Spark Plugs Patents (Class 313/118)
  • Patent number: 8087961
    Abstract: For producing a spark plug that has a high dimensional accuracy in the spark gap, a method is disclosed which comprises (a) preparing a semi-finished spark plug unit (100b) which comprises a center electrode (20) that has a leading end portion (22), a metal shell (50) that holds therein through an insulator (10) the center electrode (20) except the leading end portion (22) and a ground electrode (30) fixed to a leading end of the metal shell (50), (b) bending the ground electrode (30) so that a bent front portion (31) of the ground electrode (30) projects toward the leading end portion (22) of the center electrode (20), (c) putting an electrode tip (95) on a given part of the bent front portion (31) of the ground electrode (30) in such a manner that a front portion of the electrode tip (95) projects from the bent front portion (31) toward the leading end portion (22) of the center electrode (20) and (d) welding the electrode tip (95) to the given part of the bent front portion (31) of the ground electrode (30
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kameda, Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8067882
    Abstract: A sealing member for a cylindrical spark plug having a metal shell with threaded ridges thereon to be screwed into a mounting hole of a combustion engine, the sealing member comprised of a piece of annular sheet material made of austenitic stainless steel or ferritic stainless steel that is folded back in a radial direction so as to form a region where at least two or more layers of the sheet material are overlapped in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Reimon Fukuzawa, Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8058785
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a spark plug for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine, and, more particularly, to a spark plug having a structure providing improved ignition capability. In one particular configuration, a spark plug is provided forming a gap between a center electrode and an insulator of the spark plug. However, it will become apparent that other configurations are contemplated as well, as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Boehler, Matthew B. Below
  • Patent number: 8053966
    Abstract: An insulator for a spark ignition device is disclosed which includes an electrically insulating ceramic core tube having a terminal end, a firing end and an inner bore which extends along a longitudinal bore axis from the terminal end to the firing end and an electrically insulating, ceramic core nose tube having a second outer surface and a second bore where the second outer surface of said ceramic core nose tube is in nested engagement with and directly bonded to the bore of the ceramic core tube proximate the firing end. The insulator also may include a similarly nested and directly bonded shoulder tube on an outer surface of the core tube, or a nested and directly bonded mast tube on an outer surface of the core tube. The ceramics may include alumina-based ceramics, as well other suitable ceramic materials, and the tube may be made from the same ceramic compositions or different ceramic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8044561
    Abstract: A spark plug, a center electrode therefore and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator extending between a terminal end and a nose end. A conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the ceramic insulator and a ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface is operatively attached to the shell. An elongate center electrode has a body extending between opposite ends, wherein the body is compacted and sintered of a conductive or semi-conductive ceramic material. One of the electrode ends provides a center electrode sparking surface to provide a spark gap between the center electrode sparking surface and the ground electrode sparking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventors: William J. Walker, Jr., James D. Lykowski
  • Patent number: 8044560
    Abstract: The invention is a spark plug having multiple precise spark gaps (G} with a donut shaped electrode (20) attached to the firing end of the central electrode (32), as well as a cylindrical ground sleeve (40) that is pressed on to the primary shell (36) of the spark plug. The electrode donut (20) is generally flat and laded out in a radial direction towards the ground prongs (42) that protrude up towards the firing end from the ground sleeve (40). In conjunction with their structure, allow for the generation of a spark from every single ground prong (42) on the ground sleeve (40). This is spark potential area (G). Such multiple spark potential area along with the electrode donut (20) and ground sleeve (40) relation provides a more rapid and complete combustion of the air-fuel mixture within the internal combustion engine, which, in turn, results in more torque and more horse power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Lee Steigleman, Jr., Jimmy Robert Allen, II
  • Patent number: 8040029
    Abstract: A spark plug for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine, substantially elongated in shape, and including: two coaxial electrodes of an inner central electrode and an outer base electrode enclosing the central electrode; and an electrically insulating annular block, interposed between the central electrode and the base electrode and including an annular shoulder. The insulating annual block includes an annular groove located at the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Andre Agneray, Marc Pariente
