The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 05, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1991
Randolph K Chiu, Davison, MI (US);
John F McKeon, Swartz Creek, MI (US);
Paul A Wheeler, Linden, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
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.