Spark Plug Electrode Segmentation for Stable Fuel Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In direct-injection engines, the attitude of the ground electrode with respect to the injector varies, leading to inconsistent fuel concentration and reduced freedom in determining ignition timing, making stable combustion challenging, especially in multi-cylinder engines.
Innovation Solution
A spark plug design featuring a center electrode, ground electrode, and injection control side poles arranged at regular intervals around the center electrode, with the tips of these components on the same plane perpendicular to the axis, to stabilize fuel diffusion and ignition timing regardless of the spark plug's attitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ground electrode is positioned to collide with injected fuel for diffusion, then fuel mixing and vaporization are accelerated, but the attitude of the ground electrode varies with spark plug engagement, making it difficult to control fuel concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The single ground electrode is divided into multiple ground electrodes (first ground electrode and second ground electrode) positioned at different locations. This segmentation ensures that regardless of the spark plug's rotational attitude, at least one ground electrode will be in an optimal position to collide with and diffuse the injected fuel, thereby maintaining consistent fuel mixing efficiency while overcoming the variability in ground electrode attitude.
2Reliability
If multiple ground electrodes are used to maintain consistent fuel diffusion, then combustion stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple ground electrodes serve dual functions: (1) they provide consistent fuel diffusion and concentration regardless of spark plug attitude, and (2) they act as spark discharge electrodes for ignition. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain combustion stability without requiring additional dedicated fuel diffusion components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the ground electrode is positioned on the same plane as the center electrode for simple structure, then manufacturing is easier, but fuel diffusion consistency varies with spark plug attitude
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrodes are positioned at different locations around the center electrode rather than all on the same plane. This creates local variations in electrode positioning that ensure at least one ground electrode will be optimally positioned to collide with injected fuel regardless of the spark plug's rotational attitude, thereby maintaining consistent fuel diffusion while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
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
This design ensures stable fuel combustion by maintaining consistent fuel diffusion and ignition timing across varying attitudes of the spark plug, enhancing combustion stability and reducing variations in combustion conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the injected fuel collides with the ground electrode and diffuses, whereby mixing of the fuel with air and vaporization of the fuel are accelerated
Implementation Method 2
spark discharge occurs between the center electrode and the sub ground electrodes. Spark discharge burns out attached conductive components, such as carbon
Data Source
AI summary
A spark plug (10) includes a plug body (51), a center electrode (52), a ground electrode (53) and injection control side poles (61, 62, 63). The ground electrode has an end portion (53a) opposing the end of the center electrode in a direction indicated by arrow A parallel to the axis of the plug body. A tip (53b) of the ground electrode and a tip (60a) of the injection control side poles (61, 62, 63) are positioned in substantially the same plane (71) perpendicular to the axis (C). The ground electrode (53) and the injection control side poles (61, 62, 63) are arranged at substantially regular intervals around the center electrode (52).