  • Patent number: 8035286
    Abstract: A spark plug casing includes a single-piece shell having a nut portion, first and second tubular portions and a converging shell portion, which are configured to be removed from a cylinder head as an integral device. The first tubular portion extends from the nut portion and has a first cross-sectional size. The second tubular portion has a second cross-sectional size less than the first cross-sectional size. The converging shell portion is coupled between the first and second tubular portions. The casing further includes a ground strap having a third cross-sectional size less than the second cross-sectional size. The ground strap is received within an end portion of the second tubular portion opposite the converging shell portion, such that the ground strap and the cylinder head are in a spaced relationship with respect to each other for preventing carbon buildup from binding the ground strap to the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fram Group IP LLC
    Inventors: Matthew B. Below, J. Braden Richards
  • Patent number: 8013503
    Abstract: A spark plug including: a ground electrode including a thick portion provided on a base end side, a thin portion provided on a distal end side, and a stepped portion provided on an inner peripheral surface between the thick portion and the thin portion; a noble metal tip partially embedded in an inner peripheral surface of the thin portion; and a bulge portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion between the stepped portion and the noble metal tip. When viewed from a side surface of the ground electrode, a relationship [a protruding height of the noble metal tip from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion]?[a protruding height of the bulge portion from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kameda, Katsutoshi Nakayama, Satoshi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8003020
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of a ceramic wherein: 50% to 75% by weight of a compound intended to form a conductive phase, and 25% to 50% by weight of one or more materials allowing the formation of insulating phases composed of silicon nitride and modified silicon oxynitride are mixed in a receptacle containing a liquid after a thermal treatment leading to sintering of the ceramic; this mixture is subjected to grinding, drying and sieving operations; this mixture is pressed; and this mixture is sintered so as to obtain a ceramic with a porosity of between 0 and 30%. The sintering is carried out under a pressure of at least 50 bar of a gas which is inert towards the constituents of the mixture. Ceramic thus obtained and spark plug comprising it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Meggitt (France)
    Inventors: Aurélien Jankowiak, Philippe Blanchart, Frédéric Trenit
  • Patent number: 7980908
    Abstract: The invention describes a spark plug having an outer electrode (12), a central electrode (10), an inner conductor (2) connected to the central electrode (10) and an insulator (3) enclosing the inner conductor (2). It is provided according to the invention that the insulator (3) is produced by extrusion. The invention further relates to a method for production of a spark plug of that kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Werner Niessner, Lutz Frassek, Hans Houben
  • Patent number: 7977856
    Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a ground electrode, a center electrode, an insulator, a housing, and a folded packing which is situated on an outer circumference of the housing. The folded packing has: a hollow profile in cross section; a free leg directed outwards; and a support region. The folded packing lies on a contact surface in a support region, and the free leg is situated at an angle to the support region. The folded packing is pressed together during the mounting of the spark plug, and the free leg of the folded packing is designed to bend over in the direction of the support surface during the mounting to provide a diameter enlargement of the folded packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Hartmann, Christoph Naumann, Mario Fleischhauer, Jochen Fischer
  • Patent number: 7973459
    Abstract: A spark plug having a particular firing end configuration that satisfies numerous dimensional ranges for improved performance. The spark plug generally includes a shell, an insulator, and center and ground electrodes, with the electrodes each having a copper core for improved thermal conductivity and a noble metal insert for improved erosion and corrosion resistance. The noble metal insert for the center electrode is preferably in the form of a cylindrical Ir-based tip, which is received within a complimentary recess formed in the center electrode. The noble metal insert for the ground electrode is in the form of a flat Pt-based pad attached to a surface of the ground electrode. Various dimensional ranges are provided for the various components of the spark plug assembly, both individually and in combination with other dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition (U.K.) Limited
    Inventor: Paul Tinwell
  • Publication number: 20110148273
