Electric lamp and discharge devices – Spark plugs – Particular electrode structure or spacing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-12-11
Day, Michael H. (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
Spark plugs
Particular electrode structure or spacing
C313S135000, C315S058000, C315S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329743
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to sparkplugs and, specifically, to a sparkplug having multiple side-discharge negative electrodes and a body constructed to effectively absorb the electrical energy normally lost during the rise time of the ignition transformer, a method to store electrical energy, and a method to discharge the stored energy across the electrode gap during the first few nanoseconds of the spark event.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There have been many and various attempts at creating an ignitor, more commonly described as a sparkplug, for combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine. Behind these ignitors, in the ignition circuit, have been many devices designed to increase the effectiveness of the ignitor. The attempts at creating a more efficient ignitor or increasing the effectiveness of the ignitor can be described as conventional sparkplugs with modifications to the electrodes and/or electrode spacing, capacitors/condensers in parallel with the ignition circuit, or devices interrupting the high voltage ignition pulse. While these attempts do effect, to some degree, the dynamics of the spark event, they are unnecessarily complex, costly, and inefficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,232, issued to Baur, discloses a sparkplug cap designed to increase the sparking power. The cap has internal capacitance of an unknown quantity. Without knowing the size of the capacitor, it is impossible to determine the increase of power, and it is very likely that a capacitor of high capacitance as claimed would, in fact, deplete the ignition voltage, precipitating a misfire and causing the engine to cease operation. It is very likely the Baur device requires an ignition system which is significantly higher in output energy than is commonly found on internal combustion engines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,430, issued to Muller et al., discloses a sparkplug connector comprising a storage capacitor coaxial with an ignition transformer, which is fitted onto a sparkplug disposed deep in a spark plug hole. Such an arrangement, for the same reason as in Baur, can cause the engine to cease operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,415, issued to Griswold et al., the method is different from Muller et al. and Baur, but the purpose of inserting a capacitor in parallel with the ignition circuit at the sparkplug raises the same concerns as Muller et al. and Baur, and causes a further problem of excess radio frequency interference (RFI). In vehicles manufactured in the 1990's, there is an increasing use of microprocessors to monitor and modify engine functions based on present conditions. These microprocessors are very sensitive to RFI emanations, and they will misfunction or fail as the frequency of a ringing capacitive discharge occurs in the same range as the operating frequency of the microprocessors.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,148,106, issued to Lux, discloses the addition of a condenser arranged in the positive electrode of a sparkplug in combination with multiple sparkplug gaps by which the resistance is diminished at the sparkplug gap, thereby obtaining improved operation of the sparkplug. The resistance of the sparkplug gap, whether single or multiple, is directly related to the pressure at the gap and the distance between the positive and negative electrodes of the sparkplug. In the case of multiple electrodes, it is dependent on the distance between the closest positive and negative electrode. A “silent” capacitive discharge between a pair of opposing electrodes effectively reduces the resistance between that pair of electrodes and the ignition spark is generated there rather than at a different pair where no ionization occurred. In Lux, the reduction of the resistance at a spark gap distant from the fuel mixture through a “silent” discharge forces the spark to occur at the “silent” pair of electrodes, which might or might not have fuel present to ignite. It is possible to ensure the proper operation of the spark while not igniting the fuel charge at all.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an improved sparkplug with very low resistance and inductance is provided for use with internal combustion engines to initiate the combustion of the fuel mixture. The body of the sparkplug incorporates a capacitive element to effectively absorb the electrical energy normally lost during the rise time of the ignition transformer, to store such electrical energy, and to discharge the stored energy across the electrode gap during the first few nanoseconds of the spark event.
The sparkplug is comprised of an iron or steel body constructed so as to be threaded into conventional sparkplug holes, as found on cylinderheads of internal combustion engines. The body has a cylindrical extension which serves as the negative plate of the capacitive element. The body also provides for multiple negative electrodes. It is further comprised of a positive electrode which forms the interior portion of the sparkplug. One end of the positive electrode forms a spark channel with two or more negative electrodes in a plane perpendicular to the motion of the piston. The other end of the positive electrode connects by means of a resistive element to a high-voltage ignition cable of conventional design. The positive electrode also serves as the positive plate of the capacitive element. It is cylindrical, and it extends centrally through the body of the sparkplug within the negative plate of the capacitive element. The positive electrode receives the resistive element which connects the sparkplug to the ignition system. A moldable dielectric material completely fills the space between the positive and negative plates of the capacitive element for the length of the sparkplug.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a sparkplug with very low resistance and inductance and a properly configured and electrically sized capacitive means by which to peak the current of the electrical spark discharge.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sparkplug with a resistive element outside of the spark discharge circuit preventing the emanations of radio frequency interference and allowing for the use of very low resistance ignition cables.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sparkplug with a spark electrode configuration designed to expose the length of the spark channel to the top of the piston.
A further object of the invention is to provide a sparkplug with an electrode configuration by which the wearing away of the electrode material through the Coulomb Effect is diminished.
Still another object of the invention is to provide alternative sparkplug designs which are compact and require very little space above the cylinder head, while still maintaining the required capacitive element.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an alternate means by which to connect the high-voltage ignition cable to the sparkplug preventing the loss of energy due to the creation of corona and the unintentional creation of a spark between the cable and the body of the sparkplug.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1148106 (1915-07-01), Lux
patent: 3683232 (1972-08-01), Baur
patent: 4549114 (1985-10-01), Herden
patent: 4751430 (1988-06-01), Muller et al.
patent: 5103136 (1992-04-01), Sezuki et al.
patent: 5272415 (1993-12-01), Griswold et al.
patent: 5371436 (1994-12-01), Griswold
patent: 5705892 (1998-01-01), Codina et al.
Day Michael H.
Lansdowne John R.
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