Abstract:
A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.
Abstract:
A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.
Abstract:
A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.
Abstract:
A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or a ground electrode by way of a fused portion. In one or more embodiments, the firing pad is composed of a precious metal material. The fused portion can be formed in such a way that a material composition thereof at a sparking surface of the firing pad has a greater percentage of the precious metal material than a material of the underlying electrode to which the firing pad is attached.
Abstract:
A capacitive discharge welding method is used to join firing tips, such as those made from various precious metals, to spark plug electrodes. In one embodiment, charged capacitors or other energy storage devices coupled to welding electrodes quickly release stored energy so that a peak weld power and maximum interface temperature is quickly established, followed by a rapid decline in weld power and interface temperature. The resulting capacitive discharge weld joint may include solidified molten material from both the firing tip and the electrode and possess a number of other desirable qualities.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a spark plug that includes a metallic shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The method may include the steps of: applying a first laser beam to attach the firing pad to the ground electrode, and then using a second laser beam from the same laser beam welder to attach the ground electrode to the metallic shell. The laser beam welder may include a high energy density fiber laser for forming key-hole laser welds, as well as a programmable focusing optic (PFO) assembly for redirecting laser beams from one welding site to the other.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a spark plug that includes a metallic shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a firing pad. The method may include the steps of: applying a first laser beam to attach the firing pad to the ground electrode, and then using a second laser beam from the same laser beam welder to attach the ground electrode to the metallic shell. The laser beam welder may include a high energy density fiber laser for forming key-hole laser welds, as well as a programmable focusing optic (PFO) assembly for redirecting laser beams from one welding site to the other.
Abstract:
A spark plug having a metal shell, an insulator, a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a multi-layer sparking component. The multi-layer sparking component is attached at a firing end of the ground electrode and includes a thin precious metal layer formed overtop a base metal layer and, according to some embodiments, overhangs the end of the ground electrode. The precious metal and base metal layers may be pre-manufactured together as a bi-metal ribbon, sheet or laminate before the multi-layer sparking component is attached to the ground electrode.
Abstract:
A welding system for welding small precious metal firing tips to spark plug electrodes, such as ground and/or center electrodes. According to one embodiment, the welding system includes a firing tip storage assembly and a firing tip welding assembly, where the firing tip storage assembly uses pressurized gas introduced at the bottom of a part container to float or lift the firing tips so that the firing tip welding assembly can more easily acquire them with a vacuum-driven nozzle that also doubles as a welding electrode. The firing tip welding assembly is mounted to a robotic apparatus that can index or move the firing tip welding assembly between the firing tip storage assembly, a welding station and/or any other suitable positions.
Abstract:
A spark plug has a firing pad attached to a center electrode or to a ground electrode. The firing pad is attached via laser welding and has a sparking surface with an overall fused area and an unfused area. In one or more embodiments, the overall fused area is located in part or more inboard of a peripheral edge of the firing pad.