    Abstract: A spark plug includes an insulator having an axial hole extending in the direction of an axis, and a terminal electrode disposed at a rear end portion of the axial hole. An identifier bearing externally visible identification information is joined to the rear end surface of the terminal electrode. The identifier has a thickness of 0.03 mm or greater along the direction of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Yamada, Hiroaki KUKI, Takashi SANO
  • Patent number: 7959482
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for an ignition plug is provided. The method includes: preparing an insulator having a cavity provided at a leading end portion thereof by disposing a leading end of the center electrode more inwards than a leading end of the insulator; building the insulator in an interior of the metal shell such that the leading end of the insulator is situated closer to a rear end side than the leading end of the metal shell; removing at least part of a leading end portion of the metal shell which projects from a leading end face of the insulator; and disposing the ground electrode at the leading end portion of the metal shell and welding the ground electrode and the metal shell together after the removal step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Nakamura, Tomoaki Kato, Yuichi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110126789
    Abstract: A vehicle ignition system is provided that alleviates the problems associated with excessive voltage demand by spark plugs. The ignition system has a spark plug with an electrode and a voltage relief feature operatively connected with the electrode. The voltage relief feature is operable to discharge current from the electrode at a predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yujiro Suwa, Ronald M. Wozniak
  • Patent number: 7948159
    Abstract: A spark plug having a multilayer firing tip that minimizes the amount of precious metal used and a method of assembling a spark plug with a multilayer firing tip. The firing tip includes a discharge end and a weld end, with the weld end being connected to a center electrode, and more specifically to a base electrode on the center electrode. The weld end has a coefficient of thermal expansion, which is not between the values for the coefficients of thermal expansion for the discharge end and the base electrode. More specifically, the weld end has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the coefficients of thermal expansion for the discharge end and base electrode. The weld end is formed from Nickel and Chromium with a limited amount of additional elements. The spark plug is assembled by providing a first elongated material formed from the material used for the discharge end and a second elongated material formed from a material used for the weld end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Lykowski
  • Patent number: 7944135
    Abstract: A spark plug and method of construction is provided, wherein the spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator and a metal shell surrounding at least a portion of the insulator. A ground electrode is operatively attached to the shell, wherein the ground electrode has a ground electrode sparking surface. The spark plug further includes a center electrode having an elongate body with a center electrode sparking surface. The sparking surface of the center electrode and the ground electrode sparking surface provide a spark gap. A brazed joint bonds at least one of the insulator to the shell or the center electrode to the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7938706
    Abstract: A device for inspecting a spark plug insulator for bending, the spark plug insulator including a cylindrical body having a radially enlarged flange at an axially intermediate portion thereof, and a through hole formed in the body along an axial direction of the body. The inspection device includes an insulator supporting means for supporting the spark plug insulator so as to be slidable in an axial direction of the spark plug insulator, a linear inspection pin that is to be inserted into the through hole of the spark plug insulator supported by the insulator supporting means, and a detecting means for detecting a sliding movement of the spark plug insulator when the spark plug insulator is caused to slide in the axial direction thereof by the inspection pin by the inspection pin prevented from completely penetrating the through hole of the spark plug insulator owing to bending of the spark plug insulator which exceeds a predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshitaka Honda, Hirokazu Kurono
  • Patent number: 7928642
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine radio frequency spark plug including two plasma-generating electrodes, separated by an insulator, that constitute respectively an outer shell enclosing the insulator and a central electrode housed in a central bore of the insulator. The spark plug includes a deep opening over the entire circumference of the shell, forming a heat-exchanger chamber inside the spark plug shell, opening outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nadim Malek, Andre Agneray
  • Patent number: 7928641
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a longitudinal bore formed in a housing for receiving an insulator, with the housing having a first bore for receiving a pressure measuring device and a second bore for receiving a light guide which opens into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Winklhofer
