Abstract: A spark plug is provided which comprises a center electrode and a ground electrode having at a free end portion thereof a discharge surface which is opposite to an axial end surface of the center electrode to provide therebetween a spark gap, wherein the center electrode has a center electrode tip forming the axial end surface thereof, the center electrode tip being made of a material containing Ir as a major constituent, and wherein G≦2A+0.5 where G is a spark gap (mm) and A is the distance (mm) between a first imaginary line and a second marginal line.

Abstract: A metal member 55 (with a zinc plating layer 56 for prevention of corrosion) having a sliding expected surface that is expected to slide with the other member is immersed into a chromating bath containing a mixture of trivalent chromium salt and a complexing agent for trivalent chromium. And a chromate coat 57 having a film thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 &mgr;m and composed of trivalent chromium at 95 mass % or more of chromium component contained is formed at least on the sliding expected surface. Thereinafter, its chromate coat 57 is subjected to the heat treatment at temperatures from 85 to 255° C., thereby enhancing the sliding property of the chromate coat 57. As a result, the metal member 55 with chromate coat can be easily slid with the other member.

Abstract: A noble metal chip 31′ is superimposed on a surface of a central electrode 3 made of a heat resisting alloy, the main component of which is Ni or Fe, to which the chip is secured so that a superimposed assembly 70 is constituted. A perimeter laser weld portion 10 across the noble metal chip 31′ and a chip securing surface forming portion is formed around the outer surface of the chip of the superimposed assembly 70. Thus, the noble metal chip 31′ is secured to the chip securing surface so that a noble-metal igniting portion 31 is constituted. To form the perimeter laser weld portion 10 which has a maximum outer dimension dmax which is smaller than 2.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a chip made of iridium. The distance E between the chip and a copper core of a core rod of the center electrode is not greater than 3.5 mm. The core rod has a diameter D1 of 1.4 mm to 2.6 mm. The ratio of a chip diameter D2 to the core rod diameter D1, or D2/D1, is not greater than 0.50.

Abstract: A spark plug having a discharge portion formed of a noble-metal chip, the spark plug being capable of restraining wear observed on a slenderized discharge portion in particular. Discharge portion 31 includes noble-metal chip 31′. Dimension D is 0.3-0.8 mm; and H is 0.4-2 mm, where D (mm) is a diameter representing the outside diameter of the noble-metal chip, and H (mm) is a discharge portion thickness representing the shortest distance between the periphery of a discharge face 31t and a corresponding end edge of a weld zone W where a center electrode 3 and the noble-metal chip 31′ are welded. Further, the noble-metal chip 31′ contains a predominant amount of Ir and 0.5-8% by weight Ni.

Abstract: A spark plug of the present invention is made of an Ir alloy including a specific amount of (1)Rh, (2)Pt, or (3) Rh and Pt or Rh and Ru. The spark plug comprises tips for a center electrode and for a ground electrode that are each 0.6 to 1.8 mm in diameter and 0.2 to 0.7 mm in thickness and for an interlayer made of an Ir alloy including Ni of 40 mass % that has a diameter slightly larger or smaller than that of each tip for the center electrode and for the ground electrode and has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm. These tips can be manufactured according to the powder processing method, the dissolution method, and so on. The tip for the center electrode is joined to the end surface of the basic body of the center electrode, which is made of a Ni alloy (Inconel 600), according to laser welding. The tip for the interlayer and the tip for the ground electrode are brought into contact with a predetermined position of the ground electrode, and are joined while being pressed according to electric resistance welding.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spark plug, the spark plug comprises: a cylindrical metal shell having a portion to be caulked and a tool-engaging portion that is to be attached on an engine; an insulator that is inserted into the metal shell and extends axially; and a caulking metallic mold, the method comprising caulking the portion to be caulked to be fixed to an outer circumferential face of the insulator with the caulking metallic mold, wherein the caulking metallic mold comprises a face, the face comprising a hard carbon film that comprises an amorphous carbon phase, and the face is contact with or sliding to the portion to be caulked.

Abstract: A gasket for a threaded element such as a spark plug to be screwed into a threaded hole of a support such as a cylinder head is provided. The threaded element has a threaded portion and an annular seat portion. The gasket is installed on the threaded element and compressed between the seat portion and an outer surface of the support around a threaded hole, when the threaded element is screwed into the threaded hole, to provide a seal between the threaded portion and the threaded hole. The gasket is formed from an annular sheet metal and in the form of an annular strip of a cross section including a plurality of bent portions. The cross section is made by a plane including a center axis of the gasket and of a such a bent shape as to enable an imaginary reference line which is located on the above described plane and parallel with the center axis, to cross at least three portions of the cross section. The initial axial size of the gasket, i.e.

