EP0139911B1 - Spark plug for internal-combustion engine - Google Patents

Spark plug for internal-combustion engine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0139911B1
EP0139911B1 EP84109206A EP84109206A EP0139911B1 EP 0139911 B1 EP0139911 B1 EP 0139911B1 EP 84109206 A EP84109206 A EP 84109206A EP 84109206 A EP84109206 A EP 84109206A EP 0139911 B1 EP0139911 B1 EP 0139911B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spark gap
capacitor
ignition
spark plug
insulating body
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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
EP84109206A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0139911A1 (en
Inventor
Werner Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Herden
Boye Dr. Dipl.-Phys. Saggau
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Robert Bosch GmbH
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Publication of EP0139911A1 publication Critical patent/EP0139911A1/en
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01TSPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/40Sparking plugs structurally combined with other devices
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02PIGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P13/00Sparking plugs structurally combined with other parts of internal-combustion engines
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02PIGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P3/00Other installations
    • F02P3/06Other installations having capacitive energy storage
    • F02P3/08Layout of circuits
    • F02P3/0807Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means
    • F02P3/0823Closing the discharge circuit of the storage capacitor with electronic switching means with electronic tubes
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02PIGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P9/00Electric spark ignition control, not otherwise provided for
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02PIGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P9/00Electric spark ignition control, not otherwise provided for
    • F02P9/002Control of spark intensity, intensifying, lengthening, suppression