  • Patent number: 7914353
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spark plug and a spark plug manufactured by the method in which a gasket used for securing the air-tightness when mounting the spark plug on an internal-combustion engine is prevented from falling out from the metal shell with a simple step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Makoto Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7906893
    Abstract: There is provided a spark plug of an internal combustion engine, including a cylindrical metal shell, an insulator retained in the metal shell and having a through hole in an axial direction of the spark plug and a center electrode fitted in the through hole of the insulator. The insulator includes a rear body portion, a middle body portion and a large-diameter portion located between and protruded radially outwardly from the rear and middle body portions to define a rear shoulder section connected to the rear body portion and a front shoulder section connected to the middle body portion. For strength improvements, the insulator has a first glaze layer extending over the rear body portion and the rear shoulder section of the large-diameter portion and a second glaze layer extending over at least part of the middle body portion from some point on the front shoulder section of the large-diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mai Moribe, Akira Suzuki, Toshitaka Honda
  • Patent number: 7906894
    Abstract: A spark plug includes a ground electrode formed with a flat region and a convex curved region on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The flat region is located on a front end of the ground electrode and has a length of 0.2 mm or more from a front end face of the ground electrode in a longitudinal direction of the ground electrode. The ground electrode satisfies the following dimensional condition (1) with respect to first and second cross sections of the ground electrode taken through the convex curved region and the flat region in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ground electrode, 0.950?(S2/L2)/(S1/L1)?0.995 ??(1) where S1 is the area of the first cross section; L1 is the perimeter of the first cross section; S2 is the area of the second cross section; and L2 is the perimeter of the second cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kameda, Tomoaki Kato, Katsutoshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7896720
    Abstract: A method of producing a spark plug includes reducing the diameter of a center electrode while maintaining the heat dissipation property of the center electrode. A columnar member in which an outer skin member and a core member having a high thermal conductivity are clad, and which is columnarly extended, are configured by extrusion molding into a state where the thickness of the outer skin member is substantially uniform. A flange portion and a tip end portion are formed in the columnar member to obtain an electrode intermediate member. In a middle trunk portion of the electrode intermediate member, the thickness of the outer skin member is maintained. Then, the surface of the middle trunk portion is cut or polished to reduce the thickness, whereby the diameter of a center electrode is reduced while maintaining the outer diameter of the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 7893604
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Takeuchi, Ken Hanashi
  • Publication number: 20110037370
    Abstract: A spark plug (20) includes a center electrode (24) and a ground electrode (22). The electrodes (22, 24) include a core (26) formed of a copper (Cu) alloy and a clad (28) formed of a nickel (Ni) alloy enrobing the core (26). The Cu alloy includes Cu in an amount of at least 98.5 weight percent, and at least one of Zr and Cr in an amount of at least 0.05 weight percent. The Cu alloy includes a matrix of the Cu and precipitates of the Zr and Cu dispersed in the Cu matrix. The Ni alloy of the clad (28) includes Ni in an amount of at least 90.0 weight percent. The Ni alloy also includes at least one of a Group 3 element, a Group 4 element, a Group 13 element, chromium (Cr), silicon (Si), and manganese (Mn) in a total amount sufficient to affect the strength of the Ni alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: SHUWEI MA, James D. Lykowski
  • Patent number: 7872405
    Abstract: Spark plug devices are formed of a conductive loaded resin-based material. The conductive loaded resin-based material comprises micron conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination of conductive powder and conductive fibers in a base resin host. The percentage by weight of the conductive powder(s), conductive fiber(s), or a combination thereof is between about 20% and 50% of the weight of the conductive loaded resin-based material. The micron conductive powders are metals or conductive non-metals or metal plated non-metals. The micron conductive fibers may be metal fiber or metal plated fiber. Further, the metal plated fiber may be formed by plating metal onto a metal fiber or by plating metal onto a non-metal fiber. Any platable fiber may be used as the core for a non-metal fiber. Superconductor metals may also be used as micron conductive fibers and/or as metal plating onto fibers in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Integral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Aisenbrey
