Abstract: A spark plug used in an automotive internal combustion engine. The spark plug includes a center electrode. An insulator is disposed around the center electrode. A metal main body is disposed around the insulator. A ground electrode has a first end section connected to the metal main body, and a second end section located opposite to the center electrode. Additionally, a tip is formed of an alloy whose main component is Ir. The tip is secured to the ground electrode and serving as a spark consumption-resistant electrode material. The tip has an axis directed to the center electrode. In the spark plug, a molten and solidified section formed of alloy is disposed to fix the tip to the ground electrode. The molten and solidified section includes a surrounding molten and solidified section located surrounding a peripheral surface of a major part of the tip embedded in the ground electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug is disclosed in which, in a cross-section of the metallic shell of the spark plug, a crimped portion of the metallic shell is curved such that an end-side part of the crimped portion approaches the insulator, such that an exterior outline of the crimped portion has an outwardly convex crimped curve portion at the end-side part, and such that a tangent to the exterior outline at a base point of the crimped curve portion and a radial line perpendicular to the axis of the insulator form an angle of 50°-110°. Accordingly, most of a crimping force is imposed in the axial direction of the metallic shell during crimping, and stress generated in the metallic shell in a radial direction is very small. Thus, the metallic shell can be thin-walled and can maintain its shape with high accuracy after crimping.

Abstract: A linear noble-metal member 32′, which is formed of a noble metal or noble metal alloy and will become a spark portion 32, is positioned on a distal end portion 4a (an attachment portion) of a ground electrode 4 of a spark plug work 100′; the positioned linear noble-metal member 32′ is fixed to the distal end portion 4a by resistance welding or laser welding; and the fixed linear noble-metal member 32′ is cut.

Abstract: A spark plug used in an automotive internal combustion engine. The spark plug comprises a center electrode. An insulator is disposed around the center electrode. A metal main body is disposed around the insulator. A ground electrode has a first end section connected to the metal main body, and a second end section located opposite to the center electrode. Additionally, a tip is formed of an alloy whose main component is Ir. The tip is secured to the ground electrode and serving as a spark consumption-resistant electrode material. The tip has an axis directed to the center electrode. In the spark plug, a molten and solidified section formed of alloy is disposed to fix the tip to the ground electrode. The molten and solidified section includes a surrounding molten and solidified section located surrounding a peripheral surface of a major part of the tip embedded in the ground electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug is disclosed in which, in a cross-section of the metallic shell of the spark plug, a crimped portion of the metallic shell is curved such that an end-side part of the crimped portion approaches the insulator, such that an exterior outline of the crimped portion has an outwardly convex crimped curve portion at the end-side part, and such that a tangent to the exterior outline at a base point of the crimped curve portion and a radial line perpendicular to the axis of the insulator form an angle of 50°-110°. Accordingly, most of a crimping force is imposed in the axial direction of the metallic shell during crimping, and stress generated in the metallic shell in a radial direction is very small. Thus, the metallic shell can be thin-walled and can maintain its shape with high accuracy after crimping.

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement of a room temperature-curable silicone rubber composition cured by the mechanism of the condensation reaction between terminal silanolic hydroxy groups of a diorganopolysiloxane and an organosilicon compound having at least three alkoxy groups per molecule in the presence of an organotin compound as a catalyst to form crosslinks in respect of the remarkably small permanent compression set as well as excellent heat resistance of the cured rubbery elastomer thereof. Different from conventional compositions of the above mentioned type containing some organotin compound as the curing catalyst, the inventive composition preferably contains very specific organotin compound as the curing catalyst, which is represented by the general formula R.sub.2 R.sup.1 Sn-O-SnR.sup.1 R.sub.2 or R.sub.2 SnR.sub.2.sup.1, in which R is a monovalent hydrocarbon group and R.sup.1 is an acid residue of a monoalkyl ester of a dibasic carboxylic acid such as MeOCOCH.dbd.