GLOW PLUG AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GLOW PLUG

Abstract

A glow plug is described, having a body, a glow pin which protrudes from a first end of the body, and an inner pole which protrudes from a second end of the body and is electrically connected to the glow pin. A section of the inner pole that protrudes out of the body has an embossed structure for improving the mechanical and electrical connection to a plug connector. A method for producing a glow plug is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A glow plug, comprising: a body; a glow pin protruding from a first end of the body; and an inner pole protruding from a second end of the body and electrically connected to the glow pin; wherein a section of the inner pole that protrudes from the body comprises an embossed structure configured to improve the mechanical and electrical connection to a plug connector.

2. The glow plug according to claim 1, wherein the embossed structure comprises grooves or elevations.

3. A method for producing a glow plug, comprising: connecting a glow pin to an inner pole; arranging the glow pin and the inner pole in a body such that the glow pin protrudes from a first end of the body and the inner pole protrudes from a second end of the body; and embossing a structure into a section of the inner pole which protrudes from the body in the finished glow plug.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the structure is embossed by two opposite facing stamps that are pressed against the inner pole.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the stamps comprise a surface configured for embossing grooves or elevations.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the two stamps has a flat end face having elevations and/or indentations for embossing the structure.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein after a first embossing step, the two stamps are pressed against the inner pole again after being offset in the circumferential direction, and a second embossing step is then performed.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the stamps are fixed to the gripping surface of a gripper.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the structure is embossed into a section of the inner pole which is welded onto a further inner pole section after the structure has been embossed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a glow plug according to this disclosure and an embossing tool.

DESCRIPTION

[0013] The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

[0014] The glow plug 1 comprises a body 2, which may have a thread 3 for screwing the glow plug into an engine and a glow pin 4 which protrudes from a first end of the body 2. The glow pin 4 may be a ceramic glow pin or a glow pin comprising a metallic shell and a heating resistor, e.g., a coil 5.

[0015] The glow pin 4 is electrically connected to an inner pole 6 which protrudes from a second end of the body 2. An end section of the inner pole 6 that protrudes from the body 2 comprises an embossed structure 8 for improving the mechanical and electrical connection to a plug connector. The embossed structure may comprise grooves 9 or elevations, e.g., studs or pimples.

[0016] The structure 8 is created in the end section of the inner pole 6 by embossing. The embossing process is performed by an embossing tool, e.g., to opposite facing stamps 10 that are pressed by a gripper 11 against the end section of the inner pol 6 in order to emboss the structure 8. The stamps 10 each have a surface 12 configured for embossing grooves 9 or elevations. To this end, the surface 12 may have ridges or other elevations like studs, for example.

[0017] The surface 12 of the stamps 10 may be concave to match the generally cylindrical surface of the end section of the inner pole 6 or it may be flat. If the surface 12 is flat, the inner pole 6 and the glow plug may be rotated by, e.g., a quarter turn after a first embossing step. Then a second embossing step can emboss the structure 8 on a different part of the surface of the inner pole 6.

[0018] The embossing process can be performed after the glow plug is assembled. It is also possible to perform the embossing process on the inner pole 6 before the glow plug 2 is assembled or to perform the embossing process on a part of the inner pole 6 and to then connect this part, e.g., by welding, to a different part of the inner pole 6.

[0019] While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.