US3691419A - Igniter plug with improved electrode - Google Patents

Igniter plug with improved electrode Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3691419A
US3691419A US118862A US3691419DA US3691419A US 3691419 A US3691419 A US 3691419A US 118862 A US118862 A US 118862A US 3691419D A US3691419D A US 3691419DA US 3691419 A US3691419 A US 3691419A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
insert
shell body
igniter plug
shell
weld zone
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
US118862A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Donald R Van Uum
John I Jalbing
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.)
Motors Liquidation Co
Original Assignee
General Motors Corp
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 General Motors Corp filed Critical General Motors Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3691419A publication Critical patent/US3691419A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT This invention relates to an igniter plug adapted for continuous sparking operation for extended periods of time at temperatures as high as about 2,000 F. wherein the shell body constituting the ground electrode is provided with a ductile iridium metal insert ring having high oxidation and spark erosion resistance, the insert being positioned in the spark gap area and being either electron or laser beam welded to the shell in order to produce a narrow weld zone of well-alloyed material with minimum recrystallization of the insert metal.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned view of an igniter plug embodying our invention and FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken-away sectional view of the shell tip to show the details of our invention.
  • our invention is embodied in an igniter plug of the type commonly used in aircraft jet engines wherein the spark gap is provided for within the center portion of the plug at the tip end thereof normally positioned within the combustion can of the engine. It will also be apparent from the description which follows that our invention is equally applicable to plug designs wherein the spark gap is exterior of the plug at the end thereof.
  • a high cost noble metal such as iridium is not unreasonable, provided the plug assembly can be made with the necessary reliability and assurance that the normally brittle metal can be securely bonded to the ground electrode.
  • Another problem which our invention solves is that of achieving an igniter plug which lends itself to long periods of sustained operation without the necessity of replacement due to overheating of the sparking tip of the plug with resultant rapid wear due to oxidation and spark erosion.
  • This is achieved by providing a weld zone which extends the full depth of the interface between the metal insert and the shell body and thus assures good heat conduction away from the spark gap insert to the shell body. Continuous operation over extended periods is desirous to assure continuous burning in the event of the occurrence of what would otherwise be a flame-out condition.
  • igniter 1 comprises a shell body 2 which constitutes the ground electrode portion of the igniter and within which there is concentrically positioned in gas-tight relationship therewith an insulator body 5 having a centerbore 7 therethrough, the centerbore having positioned therein a center electrode 9.
  • the shell body 2 may be formed of any suitable material such as a nickel steel, i.e., Inconel, a trademark for an alloy containing approximately 76 percent nickel, 16 percent chromium, and 6 percent iron, such materials having desirable high temperature oxidation resistance characteristics.
  • the shell body 2 is also provided with a plurality of cooling air intake apertures 11 through the upper portion thereof, the cooling air flowing through the annular space between the shell body and the insulator and out through a plurality of holes 13 in the tip end of the shell body.
  • the firing end 15 of the center electrode 9 is formed of spark erosion resistant metal such as tungsten, the sparking end thereof being in abutment with the end of the insulator 5.
  • the inner surface of the shell body 2 is formed at the firing end thereof with a annular shoulder 17 on which there is seated a metal insert 19 formed of ductile iridium.
  • the firing end of the igniter plug is designed so as to provide a spark gap 21 formed by and across the end surface of the insulator 5 which abuts the firing end 15 of the center electrode and the surface of the metal insert 19 which is secured integrally with the shell body in such manner as to provide a good electrical and thermal interconnection.
  • a narrow, high intensity beam is essential for forming a nonfrangible weld zone 23 in view of the fact that we have found that where a broad weld zone is created, as where brazing or other welding techniques are used, the large amount of recrystallization of the iridium results in a weak bond area readily susceptible to cracking with the result that the insert quickly breaks up and drops off into the engine. Maintaining a narrow weld zone such as shown at 23 in FIG. 2 minimizes the degree of recrystallization while forming a well-alloyed mixture of shell and insert metals and assures a tough bond or strong interface with the shell body. Similarly, the high intensity narrow welding beam assures the penetration of the weld through the full depth of the electrode to produce an interface having optimum thermal conducting capability between the electrode and the shell.
  • the table below shows the variation in sparking voltage of the igniter plug of our invention over a 24 hour period when using an iridium insert.
  • an igniter plug capable of continuous sparking operation for extended periods of time at elevated temperatures up to about 2,000 F. and including a hell body constituting the ground electrode, an insulator positioned within said shell body in gas-tight relationship therewith and having a centerbore therethrough, a center electrode positioned in said centerbore, the sparking action occurring across the spark gap between said ground and center electrodes and across the surface of said insulator, the improvement comprising a generally ring shaped insert formed from ductile iridium metal having high oxidation and spark erosion resistance at elevated temperatures, said insert being electron or laser beam welded to said shell and forming an integral part thereof on one side of said spark gap, the weld zone being narrow and well-alloyed with minimum recrystallization to form a strong bond under the high temperature, high vibration operating condi- 5 1% igniter plug as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insert has a fibrous structure for ductility and high resistance to fracturing.

