Abstract: A glow sensor provides functions of both a diesel engine glow plug and an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics. A ceramic flat plate glow sensor element is carried by a tubular ceramic sleeve and insulating material in a metal shell. The element includes a ceramic flat plate having a glow tip, on an inner end with a heating element on one side and an ion sensor electrode on the other printed in electrically conductive ink. Printed conductors on both sides connect the heating element and ion sensor with an outer end of the glow sensor element for connection with an electric power source. An insulating coating protects the heating element and conductors from exposure to combustion gases. Various flat plate mounting embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A glow plug includes a housing. A main body is at least partially disposed in the housing. The main body is supported with respect to the housing. A support member is included in the main body. A heating member is provided in the support member. A pair of lead wires are electrically connected to two ends of the heating member respectively. The lead wires extend out of the support member. An ion sensing electrode provided in the support member is operative for detecting a condition of ionization in a flame. The ion sensing electrode is buried in the support member to be prevented from being exposed to the flame.

Abstract: A glow plug for diesel engines in which a ceramic heater is supported, with the one end thereof cantilevered toward the outside, by the tip of a hollow holder ceramic heater is composed of a U-shaped heating portion and a pair of leads extending backwards from both ends of the U-shaped heating portion, both being formed integrally by an electrically conductive ceramic material. The outer periphery of at least one of the leads is bonded and held in the holder via an insulating layer. The rear end of the other of the leads is connected by a metallic lead wire to an external connection terminal. The ceramic heater and other component members are bonded integrally by a bonding material containing a reactive metal.

Abstract: A glow plug for an air compressing internal combustion engine of the type having a tube which is closed at one end and connected to a plug housing on an opposite end with a wire filemant-like resistance element disposed in an insulating material within the tube and formed two series-connected resistance filaments, of which the rear resistance filament, serves as a regulating filament, having a higher positive temperature resistance coefficient than the front resistance filament, which serves as a heating filament, is improved so as to enable the heating up time to be reduced without adversely impacting upon the effective life of the glow plug. In accordance with various embodiments, this result is achieved through the use of, for example, special alloys for the material of the regulating filament which have a resitance at 1000.degree. C. that is greater than their resistance at 20.degree. C. by a resistance ratio over about 7.5:1, and preferably greater than 12:1, and in particular, about 14:1.

Abstract: A diesel engine preheating apparatus connects a plurality of glow plugs arranged in corresponding cylinder chambers of a multicylinder diesel engine in series or parallel with or in series and parallel with a power source. The glow plugs are selected from body-grounded type unipolar and bipolar glow plugs. The bipolar glow plug selected from the diesel engine glow plugs includes first and second external connecting terminals which are respectively connected to thin-walled portions of first and second terminal connecting plates located on substantially the same plane. The thin-walled portions interpose an insulating member therebetween, are located at opposite surface sides, and are provided with portions which do not overlap each other when viewed from an upper surface.

Abstract: An energization control apparatus for a glow plug connected between ground and the emitter of an npn transistor and turning on/off the npn transistor to control an amount of power to be supplied to the glow plug includes a control signal generator (20) for generating a control signal for turning on/off the npn transistor. The control apparatus also includes a base voltage booster, arranged between the control signal generating means the a base of the npn transistor, for boosting a base voltage such that the npn transistor is operated in a saturation region regardless of load variations.

Abstract: A self-temperature control type glow plug includes a rod heater held at a front end of a hollow metal holder and having one end extending outside the hollow metal holder. The rod heater includes a heating section made of a conductive ceramic material with a small positive temperature coefficient and a control section made of a conductive ceramic material with a positive temperature coefficient larger than that of the heating section. The heating section is formed integrally with the control section.

Abstract: A glow plug having a hollow cylindrical metal shell, an axial electrical terminal, and a heater member protruding externally from the shell. The heater member has a surface film heater element disposed on at least one surface of an electrically nonconductive cylindrical substrate. Electrical connections between the heater element, the shell and the axial electrode are made by conductive surface films. A first conductive surface film disposed on the external surface of the cylindrical substrate makes electrical contact with the shell. A second conductive surface film disposed on the internal surface of the cylindrical substrate makes electrical contact with the axial electrical terminal. The heating element is preferably a transition metal surface film which catalytically reacts with the air/fuel mixture to enhance combustion at lower temperatures. The thermal response time of the surface film heater element from ambient to an operating temperature exceeding 800.degree. C. is less than 5 seconds.

Abstract: An auxiliary combustion chamber preheating device having a glow plug for a diesel engine with a metal shell threadedly mountable on the engine and a center electrode having a rod-like configuration. A tubular heat generating element having an opened end and a closed end is made of a nonmetalic resistance material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide (SiC) or molybdenum disilicide (MoSi.sub.2) and inserted and is connected to the metal shell at the open end thereof. An electrical connection is established for electrically connecting a lower end surface of the center electrode and an inner wall portion of the closed end portion of the heat generating element. An electrical conductive layer is formed on an outer wall portion of the heat generating element.

Abstract: To decrease the preheat time and power requirements in preheater-type glow plugs for Diesel engines, a closed ceramic tube (20), for example of aluminum oxide and of about 5 mm diameter has, on the bottom (21) thereof applied a layer or film-like heater element (24, 24'), for example in an undulating or zig-zag configuration (FIG. 2) or in form of a constriction or pinch (FIG. 4: 24') to provide a concentrated point or strip source of heat. The heater layer itself is protected by a protective coating (25) and, to provide for the required heat distribution, the underlying bottom (21, 21') of the tube (20, 20') supports an insulating intermediate layer and possibly a heat conductive layer is intermediate. Preheat times in the order of 1-2 seconds, with lower current consumption than prior wound-wire plugs can be obtained.

