Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a housing, an insulation porcelain, a center electrode and a ground electrode. Both of a tip portion of the center electrode and an opposing portion of the ground electrode are provided with respective projection portions which are projected toward a spark discharge gap. At least one of the projection portions has an opposing face that confronts the spark discharge gap and is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of the plug. The spark discharge gap is configured to be gradually enlarged, in one direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the plug, from a narrow gap on one end side toward a wide gap on the other end side.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided, which includes a housing, an insulation porcelain, a center electrode, a main ground electrode, a first sub ground electrode and a second sub ground electrode. The first and second sub ground electrode are arranged being opposed to each other. Requirements of Hs1<Hc+Gm, Gm<Gs1+Gg, Gm<Gs2+Gg, Hs2?Hs1 and Hc<Hs2 are satisfied, where Hc is the length of projection of the center electrode, Gm is the size of the main gap, Hs1 is the length of projection of the first sub ground electrode, Hs2 is the length of projection of the second sub ground electrode, Gs1 is the length of the first sub gap in the radial direction of the plug, Gs2 is the length of the second sub gap in the radial direction of the plug, and Gg is the distance between an outer peripheral edge portion and an inner peripheral edge portion of a porcelain tip portion in the radial direction of the plug.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes a housing, an insulation porcelain, a center electrode and a ground electrode. At least one of a tip portion of the center electrode and an opposing portion of the ground electrode is provided with a projection portion. At least one of the projection portions has a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the plug, the cross section having a minimum curvature radius portion and being in a specific shape that satisfies a predetermined requirement. The requirement is that, when a first straight line, a first line segment and a second straight line are provided, and when the cross section is divided into a first region and a second region by the second straight line, the second region has an area larger than the area of the first region.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal-combustion engines equipped with a center electrode and a ground electrode is provided. In the spark plug, the ground electrode is fixed to a mount fitting, while the ground electrode has a convex portion. The convex portion is made of a part of base materials of the ground electrode where the part is facing the center electrode, and is projected toward the center electrode. The convex portion has a fusion solidification part made of precious metal materials and a part of the base materials melted together and solidified at least on part of an electric discharge surface facing the center electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell, an insulator, a cylindrical center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode has an inclined portion, a straight portion, and a bend between the inclined and straight portions. The inclined portion extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the center electrode from a base end of the ground electrode, which is joined to an end of the metal shell, to the bend that is positioned closer to the center electrode in the radial direction of the center electrode than the base end. The straight portion extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the center electrode from the bend to a tip end of the ground electrode. The straight portion has an inner side surface facing the side surface of an end portion of the center electrode through a spark gap in the radial direction of the center electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug having an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to attachment fitting 2, earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting a part of an opposed surface 51 toward center electrode 4, and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 passes through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. The relation S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal-combustion engine comprises an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to the attachment fitting 2, the earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting toward the center electrode 4 a part of the opposed surface 51, which faces the center electrode 4, of the earth electrode and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52 which is the reverse side of the opposed surface 51 of the earth electrode 5. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 may pass through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. A relation of S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell, an insulator, a cylindrical center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode has an inclined portion, a straight portion, and a bend between the inclined and straight portions. The inclined portion extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the center electrode from a base end of the ground electrode, which is joined to an end of the metal shell, to the bend that is positioned closer to the center electrode in the radial direction of the center electrode than the base end. The straight portion extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the center electrode from the bend to a tip end of the ground electrode. The straight portion has an inner side surface facing the side surface of an end portion of the center electrode through a spark gap in the radial direction of the center electrode.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for a spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator, an attachment fitment having an attachment screw section formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a ground electrode. A protective sleeve is disposed in a detachable manner on the outer periphery of the attachment screw section. The attachment fitment includes a flange section that has a diameter larger than that of the attachment screw section on a base end side of the attachment screw section. The protective sleeve includes a main body cylinder section having an inner diameter that is the diameter of the attachment screw section or larger, and smaller than the diameter of the flange section, a large diameter cylinder section having an inner diameter that is the diameter of the flange section or larger, and a step section formed between the large diameter cylinder section and the main body cylinder section.