EP0103775B1 - Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne - Google Patents

Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0103775B1
EP0103775B1 EP83108356A EP83108356A EP0103775B1 EP 0103775 B1 EP0103775 B1 EP 0103775B1 EP 83108356 A EP83108356 A EP 83108356A EP 83108356 A EP83108356 A EP 83108356A EP 0103775 B1 EP0103775 B1 EP 0103775B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sealing
ceramic carrier
glow plug
head
face
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83108356A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0103775A2 (fr
EP0103775A3 (en
Inventor
Friedrich Dr. Esper
Thomas Dr. Frey
Günter Knoll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Robert Bosch GmbH
Original Assignee
Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Robert Bosch GmbH filed Critical Robert Bosch GmbH
Publication of EP0103775A2 publication Critical patent/EP0103775A2/fr
Publication of EP0103775A3 publication Critical patent/EP0103775A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0103775B1 publication Critical patent/EP0103775B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q7/00—Incandescent ignition; Igniters using electrically-produced heat, e.g. lighters for cigarettes; Electrically-heated glowing plugs
    • F23Q7/001—Glowing plugs for internal-combustion engines

Definitions

  • a glow plug for internal combustion engines according to the type of the main claim.
  • a glow plug is already known (DE-A-3 104 401), which has a rod or. has tubular ceramic body with a conductor element-like heating element applied to its surface; the ceramic body of this glow plug is tightly sealed on the connection side and surrounded by a metal housing with the fastening means of which the glow plug can be tightly installed in the cylinder head of internal combustion engines. Because of the limited space available in the cylinder head, the ceramic body can only have a relatively small outside diameter, as a result of which there is a risk of breaks in the ceramic body. Such a risk of breakage exists, in particular, in areas of grooves on the ceramic body and / or in the case of tubular ceramic bodies.
  • the glow plug according to the invention with the characterizing features of the main claim has the advantage that the ceramic body can be equipped with a larger, more stable cross section despite the same installation conditions in the cylinder head and is therefore no longer at risk of breakage and ensures greater operational reliability of the glow plug.
  • the measures listed in the subclaims allow advantageous developments and improvements of the glow plug specified in the main claim; It is particularly advantageous that the glow plug according to the invention can nevertheless be designed as a structural unit and, if appropriate, also be provided with a protective tube around the ceramic body and additionally even with overheating protection and / or a voltage limiter.
  • FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through an enlarged glow plug according to the invention and
  • FIG. 2 shows the enlarged head of the ceramic carrier with a preferred arrangement of the connecting conductors.
  • the glow plug 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 essentially consists of three parts: a heater 11, a connecting bolt 12 and a screw head 13.
  • the heating element 11 has a rod-shaped or tubular ceramic carrier 14, which is closed on the combustion chamber side by means of a dome-like bottom 15 and has a head 16 on its connection-side, open end section;
  • This ceramic carrier 14 has a thickness between 0.3 and 0.8 mm in the region of its base 15 and consists of electrically insulating ceramic material or glass ceramic, but preferably of aluminum oxide.
  • the outer diameter of the ceramic carrier 14 is approximately 6 mm just below the sealing surface 21, approximately 5 mm above the dome-like base 15 and approximately 10 mm in the region of the head 16.
  • the interior 17 of this ceramic carrier 14 is preferably of slightly conical design, so that the core (not shown) located in this interior 17 can be easily removed during the production of the ceramic carrier 14; the diameter of the interior 17 is 3 mm on average.
  • a ceramic carrier 14 with an interior 17 has the advantage of a lower heat capacity and better resistance to temperature changes compared to a solid ceramic carrier (not shown), but is not a condition for the claims with respect to the present subject matter.
  • the total length of the ceramic carrier 14 is usually - depending on the application - between 20 and 35 mm, but mostly around 28 mm.
  • the head 16 is provided on its connection-side end section with an annular groove 18, which is formed in the peripheral surface 19 of the head 16.
