EP2581998B1 - Bougie d'allumage pour système d'allumage haute fréquence - Google Patents

Bougie d'allumage pour système d'allumage haute fréquence Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2581998B1
EP2581998B1 EP11185285.1A EP11185285A EP2581998B1 EP 2581998 B1 EP2581998 B1 EP 2581998B1 EP 11185285 A EP11185285 A EP 11185285A EP 2581998 B1 EP2581998 B1 EP 2581998B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spark plug
insulator
electrode
plug according
dielectric constant
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.)
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Application number
EP11185285.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2581998A1 (fr
Inventor
Volker Heise
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.)
BorgWarner Luxembourg Automotive Systems SA
Original Assignee
Delphi Automotive Systems Luxembourg SA
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Publication date
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Priority to EP11185285.1A priority Critical patent/EP2581998B1/fr
Publication of EP2581998A1 publication Critical patent/EP2581998A1/fr
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/20—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation
    • H01T13/39—Selection of materials for electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/20—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation
    • H01T13/32—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation characterised by features of the earthed electrode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/20—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation
    • H01T13/34—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation characterised by the mounting of electrodes in insulation, e.g. by embedding
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T13/00—Sparking plugs
    • H01T13/52—Sparking plugs characterised by a discharge along a surface
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02P—IGNITION, OTHER THAN COMPRESSION IGNITION, FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES; TESTING OF IGNITION TIMING IN COMPRESSION-IGNITION ENGINES
    • F02P3/00—Other installations
    • F02P3/01—Electric spark ignition installations without subsequent energy storage, i.e. energy supplied by an electrical oscillator

