Abstract: System and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a boosted engine are described. In one example, a spark plug may be adjusted between two operating states to reduce a possibility of pre-ignition and spark plug fouling. A first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at light loads. The first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at higher loads.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine with fuel which is combusted using a spark plug. According to the invention, the aging of the spark plug, in particular the aging of an electric resistor of the spark plug, is monitored during the operation of the internal combustion engine, wherein electromagnetic radiation of the spark plug is detected for monitoring purposes. The invention additionally relates to a controller for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A spark plug having a connection portion disposed in the axial hole and between a metal terminal and a center electrode. The connection portion includes: a magnetic substance formed from a Fe-containing oxide; a conductor helically disposed on an outer periphery of the magnetic substance and electrically connected to the metal terminal and the center electrode; and an intermediate member disposed between the magnetic substance and the conductor, and an inner peripheral surface of the insulator and having lower electrical conductivity than the conductor. The conductor includes a base and a conductive layer disposed on an outer periphery of the base and having higher electrical conductivity than the base, and the conductive layer has a thickness of larger than 0.1 ?m and equal to or smaller than 25 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique of suppressing the generation of radio noise in a spark plug, wherein a high dielectric constant fixation-assisting member, formed of a high dielectric constant material which is higher in dielectric constant than alumina, is provided between a metallic shell and a second conductive portion CP2 which includes a metallic terminal of the spark plug 100.

Abstract: There is provided an ignition plug whereby an electrical configuration for discharge and an electrical configuration for guiding and radiating microwaves are provided concomitantly, within dimensions permitting installation in an installation space for an ordinary ignition plug, and adapted to efficiently guide and transmit microwaves into a combustion chamber. The ignition plug comprises a center electrode and a ground electrode for spark discharge; a center wire and an outside conductor forming a coaxial electromagnetic wave transmission line; and a microwave radiation antenna that is electrically integrated with the center wire; the microwave radiation antenna having a profile that defines part of a sphere or arc including a plurality of locations substantially equidistant from the center electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique of suppressing the generation of radio noise in a spark plug, wherein a high dielectric constant fixation-assisting member, formed of a high dielectric constant material which is higher in dielectric constant than alumina, is provided between a metallic shell and a second conductive portion CP2 which includes a metallic terminal of the spark plug 100.

Abstract: Ignition apparatus includes high tension ignition cable. The cable is of low electrical resistance per unit length. A central core of the cable is formed of carbon fibre filaments. An insulating layer is provided around the core. A semiconductor layer is provided around the insulating layer. Another insulating layer is provided around the semiconductor layer. A layer of yarn around the other insulating layer forms a protecting layer. A protective layer of a flame retardant material forms an outer layer of the cable. The ignition apparatus also includes one or more of: a field stabilizer device for stabilizing and regulating high tension voltage in the cable; resistor spark plugs; connectors fitted to ends of the cable that include resistors therein, such as resistor spark plug boots.

Abstract: An essentially-elongated spark plug for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including: an essentially-capacitive lower part including two coaxial electrodes; an essentially-inductive upper part including a central mandrel, a coaxial winding around the mandrel, and an external tubular casing that serves as electromagnetic armor; and an insulant disposed radially between the casing and the winding. The essentially-inductive upper part includes a second internal casing of electromagnetic armor, which is disposed radially between the insulant and the external casing.

Abstract: There is provided an ignition plug whereby an electrical configuration for discharge and an electrical configuration for guiding and radiating microwaves are provided concomitantly, within dimensions permitting installation in an installation space for an ordinary ignition plug, and adapted to efficiently guide and transmit microwaves into a combustion chamber. The ignition plug comprises a center electrode and a ground electrode for spark discharge; a center wire and an outside conductor forming a coaxial electromagnetic wave transmission line; and a microwave radiation antenna that is electrically integrated with the center wire; the microwave radiation antenna having a profile that defines part of a sphere or arc including a plurality of locations substantially equidistant from the center electrode.

Abstract: An electromagnetically lossy liquid- or gas-tight fusion seal for use as a low pass radio frequency signal filter constructed as a matrix of glass binder and ferrimagnetic and/or ferroelectric filler. Metal cased electrical filters are made by reflowing the material to form fused glass-to-metal seals and incorporating electrical thru-conductors therein which may be formed as inductive windings.

Abstract: In a spark plug in which a space between a center electrode at the top end side and a terminal electrode at a rear end side which are arranged to be opposite to each other in an axial hole of an insulator, the glass seal is effected at a temperature within the range of 500 to 1000° C. and under a condition where the concentration of oxygen is 12 vol % or less.

Abstract: A filter 2A(2C), which prevents the leakage of electromagnetic waves from a PDP 1, is provided with a filter base 11 in front of the PDP 1 and a grounded conductive mesh 12 which transmits light from the base 11 on the PDP 1 side. A light scattering layer 13 is bonded to the mesh 12 by a conductive adhesive 14 which transmits light, and the spaces of the lattice, when the base 1 exists, of the mesh 12 are filled with the adhesive 14 so that, when an electric charge is induced in the mesh 12 by a pulse voltage applied to the PDP 1 for write/erase, the voltage across the lattice of the mesh 12 is made nearly equal to the potential of the mesh 12 so as not to cause an electric discharge and generate noise.

