US3609837A - Spark plug seat - Google Patents

Spark plug seat Download PDF

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Publication number
US3609837A
US3609837A US833467A US3609837DA US3609837A US 3609837 A US3609837 A US 3609837A US 833467 A US833467 A US 833467A US 3609837D A US3609837D A US 3609837DA US 3609837 A US3609837 A US 3609837A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
shell
shoulder
insulator
spark plug
ring
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US833467A
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English (en)
Inventor
Michael A Bretsch
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.)
Federal Mogul Ignition LLC
Original Assignee
Champion Spark Plug Co
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 Champion Spark Plug Co filed Critical Champion Spark Plug Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3609837A publication Critical patent/US3609837A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01T13/36—Sparking plugs characterised by features of the electrodes or insulation characterised by the joint between insulation and body, e.g. using cement
    • 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
    • H01T21/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of spark gaps or sparking plugs
    • H01T21/02—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of spark gaps or sparking plugs of sparking plugs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to spark plugs for internal combustion engines, and particularly to a gasketless seat for spark plugs.
  • Spark plugs generally comprise a ceramic insulatorelectrode assembly suitable mounted in a hollow, tubular metal shell.
  • the shell usually has a reduced opening between its inner or threaded end and its opposed outer end which forms an ouwardly facing shoulder.
  • the insulator is received by the opening in the outer end of the shell.
  • a small metal gasket usually is placed between the upwardly facing shell shoulder and a cooperating downwardly facing shoulder on the insulator, to form a seal and an effective heat transfer path between the insulator and the shell.
  • the ceramic insulator is provided with a flanged portion between the downwardly facing shoulder and the outer end of the shell.
  • the flanged portion closely engages the side wall surfaces of the large opening at the outer end of the shell and is spaced axially below the outer end of the shell to define an annular pocket for receiving a powdered sealing material.
  • Assembly of this type of spark plug is completed by compacting a powdered sealing material, e.g., talc, into the annular pocket to force the insulator down upon the gasket and to provide a compacted powder seal. Thereafter, the outer end of the shell is crimped over the outer end of the campacted powder to hold the powder in place.
  • a powdered sealing material e.g., talc
  • the insulator is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder spaced above the flanged portion.
  • assembly is completed by placing an outer metal gasket on the upwardly facing insulator shoulder, crimping the outer end of the shell over the outer gasket, and collapsing the shell.
  • the shell is collapsed by heating a thinwalled portion thereof spaced axially above the upwardly facing shell shoulder and then axially compressing the shell while it cools.
  • the gasket between the shell and the insulator shoulders is deformed, forming a seal and a good heat transfer path.
  • the ceramic insulator is also provided with a flanged portion which closely engages the side wall surfaces of the opening through the shell.
  • the flanged portion is spaced below the outer end of the shell to define an annular pocket.
  • a resilient powdered sealing material is tightly compacted into the annular pocket and the outer end of the shell is crimped over the compacted powder.
  • the shell is then axially compressed and collapsed at a thin-walled portion located above the upwardly facing shell shoulder. As the shell collapses, the gasket between the insulator shoulder and the shell shoulder is deformed to form a seal and a good heat transfer path.
  • the small gasket which is located between the insulator and the shell shoulder in each of these types of spark plugs, has been the source of a number of problems.
  • the small physical size of the gasket has created material handling problems, and, in some instances, a defective spark plug will be manufactured because of improper placement of the gasket.
  • the insulator is placed in the shell, a resilient sealing material is compacted between the insulator and the shell, and the shell is crimped over the compacted sealing material and axially collapsed by cold pressing.
  • the ring-shaped recess preferably is cut into the shoulder with a coining die.
  • the coining die is inserted into the outer end of the shell until it abuts the shell shoulder and a high axial force is applied between the coining die and the shell to form the recess.
  • coining is less easily performed where the shell opening is relatively large because the large contact area between the die and the shell necessitates extremely high axial forces to form the ring-shaped recess.
  • the ring-shaped recess is preferably machined into the shell shoulder.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a novel gasketless seat between a spark plug shell and insulator.
  • Still another object of this invention is to reduce the cost of materials in a spark plug.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a coining die being inserted into a spark plug shell during manufacture
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a spark plug shell being formed with the coining die
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a coined spark plug shell with an insulator and a sealing material inserted therein;
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the resilient sealing material being compacted between the insulator and the spark plug shell;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper end of a spark plug shell being crimped over the compacted sealing material
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a completed spark plug after the shell has been axially collapsed, as described above.
  • FIG. 1 a partially manufactured spark plug shell 10 is shown positioned in a rigid holder 12.
  • the shell 10 is preferably made of a mild steel.
  • the lower end of the shell 10 has a threaded portion 14 with a ground electrode 16 Welded to the lower end 18 of the shell 10.
  • the spark plug shell 10 has a generally tubular shape with a reduced opening comprising a large diameter upper opening 20, an angled upwardly facing shoulder 22, and a small diameter lower opening 24.
  • a soft metal gasket is placed on the upwardly facing shoulder 22 for forming a seat with a cooperating shoulder on the spark plug insulator.
