Methods of cleaning gas sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10138794-B2
Application number	US-201615278422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2016
Priority date	Sep 28, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

Methods for cleaning gas sensors used in an exhaust gas system are provided. The exhaust gas system can include an exhaust gas stream supplied by an exhaust gas source through an exhaust gas conduit, and a gas sensor having a sampling end disposed within the exhaust gas conduit. The methods can include positioning at least one glow plug proximate the gas sensor; and activating the at least one glow plug such that exhaust gas deposits accumulated on the gas sensor sampling end are removed. The methods can optionally further comprise one or more of determining a glow plug activation interval and determining a glow plug activation duration. Systems for performing the disclosed methods are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for cleaning a gas sensor used in an exhaust gas system including an exhaust gas stream supplied by an exhaust gas source through an exhaust gas conduit, and a gas sensor having a sampling end disposed within the exhaust gas conduit, the method comprising:
positioning at least one glow plug proximate the gas sensor; and
activating the at least one glow plug such that exhaust gas deposits accumulated on the gas sensor sampling end are removed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a glow plug activation interval.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust gas deposits comprise carbonaceous solids.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gas sensor sampling end comprises one or more sampling orifices, and the contiguous glow plug does not occlude any of the one or more sampling orifices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is non-contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end, and another glow plug of the at least one glow plugs is non-contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas sensor comprises an oxygen or NO x sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas sensor and the one or more glow plugs are operably connected to an electronic control unit.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein activating the at least one glow plug comprises heating the sampling end of the gas sensor to at least 650° C.

11. An apparatus for cleaning a gas sensor used in an exhaust gas system, the apparatus including:
an exhaust gas stream supplied by an exhaust gas source through an exhaust gas conduit;
a gas sensor having a sampling end disposed within the exhaust gas conduit; and
at least one glow plug positioned proximate the gas sensor;
wherein activating the at least one glow plug removes exhaust gas deposits accumulated on the gas sensor sampling end.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the glow plug is activated at an interval.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein wherein the exhaust gas deposits comprise carbonaceous solids.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the gas sensor sampling end comprises one or more sampling orifices, and the contiguous glow plug does not occlude any of the one or more sampling orifices.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is non-contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein one of the wherein one of the at least one glow plugs is contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end, and another glow plug of the at least one glow plugs is non-contiguous with the gas sensor sampling end.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the gas sensor comprises an oxygen or NO x sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the gas sensor and the one or more glow plugs are operably connected to an electronic control unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein activating the at least one glow plug comprises heating the sampling end of the gas sensor to at least 650° C.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Pairolero Luca Giuseppe
• CERIANI Carlo Daniele
• Graglia Riccardo

Classifications

• F01N13/008 Primary

  Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus (sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439) · CPC title

• F02D35/021

  using an ionic current sensor · CPC title

• F02D41/401

  Controlling injection timing (F02D41/402 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01N2560/02

  the means being an exhaust gas sensor · CPC title

• F01N2560/20

  Sensor having heating means · CPC title