Method of making a ground electrode for a spark plug
AssigneeNgk Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
InventorWataru Matsutani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method of making a spark plug electrode, an electrode blank is prepared to have a firing portion at one end of the electrode blank. A recess is provided at the firing portion of the electrode blank. A noble metal material is placed in the recess. Laser beams are applied on the noble metal material in the recess to melt 70%.about.100% by weight of the noble metal material to form a noble metal tip. A component of the electrode blank is formed from a clad metal wherein the clad metal is thermally fused to the noble metal tip to form a fused portion, such that the clad metal comprises 0.5%.about.80% of the total weight of the fused portion.
Claims7
A method of making a ground electrode for a spark plug having a discharge gap, said method comprising:
- preparing an electrode blank having a firing portion at one end of the electrode blank;
- providing a recess at the firing portion of the electrode blank to be facing the discharge gap;
- placing a noble metal material in the recess such that the noble metal material has a surface to be facing the discharge gap;
- and
- applying laser beams on the noble metal material in the recess to melt 70%.about.100% by weight of the noble metal material so as to form a noble metal tip,
- wherein the laser beams are directed to the surface of the noble metal material to be facing the discharge gap,
- wherein a component of the electrode blank is formed from a clad metal, wherein the clad metal is thermally fused to the noble metal tip to form a fused portion, such that the clad metal comprises 0.5%.about.80% of the total weight of the fused portion, and the melted noble metal material in the recess is substantially flush with an outer surface of the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.