Spark plug
OwnerJohn A. McDougalinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spark plug with integral electrical components for producing a spark with an increased size and a larger resulting flame kernel in an internal combustion engine. One or more coils may be built into the spark plug for creating a magnetic field in the vicinity of the spark. This magnetic field has the effect of bending and rotating the spark in a circular motion. Also, a capacitor may be incorporated into the spark plug to increase the intensity of the spark. A method of producing such a spark plug utilizes a cermet ink applied to the ceramic spark plug insulator before the insulator is completely hardened. The cermet ink may be used to create monolithic spark plug electrodes, integrated coils and integrated capacitors. The method may also be used to create monolithic electrically conductive paths through any solid dielectric material.
Claims39
A spark plug for producing a spark in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a high voltage electrode;
- a ground electrode completing a spark gap with said high voltage electrode, said spark gap having a first sparking surface which extends radially outwardly from and substantially around a second sparking surface;
- insulator means for electrically isolating said high voltage electrode from said ground electrode;
- electrically conductive path means connected to one of said electrodes for producing an electromagnetic field from current flow through said connected electrode which is substantially perpendicular to said spark gap to cause the spark produced across said gap to be rotated around at least a portion of said first sparking surface;
- and
- wherein said electrically conductive path means comprises a winding having at least one turn disposed around an elongated portion of said high voltage electrode.
A spark plug for producing a spark in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a high voltage electrode.
- a ground electrode having an exposed surface which is concentrically disposed around an exposed surface of said high voltage electrode such that a substantially annular gap is provided between said exposed surfaces of said electrodes;
- insulator means for electrically isolating said high voltage electrode from said ground electrode;
- first electrically conductive path means associated with said insulator means and connected to one of said electrodes for producing a magnetic field which will cause the spark produced across said gap to be rotated generally about the axis of said high voltage electrode;
- and
- second electrically conductive path means associated with said insulator means and connected to the other of said electrodes for increasing the intensity of said magnetic field.
A spark plug for producing a spark in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a high voltage electrode separated from a ground electrode by a ceramic insulator;
- a ground member electrically connected to said ground electrode;
- and
- plate means integrally formed with and embedded within said insulator and connected to said high voltage electrode for forming a capacitor with said ground member which is capable of increasing the intensity of the spark produced by said spark plug, said plate means being made from cermet ink which is co-fired with said insulator.
In a spark plug for igniting a gaseous combustible charge in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a ceramic insulator,
- electrode means supported by said insulator for providing a gap capable of conducting a spark gap current through said charge in said chamber, and
- multiple turn coil means supported by said insulator for carrying substantially all of said spark gap current and producing an electromagnetic field at said gap which has a substantial component which is perpendicular to the spark produced by said spark plug, such that said magnetic field causes rotation of at least a portion of the spark produced by said spark plug.
In a spark plug for producing a spark capable of igniting a combustible mixture, comprising:
- spark gap means having a narrow gap portion and a wider gap portion, and
- magnetic means for causing said spark to move from said narrow gap portion to said wider gap portion.
In a spark plug for igniting a charge in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine;
- ceramic insulating means having an insulator shoulder portion retained in a metallic shell, said shell affording electrical grounding connection for said plug,
- gap means arranged to conduct a spark current through a gaseous combustible mixture in said chamber,
- said gap means comprising a high voltage electrode for connection to an ignition conductor and
- high voltage capacitor plate means connected to said electrode at an exposed sparking surface of said high voltage electrode, said plate means extending into said shoulder portion proximate said shell, said plate being insulated from said shell by a thickness of said insulating means and a gas space between said insulator means and said shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.