Corning Glass Works

William T Kane

William P Whitney

John E Megles, Jr

Jack A Brothers

Paul L Walsh

Margaret M Layton

Joseph M Williams

Richard E Galusha

Harold A Brouneus

A novel electrochemical cell including a solid electrolyte heated to an elevated temperature for operation and an integral cell electrode/heater for heating the electrolyte. Solid electrolyte embodiments are described. The integral electrode/heater is applied to a surface of the solid electrolyte and is resistively heated by an alternating electric current. A portion of the solid electrolyte may also be resistively heated. The described or comparable cells may be incorporated into an oxygen detector or similar apparatus where the apparatus is operated by alternately heating the cell and measuring the emf developed by the cell across its electrode. The invention is also, in part, a unique, solid electrolyte-integral cell electrode/heater configuration which provides a zone of uniform maximum heating at a predetermined location within the electrolyte and which, when used with a suitable resistive heating electric current, confines the current to the integral electrode/heater prolonging cell life. Another aspect of the invention is the use of a radio frequency alternating electric current for resistively heating an electrochemical cell. Preferably, the radio frequency selected is sufficiently high so as to eliminate any offsets in the emf developed by the cell which are caused by the heater current. The invention also includes an apparatus for measuring the concentration of particular gases, such as oxygen, incorporating either and, preferably, both other inventive aspects of the invention. The preferred cell configuration reduces the complexity of such an apparatus by eliminating the auxiliary heat source and provides a more accurate and reliable electrochemical sensing cell. Radio frequency heating allows the operations of cell heating and emf measurement to proceed independent and concurrently and provides a continuously responding, self-heating detection apparatus.

Integrally heated electrochemical cell method and apparatus

Oxygen sensor comprising solid oxygen-ion-conducting electrolyte with a platinum group metal film electrode contacts and monitors nonoxidizing or reducing gas atmosphere in a metal heat treatment (gas carburizing) furnace after a getter of the same platinum group metal as in the film electrode removes platinum group metal contaminants from such atmosphere before it contacts the electrode. Getter is held in a thin-walled, multi-passaged honeycomb body.

Furnace and method with sensor

A metal film electrode on the outer surface of an electroded, oxygen-ion-conducting solid electrolyte, closed end portion of an oxygen sensor tube is maintained in contact with the electrolyte and in its electrical conducting function by a compressible, porous, ceramic boot firmly press-fit onto and over the electroded end portion in slidable and frictional engagement with the outer film electrode (including any connector or reinforcing wire therein or thereon). Boot has open porosity of greater than 50 (or 80) volume percent and can consist essentially of zirconia, such as a sintered mass of zirconia fibers.

Oxygen sensor

Subsurface-fortified glass laminates exhibiting improved breakage characteristics and increased resistance to delayed breakage are described. Such laminates have particular utility in the fabrication of glass tableware.

Growing community of inventors

Big Flats, NY, United States of America

William T Kane