Head of a glow plug provided with a pressure sensor

• US 7,775,187 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company (Apollo Global Management, Inc.), Continental Automotive France (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition Company (Apollo Global Management, Inc.), Continental Automotive France (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Last, Bernd, Burrows, John, Patri, Cyrille, Boucard, Michel, Ramond, Alain, Goretti, Sandro
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/587,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 123/143.R, 123/145.A, 123/153, 123/143.C
• US Class Current: 123/143.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/028 the glow plug being combined with or used as a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 2007/002 with sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 7/001 Glowing plugs for internal-combustion engines

Abstract

A glow plug includes a glow plug body (2), a pressure sensor arranged inside the glow plug body (2), a threaded portion (6) on the outside of the glow plug body (2) and gripping elements (12), generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, enabling the body (2) to be gripped and screwed into a corresponding tapping, the gripping elements (12) being made from synthetic material.

Claims

1. A glow plug, comprising:

a glow plug body (2) formed of a first material with a threaded portion (6) formed on an outside of the glow plug body (2);

a glow plug head formed of a second material connected to a first end of the glow plug body (2), an exterior of the glow plug head forming a gripping means (12);

a finger (4) extending from an opposite second end of the glow plug body (2); and

a pressure sensor (10) arranged inside the glow plug head;

wherein the gripping means (12) of the glow plug head has a generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, the gripping portion being grippable to turn the glow plug in a corresponding tapping, and

wherein the second material of the glow plug head is a synthetic material.

2. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic material is overmolded over the pressure sensor (10) and onto the first end of the glow plug body.

3. The glow plug according to claim 1,

wherein the finger (4) comprises a heating electrode, and

wherein the glow plug head further comprises connecting means, formed of the synthetic material, for the electrical energy supply to the heating electrode and for transmitting the signal output by the pressure sensor (10).

4. The glow plug according to claim 3, wherein the connecting means comprises a male connector (14) forming a single part with the gripping means (12).

5. The glow plug according to claim 3,

wherein the connecting means comprise electrical wires, and

wherein said electrical wires project from the glow plug head.

6. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein the glow plug body (2) has striations (32) over at least a portion of a periphery of the glow plug body (2) adjacent the gripping means (12) of the glow plug head.

7. The glow plug according to claim 6,

wherein the body (2) is a tubular body, and

wherein the striations (32) are longitudinally oriented.

8. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein the first material is a metal.

9. The glow plug according to claim 8, wherein the first material is steel.

10. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein the glow plug head is formed as one piece of the synthetic material.

11. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the synthetic material of the glow plug head encircles an outer periphery of the first end of the glow plug body (2) to secure the glow plug head to the glow plug body.

12. The glow plug according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular intermediate part (28) inside and coaxial with the glow plug body and having a flared formation at one end,

wherein the tubular intermediate part (28) extends into the glow plug head such that the synthetic material of the glow plug head holds the flared formation to secure the glow plug head to the glow plug body (2).

13. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one glow plug,

wherein each of said at least one glow plug comprises a glow plug body (2) formed of a first material with a threaded portion (6) formed on an outside of the glow plug body (2), a glow plug head formed of a second material connected to a first end of the glow plug body (2) with an exterior of the glow plug head forming a gripping means (12), a finger (4) extending from an opposite second end of the glow plug body (2), and a pressure sensor (10) arranged inside the glow plug head

wherein the gripping means (12) of the glow plug head has a generally of cylindrical form with a hexagonal section, the gripping portion being grippable to turn the glow plug in a corresponding tapping, and

wherein the second material of the glow plug head is a synthetic material.

14. The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the engine is of the Diesel engine type.

15. The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the first material is a metal.

16. The internal combustion engine according to claim 15, wherein the first material is steel.

17. The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein the glow plug head is formed as one piece of the synthetic material.

18. The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, wherein a portion of the synthetic material of the glow plug head encircles an outer periphery of the first end of the glow plug body (2) to secure the glow plug head to the glow plug body.

19. The internal combustion engine according to claim 13, further comprising:

a tubular intermediate part (28) inside and coaxial with the glow plug body and having a flared formation at one end,

wherein the tubular intermediate part (28) extends into the glow plug head such that the synthetic material of the glow plug head holds the flared formation to secure the glow plug head to the glow plug body (2).