US3890518A - Spark ignition plug - Google Patents

Spark ignition plug Download PDF

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Publication number
US3890518A
US3890518A US366078A US36607873A US3890518A US 3890518 A US3890518 A US 3890518A US 366078 A US366078 A US 366078A US 36607873 A US36607873 A US 36607873A US 3890518 A US3890518 A US 3890518A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrode
tungsten
spark ignition
plug
ignition plug
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
US366078A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Terence Leslie Tombs
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.)
ZF International UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Lucas Industries 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 Lucas Industries Ltd filed Critical Lucas Industries Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3890518A publication Critical patent/US3890518A/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
    • H01T13/39—Selection of materials for electrodes

Definitions

  • the tungsten is provided with a n I I t d l t- -t t t [58] Field of Search 313/130, 131 R, 137, 13s, ri'aL Se ace 0 ma 8 4 Claims, I Drawing Figure PATENTEDJUN 17 ms 1 SPARK IGNITION PLUG
  • This invention relates to a spark ignition plug of the kind including an outer, annular electrode, an inner electrode formed at least in part of tungsten and an air gap between the electrodes.
  • the tungsten part of the inner electrode is provided with a diffused surface layer of an oxidation resistant material.
  • the oxidation resistant material is silicon or alternatively is aluminium.
  • a member formed from a material having a high dielectric constant is interposed between the air gap and one of the electrodes.
  • said material having a high dielectric constant is calcium titanate.
  • the accompanying drawing is a sectional view of part of a spark ignition plug according to one example of the invention.
  • the spark ignition plug shown is a surface discharge igniter plug and includes a hollow, cylindrical electrode body 11 formed of 18/8 stainless steel. Extending within the bore in the body 11, but spaced from the inside surface thereof, is an inner electrode 13.
  • the electrode 13 is formed in two parts, that is a main part 14 formed from nickel supplied by the lnternational Nickel Company Limited as NILO 36, and an electrode tip 15 formed from commercially pure tungsten obtained from the Tungsten Manufacturing Company Limited of Brighton, Sussex.
  • the electrode tip 15, which is of substantially cylindrical configuration, is resistance welded at one end to the main electrode part 14 and is so dimensioned that the opposite, free end surface of the tip lies flush with one annular, end surface 12 of the body 11.
  • the electrode tip 15 is provided with an oxidation resistant layer 16 of diffused silicon in its surface presented to the body 11.
  • the siliconised layer 16 is formed by surrounding the tip 15, prior to its connection to the main electrode part 14, with a powder pack containing fine silicon powder, such as of 3 micron particle size, and ammonium chloride and heating the assembly at 1060C for 4 hours in a flow of argon. In this way, a siliconized layer 16 is produced over the tip 15, although alternatively the layer 16 may be produced by siliciding. A typical value for the thickness of the layer 16 is microns.
  • the insulating member 17 is formed of a material having a high dielectric constant and, since the igniter plug of the present example is intended for use in gas turbine engines for igniting an air-fuel mixture, the material of the member 17 is also arranged to be resistant to corrosion by the hot gases resulting from combustion of such a mixture.
  • a convenient material for the insulating member [7 is therefore found to be calcium titanate. and, for example, that supplied by Steatite and Porcelain Products Limited as TEMPRADEX NlSOO. This material has a dielectric constant of at l MC/s and 20C.
  • the arrangement of the electrode 13, the electrode 12 and the insulating member 17 is such that there exists a small, annular air gap 18 between the electrode tip 15 and the end portion 17a of the insulating member 17.
  • a spark occurs between the tip 15 and the insulating member 17, which then quickly transfers to the outer electrode 12.
  • Any tendency for the surface of the tungsten tip 15 presented to the insulating member 17 to be oxidised during sparking is substantially prevented by the surface layer 16.
  • the surface layer 16 is not present and it is found that an oxide film tends to grow over the surface of the tungsten tip which can result cracking of the member 17 and hence failure of the plug.
  • a spark ignition plug including an outer, annular electrode, an inner electrode formed at least in part of tungsten and an air gap between the electrodes, the tungsten part of the inner electrode being provided with a diffused, oxidation resistant surface layer of silicon.
  • a plug as claimed in claim 1 including a member formed from a material having a high dielectric constant interposed between the air gap and one of the electrodes.

