Between Center Electrode And Insulator Patents (Class 313/145)
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Patent number: 9407069Abstract: An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a spark plug is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 85.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 15.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION COMPANYInventors: Keith Firstenberg, William J. Walker, Jr.
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Patent number: 8981635Abstract: An ignition plug includes an insulator having an axial bore extending in the direction of an axis and an electrode inserted into the axial bore, and generates plasma discharge through supply, to the electrode, of high-frequency power generated by a predetermined high-frequency power supply. The electrode includes a center electrode inserted into the forward side of the axial bore and a terminal electrode inserted into the rear side of the axial bore. In the axial bore, the terminal electrode and the center electrode are fixed to the insulator by means of a glass seal which contains a glass component, and are in direct contact with each other. Thus, ignition performance can be further improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kohei Katsuraya, Tatsunori Yamada
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Patent number: 8975809Abstract: An ignition plug having a ceramic insulator with an axial bore, a metallic shell provided around the ceramic insulator, and a terminal electrode having a leg portion inserted into a rear end portion of the axial bore and a head portion projecting from the rear end of the ceramic insulator, wherein the length L of a portion of the ceramic insulator projecting from the rear end of the metallic shell is not less than 28 mm but not greater than 34 mm. The thickness t of the thinnest portion of the ceramic insulator is 1.0 mm or greater within a region which extends 5.5 mm from the rear end of the ceramic insulator toward the forward end side with respect to the direction of the axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mai Nakamura
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Patent number: 8970098Abstract: An ignition plug includes an insulator having an axial hole extending therethrough in the direction of an axis, a center electrode inserted into a forward end portion of the axial hole, and a metallic shell disposed externally of the insulator. The insulator includes a step portion engaged with an inner circumferential portion of the metallic shell and a leg portion extending forward from the forward end of the step portion. The porosity of the leg portion is 3.0% or less. Among three regions of the leg portion that are radially trisected in a cross section perpendicular to the axis, the outermost region is defined as a first region and the innermost region is defined as a second region. The porosity of the first region is equal to or more than 1.20 times the porosity of the second region.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Saji, Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda
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Patent number: 8952602Abstract: A spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator, a metallic shell, and a ground electrode which has a noble metal tip at the other end portion. A gap is formed between a forward end portion of the center electrode and a discharge surface of the noble metal tip. When an acute angle formed by the forward end surface and the discharge surface is ?1, a point on the forward end surface closest to the noble metal tip is A, opposite ends of the discharge surface are B1 and B2, and an angle formed by a first line segment connecting A and B1 and a second line segment connecting A and B2 is ?2, 35°??1?55°, 85°??2?90°, and the difference in length between the first and second line segments is equal to or less than 10% of the longer line segment.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akio Nishikawa
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Patent number: 8933618Abstract: An electrode-attached insulator having an insulator provided with an axial hole extending in the direction of an axis and a center electrode which is disposed on a distal-end side of the axial hole and has a front end portion that is exposed from a front end of the insulator. The electrode-attached insulator includes a locking member having a collar portion which is locked on a step portion. The center electrode and the locking member are joined together in the axial hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasushi Sakakura
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Patent number: 8928214Abstract: An ignition plug, wherein, when a relative density of a portion of an insulator, which is positioned between a radial virtual plane including a front end of the insulator and a radial virtual plane including a front end of a portion of the insulator which is in contact with a metal shell or the plate packing, is referred to as A (%), and a relative density of a portion of the insulator, which is positioned between the radial virtual plane including the front end of the portion of the insulator which is in contact with the metal shell or the plate packing and a radial virtual plane including a center of a resistor in an axial direction, is referred to as B (%), the following equations are satisfied: 93.90?A, and 0.10?A?B?0.90.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimasa Saji, Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda
