GB2185529A - Sparkplug - Google Patents

Sparkplug Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2185529A
GB2185529A GB08700672A GB8700672A GB2185529A GB 2185529 A GB2185529 A GB 2185529A GB 08700672 A GB08700672 A GB 08700672A GB 8700672 A GB8700672 A GB 8700672A GB 2185529 A GB2185529 A GB 2185529A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
casing
sparkplug
sparkplugs
electrically
electrical
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08700672A
Other versions
GB8700672D0 (en
Inventor
Nigel John Wilkinson
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB8700672D0 publication Critical patent/GB8700672D0/en
Publication of GB2185529A publication Critical patent/GB2185529A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02N—STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F02N19/00—Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
    • F02N19/02—Aiding engine start by thermal means, e.g. using lighted wicks
    • F02N19/04—Aiding engine start by thermal means, e.g. using lighted wicks by heating of fluids used in engines
    • F02N19/06—Aiding engine start by thermal means, e.g. using lighted wicks by heating of fluids used in engines by heating of combustion-air by flame generating means, e.g. flame glow-plugs
    • F02N19/08—Arrangement thereof
    • 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
    • H01T13/02—Details
    • H01T13/18—Means for heating, e.g. for drying

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

Abstract

The sparkplug for an internal combustion engine has a heating coil 14 wound around the insulating body 11 inside the casing 10. Passage of electrical current through the coil 14 warms the sparking electrodes 21, 30 and helps to evaporate any fuel which has condensed thereon. Starting of the engine is facilitated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sparkplug This invention relatesto a sparkplug.
Sparkplugs are well known and comprise an electrically conducting externally screw-threaded casing with an annular electrically insulating body passing throug hthe casing. Aconducting member passes through the annular body, and has a portion projecting at one end so as to be in close proximity to a tongue extending from the casing, a spark gap being defined between the tongue and said portion which define terminals.
The conducting member and the casing are connected, in use, to a high voltage electrical supply which causes sparking across the gap.
Sparkplugs do not spark iffuel condenses on the terminals and, when this occurs, the engine is usually leftfor a period oftime until the fuel has evaporated, or the sparkplugs are removed, dried and re-installed.
The present invention provides a sparkplug which alleviates this problem.
One aspect of the invention provides a sparkplug comprising an electrically insulating body, carried in an electrically conducting casing, and an electrically operable heating means adapted to heat at least one of the sparking terminals of the sparkplug.
Preferably, the heating means is accommodated between the body and the casing.
Preferably the heating means is in the form ofan electrical heating element coiled around the insulating body and electrically insulated from the surrounding casing.
Preferably, the casing serves as one electrical terminalforthe heating meansandanotherterminal is mounted on the casing and electrically insulated from it.
The invention may also reside in an assembly of a plurality of sparkplugs as defined above, electrical conductors for connection between an electrical power source and the sparkplugs for operating the heating means and an on/off switch.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows in diagrammaticform a sparkplug accordingtothe invention; Figure2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the sparkplug of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a heating element which is incorporated in the sparkplug; and Figure 4shows how sparkplugs according to the invention may be connected to an electrical power source.
The sparkplug shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an electrically conducting externally screw-threaded casing 10, having a hexagonalformationiSfor engagementwith a spanner and an adjacent externally screw-threaded section 16 for engaging in an enginecylinder block. Acrankedtongue 21 projects from a terminal end 26 of the casing 10.
An insulating body 11 is housed in the external casing 10 and a conducting member 12 extends through the insulating body 11, and projects from each end thereof, one end portion 30 being in close proximitytothetongue21.Asparkgap 17 is defined between the tongue 21 and the portion 30 which define terminals.
An annularchamber31 is provided adjacentthe terminal end ofthe casing and is defined between an insulating layer32insidethecasing 10 and the insulating body 11. A heating element 14 is helically coiled around the insulating body 11 in the chamber 31 and connects at one end via an insulated conductor 18 to an electrical tag 13 which is mounted on the outside of the casing 10. The tag is electrically insulated from the casing. The other end of the heating element 14 is electrically connected to the casing 10.
Figure 4 shows sparkplugs as mounted in a cylinder blockfor use and illustrates howthe electrical connections to the heating elements may be made. The electrical power source is a vehicle battery whose negative terminal 40 is connected with the vehicle body and hence with the casings 10 ofthe sparkplugs. The positive terminal 41 is connected by insulated wiring with the tags 13 through an on/off switch 23.
In an alternative embodiment the heating element is embedded in an electrically insulating medium, which may take the place of the insulating layer 32 in the casing.
In use,tofacilitatestartingoftheengineincold weather the on/off switch may be operated to heat the sparkplugs and vapourise any fuel which may have condensed on the sparkplugs.
A heating element corresponding to element 14 may be located at any convenient location in or on the sparkplug and in any convenient configuration, provided that at least one of the sparking terminals, but preferably both, is warmed when the heating element is operated.
1. A sparkplug comprising an electrically insulating body, carried in an electrically conducting casing, and an electrically operable heating means adapted to heat at least one ofthe sparking terminals ofthe sparkplug.
2. A sparkplug according to Claim 1 wherein the heating means is accommodated between the body and the casing.
3. Asparkplug according to Claim 2 wherein the heating means comprises an electrical resistance heating element coiled around the body and electrically insulated from the casing.
4. Asparkplug according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the casing is adapted to serve as one electrical terminal for the heating means, and a second terminal is provided which is electrically insulated from the casing.
5. A sparkplug according to Claim 4wherein the second terminal is mounted on the casing.
6. An assembly of a plurality ofsparkplugs according to any one ofthe preceding claims, electrical conductors for connection between an electrical power source and the sparkplugs-for operating the heating means, and an on/off switch.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sparkplug This invention relatesto a sparkplug. Sparkplugs are well known and comprise an electrically conducting externally screw-threaded casing with an annular electrically insulating body passing throug hthe casing. Aconducting member passes through the annular body, and has a portion projecting at one end so as to be in close proximity to a tongue extending from the casing, a spark gap being defined between the tongue and said portion which define terminals. The conducting member and the casing are connected, in use, to a high voltage electrical supply which causes sparking across the gap. Sparkplugs do not spark iffuel condenses on the terminals and, when this occurs, the engine is usually leftfor a period oftime until the fuel has evaporated, or the sparkplugs are removed, dried and re-installed. The present invention provides a sparkplug which alleviates this problem. One aspect of the invention provides a sparkplug comprising an electrically insulating body, carried in an electrically conducting casing, and an electrically operable heating means adapted to heat at least one of the sparking terminals of the sparkplug. Preferably, the heating means is accommodated between the body and the casing. Preferably the heating means is in the form ofan electrical heating element coiled around the insulating body and electrically insulated from the surrounding casing. Preferably, the casing serves as one electrical terminalforthe heating meansandanotherterminal is mounted on the casing and electrically insulated from it. The invention may also reside in an assembly of a plurality of sparkplugs as defined above, electrical conductors for connection between an electrical power source and the sparkplugs for operating the heating means and an on/off switch. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows in diagrammaticform a sparkplug accordingtothe invention; Figure2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the sparkplug of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a heating element which is incorporated in the sparkplug; and Figure 4shows how sparkplugs according to the invention may be connected to an electrical power source. The sparkplug shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an electrically conducting externally screw-threaded casing 10, having a hexagonalformationiSfor engagementwith a spanner and an adjacent externally screw-threaded section 16 for engaging in an enginecylinder block. Acrankedtongue 21 projects from a terminal end 26 of the casing 10. An insulating body 11 is housed in the external casing 10 and a conducting member 12 extends through the insulating body 11, and projects from each end thereof, one end portion 30 being in close proximitytothetongue21.Asparkgap 17 is defined between the tongue 21 and the portion 30 which define terminals. An annularchamber31 is provided adjacentthe terminal end ofthe casing and is defined between an insulating layer32insidethecasing 10 and the insulating body 11. A heating element 14 is helically coiled around the insulating body 11 in the chamber 31 and connects at one end via an insulated conductor 18 to an electrical tag 13 which is mounted on the outside of the casing 10. The tag is electrically insulated from the casing. The other end of the heating element 14 is electrically connected to the casing 10. Figure 4 shows sparkplugs as mounted in a cylinder blockfor use and illustrates howthe electrical connections to the heating elements may be made. The electrical power source is a vehicle battery whose negative terminal 40 is connected with the vehicle body and hence with the casings 10 ofthe sparkplugs. The positive terminal 41 is connected by insulated wiring with the tags 13 through an on/off switch 23. In an alternative embodiment the heating element is embedded in an electrically insulating medium, which may take the place of the insulating layer 32 in the casing. In use,tofacilitatestartingoftheengineincold weather the on/off switch may be operated to heat the sparkplugs and vapourise any fuel which may have condensed on the sparkplugs. A heating element corresponding to element 14 may be located at any convenient location in or on the sparkplug and in any convenient configuration, provided that at least one of the sparking terminals, but preferably both, is warmed when the heating element is operated. CLAIMS
1. A sparkplug comprising an electrically insulating body, carried in an electrically conducting casing, and an electrically operable heating means adapted to heat at least one ofthe sparking terminals ofthe sparkplug.
2. A sparkplug according to Claim 1 wherein the heating means is accommodated between the body and the casing.
3. Asparkplug according to Claim 2 wherein the heating means comprises an electrical resistance heating element coiled around the body and electrically insulated from the casing.
4. Asparkplug according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the casing is adapted to serve as one electrical terminal for the heating means, and a second terminal is provided which is electrically insulated from the casing.
5. A sparkplug according to Claim 4wherein the second terminal is mounted on the casing.
6. An assembly of a plurality ofsparkplugs according to any one ofthe preceding claims, electrical conductors for connection between an electrical power source and the sparkplugs-for operating the heating means, and an on/off switch.
7. Asparkplug according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB08700672A 1986-01-16 1987-01-13 Sparkplug Withdrawn GB2185529A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB868601040A GB8601040D0 (en) 1986-01-16 1986-01-16 Sparkplug

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8700672D0 GB8700672D0 (en) 1987-02-18
GB2185529A true GB2185529A (en) 1987-07-22

Family

ID=10591485

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868601040A Pending GB8601040D0 (en) 1986-01-16 1986-01-16 Sparkplug
GB08700672A Withdrawn GB2185529A (en) 1986-01-16 1987-01-13 Sparkplug

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB868601040A Pending GB8601040D0 (en) 1986-01-16 1986-01-16 Sparkplug

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB8601040D0 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0452645A1 (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-10-23 BERU Ruprecht GmbH &amp; Co. KG Electrically heatable ignition electrode device
WO2010148457A1 (en) * 2009-06-26 2010-12-29 Orbital Australia Pty Limited Combustion of low vapour-pressure fuels in spark ignition engines
CN102656759A (en) * 2009-12-15 2012-09-05 费德罗-莫格尔点火公司 Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and central electrode assembly therefor
DE102015201167B3 (en) * 2015-01-23 2016-06-23 Ford Global Technologies, Llc A spark plug for initiating combustion in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and method for operating such a spark plug

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB259123A (en) * 1926-03-29 1926-10-07 Henri Emile Jodor Improvements in and relating to starting devices for internal combustion engines
GB309428A (en) * 1928-01-10 1929-04-10 Cecil Downer Groves Improvements in ignition spark plug heating devices of internal combustion engines
GB446489A (en) * 1936-03-03 1936-04-30 William John Vincent Improvements in sparking plugs
GB1177271A (en) * 1966-01-28 1970-01-07 Bosch Gmbh Robert Improvements in Sparking Plugs
GB1243156A (en) * 1969-02-22 1971-08-18 Daimler Benz Ag Improvements relating to ignition plugs for internal combustion engines
GB1384199A (en) * 1972-03-06 1975-02-19 Nippon Denso Co High-voltage spark plug for internal combustion engines
GB1421705A (en) * 1973-04-18 1976-01-21 Champion Spark Plug Co Combined spark and glow plug

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB259123A (en) * 1926-03-29 1926-10-07 Henri Emile Jodor Improvements in and relating to starting devices for internal combustion engines
GB309428A (en) * 1928-01-10 1929-04-10 Cecil Downer Groves Improvements in ignition spark plug heating devices of internal combustion engines
GB446489A (en) * 1936-03-03 1936-04-30 William John Vincent Improvements in sparking plugs
GB1177271A (en) * 1966-01-28 1970-01-07 Bosch Gmbh Robert Improvements in Sparking Plugs
GB1243156A (en) * 1969-02-22 1971-08-18 Daimler Benz Ag Improvements relating to ignition plugs for internal combustion engines
GB1384199A (en) * 1972-03-06 1975-02-19 Nippon Denso Co High-voltage spark plug for internal combustion engines
GB1421705A (en) * 1973-04-18 1976-01-21 Champion Spark Plug Co Combined spark and glow plug

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0452645A1 (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-10-23 BERU Ruprecht GmbH &amp; Co. KG Electrically heatable ignition electrode device
WO2010148457A1 (en) * 2009-06-26 2010-12-29 Orbital Australia Pty Limited Combustion of low vapour-pressure fuels in spark ignition engines
CN102656759A (en) * 2009-12-15 2012-09-05 费德罗-莫格尔点火公司 Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and central electrode assembly therefor
US8707922B2 (en) 2009-12-15 2014-04-29 Federal Mogul Ignition Company Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and central electrode assembly therefor
US10027092B2 (en) 2009-12-15 2018-07-17 Federal-Mogul Ignition Company Spark ignition device for an internal combustion engine and central electrode assembly therefore
DE102015201167B3 (en) * 2015-01-23 2016-06-23 Ford Global Technologies, Llc A spark plug for initiating combustion in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine and method for operating such a spark plug
US9822715B2 (en) 2015-01-23 2017-11-21 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Ignition plug for a cylinder in a combustion engine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8601040D0 (en) 1986-02-19
GB8700672D0 (en) 1987-02-18

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)