The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1995
Shigeyuki Kawatsu, Susono, JP;
Toyota Jidosa Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus or method of the present invention measures carbon monoxide included in a hydrogen-rich reactant gas with high precision, and also measures a lower alcohol or another organic compound included in the reactant gas. A carbon monoxide sensor (1) includes an electrolyte membrane (10), a pair of electrodes (12,14) arranged across the electrolyte membrane (10) to form a sandwich structure, a pair of holders (20,22) for supporting the sandwich structure as well as pair of metal plates (16,18), and an insulating member 24 for connecting the holders (20,22) with each other. A gas flow conduit (28) is joined with one holder (20), and a gaseous fuel is fed to the electrode (12) via the gas flow conduit (28). The electrode (14) supported by the other holder (22) is exposed to the atmosphere. A resistor (34) is connected to detection terminals (20T,22T) of the holders (20,22), and a potential difference between both terminals of the resistor (34) is measured with a voltmeter (32). The voltmeter (32) outputs a signal representing the measured potential difference to an external control system. The control system determines the degree of poisoning and the concentration of carbon monoxide, based on the signal representing the measured potential difference.