high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) or a Schottky diode, the change in charge density manifests into a change in an electrical response of the device. For example, in an HEMT, the change in charge density manifests as a change in current through the transistor, and, in a Schottky diode, the change in charge density manifests as a change in capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jason Gu, Jacob H. Melby, Robert F. Davis
  • Patent number: 9458784
    Abstract: A heater control apparatus (1) includes a heater driver (51) which is turned on and off in accordance with a pulse drive signal PS, heater energization control means S33, S39 for outputting the pulse drive signal PS to the heater driver 51 so as to control the supply of electric current to the heater section (4), power supply voltage detection means S30, S35 for detecting a power supply voltage VB of the power supply BT, ideal electric energy obtaining means S31, S37 for obtaining an unit ideal electric energy WAi, actual electric energy calculation means S36 for calculating an unit actual electric energy WA, and duty ratio determination means S38 for determining a duty ratio DT(n+1) of the pulse drive signal PS such that the unit actual electric energy WA(n+1) becomes equal to the unit ideal electric energy WAi(n+1) in the next period T(n+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonori Uemura
  • Patent number: 9387801
    Abstract: A vehicle driving mode display device judges whether or not a following first condition or a following second condition is satisfied in a case that a vehicle is driven within a tolerance range, and if satisfied, issues a warning. The first condition is a case in which a difference between a standard speed indicated by the running speed pattern and the vehicle speed is gradually widened as time elapses. The second condition is a case in which the vehicle speed exceeds the tolerance range within a predetermined allowable time period when an acceleration at the moment is presumed to be kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Horiba, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo Okada, Kenichi Goto, Hikaru Asada, Tetsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9371994
    Abstract: In a combustion system, a charge source is configured to cooperate with a collection plate and a director conduit to cause at least one particle charge-to-mass classification to be reintroduced to a flame for further reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: David B. Goodson, Tracy A. Prevo, Joseph Colannino, Robert E. Breidenthal, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 9354215
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensing element formed on a ceramic substrate, an insulator surrounding at least a portion of the sensing element, and a metal shell surrounding at least a portion of the sensing element. The gas sensor further includes a cured ceramic adhesive structure bonded to the insulator and the sensing element, to the insulator and the metal shell, or to the sensing element and the metal shell. The ceramic adhesive structure is disposed so as to mitigate gas leakage through the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan J D Schaefer, Kaius K. Polikarpus, Wayne M. Chadwick, Mark S. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9335311
    Abstract: A gas sensor (200) in which individual ones of connection terminals (30) have, at a rear end portion, a first connection portion (31) connected to a corresponding connector terminal (60). Individual ones of the connector terminals have, at an end portion on a side toward separator (40), a second connection portion (61) connected to the first connection portion. One of the first and second connection portions assumes the form of an insertion piece (61g), and the other assumes the form of a female portion (31g) into which the insertion piece is inserted. At least one of the insertion piece and the female portion has an elastic portion (31a). The insertion piece is fitted into the female portion, and the elastic portion thereby elastically bends, whereby the first and second connection portions are elastically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yonezu, Norimasa Osawa, Hisaharu Nishio
  • Patent number: 9322802
    Abstract: An olfactory system (300) capable of detecting a threat includes: a detection unit (100) including an IMS sensor (110) that outputs IMS data (115) relating to chemical substances included in fluid at a sampling point; a local memory (41) storing a library (49) including a specifying pattern (48) generated when a specified chemical substance was detected by the IMS sensor (110); and a matching unit (42) that routinely compares and matches the IMS data (115) and the specifying pattern (48) for monitoring purposes included in the library (49).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9261481
    Abstract: A system including a nitrogen oxide sensor and a controller is provided. The nitrogen oxide sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of nitrogen oxides content in an exhaust gas. The controller is communicably coupled to the nitrogen oxide sensor. The controller configured to receive the first signal indicative of nitrogen oxides content in the exhaust gas. The controller is also configured to receive a second signal corresponding to an operational parameter of a power source. Further, the controller is configured to compare a derivative of the first signal with a derivative of the second signal. The controller is configured to trigger an error counter when an absolute value of the compared derivative crosses a predetermined threshold. Thereafter, the controller is configured to determine a condition of the nitrogen oxide sensor based on a count of the error counter in a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Y. Mintah, Jason K. Bloms, Purvarag Shah, Drew D. Wackerlin
