Spark plug

• US 6,495,948 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek E3, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Garrett, Norman H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimeshkumar D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Santiago, Mariceli
• Application Number:
  US09/260,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 313/118, 313/123, 313/125, 313/126, 313/128, 313/133, 313/135, 313/136, 313/138, 313/139, 313/140, 313/141, 313/142, 313/143, 123/169.EL, 123/169.E
• US Class Current: 313/141
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 13/32 characterised by features of the earthed electrode

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved spark plugs for igniting a fuel charge in an internal combustion engine, and is particularly concerned with an improved spark plug construction which improves combustion pressure and fuel mileage and diminishes exhaust pollution. The spark plug includes a center electrode and a ground electrode. In one embodiment, the ground electrode has an elongate edge that extends past the major dimension of the center electrode. The elongate edge can either be positioned substantially tangentially to or within a “zone” outside of the center electrode'"'"'s periphery. Preferably, the edge of the center electrode and the lower interior edge of the ground electrode will be presented towards one another such that the edges are or are among the closest portions within the sparking region.

Claims

1. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode having a cross-sectional projection, a major dimension, and a height; and

a ground electrode defining an elongate edge, said elongate edge extending further than the major dimension of the center electrode, said elongate edge being positioned substantially tangentially relative to said cross-sectional projection of said upwardly-extending center electrode, said elongate edge of said ground electrode having its lowest portion at or higher than the highest portion of said center electrode.

2. The spark plug of claim 1, wherein said edge is substantially straight.

3. The spark plug of claim 1, wherein said edge lies along a curved path having a radius greater than said center electrode and having a center of radius dissimilar than that of said center electrode.

4. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode having a major dimension and defining a center electrode edge; and

a ground electrode defining at least one substantially straight elongate edge extending further than the major dimension of the center electrode,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge spaced apart from said center electrode edge,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge being positioned at or above a highest portion of said center electrode edge,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge also being positioned at or outside a peripheral projection of said center electrode edge,

such that said center electrode edge and said at least one substantially straight elongate edge are presented towards each other such that said center electrode edge and said at least one substantially straight elongate edge are closest portions of the center electrode and the ground electrode within the sparking region.

5. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode defining a center electrode edge,

a ground electrode defining at least one elongate edge,

said at least one elongate edge spaced apart from said center electrode edge,

said at least one elongate edge being positioned only at or above a highest portion of said center electrode edge,

said at least one elongate edge also being positioned only at or outside a peripheral projection of said center electrode edge,

said elongate edge having portions being non-concentric with said center electrode edge,

such that said center electrode edge and said at least one elongate edge are presented towards each other such that the edges are closest portions of the center electrode and the ground electrode within the sparking region.

6. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode having a cross-sectional projection, a major dimension and a height; and

a ground electrode defining at least one elongate edge being non-concentric with the center electrode and extending further than the major dimension of the center electrode, said at least one elongate edge being outside the projection, and a lowest portion of the ground electrode being at or higher than the highest portion of said center electrode;

such that said center electrode edge and said at least one elongate edge are presented towards each other such that said center electrode edge and said at least one elongate edge are closest portions of the center electrode and the ground electrode within the sparking region.

7. The spark plug of claim 6, wherein said upwardly-extending center electrode having a substantially circular transverse cross-section having a diameter.

8. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparing region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode having a cross-sectional projection; and

a ground electrode defining two elongate edges each in a substantially tangential relationship relative to said cross-sectional projection of said upwardly-extending center electrode, said edges also combining to form one intermediate vertex outside said projection.

9. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode having a cross-sectional projection; and

a substantially box-shaped ground electrode with a split at the end, said split creates two ends with each end turned back, providing four tangential relationships relative to the cross-sectional projection and also providing three intermediate vertexes.

10. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode defining at least one substantially straight and non-circular elongate edge; and

a ground electrode defining an edge,

said center electrode edge and said ground electrode edge being in a non-concentric relationship and are closest portions of the center electrode and the ground electrode to allow for sparking therebetween.

11. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

a center electrode having a circular outline; and

a ground electrode including a main portion extending above the center electrode and diverging into two prongs, said prongs forming a partial box shape, said box shape including four sections oriented substantially tangential to said circular outline of said center electrode.

12. The spark plug as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ground electrode includes a vertex portion located outside of the circular outline of said center electrode.

13. The spark plug as claimed in claim 12, such that at least two segments of the two prongs lie substantially along said circular outline of said center electrode.

14. The spark plug as claimed in claim 13, such that first and third portions are substantially parallel.

15. The spark plug as claimed in claim 14, such that said second and fourth sections are substantially parallel.

16. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

a center electrode; and

a ground electrode extending above the center electrode, said ground electrode defining at least three tangential relationships.

17. The spark plug as claimed in claim 16, wherein said ground electrode defining at least four tangential relationships.

18. The spark plug as claimed in claim 16, wherein said ground electrode defining at least five tangential relationships.

19. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode comprising an outside edge; and

a ground electrode comprising a first edge and a second edge coupled together at a vertex;

wherein the first edge, the second edge, and the vertex of the ground electrode are positioned at or outside a peripheral projection of said center electrode edge such that the first edge or the second edge of the ground electrode is the closest portion of the ground electrode to the center electrode and the outside edge of the center electrode is the closest portion of the center electrode to the ground electrode to allow for sparking to occur between the ground electrode and the center electrode.

20. A spark plug for providing a spark within a sparking region, said spark plug when in an upright position comprising:

an upwardly-extending center electrode defining a center electrode edge,

a ground electrode defining at least one substantially straight elongate edge,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge spaced apart from said center electrode edge,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge being positioned only at or above a highest portion of said center electrode edge,

said at least one substantially straight elongate edge also being positioned only at or outside the peripheral projection of said center electrode edge,

such that said center electrode edge and said at least one substantially straight elongate edge are presented towards each other such that the edges are the closest portions of the center electrode and the ground electrode within the sparking region.