# US 2013/0157538 A1 · Method of manufacturing electrode complex for forming electrode of spark plug, and method of manufacturing spark plug

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- Number: US 2013/0157538 A1
- Document ID: US20130157538A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/819,001
- Filed: 2011-09-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-24
- Assignees: Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroshi Ichihara; Ryuji Emoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157538A1

## CPC

- H01T 21/02: of sparking plugs
- H01T 13/32: characterised by features of the earthed electrode
- H01T 21/06: Adjustment of spark gaps (sparking-plugs having movable electrodes for adjusting the gap H01T13/26)
- H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H)

## Abstract

A method of manufacturing an electrode composite for forming an electrode of a spark plug, the electrode composite being formed by laser-welding a first electrode member and a second electrode member together.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing an electrode composite for forming an electrode of a spark plug, the electrode composite being formed by laser-welding a first electrode member and a second electrode member together, the method comprising the steps of:
a first electrode member holding step of holding the first electrode member by a chuck of a chuck unit;
an eccentric error detection step to detect an eccentric error between a position of an actual center axis of the first electrode member and a shaft of a base rotatable supporting the chuck of the chuck unit;
a center axis position correction step of correcting the position of the actual center axis of the first electrode member when the eccentric error detected in the eccentric error detection step falls outside a tolerance range subsequent to the eccentric error detection step, said center axis position correcting step aligning the actual center axis of the first electrode member with an axis of the shaft of the base;
a second electrode member supply step of supplying the second electrode member such that an end surface of the second electrode member comes into contact with an end surface of the first electrode member; and
a laser welding step of welding outer circumferential edges of the end surfaces through which the first electrode member and the second electrode member are in contact with each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method of manufacturing an electrode composite for forming an electrode of a spark plug according to claim 1, further comprising a temporary welding step coming after the second electrode member supply step and before the laser welding step, said temporary welding step adapted to temporarily weld the outer circumferential edges of the end surfaces through which the first electrode member and the second electrode member are in contact with each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

A method of manufacturing an electrode composite for forming an electrode of a spark plug according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that:
a plurality of the chuck units are disposed on revolvingly moving means so as to sequentially move in association with revolution of the revolvingly moving means, and
the eccentric error detection step and the center axis position correction step are performed at the same position in the course of revolution.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

A method of manufacturing an electrode composite for forming an electrode of a spark plug according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that:
a plurality of the chuck units are disposed on revolvingly moving means so as to sequentially move in association with revolution of the revolvingly moving means, and
the first electrode member holding step and the eccentric error detection step are performed at different positions in the course of revolution.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2)

A method of manufacturing a spark plug which has an insulator having an axial bore in a direction of an axis, a center electrode disposed in a forward end portion of the axial bore, a metallic shell circumferentially surrounding the insulator, and a ground electrode whose one end is joined to the metallic shell and whose other end faces a forward end of the center electrode , and in which the center electrode or the ground electrode is an electrode composite formed by joining a first electrode member and a second electrode member together, or has the electrode composite joined thereto,
the method being characterized in that the electrode composite is manufactured by a manufacturing method according to claims 1 or 2.