| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080272683 | IGNITER - An igniter for an internal combustion engine, the igniter comprising: a center electrode; an insulator disposed about the center electrode; a ground shield disposed about the insulator, the insulator having a tip portion extending past an end portion of the ground shield and a tip portion of the center electrode extending through and away from the tip portion of the insulator; and a spark gap disposed between the tip portion of the center electrode and the end portion of the ground shield. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090079319 | SPARK PLUG STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED IGNITABILITY - Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a spark plug for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine, and, more particularly, to a spark plug having a structure providing improved ignition capability. In one particular configuration, a spark plug is provided forming a gap between a center electrode and an insulator of the spark plug. However, it will become apparent that other configurations are contemplated as well, as shown and described herein. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090127996 | IRIDIUM ALLOY FOR SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES - A spark plug comprises a shell having a substantially cylindrical threaded portion for threadable engagement in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, an insulator disposed coaxially in the shell, a center electrode disposed coaxially in the insulator, a side ground electrode having a first end coupled to the shell and a second end facing an end of the center electrode to define a spark discharge gap therebetween, and an electrode tip portion secured to either the side ground electrode or the center electrode proximate the spark discharge gap. The tip portion is formed from an alloy comprising from about 60 to about 70 percent by weight iridium, from about 30 to about 35 percent by weight rhodium, from 0 to about 10 percent by weight nickel, from about 3500 to about 4500 parts per million tantalum, and from about 100 to about 200 parts per million zirconium. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20100164352 | METHOD OF PRODUCING A SPARK PLUG VIA FLARED TIP ATTACHMENT - A side electrode for a spark plug is provided. The side electrode includes a side wire having a first end and a second end; an opening proximate to the first end, the opening extending from a first surface of the side wire to a second surface of the side wire, wherein the first surface has a flared portion proximate to the opening; and an electrode tip secured to the first end of the side wire, the electrode tip having a tip portion and a shaft portion, wherein the tip portion is located on the second surface and the shaft portion is secured to the side wire by engaging the flared portion. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100187967 | SPARK PLUG ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MAKING - A method of manufacturing a center electrode for a spark plug, the method including the steps of: resistance welding a sphere of a noble metal to a center electrode of a spark plug to provide a center electrode with an electrode tip that has a tip portion of a first configuration, the first configuration having a first height and a first width; and shaping the tip portion after the sphere is welded to the center electrode by a process wherein the tip portion will have a second configuration having a second height and a second width, the second height being greater than the first height and the second width being less than the first width wherein a peripheral edge of the noble metal is flush with a peripheral edge of the material it is secured to. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100253204 | PLATINUM ALLOY FOR SPARK PLUG ELECTRODES AND SPARK PLUG HAVING A PLATINUM ALLOY ELECTRODE - A spark plug and an alloy for an electrode tip of a spark plug is disclosed herein. The spark plug having: an insulator shell; a center electrode inside the insulator shell such that one end of the center electrode protrudes from the insulator shell; a metal shell exterior to the insulator shell; a side ground electrode having one end coupled to the metal shell and the other end facing the protruding end of the center electrode to form a spark discharge gap between the center electrode and the side ground electrode; and an electrode tip secured to at least one of the side ground electrode or the center electrode, located at the spark discharge gap, the electrode tip comprising a platinum-based alloy comprising 20 to 35% by weight of palladium, from greater than 0 to 15% by weight iridium, and the balance of the alloy being platinum, all % by weight being based on the total weight of the alloy. | 10-07-2010 |