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Patent number: 8844490Abstract: A corona igniter 20 includes an insulator 28 surrounding a central electrode 24 and a shell 30 surrounding the insulator 28. The shell 30 presents a shell gap 38 having a shell gap width ws between a shell lower end 34 and a shell inner surface 90 or shell outer surface 92. The shell 30 has a shell thickness ts decreasing toward the shell lower end 34 allowing the shell gap width ws to increase toward the shell lower end 34. The shell gap 38 is open at the shell lower end 34 allowing air to flow therein, and the shell gap width ws is greatest at the shell lower end 34. The increasing shell gap width ws enhances corona discharge 22 along the insulator 28 between the central electrode 24 and shell 30.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: John Antony Burrows, James D. Lykowski, Alfred Permuy, Keith Hampton
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Patent number: 8839753Abstract: A corona igniter 20 includes an electrode gap 28 between the central electrode 22 and the insulator 32 and a shell gap 30 between the insulator 32 and the shell 36. An electrically conductive coating 40 is disposed on the insulator 32 along the gaps 28, 30 to prevent corona discharge 24 in the gaps 28, 30 and to concentrate the energy at a firing tip 58 of the central electrode 22. The electrically conductive coating 40 is disposed on an insulator inner surface 64 and is spaced radially from the electrode 22. The electrically conductive coating 40 is also disposed on the insulator outer surface 72 and is spaced radially from the shell 36. During operation of the igniter 20, the electrically conductive coating 40 provides a reduced voltage drop across the gaps 28, 30 and a reduced electric field spike at the gaps 28, 30.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: John Antony Burrows, James D. Lykowski, John William Hoffman
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Patent number: 8791627Abstract: A spark plug includes an insulator, and a metal shell disposed at an outer periphery of the insulator and including a shoulder. The insulator includes a trunk portion, and a leg formed at the tip end side of the trunk portion. The shoulder of the metal shell includes a first shoulder, and a second shoulder formed at the tip end side of the first shoulder. A distance Da between the tip end of the second shoulder and the leg and a distance Db between the tip end of the trunk portion and the second shoulder satisfy a relationship of Da/Db?1.1. A distance T between the rear end of the first shoulder and the tip end of the second shoulder and a distance L between the rear end of the first shoulder and a tip end face of the metal shell satisfy a relationship of T/L?0.5.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2013Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keiji Ozeki, Naoyuki Mukoyama
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Patent number: 8729784Abstract: An insulator for a spark plug is provided having an insulator tip. The insulator tip includes a feature extending radially inward from an exterior surface of the insulator tip.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Fram Group IP LLCInventors: Ronald P. Rohrbach, Peter D. Unger, Jeffrey T. Boehler, Jing Zheng
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Patent number: 8672721Abstract: A spark-ignited, internal combustion engine ignition device to increase electrical transfer efficiency of the ignition by peaking the electrical power of the spark during the streamer phase of spark creation and improving combustion quality, incorporating an electrode design and materials to reduce electrode erosion due to high power discharge, an insulator provided with capacitive plates to peak the electrical current of the spark discharge, and concomitant methods.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Enerpulse, Inc.Inventor: Louis S. Camilli
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Patent number: 8636555Abstract: Provided is a technique for limiting the radial displacement between a metal shell and an insulator in a spark plug. At the time of manufacturing a spark plug with a metal shell and an insulator, the metal shell and the insulator are assembled together by, while allowing relative positional displacement between the metal shell and the insulator in an axial direction (O-O), limiting relative positional displacement between the metal shell and the insulator in a radial direction intersecting with the axial direction in such a manner that the amount of deviation between an axis of the metal shell and an axis of the insulator becomes less than or equal to a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keisuke Kure, Jiro Kyuno
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Patent number: 8633640Abstract: [Objective] To provide a spark plug which is configured such that an insulation member, from which a center electrode projects, is pressed frontward and held in a metallic shell, and is fixed by means of crimping the rear end of the metallic shell, and which can prevent a drop in gas tightness between the metallic shell and the insulation member due to a difference in thermal expansion therebetween. [Means for Solution] In a spark plug in which a mating shaft portion (10) of an insulation member (1) is loose-fitted into a mating hole portion (30) of a metallic shell (21), a filler (41) for maintaining gas tightness is charged between the outer circumferential surface of the mating shaft portion (10) and the inner circumferential surface of the mating hole portion (30). Despite the thermal expansion difference, the gas tightness is maintained, because the filler (41) for maintaining gas tightness is charged between the inner and outer circumferential surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Kyuno, Akira Suzuki, Mamoru Musasa
