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US 7,741,762 B2Granted
Dual-spark pre-chambered spark igniter
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsTerrence Francis Alger, II, Barrett Wade Mangold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual-electrode spark igniter (spark plug), which has two electrodes extending from the plug body. During a spark event, electricity flows across a first spark gap from a first electrode to a second electrode. Electricity also flows across a second spark gap from the second electrode to ground.
Claims12
A spark igniter for an engine having at least one engine cylinder, comprising:
- a spark plug body;
- a first electrode, extending a first distance from the top of the spark plug body;
- a second electrode, spaced from the first electrode and extending from the top of the spark body a second distance, which is greater than that of the first electrode;
- a ground strap connected to electrical ground, and having a spark gap from the second electrode;
- and
- a precombustion chamber enclosing the first electrode and the second electrode, the chamber having a bottom end and having a top end with at least one orifice in fluid communication with the at least one engine cylinder;
- wherein the spark end of the first electrode is closer to the bottom end of the precombustion chamber than the spark end of the second electrode, and the spark end of the second electrode is closer to the top end of the precombustion chamber than the spark end of the first electrode.
4 more elements
A method of providing dual spark ignition for an engine having at least one cylinder, comprising:
- providing a spark plug having two electrodes extending different lengths from the active end of the spark plug;
- providing a ground strap the longer of the two electrodes, such that a spark from the first electrode will travel across a first spark gap to the second electrode and a spark from the second electrode will travel across a second spark gap to the ground strap;
- and
- at least partially enclosing the electrodes in a precombustion chamber, the precombustion chamber having a bottom the spark plug and a top having at least one orifice in fluid communication with the at least one engine cylinder;
- and
- wherein the spark end of the first electrode is closer to the bottom of the precombustion chamber than the spark end of the second electrode, and the spark end of the second electrode is closer to the top of the precombustion chamber than the spark end of the first electrode .
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.