  • Patent number: 7834529
    Abstract: A spark plug comprising a housing, a ceramic insulator and a sleeve is provided. The housing has an inner cavity while the ceramic insulator encloses a central electrode. The ceramic insulator is disposed inside the inner cavity and maintain from the housing with a gap. The sleeve is provided enclosing an inner wall of the housing and corresponds to an opening of the inner cavity. The level of an edge surface of the housing corresponding to the opening of the inner cavity is disposed higher than the level of an edge surface of the central electrode, and the level of the center electrode is also higher than the level of the edge surface of the ceramic insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Wen-Fong Chang
  • Patent number: 7825572
    Abstract: A spark plug including a center electrode; an insulator; and a metal shell, wherein the metal shell includes: a mounting portion; a cylindrical portion; a seal portion; a crimping portion; and a buckled portion all as defined herein, and a relationship A<B is satisfied, in which A is a length in the axial direction of an external thread formed on the mounting portion, and B is a length of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Nakayama, Hiroyuki Kameda
  • Patent number: 7825571
    Abstract: A spark plug comprising: a cylindrical metal shell; a cylindrical insulator provided in an inner hole of said metal shell; a center electrode provided in a leading end side inner hole of said insulator; and a ground electrode having one end bonded to a leading end side of said metal shell and having another end face forming a spark discharge gap with said center electrode, wherein said ground electrode comprises an electrode material containing from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of Si, from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % of Al, from 0.02 to 1.0 wt. % of at least one of Ti, V, Zr, Nb and Hf, from 0.03 to 0.09 wt. % of C and 95.5 wt. % or more of Ni, and having a specific resistance at 20° C. of 25 ??cm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kumagai, Teruyuki Kondo, Kozo Amano, Kazuo Yamazaki, Yoshihiro Nakai, Masatada Numano
  • Patent number: 7816845
    Abstract: An electrode for an ignition device is made from a conductive ceramic of the form Mn+1AXn, where M is a transition metal, A is a group IIIA or IVA element, and X is nitrogen, carbon, or both carbon and nitrogen. M may be transition metals selected from the group of Ti, Mb, Ta, V, Cr, Mo, Sc, Zr and Hf. A may be selected from a group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As and S. The spark ignition device may include a spark plug having an insulator, conductive shell, center electrode and ground electrode where the conductive ceramic electrode is at least one of the center or ground electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Federal Mogul Ignition Company
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7812509
    Abstract: A spark plug (10) includes a plug body (51), a center electrode (52), a ground electrode (53) and injection control side poles (61, 62, 63). The ground electrode has an end portion (53a) opposing the end of the center electrode in a direction indicated by arrow A parallel to the axis of the plug body. A tip (53b) of the ground electrode and a tip (60a) of the injection control side poles (61, 62, 63) are positioned in substantially the same plane (71) perpendicular to the axis (C). The ground electrode (53) and the injection control side poles (61, 62, 63) are arranged at substantially regular intervals around the center electrode (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Dai Tanaka, Keisuke Nagakura, Shigeo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100253202
    Abstract: A spark plug coil assembly has a primary core bearing primary windings and a secondary winding spool around which secondary windings are wound and in which the primary core is received. A case receives the spool with core. The entire case can be made of composite Iron to function as a magnetic return path for the core. Thick ends of the case support the ends of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Oliver Levers, JR., Albert Anthony Skinner
  • Patent number: 7804232
    Abstract: To provide a spark plug in which separation of a tip can be prevented and enough wear resistance can be obtained without increasing the content of nickel in the tip portion, and a use method of the spark plug. In a spark plug (100) including an outside electrode (10) including an electrode body portion (11) and a tip (12) bonded to the electrode body portion (11), and a center electrode (20), and the tip (12) is opposed to the front end portion of the center electrode (20) through a spark discharge gap (G), the electrode body portion (11) is made of a nickel alloy containing 13 to 18% by mass of Cr, 0.03 to 0.08% by mass of C, 1 to 3.5% by mass of Mo, 0 to 0.8% by mass of Si, Al, Mn and Ti, and 68% by mass or more of Ni, and the tip (12) is made of a platinum alloy containing 0 to 4% by mass of Ni.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kumagai, Wataru Matsutani, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7799717