  • Patent number: 9235970
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of gases is described. The gas detection apparatus includes, a housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a duct of a particle detection system, and at least one gas detector sensitive to a target species arranged in fluid communication with the housing to detect the presence of the target species in at least part of the air sample flowing in a duct. In one form the gas detection apparatus forms part of a system for detecting a condition in an environment that includes, a particle detector; a duct system in fluid communication with the environment and the particle detector and an aspirator to draw an air sample flow from the environment to the particle detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Xtralis Technologies Ltd
    Inventor: Alasdair James Williamson
  • Patent number: 9213014
    Abstract: In a gas sensor, a ratio A2/A1 defined by a ratio of an opening area A1 per first inner gas hole and an opening area A2 per second inner gas hole is set to higher than or equal to 0.9 and lower than or equal to 3.8 and, more preferably, to higher than or equal to 1.5 and lower than or equal to 1.9. Accordingly, adhesion of water to a sensor element can be sufficiently prevented. In addition, a ratio B2/B1 defined by a ratio of a total opening area B1 of the first inner gas holes to a total opening area B2 of the second inner gas holes is set to higher than or equal to 0.85 and, more preferably, higher than or equal to 1.5. Accordingly, adhesion of water to the sensor element can be more reliably, effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Sekiya, Mika Murakami, Tomoya Seimori
  • Patent number: 9188073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for diagnosing deviations in a single cylinder lambda control in an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders and an exhaust gas sensor designed as a broadband lambda sensor, wherein a pump current is evaluated by means of a pump cell and the pump current is used at least temporarily for an individual cylinder lambda control. According to the invention, a pump voltage or a pump voltage change is determined via the pump cell in addition to the pump current and the value is transmitted to a diagnosis apparatus. Deviations in the single cylinder lambda control can thus be better diagnosed without additional material expense according to the invention, which provides advantages in particular in respect of tightened rulemaking in on-board diagnosis. A preferred application of the method is the use in internal combustion engines having multi-bank exhaust systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lu Chen, Eberhard Schnaibel, Andreas Koring, Richard Holberg, Michael Fey
  • Patent number: 9140631
    Abstract: A method of measuring characteristics of a critical orifice type constant flow rate instrument is applied to a dilution mechanism including dilution units in series. Diluent gas of one dilution unit and diluent gas of the other dilution unit are kept flowing in a derivation flow passage for deriving redundant gas of the corresponding one dilution unit in a manner that the total flow rate thereof is equal to a prescribed constant flow rate and that the flow rate of the diluent gas from the corresponding dilution unit is equal to the flow rate in use. The flow rate characteristics of the critical orifice type constant flow rate instrument are measured based on at least an upstream side pressure of the critical orifice type constant flow rate instrument provided in the derivation flow passage at this time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Otsuki, Masayoshi Shinohara, Kazuo Hanada
  • Patent number: 9086342
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for sensing exhaust emissions (15) comprising a passive induction sampler (50) configured to sample exhaust from a source (16), a processing unit (30) connected to the induction sampler and configured to be mounted in close proximity to exhaust from the source, the processing unit comprising an input port (31) adapted to receive flow from the passive induction sampler, an output port (32), a flow path (33) between the input port and the output port, a sensor (34) for sensing one or more pollutants in the flow path, a processor (37) configured to receive measurements from the sensor, a power source (39), and a wireless transmitter (36) connected to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Global MRV, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Miller, Brian J. Beckmann, Aaron G. Alexander, William Earl Leatherland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9073223
    Abstract: A movable olfactory robot dog (1) includes an IMS unit (100) acquiring chemical substance-related information relating to chemical substances included in external air (19) respectively obtained from left and right nostrils (12L) and (12R), and an event monitoring unit (30) that determines the occurrence of an event and occurrence direction of the event relative to the robot dog (1) based on a change in the chemical substance-related information respectively acquired at the left and right nostrils (12L) and (12R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 9032779
