Corona tip insulator
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Corporation
InventorsAlfred Permuy, Keith Hampton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a corona discharge ignitor used to ignite air/fuel mixtures in automotive applications and the like. To suppress an arc from forming when a voltage is applied to the ignitor, the corona discharge ignitor has various shapes and configurations, such as angular depressions or grooves, at the tip of the insulator. The shape and configuration of the tip provides a smaller radius which creates a more intensified electric field and provides better combustion.
Claims17
An ignitor of a corona discharge fuel/air ignition system comprising:
- a ceramic insulator having a terminal end and a corona forming end presenting an outer surface,
- an electrode received in the ceramic insulator, the electrode presenting a firing tip,
- the corona forming end of the ceramic insulator surrounding the firing tip of the electrode, and
- the outer surface of the corona forming end including at least one depression.
A corona ignition system of an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head with an ignitor opening extending from an upper surface to a combustion chamber, and
- a corona ignitor disposed in the ignitor opening,
- the corona ignitor comprising a ceramic insulator having a terminal end and a corona forming end presenting an outer surface,
- an electrode received in the ceramic insulator, the electrode presenting a firing tip,
- the corona forming end of the ceramic insulator surrounding the firing tip of the electrode, and
- the outer surface of the corona forming end including at least one depression.
A method of forming an ignitor of a corona discharge fuel/air ignition system, comprising:
- providing an electrode including a firing tip;
- surrounding the firing tip of the electrode with a corona forming end of a ceramic insulator;
- and
- forming at least one depression in an outer surface of the corona forming end of the ceramic insulator.
An ignitor of a corona discharge fuel/air ignition system comprising:
- a ceramic insulator having a terminal end and a corona forming end presenting an outer surface,
- an electrode received in the ceramic insulator, the electrode presenting a firing tip,
- the corona forming end of the ceramic insulator enclosing the firing tip of the electrode, and
- the outer surface of the corona forming end being flat.
An ignitor of a corona discharge fuel/air ignition system comprising:
- a ceramic insulator having a terminal end and a corona forming end presenting an outer surface,
- an electrode received in the ceramic insulator, the electrode presenting a firing tip,
- the corona forming end of the ceramic insulator enclosing the firing tip of the electrode, and
- the outer surface of the corona forming end being conical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.