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Publication number: 20130328477Abstract: An ignition plug includes an insulator having an axial bore extending in the direction of an axis and an electrode inserted into the axial bore, and generates plasma discharge through supply, to the electrode, of high-frequency power generated by a predetermined high-frequency power supply. The electrode includes a center electrode inserted into the forward side of the axial bore and a terminal electrode inserted into the rear side of the axial bore. In the axial bore, the terminal electrode and the center electrode are fixed to the insulator by means of a glass seal which contains a glass component, and are in direct contact with each other. Thus, ignition performance can be further improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Kohei Katsuraya, Tatsunori Yamada
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Patent number: 8593046Abstract: A spark plug includes a tubular metal shell extending in an axial direction, wherein the metal shell includes: an externally threaded portion formed on a tip end side of an outer periphery of the metal shell; a seat portion formed on a rear end side of the externally threaded portion in the axial direction and protruding radially outward; and a nickel layer provided on an outer surface of the metal shell, wherein the nickel layer contains phosphorus, and a phosphorus concentration in a portion in which a nickel concentration is 50 at % in a thickness direction of the nickel layer itself is 6 at % or more and 20 at % or less.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Kodama, Hiroaki Nasu
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Publication number: 20130264935Abstract: An electrode-attached insulator having an insulator provided with an axial hole extending in the direction of an axis and a center electrode which is disposed on a distal-end side of the axial hole and has a front end portion that is exposed from a front end of the insulator. The electrode-attached insulator includes a locking member having a collar portion which is locked on a step portion. The center electrode and the locking member are joined together in the axial hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.Inventor: Yasushi Sakakura
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Patent number: 8536771Abstract: A spark plug comprised of an insulator having a stepped portion on an outer circumferential portion thereof, the stepped portion tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, an annular sheet packing and a metallic shell having a taper portion provided on an inner circumferential portion thereof and tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, the metallic shell holding the insulator through a rear end portion thereof being crimped, the stepped portion being seated on the taper portion via the sheet packing, and the taper portion having a groove therein.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mai Nakamura, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 8492964Abstract: A spark plug including a center electrode; an insulator; and a metal shell, the metal shell including: a tool engaging section; a body section; and a groove section formed between the tool engaging section and the body section, and having bulges which bulge in an outer peripheral direction and in an inner peripheral direction. When a portion of the groove section having a largest outer diameter is a first section, a thinnest portion from the first section to the body section is a second section, and a portion having a thickness that is the same as that of the first section is a third section, a relation between a thickness A of the second section and a radius of curvature R of an outer surface of the metal shell that continues from the second section to the third section satisfies R×A?0.20 mm2.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mai Nakamura, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 8471450Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: William J. Walker, Jr., James D. Lykowski
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Patent number: 8384278Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine, having an insulator including an insulator shoulder designed for mounting a tensioning nut or a housing and having a first outer diameter, an insulator head which is situated farther from the combustion chamber and adjoins the insulator shoulder, and which has a second outer diameter which is smaller than the first outer diameter, and a continuous cavity, a composition including a first contact composition, a second contact composition, and a composition resistor situated between the first contact composition and the second contact composition, a connecting pin which contacts the first contact composition, a center electrode which contacts the second contact composition, and a ground electrode. The connecting pin, the composition, and the center electrode are situated in the cavity, and the composition resistor has a third outer diameter, and a ratio of the third outer diameter to the second outer diameter is between 0.35 and 0.7.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Benz, Manfred Roeckelein, Heidrun Lange, Jochen Fischer