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell, an insulator, a cylindrical center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode has an inclined portion, a straight portion, and a bend between the inclined and straight portions. The inclined portion extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the center electrode from a base end of the ground electrode, which is joined to an end of the metal shell, to the bend that is positioned closer to the center electrode in the radial direction of the center electrode than the base end. The straight portion extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the center electrode from the bend to a tip end of the ground electrode. The straight portion has an inner side surface facing the side surface of an end portion of the center electrode through a spark gap in the radial direction of the center electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug having an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5. While fixed to attachment fitting 2, earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting a part of an opposed surface 51 toward center electrode 4, and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52. The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 passes through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. The relation S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a hollow cylindrical metal shell with an open end portion to be exposed to a combustion chamber of the engine, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, a center electrode disposed in the metal housing to define a spark gap between itself and the ground electrode. The spark plug also includes a stream shaper geometrically formed on an inner periphery of the open end portion of the metal shell to shape tumble vortexes of air-fuel mixture into vortex streams oriented toward a central portion of the combustion chamber. This ensures the stability of orientation of the tumble vortexes to control a flow of sparks, thereby enhancing the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal-combustion engine comprises an attachment fitting 2, an insulator 3, a center electrode 4 and an earth electrode 5 . While fixed to the attachment fitting 2, the earth electrode 5 has a convex part 510 formed by projecting toward the center electrode 4 a part of the opposed surface 51, which faces the center electrode 4, of the earth electrode and a concave part 520 formed toward the opposed surface 51 from the earth electrode's back surface 52 which is the reverse side of the opposed surface 51 of the earth electrode 5 . The convex part 510 is disposed so that the extension of a shaft center of the convex part 510 may pass through the area in which the concave part 520 is formed. A relation of S1>=s is realized when an area of an opening of the concave part 520 is set to S1 and an average cross-section area of a cross section of the convex part 510 perpendicular to an axial direction of the spark plug is set to s.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a hollow cylindrical metal shell with an open end portion to be exposed to a combustion chamber of the engine, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, a center electrode disposed in the metal housing to define a spark gap between itself and the ground electrode. The spark plug also includes a stream shaper or a stream reflector geometrically formed on the metal shell and/or the porcelain insulator to shape a vortex steam of air-fuel mixture into a stream thereof which is oriented outside the spark plug or serves to decrease the amount of the air-fuel mixture into a pocket between the metal shell and the porcelain insulator. This ensures the stability of ignition of the air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode includes an intermediate portion extending in the axial direction of the center electrode in an axial range between an end of the insulator and an end of the center electrode. The intermediate portion has a thickness surface that is perpendicular to a radial direction of the center electrode and defines a thickness of the intermediate portion in a thicknesswise direction that is perpendicular to both the axial and radial directions of the center electrode. The intermediate portion also has a width surface that is perpendicular to the thickness surface and defines a width of the intermediate portion in a widthwise direction that is perpendicular to both the thicknesswise direction and the axial direction of the center electrode. The thickness of the intermediate portion is smaller than the width of the same.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal-combustion engines equipped with a center electrode and a ground electrode is provided. In the spark plug, the ground electrode is fixed to a mount fitting, while the ground electrode has a convex portion. The convex portion is made of a part of base materials of the ground electrode where the part is facing the center electrode, and is projected toward the center electrode. The convex portion has a fusion solidification part made of precious metal materials and a part of the base materials melted together and solidified at least on part of an electric discharge surface facing the center electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a hollow cylindrical metal shell with an open end portion to be exposed to a combustion chamber of the engine, a ground electrode joined to the metal shell, a center electrode disposed in the metal housing to define a spark gap between itself and the ground electrode. The spark plug also includes a stream shaper geometrically formed on an outer periphery of the open end portion of the metal shell to shape tumble vortexes of air-fuel mixture into vortex streams oriented toward a central portion of the combustion chamber. This ensures the stability of orientation of the tumble vortexes to control a flow of sparks, thereby enhancing the ignitability of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug according to the present invention includes a metal shell, an insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode secured in the insulator, and a ground electrode. The center electrode includes a base member and a thin member thinner the base member. The ground electrode includes a base member fixed to the metal shell and a protruding member that protrudes from the base member and has an end face with an inner and an outer edge. When the insulator is clean, sparks can be discharged between the thin member and the inner edge. When the insulator is fouled with carbon, sparks can be discharged between the base member and the outer edge to self-clean the insulator. Dimensional parameters and relationships are specified in the spark plug, so that the spark plug can induce spark discharges with a low discharge voltage while securing an excellent self-cleaning capability thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a spark plug that includes a center electrode, an insulator, a housing, a ground electrode, an auxiliary ground electrode, and a projected portion in the housing. The housing has a though-hole which is formed in the housing along the longitudinal axis of the center electrode and has an opening of the through-hole at the first housing end. The ground electrode has a first end facing the end of the center electrode to form a first discharge gap. The auxiliary ground electrode has a first end facing an outer peripheral surface of the first end of the insulator to form a second discharge gap. The projected portion is formed in a hollow portion of the through-hole and is projected from an inner peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the housing.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. The ground electrode includes an intermediate portion extending in the axial direction of the center electrode in an axial range between an end of the insulator and an end of the center electrode. The intermediate portion has a thickness surface that is perpendicular to a radial direction of the center electrode and defines a thickness of the intermediate portion in a thicknesswise direction that is perpendicular to both the axial and radial directions of the center electrode. The intermediate portion also has a width surface that is perpendicular to the thickness surface and defines a width of the intermediate portion in a widthwise direction that is perpendicular to both the thicknesswise direction and the axial direction of the center electrode. The thickness of the intermediate portion is smaller than the width of the same.