    Abstract: A gas sensor (1) has an inner protector (120) and an outer protector (110); the inner protector (120) has an inner wall portion (160) having an inner gas inlet (170) for introducing gas to be measured into the interior of the inner protector (120); the outer protector (110) has an outer wall portion (130) having an outer gas inlet (140) for introducing the gas to be measured into the interior of the outer protector (110); a clearance of 1.35 mm or less is provided between the detection portion (11) and at least a portion of the inner wall portion (160); and when the gas sensor (1) is in use, the inner protector (120) is higher in temperature than the outer protector (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Otsubo, Takaya Yoshikawa, Tomohiro Tajima, Masao Tsuzuki
  • Publication number: 20150128681
    Abstract: A cable passage for sealing and for electrically contacting an exhaust-gas sensor includes: a protective sleeve; and at least one connecting cable which is run out of the protective sleeve on at least one front side of the protective sleeve. At least one cross section of the space existing between the protective sleeve and the at least one connecting cable is filled with a thermoplastically workable fluoropolymer-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Joachim Stier, Guido Soyez, Jens Schneider, Bernd Rattay, Andreas Opp, Axel Klenner, Rainer Maier, Peter Winkler
  • Patent number: 9027387
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a gas sensor and method for sensing one or more gases. An embodiment incorporates an array of sensing electrodes maintained at similar or different temperatures, such that the sensitivity and species selectivity of the device can be fine tuned between different pairs of sensing electrodes. A specific embodiment pertains to a gas sensor array for monitoring combustion exhausts and/or chemical reaction byproducts. An embodiment of the subject device related to this invention operates at high temperatures and can withstand harsh chemical environments. Embodiments of the device are made on a single substrate. The devices can also be made on individual substrates and monitored individually as if they were part of an array on a single substrate. The device can incorporate sensing electrodes in the same environment, which allows the electrodes to be coplanar and, thus, keep manufacturing costs low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Blackburn, Eric D. Wachsman
  • Publication number: 20150107330
    Abstract: This invention is an exhaust gas sampling device that samples an exhaust gas by the use of an open-type exhaust gas sampling part and that is for reducing leakage of the exhaust gas produced due to unevenness of flow velocity of a cooling wind around an exhaust gas pipe. The exhaust gas sampling device comprises the exhaust gas sampling part that has an exhaust gas sampling port arranged to face an exhaust gas discharging port of the exhaust gas pipe and that samples the exhaust gas emitted from the exhaust gas discharging port and an ambient gas surrounding the exhaust gas pipe, and the exhaust gas sampling part has an involvement decreasing structure that decreases the exhaust gas flowing out from the exhaust gas sampling port due to involvement of the exhaust gas by the ambient gas that flows in from the exhaust gas sampling port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Hideya YOKOYAMA, Ippei HARA, Akira NODA, Hitoshi KOIKE, Sayaka YOSHIMURA, Shintaro MASUDA, Tatsuki KUMAGAI, Yoshinori OTSUKI
  • Patent number: 9011659
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode at a predefined distance from one another. The sensor apparatus includes a substrate arranged in a predefined first region of the sensor carrier such that the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially electrically decoupled from one another if the outer side of the sensor carrier is substantially free of particles. A third electrode is coupled to a solid electrolyte that is additionally coupled to the second electrode. A diffusion barrier is coupled to the third electrode in a predefined third region and the exhaust gas is applied to the third electrode only in the third region via the diffusion barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Philippe Grass
  • Patent number: 9010171
    Abstract: An exhaust gas analyzing apparatus includes analyzer main bodies, exhaust gas introducing parts for guiding the exhaust gas from an exhaust pipe, through which the exhaust gas passes, to the analyzer main body, heaters for heating the analyzer main bodies and the exhaust gas introducing parts, respectively, and a temperature regulating mechanism for controlling the heaters to regulate temperatures of the analyzer main bodies and the exhaust gas introducing parts, and a first mode which has the temperature regulating mechanism regulate the temperatures of the analyzer main body and the exhaust gas introducing part to an analyzable temperature that is a predetermined temperature allowing a start of analysis of the exhaust gas, or a second mode which has the temperature regulating mechanism regulate the temperature of the analyzer main body to the analyzable temperature and turning off the heater for the exhaust gas introducing part can be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Nakagawa, Koji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150101393
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the modulation of flame gas stoichiometry to a flame-based detector for use in chromatographic separations are presented. As the total mass flow rate of mobile phase entering the flame-based detector changes (e.g., as a result of density programming in the separation), the mass flow rate of combustion gases to the detector are altered in proportion to the amount of mobile phase entering the detector. As a result, flame stability and sensitivity of the detector can be maintained by the methods and apparatus of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael O. Fogwill, Joseph D. Michienzi, James P. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20150101394
