Electric heating – Heating devices – Resistive element: igniter type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-01-23
Jeffery, John A. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Resistive element: igniter type
C123S14500A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177653
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to glow plugs for engines and, more particularly, to an ion sensor glow plug assembly for an engine of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide an ion sensor for an engine of a vehicle. The ion sensor is used as a closed loop feedback to detect fuel injection timing and intensity of combustion in each cylinder of the engine so as to control and improve engine performance.
It is also known to provide a glow plug for a compression ignition engine such as a diesel engine. The glow plug typically has a ceramic tip that extends into a chamber of the engine. The purpose of the glow plug is to aid in cold starting of the diesel engine. Heat is conducted by conduction from the heating element through the ceramic tip and then by radiation and convection to the fuel-air mixture, which is a slow heat transfer process.
Although the above ion sensors and glow plugs have worked, it is desirable to combine the two to provide an ion sensor glow plug assembly. It is also desirable to provide an ion sensor glow plug assembly that heats quickly a fuel-air mixture in a compression ignition engine such as a diesel engine of a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an ion sensor glow plug assembly for an engine of a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an ion sensor glow plug assembly that heats by radiation a fuel-air mixture in a compression ignition engine of a vehicle.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is an ion sensor glow plug assembly including a shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine and having a passageway extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes an insulator disposed at least partially in the passageway of the shell and having an aperture extending axially therethrough. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a glow bulb made of an insulative material and including a heating element disposed therein. The glow bulb extends through the aperture and into the passageway of the shell and is operatively connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes a conductive material extending axially along the glow bulb and operatively connected to a source of power to create an ion sensing circuit.
One advantage of the present invention is that an ion sensor glow plug assembly is provided for an engine of a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the ion sensor glow plug assembly incorporates a quartz bulb to heat quickly a fuel-air mixture by radiation in a compression ignition engine such as a diesel engine. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the ion sensor glow plug assembly incorporates a tungsten heating element inside a quartz bulb or rod. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the ion sensor glow plug assembly can be used as a plain glow plug with a quartz bulb using radiation as the heat transfer medium by removing certain elements thereof. A further advantage of the present invention is that the ion sensor glow plug assembly aids in engine cold start and allows closed loop feedback control of engine timing and fueling of a compression ignition engine such as a diesel engine.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4739731 (1988-04-01), Habich et al.
patent: 4816643 (1989-03-01), Zulauf et al.
patent: 3151825 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 19737396 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 19738915 (1998-03-01), None
patent: 568519 (1957-11-01), None
patent: 3-267616 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 97/38223 (1997-10-01), None
Chiu Randolph Kwok-Kin
Mann Gamdur Singh
Oakley Charles Dale
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Jeffery John A.
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