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Patent number: 8299694Abstract: A spark plug with excellent vibration resistance performance and resistor load life-span characteristics, and a reduced diameter which is achieved by strengthening adhesion between a resistor and a conductive glass sealing layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Tomoaki Kato, Tsutomu Shibata, Mamoru Musasa
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Patent number: 8288929Abstract: A spark plug comprising a center electrode, a first noble metal tip joined to the center electrode, an insulator, a metallic shell, a ground electrode joined to the metallic shell and including an outer layer and an inner layer, and a second noble metal tip joined to the ground electrode by way of a melted portion, wherein in a cross section of the ground electrode, the protrusion height A of the second noble metal tip is 0.4mm or more, the ground electrode includes a substantially flat joining surface to which the second noble metal tip is joined and an outwardly curved surface, the inner layer has at the joining surface side a substantially flat surface or recessed surface, and the minimum distance F between the melted portion and the inner layer is 0.1mm or more.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Nunome, Yoshikuni Sato
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Patent number: 8253313Abstract: A spark plug having improved durability having a ground electrode comprised of a ground electrode base member and a noble metal tip. A center axis of the noble metal tip slants in relation to the center axis of the ground electrode base member at angle ? which satisfies a relation 2°???25°.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Hiroyuki Kameda
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Publication number: 20110298353Abstract: A spark plug comprised of an insulator having a stepped portion on an outer circumferential portion thereof, the stepped portion tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, an annular sheet packing and a metallic shell having a taper portion provided on an inner circumferential portion thereof and tapering frontward in the direction of the axis of the spark plug, the metallic shell holding the insulator through a rear end portion thereof being crimped, the stepped portion being seated on the taper portion via the sheet packing, and the taper portion having a groove therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Mai Nakamura, Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 8040029Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventors: Andre Agneray, Marc Pariente
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Patent number: 7944134Abstract: A spark plug including: a center electrode including an electrode base member and a core member; an electrode tip joined to the center electrode via a molten bond; an insulator holding the center electrode; a metal shell holding the insulator; and a ground electrode joined to the metal shell. Relationships d?2.1 [mm] and ?0.09×d+0.33<Vb/(Va+Vb)<?0.2×d+0.75 are satisfied, where d is an outer diameter of the center electrode at a position 4 mm closer to the base end of the center electrode from the base end of the molten bond in the axial direction, and Va and Vb are volumes of the electrode base member and the core member, respectively, at a region between the base end of the molten bond and the position in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Kyuno, Akira Suzuki, Mai Moribe, Yuichi Nakano, Mamoru Musasa
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Patent number: 7944135Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventor: William J. Walker, Jr.
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Patent number: 7893604Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 24, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.Inventors: Takayuki Takeuchi, Ken Hanashi
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Patent number: 7843117Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma-generating spark plug which undergoes excitation in the radio frequency domain. The invention comprises at least one first metallic electrode (12, 14), an insulator (13), one of which is equipped with a housing (130) in which the other element (13, 14) is mounted with a gap (15, 16) therebetween. The surface of the insulator (13) opposite the first electrode (12, 14) is metalized.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventors: Xavier Jaffrezic, Andre Agneray
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Patent number: 7825573Abstract: A spark plug assembly (10) for engine applications where the combustion chamber is difficult to access when servicing or replacing a spark plug. The spark plug assembly (10) includes a fairly traditional spark plug component (28) to which an elongated tubular conduit (12) is attached, such as by welding, to a portion of the metallic shell (32). The conduit (12) contains an upper ceramic insulator (52) adjacent its top end (14) disposed in end-to-end abutting contact with an outer elastomeric insulator (58). The ceramic insulator of the spark plug component (28), herein referred to as a lower ceramic insulator (30), is surrounded by the outer elastomeric insulator (58) and held securely within the conduit (12) thereby. An inner elastomeric insulator (62) is disposed in a continuous passageway formed between aligned central bores formed in the respective upper ceramic (52) and outer elastomeric (58) insulators.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition CompanyInventors: Richard E. Callahan, Robert D. Freeman
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Publication number: 20100052500Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Inventor: William J. Walker, JR.
