Abstract: A spark plug assembly for an internal combustion engine has a housing, an electrode, an axis and a conducting member radially oriented relative to the axis has a collar disposed about the axis and connected to an end of the housing. The spark plug is connected to the engine and exposed to a combustion chamber of the engine. The collar extends a predetermined distance from the end of the housing and shields a gap between the conducting member and electrode from air swirl introduced into a combustion chamber.

Abstract: A spark plug derives an extended lifetime because a large plurality of sharp edges are provided on the center electrode, the ground electrode, or both to enhance spark propagation. In a first embodiment, the ground electrode has a conventional cantilever shape, but the center electrode extends into coplanar relation to a distal surface of the electrode so that sparks propagate from the cylindrical side walls of the center electrode. In variations of the first embodiment, the number of cantilevered ground electrodes is increased, with the ground electrodes being circumferentially and equidistantly spaced about the center electrode. In another embodiment, the ground electrode has an annular configuration and includes a cylindrical annular wall spaced radially outwardly of the cylindrical sidewall of the center electrode, in concentric relation to the center electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in a combustion engine, which includes a spark plug body defining a central cavity; a electrode disposed within the cavity; a spring means disposed in one end portion of the central cavity; and a plate means operatively associated at one end with the spring means and adapted to communicate at its other end with the electrode whereby when the engine starts, the respective compression and explosion strokes move the plate means in one direction against the bias of the spring and in the opposite direction by the force of the spring, which in turn moves the other end of the plate in communication with the electrode in the same manner whereby combustion carbon collected on the electrode can be effectively removed.

Abstract: In a spark plug, a cylindrical metal shell (1) is provided whose inner wall has a rear section and a front section to respectively serve as a diameter-increased section and a diameter-decreased section with a seat portion (1) as a boundary therebetween. An insulator (2) is fixedly placed within the metal shell (1) so that a front end surface (21) of the insulator (2) extends beyond a front end surface (12) of the metal shell (1) with a shoulder portion (231) of an insulator nose (23) engaged against the seat portion (11) of the metal shell (1) by way of a packing (10). A center electrode (3) is fixedly placed within an axial bore (22) of the insulator (2), A ground electrode (4) is connected to the front end surface (12) of the metal shell (1), and bent so that a front end surface (41) of the ground electrode (4) opposes an outer surface (311) of the center electrode (3).

Abstract: A wear-resistant electrode tip for a spark plug, and a spark plug which incorporates the wear-resistant tip. The wear-resistant tip includes an alloy of platinum, iridium, and tungsten. Surprisingly, by addition of a small amount of tungsten to platinum-iridium alloy, the wear-resistance of a resultant spark plug is greatly improved. The spark plug electrode tip according to the invention is either spherical or rivet-shaped. During manufacture, the spark plug electrode tip is annealed in an annealing furnace. The annealing furnace is preferably either charged with an inert gas such as argon or nitrogen, or is subjected to a vacuum. The electrode tip is, optionally, further externally coated with platinum or a compatible bonding metal alloy before attachment to the electrode. Subsequent to annealing and, where used, to external coating, the spark plug electrode tip is placed in a welding fixture. The tip is then aligned with a spark plug electrode and is resistance welded thereto.

Abstract: In order to provide a multielectrode spark plug which is excellent in resistance to fouling and in which the voltage required for producing a spark can be lowered, the tip portion of at least one of plural ground electrodes is positioned by the side of an annular front end face of an insulator to form a semi-creeping spark discharging gap elongating along the surface of the insulator with the tip portion of a center electrode, and the tip portions of the ground other electrodes form aerial spark discharging gaps with the tip portion of the center electrode.

Abstract: A socket that can be adapted to insert and remove an oxygen sensor or a modified spark plug. The socket has a open portion that may be used to accommodate an electrical portion of an oxygen sensor while maintaining proper functioning of the socket. The open portion extends through a portion of the socket while leaving an intact bottom portion, allowing much of the strength of a conventional socket to be maintained.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a ground electrode, a firing electrode, an insulator core, and an outer shell surrounding the insulator core. The outer shell has a threaded section for mounting the spark plug in a combustion engine and a splined section for installation of the spark plug. The splined section includes at least one spline having an outer surface and a corresponding castellation recessed from the outer surface.

