Electrochemical sensor construction especially automotive-type exhaust gas analyzing sensor

摘要

To permit ease of manufacture and eliminate the necessity to apply a heater to the inside of a closed tube, a solid electrolyte, in elongated plate form is located within a housing which includes a sealing element separating the elongated plate into two portions; one portion (11/1) is exposed to the gas to be tested, the other portion (11/2) separated from the first portion (11/1) by a gas tight seal (16) positioned in the housing (12) is exposed to a reference gas, typically the oxygen in ambient air; the elongated plate extends to a terminal end portion (11/3) retained in a ceramic holder (14) for example by means of a plastic bushing (33), formed with an opening (34) to permmit access of the reference portion (11/2) to ambient air. Preferably, the electrodes (37, 38) are applied to one major surface (36) of the plate, the opposite side (40) having one or more heater elements (42, 44) applied thereto, for example by printing or vapor deposition and in alignment with the respective electrodes.