Glow plug with improved seal, heater probe assembly therefor and method of construction thereof

A glow plug heater probe assembly, comprising:

• a metal sheath extending between a distal end and a terminal end;
• an electrode having an end received in said sheath;
• a heating element attached to said end of said electrode and being received in said sheath;
• a packing powder disposed in said sheath about said heating element;
• and
• a ceramic seal having an outer surface attached to said sheath by a first braze joint and having an inner surface attached to said electrode by a second braze joint, said ceramic seal providing a hermetic seal between said packing powder and an environment external to said sheath.

A method of constructing a glow plug heater probe assembly, comprising:

• providing a metal sheath having an open end;
• providing an electrode;
• attaching a heater element to the electrode;
• disposing the heater element and an end of an electrode into the sheath;
• disposing packing powder about the heater element in the sheath;
• disposing a ceramic seal about the electrode and within the sheath;
• and
• forming a braze joint between the sheath and the electrode to provide a hermetic seal between the packing powder and an environment external to the sheath.