Abstract: A spark plug for an automotive internal combustion engine providing improved ignition even when carbon is deposited on the insulator of the plug. A rich fuel-air ratio causes carbon to be deposited on spark plug insulators, thereby decreasing its effective insulation. By limiting the geometrical dimension of the plug's center electrode, ground electrode, and insulator the problem of carbon build-up is overcome. The sizes of these elements have certain allowable ranges that enhance the igniting effect of the plug.

Abstract: An ignition system of multispark type having an ignitability superior to that of a combination an ignition system of capacitor discharge type and a multispark system is disclosed. A first control signal is generated for turning on a first switching device a predetermined time before an ignition timing to store energy in an energy storage coil and turning off the first switching device at the ignition timing. A multispark control signal is generated for turning on a second switching device from the ignition timing and turning on and off the first and second switching devices alternately for a predetermined spark period. A second control signal is generated for turning on the first switching device upon the turning off of the second switching device to store energy in the energy storage coil and then turning off the first switching device to charge a capacitor with the energy stored in the energy storage coil.

Abstract: A spark plug for an automotive internal combustion engine providing improved ignition even when carbon is deposited on the insulator of the plug. A rich fuel-air ratio causes carbon to be deposited on spark plug insulators, thereby decreasing its effective insulation. By limiting the geometrical dimension of the plug's center electrode, ground electrode, and insulator the problem of carbon build-up is overcome. The sizes of these elements have certain allowable ranges that enhance the igniting effect of the plug.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine including a center electrode, an earth electrode, a metal tip joined by welding to an ignition section of at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode, and an alloy layer located at a welding portion between the metal tip and the at least one electrode. The metal tip is formed of material highly resistant to heat and wear which is distinct in the coefficient of thermal expansion from the material of the electrodes. The alloy layer is formed to have a thickness of at least about 10.mu., so as to avoid the rupture of the metal tip along the surface thereof adjacent to the welding portion.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal-combustion engines has a spark discharge gap defined between at least two electrodes opposing to each other, and a platinum-containing wear-resistant discharging layer provided on one of the electrodes. The spark plug has a thermal stress relieving layer disposed between the discharging layer and the base metal constituting the one eletrode. The thermal stress relieving layer is made of a platinum base alloy containing nickel, which constitutes the base metal. The discharging layer may be made of a material consisting essentially of 70 to 90 wt % platinum and 30 to 10 wt % iridium. The thermal stress relieving layer may be made of a material consisting essentially of 5 to 95 wt % platinum and 95 to 5 wt % nickel. Another platinum-containing wear-resistant layer may be provided on the other electrode, the wear-resistant layer being made of a material consisting essentially of 5 to 60 wt % nickel and 95 to 40 wt % platinum.

Abstract: An ignition plug of extended durability which reduces crack formation in noble metal layer on the center electrode and the ground electrode by joining a noblemental layer consisting of 85 to 70% by weight of Pt and 15 to 30% by weight of Ir to the spark discharge portion of the center electrode and also another noble metal layer consisting of 90 to 70% by weight of Pt and 10 to 30% by weight of Ni to the spark discharge portion of the ground electrode.