Unison Industries Limited Partnership

George F Mulkins

John E Sohnly

Tom L Rothenbuhler

An apparatus and method extends the useful life of a low tension igniter plug by advancing a homogeneous semiconductor element as it is consumed over time by sparks between a central conductor and an outer metal shell of the plug. An insulator surrounds at least a portion of the central conductor, with the outer metal shell having a discharge end spaced to provide a spark gap with a tip of the central conductor. The homogeneous semiconductor element surrounds the tip of the central conductor and is axially positioned between the insulator and the discharge end of the outer metal shell so that it is in contact with the outer metal shell at the spark gap. As the semiconductor element is consumed over time by recurring electrical sparks at the spark gap, the homogeneous semiconductor element is advanced towards the spark gap so that a portion of the semiconductor element is continuously maintained at the spark gap and available for consumption by the electrical sparks until substantially all of the semiconductor element is consumed, thereby extending the useful life of the igniter plug.

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Brooksville, FL, United States of America

George F Mulkins