Glow sensor--ceramic flat plate
First Claim
1. A glow sensor for use in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine, said glow sensor comprising:
- a tubular metal shell including mounting means for mounting the glow sensor in a chamber defining component of the engine, the shell having a passageway extending axially therethrough;
a tubular ceramic support sleeve carried in the passageway of the shell;
a ceramic flat plate glow sensor clement carried by the support sleeve and having an outer end terminating adjacent an outer end of the shell and isolated therefrom by the sleeve, and extending through the passageway to an inner end including a glow tip extending inwardly beyond inner ends of the shell and the sleeve; and
insulating material within the support sleeve and within the metal shell and supporting the glow sensor element in the shell;
said glow sensor element including;
a single ceramic flat plate extending between said inner and outer ends of the glow sensor element and having opposite first and second sides and adjacent lateral edges;
an electric heating element and conductors printed on said first side of the flat plate, said heating element disposed at the location of the glow tip and said conductors extending from the heating element to the outer end of the glow sensor element;
an ion sensor electrode and a conductor printed on said second side of the of the flat plate, said electrode disposed adjacent an inner end of the flat plate and said conductor extending from the electrode to an outer end of the flat plate; and
an insulating coating on both sides of the flat plate and covering the printed conductors and the heating element for protection from combustion gases.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
22 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A glow sensor for use in a combustion chamber of a diesel engine, said glow sensor comprising:
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a tubular metal shell including mounting means for mounting the glow sensor in a chamber defining component of the engine, the shell having a passageway extending axially therethrough; a tubular ceramic support sleeve carried in the passageway of the shell; a ceramic flat plate glow sensor clement carried by the support sleeve and having an outer end terminating adjacent an outer end of the shell and isolated therefrom by the sleeve, and extending through the passageway to an inner end including a glow tip extending inwardly beyond inner ends of the shell and the sleeve; and insulating material within the support sleeve and within the metal shell and supporting the glow sensor element in the shell; said glow sensor element including; a single ceramic flat plate extending between said inner and outer ends of the glow sensor element and having opposite first and second sides and adjacent lateral edges; an electric heating element and conductors printed on said first side of the flat plate, said heating element disposed at the location of the glow tip and said conductors extending from the heating element to the outer end of the glow sensor element; an ion sensor electrode and a conductor printed on said second side of the of the flat plate, said electrode disposed adjacent an inner end of the flat plate and said conductor extending from the electrode to an outer end of the flat plate; and an insulating coating on both sides of the flat plate and covering the printed conductors and the heating element for protection from combustion gases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification