US4112905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spark plugs for internal combustion engines
Assignee: G RAU GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1976-08-04
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Granted: 1978-09-12
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Expires: 1996-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A spark plug is equipped with a center electrode composed of two different metals, one of which is embedded in wire or fibre form in the other and wherein at least one of the metals possesses the properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity. The electrode is made by the joint plastic shaping of the two metals to produce a solid metallic bond therebetween. The electrode possesses the advantageous properties of good electrical and thermal conductivity, high corrosion resistance at high temperatures, slow burning rate and high mechanical strength.
Inventors
- 👤 Dieter Stockel
- 👤 Friedrich Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01T; H01T13/00; H01T13/02; H01T13/12; H01T13/20; H01T13/39; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12486
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In an internal combustion engine spark plug of the type including a center electrode, the improvement wherein said center electrode comprises: a length of fibre reinforced material made up of at least two metals, a first of said metals forming a matrix and a second of said metals comprising a plurality of wires or fibres embedded in and solidly metallically bonded to said matrix, at least said fibres being made up of initially solid wires, at least one of said metals of said matrix and said fibres possessing the properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity, said fibre reinforced material being produced by the joint plastic shaping of wire-shaped initial matrix and fibre metals, with at least said initial fibre metal being in the form of said solid wires.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an internal combustion engine spark plug of the type including a center electrode, the improvement wherein said center electrode comprises: a length of fibre reinforced material made up of at least two metals, a first of said metals forming a matrix and a second of said metals comprising a plurality of wires or fibres embedded in and solidly metallically bonded to said matrix, at least said fibres being made up of initially solid wires, at least one of said metals of said matrix and said fibres possessing the properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity, said fibre reinforced material being produced by the joint plastic shaping of wire-shaped initial matrix and fibre metals, with at least said initial fibre metal being in the form of said solid wires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of fibres comprises a large number of fibres, each having a diameter in the order of micro-meters, embedded in the matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement claimed in claim 2, wherein said fibres are made of a metal having high electrical and thermal conductivity, and wherein said matrix has high corrosion-resistance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein said matrix metal comprises nickel, or a nickel alloy containing at least 50% by weight of nickel, and said fibre metal comprises silver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metallic jacket around said matrix metal and embedded wires or fibres.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement claimed in claim 5, wherein said jacket is made of a corrosion-resistant metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein said matrix metal and fibre metal are uniformly distributed over the cross-section of said electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein both said initial matrix metal and said initial fibre metal are in the form of separate solid wires.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial metals are sheathed wires, the metal of the wire itself being one of the initial metals and the metal of the sheath the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a method for the production of an internal combustion engine spark plug, said method including fabricating a center electrode and installing said center electrode in a spark plug, the improvement wherein said center electrode is fabricated by the steps comprising: providing wire-shaped initial metal matrix and initial metal fibres in the form of solid wires, at least one of said metals of said matrix and said fibres possessing the properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity; bundling said matrix with said fibres distributed over the cross-section thereof; and jointly plastic shaping said matrix and said fibres to form a solid length of fibre reinforced material made up of said matrix metal having said fibre metal embedded therein and solidly metallically bonded thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a method for the production of an internal combustion engine spark plug, said method including fabricating a center electrode and installing said center electrode in a spark plug, the improvement wherein said center electrode is fabricated by the steps comprising: providing wire-shaped initial metal matrix and initial metal fibres in the form of solid wires, at least one of said metals of said matrix and said fibres possessing the properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity; bundling said matrix with said fibres distributed over the cross-section thereof; and jointly plastic shaping said matrix and said fibres to form a solid length of fibre reinforced material made up of said matrix metal having said fibre metal embedded therein and solidly metallically bonded thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement claimed in claim 10, wherein each fibre, after plastic shaping thereof, has a diameter in the order of micro-meters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement claimed in claim 11, wherein said fibres are of a metal having high electrical and thermal conductivity, and said matrix metal has high corrosion-resistance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement claimed in claim 12, wherein said matrix metal comprises nickel, or a nickel alloy containing at least 50% by weight of nickel, and said fibre metal comprises silver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement claimed in claim 10, wherein said matrix metal and fibre metal are bundled in a metal jacket, and said jacket is plastic shaped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement claimed in claim 14, wherein said jacket is made of a corrosion-resistant metal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement claimed in claim 10, wherein both said initial matrix metal and said initial fibre metal are in the form of separate solid wires.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement claimed in claim 10, wherein the initial metals are sheathed wires, the wire itself comprising the fibre metal and the sheath comprising the matrix metal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-11 | 1982-03-13 | 1982-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-11 | 1986-03-13 | 1986-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-11 | 1990-03-13 | 1990-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |