Disclosed is a method for determining a need for changing a spark plug of a combustion engine, comprising the following steps: monitoring a current flowing through the spark plug, analyzing the current and thereby determine a time interval that is indicative for the time between application of a voltage to the spark plug and formation of an arc discharge between electrodes of the spark plug, creating a signal indicative of the need to change the spark plug if the duration of the determined time interval is outside predefined bounds.

Disclosed is a method for determining a need for changing a spark plug of a combustion engine, comprising the following steps: monitoring a current flowing through the spark plug, analyzing the current and thereby determine a time interval that is indicative for the time between application of a voltage to the spark plug and formation of an arc discharge between electrodes of the spark plug, creating a signal indicative of the need to change the spark plug if the duration of the determined time interval is outside predefined bounds.

A method for checking electrodes of a spark gap of an ignition system for a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine with an externally provided ignition includes generating a spark at the spark gap in an operating state without ignition of an ignitable mixture in the combustion chamber; ascertaining a parameter or characteristic function representing the spark current, the spark voltage, and/or the spark duration; comparing the parameter or the characteristic function to a reference; adapting an energy for a voltage buildup for a further spark generation for the mixture ignition and/or for maintaining an ignition spark for the mixture ignition, in particular for a future ignition process, as a function of a difference between the parameter or the characteristic function and the reference.

A system for testing an insulative material for a spark plug comprises a test spark plug having at least a center electrode and an insulator comprised of an insulative material surrounding at least a portion of the center electrode, wherein the insulator has an end that is closed, whereby the closed end of the insulator encloses an end of the center electrode. The system further includes a test engine that simulates engine conditions, wherein a conventional spark plug is installed in a first ignition port of the test engine and the test spark plug is installed in a second ignition portion of the test engine and a control system for controlling ignition signals to the test spark plug and the conventional spark plug.

There is provided an ignition apparatus that performs optimum energy control by suppressing a secondary current at a time when the ignition plug is consumed, while maintaining the simplicity, the small size, and the low cost and while securing the flammability. The ignition apparatus is provided with a first switching circuit that turns on or off energization from a power source to a primary coil, a secondary coil that is magnetically coupled with the primary coil and supplies a secondary current to an ignition plug, and a controller that decreases the secondary current for a spark discharge by use of an energy-changeable circuit, when determining that the ignition plug has been consumed, based on an output of a plug-consumption detection circuit.

There is provided an ignition apparatus that performs optimum energy control by suppressing a secondary current at a time when the ignition plug is consumed, while maintaining the simplicity, the small size, and the low cost and while securing the flammability. The ignition apparatus is provided with a first switching circuit that turns on or off energization from a power source to a primary coil, a secondary coil that is magnetically coupled with the primary coil and supplies a secondary current to an ignition plug, and a controller that decreases the secondary current for a spark discharge by use of an energy-changeable circuit, when determining that the ignition plug has been consumed, based on an output of a plug-consumption detection circuit.

In an ignition control device for controlling operation of an ignition apparatus, an ignition section has first and second electrodes disposed in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A voltage application between the first and second electrodes enables a discharge to be generated between the first and second electrodes for igniting a gas mixture in the combustion chamber. A voltage application section performs at least one application of a determination voltage between the first and second electrodes. An occurrence ratio acquisition section acquires a discharge occurrence ratio at the ignition section for the at least one application of the determination voltage. A comparison section compares the discharge occurrence ratio acquired by the occurrence ratio acquisition section with a predetermined determination threshold to thereby determine a degree of wear of at least one of the first and second electrodes.

The present application provides a spark plug testing tool for a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor. The spark plug testing tool may include a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly and a first support bracket to support the spark plug assembly and the dielectric tube therein such that the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

The present application provides a spark plug testing tool for a spark plug assembly of a gas turbine engine combustor. The spark plug testing tool may include a dielectric tube attached to the spark plug assembly and a first support bracket to support the spark plug assembly and the dielectric tube therein such that the spark plug assembly remains electrically connected to the gas turbine engine combustor during testing.

In the spark plug heat rating measurement method and system based on spark discharge current active heating, the spark plug is installed in a constant-temperature water jacket cooling chamber with a specific torque. A constant spark discharge current control module is connected to the high-voltage terminal of the spark plug, to provide real-time controlled discharge current to heat up the high-voltage central electrode of the spark plug. During the spark discharge process, the temperature change of the high-voltage central electrode and the surrounding ceramic insulator are measured by a temperature detection module and used to determine the heat rating of the spark plug. By real time adjusting the discharge current level of the spark plug, or providing a same amount of spark energy to the spark gap, the heat ratings of spark plugs with different ceramic insulation structures can be evaluated through the temperature changes during discharge or after discharge.