  • a ring-shaped recess 26 (FIGS. 2-6) is so formed in the shoulder 22 that the shoulder simulates a gasket.
  • the ring-shaped recess may be formed either by inserting a coining die 28 in the upper end 30 of the shell 10 and applying a suflicient axial force to cut the shoulder 22 to a depth ranging from 0.01 inch to 0.10 inch (preferably from 0.015 inch to 0.025 inch) or by machining. Contoured machining is usually preferred to large diameter shells for proper metal flow.
  • the first step in assembling consists of inserting an insulator-electrode assembly 32 into the large opening 20 in the shell 10.
  • the insulator 34 has a generally tubular shape and is made of a vitreous material.
  • the insulator 34 has a relatively large diameter flange portion 36 adapted to fit slidably into the upper shell opening 20, but not into the lower shell opening 24.
  • a downwardly facing shoulder 38 is located below the flange portion 36.
  • the insulatorelectrode assembly 32 is forced into the shell 10, deforming the shell shoulder 22 to form a seal and good contact for heat transfer. It has been found that more effective seating is obtained if the insulator shoulder 38 is glazed during the manufacture of the insulator 34. It is also preferable to have the shell shoulder 22 and the insulator shoulder 38 formed at slightly different angles, so that before assembly is completed the two shoulders have only narrow contact as indicated at a point 40 adjacent to the ring-shaped recess 26, as shown in FIGS. 3-5.
  • the insulator 34 has a tapered nose 42 which, when assembled, is spaced from the walls of the lower shell opening 24.
  • a high voltage electrode 44 extends coaxially through the insulator 34 and projects from the lower end 46 of the insulator nose 42. When the spark plug is assembled, a spark gap is defined between the high voltage electrode 44 and the ground electrode 16.
  • the insulator 34 has a reduced diameter upper portion 48.
  • a sealing material 50 preferably a resilient inorganic particulate material such as talc or asbestos.
  • an annular tamping tool 52 is used to compact the sealing material 50 into the annular pocket to form a resilient body.
  • a die 54 crimps the upper end 30 of the shell over the top of the compacted sealing material 50.
  • the shell is axially collapsed at a constricted portion, of reduced shell diameter by applying a high axial force to the die 54.
  • the constricted portion 56 is spaced axially above the upwardly facing shell shoulder 22.
  • a high downwardly directed force is transmitted from the crimped upper shell end 30, through the 4 compacted resilient body of sealingmaterial 50, to the insulator 34.
  • the insulator 34 is forced down into the shell 10, the shell shoulder 22 is deformed against the insulator shoulder 38, forming an effective seat.
  • Metal can flow both inwardly towards the insulator nose 42 and outwardly into the recess 26, giving an increased contact area between the shoulders 22 and 38.
  • the increasedcontact area is necessary to maintain a good heat transfer path from the insulator 34 to the shell 10.
  • the highly compressed sealing material 50 maintains a downwardly directed force on the insulator 34 and, therefore, effective seating between the shell and insulator.
  • the hot pressing method of assembly the" insulator-electrode assembly is inserted into the shell until the insulator shoulder '38 rests against the shell shoulder 22, as in the above described method.
  • a metal gasket is then placed over the reduced diameter portion 48 of the insulator 34 and against the flange portion 36.
  • the upper end of the shell is crimped over the metal gasket and the constricted portion of the shell is heated with an electric current and then axially collapsed, thereby deforming the shoulder 22 to form a seat and good contact for heat transfer.
  • an axial force is momentarily maintained on the shell while it at least partially cools.
  • the insulator-electrode assembly is inserted into the shell and a high axial force'is applied to the insulator to deform the upwardly facing shell shoulder 22 into a continuous annular seat.
  • a sealing material is then compacted between the insulator and the shell while the insulator is held in place, and the shell is crimped. Care is required in applying this assembly technique to maintain a good seat between the insulator and the shell.
  • a method of producing a seat in a spark plug comprising a hollow tubular shell having a reduced opening between the upper and lower ends of the shell formed by an internal, upwardly facing shoulder, and an insulator having a downwardly facing shoulder for cooperative abutment with said shell shoulder and a -flange portion above said insulator shoulder having a sliding fit with respect to the side walls of said opening above said shell shoulder, said method comprising the steps of:
  • a method of making a spark plug comprising a hollow tubular shell having a reduced opening between the upper and lower ends of the shell formed by an internal, upwardly facing shoulder and a constricted portion of reduced shell diameter spaced axially above said shoulder, and an insulator having a downwardly facing shoulder for operative abutment with said shell shoulder and a flange portion above said insulator shoulder having a sliding fit with respect to the side walls of said opening above said shell shoulder, said method comprising the steps of:
  • a method of making a spark plug comprising a hollow tubular shell having a reduced opening between the upper and lower ends of the shell formed by an internal, upwardly facing shoulder and a constricted portion of reduced shell diameter spaced axially above said shoulder, and an insulator having a downwardly facing shoulder for operative abutment with said shell shoulder, and a flange portion above said insulator shoulder having a sliding fit with respect to the side walls of said opening above said shell shoulder, said method comprising the steps of:
  • a method of making a spark plug comprising a hollow tubular shell having a reduced opening between the inner and outer ends of the shell which forms an internal, upwardly facing shoulder, and an insulator having a downwardly facing shoulder for operative abutment with said shell shoulder and a flange portion above said insulator shoulder having a sliding fit with respect to the side walls of said opening above said shell shoulder, said 0 method comprising the steps of:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Spark Plugs (AREA)
US833467A 1969-06-16 1969-06-16 Spark plug seat Expired - Lifetime US3609837A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US83346769A 1969-06-16 1969-06-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3609837A true US3609837A (en) 1971-10-05

