Spark plug gasket crush limiter
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJames Jay Cress
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spark plug includes a body of revolution defining a longitudinal axis. The body has a forward axial portion with external threads, and an intermediate axial collar portion defining an axially downwardly facing sealing surface. A first electrode and a second electrode extend from the forward axial portion and define a spark gap therebetween. A hex drive portion is disposed axially above the intermediate collar portion. A gasket crush limiter includes a wall that extends axially downwardly from the intermediate axial collar portion, defining an annular pocket formed by the wall and the forward axial portion.
Claims20
An internal combustion engine comprising:
- a cylinder head that includes
- a flame deck surface that at least partially defines a combustion chamber;
- a spark plug receiving bore that defines a longitudinal axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and that includes an enlarged diameter portion including an axially upwardly facing sealing surface, and a reduced diameter portion including internal threads;
- a spark plug including a forward axial portion including external threads meshing with internal threads of the reduced diameter portion of the spark plug receiving bore, and an intermediate axial collar portion defining an axially downwardly facing sealing surface;
- and
- a gasket disposed axially between the axially upwardly facing sealing surface of the spark plug receiving bore, and the axially downwardly facing sealing surface of the spark plug;
- wherein the spark plug further comprises a gasket crush limiter including a wall that extends radially outwardly and axially downwardly from the intermediate axial collar portion toward the axially upwardly facing sealing surface of the spark plug receiving bore, and that radially surrounds the gasket.
A spark plug assembly comprising:
- a spark plug including a body of revolution defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and further including
- a forward axial portion including external threads, an intermediate axial collar portion defining an axially downwardly facing sealing surface, and a first electrode and a second electrode extending from the forward axial portion and defining a spark gap therebetween;
- and
- a gasket disposed axially between the axially downwardly facing sealing surface, and the external threads of the forward axial portion;
- wherein the spark plug further comprises a gasket crush limiter including a wall that extends radially outwardly and axially downwardly from the intermediate axial collar portion, defining an annular pocket with a radially outer pocket surface that at least partially surrounds the gasket radially.
A spark plug comprising:
- a body of revolution defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and further including
- a forward axial portion including external threads, an intermediate axial collar portion defining an axially downwardly facing sealing surface, and a first electrode and a second electrode extending from the forward axial portion and defining a spark gap therebetween;
- and
- a hex drive portion disposed axially above the intermediate axial collar portion;
- wherein the spark plug further comprises a gasket crush limiter including a wall that extends axially downwardly from the intermediate axial collar portion, defining an annular pocket formed by the wall and the forward axial portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.