Abstract: Disclosed is an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The ignition apparatus includes a spark plug, an ignition coil and a controller. The spark plug has an auxiliary combustion chamber in which a discharge gap is arranged. The ignition coil is configured to apply a voltage to the spark plug. The controller is configured to perform a multiple-discharge mode in which discharge is generated at least twice, with a discharge pause period intervening therebetween, across the discharge gap within a period from a compression stroke to an expansion stroke of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: In a spark plug, at least one injection hole serves as a ground-directed injection hole arranged to face a facing side of a ground electrode. An extension line of the center axis of the at least one ground-directed injection hole intersects with the facing side of the ground electrode at an intersection point. The facing side of the ground electrode has a closer region closer to the projection-end edge of the ground electrode than the intersection point is. The closer region of the facing side intersects with the extension line of the center axis of the ground-directed injection hole at a predetermined angle as viewed in the axial direction of the spark plug. The predetermined angle being an obtuse angle.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes a spark plug including a prechamber in which a spark gap is located. A plug cover covers the prechamber and includes an ejection hole, which connects the prechamber to a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The ignition system for the internal combustion engine is configured to apply a pre-discharge voltage that causes a pre-discharge across the spark gap during an intake stroke of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a cylindrical insulator, a center electrode, a cylindrical housing, and a plug cover. On a tip side of the insulator, an auxiliary combustion chamber is formed which is surrounded by at least the plug cover. The plug cover is provided with nozzle holes that communicate between the auxiliary combustion chamber and the outside of the auxiliary combustion chamber. A central axis of the nozzle hole is inclined with respect to a plug radial direction when viewed in a plug axial direction. At least a part around an outer opening of the nozzle hole is provided with a concave portion that is adjacent to the outer opening. The concave portion is recessed from the outside to the inside of the plug cover.

Abstract: An ignition device of the present embodiment is an ignition device for an internal combustion and includes an ignition plug, an operating information acquisition unit and an ignition control unit. The ignition plug includes an accessory chamber and an injection hole from which flame is to be injected from the accessory chamber to a main combustion chamber. The operating information acquisition unit is configured to acquire operating information regarding an operating state of the internal combustion. The ignition control unit is configured to control an ignition energy profile that affects an ignition state of an air-fuel mixture based on the operating information acquired by the operating information acquisition unit.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a plug cover provided at a tip end portion of a housing to cover an auxiliary combustion chamber where an electrical discharge gap is located. The plug cover has a curved surface portion. The curved surface portion includes an outer curved surface convexly curved outward. The curved surface portion has an inclined injection hole formed therein to allow communication between the auxiliary combustion chamber and an outside. The inclined injection hole is opened to be inclined, relative to a plug axial direction, outward in a plug radial direction toward a tip end side. In a cross section including a central axis of the inclined injection hole and along the plug axial direction, a tangent line of a portion of the outer curved surface that overlaps an extended line of the central axis of the inclined injection hole is orthogonal to the extended line.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a cylindrical insulator; a center electrode that is held on an inner circumferential side of the insulator and includes a tip-end protruding portion that protrudes from the insulator toward a tip end side; a cylindrical housing that holds the insulator on an inner circumferential side; and a plug cover that is provided in a tip end portion of the housing so as to cover a pre-combustion chamber in which the tip-end protruding portion is arranged. The plug cover is provided with an injection hole that communicates the pre-combustion chamber to the outside. A positioning portion that performs positioning of the housing and the plug cover in a plug circumferential direction is provided in the housing and the plug cover.

Abstract: In a spark plug, at least one injection hole serves as a ground-directed injection hole arranged to face a facing side of a ground electrode. An extension line of the center axis of the at least one ground-directed injection hole intersects with the facing side of the ground electrode at an intersection point. The facing side of the ground electrode has a closer region closer to the projection-end edge of the ground electrode than the intersection point is. The closer region of the facing side intersects with the extension line of the center axis of the ground-directed injection hole at a predetermined angle as viewed in the axial direction of the spark plug. The predetermined angle being an obtuse angle.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes insulating glass having a tubular shape, a central electrode including a tip protruding portion, a housing having a tubular shape, and a plug cover provided over an auxiliary combustion chamber. The plug cover is provided with injection holes through which the auxiliary combustion chamber communicates with the exterior. The central electrode includes a base material and a core material disposed inside the base material and having a higher thermal conductivity than the base material. The core material includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion continuously formed on a tip side of the large diameter portion. The small diameter portion has a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion, and includes, in a part of the small diameter portion in an axial direction, a small-diameter columnar portion having a constant diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ignition apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The ignition apparatus includes a spark plug, an ignition coil and a controller. The spark plug has an auxiliary combustion chamber in which a discharge gap is arranged. The ignition coil is configured to apply a voltage to the spark plug. The controller is configured to perform a multiple-discharge mode in which discharge is generated at least twice, with a discharge pause period intervening therebetween, across the discharge gap within a period from a compression stroke to an expansion stroke of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a housing, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a prechamber-defining portion. The prechamber-defining portion has a prechamber formed therein. The prechamber-defining portion has a plurality of spray holes. At least one of the spray holes is an upstream spray hole which is arranged upstream of a plug center axis in a gas flow within a main combustion chamber and designed such that and an angle which an extension in an opening direction makes with an inner wall surface of the prechamber is selected to be larger than 90°. A spark gap is formed upstream of a plug center axis in the gas flow within the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a cylindrical insulator; a center electrode that is held on an inner circumferential side of the insulator and includes a tip-end protruding portion that protrudes from the insulator toward a tip end side; a cylindrical housing that holds the insulator on an inner circumferential side; and a plug cover that is provided in a tip end portion of the housing so as to cover a pre-combustion chamber in which the tip-end protruding portion is arranged. The plug cover is provided with an injection hole that communicates the pre-combustion chamber to the outside. A positioning portion that performs positioning of the housing and the plug cover in a plug circumferential direction is provided in the housing and the plug cover.

