Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Randolph Kwok-Kin Chiu

Haskell Simpkins

Keith Michael Brenske

Charles Dale Oakley

Gamdur S Mann

David K Chen

Russell Harmon Bosch

William Thomas Phillips, Jr

Donald Robert Van Uum

Joseph Michael Leptich

Hiroshi Takayama

Paul A Wheeler

John F McKeon

Keisuke Okajima

Magnus Glavmo

Mark J Harris

Keith Allen Penney

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal at least partially disposed in the metal shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal glow sheath disposed at least partially in the metal shell and about the center terminal. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes an insulator disposed about the metal glow sheath and at least partially in the metal shell and extending axially into a glow area of the metal glow sheath to clean off soot on the insulator by glowing.

Ion sensor glow plug assembly

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow sheath disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and about the center wire to create an ion sensing circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes a coating disposed about a portion of the glow sheath between the glow sheath and the shell to isolate the shell from the glow sheath and extending axially into a glow area of the glow sheath to clean off soot on the glow sheath by glowing.

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow sheath disposed at least partially is the passageway of the shell and about the center terminal to create an ion sensing circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes an insulator disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and about a portion of the glow sheath and extending axially therefrom to clean off soot on the glow sheath. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a coating disposed about a portion of the glow sheath between the glow sheath and the shell to isolate the shell from the glow sheath.

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal at least partially disposed in the metal shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal glow sheath disposed at least partially in the metal shell and about the center terminal. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes an insulative seal disposed at least partially around the metal glow sheath to isolate the metal shell from the metal glow sheath to create an ion sensing circuit.

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow sheath disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and about the center wire to create an ion sensing circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes a coating disposed about a portion of the glow sheath between the glow sheath and the shell to isolate the shell from the glow sheath.

Ion sensor glow plug assembly with coating between sheath and shell

An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes an insulator disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and having an aperture extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow bulb made of an insulative material and including a heating element disposed therein. The glow bulb extends through the aperture and into the passageway of the shell and is operatively connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes a conductive material extending axially along the glow bulb and operatively connected to a source of power to create an ion sensing circuit.

Ion sensor bulb-shaped glow plug assembly

A glow sensor which combines functions of a diesel engine glow plug with an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics includes a ceramic rod retained in a supporting ceramic sleeve carried by a metal shell mountable in an engine cylinder head. The ceramic rod includes a heating element in a glow tip at the inner end of the rod which, in use, extends into an engine combustion chamber or pre-chamber. A conductive material such as platinum or palladium is coated on the lower end of the glow tip and connected by a conductor with a source of electric voltage. In use, the voltage produces a current carried by electrons generated by ionization of the combustion chamber gases during combustion. The current varies with the degree of ionization and the amount of electrons generated during various phases of the combustion event. The resulting information is usable in controlling engine operation or evaluating its operation for test purposes. Various construction features of disclosed embodiments include an internal conductor through the ceramic rod from the platinum or palladium material to a lead or an external conductor applied on the surface of the ceramic rod with which an insulating ceramic sleeve is utilized to mount the rod within its supporting shell. Grounding connections through an additional lead from the outer end of the ceramic rod or via metallic connections through the ceramic sleeve to the shell are alternatively disclosed.

Glow sensor-ceramic tip

A glow sensor provides functions of both a diesel engine glow plug and an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics. A ceramic flat plate glow sensor element is carried by a tubular ceramic sleeve and insulating material in a metal shell. The element includes a ceramic flat plate having a glow tip, on an inner end with a heating element on one side and an ion sensor electrode on the other printed in electrically conductive ink. Printed conductors on both sides connect the heating element and ion sensor with an outer end of the glow sensor element for connection with an electric power source. An insulating coating protects the heating element and conductors from exposure to combustion gases. Various flat plate mounting embodiments are disclosed.

Glow sensor--ceramic flat plate

A glow sensor provides functions of both a diesel engine glow plug for aiding fuel ignition during starting and low temperature operation and an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics. Compact glow sensor components may be assembled directly in combination with an engine combustion chamber defining component, such as a cylinder head, to provide a combination in which separate housings or shells for the glow sensors are not needed. Thus, the glow sensor elements and insulation may be made larger to provide greater electrical resistance in the ion sensor electrical circuit and enhance the operation of the ion sensor function. Various forms of glow sensors may optionally be used in such a combination including, for example, metal sheath type glow sensors with either isolated or non-isolated coils and ceramic rod or flat plate type glow sensors. Exemplary embodiments of glow sensor components mounted in a cylinder head are disclosed.

Glow sensor and engine component combination

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

Generally, the invention include a spark plug with a platinum tip partially embedded in one of the spark plug's electrodes. A spark plug according to the present invention may be prepared by first heating the area of the electrode where the platinum tip is to be attached to a temperature such that the platinum tip may be pushed into and embedded in the electrode. Thereafter the platinum tip is welded to the electrode. Heating the electrode allows the platinum tip to penetrate deeper into the electrode material. This deeper penetration or embedment will reduce the operating temperature at the weld interface (junction) which will in turn reduce the thermal stress and hence prevent cracking of the platinum tip. This deeper penetration or embedment will also reduce the rate of oxidation at the platinum tip near the weld junction and hence prevent cracking of the platinum tip.

Spark plug with platinum tip partially embedded in an electrode

The present invention includes a spark plug with a copper cored ground electrode wherein the copper core has a cross-sectional area of about 1.6 mm.sup.2 to about 3.0 mm.sup.2 and the remainder of the electrode is made from a nickel alloy sheath. The open end copper cored ground electrode is resistance welded to the steel shell using a light welding force of about 100 lbs. coupled with a low welding energy to eliminate voids and embrittlement in the copper core adjacent to the weld interface.

Spark plug with copper cored ground electrode and a process of welding

Apparatus and method for welding a platinum wire to a ground electrode of a spark plug to form a contact pad of platinum material that is welded to the ground electrode. The ground electrode is attached to and extends from a metallic spark plug shell. The apparatus includes a pivotally mounted nest for receiving and supporting the spark plug shell. A movable welding electrode can be moved into engagement with a lower surface of the ground electrode. The welding electrode has a spherical end surface that engages the ground electrode. The apparatus has opposed gripping fingers that can be moved toward or away from each other. The gripping fingers each have an inclined surface. When the gripping fingers are moved toward each other their inclined surfaces engage the ground electrode to force it into tight engagement with the spherical end surface of the welding electrode. A source of welding current is connected to the wire and to the welding electrode to weld an end portion of the wire to the ground electrode. The wire may have a diameter of about 0.5 mm and the welded pad may be as large as 1.0 mm.

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Randolph Kwok-Kin Chiu