The invention provides a sensor with a reference electrode and a flowing electrolyte which is particularly useful for measuring the ion concentration of a process solution. The invention includes a sensor having a pressurized reservoir which provides flow of an electrolyte, a non-metallic solution ground and a resistance temperature device bonded to a non-metallic solution ground. The invention provides sensors with greater accuracy and stability by minimizing or eliminating ingress of contaminants from a process solution through the external junction of the sensor.

Claims

70 · 5 independent · depth 5

70 granted claims

›1.independentA sensor of a fluid parameter, the sensor comprising a reference electrode, an electrolyte in electrolytic contact with the reference electrode, a pre…+11

›2.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a piston for subjecting the electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2+1

›4.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 wherein the porous member is positioned between the reservoir and the external junction.d2

›5.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 wherein the porous member is a glass material.d2

›6.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 wherein the reference junction comprises a cation exchange member.d2+1

›8.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 wherein the external junction is made of a ceramic material.d2

›9.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 further comprising an external pressure source for subjecting said electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2

›10.↳ 1The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a non-metallic ground disposed at a sensing surface.d2+2

›13.independentA sensor comprising an external junction, a reference electrode, an electrolyte in electrolytic contact with the reference electrode and the external …+12

›14.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 wherein the non-metallic ground comprises a conductive polymer.d2+1

›16.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 further comprising a piston in communication with the electrolyte for subjecting the electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2+1

›18.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 wherein the porous member is positioned between the reservoir and the external junction.d2+1

›20.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 wherein the sensor comprises a reference junction.d2+2

›23.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 further comprising an external pressure source for subjecting said electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2

›24.↳ 13The sensor of claim 13 further comprising a housing wherein the non-metallic ground extends beyond an end of the housing.d2+1

›26.independentA sensor comprising a reference electrode, an electrolyte in electrolytic contact with the reference electrode, a pressurized reservoir, a porous memb…+11

›27.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 wherein the non-metallic ground comprises a conductive polymer.d2+1

›29.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 further comprising a piston in communication with the electrolyte for subjecting the electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2+1

›31.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 wherein the porous member is positioned between the reservoir and an external junction.d2+1

›33.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 , further comprising a reference junction wherein the reference junction comprises a cation exchange membrane.d2+1

›35.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 further comprising an external pressure source for subjecting said electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2

›36.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 further comprising a housing wherein the non-metallic ground extends beyond an end of the housing.d2

›37.↳ 26The sensor of claim 26 wherein the non-metallic ground is substantially conical.d2

›38.independentA pH sensor having a housing and comprising a reference electrode mounted in the housing, a measuring electrode mounted in the housing and operatively…+14

›39.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 further comprising a non-metallic ground disposed at a sensing surface.d2+6

›46.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 wherein the porous member is positioned between the reservoir and an external junction.d2+1

›48.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 wherein the reference junction comprises a cation exchange membrane.d2+1

›50.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 further comprising an external pressure source for subjecting said electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2

›51.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 wherein the electrolyte is a solution of AgCl-saturated KCl.d2

›52.↳ 38The pH sensor of claim 38 wherein the reference electrode is made of silver-silver-chloride.d2

›53.independentA sensor having a housing and comprising a reference electrode mounted in the housing, an electrolyte in electrolytic contact with the reference elect…+17

›54.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the non-metallic ground extends beyond an end of the housing.d2

›55.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the non-metallic ground is substantially conical.d2

›56.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 further comprising a reference junction positioned between the electrolyte and the reference electrode.d2+2

›59.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 further comprising an external junction in electrolytic contact with the reference electrode.d2+1

›61.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the fluid motive means comprises a piston in communication with the electrolyte for subjecting the electrolyte to a con…d2+1

›63.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the porous member is made of glass material.d2

›64.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 further comprising an external pressure source for subjecting the electrolyte to a controlled pressure.d2

›65.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the non-metallic ground comprises a conductive polymer.d2+1

›67.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 further comprising a resistance temperature device bonded to the non-metallic ground.d2

›68.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 further comprising a measuring electrode operatively connected to the reference electrode.d2

›69.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the electrolyte is a solution of AgCl-saturated KCl.d2

›70.↳ 53The sensor of claim 53 wherein the reference electrode is made of silver-silver chloride.d2

Classifications

3 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G01N2/7401

USPC · US Patent Classification

204/435204/420

Claim changes

Soon

Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this patent are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

Pendency

2.3 y

851 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

1 RCE

Interviews

examiner interview summaries

Examiner

T. Tung

art unit —

Law firm

Law firm · Log in to unlock

Citations: 10 back · 0 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Term & fees

See the term timeline — pendency span, in-force span, the maintenance fees paid and both computed expiry dates.

Validity challenges

See the validity challenges on record — reexaminations, IPRs and PGRs, with their institution decisions and outcomes.

Citations

See every patent this one cites and every patent that cites it back — publication, assignee, and how each one was found.