Family

ID=25264498

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US833467A Expired - Lifetime US3609837A (en) 1969-06-16 1969-06-16 Spark plug seat

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3609837A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4826687B1 (fr)
BE (1) BE751991A (fr)
CA (1) CA918406A (fr)
CH (1) CH523605A (fr)
DE (1) DE2026761C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2052613A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1288149A (fr)
NL (1) NL7008756A (fr)
SE (1) SE391078B (fr)
ZA (1) ZA704098B (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8939808B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2015-01-27 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Method and device for manufacturing spark plug
US9972978B2 (en) 2015-06-15 2018-05-15 Federal-Mogul Ignition Company Spark plug gasket and method of attaching the same

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5564000B2 (ja) * 2011-02-09 2014-07-30 日本特殊陶業株式会社 スパークプラグの製造方法
DE102012101168B4 (de) * 2011-02-16 2017-03-09 Federal-Mogul Ignition Gmbh Zündkerze
JP5513466B2 (ja) * 2011-11-08 2014-06-04 日本特殊陶業株式会社 スパークプラグの製造方法
JP6262796B2 (ja) * 2015-06-12 2018-01-17 日本特殊陶業株式会社 スパークプラグの製造方法及びスパークプラグ
DE102016200430A1 (de) * 2016-01-15 2017-07-20 Robert Bosch Gmbh Zündkerze mit einer Kerbe oder einer Nut im Isolator oder im Gehäuse
US20240132326A1 (en) 2021-03-24 2024-04-25 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Remote elevator monitoring system, user management method in remote elevator monitoring system, and storage medium

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE496971C (de) * 1930-04-30 Hans Heinrich Zuendkerze fuer Brennkraftmaschinen
US1403448A (en) * 1920-07-16 1922-01-10 Ryder Arthur Vernon Sparking plug
FR526940A (fr) * 1920-11-06 1921-10-15 Trentelivres Et Cie H Bougie sans joint entièrement démontable, pour moteur à explosion
GB499259A (en) * 1937-06-01 1939-01-20 Gen Motors Corp Improvements in spark plugs
US2250355A (en) * 1937-06-08 1941-07-22 Bruck Josef Packing for insulators in sparking plugs
FR1139088A (fr) * 1955-12-27 1957-06-25 Perfectionnements aux bougies d'allumage
DE1062106B (de) * 1957-12-14 1959-07-23 Rollei Werke Franke Heidecke Spulenhalteeinrichtung fuer photographische Kameras
FR1431457A (fr) * 1965-04-13 1966-03-11 Champion Spark Plug Co Bougie d'allumage
DE1751777C3 (de) * 1968-07-27 1973-11-22 Beru-Werk Albert Ruprecht, 7140 Ludwigsburg Luft Gleitfunken Zundkere

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8939808B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2015-01-27 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Method and device for manufacturing spark plug
DE112011103855B4 (de) 2010-11-22 2018-12-13 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer Zündkerze
US9972978B2 (en) 2015-06-15 2018-05-15 Federal-Mogul Ignition Company Spark plug gasket and method of attaching the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2026761C3 (de) 1981-11-26
FR2052613A5 (fr) 1971-04-09
DE2026761B2 (de) 1978-02-02
CA918406A (en) 1973-01-09
BE751991A (fr) 1970-12-15
CH523605A (de) 1972-05-31
NL7008756A (fr) 1970-12-18
JPS4826687B1 (fr) 1973-08-14
GB1288149A (fr) 1972-09-06
DE2026761A1 (de) 1971-01-07
ZA704098B (en) 1971-04-28
SE391078B (sv) 1977-01-31

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