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Patent number: 7666047Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a spark plug in which welding strength between a noble metal tip and an electrode joined by laser welding can be restrained from becoming weak. A noble metal tip (90) to be joined to a center electrode (2) or ground electrode of a spark plug to form a spark discharge gap is resistance-welded to each electrode containing no noble metal and then laser-welded. In the noble metal tip (90) exposed under a severe environment involving spark discharge, a molten portion (80) formed in such a manner that a portion of the noble metal tip (90) and a portion of the electrode are melted by laser welding and a non-molten portion (95) on the noble metal tip (90) side are apt to be peeled from each other in a boundary surface (83) between the molten portion (80) and the non-molten portion (95).Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Suzuki, Tomoaki Kato, Kazuyoshi Torii, Akikazu Taido
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Patent number: 7652414Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle; the spark plug is embodied with a generally essentially long shape and includes: an essentially capacitive lower part including two coaxial electrodes, one of which is a central electrode, and the other a threaded shell for screwing in the spark plug on the engine; and an essentially inductive upper part including a central winding including a plurality of coils wound around a coaxial mandrel, an envelope, and an insulator inserted between the envelope and the winding. The essentially capacitive part and the essentially inductive part are mechanically interconnected as to enable transmission of a clamping couple applied to the envelope to the essentially capacitive lower part. The mandrel can be elastically deformed as to compensate effects of dilation of the insulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventors: Xavier Jaffrezic, Andre Agneray
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Patent number: 7402941Abstract: A spark plug including a cylindrical insulator having an axial hole extending in an axial direction; a center electrode held in the axial hole on a leading end side; a connecting terminal held in the axial hole on a trailing end side; and a sealing layer provided in the axial hole and including a glass sealing material containing a glass component and a metallic component, the sealing layer including a first sealing layer containing a first glass sealing material and a second sealing layer containing a second glass sealing material laminated in an axial direction of the axial hole, the first sealing layer contacting the center electrode, and the second sealing layer contacting the connecting terminal, wherein the second glass sealing material has a fluidity higher than that of the first glass sealing material at a temperature higher than a softening point of a glass component in the sealing layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Shibata, Toshitaka Honda
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Patent number: 7262547Abstract: A spark plug which includes an end at its combustion chamber end, and an end at its connecting end, as well as a housing and an insulator situated in the housing. The insulator has a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis, a center electrode situated in the longitudinal bore of the insulator, a first ground electrode which extends into the region of the longitudinal axis of the insulator, and a second ground electrode which is situated at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the insulator laterally next to the center electrode. The insulator has a front section, facing the first ground electrode, which has an end face. The insulator has an outside diameter d and an inside diameter c, d?c, that is, the difference between outside diameter d and inside diameter c, in the front section of the insulator being not greater than 1.9 mm.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Dittmar Klett, Thomas Kaiser, Dirk Scholz
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Patent number: 7230369Abstract: A spark plug includes a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a terminal fixed to the insulator. The dimensional parameters in the structure of the spark plug, such as a maximum diameter A of the terminal and a diameter B of the insulator satisfy a dimensional relationship defined through experimental investigation. The structure facilitates an attachment of a plug cap to the spark plug.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Keiji Kanao
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Patent number: 7221078Abstract: In a spark plug composed of a center electrode and an earth electrode, at least one of confronting portions of the center electrode and the earth electrode which are in opposed relation to each other is constructed with a noble metal chip containing Pt as a principal component. The noble metal chip is joined to an electrode base material of the center electrode or the earth electrode and is made of an alloy comprising Pt and another element. In this noble metal chip, Pt is contained as a first component, while Re is contained as a second component. The employment of this noble metal chip enables suppressing the growth of platinum balls even in a high-temperature atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tetsuya Watanabe