Abstract: A spark plug and method of making same, wherein the spark plug includes a platinum alloy tip portion which takes the form of a rivet or a sphere. The tip portion is annealed in an annealing furnace at a temperature between about 700.degree.-1400.degree. C. for a time between about 5-30 minutes. The annealed tip portion is then resistance welded to an electrode of the spark plug. The annealing provides the tip portion with added resistance to corrosion and attack by lead. Preferred embodiments of the spark plug tip material comprise 80% platinum--20% rhodium; 80% platinum--20% iridium; 96% platinum--4% tungsten; and Pt (bal)-Ir(a)%-W(b)%, where "a" ranges from about 15 to 19 percent by weight, "b" ranges from about 1 to 4 percent by weight, and the balance is comprised of platinum and incident impurities, and wherein the sum of iridium and tungsten present ranges from about 16 to 19.

Abstract: A spark plug including a ground electrode having an arcuate arm portion coupled with an annular upper end portion of the outer portion of a spark plug. The ground electrode has a concave portion secured to a distal end of the arcuate arm portion with the concave portion disposed over an open end portion of a central electrode within the spark plug. The concave portion has an aperture formed therethrough.

Abstract: The electron emitting cathode of an initiator (spark plug or ignitor) comprises a small button of high temperature, preferably austenitic, stainless steel powder welded to a support conductor. The stainless steel powder has distributed through it a dopant powder consisting of a minor portion of a highly stable oxide of an element having a low work function. The dopant powder has a much smaller mesh size than the stainless steel powder (1/5or less). Rare earth lanthanides are preferred that have a low work function, preferably under 3.0 eV and are not radioactive. Cerium, in the form of CeO.sub.2 is most preferred. The compositions of the low work function stainless steel electrodes and methods of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A spark plug derives an extended lifetime because a large plurality of sharp edges are provided on the center electrode, the ground electrode, or both to enhance spark propagation. In a first embodiment, the ground electrode has a conventional cantilever shape, but the center electrode extends into coplanar relation to a distal surface of the electrode so that sparks propagate from the cylindrical side walls of the center electrode. In variations of the first embodiment, the number of cantilevered ground electrodes is increased, with the ground electrodes being circumferentially and equidistantly spaced about the center electrode. In another embodiment, the ground electrode has an annular configuration and includes a cylindrical annular wall spaced radially outwardly of the cylindrical sidewall of the center electrode, in concentric relation to the center electrode.

Abstract: In a spark plug including a cylindrical metal shell whose inner wall has a ledge portion, an insulator having a seat portion which engages with a rear slope surface of the ledge portion to be supported within the metal shell, a center electrode supported with an axial bore of the insulator, and a ground electrode extended from the metal shell to form a spark gap with the center electrode. A dimensional relationship among (A), (B) and (g) is defined as follows: {(B-A)/2}.gtoreq.0.8.times.(g) or {(B-A)/2}.gtoreq.0.9.times.(g). Where B (mm) is an inner diameter of a metal shell portion which surrounds an insulator nose, A (mm) is a base diameter of the insulator nose, and g (mm) is a width dimension of the spark gap.

Abstract: A lead-free ceramic glaze comprising, by weight:(i) between about 27 and 35% SiO.sub.2 ;(ii) between about 9 and 15% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;(iii) between about 26 and 34% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ;(iv) between about 4 and 9% BaO;(v) up to about 2.5% CaO;(vi) between about 3 and 8% SrO;(vii) between about 6 and 12% ZnO;(viii) up to about 1% K.sub.2 O;(ix) between about 1 and 4% Li.sub.2 O;(x) between about 1.5 and 3% Na.sub.2 O; and(xi) balance of minor impurities.Also disclosed are ceramic substrates spray coated with such composition and a method for making a lead-free glaze to a ceramic substrate using lower firing temperatures, on the order of 1550.degree. to 1650.degree. F. (843.degree. to 899.degree. C.).

Abstract: A pressure transducer suitable for use in measuring the pressures created by the combustive events that occur in internal combustion engines. The transducer utilizes the magnetostrictive effect to measure stress waves present in magnetized metallic components associated with sparkplug devices typically placed in apertures into internal combustion engine cylinders. The present invention includes a replacement sparkplug device that incorporates a pickup coil for measuring magnetostrictive events within the magnetized metal components of the sparkplug device and alternatively a sparkplug boot cover that separately incorporates a removable pickup coil for measuring the stress waves. In either embodiment, the present invention utilizes the magnetostrictive sensor signals measured as a basis for identifying internal combustion cylinder pressures and for identifying the characteristics of the ignition events within the cylinder.

Abstract: A spark plug including a tubular insulator supported within a metallic shell, and a center electrode provided to axially extend within the insulator. An outer electrode is secured to a front end of the metallic shell so as to extend toward an elevational side of the center electrode. A first spark-erosion resistant noble metal tip is secured to an outer surface of the outer electrode, the outer electrode extending across a front open end of the metallic shell so as to form a spark gap between an extended end of the tip and the elevational side of the center electrode.

