Denso Corporation

Denso International America, Inc.

Harrison Boll

Jeongung Hwang

Christopher Thomas

An ignition system for a vehicle includes an ignition coil and a thermoelectric cooler. The ignition coil has primary and secondary coils. The ignition coil is configured to deliver electrical power from a battery to a least one spark plug. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed along an external surface of the ignition coil and is configured to transfer heat generated by the primary and secondary coils to an ambient surrounding.

Ignition coil and ignition system for a vehicle

A spark plug for an automotive engine includes a shell housing, and an insulator within the shell housing but extending axially beyond the shell housing. A terminal, referred to herein as a cup post terminal, is fixed to the proximal end of the insulator. The cup post terminal includes an engagement surface configured to engage an ignition coil spring for energy transfer to initiate a spark. The cup post terminal includes a sidewall extending axially from the engagement surface. The sidewall cooperates with the engagement surface to define a pocket for the ignition coil spring. The sidewall can have drainage openings to allow oil or contaminants to escape the pocket and drain away from the engagement between the engagement surface and the ignition coil spring. The engagement surface can also be sloped to facilitate the drainage toward the drainage openings.

Spark plug with drainage features in terminal

A spark plug ground electrode assembly including a ground electrode having a ground electrode base defining a receptacle. A base flange extends about less than an entirety of the receptacle to define an open lateral end of the receptacle. The open lateral end of the receptacle is arranged to receive a ground electrode pad slid into the receptacle and onto a support surface in a direction perpendicular to a spark plug longitudinal axis. The flange of the ground electrode pad is arranged between the base flange and the support surface to restrict movement of the ground electrode pad along the spark plug longitudinal axis. A welding is at the open end of the receptacle to restrict movement of the ground electrode pad in the direction perpendicular to the spark plug longitudinal axis.

Ground electrode pad for spark plug

A spark plug including a center electrode having a center electrode tip. A ground electrode strap has a ground electrode base to which a ground electrode pad is mounted. The ground electrode base is trapezoid-shaped in cross-section. The ground electrode strap is triangular-shaped in cross-section.

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Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, United States of America

Harrison Boll