    Abstract: In a gas sensor (100), a base end portion (175b) of a second outer wall (175) of an outer protector (171) is connected airtightly to a forward end portion (164c) of a first inner wall (164) of an inner protector (161), and relations of A?B<C<D and (0.6×B)?A are satisfied, wherein A represents the total opening area of a second outer hole (176) of the outer protector (171), B represents the total opening area of a second inner hole (166) of the inner protector (161), C represents the total opening area of a first inner hole (167), and D represents the total opening area of a first outer hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa FUJITA, Nobuhiro INOUE, Makoto KUME
  • Patent number: 9004048
    Abstract: A gas sensor assembly for sensing a pressure of a gas including a housing, a carrier, an electronic chip, a cap and a biasing apparatus. The housing has a wall defining cavity with a port open to the gas. The carrier is mounted to the wall in the cavity. The electronic chip is secured to the carrier on an opposed side from the port and includes a diaphragm portion exposed to the port. The cap is mounted to the chip on an opposed side from the carrier. The biasing apparatus is located between the cap and the wall of the housing, with the biasing apparatus being configured to bias the cap toward the chip whereby gas pressure acting against the diaphragm is opposed by the biasing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman C. Gates, Fadi M. Naddaf, William R. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 9003866
    Abstract: A gas sensor including a detecting element; and a protector having a tube portion surrounding the detecting portion, and a bottom portion the protector having a first opening disposed at the tube portion and a second opening at the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes first and second bottom wall portions, the second bottom wall portion protrudes toward the leading end side, and at least a part of the inner face thereof is located at the leading end side with respect to the outer face of the first bottom wall portion. The second opening is provided on a side opposite the inner space of the tube portion in a communication passage formed by the inner face of the second bottom wall portion, and an opening area of the second opening is larger than an area of the largest imaginary circle that can be placed inside the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Tsuzuki, Takaya Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8997558
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a turbine combustor probe having a combustion dynamics monitoring probe configured to monitor combustion dynamics within a turbine combustor. The turbine combustor probe also has a gas sampling sleeve configured to collect a gas sample from an airflow path between a liner and a flow sleeve of the turbine combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Robert Wade Clifford, Derrick Walter Simons
  • Publication number: 20150075253
    Abstract: A gas sensor includes a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element has a distal end and defines an axis. The gas sensor also includes a sensor protection device coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection device includes a first member coupled to the housing, the first member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The first member includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The sensor protection device also includes a second member coupled to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: David Boyd, Craig Magera
  • Publication number: 20150075254
    Abstract: A gas sensor element comprises an elongated plate-like element including, at a forward end portion, a detecting section comprising a solid electrolyte body having an outer surface and a back surface, a detection electrode on the outer surface and a reference electrode on the back surface, and a porous layer covering the detection electrode. The coating layer includes a first protection layer entirely covering the detecting section, and a second protection layer circumferentially covering the first protection layer and extending at least from a forward end of the first protection layer to a position located rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the first protection layer on the porous layer is larger than that of the first protection layer rearward of the porous layer. The thickness of the second protection layer rearward of the porous layer is larger than that of the second protection layer above the porous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shun SAKUMA, Masaki ONKAWA, Toru IWANO, Tatsuhiko MURAOKA, Shigehiro OHTSUKA, Masaki MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 8978489
    Abstract: Provided is a combustion gas bleeding probe, which is elongated in lifetime and improved in chlorine removing ability and so on. The combustion gas bleeding probe (1) comprises a cold gas discharge means having a plurality of discharge ports (2b) for discharging cold gases (C) substantially perpendicularly of the suction direction (S) of a combustion gas (G) and toward the center of the combustion gas flow. A vector (A), which is composed of momentum vectors (MVs) of the cold gas (C) discharged individually from the plural discharge ports, has a vertically downward component. This vertically downward component of the synthesized vector is made the larger, as the angle between the suction direction of the combustion gas and the flow direction of the combustion gas before sucked by the probe becomes the closer to a right angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Taiheiyo Cement Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Wada, Shinichiro Saito
