Mine Safety Appliances Company

Joseph D Jolson

Alan A Schneider

David A Stewart

RaeAnn M Auel

John F Price

Towner Bennett Scheffler

James B Miller

Clinton S Winchester

Mark T Williams

Glen W Hance

A gas sensor for the detection of gases comprises a housing and an active element disposed within the housing. The active element is surrounded by a porous insulating material having a bulk density no greater than 0.15 g/cc. Another gas sensor comprises an active element surrounded by a porous insulating material having a surface area no greater than approximately 200 m /cc. Another gas sensor comprises a copper compound positioned so that gas contacts the copper compound before contacting the active element. Another gas sensor comprises an active element surrounded by a porous material having an average pore size of at least approximately 100 &angst;. Another gas sensor comprises a heating element surrounded by a porous material that supports a catalyst.

Gas sensor

Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrochemical sensor comprising at least two electrochemically active electrodes, a non-aqueous electrolyte system and a diffusion barrier membrane through which the analyte in its gas phase is mobile but through which the non-aqueous electrolyte system is substantially immobile. The diffusion barrier membrane thus allows an analyte in its gas phase to enter the sensor, while substantially preventing the non-aqueous electrolyte from exiting the sensor.

Electrochemical sensor with a non-aqueous electrolyte system

The present invention provides an electrochemical gas sensor for the detection of nitrogen dioxide comprising a housing and a working electrode and a counter electrode disposed within the housing. Each of the working electrode and the counter electrode are fabricated from an electrically conductive carbon. The present sensor also preferably comprises a reference electrode fabricated from an electrically conductive carbon.

Electrochemical gas sensor for the detection of nitrogen dioxide

An active primary battery containing a lithium anode; an aprotic organic electrolyte; a separator; and a cathode made of silver (II) oxide, mercuric oxide, or a mixture of silver (II) oxide and mercuric oxide is described. The battery exhibits high open circuit and operating voltage under a wide range of current densities. The open circuit voltage of a lithium-silver (II) oxide battery of the present invention is almost double that obtained in a zinc-silver (II) oxide battery. The packaged capacity density, in amp-hrs/cc, is about twice that obtained in a lithium-manganese dioxide battery or a lithium-iodine battery. The packaged energy density, in watt-hours/cc, is also about twice that obtained in a zinc-silver (II) oxide battery, a lithium-manganese dioxide battery, and a lithium-iodine battery.

Lithium-silver oxide battery and lithium-mercuric oxide battery

A compact electrochemical gas sensor for detecting toxic gases is described which utilizes a fluted electrically-conducting feedthrough for making the electrical connection from outside the sensor with each electrode inside the sensor. Utilization of the fluted electrically-conducting feedthroughs significantly reduces the number of parts needed to make the sensor as well as reduces the likelihood of electrolyte leakage from the sensor. Additionally, the electrochemical toxic gas sensor may use a gas permeable membrane instead of a gas porous membrane.

Electrochemical toxic gas sensor

The present invention is for an electrochemical cell and method for quantitatively detecting noxious gas which comprises a first working electrode comprising a gas diffusion membrane having bonded thereto a catalytic portion electrochemically reactive with the noxious gas; a second working electrode having electrochemical activity with the oxidation/reduction products produced at the first working electrode; a counter electrode; a reference electrode; an electrolyte; means for containing said electrolyte and said electrodes; means for maintaining a fixed potential on said first working electrode relative to said reference electrode of from about 1.0 to 1.8 volts with respect to the potential of the reversible hydrogen couple of the electrolyte of the cell; and means for maintaining a fixed potential on said second working electrode relative to said reference electrode of from about 1.0 to 2.2 volts with respect to the potential of the reversible hydrogen couple of the electrolyte of the cell, the fixed potential on said working electrode being maintained at a voltage higher than the fixed potential being maintained on said first working electrode.

Electrochemical cell

Thermal batteries comprise an anode of alkali or alkaline earth metal and a fluorocarbon polymer of fluorochlorocarbon polymer depolarizer.

Thermal battery

Method for the detection of noxious gases

Electrochemical cell for the detection of noxious gases

Formaldehyde is determined by electrochemical oxidation of formaldehyde at an iridium electrode while maintaining the electrode at a fixed potential and measuring the current flowing through the electrode.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Joseph D Jolson