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a spark plug according to the preamble of the main claim.
  • a spark plug lying in this direction is already known from DE-A-2 363 804, which is particularly distinguished in its application in that even lean fuel-air mixtures are ignited with sufficient certainty and a good energy yield of the fuel is obtained, that there is also a complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture and thus favorable exhaust gas values are obtained and that finally the ignition voltage pulses from conventional ignition systems can be used.
  • This is due to the fact that a particularly large amount of energy is converted in the breakdown phase of the initial phase of the ignition spark. The remaining residual energy then causes arcing and glow discharges, which have the disadvantageous effect that there is a strong burn-up on the electrodes of the spark gap and the service life of the spark plug is thereby considerably reduced.
  • a spark plug which has a metallic screen which has an inductive character.
  • the ignition is fed by a generator which charges a capacitor which, when a switch connected to the distributor is switched on, causes an ignition spark in the spark plug.
  • FIG. 1 shows the circuit representation of an ignition system with a spark plug designed according to the invention and
  • FIG. 2 shows the structural design of such a spark plug in a sectional view.
  • the ignition system shown in Figure 1 is intended for an internal combustion engine, not shown, of a motor vehicle, also not shown.
  • This ignition system shown as an example is fed from a direct current source 1, which can be the battery of the motor vehicle.
  • a line 2 leading to ground and a positive line via an operating switch (ignition switch) 3 leads from the negative pole 2.
  • the supply line 4 is the starting point for a circuit branch which first leads to the ground line 2 via the primary winding 5 of an ignition coil 6 and then via an interrupter switch 7.
  • the interrupter switch 7, which has a spark quench capacitor 8 in its shunt, can be opened at the ignition point by a cam 9 driven by the internal combustion engine, i. i.e., put it in its locked state.
  • the secondary winding 10 belonging to the ignition coil 6 is connected with the one winding end to the connection between the primary winding 5 and the circuit breaker 7 and with the other winding end to the high-voltage connection 11 belonging to the spark plug.
  • a transistor ignition system can also be used instead of the previously described interrupter ignition system.
  • the connection section present between the interference suppression resistor 12 and the capacitor 13 is the starting point for a cable run which is connected to ground via a spark gap 15.
  • the spark gap 14 is assigned a shunt path 16, which should have an inductive component 17.
  • 18 denotes an ohmic resistance, which can be formed by the wire resistance of the inductive component 17 and / or by an additional circuit element inserted into the shunt path.
  • the interference suppressor 12, the capacitor 13, the spark gap 14, the spark gap 15 and the shunt path 16 with its inductive component 17 and its ohmic component 18 are combined to form a unit which can be screwed into the cylinder housing of the internal combustion engine in a conventional manner.
  • the high-voltage connection 11 is formed by a screw bolt 20 which is firmly seated in a first insulating body 19 and projects with a portion thereof, to which the interference suppressor 12 is connected within the insulating body 19.
  • the interference suppressor 12 has a connection at its one connection to the high-voltage connection 11 and at its other connection to the first section 21 of a central electrode 22.
  • the first insulating body 19 is approximately cylindrical in shape, the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the bolt 20 forming the high-voltage connection 11, the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the pin-shaped suppression resistor 12 and the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the likewise pin-shaped Section 21 of the center electrode 22 approximately coincide with the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the insulating body 19.
  • the end of the insulating body 19 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11 is seated on a metallic annular disk 24 which concentrically and at a distance surrounds a metal disk 25, the annular disk 24 forming the spark gap 15 with the disk 25.
  • the disk 25 is inserted electrically and mechanically between the end of the first section 21 of the center electrode 22 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11 and the end of a second section 26 of the center electrode 22.
  • the other end face of the second section 26 of the center electrode 22 is supported on one connection of the capacitor 13.
  • the second section 26 of the center electrode 22 is firmly anchored in a U-shaped insulating body 27 such that it projects with a section into the cavity of this U-shaped insulating body 27.
  • the open end face of the U-shaped insulating body 27 is supported on the annular disk 24, whereas the opposite end face of this insulating body 27 is seated on one connection side of the capacitor 13.
  • the insulating body 27 and the capacitor 13 are received in an adapted recess, which is located in a further insulating body 28.
  • the insulating body 28 also has a cylindrical shape which, however, tapers stepwise in diameter as the distance from the high-voltage connection 11 increases.
  • the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the pin-shaped second section 26 of the center electrode 22, the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the capacitor 13 and the imaginary longitudinal center axis of a third section 29 of the center electrode 22 coincide with the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the further insulating body 28.
  • the third section which is firmly seated in the further insulating body 28, has an electrical connection on one end face to the connection of the capacitor 13 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11, whereas the other end face of this section 29 protrudes from the further insulating body 28.
  • This protruding end forms the ignition spark gap 14 with a horn-shaped counter electrode 30.
  • the horn-shaped counter electrode 30 projects from the end of a sleeve-shaped metal housing 31 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11, which encloses the further insulating body 28 and the foot of the first insulating body 19 so that the individual parts the spark plug are held tightly together.
  • a spiral 32 made of electrically conductive material and extending between the metal housing 31 and the third section 29 of the center electrode 22 is intended to form the shunt path 16 as an example, the arrangement being chosen such that an inductive component 17 and an ohmic component 18 result.
  • the discharge circuit consisting of elements 13 to 15, must be designed according to maximum frequency considerations, i. that is, it has the lowest possible inductance and also a low ohmic resistance.
  • the ignition system just described has the following mode of operation with the spark plug according to the invention:
  • the ignition system is functional.
  • the current conducted through the primary winding is interrupted and a high voltage pulse is induced in the secondary winding 10 and reaches the high voltage connection 11.
  • the capacitor 13 is charged via the interference suppression resistor 12 and the shunt path 16 until the electrical breakdown of the spark gap 15.
  • This breakdown generates an ignition spark at the spark gap 14 because the inductive component 17 in connection with the ohmic component is generated in the shunt path 18 is chosen so that the time constant resulting therefrom initially does not allow a substantial increase in current. Only when the energy is converted to such an extent that arcing or glow discharges occur at the spark gap 14 does the shunt path 16 become effective in the sense that its conductivity increases until the spark gap 14 is short-circuited.
  • the ignition system is also functional if the circuit position of the capacitor 13 and the circuit position of the spark gap 15 are interchanged.
  • the illustrated ignition system has the advantage that, after conversion of the main energy to the spark gap 14, residual energy subsequently supplied and thus causing arcing or glow discharges can flow off via the spark gap 15.