Abstract: In a spark plug insulator for use in an internal combustion engine, a sintered body has boron nitride and a metal oxide, the boron nitride of the sintered body being 80% or greater by weight, and the sintered body having a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 5.0.times.10-.sup.6 /.degree.C. The metal oxide is selected alone or in combination from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, silicon oxide, boron oxide, yttrium oxide and aluminum oxide.

Abstract: The tip 10 of the center electrode 1 is opposed to the ground electrodes 21 and 22. The tip 10 has flat faces 111 and 121 opposed to the discharge faces of the ground electrodes 211 and 221, and inclined faces 101 and 102 extending from the flat faces to the base 19. The flat faces have noble metal pieces 31 and 32 at positions opposed to the discharge faces. The discharge faces have a spark gap G between itself and the noble metal piece, a minimum gap A between itself and the inclined face, and a minimum gap B between itself and the tip face 41 of the insulator 4. The spark gap G, minimum gap A, and minimum gap B are related such that the distance of A.gtoreq.1.2.times.the distance of G, and the distance of B.gtoreq.the distance G. The axial length L of the flat face and the area S of a cross section perpendicular to the flat face should, preferably, have the relation S/L.gtoreq.0.7.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an electrically nonconductive body member and a pair of electrodes formed of a material each having titanium diboride as its major component. Tests indicate that titanium diboride electrodes are extremely resistant to electrical erosion. The spark plugs embodying the present invention are particularly useful in continuous cycle or heavy duty cycle engines that have heretofore been the subject of severe electrode erosion.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided with a built-in, ring-shaped pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is composed of a plate packing, a piezoelectric element, an electrode plate and an insulating plate stacked one over the other and also includes a lead wire extending from the electrode plate through a through-hole formed in an upper part of a base portion of a metal shell to output electrical signals. The pressure sensor is accommodated in a cylindrical metal casing of L-shaped cross-section and disposed above a gasket and on the base portion. The metal casing is integrally welded over an entire circumference thereof to the base portion at an upper edge and also at a lower edge, whereby the pressure sensor is sealed within the metal casing.

Abstract: A sparking plug cap for internal combustion engines which is made of a resin selected from the group consisting of an alloy of polyphenylene sulfide and polyphenylene oxide, polyarylate, polyether imide and a liquid crystalline polymer, which sparking plug cap is excellent in insulation durability at a high temperature, particularly under a high humidity or in the presence of water.

Abstract: An igniter for a propane burner is made substantially impermeable to moisture by coating the porous ceramic igniter shell with at least one layer of an inorganic, nonmetallic coating, the coating being an alkali silicate formed from dehydrating liquid water-glass on the surface of the ceramic igniter shell.

Abstract: A metal-glass seal resistor composition for use between a terminal member and an electrode member in a resistor spark plug containing by weight of 24 to 33 percent glass, 18 to 25 percent mullite, 36 to 49 percent zirconia, 0.5 to 1.6 percent carbon black, 0 to 2.0 percent bentonite, 0.3 to 0.8 percent sucrose, 0.8 to 1.2 percent lithium carbonate, 0.5 to 1.3 percent antimony and 0.5 to 1.3 percent silicon.

Abstract: A spark plug for insertion into a boring in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine which does not require threads on the spark plug or in the boring of the cylinder head, but rather use a clip and a seal ring.

Abstract: An ignition system comprising one of a glow plug, spark plug and glow attachment having metal or ceramic surfaces which are exposed to a fuel/air mixtuer, and are at least partially covered with a coating comprising at least one complex metal oxide obtained as a result of a reaction of a basic oxide selected from a group comprising oxides of Si, Y, La and Ce and mixed oxides of the above-mentioned oxides with Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, with at least one further oxide selected from a group comprising oxides of alkali and alkali earth metals.

Abstract: A spark plug for providing an ignition spark has a center electrode. At least a portion of the center electrode contains an alloy material from an alloy family of M-CrAlY wherein M is nickel, cobalt, iron or a combination of these elements and Cr is chromium, Al is aluminum, Y is an element from the group yttrium, zirconium, hafnium or titanium.

Abstract: A spark plug having an improved radio noise suppression effect and durability of the resistor. The resistor of the spark plug is made of a sintered material comprising by weight, 0.9-3.0% of one of TiN, TiC, WC, TiB.sub.2, ZrC, HfC, SiC, TaC, MoSi.sub.2 and mixtures thereof, 9-40% of fine glass powder having a larger grain size than that of said conductive material, not more than 20% of magnetic substance, and 60-90% of coarse glass powder having a larger grain size than that of the fine glass powder. The composition is free of elemental carbon.

