Spark plug electrodes

Abstract

New and improved structures in electrodes employed in electrical discharge machinery and the like. In one form, electrodes of a spark plug, such as the side and center electrodes thereof, are entirely coated with a thin layer of synthetic diamond material deposited in situ therein as carbon atoms, carbon atoms containing gas or vapor through which microwave energy is beamed against the surfaces receiving such deposited material which forms a synthetic diamond layer. In another form, select portions of the side and center electrodes of a spark plug, such as the end portions thereof subjected to arcing when sparks are generated therebetween, are coated with thin layers of synthetic diamond or diamond-like material to improve their resistance to heat corrosion and pitting caused by the sparks discharged therebetween and the heat of combustion resulting therefrom. In another form, other types of electrodes, such as high voltage electrodes employed in high voltage equipment, are similarly coated and protected against heat, chemical and electrical degradation and erosion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.