Description

Die Erfindung geht aus von einer Zündkerze nach dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruches. Aus der DE-A-2 363 804 bereits eine in dieser Richtung liegende Zündkerze bekannt, die sich bei ihrer Anwendung besonders dadurch auszeichnet, daß auch magere Kraftstoff-Luft-Gemische mit hinreichender Sicherheit entflammt werden und sich dabei eine gute Energieausbeute des Kraftstoffes ergibt, daß ferner eine vollständige Verbrennung des Kraftstoff-Luft-Gemisches eintritt und man somit günstige Abgaswerte erhält und daß schließlich die Zündspannungsimpulse von herkömmlichen Zündanlagen Verwendung finden können. Das kommt daher, daß in der Durchbruchsphase der Anfangsphase des Zündfunkens besonders viel Energie umgesetzt wird. Die verbleibende Restenergie verursacht dann noch Lichtbogen-und Glimmentladungen, welche die nachteilige Wirkung haben, daß ein starker Abbrand an den Elektroden der Zündfunkenstrecke entsteht und dadurch die Standzeit der Zündkerze wesentlich herabgesetzt wird.The invention relates to a spark plug according to the preamble of the main claim. A spark plug lying in this direction is already known from DE-A-2 363 804, which is particularly distinguished in its application in that even lean fuel-air mixtures are ignited with sufficient certainty and a good energy yield of the fuel is obtained, that there is also a complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture and thus favorable exhaust gas values are obtained and that finally the ignition voltage pulses from conventional ignition systems can be used. This is due to the fact that a particularly large amount of energy is converted in the breakdown phase of the initial phase of the ignition spark. The remaining residual energy then causes arcing and glow discharges, which have the disadvantageous effect that there is a strong burn-up on the electrodes of the spark gap and the service life of the spark plug is thereby considerably reduced.

Aus der US-A-2 682 013 ist ebenfalls eine Zündkerze bekannt geworden, die einen metallischen Schirm aufweist, der induktiven Charakter besitzt. Die Zündung wird von einem Generator gespeist, der einen Kondensator auflädt, der beim Durchschalten eines mit dem Verteiler in Verbindung stehenden Schalters einen Zündfunken in der Zündkerze bewirkt.From US-A-2 682 013 a spark plug is also known which has a metallic screen which has an inductive character. The ignition is fed by a generator which charges a capacitor which, when a switch connected to the distributor is switched on, causes an ignition spark in the spark plug.

Vorteile der ErfindungAdvantages of the invention

Bei der erfindungsgemäßen Zündkerze wird durch Anwendung der kennzeichnenden Maßnahme im Hauptanspruch der vorerwähnte Nachteil in befriedigendem Maß vermieden.In the spark plug according to the invention, the aforementioned disadvantage is avoided to a satisfactory extent by applying the characteristic measure in the main claim.

Zeichnungdrawing

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung ist in der Zeichnung dargestellt und in der nachfolgenden Beschreibung näher erläutert. Es zeigen Figur 1 die schaltungsmäßige Darstellung einer Zündanlage mit einer nach der Erfindung ausgebildeten Zündkerze und Figur 2 den konstruktiven Aufbau einer solchen Zündkerze in geschnittener Ansicht.An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. 1 shows the circuit representation of an ignition system with a spark plug designed according to the invention and FIG. 2 shows the structural design of such a spark plug in a sectional view.

