Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Keith A Penney

William Thomas Phillips, Jr

Donald Robert Van Uum

Gamdur S Mann

Charles Dale Oakley

Michael J Bezusko

Vincent J Tura, Jr

Terry J Gold

Ralph V Wilhelm, Jr

Joseph Michael Leptich

Randolph K-k Chiu

Robert J Smith

Randy L Voto

Steve F Lowe

John Franklin Mc Keon, Jr

Dale Lavern Freed, Jr

Ray William Atchinson, Ii

Kurt D Humphrey

The invention includes a spark plug for a combustion engine including a center electrode having a tapered portion with a plurality of ridges formed thereon. The spark plug may also include a tapered, ground electrode positioned over the center of the center electrode. The tapered center and ground electrodes allow for flames to propagate freely from the spark gap into the combustion chamber and to ignite an air-fuel mixture in the chamber leading to smooth idle and faster starts.

Spark plug with grooved, tapered center electrode

A spark plug is provided which is suitable for use in a spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The spark plug is equipped with a specially configured firing tip on each of its electrodes for the purpose of minimizing the demand voltage of the spark plug, as well as extending the life of the spark plug by maximizing the time over which the demand voltage will remain within an acceptable level. For this purpose, the firing tips are configured such that their firing surfaces include at least three edges and three corners which serve as arc initiation sites of a relatively low resistance arc path between the electrodes.

High efficiency, extended life spark plug having shaped firing tips

An ignition cable assembly includes a cable terminal attached to an end of an ignition cable. The cable terminal is plugged into the end of a boot and terminal subassembly that comprises three parts. These are a base terminal, a snap ring insert and an elastomeric boot. The elastomeric boot houses a replaceable plug seal that engages a ceramic insulator of a spark plug when the ignition cable assembly is plugged onto the spark plug. The ignition cable assembly can be straight, bent or right angled.

Ignition cable assembly

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head and a permanent ground electrode and replaceable center electrode element received in a cylinder head bore. The permanent ground electrode is affixed to the cylinder head at the inner wall thereof and protrudes into the combustion chamber. The ground electrode preferably has a cup-like configuration defining an electrode-receiving hollow in the combustion chamber in registry with the bore. The center electrode element comprises a center electrode and an insulator body having a shoulder for engaging a seat in the bore. The insulator body shoulder is clamped against the seat by an annular retainer nut. When the center electrode element is so clamped, the center electrode is received in the electrode-receiving hollow defined by the ground electrode in the combustion chamber so as to cooperate with the ground electrode in defining a spark gap therebetween.

Internal combustion engine having a permanent ground electrode and

An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head and a spark plug assembly adapted to be received in a cylinder head bore. The spark plug assembly includes a metal ground electrode element having an annulus disposed on a transverse annular seat of the cylinder head bore and a ground side electrode extending from the annulus. The ground side electrode is received in an axial slot of the cylinder head bore between the seat and a cylinder head inner wall and protrudes into the combustion chamber. The orientation of the ground electrode relative to the cylinder head, and thus to the geometry of the combustion chamber, is established by the circumferential location of the axial slot relative to the bore. The spark plug assembly also includes a center electrode element having a center electrode and surrounding insulator body. The insulator body includes a shoulder that is clamped against the ground electrode annulus on the seat by a spanner retainer nut threaded into the cylinder head bore about the insulator body. The ground electrode element and the center electrode element are thereby secured in position in the cylinder head bore.

Spark plug assembly for internal combustion engine

A method of sputtering platinum onto a vitrified zirconia thimble to form an exhaust electrode for an electrochemical-type exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The electrode is sputtered under an atmosphere consisting essentially of more than about 50% oxygen and/or nitrogen by volume. Sensors having low symmetrical transition times are produced.

Electrode sputtering process for exhaust gas oxygen sensor

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Keith A Penney