  • connection-side end face 20 preferably extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the ceramic carrier 14 (if necessary, it can also be frustoconical or the like), the transition of the head 16 serving as the sealing surface 21 to the end section of the ceramic carrier 14 on the combustion chamber side is frustoconical.
  • a layered heating element 22 is applied to the outside of the ceramic carrier 14, which preferably consists of a platinum-rhodium alloy with a ceramic component (e.g. aluminum oxide), but can also be applied from another suitable electrically conductive material by means of known thick-film technology, and which has a configuration adapted to the respective application; in the preferred embodiment described, the heating element 22 is limited to the dome-shaped bottom 15 of the ceramic carrier 14 and runs as a meander.
  • a ceramic component e.g. aluminum oxide
  • This heating element 22 is connected on the one hand to a first connecting conductor 23 and on the other hand to a second connecting conductor 24; while the first connecting conductor 23 is guided as a conductor path up to the connection-side end face 20 of the ceramic carrier 14 and forms a contact surface 25 there, the second connecting conductor 24 of the heating element 22 leads only up to the sealing surface 21 of the ceramic carrier 14 or slightly above.
  • a layered overheating protection 26 and / or a layered voltage limiter 27 can be switched on (see FIG.
  • Such overheating protection 26 can, for example, be formed by a PTC resistor and be dimensioned in such a way that the temperature of the heating element 22 can rise rapidly up to approximately 1000 ° C., but above this temperature limits the heating current due to its increased resistance value.
  • a PTC resistor serving as overheating protection 26 can consist in a known manner of a sintered nickel-ceramic mixture and is preferably arranged on the ceramic body 14 in the vicinity of the heating element 22.
  • a varistor is selected as the voltage limiter 27, which limits the heating voltage to approximately 8 V and consequently ensures that the glow temperature of the glow plug 10 is reached in approximately 2 seconds even when the charge condition of a 12 volt battery is poor.
  • the varistor serving as voltage limiter 27 can consist of zinc oxide in a known manner and is preferably on the ceramic carrier 14 in colder zones of the ceramic carrier 14, e.g. B. in the vicinity of the ceramic support head 16. It should be mentioned that such overheating protection 26 or a voltage limiter 27 can also be installed in the (not shown) electrical lead to the glow plug 10.
  • the heating element 22 and its two connecting conductors 23 and 24 are covered by a thin protective layer 28; this protective layer 28, which consists of an electrically insulating, ceramic material (z. B.
  • FIG. 2 A preferred embodiment of the free end section of the second connecting conductor 24 is shown in FIG. 2:
  • the protective layer 28 is guided approximately into the region of the annular groove 18 of the ceramic carrier head 16, and accordingly the second connecting conductor 24 on the ceramic carrier is correspondingly high 14 attached and then the actual free end section of this second connecting conductor 24 is returned back to the sealing surface 21;
  • the protective layer 28 will usually have a thickness of approximately 50 ⁇ m.
  • the position of the connecting conductors 23 and 24 on the ceramic carrier 14 corresponds in practice more to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 - they lie diametrically opposite one another on the ceramic carrier 14 - and not the position according to FIG. 2, the two connecting conductors 23 and 24 being sealed lie next to each other, which was done here only for the sake of drawing.
  • the basic structure of this radiator 11 corresponds essentially to the structure of the glow element of the glow plug for internal combustion engines described in DE-U-8 103 317 and can also be provided with the ceramic intermediate layer described therein or the heat-conducting layer also mentioned therein.
  • the meandering heating element 22 described it is also possible to use such configurations of heating elements as are additionally described in the utility model document mentioned, or also those which are arranged on part of the circumferential surface of the ceramic carrier 14.
  • the sealing surface 21 of the ceramic carrier head 16 is provided with an electrically conductive, metallic sealing element 29, which preferably consists of copper and also serves as a contact ring.
  • This sealing element 29 projects with a fastening means 30 (for example a flanged edge) into the region of the annular groove 18 and holds the sealing element 29 captively on the ceramic carrier 14.