Beschreibung des AusführungsbeispielesDescription of the embodiment

Die in Figur 1 dargestellte Zündanlage soll für eine nicht dargestellte Brennkraftmaschine eines ebenfalls nicht dargestellten Kraftfahrzeuges bestimmt sein. Diese als Beispiel gezeichnete Zündanlage wird aus einer Gleichstromquelle 1 gespeist, welche die Batterie des Kraftfahrzeuges sein kann. An der Stromquelle 1 geht von dem Minuspol eine zur Masse führende Leitung 2 und von dem Pluspol eine über einen Betriebsschalter (Zündschalter) 3 führende Versorgungsleitung 4 aus. Die Versorgungsleitung 4 ist Ausgangspunkt für einen Schaltungszweig, der zunächst über die Primärwicklung 5 einer Zündspule 6 und danach über einen Unterbrecherschalter 7 zur Masseleitung 2 führt. Der Unterbrecherschalter 7, der einen Funkenlöschkondensator 8 in seinem Nebenschluß hat, läßt sich im Zündzeitpunkt durch einen von der Brennkraftmaschine angetriebenen Nocken 9 öffnen, d. h., in seinen Sperrzustand bringen.The ignition system shown in Figure 1 is intended for an internal combustion engine, not shown, of a motor vehicle, also not shown. This ignition system shown as an example is fed from a direct current source 1, which can be the battery of the motor vehicle. At the current source 1, a line 2 leading to ground and a positive line via an operating switch (ignition switch) 3 leads from the negative pole 2. The supply line 4 is the starting point for a circuit branch which first leads to the ground line 2 via the primary winding 5 of an ignition coil 6 and then via an interrupter switch 7. The interrupter switch 7, which has a spark quench capacitor 8 in its shunt, can be opened at the ignition point by a cam 9 driven by the internal combustion engine, i. i.e., put it in its locked state.

Die zu der Zündspule 6 gehörende Sekundärwicklung 10 ist mit dem einen Wicklungsende an die zwischen Primärwicklung 5 und Unterbrecherschalter 7 vorhandene Verbindung und mit dem anderen Wicklungsende an den zur Zündkerze gehörenden Hochspannungsanschluß 11 angeschlossen.The secondary winding 10 belonging to the ignition coil 6 is connected with the one winding end to the connection between the primary winding 5 and the circuit breaker 7 and with the other winding end to the high-voltage connection 11 belonging to the spark plug.

Selbstverständlich kann statt der bisher beschriebenen Unterbrecherzündanlage auch eine Transistorzündanlage Verwendung finden.Of course, a transistor ignition system can also be used instead of the previously described interrupter ignition system.

Von dem Hochspannungsanschluß 11 geht eine Verbindung aus, die zunächst über einen Entstörwiderstand 12, dann über einen Kondensator 13 und danach schließlich über eine Zündfunkenstrecke 14 zur Masse führt. Der zwischen dem Entstörwiderstand 12 und dem Kondensator 13 vorhandene Verbindungsabschnitt ist Ausgangspunkt für einen Leitungszug, der über eine Vorfunkenstrecke 15 an Masse angeschlosse ist. Der Zündfunkenstrecke 14 ist ein Nebenschlußstrecke 16 zugeordnet, der eine induktive Komponente 17 haben soll. Mit 18 ist ein ohmscher Widerstand bezeichnet, der durch den Drahtwiderstand der induktiven Komponente 17 und/oder durch ein zusätzlich in die Nebenschlußstrecke eingefügtes Schaltungselement gebildet sein kann.A connection emerges from the high-voltage connection 11, which leads first to ground via an interference suppression resistor 12, then via a capacitor 13 and then finally via an ignition spark gap 14. The connection section present between the interference suppression resistor 12 and the capacitor 13 is the starting point for a cable run which is connected to ground via a spark gap 15. The spark gap 14 is assigned a shunt path 16, which should have an inductive component 17. 18 denotes an ohmic resistance, which can be formed by the wire resistance of the inductive component 17 and / or by an additional circuit element inserted into the shunt path.

