A heater includes: a ceramic body having a rod-like shape; and a heat generating resistor embedded in the ceramic body, the heat generating resistor including a first straight line section, a second straight line section which is disposed alongside the first straight line section, and a folded section which connects the first straight line section and the second straight line section, in a transverse cross section of the heater, the first straight line section having a shape having a first major axis, the second straight line section having a shape having a second major axis, the second major axis being inclined with respect to the first major axis, a centroid of the first straight line section and the second straight line section being deviated from a centroid of the ceramic body to a side on which a distance between the first major axis and the second major axis is narrower.

A compression ignition engine provides a main injector and a second pilot injector producing a spray passing over an igniter producing a pilot flame assisting in ignition of the main injector spray.

A ceramic heater including a columnar substrate and a heat generation resistor embedded in the substrate. A taper surface (12) having a contour L1 extending along an imaginary ellipse E is composed of a plurality of successively arranged curved surfaces which decrease in radius of curvature toward the forward end with respect to the direction of an axis P. The taper surface (12) is such that the distance between the end points M1 and M2 of the contour L1 is large in the direction of the axis P, and the angle between the axis P and a tangential line of the contour L1 on the side toward the forward end surface (11) is larger than the angle between the axis P and a tangential line of the contour L1 on the side toward the side circumferential surface (15).

Methods for producing a glow plug having a housing, a ceramic glow pin and a protective tube from which a section of the glow pin projects which is thinner than a thicker section arranged in the protective tube. The thinner section leads to a glow tip. The glow pin is inserted into the protective tube and the protective tube is inserted into the housing. A securing element is placed onto the first end of the glow pin. The internal diameter of the securing element is smaller than the maximum diameter of the glow pin. The securing element is fastened on the protective tube. Alternatively, the protective tube is heated locally at a section of the protective tube surrounding the thinner section, and there the interior width of the protective tube is reduced to a value smaller than the diameter of the thicker section of the glow pin.

A variable member is connected to a rod-shaped member and connected to a tube portion to ensure airtightness within a housing, and deforms when the rod-shaped member is displaced relative to the housing along an axial direction. A position of the connection between the tube portion and the variable member in the axial direction is a position shifted from a rear end of a gap toward a front side by a predetermined length or a position at the front side with respect to the position shifted by the predetermined length. The predetermined length is a length which is 50% of a length of the gap in the axial direction.

A ceramic heater includes a substrate containing a ceramic, and a resistor containing another ceramic and embedded in the substrate. The resistor includes two lead portions, a joint portion connecting the two lead portions, and an electrode portion formed integrally with at least one lead portion and extending in a direction crossing an axial line of the one lead portion. The electrode portion has a base end portion connected to the one lead portion, a distal end portion exposed at an outer surface of the substrate, and a connection portion disposed between the base end portion and the distal end portion and connecting the base end portion and the distal end portion together. A cross section of either the base end portion, the distal end portion, and the connection portion has an imaginary plane perpendicular to an extension direction of the electrode portion and has a streamline shape.

A method of making a hot surface igniter is described. A silicon carbide composition that includes both fines fraction and a coarse fraction is sintered in a nitrogen and argon reducing atmosphere in a manner that controls the incorporation of nitrogen with in the lattice of recrystallized silicon carbide. The controlled incorporation of nitrogen in the lattice provides enhanced control over heating and electrical properties, while simultaneously achieving a lower surface area fully recrystallized structure for oxidation resistance and long service life.

In a combustion pressure sensor, a sensor holder is installed in a housing. The sensor holder has an end contact surface. A load transfer member is installed in the housing. The load transfer member has a contact surface facing the end contact surface of the sensor holder. The contact surface of the load transfer member is in contact with the end contact surface of the sensor holder. One of the contact surface of the load transfer member and the end contact surface of the sensor holder has a concavely curved shape, and the other thereof has a convexly curved shape.

Disclosed is a ceramic electric heating element. The ceramic electric heating element is completely wrapped by an insulating layer. The ceramic electric heating element can prevent the occurrence of a short circuit when the ceramic electric heating element is in use or is installed. The strength of the ceramic electric heating element is increased, and the shock resistance is enhanced. The service life of the ceramic electric heating element is prolonged, and the power-on duration of the ceramic electric heating element is prolonged. Moreover, the process is simplified, the structure is simple, and the cost is low.

A sensor module having a sensor housing, at least one piezoelectric converter element that is disposed in the sensor housing, and at least one insulating member that is disposed in the sensor housing alongside the converter element. The insulating member has on its outer periphery at least one recess in which a contacting system of the converter element extends. A pressure-measuring glow plug having a sensor module of this kind is also described.