A glow plug of a vehicle preventing an interference with an injected fuel includes a preheating rod having one end protruding to the combustion chamber to selectively preheat the combustion chamber; a bellows pipe enclosing the preheating rod to maintain an air-tightness of an area where the preheating rod is inserted to the combustion chamber; a piezo element selectively pulling or pushing another end of the preheating rod; and a controller controlling a deformation of the piezo element and the preheating of the combustion chamber through the preheating rod.

A connector for connecting an electrical conductor to a glow plug of a diesel engine comprises an electrical receptacle terminal, a housing capable of receiving a terminal portion of the glow plug, and a bushing slidably mounted around the housing by engagement of a longitudinal guide rib disposed on an outer surface of the housing in a longitudinal guide groove disposed on an inner surface of the bushing. The housing has a substantially cylindrical tubular body containing the electrical receptacle terminal with an end opening defined by a pair of elastically deformable axial arms capable of engaging the terminal portion. The bushing is movable with respect to the housing from a pre-locking position to a locking position only when the housing is in a correctly mounted position on the terminal portion.

A method is described for setting a temperature of a glow plug, in particular for igniting a fuel/air mixture in an internal combustion engine in which the temperature of the glow plug is set as a function of a resistance of the glow plug with the aid of a control. To prevent temperature overshoots from occurring during the preheating phase of the glow plug, the temperature is controlled with the aid of a predictive model during a preheating phase during which an overvoltage is applied to the glow plug.

A glow plug of a vehicle preventing an interference with an injected fuel includes a preheating rod having one end protruding to the combustion chamber to selectively preheat the combustion chamber; a bellows pipe enclosing the preheating rod to maintain an air-tightness of an area where the preheating rod is inserted to the combustion chamber; a piezo element selectively pulling or pushing another end of the preheating rod; and a controller controlling a deformation of the piezo element and the preheating of the combustion chamber through the preheating rod.

Embodiments of the present technology relate to a temperature controllable and variable spark plug, and method of use. An example thermally controlled ignition device may comprise at least one sensor communicatively coupled to a control module for determining whether an engine characteristic is within a desired operating range and at least one heating element for adjusting the temperature of the ignition device.

Methods for controlling a glow plug temperature in a diesel engine are herein described. In one example, a controller may adjust a first phase voltage coupled to the glow plug in relation to a parameter associated with engine start time, and couple a lower second phase voltage to the glow plug in order to control the cylinder temperature and thereby the engine start time. In one particular example, the reduced second phase voltage allows the operating cycle push phase to be extended, which increases glow plug durability and further allows for the useful life of the glow plug to be extended.

An automatic engine start/stop system and method which are compatible with recent engine requirements of a pre-lube period before engine crank, is disclosed. A temp-start controller is used to read inputs such as ambient temperature, oil temperature and engine RPMs, to determine proper conditions for engine cranking. A pre-lube pump is activated by the controller for up to 45 seconds, or a desired period of time, before engine crank. A glow plug pre-heating step may be performed as well, if necessary.

An apparatus and method for controlling a glow plug of a diesel hybrid vehicle in which an engine is frequently turned on/off. The apparatus and method are capable of assisting running torque required for motion of the diesel hybrid vehicle through a torque aid operation of a hybrid motor in order to enable pre-heating of an engine combustion chamber in an initial stage of an engine running mode, using an inexpensive glow plug.