Der Entstörwiderstand 12, der Kondensator 13, die Zündfunkenstrecke 14, die Vorfunkenstrecke 15 und der Nebenschlußstrecke 16 mit seiner induktiven Komponente 17 und seiner ohmschen Komponente 18 sind zu einer Baueinheit zusammengefaßt, die nach herkömmlicher Art in das Zylindergehäuse der Brennkraftmaschine einschraubbar ist. Dabei wird der Hochspannunganschluß 11 durch einen fest in einem ersten Isolierkörper 19 sitzenden und mit einem Abschnitt daraus hervorstehenden Schraubenbolzen 20 gebildet, an den sich innerhalb des Isolierkörpers 19 der Entstörwiderstand 12 anschließt. Dabei hat der Entstörwiderstand 12 an seinem einen Anschluß mit dem Hochspannungsanschluß 11 und an seinem anderen Anschluß mit dem ersten Abschnitt 21 einer Mittelelektrode 22 Verbindung. Der erste Abschnitt 21 der Mittelelektrode 22, der ebenfalls fest in dem Isolierkörper 19 sitzt, ragt mit einem Abschnitt in den freien Raum einer in dem Isolierkörper 19 vorgesehenen Ausnehmung 23. Der erste Isolierkörper 19 hat etwa Zylinderform, wobei die gedachte Längsmittelachse des den Hochspannungsanschluß 11 bildenden Schraubenbolzens 20, die gedachte Längsmittelachse des stiftförmigen Entstörwiderstandes 12 und die gedachte Längsmittelachse des ebenfalls stiftförmigen Abschnittes 21 der Mittelelektrode 22 etwa mit der gedachten Längsmittelachse des Isolierkörpers 19 übereinstimmen. Die dem Hochspannungsanschluß 11 abgewandte Stirnseite des Isolierkörpers 19 sitzt auf einer metallischen Ringscheibe 24, die konzentrisch und mit Abstand eine Metallscheibe 25 umgibt, wobei die Ringscheibe 24 mit der Scheibe 25 die Vorfunkenstrecke 15 bildet. Die Scheibe 25 ist elektrisch und mechanisch zwischen der dem Hochspannunganschluß 11 abgewandten Stirnseite des ersten Abschnittes 21 der Mittelelektrode 22 und der Stirnseite eines zweiten Abschnittes 26 der Mittelelektrode 22 eingefügt. Die andere Stirnseite des zweiten Abschnittes 26 der Mittelektrode 22 stützt sich an dem einen Anschluß des Kondensators 13 ab. Der zweite Abschnitt 26 der Mittelelektrode 22 ist fest in einem U-förmigen Isolierkörper 27 derart verankert, daß er mit einem Abschnitt in den Hohlraum dieses U-förmigen Isolierkörpers 27 ragt. Die offene Stirnseite des U-förmigen Isolierkörpers 27 stützt sich an der Ringscheibe 24 ab, wogegen die gegenüberliegende Stirnseite dieses Isolierkörpers 27 auf der einen Anschlußseite des Kondensators 13 sitzt. Der Isolierkörper 27 und der Kondensator 13 werden in einer angepaßten Ausnehmung aufgenommen, die sich in einem weiteren Isolierkörper 28 befindet. Der Isolierkörper 28 hat ebenfalls zylindrische Form, die sich jedoch mit wachsender Entfernung von dem Hochspannungsanschluß 11 im Durchmesser stufenförmig verjüngt. Hierbei stimmt die gedachte Längsmittelachse des stiftförmigen zweiten Abschnittes 26 der Mittelelektrode 22, die gedachte Längsmittelachse des Kondensators 13 und die gedachte Längsmittelachse eines dritten Abschnittes 29 der Mittelelektrode 22 mit der gedachten Längsmittelachse des weiteren Isolierkörpers 28 überein. Der dritte Abschnitt, der fest in dem weiteren Isolierkörper 28 sitzt, hat an einer Stirnseite mit dem dem Hochspannungsanschluß 11 abgewandten Anschluß des Kondensators 13 elektrische Verbindung, wogegen die andere Stirnseite dieses Abschnittes 29 aus dem weiteren Isolierkörper 28 herausragt. Dieses herausragende Ende bildet mit einer hornförmig gebogenen Gegenelektrode 30 die Zündfunkenstrecke 14. Die hornförmige Gegenelektrode 30 steht von der dem Hochspannunganschluß 11 abgewandten Stirnseite eines hülsenförmigen Metallgehäuses 31 ab, das den weiteren Isolierkörper 28 und den Fuß des ersten Isolierkörpers 19 so umschließt, daß die Einzelteile der Zündkerze fest zusammengehalten werden. Eine zwischen dem Metallgehäuse 31 und dem dritten Abschnitt 29 der Mittelelektrode 22 verlaufende Spirale 32 aus elektrisch leitendem Material soll als Beispiel die Nebenschlußstrecke 16 bilden, wobei die Anordnung so gewählt ist, daß sich eine induktive Komponente 17 und eine ohmsche Komponente 18 ergibt.The interference