US3846655A - Sparking plug - Google Patents

Sparking plug Download PDF

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Publication number
US3846655A
US3846655A US00320844A US32084473A US3846655A US 3846655 A US3846655 A US 3846655A US 00320844 A US00320844 A US 00320844A US 32084473 A US32084473 A US 32084473A US 3846655 A US3846655 A US 3846655A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
insulator
electrode
sparking plug
disc
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
US00320844A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Thring
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.)
GUNSONS COLORPLUGS Ltd
Original Assignee
GUNSONS COLORPLUGS Ltd
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 GUNSONS COLORPLUGS Ltd filed Critical GUNSONS COLORPLUGS Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3846655A publication Critical patent/US3846655A/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
    • H01T13/48—Sparking plugs having means for rendering sparks visible

Definitions

  • a sparking plug comprising a metal tubular housing a portion of which is provided with or constitutes a housing electrode, a central electrode which is mounted within and spaced from the housing and extends axially thereof, the central and housing electrodes being separated from each other by a spark gap, and an annular, translucent insulator which is mounted within and sealed to the housing and is subjected to compression by the latter, the central electrode extending through and being sealed to the insulator, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing, throughout a predetermined temperature range, being substantially greater than that of the insulator.
  • translucent insulators as used herein is intended to be broad enough to include insulators which are transparent. Indeed, these are the preferred insulators.
  • the central electrode may extend through and may be sealed to the interior of a hollow cylindrical insulator which is itself mounted within and sealed to the translucent insulator, the hollow cylindrical insulator extending outwardly of the translucent insulator.
  • the hollow cylindrical member may be made of ceramic material.
  • the hollow cylindrical insulator may be sealed to the central electrode by means of a glass member.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion of the translucent insulator is preferably substantially the same as that of the central electrode throughout the said predetermined temperature range.
  • the translucent insulator is preferably a transparent glass disc.
  • the housing preferably extends axially beyond each of the opposite faces of the disc.
  • the housing may be of one part construction.
  • the portion of the housing which is formed or provided with the housing electrode may be detachably connected to the portion of the housing provided with the insulator.
  • the portion of the housing provided with the housing electrode may be threaded into the other portion and may have a noncylindrical internal surface for engagement by a tool.
  • the housing may be provided with a housing electrode which is non-integral with and extends radially inwardly of the housing.
  • the housing electrode may be integral with the housing, the central electrode having a radially extending end portion which is separated from the housing electrode by the said spark gap.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a sparking plug according to the present invention, the said first embodiment having a one-piece housing,
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sparking plug of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one part of a second embodiment of a sparking plug according to the present invention, the said second embodiment having a twopiece housing,
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the part shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the other part of the said second embodiment
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of the said other part
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively sectional views of a thrid embodiment and a fourth embodiment of a sparking plug according to the present invention.
  • a sparking plug comprises a metal tubular housing 10 having an externally threaded cylindrical portion 11 which is adapted to be screwed into a threaded hole in the casing of an internal combustion engine (not shown).
  • the portion 11 is provided with a non-integral housing electrode 12 which extends radially inwardly of the housing.
  • a central electrode 13 is mounted within and spaced from the housing 10 and extends axially of the latter.
  • the central electrode 13 and the housing electrode 12 are separated from each other by a spark gap 14.
  • the housing 10 at its end remote from the interior of the engine, has a hexagon shaped part 15 within which is mounted and to which is sealed an annular transparent glass insulator disc 16.
  • the central electrode 13 extends centrally through and is sealed to the insulator disc 16.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing 10, throughout the whole of the operating temperature range is substantially greater than that of the insulator disc 16, while the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulator disc 16 is substantially the same as that of the central electrode 13 throughout the said operating temperature range.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion at of the housing 10 may be in the range 130 to I60' lO" /C, while the coefficient of ther mal expansion of both the insulator disc 16 and the central electrode 13 may be in the range of to I05. l0"/C.
  • the housing may for example be made of a lead-free mild steel, e.g., a low carbon steel known as E.N. 1A, while the glass of the insulator disc 16 may be a sintered borosilicate glass.
  • the central electrode 13 may be made of an iron-nickel alloy.
  • the insulator disc 16 is subjected to compression by the housing 10, throughout the operating temperature range, e.g., by shrinking the housing 10 onto the insulator disc 16.
  • hermetic seals are achieved between the central electrode 13 and the insulator disc 16, and between the insulator disc 16 and the housing 10, without the use of any special sealing compounds, while the risk that the glass of the insulator disc 16 will crack is reduced.
