Towner B Scheffler

US Patent:

6663834, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Oct 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/698740

Inventors:

James B. Miller - Pittsburgh PA
Celeste Hort - Cranberry Township PA
Towner B. Scheffler - Butler PA

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliance Company - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01N 900

US Classification:

422 94, 422 83, 422 88, 422 95, 422 96, 422 97, 422 98, 73 101, 73 102, 73 232, 436149

Abstract:

A combustible gas sensor includes an active element in electrical connection with a measurement circuit. The measurement circuit includes a thermistor network to compensate for the effect of changes in ambient temperature to the resistance of the active element. Another combustible gas sensor includes an active element having a geometric surface area no greater than approximately 0. 5 mm in electrical connection with a measurement circuit. The measurement circuit includes a compensator that compensates for the effect of changes in ambient temperature to the resistance of the active element without compensating for heat lost by thermal conduction from the active element. A method of sensing gas including the steps of: (i) providing a catalytic active element having a geometric surface area sufficiently small such that the effect upon the output of the active element of heat lost from the active element by thermal conduction is relatively small, and (ii) compensating for only the effect of changes in ambient temperature upon the output of the active element.

US Patent:

6911180, Jun 28, 2005

Filed:

Oct 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/691003

Inventors:

James B. Miller - Pittsburgh PA, US
Celeste Hort - Cranberry Township PA, US
Towner B. Scheffler - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliances Company - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01N031/12
G01N027/00
G01N027/16
G01N009/00
G01N019/10

US Classification:

422 94, 422 83, 422 88, 422 95, 422 96, 422 97, 422 98, 73 101, 73 102, 73 232, 436149, 436156, 436155, 436159

Abstract:

A combustible gas sensor includes an active element in electrical connection with a measurement circuit. The measurement circuit includes a thermistor network to compensate for the effect of changes in ambient temperature to the resistance of the active element. Another combustible gas sensor includes an active element having a geometric surface area no greater than approximately 0. 5 mmin electrical connection with a measurement circuit. The measurement circuit includes a compensator that compensates for the effect of changes in ambient temperature to the resistance of the active element without compensating for heat lost by thermal conduction from the active element. A method of sensing gas including the steps of: (i) providing a catalytic active element having a geometric surface area sufficiently small such that the effect upon the output of the active element of heat lost from the active element by thermal conduction is relatively small, and (ii) compensating for only the effect of changes in ambient temperature upon the output of the active element.

US Patent:

7147761, Dec 12, 2006

Filed:

Jun 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/164539

Inventors:

Brian K. Davis - Butler PA, US
Towner B. Scheffler - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliances Company - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01N 27/403

US Classification:

204421, 204424, 204291

Abstract:

An electrode for use in an electrochemical sensor includes a catalyst dispersed within an electrolyte. Preferably, the catalyst is immobilized within a matrix of the electrolyte. In one embodiment, the electrode of the present invention includes at least one catalyst/electrolyte layer having a mixture of a powdered catalyst, a powdered, quasi-solid electrolyte and a binder material compressed together. The quasi-solid electrolyte can include a liquid electrolyte immobilized by a high-surface-area, high-pore-volume solid.

US Patent:

7413645, Aug 19, 2008

Filed:

May 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/839455

Inventors:

Towner B. Scheffler - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliances Company - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01N 27/26

US Classification:

205775, 2057785, 2057805, 205782, 2057865

Abstract:

A method of adjusting the output of an electrochemical sensor includes the steps of: simulating the presence of an analyte gas electronically; measuring a response of the sensor to the electronic simulation; and adjusting the output of the sensor as a function of the measured response to the electronic simulation. The method of adjusting the output of an electrochemical sensor having a working electrode and a counter electrode preferably includes the steps of: electronically causing a current flow between the working electrode and the counter electrode; measuring a response of the sensor to the current demand; and using the measured response to adjust the sensor output during sampling of an analyte gas.

US Patent:

7959777, Jun 14, 2011

Filed:

Jun 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/215295

Inventors:

Towner B. Scheffler - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliances Company - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G01N 27/26

US Classification:

204406, 73 2321

Abstract:

A method of adjusting the output of an electrochemical sensor including a working electrode and a counter electrode, includes: electronically causing a current flow between the working electrode and the counter electrode via an electrolyte without introducing a test analyte to the electrochemical sensor; measuring a response of the sensor to the current demand resulting from the electronically generated current flow; and using the measured response to adjust the sensor output during sampling of an analyte gas.

US Patent:

8617364, Dec 31, 2013

Filed:

Aug 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/220240

Inventors:

Michael Alvin Brown - Cranberry Township PA, US
Brian Keith Davis - Butler PA, US
Towner Bennet Scheffler - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Mine Safety Appliances Company - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G01N 27/403

US Classification:

204400, 204424, 204416

Abstract:

An electrochemical sensor includes a polymeric housing and at least a first electrode within the housing. The first electrode includes an electrochemically active surface. The electrochemical sensor further includes a first connector in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector includes a first extending member formed from a conductive loaded polymeric material. The first extending member is formed such that an interior thereof comprises conductive elements within a matrix of the polymeric material so that the interior is electrically conductive and an exterior surface thereof comprises the polymeric material and is less conductive than the conductive interior. The conductive interior of the first extending member is in electrically conductive connection with the first electrode. The first connector further includes a first extending conductive element in electrical connection with the conductive interior.

US Patent:

20110100813, May 5, 2011

Filed:

Oct 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/914685

Inventors:

BRIAN KEITH DAVIS - Butler PA, US
TOWNER BENNETT SCHEFFLER - Butler PA, US
MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN - Cranberry Township PA, US

International Classification:

G01N 27/30
B01D 53/22
B32B 37/00

US Classification:

204415, 204432, 204282, 156 60

Abstract:

An electrochemical gas sensor includes a housing, a first working electrode within the housing and having a first section of gas transfer medium and a first layer of catalyst on the first section of gas transfer medium, and at least a second working electrode within the housing and having a second section of gas transfer medium and a second layer of catalyst on the second section of gas transfer medium. At least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium includes at least one area in which the structure thereof has been irreversibly altered to limit diffusion of gas through the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium or the second section of gas transfer medium toward the other of the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium.

US Patent:

20110100814, May 5, 2011

Filed:

Oct 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/914929

Inventors:

MICHAEL ALVIN BROWN - Cranberry Township PA, US
TOWNER BENNETT SCHEFFLER - Butler PA, US

International Classification:

G01N 27/26
G01N 27/40

US Classification:

204415, 204400

Abstract:

A sensor includes a housing, at least two electrodes within the housing, an electrolyte providing ionic conductivity between the electrodes and a vent member including a first section including a portion extending through a passage in the housing. The vent member also includes at least one extending member connected to the first section that extends through at least a portion of an interior of the housing. The first section of the vent member is porous so that gas can diffuse from the interior of the housing to an exterior of the housing via the vent member.