suppressor 12, the capacitor 13, the spark gap 14, the spark gap 15 and the shunt path 16 with its inductive component 17 and its ohmic component 18 are combined to form a unit which can be screwed into the cylinder housing of the internal combustion engine in a conventional manner. In this case, the high-voltage connection 11 is formed by a screw bolt 20 which is firmly seated in a first insulating body 19 and projects with a portion thereof, to which the interference suppressor 12 is connected within the insulating body 19. The interference suppressor 12 has a connection at its one connection to the high-voltage connection 11 and at its other connection to the first section 21 of a central electrode 22. The first section 21 of the center electrode 22, which is also firmly seated in the insulating body 19, projects with a section into the free space of a recess 23 provided in the insulating body 19. The first insulating body 19 is approximately cylindrical in shape, the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the bolt 20 forming the high-voltage connection 11, the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the pin-shaped suppression resistor 12 and the imaginary longitudinal central axis of the likewise pin-shaped Section 21 of the center electrode 22 approximately coincide with the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the insulating body 19. The end of the insulating body 19 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11 is seated on a metallic annular disk 24 which concentrically and at a distance surrounds a metal disk 25, the annular disk 24 forming the spark gap 15 with the disk 25. The disk 25 is inserted electrically and mechanically between the end of the first section 21 of the center electrode 22 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11 and the end of a second section 26 of the center electrode 22. The other end face of the second section 26 of the center electrode 22 is supported on one connection of the capacitor 13. The second section 26 of the center electrode 22 is firmly anchored in a U-shaped insulating body 27 such that it projects with a section into the cavity of this U-shaped insulating body 27. The open end face of the U-shaped insulating body 27 is supported on the annular disk 24, whereas the opposite end face of this insulating body 27 is seated on one connection side of the capacitor 13. The insulating body 27 and the capacitor 13 are received in an adapted recess, which is located in a further insulating body 28. The insulating body 28 also has a cylindrical shape which, however, tapers stepwise in diameter as the distance from the high-voltage connection 11 increases. The imaginary longitudinal center axis of the pin-shaped second section 26 of the center electrode 22, the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the capacitor 13 and the imaginary longitudinal center axis of a third section 29 of the center electrode 22 coincide with the imaginary longitudinal center axis of the further insulating body 28. The third section, which is firmly seated in the further insulating body 28, has an electrical connection on one end face to the connection of the capacitor 13 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11, whereas the other end face of this section 29 protrudes from the further insulating body 28. This protruding end forms the ignition spark gap 14 with a horn-shaped counter electrode 30. The horn-shaped counter electrode 30 projects from the end of a sleeve-shaped metal housing 31 facing away from the high-voltage connection 11, which encloses the further insulating body 28 and the foot of the first insulating body 19 so that the individual parts the spark plug are held tightly together. A spiral 32 made of electrically conductive material and extending between the metal housing 31 and the third section 29 of the center electrode 22 is intended to form the shunt path 16 as an example, the arrangement being chosen such that an inductive component 17 and an ohmic component 18 result.

