Abstract: A high-voltage switch is suggested which is usable particularly as an ignition voltage distributor for applying the ignition voltage to spark plugs of an internal combustion engine. The high-voltage switch comprises a cascade circuit of optoelectric semiconductor elements which are actuated or connected through by means of incident light radiation. Very high voltages can accordingly be switched in an exact manner, wherein a galvanic separation is provided between control circuit and high-voltage circuit. The control circuit can be operated with low voltage, so that use in connection with electronic ignition systems is particularly simple.

Abstract: A method of producing a spark plug for internal combustion engines comprising arranging a metal piece formed of a noble material on an end face of at least one metal electrode of the spark plug and directing laser beams onto an outer surface of the metal piece facing the spark gap to form an alloy zone between the one metal electrode and a wear-resistant layer facing the spark gap, the alloy zone consisting of materials of the metal electrode and the metal piece with the proportion of the material of the metal electrode continuously decreasing from an area abutting the metal electrode and consisting only of the metal electrode material, to an area abutting the wear-resistant layer which consists only of the material of the metal piece.

Abstract: A spark plug with creepage spark gap for internal combustion engines includes a plug housing having an annular side electrode, an insulator, surrounded by the plug housing over a longitudinal section, and a central electrode. The layer lies in a through-bore of the insulator and is exposed on the combustion chamber end side. The creepage spark gap is formed between the central electrode and the side electrode along a slideway on the surface of the insulator. To achieve a small plug capacitance with high-dielectric slideway, the insulator has, at least at the end section on the combustion chamber side, at least two coaxial material layers, having very different dielectric constants. These coaxial layers lie or partially lie against each other in a radial direction of the spark plug.

Abstract: A spark plug for internal combustion engines comprises a center electrode enclosed in an insulating body enclosed in a metal housing, and a ground electrode. The insulating body has an end portion which faces the combustion chamber. An electrical field develops, resulting in a surface spark gap between two electrodes on the surface of the insulating body at the end portion thereof. The insulating body is transversely divided into the upper portion and the lower portion, of which the lower portion facing the combustion chamber is made of a material having dielectric constant 5-50 times higher than that of the upper portion.

Abstract: An ignition plug suitable for igniting meager fuel vapor/air mixtures has a tubular metal housing, an insulating body which is divided into longitudinal portions and contains a connection pin and a middle electrode positioned in its through borehole. A longitudinal portion of the insulating body, which longitudinal portion is enclosed by the metal housing, consists of dielectric material and, together with the metal housing and the connection pin, forms a capacitor which has a capacity of 120 to 500 pF, chiefly 200 to 400 pF. In order to connect electrial flashovers between the connection pin and the metal housing in the areas of the separating surfaces of the insulating body annular electrical insulating elements are arranged between the separating surfaces which are made of the material elastic at all temperatures of the ignition plug.

Abstract: An ignition chamber unit to be arranged on a main combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has walls forming a separate ignition chamber having a first wall which separates the ignition chamber from the main combustion chamber and has at least one passage arranged in the first wall to connect the ignition chamber with the combustion chamber, a center electrode provided in the ignition chamber and forming together with the first wall a spark gap and also having a free end which extends into the ignition chamber, wherein the electrode is hollow near the free end and is formed as a heat pipe, and an insulator with an insulator shoe which extends into the ignition chamber and supports the center electrode so that the insulator together with the insulator shoe forms an insulating gap.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an ignition chamber communicating with a main combustion chamber via at least one transfer channel, with the ignition chamber forming a closed circular cylinder and its cylindrical wall being protected by an annular thermal pipe from too-rapid cooling and from overheating. In the wall of the ignition chamber, partial electrodes disposed in an insulated manner are provided which are electrically connectable via spark gaps with each other and with the ignition voltage supply line. As a result, ignition occurs near the wall in an area at an elevated temperature level and, in particular, in the immediate vicinity of the entry point of the fresh fuel-air mixture via the overflow channel so that, as a result, the flammability is maintained with increased leaning of the fuel-air mixture.

Abstract: The invention is in an externally ignited internal combustion engine which has one main combustion chamber per cylinder and one ignition chamber which communicates with the main combustion chamber via an excess flow channel, the opening member of which projects into the main combustion chamber and is embodied as a flame injector. After the ignition of the mixture located in the ignition chamber by means of a spark plug, when the jet of flame leaves the excess flow channel and enters the main combustion chamber through the flame injector, the fuel-rich mixture surrounding the opening of the ignition chamber is induced in the vicinity of the cooled walls of the main combustion chamber and thus the temperature of the jet of flame is lowered. In this way, the NO.sub.x concentration of the charge component comprising the jet of flame, and thus also the exhaust gas quantity as a whole, is reduced.

Abstract: The spark plug center electrode is a composite of a jacket of corrosion resistant material, central filamentary core electrode elements, likewise of corrosion resistant material, and a matrix of thermally and electrically highly conductive material in which the corrosion resistant filamentary elements are embedded, filling the electrode within the outer jacket; in accordance with the present invention, the matrix material is recessed with respect to the jacket and the sparking ends of the corrosion resistant filamentary material to increase lifetime and to provide protection for the electrically and thermally highly conductive material and ensure ignition of even comparatively lean fuel-air mixtures. The electrode has an overall diameter in the order of about 2.4 mm, the recess of the matrix material being between 50 to 500 .mu. m, preferably about 100 to 250 .mu. m; a platinum coating having a thickness of preferably between 40 and 50 .mu. m can be provided to cover the exposed end of the electrode.