# US 2017/0284960 A1 · Inspection apparatus for gas sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284960 A1 - Document ID: US20170284960A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/471,447 - Filed: 2017-03-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd. - Applicants: Ngk Insulators, Ltd. - Inventors: Kazuki TAKEGAWA; Naoya SAITO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284960A1 ## CPC - G01N 27/407: for investigating or analysing gases {(G01N27/411 takes precedence)} - G01N 27/4163: {checking the operation of, or calibrating, the measuring apparatus (G01N27/3274, G01N27/4175 and G01N33/0006 take precedence)} - G01N 27/4074: {for detection of gases other than oxygen} - G01N 27/4077: {Means for protecting the electrolyte or the electrodes} - G01N 27/41: Oxygen pumping cells - G01N 27/4175: {Calibrating or checking the analyser} - G01N 33/0037: {NOx} - G01N 33/007: {Arrangements to check the analyser (calibrating gas analysers G01N33/0006)} - G01N 33/0072: {by generating a test gas} - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - 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) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract An inspection apparatus capable of performing responsivity inspection on a plurality of gas sensors at equivalent accuracies is provided. The inspection apparatus includes a plurality of inspected sensor disposing parts that are provided halfway through one gas flow path at equal intervals in an extending direction of the flow path and in each of which a gas sensor to be inspected is disposed, and a plurality of straightening plates provided upstream of each of the inspected sensor disposing parts on the gas flow path and separated at a constant distance from the inspected sensor disposing parts. The straightening plates each include a rectangular opening orthogonal to the gas flow path and open to the gas flow path. When the gas flow path extends in one direction in a horizontal plane, the opening has a longitudinal direction along a direction orthogonal to the one direction in the horizontal plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus configured to inspect responsivity of a gas sensor, said apparatus comprising: a chamber including one gas flow path; a plurality of inspected sensor disposing parts that are provided halfway through said one gas flow path at equal intervals in an extending direction of said one gas flow path and in each of which a gas sensor to be inspected is disposed; and a plurality of straightening plates provided on positions upstream of each of said inspected sensor disposing parts on said one gas flow path, each of said positions separated at a constant distance from the corresponding inspected sensor disposing parts, wherein: said straightening plates each include a rectangular opening orthogonal to said one gas flow path and open to said one gas flow path, when said one gas flow path extends in one direction in a horizontal plane, said opening has a longitudinal direction along a direction orthogonal to said one direction in the horizontal plane, and responsivity of said gas sensor is inspected by causing a gas for inspection to flow through said one gas flow path when said gas sensor to be inspected is disposed at each of said inspected sensor disposing parts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: a dummy sensor disposing part provided halfway through said one gas flow path and upstream of an inspected sensor disposing part on a most upstream side among said inspected sensor disposing parts, wherein: an interval between said dummy sensor disposing part and said inspected sensor disposing part on said most upstream side is same as an interval between said inspected sensor disposing parts, a straightening plate same as said straightening plates is provided on a position upstream of said dummy sensor disposing part on said one gas flow path, with separated from said dummy sensor disposing part by said constant distance, and a dummy sensor having a structure same as a structure of said gas sensor to be inspected is disposed at said dummy sensor disposing part, at least when the responsivity of said gas sensor is inspected. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said gas sensor to be inspected includes: a sensor element including an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte as a main component, and a protection cover configured to cover at least a first end part that is an end part on a side where a gas inlet of said sensor element is provided, wherein: said protection cover comprises a plurality of through-holes through which a gas is allowed to flow, and when said responsivity is inspected, said gas sensor to be inspected is disposed at each of said inspected sensor disposing parts to allow said gas for inspection to reach said first end part of said sensor element through said through-holes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein the number of said inspected sensor disposing parts is not larger than 10. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 1, wherein said gas sensor is a NOx sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 2, wherein said gas sensor to be inspected includes: a sensor element including an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte as a main component, and a protection cover configured to cover at least a first end part that is an end part on a side where a gas inlet of said sensor element is provided, wherein: said protection cover comprises a plurality of through-holes through which a gas is allowed to flow, and when said responsivity is inspected, said gas sensor to be inspected is disposed at each of said inspected sensor disposing parts to allow said gas for inspection to reach said first end part of said sensor element through said through-holes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 2, wherein the number of said inspected sensor disposing parts is not larger than 10. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 3, wherein the number of said inspected sensor disposing parts is not larger than 10. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The inspection apparatus for a gas sensor according to claim 6, wherein the number of said inspected sensor disposing parts is not larger than 10.