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to gasoline engine ignition and in particular to a spark plug for a high frequency ignition system of such engine.
  • ignition systems for gasoline internal combustion engines are conventionally built out of three main components: a spark plug, a transformer and a driving logic module.
  • the primary function is to supply a spark, which allows to initiate a flame kernel and by this initiating the combustion process of gasoline engines.
  • Creating a spark requires a very high voltage in an initial phase to provide the dielectric breakdown in form of an ionization path between two dedicated electrodes, named firing face, and subsequently a given amount of energy to sustain the dielectric breakdown for a certain time.
  • the second consequence is malfunction due to the assembly air gaps at the electrode -insulator interfaces due to the conventional concentric arrangements of a spark plug (central insulator member housing the central electrode and surrounded by the counter (ground) electrode): the voltage drop across the air gaps may rise above the corona initiating threshold voltage.
  • US 2009/0033194 discloses a spark plug for a high frequency ignition system, wherein the inner and outer surfaces of the ceramic insulator are metallized. As a result, each electrode sees a metallized surface opposite the air gap, which due to mounting is typically in electrical contact therewith. Since the surfaces facing each other across the air gap are at the same potential, the propagation of surface discharges is avoided.
  • US 4,870,319 discloses a spark plug comprising in the end section on the combustion chamber side two coaxial material layers having different dielectric constants.
  • EP 2 337 173 discloses a HF spark plug having a middle electrode guided through an insulating body and a housing with a metallic housing body provided at an end, where the housing body surrounds a section of the insulating body.
  • a section of the insulating body has an electric conductive coating, i.e. nitride ceramic coating, which exhibits thickness of less than 20 ⁇ m.
  • the insulating body is projected from the housing body at a combustion chamber-side end and partially covers the housing body.
  • GB131076 shows a spark plug with a hollow electrode member electrically connected to a solid firing tip near the spark gap for improving the cooling of the spark plug.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative spark plug design for high frequency ignition systems.
  • a spark plug for a high frequency ignition system comprises a centre electrode having a front end with a firing tip and a tubular insulator member having a front end and an axial bore accommodating the centre electrode such that the electrode firing tip protrudes out of the insulator front end.
  • a counter electrode comprises a shell portion receiving the tubular insulator member.
  • tubular insulator member comprises a core made from a dielectric material exhibiting a first dielectric constant and an outer, peripheral layer made from a material exhibiting a greater dielectric constant than the insulator core that faces the shell portion of the counter electrode.
  • dielectric constant is used herein as equivalent to the frequency-dependent relative permittivity ⁇ r ( ⁇ ), i.e. the ratio of the complex frequency-dependent absolute permittivity ⁇ ( ⁇ ) of a material over the vacuum permittivity ⁇ 0 .
  • the axial extent of the insulator may be chosen so that it separates the centre electrode from the shell on overlapping lengths thereof.
  • the centre electrode comprises: a hollow shaft portion in the insulator member formed as a metallic layer on the inner, axial bore surface of the insulator member; and a firing tip member mounted from the front end of the insulator member and in electrical contact with the metallic layer.
  • a hollow shaft portion in the insulator member formed as a metallic layer on the inner, axial bore surface of the insulator member; and a firing tip member mounted from the front end of the insulator member and in electrical contact with the metallic layer.
  • the electrode is formed as a hollow shaft directly on the insulator axial bore. As a result, there is no air gap.
  • the counter electrode (normally connected to ground in the engine cylinder head) may include a counter electrode element bonded to the shell portion and cooperating with the firing tip to define a discharge gap.
  • a counter electrode element bonded to the shell portion and cooperating with the firing tip to define a discharge gap.
  • the cylindrical shell portion may itself act as electrical return path from the firing face tip to the ground. The ionizing path would then exist over at least part of the circumference of the counter electrode.
  • the insulator member may be typically made from appropriate ceramic materials, selected in particular for their dielectric properties in order to build the desired structure. Although in the above described embodiments the insulator member consists of two or three different layers, it may be made from a plurality of layers to create a gradient of dielectric constants, as may be devised by those skilled in the art. However the insulator member is preferably manufactured as a single, coherent part where all layers are bonded together.
  • the dielectric constant of the peripheral layer, respectively of the inner layer is at least 2 times the dielectric constant of the insulator core.
  • the core may be made from a material having a dielectric constant between 3 and 10 at frequencies between 1 and 42 MHz.
  • the dielectric constant of the core ( ⁇ r-core ) and of the peripheral layer ( ⁇ r-periph ) can be characterized therefore by 3 ⁇ ⁇ r ⁇ core ⁇ 10 ⁇ r ⁇ core ⁇ ⁇ r ⁇ periph and ⁇ r ⁇ periph > ⁇ r ⁇ core * 2 for operating frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to 42 MHz.
  • Preferred materials of choice for the core range from beta-alumina ceramics to boron-nitrids.
  • Materials for the peripheral layer may comprise a variety ceramic coatings modified such that a higher dielectric constant in comparison to the core is achieved.
