# US 7,611,280 B2 · EMF sensor with protective sheath > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,280 B2 - Document ID: US7611280B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/793,121 - Filed: 2004-03-04 - Published: 2005-07-07 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-16 - Assignees: Harco Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Samir W. Habboosh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611280B2 ## CPC - H10N 10/854: comprising only metals (H10N10/852, H10N10/853 take precedence) - C22C 5/04: Alloys based on a platinum group metal - G01K 7/02: using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract A rugged sensor and method for manufacturing such, for use in hostile environments, the sensor exhibiting high mechanical strength to protect the sensor from physical damage. The sensor system also including a modular component that may variously be connected to the sensor to extension thereof, the modular component also exhibiting high mechanical strength to protect electrical conductors located therein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor comprising: a first component formed from a first component material; a first conductor formed from a first conductor material, said first conductor electrically connected to said first component; a second component in electrical contact with said first component, said second component formed from a second component material; a second conductor formed from a second conductor material, said second conductor electrically connected to said second component; a sheath enclosing at least said first component and said second component, said sheath formed of a sheath material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; and said oxide is dispersion hardened within grain boundaries and a main body portion of the noble metal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sensor of claim 2 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are different than the sheath material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first component material comprises at least a first component noble metal and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sensor of claim 4 wherein the second component material comprises at least a second component noble metal, different than the first component noble metal, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor of claim 1 further comprising an insulting layer enclosing said first and second conductors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensor of claim 6 wherein said insulating layer is enclosed by said sheath. ### Claim 8 A method for manufacturing a sensor comprising the steps of: providing a first component of a first component material; electrically connecting a first conductor to the first component; providing a second component of a second component material; electrically connecting a second conductor to the second component; electrically contacting the first component with the second component to form a junction where the first component meets the second component; forming a sheath of a material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; dispersion hardening the oxide within grain boundaries and a main body portion of the noble metal; and enclosing at least the first component and the second component in the sheath. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are the same. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are different than the sheath material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of enclosing the first conductor and the second conductor with an insulating layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the sheath encloses the insulating layer. ### Claim 13 A sensor which is resistant to degradation at high temperature comprising: a first component formed from at least a first noble metal and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; a first conductor formed from a first conductor material, said first conductor electrically connected to said first component; a second component in contact with said first component, said second component formed from at least at least a second noble metal, different than the first noble metal, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; a second conductor formed from a second conductor material, said second conductor electrically connected to said second component; a sheath enclosing said first and second conductors, said sheath formed of a sheath material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; and said oxide is dispersion hardened within grain boundaries and a main body portion of the noble metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sensor according to claim 13 further comprising: a transmit lead module having, a first transmit lead formed of a first transmit lead material, for electrically connecting to said first conductor; a second transmit lead formed of a second transmit lead material, for electrically connecting to said second conductor; and a transmit lead module sheath enclosing said first transmit lead and said second transmit lead. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sensor of claim 14 wherein said transmit lead module sheath is formed of a fourth noble metal and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yt-trium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensor of claim 15 wherein said transmit lead module further comprises an insulating layer enclosing said first transmit lead and said second transmit lead. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sensor of claim 16 wherein said transmit lead module sheath encloses said insulating layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The sensor of claim 13 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are the same. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sensor of claim 18 wherein the first conductor material and the second conductor material are different than the sheath material. ### Claim 20 A sensor comprising: a first component formed from a first component material; a first conductor formed from a first conductor material, said first conductor electrically connected to said first component; a second component in electrical contact with said first component, said second component formed from a second component material; a second conductor formed from a second conductor material, said second conductor electrically connected to said second component; a sheath enclosing at least said first conductor and said second conductor, said sheath formed of a sheath material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; and said oxide is dispersion hardened within grain boundaries and a main body portion of the noble metal. ### Claim 21 A sensor comprising: a first component formed from a first component material; a first conductor formed from a first conductor material, said first conductor electrically connected to said first component; a second component in electrical contact with said first component, said second component formed from a second component material; a second conductor formed from a second conductor material, said second conductor electrically connected to said second component; and a sheath, electrically insulated from and enclosing at least said first component and said second component, said sheath formed of a sheath material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; said sheath having a higher melting point that said first and second components. ### Claim 22 A sensor comprising: a first component formed from a first component material; a first conductor formed from a first conductor material, said first conductor electrically connected to said first component; a second component in electrical contact with said first component, said second component formed from a second component material; a second conductor formed from a second conductor material, said second conductor electrically connected to said second component; a sheath, electrically insulated from and enclosing at least said first conductor and said second conductor, said sheath formed of a sheath material having a platinum rhodium alloy, with at least 10% rhodium, and an oxide selected from the group consisting of yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, and combinations of these; said sheath having a higher melting point that said first and second conductors.