| US 7,562,555 B2 | ||
| Water-repellent filter, a method of manufacturing a water-repellent filter member, and gas sensor | ||
| Hisaharu Nishio, Aichi (Japan); Yuichi Yamada, Aichi (Japan); Masahiro Asai, Aichi (Japan); and Makoto Hishiki, Aichi (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Aichi (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/168,443. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2004-194383 (JP), filed on Jun. 30, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0017193 A1, Jan. 25, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B01D 17/12 (2006.01); B65D 51/16 (2006.01); B65D 53/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 73—23.2 [96/420; 96/421; 96/422; 96/423; 96/417; 55/385.4; 73/23.41; 73/24.06; 73/29.04; 422/83; 422/105; 422/107; 422/108] | 3 Claims |
| 1. A gas sensor comprising:
a gas detection element in contact with a reference gas via a first surface and in contact with a gas to be measured via a
second surface opposite the first surface; and
a waterproof enclosure member defining, together with the gas detection element, an internal space to which the first surface
of the gas detection element is exposed but the second surface of the gas detection element is not exposed;
wherein the enclosure member includes a waterproof grommet, enclosing at least a portion of the internal space, having an
air through-hole extending therethrough, establishing air communication between the internal space and an exterior of the
gas sensor, and formed of a rubberlike elastic material; and
the grommet has a water-repellent filter member fitted into the air through-hole thereof, allowing air communication between
the internal space and the exterior of the gas sensor through the air through-hole, and preventing entry of water into the
internal space through the air through-hole,
wherein the water-repellent filter member is formed from a resin sheet of a porous, fibrous structure having air permeability
and water repellency, the filter member comprising:
a tubular side wall portion; and
a bottom wall portion closing one end of the tubular side wall portion,
fibers of the resin sheet being fused together at the tubular side wall portion so as to enhance rigidity thereof, and
at least a portion of the bottom wall portion maintaining the porous, fibrous structure of the resin sheet and thereby having
air permeability.
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