    Abstract: A spark plug which includes a center electrode metal shell and an insulator disposed therebetween utilizes for the insulator or ceramic with improved high temperature electrical properties which includes alumina in an amount between about 90 and about 99% by weight, a zirconium containing compound in an amount between about 0 and about 1% by weight, and an oxide mixture in an amount between about 1 and about 10% by weight. The oxide mixture includes a glass former, a network modifier and alumina in an amount between about 16% and about 40% by weight after firing, wherein the molar ratio of the glass former to the network modifier ranges between about 0.8:1 and 1.2:1. The ceramic insulator is particularly adapted for use as an insulator in a spark plug to provide improved dielectric strength and shunt resistance of greater than one 1000 megaohms at 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, so as to reduce the shunting of the spark plug and thereby improve the quality of the spark generated by the spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7772751
    Abstract: A spark plug and method of manufacturing the same, the spark plug including a metal housing holding an insulator therein, the metal housing having a threaded portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of a frontward portion of the metal housing in a crimp portion formed at a rear end of the metal housing and crimping the insulator in the axial hole of the metal housing. Furthermore, the rear-end portion of the threaded portion has a hardness that is higher than that of the crimp portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7772752
    Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug comprising an insulator and a ground electrode which are disposed apart from each other in an axial direction (O) to prevent a damage of the insulator. The spark plug is capable of reducing an energy loss of the ejected plasma by defining a dimension of a clearance between the insulator and the ground electrode whereby deterioration of the ignitability of the plasma-jet spark plug is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Nakamura, Tomoaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20100187968
    Abstract: There is provided an ignition plug whereby an electrical configuration for discharge and an electrical configuration for guiding and radiating microwaves are provided concomitantly, within dimensions permitting installation in an installation space for an ordinary ignition plug, and adapted to efficiently guide and transmit microwaves into a combustion chamber. The ignition plug comprises a center electrode and a ground electrode for spark discharge; a center wire and an outside conductor forming a coaxial electromagnetic wave transmission line; and a microwave radiation antenna that is electrically integrated with the center wire; the microwave radiation antenna having a profile that defines part of a sphere or arc including a plurality of locations substantially equidistant from the center electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Yuji Ikeda, Masashi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7741762
    Abstract: A dual-electrode spark igniter (spark plug), which has two electrodes extending from the plug body. During a spark event, electricity flows across a first spark gap from a first electrode to a second electrode. Electricity also flows across a second spark gap from the second electrode to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Terrence Francis Alger, II, Barrett Wade Mangold
  • Publication number: 20100148653
    Abstract: An alumina-based sintered body for a spark plug having enhanced mechanical strength and a method of manufacturing the same, as well as a spark plug having the alumina-based sintered body for a spark plug and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Hironori Uegaki, Toshitaka Honda, Hirokazu Kurono
  • Publication number: 20100136867
    Abstract: This invention has an object to provide a spark plug exhibiting high withstand voltage characteristics and high strength at high temperature, formed by an alumina-based sintered body prepared with excellent processability and high productivity, and a method for manufacturing the spark plug. This invention relates to a spark plug 1 including an insulator 3, wherein the insulator 3 includes a dense alumina-based sintered body having an average crystal particle diameter of 1.50 ?m or more, and the alumina-based sintered body contains Si, a Group 2 element component containing Ba and a Group 2 element other than those, and a rare earth element component, such that a ratio of a content S of the Si component to a total content of the content S and a content A of the Group 2 element component is 0.60 or more, and a method for manufacturing the spark plug 1 prepared through a grinding-shaping process in which the insulator 3 is ground before burning to shape the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda, Hiroki Takeuchi, Takeshi Mitsuoka, Kuniharu Tanaka, Kazunari Miyata, Katsuya Takaoka
  • Patent number: 7714490
    Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine and related manufacturing method are disclosed having a metal shell, a porcelain insulator, a center electrode and a ground electrode. The center electrode includes a substantially columnar shaped base material body, and a substantially square shaped rod-like Ir alloy tip bonded to a leading end portion of the base material body. The leading end portion has a diameter D2 smaller than a diameter D1 of the base material body. The Ir alloy tip has a square shape with a long diagonal line supposed to form a diameter A of a circumscribed circle CA of the Ir alloy tip whose inscribed circle CB is coaxial with the circumscribed circle CA and has a diameter B, with four diameters A, B, D1 and D2 lay in the relationship expressed as D1>A>D2>B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 7714489
