US 11,909,178 B2 · Prechamber spark plug with thermally enhanced prechamber cap

Abstract

A prechamber spark plug having a thermally enhanced prechamber cap with a thermally conductive core, such as one made from a copper-, aluminum- and/or silver-based material. Due to its location and function, a prechamber cap is exposed to thermal energy from a pre-combustion process taking place within a prechamber, as well as thermal energy from a combustion process taking place in a main combustion chamber. Thus, the prechamber cap is being heated on both its interior and its exterior and, if not sufficiently cooled, can become so hot that it undesirably triggers preignition events in the engine. The thermally enhanced prechamber cap may include a main body with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a thermally conductive core with one or more thermal segments and insert segments, and one or more openings extending between a prechamber and a main combustion chamber, where each opening extends through an insert segment that is designed to resistant to corrosion and/or erosion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A prechamber spark plug, comprising:

a center electrode assembly having a center electrode;
an insulator having an axial bore for at least partially accommodating the center electrode assembly;
a shell having an axial bore for at least partially accommodating the insulator;
a ground electrode opposing the center electrode across a spark gap;
and
a thermally enhanced prechamber cap forming a prechamber that at least partially surrounds the spark gap, wherein the thermally enhanced prechamber cap includes a main body, a thermally conductive core, and at least one opening that allows the prechamber to communicate with a main combustion chamber;
the main body includes a plurality of layers that correspond to interior and exterior surfaces of the thermally enhanced prechamber cap;
and
the thermally conductive core is sandwiched between the plurality of layers of the main body and includes a layer with at least one thermal segment and at least one insert segment, wherein the thermal segment includes at least one cutout in which the insert segment is located, and the insert segment is arranged such that the opening in the thermally enhanced prechamber cap extends through the insert segment.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Prechamber spark plug with thermally enhanced prechamber cap

Life of this patent

Prechamber spark plug with thermally enhanced prechamber cap

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18