Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Kowalski
Kevin J. Kowalski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10312668Abstract: A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANYInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Patent number: 9972978Abstract: A spark plug and a method of manufacturing the same, where the spark plug has a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a gasket located over a threaded portion of the shell and used to seal the spark plug against a cylinder head. Once the gasket is attached on the spark plug, it is shrunk to become a post-formed gasket with an inner diameter that prevents the post-formed gasket from slipping over a threaded portion of the metallic shell. This process may be carried out with a collet type machine that produces a post-formed gasket that is flat and has a substantially uniform thickness, which can improve the sealability of the gasket. This may be important when the spark plug is installed in a cylinder head made from a lost foam casting process or other process that creates a somewhat porous sealing surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANYInventors: Jeremy M. Bowman, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Patent number: 9893496Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) of an internal combustion engine is provided. The spark plug (20) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined rotational position (a) relative to a shell outer surface (64) and ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a desired position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. When multiple spark plugs (20) are formed, the threads (26) in each of the shells (24) are repeatedly and accurately formed at the predetermined rotational position (?) by locating the ground electrode (34), threads (26), and dies (76) of a thread forming apparatus (102) in specific locations.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Federal-Mogul LLCInventors: Nathan A. Thomson, Kevin J. Kowalski, Jeremy M. Bowman
-
Publication number: 20170237235Abstract: A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Patent number: 9673593Abstract: A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20170141543Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) of an internal combustion engine is provided. The spark plug (20) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined rotational position (a) relative to a shell outer surface (64) and ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a desired position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. When multiple spark plugs (20) are formed, the threads (26) in each of the shells (24) are repeatedly and accurately formed at the predetermined rotational position (a) by locating the ground electrode (34), threads (26), and dies (76) of a thread forming apparatus (102) in specific locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: NATHAN A. THOMSON, KEVIN J. KOWALSKI, JEREMY M. BOWMAN
-
Publication number: 20160365706Abstract: A spark plug and a method of manufacturing the same, where the spark plug has a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a gasket located over a threaded portion of the shell and used to seal the spark plug against a cylinder head. Once the gasket is attached on the spark plug, it is shrunk to become a post-formed gasket with an inner diameter that prevents the post-formed gasket from slipping over a threaded portion of the metallic shell. This process may be carried out with a collet type machine that produces a post-formed gasket that is flat and has a substantially uniform thickness, which can improve the sealability of the gasket. This may be important when the spark plug is installed in a cylinder head made from a lost foam casting process or other process that creates a somewhat porous sealing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Jeremy M. Bowman, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Patent number: 9368943Abstract: A spark plug having a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a multi-layer sparking component. The multi-layer sparking component is attached at a firing end of the ground electrode and includes a thin precious metal layer formed overtop a base metal layer and, according to some embodiments, overhangs the end of the ground electrode. The precious metal and base metal layers may be pre-manufactured together as a bi-metal ribbon, sheet or laminate before the multi-layer sparking component is attached to the ground electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANYInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Patent number: 9318879Abstract: A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or a ground electrode by way of a fused portion. In one or more embodiments, the firing pad is composed of a precious metal material. The fused portion can be formed in such a way that a material composition thereof at a sparking surface of the firing pad has a greater percentage of the precious metal material than a material of the underlying electrode to which the firing pad is attached.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20160049772Abstract: A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (?).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Patrick M. Gfell, Don R. Gregg, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Patent number: 9236713Abstract: A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (?).Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Federal-Mogul CorporationInventors: Patrick M. Gfell, Don R. Gregg, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Patent number: 9231379Abstract: A spark plug has a shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The firing pad is made of a precious metal material and is attached to the ground electrode. The firing pad has a side surface at a peripheral edge that can be flush or nearly flush with a free end surface of the ground electrode. This construction can help improve ignitability and flame kernel growth of the spark plug during a sparking event, and can provide better thermal management at the attached ground electrode and firing pad.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Nathan A. Thomson, Richard L. Keller
-
Patent number: 9130356Abstract: A spark plug includes a metallic shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a thin firing pad. The thin firing pad is made from a noble metal and can be attached to the center electrode, the ground electrode, or to both. In some examples, the thin firing pad possesses certain geometric properties and relationships that can improve ignitability and durability of the thin firing pad.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20150236482Abstract: A spark plug has a shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The firing pad is made of a precious metal material and is attached to the ground electrode. The firing pad has a side surface at a peripheral edge that can be flush or nearly flush with a free end surface of the ground electrode. This construction can help improve ignitability and flame kernel growth of the spark plug during a sparking event, and can provide better thermal management at the attached ground electrode and firing pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Nathan A. Thomson, Richard L. Keller
-
Patent number: 9041274Abstract: A spark plug has a shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The firing pad is made of a precious metal material and is attached to the ground electrode. The firing pad has a side surface at a peripheral edge that can be flush or nearly flush with a free end surface of the ground electrode. This construction can help improve ignitability and flame kernel growth of the spark plug during a sparking event, and can provide better thermal management at the attached ground electrode and firing pad.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20150091433Abstract: A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (?).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Patrick M. Gfell, Don R. Gregg, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Patent number: 8866369Abstract: A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (?).Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Patrick M. Gfell, Donald R. Gregg, Kevin J. Kowalski
-
Publication number: 20140265813Abstract: A spark plug having a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a multi-layer sparking component. The multi-layer sparking component is attached at a firing end of the ground electrode and includes a thin precious metal layer formed overtop a base metal layer and, according to some embodiments, overhangs the end of the ground electrode. The precious metal and base metal layers may be pre-manufactured together as a bi-metal ribbon, sheet or laminate before the multi-layer sparking component is attached to the ground electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20140210334Abstract: A spark plug has a shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The firing pad is made of a precious metal material and is attached to the ground electrode. The firing pad has a side surface at a peripheral edge that can be flush or nearly flush with a free end surface of the ground electrode. This construction can help improve ignitability and flame kernel growth of the spark plug during a sparking event, and can provide better thermal management at the attached ground electrode and firing pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller
-
Publication number: 20140111078Abstract: A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or a ground electrode by way of a fused portion. In one or more embodiments, the firing pad is composed of a precious metal material. The fused portion can be formed in such a way that a material composition thereof at a sparking surface of the firing pad has a greater percentage of the precious metal material than a material of the underlying electrode to which the firing pad is attached.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Inventors: Kevin J. Kowalski, Frederick J. Quitmeyer, Nathan A. Thomson, Curtis W. Verhoff, Richard L. Keller