  • this sealing element 29 is made of steel which is resistant to hot gas corrosion and is elongated in the manner of a sleeve on the combustion chamber side, so that it simultaneously forms a protective sleeve 31.
  • This protective sleeve 31 is arranged at a short distance around the radiator 11 and has openings 32 in its combustion chamber-side end section, which allow access of fuel vapor / air mixtures to the heating element 22, but on the other hand reliably prevents ceramic parts from entering the combustion chamber in the event of a breakage of the ceramic carrier 14 the internal combustion engine, not shown, can fall.
  • Such a protective sleeve 31 also assumes a protective function for the radiator 11 when assembling such glow plugs 10.
  • the sealing element 29 can also be provided with a protective sleeve (not shown) made of a material that burns during the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine (z. B. celluloid) can be combined, which then only takes on protective functions when mounting such glow plugs 10 or when installing such glow plugs 10 in the cylinder head.
  • a protective sleeve made of a material that burns during the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine (z. B. celluloid) can be combined, which then only takes on protective functions when mounting such glow plugs 10 or when installing such glow plugs 10 in the cylinder head.
  • a centering pin 33 of the metallic connecting bolt 12 projects into the connection-side area of the interior 17 of the ceramic carrier 14, which is followed on the connection side by a contact flange 34 which is formed or fastened to the connecting plug 12.
  • This contact flange 34 lies on the contact surface 25 of the first connecting conductor 23 from the heating element 22 on.
  • a connection thread 35 is located on the connection-side end section of this connection bolt 12.
  • an annular electrical insulating element 36 is arranged, which consists of a pressure and temperature resistant material (ceramic, plastic or the like), is guided with its central through hole 37 on the connecting bolt 12 and has an outer diameter, which is larger on the one hand is than the diameter of the contact flange 34, but on the other hand has approximately the same diameter as the connection-side end face of the ceramic carrier 14.
  • This electrical insulating element 36 is preferably designed on the connection side as a pipe socket 38 which surrounds the connection bolt 12.
  • the screw head 13 rests with its end face 39 on the combustion chamber side.
  • This screw head 13 which consists of unalloyed steel, has an axial longitudinal bore 40 and with this at a distance comprises the connecting bolt 12 or receives the pipe socket 38 of the electrical insulating element 36;
  • This screw head 13 is provided on its outside with an external thread 41 and a hexagon key 42 as fastening means for the installation of the glow plug 10 in the cylinder head bore 43 of the cylinder head 44 of the internal combustion engine shown in broken lines; the internal thread in the cylinder head bore 43 is designated 45.
  • the length of the screw head 13 is such that the connection thread 35 of the connection bolt 12 protrudes from the longitudinal bore 40 on the connection side.
  • the screw head 13 is provided with holding elements 46 which engage in the annular groove 18 of the radiator 11, but have so much play relative to the radiator 11 that the screw head 13 can be rotated coaxially relative to the radiator 11 and the connecting bolt 12.
  • This holding element 46 is preferably designed as a flanged edge, which can be formed on the screw head 13; Instead of an annular flanged edge, individual finger-like flaps serving this purpose can also be used (not shown), which are distributed over the circumference of the screw head end face 39.
  • the three main parts - radiator 11, connecting bolt 12, screw head 13. - form a structural unit which meets the tightest known structural conditions on cylinder heads of internal combustion engines.
  • a truncated cone-shaped sealing seat 47 is incorporated, on which the radiator 11 of the glow plug 10 rests with its sealing element 29 and and on which this sealing element 29 is pressed firmly and tightly due to the screwing force of the screw head 13; in special cases it is not necessary to insert a sealing element 29 between the sealing seat 47 of the cylinder head bore 43 and the sealing surface 21 of the ceramic carrier head 16.
  • the second connecting conductor 24 of the heating element 22, which ends in this area, is connected here directly or via the sealing element 29 to the cylinder head 44, which is electrically grounded, while the connecting bolt 12 via its connecting thread 35 and a connecting cable, not shown, to the positive pole of a power generator, not shown communicates.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)