Abstract: An electromagnetically lossy liquid- or gas-tight fusion seal for use as a low pass radio frequency signal filter constructed as a matrix of glass binder and ferrimagnetic and/or ferroelectric filler. Metal cased electrical filters are made by reflowing the material to form fused glass-to-metal seals and incorporating electrical thru-conductors therein which may be formed as inductive windings.

Abstract: An electromagnetically lossy liquid- or gas-tight fusion seal for use as a low pass radio frequency signal filter constructed as a matrix of glass binder and ferrimagnetic and/or ferroelectric filler. Metal cased electrical filters are made by reflowing the material to form fused glass-to-metal seals and incorporating electrical thru-conductors therein which may be formed as inductive windings.

Abstract: In spark ignited engine configurations, it is common to provide a spark plug that has a spark gap that has dimension that will accommodate good starting capabilities for the engine. In some cases, this spark gap is larger than required for the engine to run efficiently, especially at high loads. As a result, the voltage required to bridge the gap when the engine is running at high loads is much higher than necessary and causes erosion of the electrode and a build up of deposits on the ground strap. Ultimately, this greatly reduces the life of the spark plug. The present invention provides a spark plug that utilizes an adjusting means that is connected to the electrode of the spark plug and functions to move the electrode with respect to the ground strap to adjust the gap therebetween. The adjusting means is responsive to the temperature of the spark plug which will vary with engine loads or an increase in pressure within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug containing a resistor which is a sintered body made from a mixture comprising coarse glass particles and fine glass particles, coarse ceramic particles and fine ceramic particles, and carbon black in special proportions is improved in noise signal suppression effect.

Abstract: An ignition amplifier device for the secondary circuit of an ignition system comprises the series connection of a spark gap having an electrode spacing of between 0.05 and 0.2 mm with a condenser. The so formed series connection is shunted to the electrodes of the spark plug.

Abstract: An electrically stable radio frequency interference suppressing glass-type resistor seal composition forming a gas-tight seal within the center bore of a ceramic insulator is disclosed that contains borosilicate glass, barium borate glass, mullite, zirconia, carbon black, bentonite, sucrose, lithium carbonate and small, approximately equal amounts of antimony and silicon.

Abstract: An improved spark plug, capable of suppressing radio-frequency electromagnetic interference from internal combustion engine ignition systems such as those commonly used in motor vehicles, is disclosed. The plug comprises a shell releasably engageable with an engine, an insulator mounted in the shell, a center electrode seated within the insulator and a ground electrode structurally integral with the shell and in spark gap relationship with the center electrode. The spark plug is further characterized in that at least a portion of its insulator has a dielectric constant sufficiently high that the effective dielectric constant of the insulator is at least 30, and the relationships among the elements of the spark plug and the effective value of the dielectric constant of the insulator are such that the spark plug has a capacitance of at least 20 picofarads. Preferably, the spark plug has a capacitance of from 20 to 100 picofarads, most desirably from 30 to 80 picofarads.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a capacitor-discharge ignition system which includes a particular low-resistance, low-inductance, wire-wound circuit element at the spark plug which is operative with the spark plug and with the rest of the ignition system to materially suppress RFI generated at the spark gap. In application to high-speed, high-power two-cycle engines, use of the invention does not adversely affect engine performance.

Abstract: A shielding and retaining system for vehicle engine electrical components, and particularly, components forming part of the ignition system thereof such as the spark plugs, ignition coil and distributor. The spark plug, when located in the engine block, is shielded by means of a spark plug shield. In addition, the distributor is provided with a body enclosure which is disposed around the distributor and is secured thereto thereby providing electrical shielding around the distributor. In like manner, a separate body enclosure is provided to be fitted around the coil and which also prevents radio frequency signals emanating from the coil. With a minimum amount of shielding components, it is possible to reduce a substantial portion of radio frequency noise.

Abstract: The protection against interference emitted by automobile internal combustion engines or other vehicles is provided by an element for a spark plug or for a distributor, comprising a shield 3, a resistor 4 increasing with the frequency to be filtered and a capacitor 5, selected in such a manner that the RC product is higher than the time constant corresponding to the cut-off frequency.Good reduction of interference is obtained between 10 and 1000 MHz.

Abstract: An ignition wiring system having the leads formed as a wire coil about a magnetizable core defines a distributed constant resistive-inductive series impedance. A metal shield is located over the spark plug proper and electrically connected to the engine ground. A flexible shield extension in the form of a coil extends over the lead from beneath the shield. The shield and shield extension introduce distributed capacitance between the special lead and engine ground. The combination of the shield and shield extension with the special lead forms a distributed constant RLC filter which produces RFI suppression. The shield and shield extension confine the electromagnetic radiation emanating from that portion of the lead where the radiation is strongest, thereby enhancing the suppression. The rapid discharge by the spark plug of the stored energy contained in the distributed capacitance increases the spark intensity and promotes more complete combustion.