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 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 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 according to the invention includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a first ground electrode, and a second ground electrode. The metal shell has a threaded portion with an outer diameter in a range of 12 to 14 mm. The first ground electrode is aligned with the center electrode in an axial direction of the spark plug to form a first spark gap across which normal sparks are discharged in normal conditions. The second ground electrode is aligned with the center electrode in a radial direction of the spark plug to form a second spark gap across which side sparks are discharged when the insulator is fouled with carbon deposits. The spark plug has an improved structure ensuring that when the insulator is fouled with carbon deposits, side sparks are discharged without formation of channels on the insulator, thereby recovering the insulation properties of the insulator.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, and a ground electrode. The insulator is retained in the metal shell. The center electrode is secured in the insulator and has an end portion that protrudes from the insulator and has an end edge. The ground electrode includes a base member fixed to the metal shell and a protruding member joined to the base member. The protruding member protrudes from a surface of the base member and has a hollow end face that faces the end portion of the center electrode through a spark gap. The end face of the protruding member has an inner edge and an outer edge, both of which face the end edge of the end portion of the center electrode. With the above configuration, the spark plug can induce spark discharges with a low discharge voltage while securing the ignition capability thereof.

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: 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 spark plug according to the invention includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a first ground electrode, and a second ground electrode. The metal shell has a threaded portion with an outer diameter in a range of 12 to 14 mm. The first ground electrode is aligned with the center electrode in an axial direction of the spark plug to form a first spark gap across which normal sparks are discharged in normal conditions. The second ground electrode is aligned with the center electrode in a radial direction of the spark plug to form a second spark gap across which side sparks are discharged when the insulator is fouled with carbon deposits. The spark plug has an improved structure ensuring that when the insulator is fouled with carbon deposits, side sparks are discharged without formation of channels on the insulator, thereby recovering the insulation properties of the insulator.

Abstract: A spark plug structure produces sparks between a second ground electrode and a center electrode when a porcelain insulator is stained with carbon. A wear resisting member is installed on a side wall of the center electrode for minimizing the wear of the side wall caused by the sparks to increase the useful life of the spark plug. A production method is also provided.

Abstract: A first gap discharge gap is located between a front end of a center electrode and a front side of a first ground electrode of a spark plug. A second discharge gap is located between a front end of a second ground electrode and a front side of the center electrode. Respective dimensional relationships between various of these elements are established to promote self-cleaning of the spark plug.

Abstract: An improved structure of a spark plug in which sparks are produced between a second ground electrode and a center electrode when a porcelain insulator is stained with carbon is provided. A wear resisting member is installed on a side wall of the center electrode for minimizing the wear of the side wall caused by the sparks to increase the useful life of the spark plug. A production method is also provided.

Abstract: In a spark plug, a chip made of Ir alloy is partly buried into and bonded by laser beam welding on the ground electrode made of Ni base alloy. A molten portion is extended from the inside of the ground electrode through a junction of the chip and the electrode into the inside of the chip, but not formed on the spark discharge surface of the chip. Where A is a maximum length from the end of the junction on the side of the center electrode to the end of the molten portion on the junction on the side opposite to the center electrode, within the length A, B is a length of both ends of the molten portion, t is a length of the chip perpendicularly extending from the junction and d is a sum of the length t and a length of the molten portion protruding from the junction into the ground electrode, a ratio of A/B is not less than 0.5 and a ratio of d/t is not less than 2, but more than 4.