  • the said hermetic seals have great physical strength by reason of the fact that glass is stronger in compression than in tension. Before the glass can be cracked or ruptured, the compressive stresses purposely introduced must be overcome.
  • the part 15 of the housing 10 extends axially beyond each of the opposite faces 20, 21 of the insulator disc 16. This construction is provided to avoid disturbing fringe effects.
  • FIGS. 3 to 6 there is shown a sparking plug having a housing made up of detachably interconnected portions 22, 23.
  • the portion 22, which is of hexagon shape, has mounted within and sealed to it an annular 3 transparent glass insulator disc 24 extending axially through which there is mounted a central electrode 25.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion of the portion 22 is, throughout the operating temperature range, substantially greater than that of the insulator disc 24, while the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulator disc 24 is substantially the same as that of the central electrode 25 throughout the operating temperature range.
  • the portion 22 is internally threaded at 26 and into it is threaded an externally threaded portion 30 of the portion 23.
  • the portion 30 is provided with a nonintegral housing electrode 31 which extends radially inwardly of the portion 23 and is separated by a spark gap from the central electrode 25.
  • the portion 23 is also provided with an externally threaded cylindrical portion 32 to enable it to be screwed into the casing of an internal combustion engine (not shown).
  • the portion 32 has a non-cylindrical internal surface 33 for engagement by a tool so as to enable the portions 22, 23 to be detachably connected to and disconnected from each other.
  • FIG. 7 is shown a sparking plug 34 which is generally'similar to that of FIGS. I and 2 and which for this reason will not be described in detail, like reference numerals indicating like parts.
  • a non-integral housing electrode 12 is not provided, the end portion of the cylindrical portion 11 constituting an integral housing electrode.
  • the central electrode 13 moreover, has a radially extending end portion 35 which is separated from the said housing electrode by the spark gap 14.
  • FIG. 8 there is shown a sparking plug 36 which is generally similar to that of FIG. 7 and which for this reason will not be described in detail, like reference numerals indicating like parts.
  • the central electrode 13 extends through and is sealed to the interior of a thin walled alumina or other ceramic hollow cylindrical insulator 37 by means of an annular glass block 40 which may be either transparent or opaque.
  • the hollow cylindrical insulator 37 is mounted within and sealed to an annular transparent glass insulator disc 41, the latter being mounted within and sealed to the metal housing 10. If the glass employed in the block 40 is transparent, it may be the same as that of the disc 41.
  • the hollow cylindrical insulator 37 and the glass block 40 extend outwardly of the disc 41 and in the embodiment shown, have axial lengths about three times the thickness of the disc 41.
  • the construction shown in FIG. 8 increases the tracking length, i.e., the length of a short circuit between the high voltage central electrode 13 and the earthed metal housing 10.
  • the construction assists in preventing tracking over the disc 41 when the conditions at the spark gap 14 causes the voltage to rise to an unusually high level before breakdown at the spark gap occurs.
  • a sparking plug comprising a metal tubular housing, a housing electrode provided on a portion of said housing, a metal central electrode which is mounted within and spaced from the housing and extends axially thereof, the central and housing electrodes being made of different metals and being separated from each other by a spark gap, and an annular, translucent insulator disc which is mounted within the housing and is subjected to radial compression by the latter to effect sealing therebetween, the central electrode extending through and being sealed to the insulator disc.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing, throughout a predetermined temperature range being substantially greater than that of the insulator disc.
  • the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulator disc being substantially the same as that of the central electrode throughoutthe said predetermined temperature range.
  • a sparking plug comprising a metal tubular housing, a housing electrode provided on a portion of said housing, the portion of the housing which has the housing electrode being detachably connected to the portion of the housing provided with the insulator a central electrode which is mounted within and spaced from the housing and extends axially thereof, the central and housing electrodes being separated from each other by a spark gap, and an annular, translucent insulator which is mounted within and sealed to the housing and is subjected to radial compression by the latter, the central electrode extending through and being sealed to the translucent insulator, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the housing, throughout a predetermined temperature range, being substantially greater than that of the translucent insulator.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the central electrode extends through and is sealed tothe interior of a hollow cylindrical insulator disc which is itself mounted within and sealed to the translucent insulator, the hollow cylindrical insulator extending outwardly of the translucent insulator disc.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 3 in which the hollow cylindrical insulator is sealed to the central electrode by means of a glass member.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 6 in which the housing extends axially beyond each of the opposite faces of the disc.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 2 in which the portion of the housing which has the housing electrode is threaded into the other portion and has a noncylindrical internal surface for engagement by a tool to facilitate relative separation of said portions.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing is provided with a housing electrode which is non-integral with and extends radially inwardly of the housing.
  • a sparking plug as claimed in claim 1 in which the housing electrode is integral with the housing, the central electrode having a radially extending end portion which is separated from the housing electrode by the spark gap.