Abstract: A spark plug includes: a cylindrical insulator; a center electrode, held on an inner circumferential side of the insulator, protruding from the insulator toward a tip end side; a cylindrical housing holding the insulator on an inner circumferential side; a ground electrode forming a discharge gap between the ground electrode and the center electrode on the inner circumferential side of the housing; and a plug cover provided in a tip end portion of the housing to cover a pre-combustion chamber in which the discharge gap is arranged. The plug cover is provided with an injection hole that communicates the pre-combustion chamber to the outside. The ground electrode includes a discharge-side end portion that faces the discharge gap and a joining-side end portion that is joined to the housing. The discharge-side end portion is arranged further toward a base end side in an axial direction than the joining-side end portion is.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a plug cover provided at a tip end portion of a housing to cover an auxiliary combustion chamber where an electrical discharge gap is located. The plug cover has a curved surface portion. The curved surface portion includes an outer curved surface convexly curved outward. The curved surface portion has an inclined injection hole formed therein to allow communication between the auxiliary combustion chamber and an outside. The inclined injection hole is opened to be inclined, relative to a plug axial direction, outward in a plug radial direction toward a tip end side. In a cross section including a central axis of the inclined injection hole and along the plug axial direction, a tangent line of a portion of the outer curved surface that overlaps an extended line of the central axis of the inclined injection hole is orthogonal to the extended line.

Abstract: An ignition device of the present embodiment is an ignition device for an internal combustion and includes an ignition plug, an operating information acquisition unit and an ignition control unit. The ignition plug includes an accessory chamber and an injection hole from which flame is to be injected from the accessory chamber to a main combustion chamber. The operating information acquisition unit is configured to acquire operating information regarding an operating state of the internal combustion. The ignition control unit is configured to control an ignition energy profile that affects an ignition state of an air-fuel mixture based on the operating information acquired by the operating information acquisition unit.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a housing, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a prechamber-defining portion. The prechamber-defining portion has a prechamber formed therein. The prechamber-defining portion has a plurality of spray holes. At least one of the spray holes is an upstream spray hole which is arranged upstream of a plug center axis in a gas flow within a main combustion chamber and designed such that and an angle which an extension in an opening direction makes with an inner wall surface of the prechamber is selected to be larger than 90°. A spark gap is formed upstream of a plug center axis in the gas flow within the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: In an ignition control device for controlling operation of an ignition apparatus, an ignition section has first and second electrodes disposed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A voltage application between the first and second electrodes enables a discharge to be generated between the first and second electrodes for igniting a gas mixture in the combustion chamber. A voltage application section performs at least one application of a determination voltage between the first and second electrodes. An occurrence ratio acquisition section acquires a discharge occurrence ratio at the ignition section for the at least one application of the determination voltage. A comparison section compares the discharge occurrence ratio acquired by the occurrence ratio acquisition section with a predetermined determination threshold to thereby determine a degree of wear of at least one of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: In an ignition apparatus, an ignition plug is provided. In the ignition plug, a tubular outer conductor surrounds an inner conductor, and a dielectric member is disposed in the tubular outer conductor to define a plasma formation region between the inner conductor and the dielectric member. The plasma formation region has opposing first and second ends in the axial direction of the tubular outer conductor, and the first end of the plasma formation region communicates with the combustion chamber. A power source is connected between the inner and tubular outer conductors. A controller causes a power source to apply electromagnetic power pulses with intervals therebetween across the inner and tubular outer conductors during an ignition cycle of an engine. Each of the electromagnetic power pulses forms at least a corresponding plasma in the plasma formation region.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus is provided which ignites a mixture of air and fuel gas by plasma to generate an initial flame. The apparatus includes: a spark plug that includes an inner conductor, a cylindrical outer conductor that holds the inner conductor thereinside, and a dielectric that is provided between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and that generates plasma in a plasma formation space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; an electromagnetic wave power supply that generates an electromagnetic wave to apply electromagnetic wave power to the spark plug; an evaluation section that evaluates a state of formation of the plasma; a determination section that determines a matching object of the electromagnetic wave based on an evaluation result by the evaluation section; and a coupled state control section that controls a matching condition of the electromagnetic wave so that the electromagnetic wave matches the matching object.

Abstract: A spark plug has a specific direction orthogonal to an axial direction of a spark plug; the specific direction has opposing front directional side and rear directional side; the housing has a tip surface having a front end in the front side of the specific direction and a rear end in the rear side, the tip surface has a tip inclined surface inclined toward the tip end of the spark plug from the front end to the rear end of the tip surface. The tip inclined surface has a rear end in the specific direction, the insulator having a front end of the specific direction, the rear end is located to be closer to the tip end of the spark plug than the front end of the tip surface is, and to be more rearward than the front end of the insulator in the rear side of the specific direction.