Abstract: An ignitor probe assembly (10) for the ignition of fossil fuel burners comprises in combination an ignitor (11) having a tip (70) activated by electrical energy and producing a temperature sufficient to ignite a fossil fuel, pipe means (12) for positioning the ignitor into the burner, means for carrying electrical power (13) to the ignitor passing through the pipe means adapter means (14) carried by the pipe means for the removable assembly of the ignitor thereto, and refractory insulator means (15) engageable with the means for carrying electrical power and interposed substantially concentrically within the adapter means for maintaining the means for carrying electrical power separate therefrom.

Abstract: To permit adjustment of the combination sparkplug-optical sensor for heat transfer upon operation of the sensor-sparkplug combination as a sparkplug, in accordance with known sparkplug technology, the insulator of the sparkplug is formed with a central opening in which a material is included which is electrically conductive and providing for controlled heat transfer, for example a packing or a mixture of aluminum oxide with a conductive powder, such as graphite, aluminum, or copper; or, alternatively, sheet metal elements may be located therein providing controlled radial engagement around a central glass rod forming the optical sensor and the inner wall of the opening and the insulator (FIG. 2); or, alternatively, axially resilient elements, such as a bellows-like corrugated metal element (FIG. 3) or a stack of spring disks (FIG. 4) may be positioned in the opening, axially biased by screwing the connecting terminal (10) into a tapped opening of the insulator.

Abstract: A spark plug having a heat pipe located between the insulating core and the shell in the skirt portion thereof to vary the heat range automatically in response to the operating conditions of the engine in which it is fitted. The heat pipe is charged with a non-condensible gas and a working medium that undergoes a phase change at a predetermined design temperature to transport heat by means of an evaporation-condensation cycle from the firing end of the spark plug to prevent the overheating thereof. Below the design temperature, the heat pipe is thermally non-conducting such that the firing end of the spark plug is allowed to reach a temperature that will burn off combustion deposits that cause misfiring. In one embodiment, the heat pipe is fabricated as a separate integral annular element which is installed in the skirt of the spark plug during the manufacture thereof.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine having a capacitive plasma jet plug including a capacitor in parallel with the series combination of an auxiliary gap and a plasma cavity. The auxiliary gap increases the required breakdown voltage before the plasma cavity generates a spark and obtains supplemental energy from the energy stored in the capacitor.

Abstract: A sparkplug having an improved antifouling performance and in which a decrease in insulation resistance is prevented, even if an electrically conductive material is deposited on the firing surface of the insulator of the sparkplug. In accordance with the invention, a coating of flourine oil containing elemental flourine or elemental fluorine plus elemental silicone is formed on at least the surface of the base of the firing leg of the porcelain insulator of the sparkplug surrounded by the inner surface of the combustion chamber side of the metal casing. Further, paraffin may be added to the solution of the coating. The coating may also be formed on the inner surface of the metal casing.

Abstract: A sparkplug having an improved antifouling performance and in which a decrease in insulation resistance is prevented, even if an electrically conductive material is deposited on the firing surface of the insulator of the sparkplug. In accordance with the invention, a coating of a solution of silicone and paraffin is formed on at least the portion of the firing surface of the porcelain insulator which is surrounded by the inner surface of the combustion chamber side of the metal casing of the sparkplug. Preferably, the coating is also formed on the inner surface of the metal casing.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal spark plug includes a body similar to a conventional spark plug, a central electrode extending from the bottom end of the body, and a ground electrode disposed near but spaced from one end of the central electrode and connected to the body. A piezoelectric crystal is included within the body and one side of the crystal is electrically coupled to the other end of the central electrode. A deforming device is also included within the body to deform the crystal and cause it to produce and apply an electrical signal to the central electrode. This electrical signal produces a spark between the central and ground electrode similar to a conventional spark plug.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive ignition plug capable of sensing the internal pressure of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and transmitting accommodated signal corresponding to the internal pressure. The pressure-sensitive ignition plug has a pressure-sensitive unit having an annular form and mounted in an annular space formed between an insulator assembly embracing a central electrode and a metallic plug body which supports the insulator assembly. The pressure sensing unit has an upwardly projected signal terminal through which an amplifier unit for amplifying the signal from the pressure sensing unit is detachably connected to the latter. The amplifier unit is embedded in a rubber sheath covering the upper half part of the ignition plug or, alternatively, formed in an annular shape and accomodated by a metallic case having a central through bore, the metallic case being adapted to make a snap fit to a hexagonal portion of the plug body from the upper side of the latter.