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Patent number: 7122947Abstract: In a glow plug and a spark plug, the surface of a main metal shell is coated with a chromate film in which the quantity of trivalent chrome is 95 wt % or more of the contained chrome components and which has a thickness of 0.2 ?m to 0.5 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroaki Nasu, Wataru Matsutani, Chiaki Kumada, Katsunari Ninomiya
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Patent number: 6822378Abstract: A spark plug comprising: a center electrode; a metal shell; and an alumina ceramic insulator disposed between the center electrode and the metal shell, wherein at least part of the surface of the insulator is covered with a glaze layer comprising oxides, wherein the glaze layer comprises: 1 mol % or less of a Pb component in terms of PbO; 30 to 60 mol % of a Si component in terms of SiO2; 20 to 50 mol % of a B component in terms of B2O3; 0.5 to 25 mol % of a Zn component in terms of ZnO; 0.5 to 15 mol % in total of at least one of Ba and Sr components in terms of BaO and SrO, respectively; 2 to 12 mol % in total of at least two alkaline metal components of Na, K and Li, in terms of Na2O, K2O, and Li2O, respectively, wherein K and Li is essential; and 0.1 to 10 mol % of a F component in terms of F2.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: NGK Spark Plug., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Nishikawa, Makoto Sugimoto
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Patent number: 6770850Abstract: A heater has a cylindrical metallic shell, a heater body partly disposed in a front end portion of the metallic shell, an electrode disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell and electrically connected to the heater body, and a terminal adapted to be capped with an electric connector. The terminal includes a terminal body for power supply to the heater body through the electrode and an engaging portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the terminal body so as to be engageable with the electric connector. The electrode and the terminal body are formed integrally with each other. Such a heater can maintain good electrical conduction from the terminal to the heater body with its simple structure throughout an extended period of time.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masato Taniguchi, Katsuhiko Tanaka, Masakazu Nagasawa
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Patent number: 6653768Abstract: A spark plug in which the diameter of a front end portion 2i of an insulator 2 is reduced due to a circumferentially extending stepped portion thereof to form the stepped portion into an insulator-side locking portion 2h, and the insulator is inserted into a main metal member 1 from a rear opened portion thereof. The insulator-side locking portion 2h engages a metal member-side locking portion 1c projecting from an inner circumferential surface of the main metal member 1, and an outer circumferential surface (clearance-forming outer circumferential surface) 2k of the portion 2i positioned ahead of the locking portion 2h of the insulator 2 is opposed to an inner circumferential surface (clearance-forming inner circumferential surface) 52 of the metal member-side locking portion 1c so as to form a predetermined clearance Q in a locking position.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Kato, Mamoru Musasa
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Patent number: 6583538Abstract: Spark plug with an electrically insulating ceramic insulator (1), a metallic spark plug body (2), a ground electrode (3) and a middle electrode (4) which is located centrally in a hole (5) of the ceramic insulator (1), around the ignition-side end area on the periphery of the middle electrode (4) a peripheral tip (10) being formed which encompasses the middle electrode (4) in an annular manner.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Beru AGInventors: Manfred Adolf, Werner Niessner
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Patent number: 6580202Abstract: A spark plug with a metallic housing (10) is proposed, which has an insulator (11) embedded in the housing (10), in which a rod-shaped internal conductor device is disposed. The internal conductor device has a contact pin (13), a current-limiting erosion resistor (17), and a central electrode (14). A sealing material (16) secures the central electrode (14) in a sealed fashion in the insulator (11). The temperature resistant sealing material (16) essentially contains at least one metallic component and at least one ceramic component with a low thermal expansion, wherein the metallic component has a melting temperature that is higher than the operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Rudolf Pollner
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Publication number: 20030020388Abstract: The seal between the insulator and the center electrode is to be improved in a spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprising a shell (12), an insulator (16) located in the shell and composed of a sintered ceramic material, as well as a center electrode (18) and a terminal stud (22) that have an electrically conductive connection with each other and are located in the insulator. For this purpose, it is provided that a cermet (28) abuts the center electrode, the ceramic phase of which is composed of the same or a similar material as the insulator, and the metallic phase of which is composed of a material having good electrical conductivity. Since the material properties of the cermet are similar to those of the insulator—the thermal expansion, in particular, is same—a particularly good seal is created between the cermet and insulating body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Rudolf Pollner
