Electrode core material for spark plugs
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Ignition Company
InventorsShuwei Ma, Richard L. Keller, John A. Burrows
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrode core material that may be used in electrodes of spark plugs and other ignition devices to provide increased thermal conductivity to the electrodes. The electrode core material is a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy and includes precipitates dispersed within a copper (Cu) matrix such that the electrode core material has a multi-phase microstructure. In several exemplary embodiments, the precipitates include: particles of iron (Fe) and phosphorous, particles of beryllium, or particles of nickel and silicon.
Claims14
An electrode core material for use in a spark plug electrode, comprising:
- a copper matrix made of a copper-based material, wherein copper is the single largest constituent of the copper matrix by weight;
- and
- a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix, wherein the precipitates strengthen the copper matrix so that the electrode core material is a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy.
A spark plug electrode, comprising:
- a core made of a precipitate-strengthened copper alloy including a copper matrix and a plurality of precipitates dispersed in the copper matrix;
- and
- a cladding surrounding the core, wherein the cladding is made of a nickel-based material where nickel is the single largest constituent of the nickel-based material by weight.
A spark plug, comprising:
- a metallic shell having an axial bore;
- an insulator being at least partially disposed within the axial bore of the metallic shell, the insulator having an axial bore;
- a center electrode being at least partially disposed within the axial bore of the insulator;
- and
- a ground electrode being attached to the metallic shell;
- the center electrode, the ground electrode, or both the center and ground electrodes including a cladding formed of a nickel-based material and a core comprising a copper matrix and a plurality of precipitates dispersed throughout the copper matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.