  • Patent number: 8974657
    Abstract: Amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise, in one embodiment, an electrolyte layer, a sensing electrode layer comprising a ceramic phase and a metallic phase, and a counter electrode layer, wherein the cell is operable in an oxidizing atmosphere and under an applied bias to exhibit enhanced reduction of oxygen molecules at the sensing electrode in the presence of one or more target gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) or NH3 and a resulting increase in oxygen ion flux through the cell. In another embodiment, amperometric ceramic electrochemical cells comprise an electrolyte layer comprising a continuous network of a first material which is ionically conducting at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.; a counter electrode layer comprising a continuous network of a second material which is electrically conductive at an operating temperature of about 200 to 550° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NexTech Materials Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott L. Swartz, Matthew M. Seabaugh, Lora B. Thrun, Paul H. Matter, Michael J. Day, William J. Dawson, Buddy E. McCormick
  • Patent number: 8961760
    Abstract: A micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device includes a micromechanical carrier substrate having a front side and a back side. The micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device also includes a first porous electrode and a second porous electrode. The micromechanical solid-electrolyte sensor device also includes a solid-electrolyte embedded between the first porous electrode and the second porous electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Fix, Andreas Krauss
  • Patent number: 8959988
    Abstract: In an oxygen sensor control apparatus, a CPU obtains a correction coefficient for calibrating the relation between output value of an oxygen sensor and oxygen concentration when a fuel cut operation is performed. When the amount of scavenging air (total supply amount of air) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined amount in each fuel cut period, the CPU calculates an average output value Ipav from a plurality of output values (concentration corresponding values) Ipr of the oxygen sensor, from which values deviating from a predetermined range R1 have been removed. Subsequently, the CPU averages the values obtained in a plurality of fuel cut periods to thereby obtain a plural-time average output value Ipavf. The CPU obtains a correction coefficient for correcting the actual output value Ip of the oxygen sensor 20 on the basis of the Ipavf value and a previously set reference output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inagaki, Kentaro Mori
  • Publication number: 20150047415
    Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring gas sensors in an internal combustion engine, in which in a steady-state operation of the internal combustion engine, the output signal of the gas sensor is filtered by a high-pass filter and higher-frequency signal components are analyzed by a comparison with an appropriately processed model value. When using the method and the device for executing the method, electrically oscillating gas sensors or the incoupling of interference variables or faults in the evaluation circuit, especially in the case of exhaust gas sensors in an exhaust-gas purification and reducing system, are able to be detected, which minimizes faulty interpretations in a dynamic diagnosis. This monitoring function is advantageously combinable with dynamic diagnosis functions that likewise analyze higher-frequency signal components by a comparison with appropriately processed model values. This increases the operational reliability of the exhaust-gas purification or reducing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Michalske
  • Patent number: 8955373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust sensor (1) comprising a tubular support body (2) receiving a measurement probe (3), a first end of said probe extending beyond a first end of the tubular support body through an opening therein, and a second end of said probe being secured to an electrical connection connector (4) housed inside the tubular support body (2) and fitting closely against its walls. According to the invention, the measurement probe is sealed inside the tubular support body (2) and is thermally decoupled from the environment outside the tubular support body by means of an assembly of spacers (10, 11, 12, 13) made of ceramic and of glass, the spacers being threaded around the measurement probe and distributed inside the tubular support body between the electrical connection connector and the first end of the tubular support body so as to provide at least two separate cavities, said spacers providing leaktight sealing between the measurement probe and the tubular support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electricfil Automotive
    Inventors: Frederic Duault, Stephane Raquin
  • Patent number: 8956571
    Abstract: A miniature lower cost optical sensing apparatus and method are provided for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of IR or visible photon monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and at least a portion of the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photo current from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration and/or dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Quantum Group Inc.