Landscapes

  • Spark Plugs (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
US00320844A 1972-01-19 1973-01-04 Sparking plug Expired - Lifetime US3846655A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB254872*[A GB1373424A (en) 1972-01-19 1972-01-19 Sparking plug

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3846655A true US3846655A (en) 1974-11-05

Family

ID=9741537

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00320844A Expired - Lifetime US3846655A (en) 1972-01-19 1973-01-04 Sparking plug

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3846655A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS529261B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA971448A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2168554B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1373424A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT977595B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080042539A1 (en) * 2006-06-23 2008-02-21 Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc. Spark plug insulator

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1196566A (en) * 1914-11-09 1916-08-29 Lewis A Mcdowell Spark-plug.
US1347367A (en) * 1919-02-24 1920-07-20 Gerbaud Charles Emile Sparking plug for internal-combustion engines and method of manufacturing the same
US1554996A (en) * 1921-11-03 1925-09-29 Louis W G Flynt Spark plug
US1719389A (en) * 1927-06-06 1929-07-02 Colin Rene Spark plug for internal-combustion engines
US2047302A (en) * 1934-02-20 1936-07-14 Charles Coupe Spark plug
US2172548A (en) * 1939-09-12 Shaped bodies for electric purposes
US2217825A (en) * 1939-08-25 1940-10-15 Champion Spark Plug Co Spark plug
US3056899A (en) * 1959-11-23 1962-10-02 William G Clayton Spark plug adapter

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2448193A (en) * 1944-01-25 1948-08-31 Global Spark Plug Co Spark plug
GB1160502A (en) * 1967-01-19 1969-08-06 Ct Pa Handelgesellschaft M B H Spark Plug.

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2172548A (en) * 1939-09-12 Shaped bodies for electric purposes
US1196566A (en) * 1914-11-09 1916-08-29 Lewis A Mcdowell Spark-plug.
US1347367A (en) * 1919-02-24 1920-07-20 Gerbaud Charles Emile Sparking plug for internal-combustion engines and method of manufacturing the same
US1554996A (en) * 1921-11-03 1925-09-29 Louis W G Flynt Spark plug
US1719389A (en) * 1927-06-06 1929-07-02 Colin Rene Spark plug for internal-combustion engines
US2047302A (en) * 1934-02-20 1936-07-14 Charles Coupe Spark plug
US2217825A (en) * 1939-08-25 1940-10-15 Champion Spark Plug Co Spark plug
US3056899A (en) * 1959-11-23 1962-10-02 William G Clayton Spark plug adapter

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20080042539A1 (en) * 2006-06-23 2008-02-21 Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc. Spark plug insulator
US7598661B2 (en) 2006-06-23 2009-10-06 Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc Spark plug

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA971448A (en) 1975-07-22
GB1373424A (en) 1974-11-13
FR2168554B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-11-05
FR2168554A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-08-31
DE2302640A1 (de) 1973-07-26
JPS529261B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-03-15
IT977595B (it) 1974-09-20
JPS4882236A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-11-02
DE2302640B2 (de) 1975-05-22

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