Spark Plug Jacket Contact Surface for Coolant Cavity Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing spark plug jackets in combustion engines experience leakage due to reduced pressure or bolt force between the spark plug jacket and the cylinder head, leading to combustion gases penetrating the coolant cavity, especially after spark plug replacement.
Innovation Solution
A spark plug jacket with a contact surface that defines a first angular offset when unmounted and a second angular offset when mounted, utilizing a biasing element to modify the contact surface and ensure optimal pressure distribution, preventing leakage by providing a flexible connection and increased bolt force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spark plug jacket is mounted into the cylinder head before the spark plug is mounted, then the spark plug replacement is facilitated, but the pressure or bolt force between the spark plug jacket and the cylinder head is reduced, resulting in leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is designed with an angular offset that creates a dynamic sealing mechanism. When the spark plug is installed, the angular offset causes the contact surface to deform and conform to the support surface, dynamically adapting to maintain optimal sealing pressure even after spark plug replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The angular offset parameter of the contact surface is specifically designed to change the pressure distribution characteristics. This parameter modification allows the sealing interface to maintain adequate bolt force and pressure distribution throughout the service life of the spark plug jacket, preventing leakage
2Reliability
If the contact surface is modified to improve sealing, then leakage is prevented, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angular offset is incorporated into the contact surface design during the manufacturing stage, before the spark plug jacket is installed in the engine. This preliminary geometric configuration enables the self-adjusting sealing mechanism to function automatically during operation without requiring additional manufacturing steps or complex modifications
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to a spark plug jacket, e.g. for a large or high performance combustion engine, and a corresponding method of manufacturing a spark plug jacket, in particular to provide an improved sealing towards a coolant cavity. Accordingly, a spark plug jacket is suggested, comprising a contact surface for contacting a support surface of a cylinder head of a combustion engine, wherein in a first state, when a spark plug is not mounted in the spark plug jacket, at least a portion of the contact surface of the spark plug jacket defines a first angular offset to a contact surface direction defined by the support surface of the cylinder head and, in a second state, when the spark plug is mounted to the spark plug jacket, said portion defines a second angular offset, wherein the first angular offset is larger than the second angular offset.