Der Entladekreis, bestehend aus den Elementen 13 bis 15, muß nach Höchstfrequenzgesichtspunkten ausgelegt sein, d. h., daß er möglichst geringe Induktivität und auch einen geringen ohmschen Widerstand hat.The discharge circuit, consisting of elements 13 to 15, must be designed according to maximum frequency considerations, i. that is, it has the lowest possible inductance and also a low ohmic resistance.

Die soeben beschriebene Zündanlage hat mit der Zündkerze nach der Erfindung folgende Wirkungsweise:The ignition system just described has the following mode of operation with the spark plug according to the invention:

Wird der Betriebsschalter 3 geschlossen, so ist die Zündanlage funktionsfähig. Durch Öffnen des Unterbrecherschalters 7 oder im Falle einer Transistorzündanlage durch Betätigung der Auslösung wird der über die Primärwicklung geführte Strom unterbrochen und in der Sekundärwicklung 10 ein Hochspannungsimpuls induziert, der an den Hochspannungsanschuß 11 gelangt. Dadurch wird über den Entstörwiderstand 12 und die Nebenschlußstrecke 16 der Kondensator 13 aufgeladen und zwar bis zum elektrischen Durchbruch der Vorfunkenstrecke 15. Durch diesen Durchbruch wird ein Zündfunke an der Zündfunkenstrecke 14 erzeugt, weil in dem Nebenschlußstrekce die induktive Komponente 17 in Verbindung mit der ohmschen Komponente 18 so gewählt ist, daß die sich daraus ergebene Zeitkonstante zunächst einmal keinen wesentlichen Stromanstieg zuläßt. Erst wenn die Energie so weit umgesetzt ist, daß an der Zündfunkenstrecke 14 Lichtbogen- bzw. Glimmentladungen auftreten, wird die Nebenschlußstrecke 16 in dem Sinne wirksam, daß seine Leitfähigkeit bis zum Kurzschluß der Zündfunkenstrecke 14 zunimmt.If the operating switch 3 is closed, the ignition system is functional. By opening the circuit breaker 7 or, in the case of a transistor ignition system, by actuating the triggering, the current conducted through the primary winding is interrupted and a high voltage pulse is induced in the secondary winding 10 and reaches the high voltage connection 11. As a result, the capacitor 13 is charged via the interference suppression resistor 12 and the shunt path 16 until the electrical breakdown of the spark gap 15. This breakdown generates an ignition spark at the spark gap 14 because the inductive component 17 in connection with the ohmic component is generated in the shunt path 18 is chosen so that the time constant resulting therefrom initially does not allow a substantial increase in current. Only when the energy is converted to such an extent that arcing or glow discharges occur at the spark gap 14 does the shunt path 16 become effective in the sense that its conductivity increases until the spark gap 14 is short-circuited.

Die Zündanlage ist auch funktionsfähig, wenn die schaltungsmäßige Lage des Kondensators 13 und die schaltungsmäßige Lage der Vorfunkenstrecke 15 miteinander vertauscht werden.The ignition system is also functional if the circuit position of the capacitor 13 and the circuit position of the spark gap 15 are interchanged.

Die gezeichnete Zündanlage hat jedoch in der Hinsicht einen Vorteil, daß nach Umsetzung der Hauptenergie an der Zündfunkenstrecke 14 nachgelieferte und somit Lichtbogen- bzw. Glimmentladungen verursachende Restenergie über die Vorfunkenstrecke 15 abfließen kann.However, the illustrated ignition system has the advantage that, after conversion of the main energy to the spark gap 14, residual energy subsequently supplied and thus causing arcing or glow discharges can flow off via the spark gap 15.