Landscapes

  • Spark Plugs (AREA)
US118862A 1971-02-25 1971-02-25 Igniter plug with improved electrode Expired - Lifetime US3691419A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11886271A 1971-02-25 1971-02-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3691419A true US3691419A (en) 1972-09-12

Family

ID=22381196

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US118862A Expired - Lifetime US3691419A (en) 1971-02-25 1971-02-25 Igniter plug with improved electrode

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3691419A (enExample)
CA (1) CA948943A (enExample)
DE (1) DE7207186U (enExample)
FR (1) FR2127636A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1322303A (enExample)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4229672A (en) * 1979-01-04 1980-10-21 Ford Motor Company Spark plug with low erosion electrode tip
DE3036223A1 (de) * 1979-10-22 1981-04-30 Champion Spark Plug Co., Toledo, Ohio Funkenzuender
US4396855A (en) * 1979-06-18 1983-08-02 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Plasma jet ignition plug with cavity in insulator discharge end
US4442375A (en) * 1979-09-14 1984-04-10 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Electrical self-purification ignition plug
US4771209A (en) * 1979-10-22 1988-09-13 Champion Spark Plug Company Spark igniter having precious metal ground electrode inserts
US4873466A (en) * 1986-09-06 1989-10-10 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Igniter plug
EP0377938A3 (en) * 1989-01-09 1991-04-17 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd A spark plug structure
US5973443A (en) * 1996-05-06 1999-10-26 Alliedsignal Inc. Spark plug electrode tip for internal combustion engine
US5984668A (en) * 1998-08-14 1999-11-16 Landfill Technologies, Inc. Sparking device for promoting avoidance of short-circuiting
US20020063504A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2002-05-30 Tsunenobu Hori Spark plug designed to provide high durability and productivity
US20110146227A1 (en) * 2009-12-23 2011-06-23 Brendon Francis Mee Apparatus and assembly for a spark igniter

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5734222A (en) * 1994-07-01 1998-03-31 Sixes And Sevens Pty Ltd Spark plug system

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4229672A (en) * 1979-01-04 1980-10-21 Ford Motor Company Spark plug with low erosion electrode tip
US4396855A (en) * 1979-06-18 1983-08-02 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Plasma jet ignition plug with cavity in insulator discharge end
US4442375A (en) * 1979-09-14 1984-04-10 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Electrical self-purification ignition plug
DE3036223A1 (de) * 1979-10-22 1981-04-30 Champion Spark Plug Co., Toledo, Ohio Funkenzuender
JPS5667187A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-06-06 Champion Spark Plug Co Spark ignitor
US4771209A (en) * 1979-10-22 1988-09-13 Champion Spark Plug Company Spark igniter having precious metal ground electrode inserts
US4873466A (en) * 1986-09-06 1989-10-10 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Igniter plug
EP0377938A3 (en) * 1989-01-09 1991-04-17 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd A spark plug structure
US5973443A (en) * 1996-05-06 1999-10-26 Alliedsignal Inc. Spark plug electrode tip for internal combustion engine
US5984668A (en) * 1998-08-14 1999-11-16 Landfill Technologies, Inc. Sparking device for promoting avoidance of short-circuiting
US20020063504A1 (en) * 2000-11-24 2002-05-30 Tsunenobu Hori Spark plug designed to provide high durability and productivity
US20110146227A1 (en) * 2009-12-23 2011-06-23 Brendon Francis Mee Apparatus and assembly for a spark igniter
US8534041B2 (en) 2009-12-23 2013-09-17 Unison Industries, Llc Apparatus and assembly for a spark igniter having tangential embedded pins

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2127636A5 (enExample) 1972-10-13
DE7207186U (de) 1972-07-13
CA948943A (en) 1974-06-11
GB1322303A (en) 1973-07-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3691419A (en) Igniter plug with improved electrode
US2296033A (en) Spark plug
US5578895A (en) Spark plug having a noble metal electrode tip
JP4433634B2 (ja) コージェネレーション用スパークプラグ
US4771209A (en) Spark igniter having precious metal ground electrode inserts
US2951143A (en) Arc torch
US3330985A (en) High voltage igniter with fluid feed through the insulator core center
JPH05159858A (ja) スパークプラグ
KR20090033229A (ko) 점화 장치용 전극
US3818174A (en) Long arc column forming plasma generator
US4488081A (en) Ignition plug
JPH0668955A (ja) スパークプラグおよびその製造方法
US3407326A (en) Spark plug having a composite gold or gold alloy electrode and a process for its manufacture
US5510667A (en) Spark plug with an electrode having a platinum-nickel fiber composite material
US2449403A (en) Spark plug electrode
US9318879B2 (en) Spark plug having firing pad
US5550425A (en) Negative electron affinity spark plug
CA1168531A (en) Spark igniter
US20020063504A1 (en) Spark plug designed to provide high durability and productivity
US3882338A (en) Igniter plug
US4309738A (en) Igniter plug
US4926088A (en) Igniters and methods of manufacture of igniters
US2505150A (en) Spark plug with auxiliary gap
US4873466A (en) Igniter plug
US2699158A (en) Electrical apparatus