A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

The present disclosure relates to an ignition plug for initiating combustion in a cylinder of a combustion engine, wherein the cylinder can be operated in an active mode and in a deactivated mode. The ignition plug comprises a housing that can be connected to the cylinder, an insulator is fastened to the housing and comprises an axial bore hole and a middle electrode is arranged in the axial bore hole to form an annular gap between the middle electrode and the insulator. The ignition plug comprises a sealing element that can be activated in dependence upon the mode of the cylinder so as to seal the gap preventing any seepage of oil during cylinder deactivation.

The present disclosure relates to an ignition plug for initiating combustion in a cylinder of a combustion engine, wherein the cylinder can be operated in an active mode and in a deactivated mode. The ignition plug comprises a housing that can be connected to the cylinder, an insulator is fastened to the housing and comprises an axial bore hole and a middle electrode is arranged in the axial bore hole to form an annular gap between the middle electrode and the insulator. The ignition plug comprises a sealing element that can be activated in dependence upon the mode of the cylinder so as to seal the gap preventing any seepage of oil during cylinder deactivation.

A multipoint spark plug includes side electrodes provided in a pair so as to extend in a lengthwise direction of a tip end portion via a gap, and an intermediate electrode provided in the gap between the pair of side electrodes such that a plurality of ignition gaps are formed in the lengthwise direction of the tip end portion. An electrode holding portion is formed from separate parts that hold the side electrodes and the intermediate electrode, respectively, so as to insulate the side electrodes and the intermediate electrode from the main body portion, and the respective parts thereof project into the combustion chamber from the tip end portion.

A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

A spark plug heat up method via transient control of the spark discharge current. The high temperature plasma channel is used to heat up the central electrode, and the temperature and energy of the plasma channel are realized via transient control of the discharge current. The heating up process takes place before firing the engine, using discharge current to actively heat up the spark plug from inside. By monitoring the discharge current amplitude and discharge duration, the temperature change of the central electrode and the ceramic insulator can be carefully measured and controlled within a proper window. This method can be used to measure the heating range of the spark plug, and to prevent or remove the carbon deposit on the central electrode and the ceramic insulator generated under various engine operation conditions, such as engine cold start, full load operation, and heavy EGR condition, as well as realize self-cleaning.

A spark plug includes: an insulator with an axial hole; a center electrode held in a front end side of the axial hole; a cylindrical metal shell disposed around the insulator and having a seal part brought into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the insulator; a ground electrode arranged to form a gap with the center electrode; and a cap connected to a front end part of the metal shell to define therein an auxiliary combustion space in which the gap is formed, the cap having at least one through hole formed to provide communication between the auxiliary combustion space and the outside, wherein the condition (B/A)0.25 is satisfied where A represents a volume of an imaginary space defined at a position frontward of the seal part; and B represents a volume of parts of the ground and center electrodes located in the imaginary space.

A spark plug includes: an insulator with an axial hole; a center electrode held in a front end side of the axial hole; a cylindrical metal shell disposed around the insulator and having a seal part brought into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the insulator; a ground electrode arranged to form a gap with the center electrode; and a cap connected to a front end part of the metal shell to define therein an auxiliary combustion space in which the gap is formed, the cap having at least one through hole formed to provide communication between the auxiliary combustion space and the outside, wherein the condition (B/A)0.25 is satisfied where A represents a volume of an imaginary space defined at a position frontward of the seal part; and B represents a volume of parts of the ground and center electrodes located in the imaginary space.

A spark plug includes: an insulator with an axial hole; a center electrode held in a front end side of the axial hole; a cylindrical metal shell disposed around the insulator and having a seal part brought into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the insulator; a ground electrode arranged to form a gap with the center electrode; and a cap connected to a front end part of the metal shell to define therein an auxiliary combustion space in which the gap is formed, the cap having at least one through hole formed to provide communication between the auxiliary combustion space and the outside, wherein the condition (B/A)0.25 is satisfied where A represents a volume of an imaginary space defined at a position frontward of the seal part; and B represents a volume of parts of the ground and center electrodes located in the imaginary space.