Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Robert P Johnston

Joseph V Mantese

Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste

David Emil Nelson

Bob Xiaobin Li

Harold E Durling

Richard Eugene Fouts

Kaius K Polikarpus

Pertrice Auguste Wethey

A new kinetic spray process is disclosed that enables one to secure a plurality of ceramic elements together quickly without the need for glues or other adhesives. The process finds special utilization in the formation of non-thermal plasma reactors wherein the kinetic spray process can be used to simultaneously secure the ceramic elements together and to form electrical connections between like electrodes in the non-thermal plasma reactor.

Method for securing ceramic structures and forming electrical connections on the same

A method of making a hollow-shaped green ceramic article by pressure slip casting in a slip casting mold having a porous mold part with porosity channels opening at the surface of the mold cavity. A slip composition is formed having solid phase components with an average particle size distribution less than the cross-sectional dimension of mold porosity channels, and also having a flocculating agent to cause agglomeration of the solid phase particles into floccules larger than the porosity channel dimension. The molding cavity is filled with the slip composition, and the same is then hydrostatically pressurized while withdrawing slip filtrate from the mold cavity via the mold porosity channels for a time sufficient to deposit to a desired thickness a layer of solids. Excess slip is then removed from the molding cavity to provide an exposed interior surface on the deposit layer. Air under pressure is then applied to the exposed interior surface of the deposit layer, preferably while also withdrawing slip filtrate via the mold porosity channels from the mold cavity surface-deposit layer interface. The slip casted green ceramic hollow article is removed from the mold only after sufficient water has been removed in situ from within the material of the green ceramic article to enable the same to be self-supporting.

Pressure slip casting process for making hollow-shaped ceramics

A torch jet spark plug is provided which is suitable for use in a torch jet-assisted spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine. The torch jet spark plug is configured to ignite an air/fuel mixture within a combustion prechamber formed integrally within the body of the spark plug, such that a jet emanates from the prechamber and projects into the main combustion chamber of the engine, so as to enhance the burning rate within the main chamber. More particularly, the spark plug is configured so as to be relatively unsusceptible to pre-ignition, and also substantially eliminates the occurrence of internal short circuits to ground due to deposits accumulating within the prechamber. The spark plug achieves each of the above objects while having a relatively uncomplicated structure, requiring a minimal number of discrete components so as to enhance its manufacturability.

Torch jet spark plug

Growing community of inventors

Davison, MI, United States of America

Robert P Johnston