Abstract: The gas sensor includes a sensor element having electrode pads formed in its electrode forming surfaces at the proximal end portion thereof, an insert-holding insulator insert-holding the sensor element, a housing insert-holding the insert-holding insulator, and a terminal unit. The proximal end portion of the sensor element is held by the terminal unit which includes a pair of proximal end insulators formed with metal terminals at their inner surfaces, and a spring member pressing the proximal end insulators in a direction that they approach each other. Each of the proximal end insulators includes an insulator contact portion in contact with one of the electrode forming surfaces. The insulator contact portion is located closer to the proximal end of the sensor element than a terminal contact portion at which the metal terminal contacts a corresponding one of the electrode pads.

Abstract: The gas sensor includes a sensor element having electrode pads formed in its electrode forming surfaces at the proximal end portion thereof, an insert-holding insulator insert-holding the sensor element, a housing insert-holding the insert-holding insulator, and a terminal unit. The proximal end portion of the sensor element is held by the terminal unit which includes a pair of proximal end insulators formed with metal terminals at their inner surfaces, and a spring member pressing the proximal end insulators in a direction that they approach each other. Each of the proximal end insulators includes an insulator contact portion in contact with one of the electrode forming surfaces. The insulator contact portion is located closer to the proximal end of the sensor element than a terminal contact portion at which the metal terminal contacts a corresponding one of the electrode pads.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes a stacked piezoelectric device received in a cylindrical case having an extendable and contractible portion formed at least at an axial part thereof, and a housing provided with a pair of external electrodes for power supply and connected to an open end of the cylindrical case. Between the piezoelectric device and the cylindrical case, a molding resin having an electric insulation property is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the piezoelectric device, and a sleeve having an electric insulation property is provided on the molding resin. The sleeve is formed by a plurality of circumferentially separated sleeve segments assembled together into a substantially cylindrical shape.

Abstract: In a stick coil, there is disclosed an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine which can prevent a crack (a collar leak) from being generated due to a thermal stress. In this ignition coil, the structure is made such that a size (L) of a portion which is in parallel to an axial direction of a primary spool (121) in a projection portion (121b) is larger than a size (T) of a portion which is in parallel to an orthogonal direction to the axial direction of the primary spool (121). Accordingly, a frontal projected area of the projection portion (121b) as seen from a flowing direction of a resin becomes small, a resin flow is hard to get out of order at a time when the resin flows through a portion corresponding to the projection portion (121b) at the forming time, and a convoluted void and a weld are hard to be generated.

Abstract: An ignition coil includes a housing which contains a central core portion, an inner spool having a first winding, and an outer spool having a second winding. The inner spool extends outward of the central core portion. The outer spool extends outward of the inner spool. A locating member includes a locating rib adjacent to an upper portion of the central core portion. The locating rib is in a gap between the inner spool and the central core portion, and locates the inner spool and the central core portion relative to each other. Insulating resin injected into the housing provides insulation among parts in the housing. At least one of the inner spool and the locating member has a void-escape passage which connects the gap and an outside of the inner spool with each other, and which allows a void to escape from the injected insulating resin in the gap.

Abstract: An ignition coil includes a housing which contains a central core portion, an inner spool having a first winding, and an outer spool having a second winding. The inner spool extends outward of the central core portion. The outer spool extends outward of the inner spool. A locating member includes a locating rib adjacent to an upper portion of the central core portion. The locating rib is in a gap between the inner spool and the central core portion, and locates the inner spool and the central core portion relative to each other. Insulating resin injected into the housing provides insulation among parts in the housing. At least one of the inner spool and the locating member has a void-escape passage which connects the gap and an outside of the inner spool with each other, and which allows a void to escape from the injected insulating resin in the gap.

Abstract: In a stick coil, there is disclosed an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine which can prevent a crack (a collar leak) from being generated due to a thermal stress. In this ignition coil, the structure is made such that a size (L) of a portion which is in parallel to an axial direction of a primary spool (121) in a projection portion (121b) is larger than a size (T) of a portion which is in parallel to an orthogonal direction to the axial direction of the primary spool (121). Accordingly, a frontal projected area of the projection portion (121b) as seen from a flowing direction of a resin becomes small, a resin flow is hard to get out of order at a time when the resin flows through a portion corresponding to the projection portion (121b) at the forming time, and a convoluted void and a weld are hard to be generated.

Abstract: An ignition distributor has a hollow housing. A distributor cap having a caved portion that extends in the housing is mounted on one end of the housing. The other end of the housing supports a rotation shaft. An ignition coil is disposed in the caved portion of the distributor cap. A rotor electrode of a distributor section is connected to the shaft, and rotates around the caved portion of the distributor cap. Side electrodes are arranged to face the rotor electrode with its rotation. Thus, the space surrounding the ignition coil is fully utilized to arrange the distributor section. This results in a compact ignition distributor.