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Patent number: 6442929Abstract: An igniter assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine, the combustor being of a type including a case and a liner within said case, the assembly comprising an igniter including an elongate body having a first end, a second end, and a mounting feature intermediate said first and second ends, and the mounting feature includes a semi-hemispherical surface and an electrode extending through the body, and a base having an internal cavity with a first internal land, a second internal land opposite the first internal land, first seal A means in sealing contact with the first internal land, and biasing means, such as a spring, in contact with the second internal land and said mounting feature. The mounting feature is located within the cavity, the semi-hemispherical surface is proximate the first seal means, and the biasing means urges the semi-hemispherical surface into sealing contact with the first seal means to prevent the leakage of air therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Power Systems Mfg., LLCInventors: Robert J. Kraft, Brian R. Mack, Mark A. Minnich, Peter R. Winch
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Patent number: 6414420Abstract: A spark plug according to this invention includes an insulator having a center through-hole formed therein, a center electrode held in the center through-hole, a metallic shell holding the insulator by swaging, and a ground electrode electrically connected to the metallic shell and defining a spark discharge gap in cooperation with the center electrode. The metallic shell has a male-threaded portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of a front end portion of the metallic shell, and a tightening portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the metallic shell, located at a rear side with respect to the male-threaded portion. The tightening portion has a width-across-flats W of not greater than 14 mm. A cushion material is filled into a space defined by the metallic shell and an insulator to form a cushion-material charged portion. The cushion-material charged portion has an axial length L of from 0.5 mm to 10.0 mm inclusive and a thickness M of from 0.5 mm to 1.3 mm inclusive.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2000Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Suzuki
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Patent number: 6225752Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine is constituted by an insulating member (20) having an axial hole (26) formed along a central shaft (18); a rod-shape central electrode (12) accommodated in the axial hole; and a ground electrode (16) with which an igniting portion (16a) opposite to the outer surface (12a) of the central electrode is formed. In the spark plug, application of voltage between the central electrode and the ground electrode such that the polarity of the central electrode is made to be positive causes discharge to occur between the central electrode and the ground electrode. The spark plug satisfies at least one of the following conditions (a) and (b).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2000Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Matsubara, Akio Kokubu, Kazumasa Yoshida, Makoto Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 6191525Abstract: In a spark plug, a resistor is placed between a terminal and a center electrode within a through hole of an insulator. The through hole of the insulator has a first portion which allows the center electrode to be inserted therethrough, and a second portion which is formed on a rear side of the first portion so as to be larger in diameter than the first portion and which accommodates the resistor therein, where the second portion is connected to the first portion via a connecting portion including a two- or more-stepped reduced-diameter portion. Then, an electrically conductive glass seal layer is placed at a position corresponding to the connecting portion between the resistor and the center electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Tanaka, Makoto Sugimoto
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Patent number: 6188166Abstract: A resistor spark plug includes an insulator having an axially extending through-hole. A center electrode is disposed within the through-hole of the insulator such that the center electrode projects from a tip end of the insulator. A terminal metal piece is disposed within the through-hole of the insulator such that the terminal metal piece projects from a tail end of the insulator. A conductive coupling layer is disposed within the through-hole and located between the center electrode and the terminal metal piece. The conductive coupling layer comprises a conductive glass seal layer formed on at least an end facing the terminal metal piece. A surface layer region of the terminal metal piece that comes into contact with the conductive glass seal layer is formed mainly of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sn, Pb, Rh, Pd, Pt, Cu, Au, Sb, and Ag.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Nishikawa, Yutaka Tanaka