Claims (8)

1. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente (10) pour moteurs à combustion interne, en particulier pour moteurs à carburant sans allumage extérieur, avec un corps de chauffage (11), qui possède un support en céramique (14) en forme de barreau, respectivement de tube, qui possède une tête (16) côté raccordement et possède sur sa surface un élément de chauffage (22) électrique, avec une bande conductrice, auquel un premier conducteur de raccordement électrique (24), semblable à une bande conductrice est guidé jusqu'à une zone de contact électrique se trouvant dans la zone d'étanchéité du corps de chauffage, côté raccordement, et auquel en outre un deuxième conducteur de raccordement électrique (23), semblable à une bande conductrice, qui est recouvert dans sa zone d'étanchéité, côté raccordement, côté supérieur, avec une couche de protection étanche, isolante électriquement, qui est guidé sur la zone frontale (20) du support en céramique, qui est située côté raccordement sous forme d'une surface de contact (25), la section d'extrémité du boulon de raccordement (12) se trouvant à cette occasion sur la surface de contact (25) située côté frontal du support en céramique, caractérisée en ce que la tête (16) du support en céramique (14) possède une surface d'étanchéité (21), pour former une étanchéité avec un siège d'étanchéité correspondant dans l'alésage (43) de la culasse (44) du moteur à combustion interne, et qu'une tête de vis (13) de forme principalement tubulaire est disposée de manière tournante coaxialement autour du boulon de raccordement (12) et qui presse le boulon de raccordement (12) contre la surface de contact (25) se trouvant sur la surface frontale (20) située côté raccordement du support en céramique (14), étant en outre isolé électriquement par rapport au boulon de raccordement (12), au moyen d'un élément d'isolation électrique (36) de forme annulaire et possédant, de plus, un moyen de fixation (41, 42), pour la fixation de la bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente (10) et pour presser la surface d'étanchéité (21) du support en céramique, contre le siège d'étanchéité (47) correspondant dans le moteur à combustion interne.
2. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la tête (16) du support en céramique (14) possède du côté raccordement une gorge annulaire (18) sur sa surface périphérique, dans laquelle engrène un élément de maintien (46) avantageusement formé et se trouvant sur la section d'extrémité, côté chambre de combustion, de la tête de vis (13), qui permet une rotation axiale de la tête de vis (13), par rapport au support en céramique (14) et au boulon de raccordement (12).
3. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que l'élément d'étanchéité (29) qui est disposé sur la surface d'étanchéité (21) du support en céramique (14) est fixé de manière imperdable sur la tête (16) de support en céramique, au moyen d'un moyen (30) connu.
4. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce qu'une douille de protection (31) connue en soi est adjointe à l'extrémité située côté chambre de combustion, de l'élément d'étanchéité (29).
5. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne selon l'une des . revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que l'élément de chauffage (22) est recouvert au moyen d'une couche de protection (28) épaisse, isolante électriquement.
6. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que les conducteurs de raccordement (23, 24) semblables à des bandes conductrices et appartenant à l'élément de chauffage (22) sont recouverts au moyen d'une couche de protection (28) épaisse, isolante électriquement, à l'exclusion de leur surface de contact (21, 22) situées côté raccordement.
7. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne, selon la revendication 5 ou 6, caractérisée en ce qu'un des conducteurs de raccordement (24) de l'élément de chauffage (22) est guidé côté raccordement, jusqu'à la surface d'étanchéité (21) de la tête (16) de support en céramique et est recouvert au moyen de la couche de protection (28) isolante électriquement qui est adjointe autour du support en céramique (14) et ensuite retournée sur la couche de protection (28) vers la surface d'étanchéité (21) de la tête (16) de support en céramique.
8. Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne, selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce qu'une protection contre la surchauffe (26) en forme de couche et/ou un limiteur de tension (27) en forme de couche, sont adjoints dans le conducteur de raccordement en forme de couche (23) et/ou le conducteur en forme de couche (24).
EP83108356A 1982-08-26 1983-08-25 Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne Expired EP0103775B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19823231781 DE3231781A1 (de) 1982-08-26 1982-08-26 Gluehkerze fuer brennkraftmaschinen
DE3231781 1982-08-26

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0103775A2 EP0103775A2 (fr) 1984-03-28
EP0103775A3 EP0103775A3 (en) 1986-01-15
EP0103775B1 true EP0103775B1 (fr) 1988-05-04