Abstract: In a glow plug and a spark plug, the surface of a main metal shell is coated with a chromate film in which the quantity of trivalent chrome is 95 wt % or more of the contained chrome components and which has a thickness of 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: In a glow plug and a spark plug, the surface of a main metal shell is coated with a chromate film in which the quantity of trivalent chrome is 95 wt % or more of the contained chrome components and which has a thickness of 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A spark plug having a center electrode 2 formed from an electrode base material 2n, which is made of an Ni alloy containing an alloy component (e.g., Cr) capable of forming an oxide semiconductor having a resistivity of negative temperature coefficient. Thus, a corrosion suppression layer originating from the components of the electrode base material is formed on the surface of a tip end portion of the insulator 3, so that corrosion (channeling) of the surface of the tip end portion of the insulator 3 due to creeping spark discharge can be effectively suppressed. In addition, when the constituent metal of the electrode base material 2n has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 17 to 30 W/m·K, the heat transfer performance of the electrode is enhanced, so that durability against electrode consumption can be greatly improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating a chromate waste liquid containing an organic acid component. This process includes (a) adding a chromium precipitation accelerating agent containing at least one of a calcium component and a magnesium component, to the chromate waste liquid; and (b) adjusting the chromate waste liquid to having a first pH of 9 or higher, thereby precipitating a chromium component from the chromate waste liquid and thereby reducing a concentration of a dissolved chromium component of the chromate waste liquid.

Abstract: A metal member 55 (with a zinc plating layer 56 for prevention of corrosion) having a sliding expected surface that is expected to slide with the other member is immersed into a chromating bath containing a mixture of trivalent chromium salt and a complexing agent for trivalent chromium. And a chromate coat 57 having a film thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 &mgr;m and composed of trivalent chromium at 95 mass % or more of chromium component contained is formed at least on the sliding expected surface. Thereinafter, its chromate coat 57 is subjected to the heat treatment at temperatures from 85 to 255° C., thereby enhancing the sliding property of the chromate coat 57. As a result, the metal member 55 with chromate coat can be easily slid with the other member.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator provided outside the center electrode, a metallic shell provided outside the insulator, a ground electrode disposed to face the center electrode, and a spark discharge portion fixed on at least one of the center electrode and the ground electrode for defining a spark discharge gap. The spark discharge portion is formed from a noble metal alloy containing a main component element selected from among Ir, Pt, and Rh, and at least one additional component element differing from the main component element. In the noble metal alloy, the additional component element is distributed such that stripes of high concentration regions and low concentration regions extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of voltage application.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided which comprises a center electrode and a ground electrode having at a free end portion thereof a discharge surface which is opposite to an axial end surface of the center electrode to provide therebetween a spark gap, wherein the center electrode has a center electrode tip forming the axial end surface thereof, the center electrode tip being made of a material containing Ir as a major constituent, and wherein G≦2A+0.5 where G is a spark gap (mm) and A is the distance (mm) between a first imaginary line and a second marginal line.

Abstract: In a glow plug and a spark plug, the surface of a main metal shell is coated with a chromate film in which the quantity of trivalent chrome is 95 wt % or more of the contained chrome components and which has a thickness of 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is disclosed in which lateral consumption of an electrode tip arising in the vicinity of a joined portion formed through welding is suppressed and which maintains excellent performance over a long period of time. The spark plug includes a center electrode which extends in the axial direction and is composed of a body and an electrode whose root end is joined to the end face of the body. The distance between a joined portion of the body and the electrode tip and the face of a free end of the electrode tip is at least 0.15 mm, particularly at least 0.2 mm. A diametral dimension of the electrode tip measured at a position located at the interface between the electrode tip and the joined portion and nearest to the free end of the electrode tip is at least 0.2 mm, particularly at least 0.25 mm, greater than a diametral dimension of the electrode tip measured at the free end. The depth of the joined portion is preferably not less than 0.

Abstract: In a glow plug and a spark plug, the surface of a main metal shell is coated with a chromate film in which the quantity of trivalent chrome is 95 wt % or more of the contained chrome components and which has a thickness of 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator provided outside the center electrode, a metallic shell provided outside the insulator, a ground electrode disposed to oppose the center electrode, and a spark discharge portion fixed on at least one of the center electrode and the ground electrode for defining a spark discharge gap. The spark discharge portion is formed from an alloy containing Ir as a main component, Rh in an amount of 0.2 to 10 wt. %, and Pt in an amount not greater than 10 wt. %. The ratio WPt/WRh of the Pt content to the Rh content falls within the range of 0.1-1.5.

Abstract: A spark plug has a central electrode, an insulator, a metal shell and a ground electrode. The insulator is provided exterior to the central electrode. The metal shell is provided exterior to the insulator. The ground electrode opposes the central electrode. At least one of the central electrode and the ground electrode has a multi-layered structure comprising a core and a high heat conducting layer that covers at least part of the outermost surface of the core. An inner layer of the core is more heat conductive than the outermost layer of the core that is in contact with high heat conducting layer.