Claims (1)

  1. Spark plug for internal-combustion engines, which is formed by structural combination of an ignition spark gap (14) protruding into the combustion chamber of the internal-combustion engine, of a capacitor (13) which can be discharged via the ignition spark gap (14), and of a preliminary spark gap (15), monitoring the capacitor voltage and effecting capacitor discharge upon electrical breakdown, characterized in that a shunt section (16) with an inductive component (17) is connected in parallel with the ignition spark gap (14), in that the shunt section (16) forms a series circuit with the capacitor (13) and in that the preliminary spark gap (15) is connected in parallel with the series circuit, it being possible to feed high-tension signals to the connection existing between the preliminary spark gap (15) and the capacitor (13).
EP84109206A 1983-09-20 1984-08-03 Spark plug for internal-combustion engine Expired EP0139911B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3333891 1983-09-20
DE19833333891 DE3333891A1 (en) 1983-09-20 1983-09-20 SPARK PLUG FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0139911A1 EP0139911A1 (en) 1985-05-08
EP0139911B1 true EP0139911B1 (en) 1988-07-20

Family

ID=6209550

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84109206A Expired EP0139911B1 (en) 1983-09-20 1984-08-03 Spark plug for internal-combustion engine

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4636690A (en)
EP (1) EP0139911B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6077384A (en)
DE (2) DE3333891A1 (en)

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GB2267125A (en) * 1992-05-13 1993-11-24 Dawson Royalties Ltd I.c.engine spark ignition circuit.
US5619959A (en) * 1994-07-19 1997-04-15 Cummins Engine Company, Inc. Spark plug including magnetic field producing means for generating a variable length arc
US5555862A (en) * 1994-07-19 1996-09-17 Cummins Engine Company, Inc. Spark plug including magnetic field producing means for generating a variable length arc
US6559376B2 (en) 1996-09-30 2003-05-06 Nology Engineering, Inc. Combustion initiation device and method for tuning a combustion initiation device
US6035838A (en) * 1998-04-20 2000-03-14 Cummins Engine Company, Inc. Controlled energy ignition system for an internal combustion engine
US6374816B1 (en) 2001-04-23 2002-04-23 Omnitek Engineering Corporation Apparatus and method for combustion initiation
US7036494B1 (en) * 2005-10-21 2006-05-02 Chih-Yu Hsieh Ignition enhancement device for enhancing ignition efficiency of car engine
FR2893455B1 (en) * 2005-11-14 2007-12-14 Renault Sas IGNITION CANDLE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
US7735460B2 (en) * 2008-02-01 2010-06-15 Leonard Bloom Method and apparatus for operating standard gasoline-driven engines with a readily-available non-volatile fuel, thereby obviating the use of gasoline
FR2928420B1 (en) * 2008-03-06 2010-12-24 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa IGNITION METHOD FOR COMBUSTION ENGINE.
JP5064587B2 (en) * 2010-08-17 2012-10-31 日本特殊陶業株式会社 High frequency plasma spark plug
JP6359575B2 (en) * 2016-02-15 2018-07-18 日本特殊陶業株式会社 Spark plug

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US2900575A (en) * 1959-08-18 Electric ignition systems
US2988662A (en) * 1961-06-13 Spark plug with improved auxiliary spark gap
GB709296A (en) * 1950-10-26 1954-05-19 Csf Improvements in sparking plugs
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US3353052A (en) * 1964-07-15 1967-11-14 George H Barry Spark plug having an auxiliary series spark gap in parallel with the main spark gap
DE2363804A1 (en) * 1973-12-21 1975-06-26 Uwe Holtin Sparking plug with integrated capacitor - has dielectric material and electrode elements arranged to form parallel capacitors
DE2810159C3 (en) * 1978-03-09 1984-11-08 Bloss, Werner H., Prof. Dr.-Ing., 7065 Winterbach Device for igniting combustible mixtures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0139911A1 (en) 1985-05-08
JPS6077384A (en) 1985-05-01
DE3333891A1 (en) 1985-04-04
DE3472865D1 (en) 1988-08-25
US4636690A (en) 1987-01-13

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