Spark Plug Additional Electrode for High-Frequency Ignition Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spark plugs with ceramic insulators experience disruptive sliding discharges during high-frequency ignition, affecting ignition safety and reliability, especially in stratified charge combustion methods where mixture homogeneity is challenging, leading to inefficient engine performance.
Innovation Solution
A spark plug design featuring an additional electrode insulated from the central and ground electrodes, projecting beyond the insulator to create a second ignition spark gap, allowing for independent connection to an ignition system and improved impedance stabilization, enabling reliable ignition in conventional engines with high-frequency systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional ceramic insulator is used in a spark plug, then the insulator provides electrical insulation, but sliding discharges occur on the insulator surface during high-frequency ignition, adversely affecting ignition safety and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The single spark gap is segmented into two separate spark gaps by introducing an additional electrode. This segmentation prevents sliding discharges by creating discrete ignition points, thereby improving ignition safety and reliability during high-frequency operation
Solution Approach 2:
An additional electrode is introduced as an intermediary element between the central electrode and ground electrode. This intermediary creates a double air spark gap configuration that eliminates sliding discharges on the insulator surface while maintaining proper ignition function
2Reliability
If a single spark gap is used in conventional spark plugs, then the structure is simple, but ignition reliability is insufficient for stratified charge combustion methods with lean air/fuel mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The single spark gap is divided into two separate spark gaps, creating multiple ignition pathways. This segmentation enhances ignition reliability for stratified charge combustion by providing redundant ignition paths, ensuring reliable ignition even with lean air/fuel mixtures
Solution Approach 2:
The additional electrode is positioned to create a second spark gap in a different spatial dimension. This dimensional addition provides multiple ignition zones without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the electrode integrates into the existing spark plug structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The additional electrode design enhances ignition reliability and efficiency by creating a double air spark gap, stabilizing high-frequency impedance, and maintaining plasma for longer durations, ensuring consistent ignition even with lean air/fuel mixtures.
Implementation Method 1
stabilizing high-frequency impedance
Implementation Method 2
maintaining plasma for longer durations
Implementation Method 3
creating a double air spark gap
Implementation Method 4
electrically insulating from the ground electrode and the central electrode, that additional electrode
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a spark plug (100) for an internal combustion engine, in particular having a high frequency ignition system, having a central electrode (28; 128), a ground electrode (12; 112) and an electrical insulator (18; 118) arranged between the central electrode (28; 128) and the ground electrode (12; 112), wherein a central electrode connecting point (26; 126) for electrically connecting the central electrode (28; 128) to an ignition system is provided on the insulator (18; 118), wherein the central electrode (28; 128) and the ground electrode (12; 112) project beyond the insulator (18; 118) at an axial end (114) of the spark plug (100) and each form, with a part projecting axially beyond the insulator (18; 118), a central electrode end (140) and a ground electrode end (142), wherein the central electrode end (140) and the ground electrode end (142) are arranged and embodied in such a way that an axial region (170) of a gap (146) is formed between them in an axial direction, wherein the axial region (170) of the gap (146) is spaced apart from the insulator (18; 118), wherein at least one additional electrode (150) is provided which projects beyond the insulator (118) at the axial end (114) of the spark plug (100) and forms, with a part which projects axially beyond the insulator (118), an additional electrode end (154). In this case the additional electrode (150) is arranged electrically insulated from the ground electrode (112) and the central electrode (128), on the spark plug (100), wherein the additional electrode end (154) projects into the axial region (170) of the gap (146) between the central electrode end (140) and the ground electrode end (142) or is arranged into a region (170) of the gap (146) which is radially adjacent to the axial region (170) of the gap (146), and as a result divides the gap (146) into two ignition spark end gaps (156, 166).