  • a variant of a spark plug 10 (or plasma plug) for a high frequency ignition system is schematically represented in part (socket side with firing face only) in Fig.1 , as a longitudinal section view.
  • This variant does not form part of the invention. It comprises, similar to conventional spark plugs, a generally cylindrical shell 12 (also referred to as socket) that is normally linked to the ground and bonded to an optional electrode element 14, shell 12 and element 14 being globally indicated 16 in Fig. 1 and referred to as counter electrode or more simply as ground electrode hereinafter.
  • the shell 12 has an outer thread 18 for mounting in an engine cylinder head (not shown) or any equivalent mounting feature.
  • Reference sign 20 indicates a tubular insulator having a central or axial bore 22 housing a centre electrode 24.
  • the insulator 20 is received in the ground electrode 16 and is thus surrounded, at least partially, by the shell 12. In other words, the insulator 20 is held by the ground electrode 16 and separates the latter from the centre electrode 24.
  • the axial bore 22 in the insulator 20 is preferably open at both ends.
  • the insulator 20 has a front end 26 in which the axial bore 22 opens so that a centre electrode front end with a firing tip 28 protrudes out of this insulator front end 26.
  • the ground electrode 16 with its optional electrode element 14 cooperates with the firing tip 28 to form a discharge gap.
  • the not shown portion of the plug 10 comprises an elongate, insulated portion with a terminal end for connection to a drive circuit, the terminal end being electrically connected with the centre electrode 24.
  • the tubular insulator 20 comprises a tubular core portion 30 made from a first dielectric material and an outer, peripheral layer 32 (surrounding the core 30) in a second dielectric material, wherein the dielectric constant ⁇ r2 of the second dielectric material is greater than that ⁇ r1 of the first material.
  • the peripheral insulator region 32 has, due to its higher dielectric constant, the ability to move the equipotential voltage lines out of its zone into core portion 30 of the insulator member 20. Hence, most of voltage drop occurs inside the core 30. As a consequence, the difference of potential between the outermost surface of the insulator 20 (i.e. outer surface of layer 32) and the ground electrode 24 is reduced, and so is the potential risk of corona.
  • a small assembly air gap 34 say of a few hundredths to a few tenths of a millimetre, may typically exist at the interface between the ground electrode 16 and insulator 20 due to mounting play, electrical breakdown through this air gap 34 may be avoided by the layered insulator structure.
  • the insulator 20 advantageously comprises an inner region or layer 36 made from a dielectric material having a greater dielectric constant ⁇ r3 than that ⁇ r1 of the core material.
  • the core portion 30 is radially sandwiched between two layers having greater dielectric constants (see Fig.1 b) .
  • a metal layer (not shown) is provided on the inner surface of bore 22 to avoid surface discharges at the remaining inherent air gaps 38 between the center electrode 24 and the inner surface of the inner layer 36.
  • the respective thicknesses of each portion of the insulator 20 is such that t 1 >> t 2 , and t 1 >t 2 +t 3 .
  • the insulator member 20 is preferably manufactured as a multilayer part, i.e. as a cohesive part of various layers that are bonded together.
  • the dielectric materials of the insulator may typically be ceramics, including crystalline, part-crystalline and amorphous ceramics, and in particular oxides and nonoxides, as appropriate for the application.
  • a main criterion of choice is the dielectric constant to be able to build desired layered insulator structure. But ruggedness and thermal sensitivity are further parameters of choice, considering the application in a spark plug.
  • Possible materials for the core portion 30 is beta-alumina, conventionally used in spark plugs, and having a dielectric constant of about 10 at 1MHz-42MHz.
  • Alternative materials are SiO 2 , boron-nitrides or aluminium-nitride ceramics. Considering the present application to radiofrequency ignition systems, ceramics having a dielectric constant between 3 and 10 at frequencies between 1 MHz and 42 MHz may be considered for the core portion 30
  • the inner 36 and outer 32 layers may be made from material having substantially same dielectric constant, i.e. ⁇ r2 ⁇ ⁇ r3 .
  • the dielectric constant of the inner and/or outer layers is/are at least 100% greater than that of the core material 30 (considered at the same frequency).
  • beta-alumina may be used, however doped to reach the desired value of dielectric constant, for example Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2
  • dielectric constant for example Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2
  • processing techniques are chemical or physical vapor deposition as well as spraying coatings, dip coating, paint coatings.
  • ground electrode element 14 is represented in the drawings in dashed-lines, because it is considered optional, although conventionally used in spark plugs. Indeed, it has been found that, in the context of high frequency ignition, the shell portion 12 concentrically surrounding the centre electrode may act as electrical return path from the firing face tip 28 to the ground.
  • a ground electrode 116 comprises a shell 112 with outer thread 118 and an optional electrode element.
  • the insulator member 120 with axial bore 122 comprises a core portion 130 and an outer peripheral layer 132 that faces the shell 112 of the ground electrode 116.
  • the inner electrode 124 comprises a hollow shaft 125 inside the insulator 120, which is formed by a metal deposit on the inner surface of the axial bore 122.
  • a firing tip 128 is mounted at the front face 126 of the insulator 120 and is in electrical connection with the hollow shaft portion 125.
  • the wall thickness of the metal layer forming hollow shaft 125 may be in the range of 5 to 500 ⁇ m. Typically, the remaining inner diameter of the insulator 120 bearing the hollow electrode shaft 125 may be between 0.1 and 3 mm.
  • the materials for the insulator member 120 may be selected as explained before.