    Inventors: Mark K. Goldstein, Michelle S. Oum
  • Publication number: 20150033709
    Abstract: A system and a method of operating the system are presented. The system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a catalyst. The catalyst is located between the first sensor and the second sensor in the path of an exhaust stream from an engine. The first sensor and the second sensors include noble metal electrodes, and are configured to measure concentration of a gaseous species and produce first and second sensor signals respectively. The system further includes a sulfur detector that is configured to receive the first and second signals, and configured to determine a sulfur concentration in the exhaust stream with a lambda value less than 1. The sulfur detector is configured to detect the concentration of sulfur by performing a calculation involving the first and second sensor signals; and by producing an output signal based on the determined sulfur concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel George Norton, William Collins Vining, Dennis John Spaulding
  • Publication number: 20150020574
    Abstract: A particulate sensor including a sensor unit (300) having an ion generation section (611, 361, 322); an electric charge section (612) for electrically charging at least portion of particulates S using ions PI; a capture section (616, 617, 316, 326, 362) for trapping at least portion of the ions PI not used for electrically charging the particulates S; and a sensor ground section (340, 310v, 330v3) connected to the capture section and having a first floating potential corresponding to the amount of the ions PI trapped by the capture section. The sensor unit can detect the amount of the particulates S in the gas on the basis of the electric potential of the sensor ground section. The sensor ground section is covered with insulating ceramic at that outer portion of the sensor unit which comes into contact with the gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motomura, Takeshi Sugiyama, Keisuke Tashima, Norimasa Osawa, Toshiya Matsuoka, Hitoshi Yokoi
  • Publication number: 20150013431
    Abstract: A multigas sensor (200A) includes a multigas sensor element portion (100A) having: a NOx sensor portion (30A) which detects the concentration of NOx; and first and second ammonia sensor portions (42x, 42y) having different ratios between a sensitivity of ammonia and a sensitivity of NOx. The multigas sensor element portion has a plate-like shape which extends in the direction of the axis O. A temperature detecting portion (6) used for controlling the temperature of the NOx sensor portion is disposed in the multigas sensor element portion. The first and second ammonia sensor portions are disposed on the outer surface of the NOx sensor portion so that at least parts of the first and second ammonia sensor portions overlap with a first region (6s) which is defined in the width direction by ends in the axial direction of the temperature detecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiro KAKIMOTO, Yoshihiro NAKANO, Tetsuo YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20150007491
    Abstract: A gasoline blend and a method for producing a gasoline blend containing low concentrations of a butanol isomer and having good cold start and warm-up driveability characteristics are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: James J. BAUSTIAN, Leslie R. WOLF
  • Patent number: 8906214
    Abstract: A sensor element that may include a contamination-resistant coating on at least a portion thereof. The coating may include gamma alumina and a high temperature binder such as magnesium titanate. A sensor element that may include a contamination-resistant coating on at least a portion thereof. The coating may include gamma alumina, a high temperature binder such as magnesium titanate, and boehmite alumina. A method of making a contamination-resistant sensor element that may include mixing gamma alumina and a high temperature binder such as magnesium titanate to form a mixture, applying the mixture to at least a portion of a sensor element, and temperature treating the mixture to form a contamination-resistant coating on the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Stefan Schneider, James Richard Waldrop, Velma Viane Massey, Donald Stanley Frost, Jr.