Abstract: An intake heating device of an engine, comprising a hollow heater vessel placed in the intake passage. The heater vessel comprises an inner pipe, an outer pipe, and a plurality of PTC elements inserted between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The outer wall of the inner pipe is surrounded by a belt-like insulating member having a plurality of rectangular holes. The PTC elements are inserted into the rectangular holes and held in a predetermined position by the insulating member.

Abstract: A glow plug for accelerating the ignition of fuel in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine is disclosed. The glow plug comprises a shell releasably engagable with a head of a combustion chamber of the diesel engine, and an electrically conducting, tubular heater carried by and electrically connected to the shell. The heater has an open end within the shell, and an opposed closed end extending longitudinally therefrom. The glow plug also comprises a heating filament disposed within the heater adjacent to the closed end and electrically insulated from the tubular body thereof. The heating filament has a first end electrically connected to the closed end of the heater and a second end; it is one which heats to a predetermined design temperature when a specified voltage is applied thereto. The glow plug also comprises an insulator carried by the shell, and a terminal assembly carried by the insulator.

Abstract: A self-heating type ignition plug according to the present invention includes a base portion having a fixing portion formed on an outer wall thereof and a terminal insulately provided therein and connected to an electrical source; an ignition means, integrally connected to the base portion, having an ignition surface formed on a wall surface thereof and composed of a catalyst comprising a transition material, thereby to come in contact with the fuel; and a heating means having a resistive exothermic element connected to the terminal of the base portion, the resistive exothermic element being provided adjacent to the ignition surface within the ignition means, whereby the fuel may be ignited and burned as a whole by the ignition surface of the catalyst which is maintained to a preset temperature due to the oxidation reaction of the catalyst and the fuel being in contact therewith after the heating means is deenergized.

Abstract: To heat the glow plug for an internal combustion engine, a spiral band or ribbon is wound in an essentially co-planar spiral about a central bolt secured to the bottom of the glow plug, the outer terminal of the spiral being connected to a lead-in with highly positive temperature coefficient of resistance to provide for self-limiting current flow upon heating of the glow plug. All free spaces in the glow plug are filled with a highly heat-conductive insulating material, for example magnesium oxide.

Abstract: To prevent damage to the heating wire of an electrically heated glow plug due to non-uniform expansion of materials within the glow plug upon heating thereof, and particularly due to excessive expansion of filler material surrounding a spiraled heating wire, the filler material is made in two sections, one being located within the spiral of the heater wire and comprising a material of a thermal conductivity of expansion approximately matching that of the heater wire, typically high-temperature annealed aluminum oxide, magnesium aluminum spinel, silicon nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide, or the like, the outer section between the heater wire and the inner wall of the glow tube being of a material of good heat conductivity, such as magnesium oxide.

Abstract: In a glow plug igniter of the type used in internal combustion engines, having a hollow cylindrical casing and a central pin-terminal, a substantially flat-spiral-coiled, flexible resistance element, oriented perpendicularly to said pin-terminal with one end electrically connected to the casing and the other to the pin-terminal, is positioned at a nose end of the casing and spaced from but close to a backing seal of temperature and corrosion-resistant material. At least one seal hermetically closes the hollow casing. Preferably, spaced glass seals constitute the sole means for mounting the pin in the body.

Abstract: In a glow plug igniter of the type used in internal combustion engines, having a hollow cylindrical casing and a central pin-terminal, a substantially flat-spiral-coiled resistance element, flexible in a direction out of its plane, oriented perpendicularly to the pin-terminal with one end electrically connected to the casing and the other to the pin-terminal, is positioned at a nose end of the casing and spaced from a backing seal of temperature and corrosion-resistant, electrically insulating material hermetically closing the hollow casing. An idle bar of substantial width relative to the resistance element, bridges across the nose end of the casing, spaced from the resistance element. Preferably, the casing is crenellated, with opposed merlons, provided with weld projections, to which the ends of the idle bar are welded.

Abstract: Disclosed are cell-type ignition devices for Otto cycle internal combustion engines, said devices having cylindrical cells with end orifices communicating with the engine combustion chamber. The devices include housing and mounting means for thermally isolating the cell from the cooled engine wall and the ambient atmosphere. Critical ratios for cell dimensions are disclosed. Some embodiments are equipped with supplementary glow or spark ignition means for starting and warm-up. In some embodiments, sleeves or external protubances on the cell wall are employed to regulate ignition timing by controlling heat transfer.

Abstract: A primer valve for a 2-cycle model engine attached to an accessible portion of the engine to facilitate starting thereof. The valve is provided with direct access to the engine cylinder and with a check valve responsive to the continuous positive internal pressure of the operating engine. A squeeze container is utilized to send a small charge of fuel through the valve into the cylinder.

Abstract: Disclosed are cell-type ignition devices for Otto cycle internal combustion engines, said devices having cylindrical cells with end orifices communicating with the engine combustion chamber. The devices include housing and mounting means for thermally isolating the cell from the cooled engine wall and the ambient atmosphere. Critical ratios for cell dimensions are disclosed. Some embodiments are equipped with supplementary glow or spark ignition means for starting and warm-up. In some embodiments, sleeves or external protubances on the cell wall are employed to regulate ignition timing by controlling heat transfer.