Family

ID=6171765

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83108356A Expired EP0103775B1 (fr) 1982-08-26 1983-08-25 Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0103775B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS5956616A (fr)
DE (2) DE3231781A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10023395B4 (de) * 1999-05-13 2015-05-13 Denso Corporation Keramische Heizeinrichtung und Montageaufbau

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4816643A (en) * 1985-03-15 1989-03-28 Allied-Signal Inc. Glow plug having a metal silicide resistive film heater
US4682008A (en) * 1985-03-22 1987-07-21 Jidosha Kiki Co., Ltd. Self-temperature control type glow plug
DE4142523A1 (de) * 1991-12-21 1993-06-24 Asea Brown Boveri Widerstand mit ptc - verhalten
DE19812785A1 (de) * 1998-03-24 1999-10-07 Beru Ag Schutzrohre für Glüh- und Meßelemente
DE10306634A1 (de) 2003-02-18 2004-08-26 Robert Bosch Gmbh Glühstiftkerze, insbesondere Niedervolt-Glühstiftkerze für Verbrennungsmotoren
DE10339641A1 (de) * 2003-08-28 2005-03-24 Robert Bosch Gmbh Glühstiftkerze mit besonders eingebettetem Kontaktelement

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2900984C2 (de) * 1979-01-12 1983-01-05 W.C. Heraeus Gmbh, 6450 Hanau Glühkerze für Dieselmotoren
JPS5620929A (en) * 1979-07-30 1981-02-27 Ngk Spark Plug Co Ltd Glow plug heating element and its manufacture
US4418661A (en) * 1981-02-07 1983-12-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Glow plug, particularly for diesel engine

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10023395B4 (de) * 1999-05-13 2015-05-13 Denso Corporation Keramische Heizeinrichtung und Montageaufbau

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3231781A1 (de) 1984-03-01
DE3376499D1 (en) 1988-06-09
EP0103775A2 (fr) 1984-03-28
EP0103775A3 (en) 1986-01-15
JPS5956616A (ja) 1984-04-02
JPH0319446B2 (fr) 1991-03-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0049372B1 (fr) Bougie pour moteurs à combustion interne
DE3447478A1 (de) Pyrotechnische zuendkapsel mit koaxialstecker
DE3211262C2 (de) Glühkerze zur Verwendung in einem Dieselmotor und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung
DE3802233C2 (fr)
DE19743544A1 (de) Zündeinrichtung für eine Brennkraftmaschine
DE69503763T2 (de) Zündkerze
EP0103775B1 (fr) Bougie d'allumage à tige incandescente pour moteur à combustion interne
DE2625318A1 (de) Gluehkerzen
DE3828738C2 (de) Zündkerze mit Drucksensor
DE10117641C2 (de) Stabglühkerze
EP0857281B1 (fr) Bougie-crayon de prechauffage
DE3318458C2 (fr)
DE19636537A1 (de) Zündkerze für Brennkraftmaschinen
DD147391A5 (de) Elektrische gluehkerze fuer verbrennungsmotoren
CH465963A (de) Elektrischer Temperaturfühler für eine Benzineinspritzeinrichtung
DE19833316A1 (de) Zündkerze für eine Brennkraftmaschine
DE3146653A1 (de) Gluehkerze fuer brennkraftmaschinen
EP0106232B1 (fr) Bougie à incandescence pour moteurs à combustion interne avec allumage externe
DE3616667C2 (de) Zündkerze mit quergeteiltem Isolator
DE3616640A1 (de) Zuendkerze mit gleitfunkenstrecke
DE19612508A1 (de) Verbindungsstecker
EP0591250B1 (fr) Bougie d'allumage pour l'allumage de melanges carburant-air
DE889386C (de) Zuendkerze fuer Verbrennungskraftmaschinen
DE9012746U1 (de) Elektrische, funkenerzeugende Zündvorrichtung, insbesondere für gasförmige Brennstoffe
DE1148110B (de) Gluehkerze fuer Brennkraftmaschinen

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19830825

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19870114

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3376499

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19880609

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20001026

Year of fee payment: 18

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20010814

Year of fee payment: 19

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20010824

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020501

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020825

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20020825

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030430

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST