US3009075A

US3009075A - Spark plug

Info

Publication number: US3009075A
Application number: US845852A
Authority: US
Inventors: William D Hensley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-10-12
Filing date: 1959-10-12
Publication date: 1961-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1961 w. D. HE'NsLEY SPARK PLUG vFiled oct. 12, 1959 las INVENTOA a@ WIL.IAM D HENSLEYI 1e/vir ette ' This invention relates to internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to -a spark plug therefor.

Ordinarily, water and dirt accumulating upon the top of spark plugs adjacent to the motor block is responsible for causing malfunctioning of the spark plug, inefficient engine penformance, and the like. It is therefore 4an object of the present invention to provide a spark plug for internal combustion engines which has a self contained protective shield for preventing the accumulation of such foreign matter upon the spark plug, so as to substantially increase the operating etliciency thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spark plug for internal combustion engines of the type described having an electrode of unique design which will effectively increase the performance of the engine and assure a proper combustion of the fuel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a spark plug for internal combustion engines of maximum performance efficiency, which can be manufactured in larve quantities at a relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a spark plug made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the spark plug shown in FIGURE 1 in actual use;

iFIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the spark plug shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the spark plug shown in FIGURE 2;

lFIGURE 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enl-arged perspective view of a slightly modiiied form of electrode forming a part yof the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, showing a still .further modilied form of construction; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, showing still another form of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5 thereof, a spark plug 10 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include an electrically conductive main body portion 12 having an externally threaded stem 114- yfor threaded engagement within the provided opening of an engine block :15. The main body portion 12 also includes a hexagonal section 16 for effecting the installation and removal of the spark plugs with respect to the engine block 15.

The interior of the main body member 12 is substantially iilled with a dielectric material 18, such as porcelain, which serves as a shield or insulator for a conducting rod 24 extending th-roughout the entire length of the spark plug. A terminal 26 is secured to one end of the rod 24 for connection to a source of electrical energy used for the combustion engine. The opposite end of the rod 24 includes an electrode 30 of generally circular con- 3,009,075 Fatented Nov. 14, 1961 figuration having a plurality of reentrant indents 32 which distribute the spark evenly adjacent to the engine block 15.

A canopy, in the form of a skirt 20, also of dielectric material, overlies the main body member 12, is integral with the material 18 and insulator 22 and protects the top of the main body member 12 from the deposit of moisture, water, oil, and other foreign matter. All of the upwardly facing surfaces of the spark plug are curved or s-loped sufficiently to prevent the formation of puddles, and depressed areas, which would retain `such foreign matter and interfere with the proper operation of the engine. Since the electrode 30 extends into the engine block 15 in substantially spaced relationship with the innermost extremity of the main body member stern 14, there is little interference with the proper formation of a spark between the adjacent parts.

In FIGURE 6 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of electrode 34 is shown wherein the circular disc 36 thereof is imperforate and of smooth sided configuration, which construction may be preferable in certain types of engines. In FIGURE 7 of the drawing, an electrode 38 is shown to include a plurality of radially outwardly extending arms 40, circumferentially equally spaced apart to properly distribute the spark in all directions.

In FIGURE 8 of the drawing, still another form of electrode 42 is shown to include a hook-shaped terminal portion 44 which will more effectively direct the spark toward the engine block, for certain types of engine perfoi-mance.

It will now be recognized that a spark plug has been provided which is extremely effective for all types of internal combustion engines, which has self contained means for preventing the deposit of foreign matter, and which will provide maximum engine performance.

While this invention has been described with particular reference -to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A spark plug comprising, in combination, a conductive main body portion, a conductor extending longitudinally through said main body portion, an insulator, said insulator insulating said conductor from said main body portion and having a dielectric shield, a terminal connected to one outer end of said conductor, an electrode carried by the opposite end of said conductor, a canopy integral with said shield overlying said main body portion, said canopy comprising a skirt integral with said shield and spaced above and ared outwardly with respect to said main body portion.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,122,297 Muldoon Dec. 29, 1914 1,215,430 Thordarson Feb. 13, 1917 1,312,850 Johnson Aug. l2, 1919 1,358,292 Collins Nov. 9, 1920 1,371,488 Jacobson Mar. 15, 1921 1,388,343 Hull Aug. 23, 1921 1,498,984 Tra-mpc June 24, 1924 1,794,673 Creager Mar. 3, 1931 2,269,076 Boll Jan. 6, 1942