    Abstract: A spark plug comprising: a center electrode extending in a direction of an axis of said spark plug; a cylindrical insulator which has a shaft hole, and which holds said center electrode in said shaft hole in a state where a tip end of said center electrode is projected from a tip end face of said insulator; a metal shell which holds said insulator; and a ground electrode in which one end is joined to a tip end face of said metal shell, and which extends from said one end toward another end, wherein said ground electrode has an inner side face which faces said center electrode, and an outer side face which is a back face with respect to said inner side face, said outer side face is formed as an arcuately curved face when viewed from a side of said another end in an extending direction of said ground electrode, and a columnar noble metal tip is joined to said inner side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Torii, Kazumasa Yoshida, Wataru Matsutani
  • Patent number: 7710006
    Abstract: A spark plug in which a glaze is applied to a rear trunk portion (245), a shoulder portion (240), and a portion of a intermediate diameter portion (230) of an insulator (200), and glaze firing is performed. Even when the glaze (shown by dots in the drawings) softened by heating flows downwards, the glaze is accommodated within a groove portion (235) formed between the shoulder portion (240) and the maximum diameter portion (210), and does not reach the maximum diameter portion (210). Such structure facilitates assembly of the insulator (200) to a metallic shell in a spark plug manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Kyuno, Toshitaka Honda
  • Publication number: 20100084960
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a spark plug including an insulator which is difficult to cause breakdown and exhibits higher withstand voltage characteristics. This invention relates to a spark plug 1 including a center electrode 2, an insulator 3 and a grounding electrode 6, wherein the insulator is formed by an alumina-based sintered body which has a theoretical density ratio of 95.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda, Hiroki Takeuchi, Takeshi Mitsuoka, Kuniharu Tanaka, Katsuya Takaoka
  • Publication number: 20100019643
    Abstract: A spark plug has a center electrode disposed inside an insulator, and a housing that at least locally surrounds the insulator, and a conductive planar element that is electrically contacted to the housing is disposed on the insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Kaiser, Paulo Ricardo
  • Publication number: 20100007260
    Abstract: A spark plug is described for Otto-cycle engines having a metallic spark plug body, having a center electrode, having a ceramic insulator, which is arranged between the center electrode and the body and is based on aluminium oxide, and having at least one earth electrode. The invention provides for the insulator to be composed of 0.01% by weight to 1% by weight of magnesium oxide, at most 0.3% by weight of natural and/or impurities, with the rest being aluminium oxide, and being formed by solid-phase sintering so that it is very largely free of glass phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Niessner, Martin Knoch, Klaus Stetter
  • Publication number: 20100007261
    Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a ground electrode, a center electrode, an insulator, a housing, and a folded packing which is situated on an outer circumference of the housing. The folded packing has: a hollow profile in cross section; a free leg directed outwards; and a support region. The folded packing lies on a contact surface in a support region, and the free leg is situated at an angle to the support region. The folded packing is pressed together during the mounting of the spark plug, and the free leg of the folded packing is designed to bend over in the direction of the support surface during the mounting to provide a diameter enlargement of the folded packing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Detlef Hartmann, Christoph Naumann, Mario Fleischhauer, Jochen Fischer
  • Publication number: 20100001626
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spark plug for igniting a combustible gas mixture in an internal combustion engine, comprising an ignition electrode (4), an electrical supply line (5), to which the ignition electrode (4) is connected, an insulator body (6), through which the supply line (5) is passed, a housing head (2), which rests in sealing fashion on the insulator body (6) and bears an outer thread (3) for the purpose of screwing it into an internal combustion engine, a tube housing (9), which is fixed on the housing head (2), surrounds the insulator body (6) and has a hexagon head (13). The invention provides that the tube housing (9) surrounds an insulator body holder (7), which is welded to the housing head (2) and presses the insulator body (6) with a prestress against the housing head (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Georg Maul, Dieter Kuhnert