Abstract: An insulating support body, for example an aluminum oxide ceramic, supports two electrodes spaced from each other by a small gap, for example 0.1 mm, which will have therebetween a high resistance. Upon collection of soot, the resistance between the electrodes across the gap will drop, which can be indicated by sensing current through the electrodes upon connection to a source of electrical energy. To remove soot upon termination of smoking, or soot contents in the gases, the electrodes are applied over, or embedded in a layer of essentially non-conducting catalyzing material which, in the presence of oxygen, catalyzes the oxidation of soot located in the gap between the electrodes to thereby remove the soot by oxidation and restore the resistance of the path between the electrodes and hence the sensitivity of the sensor for subsequent detection of accumulation of soot in the gap.

Abstract: A silicon-talc sealing material is disclosed. The sealing material is made up of about 15 to 30 percent by weight of silicon metal powder and about 85 to 70 percent by weight of talc. It has been found to be admirably suitable for sealing around the center wire of spark plugs in which the sealing material is subjected to temperatures of about 900.degree. F. or higher. In such applications, the sealing material is unexpectedly advantageous by comparison with previously known materials, because it has significantly higher holding power, because it allows significantly less gas leakage, or because it has both advantages.

Abstract: An electrically stable, radio frequency interference suppressing glass-type resistor seal composition forming a gas-tight seal within the center bore of a ceramic insulator wherein the glass is formed from a mixture, in % by weight, of about 25-50% borosilicate glass and about 50-75% barium borate glass and wherein the metal powder used in the composition consists essentially of a mixture, in parts by weight, of about 1-4 parts antimony and about 2-8 parts silicon. The end portion of the terminal screw positioned within the glass seal may be unroughened for a length of from about 0.065 to about 0.10 inch from the end to preclude breaking of conductivity at the interface of the glass seal with the end portion of the terminal screw.

Abstract: Improved spark-plugs for automobile internal combustion engines are made in a manner that thermal conductance (G) from flame nucleus to the electrodes is made as small as possible through decreasing of fluid resistance with respect to minute flame nucleus gas flow in the discharge, the fluid resistance being made small by making the discharge electrodes thin or making at least one of its discharge electrodes streamlined. The spark-plugs are capable of igniting and burning such lean gas mixture of 1.25 or more in excess air ratio (F).

Abstract: A high-silica ceramic glaze, having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, suitable for application to alumina bodies, is disclosed. The glaze comprises, by weight percent, about 50 percent SiO.sub.2, from 5 to 8 percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 6 to 12 percent B.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 2 to 15 percent BaO, from 5 to 8 percent SrO, from 4 to 6 percent CaO, from 2 to 8 percent MgO, from 1 to 2 percent ZnO, and about 5 percent total of Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O, Li.sub.2 O, and minor impurities.

Abstract: A spark plug generally similar to standard design including a body member supporting a pair of electrodes to provide a spark gap in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the side electrode carrying a projecting extension outside the spark gap but still within the flame ignition and combustion zone of the engine so as to provide a reaction member which enhances the action of catalytic agents in the fuel or alternatively incorporated in the reaction member, itself.

Abstract: An anti-pollution spark plug is disclosed having a storage chamber contained in the body portion of the metal shell for receiving -- via longitudinal passages contained in the externally threaded reduced portion of the metal shell -- unburnt hydrocarbons from the cylinder during the compression stroke of the engine. During the subsequent expansion stroke following combustion, the unburnt hydrocarbons are returned to the cylinder for mixing (at a temperature of at least 2200.degree. Rankine) with the oxides of nitrogen having an excess concentration relative to an equilibrium value defined by the pressure, temperature and composition parameters of the products of combustion, thereby to reduce the oxides of nitrogen to the equilibrium value.

Abstract: An improved ceramic article useful after firing as an electrical suppressor element, especially suitable for use in spark plugs, is disclosed. The suppressor element is a copper-aluminum composition modified with a mangesium, calcium, strontium or barium metal compound. The numerical value of the atom ratio of the article,Cu/M+ Alwhere M represents magnesium, calcium, strontium or barium is from 0.5 to 4. The atom ratio of M to Al is from about 0.5:1 to 2.0:1. The temperature coefficient of resistance of the suppressor, defined by ##EQU1## is between about -0.1%/.degree.C and -1.0%/.degree.C.

Abstract: Spark plugs having electrodes formed from combinations in defined proportions of tungsten, vanadium, depleted uranium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, nickel, chromium, copper, barium aluminate, iron, and thoria. Various advantageous electrode configurations are described, as well as methods of constructing the spark plugs.