# US 10,371,680 B2 · Sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,680 B2 - Document ID: US10371680B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/414,808 - Filed: 2017-01-25 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-25 - Assignees: Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. - Applicants: NGK Spark Plug Co., LTD. - Inventors: Makoto Kume; Shingo Ito; Takehiro Oba; Shinya Miyamoto; Suguru Kyoumoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371680B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/0036: {specially adapted to detect a particular component (physical analysis of gaseous biological material G01N33/497)} - G01N 27/407: for investigating or analysing gases {(G01N27/411 takes precedence)} - G01N 27/4077: {Means for protecting the electrolyte or the electrodes} - G01N 33/0009: {General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment (devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state G01N1/22)} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A gas sensor is provided with a metal shell protecting member formed of a material superior in heat resistance to a metal shell, whereby a high-temperature measurement target (exhaust gas) is prevented from being in direct contact with a region, of a protector internal region of the metal shell, on the front side relative to a protector opposing surface. That is, in the gas sensor, it is possible to suppress corrosion, due to high temperature, of a region, of the protector internal region of the metal shell, on the front side relative to the protector opposing surface (an inner surface and a front end surface of a protector fixing portion), while the metal shell is formed of a material (SUS430) that can be subjected to working (crimping or the like) accompanied with deformation. Therefore, heat resistance of the entire sensor can be improved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor comprising: a sensor element that is formed in an elongated shape extending in an axial direction, and includes a detection portion at a front side thereof; a metal shell that is formed in a tubular shape having a through-hole extending from a front-side opening thereof to a rear-side opening thereof, and holds the sensor element via an element holding member, the sensor element being disposed in the through-hole, with the detection portion projecting from the front-side opening; a tubular element protector that includes an opening, through which a measurement target passes, and is fixed to a front side of the metal shell, and a metal shell protecting member, wherein the metal shell includes, at an outer surface thereof, a protector opposing surface that opposes a rear end portion of the element protector, the metal shell protecting member is configured to cover, together with the element protector, at least a part of a front end surface of the metal shell, at least a part of an inner surface of the through-hole, and at least a part of a radial outer surface of the metal shell, which is connected with the front end surface of the metal shell, and wherein the metal shell protecting member is formed of a material having corrosion resistance higher than that of the metal shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein when a protector internal region is defined to include: a region of an inner surface of the through-hole of the metal shell, which is provided on the front side relative to the element holding member; a region of the radial outer surface of the metal shell, which is covered with the element protector; and the front end surface of the metal shell, the metal shell protecting member and the element protector cover at least a region of the protector internal region of the metal shell, which is provided on the front side relative to the protector opposing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell protecting member is formed in a tubular shape having an insertion hole through which the sensor element is inserted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell protecting member includes a protector contact portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the element protector over a circumferential direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein an inward projecting portion that projects inward is provided at a rear side of the metal shell protecting member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell protecting member is formed of a metal material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the metal shell protecting member covers a region, of the inner surface of the through-hole, on the front side relative to the element holding member, and is in contact with the element holding member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sensor according to claim 7, wherein the element holding member includes: a ceramic holder that is in contact with the sensor element; and a metal holder that is disposed outward relative to the ceramic holder and is in contact with the metal shell, and the metal shell protecting member covers a region of the inner surface of the through-hole, which is provided on the front side relative to the element holding member, and is in contact with at least one of the ceramic holder and the metal holder. ### Claim 9 A sensor comprising: a sensor element that is formed in an elongated shape extending in an axial direction, and includes a detection portion at a front side thereof; a metal shell that is formed in a tubular shape having a through-hole extending from a front-side opening thereof to a rear-side opening thereof, and holds the sensor element via an element holding member, the sensor element being disposed in the through-hole, with the detection portion projecting from the front-side opening; a tubular element protector that includes an opening, through which a measurement target passes, and is fixed to a front side of the metal shell, and a metal shell protecting member, wherein the metal shell includes, at an outer surface thereof, a protector opposing surface that opposes a rear end portion of the element protector, and the metal shell protecting member is configured to cover, together with the element protector, at least a part of a front end surface of the metal shell, at least a part of an inner surface of the through-hole, and at least a part of a radial outer surface of the metal shell, which is connected with the front end surface of the metal shell, and the metal shell protecting member is formed of a material superior in heat resistance to the metal shell. ### Claim 10 A sensor comprising: a sensor element that is formed in an elongated shape extending in an axial direction, and includes a detection portion at a front side thereof; a metal shell that is formed in a tubular shape having a through-hole extending from a front-side opening thereof to a rear-side opening thereof, and holds the sensor element via an element holding member, the sensor element being disposed in the through-hole, with the detection portion projecting from the front-side opening; a tubular element protector that includes an opening, through which a measurement target passes, and is fixed to a front side of the metal shell, and a metal shell protecting member, wherein the metal shell includes, at an outer surface thereof, a protector opposing surface that opposes a rear end portion of the element protector, the metal shell protecting member is configured to cover, together with the element protector, at least a part of a front end surface of the metal shell, at least a part of an inner surface of the through-hole, and at least a part of a radial outer surface of the metal shell, which is connected with the front end surface of the metal shell, and the detection portion protrudes through a front end of the metal shell protecting member in the axial direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sensor according to claim 10, wherein the radial outer surface of the metal shell is covered by the element protector.