Landscapes

  • Spark Plugs (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Oxide Ceramics (AREA)
US366078A 1972-06-01 1973-06-01 Spark ignition plug Expired - Lifetime US3890518A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2562872A GB1421157A (en) 1972-06-01 1972-06-01 Spark ignition plug

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3890518A true US3890518A (en) 1975-06-17

Family

ID=10230751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US366078A Expired - Lifetime US3890518A (en) 1972-06-01 1973-06-01 Spark ignition plug

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3890518A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4943038A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA977640A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2327481C2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2186762B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1421157A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
IT (1) IT985652B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4144474A (en) * 1976-06-29 1979-03-13 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Low noise resistance containing spark plug
US4374450A (en) * 1979-06-04 1983-02-22 The Bendix Corporation Method of making an igniter plug with nickel coating on center electrode
US4497633A (en) * 1982-07-08 1985-02-05 The Bendix Corporation Method of forming a tubular electrical insulator assembly
US4713574A (en) * 1985-10-07 1987-12-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Igniter electrode life control
FR2624318A1 (fr) * 1987-12-07 1989-06-09 Smiths Industries Plc Dispositif d'allumage electrique resistant a l'oxydation a haute temperature
US4910428A (en) * 1986-04-01 1990-03-20 Strumbos William P Electrical-erosion resistant electrode
US5469013A (en) * 1993-03-31 1995-11-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug
US20190170066A1 (en) * 2017-12-05 2019-06-06 General Electric Company High temperature articles for turbine engines

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2703234A1 (de) * 1977-01-27 1978-08-03 Bosch Gmbh Robert Elektrode aus metall fuer funkenstrecken
FR2451648A1 (fr) * 1979-03-13 1980-10-10 Texas Instruments Inc Bougie d'allumage comportant une electrode centrale perfectionnee
DE3436628A1 (de) * 1984-10-05 1986-04-10 BERU Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG, 7140 Ludwigsburg Zuendkerze
JPS62295673A (ja) * 1985-06-21 1987-12-23 武田ポンプ産業株式会社 簡易自動消火装置
JPS63105485A (ja) * 1986-10-20 1988-05-10 日本特殊陶業株式会社 沿面放電型プラグ

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2391458A (en) * 1944-03-14 1945-12-25 Mallory & Co Inc P R Spark gap electrode
US2926275A (en) * 1960-02-23 Pgras
US3488556A (en) * 1967-12-01 1970-01-06 Gen Motors Corp Spark plug with main and teaser gaps in parallel

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE462964C (de) * 1928-07-19 Robert Bosch Akt Ges Zuendkerzenelektrode mit metallischem UEberzug
GB742836A (en) * 1953-07-01 1956-01-04 K L G Sparking Plugs Ltd Improvements in or relating to sparking plugs
GB842333A (en) * 1956-04-17 1960-07-27 Renault Improvements in or relating to sparking plugs of the surface discharge type
US3344304A (en) * 1965-06-23 1967-09-26 Gen Motors Corp Creepage spark type plug having low voltage igniter seal
JPS4113607Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1965-10-04 1966-06-27
JPS4918766Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-04-30 1974-05-20
JPS5225942Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-07-01 1977-06-13

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2926275A (en) * 1960-02-23 Pgras
US2391458A (en) * 1944-03-14 1945-12-25 Mallory & Co Inc P R Spark gap electrode
US3488556A (en) * 1967-12-01 1970-01-06 Gen Motors Corp Spark plug with main and teaser gaps in parallel

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4144474A (en) * 1976-06-29 1979-03-13 Ngk Spark Plug Co., Ltd. Low noise resistance containing spark plug
US4374450A (en) * 1979-06-04 1983-02-22 The Bendix Corporation Method of making an igniter plug with nickel coating on center electrode
US4497633A (en) * 1982-07-08 1985-02-05 The Bendix Corporation Method of forming a tubular electrical insulator assembly
US4713574A (en) * 1985-10-07 1987-12-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Igniter electrode life control
US4910428A (en) * 1986-04-01 1990-03-20 Strumbos William P Electrical-erosion resistant electrode
FR2624318A1 (fr) * 1987-12-07 1989-06-09 Smiths Industries Plc Dispositif d'allumage electrique resistant a l'oxydation a haute temperature
US5469013A (en) * 1993-03-31 1995-11-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Large discharge-volume, silent discharge spark plug
US20190170066A1 (en) * 2017-12-05 2019-06-06 General Electric Company High temperature articles for turbine engines
US10815896B2 (en) * 2017-12-05 2020-10-27 General Electric Company Igniter with protective alumina coating for turbine engines

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT985652B (it) 1974-12-10
FR2186762B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1978-06-30
JPS4943038A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-04-23
CA977640A (en) 1975-11-11
DE2327481C2 (de) 1985-02-21
FR2186762A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-01-11
DE2327481A1 (de) 1973-12-13
GB1421157A (en) 1976-01-14

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