Landscapes

  • Spark Plugs (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Bougie d'allumage pour un système d'allumage à haute fréquence comprenant :
    une électrode centrale (124) ayant une extrémité frontale avec un une pointe d'amorçage ;
    un élément isolant tubulaire (120) ayant une extrémité frontale (126) et un perçage axial (122) qui reçoit ladite électrode centrale, ladite pointe d'amorçage faisant projection au-delà de ladite extrémité frontale de l'élément isolant ;
    une électrode antagoniste (116) comprenant une portion en forme de coque (112) qui reçoit ledit élément isolant tubulaire (120) ;
    dans laquelle ledit élément isolant tubulaire (120) comprend un noyau (130) fait d'un matériau diélectrique présentant une première constante diélectrique et une couche périphérique (132) dans un matériau présentant une constante diélectrique plus élevée qui fait face à ladite portion en forme de coque (112) de ladite électrode antagoniste ;
    caractérisée en ce que ladite électrode centrale comprend une portion de tige creuse (125) dans ledit élément isolant (120) formée comme une couche métallique sur la surface du perçage axial intérieur (122) dudit élément isolant, et un élément formant pointe d'amorçage (128) en contact électrique avec ladite portion de tige creuse (125).
  2. Bougie d'allumage selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit élément isolant (120) s'étend axialement au moins sur des longueurs en chevauchement de ladite électrode centrale (124) et de ladite coque (112).
  3. Bougie d'allumage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle ladite portion de tige creuse (125) a une épaisseur de paroi dans la plage de 5 à 500 µm.
  4. Bougie d'allumage selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans laquelle ledit perçage axial (122) dudit élément isolant (120) avec ladite portion de tige creuse (125) a un diamètre restant entre 0,1 et 3 mm.
  5. Bougie d'allumage selon la revendication 1, 2, 3 ou 4, dans laquelle ladite portion de tige creuse (125) est composée d'un métal sélectionné parmi le groupe comprenant : Cr, Ni, Co et An, et les alliages d'un ou plusieurs desdits métaux.
  6. Bougie d'allumage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le rapport de la constante diélectrique de la couche périphérique (132) sur la constante diélectrique du noyau isolant (130) est d'au moins 2.
  7. Bougie d'allumage selon la revendication précédente, dans laquelle ledit noyau isolant (130) a une constante diélectrique entre 3 et 12, de préférence environ 10, à des fréquences entre 1 MHz et 42 MHz.
  8. Bougie d'allumage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un intervalle d'assemblage (134) entre ladite électrode antagoniste (116) et ledit élément isolant (120).
  9. Bougie d'allumage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite électrode antagoniste comprend un élément d'électrode antagoniste collé sur ladite portion en forme de coque et coopérant avec ladite pointe d'amorçage pour définir un intervalle de décharge.
  10. Moteur à combustion interne comprenant une culasse dans laquelle est montée, pour chaque cylindre, une bougie d'allumage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque bougie d'allumage est connectée à un système d'allumage à haute fréquence dudit moteur, l'électrode antagoniste de ladite bougie d'allumage étant mise à la masse.
EP11185285.1A 2011-10-14 2011-10-14 Bougie d'allumage pour système d'allumage haute fréquence Active EP2581998B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11185285.1A EP2581998B1 (fr) 2011-10-14 2011-10-14 Bougie d'allumage pour système d'allumage haute fréquence

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11185285.1A EP2581998B1 (fr) 2011-10-14 2011-10-14 Bougie d'allumage pour système d'allumage haute fréquence

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EP2581998A1 EP2581998A1 (fr) 2013-04-17
EP2581998B1 true EP2581998B1 (fr) 2019-12-18

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Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102014111684B3 (de) * 2014-08-15 2015-10-01 Borgwarner Ludwigsburg Gmbh Koronazündeinrichtung
JP6390636B2 (ja) * 2016-02-16 2018-09-19 株式会社豊田中央研究所 内燃機関

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090033194A1 (en) * 2005-01-26 2009-02-05 Renault S.A.S. Plasma-generating plug
EP2337173A2 (fr) * 2009-12-19 2011-06-22 BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH Dispositif d'allumage HF

Family Cites Families (10)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB131076A (en) * 1918-04-23 1919-08-21 Julien Ferdinand Ledanois Improvements in Sparking Plugs for Explosion Motors.
US2272210A (en) * 1941-03-18 1942-02-10 Henry K King Method of sealing dissimilar materials
US3934566A (en) * 1974-08-12 1976-01-27 Ward Michael A V Combustion in an internal combustion engine
DE3616668A1 (de) * 1986-05-16 1987-11-19 Bosch Gmbh Robert Zuendkerze mit gleitfunkenstrecke
US4810929A (en) * 1987-03-30 1989-03-07 Strumbos William P Spark plug temperature control
DE19852652A1 (de) * 1998-11-16 2000-05-18 Bosch Gmbh Robert Zündvorrichtung für Hochfrequenz-Zündung
DE10360192A1 (de) * 2003-12-20 2005-07-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrrichtung zum Zünden eines Luft-Kraftstoff-Gemischs in einem Verbrennungsmotor
FR2886776B1 (fr) * 2005-06-07 2012-08-17 Renault Sas Electrode notamment d'une bougie d'allumage de moteur a combustion interne
DE102006037246A1 (de) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-22 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Zündkerze eines Zündsystems sowie Zündsystem und geeignete Zündkerze
JP5238803B2 (ja) * 2008-04-28 2013-07-17 日本特殊陶業株式会社 スパークプラグ

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090033194A1 (en) * 2005-01-26 2009-02-05 Renault S.A.S. Plasma-generating plug
EP2337173A2 (fr) * 2009-12-19 2011-06-22 BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH Dispositif d'allumage HF

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