Abstract:
A solid closed ended tubular oxygen sensor element, particularly useful for sensing the oxygen content of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. The closed end of the tubular element which is adapted to be exposed to the hot exhaust gases is made of zirconium oxide stabilized with yttrium oxide and/or ytterbium dioxide. The remaining main portion of the tubular element is made of zirconium dioxide stabilized with calcium oxide. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing these tubular elements.
Abstract:
Electro-chemical sensor to determine oxygen concentration in hot internal combustion exhaust gases in the form of a closed, tubular element having a solid ion conductive electrolyte; an electron-conductive coating on the inner surface thereof; a porous or fissured electron conductive layer on the outer surface of said solid electrolyte or on a part of said surface, part of the pores or fissures being macroporous, said layer being of a material which catalyzes the formation from said hot exhaust gases of those compounds that are thermodynamically stable at the exhaust temperature; and a porous protective electrically insulating coating on said porous electron-conductive layer. Preferably, a top coating of a heat-resistant metal is applied, which top coating has additionally properties to act as a getter with respect to poisons affecting the catalyzing material.
Abstract:
The seal between the insulator and the center electrode is to be improved in a spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprising a shell (12), an insulator (16) located in the shell and composed of a sintered ceramic material, as well as a center electrode (18) and a terminal stud (22) that have an electrically conductive connection with each other and are located in the insulator. For this purpose, it is provided that a cermet (28) abuts the center electrode, the ceramic phase of which is composed of the same or a similar material as the insulator, and the metallic phase of which is composed of a material having good electrical conductivity. Since the material properties of the cermet are similar to those of the insulator—the thermal expansion, in particular, is same—a particularly good seal is created between the cermet and insulating body.
Abstract:
A glass ceramic, for use as a resistor or a gas-tight glass ceramic solder for use in a spark plug, includes a fused seal of a starting glass fused from a starting mixture containing SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2 and CaO, the fused seal including crystalline phases in at least some areas. A method for producing such a glass ceramic provides for the starting glass to be processed in a first method step to form a starting material, which is heated for a first period of time in a second method step from a starting temperature, which is below the softening temperature of the starting glass, to a fusion temperature, which is above the softening temperature of the starting glass, and is kept at that temperature for a second period of time and finally is cooled again. A spark plug may include a terminal stud and a center electrode, which are electrically connected across a resistor that is formed in at least some areas by the glass ceramic.
Abstract:
A glass or glass powder is fused from a starting mixture containing approximately 38 wt % to 48 wt % SO2, 15 wt % to 19 wt % Al2O3, 4.5 wt % to 11 wt % TiO2, 0 wt % to 1.5 wt % Na2O, 0 wt % to 1.5 wt % K2O and 23 wt % to 30 wt % CaO. In addition, a glass powder mixture includes two glass powders, a carbon black powder and an organic binder, the first glass powder having a mean particle size of approximately 150 &mgr;m to 250 &mgr;m, the second glass powder having a mean particle size of less than approximately 100 &mgr;m, which may be 10 &mgr;m to 70 &mgr;m. The glass or glass powder mixture is suitable for producing a glass ceramic, such as that used as a resistor seal and/or a gas-tight glass ceramic solder in a spark plug.
Abstract:
A spark plug includes a ceramic component, whose surface is at least in part coated with a glaze, with the glaze containing 0.6% to 4% by weight of fluoride and 6% to 11.2% by weight of zinc oxide.
Abstract:
A spark plug having a tube-shaped, metal housing, an insulator which is retained by the housing, and an inner conductor arrangement embedded in the insulator, the inner conductor arrangement comprising one connection bolt, one burn-off resistor, one contact pin, and one platinum central electrode, and four ground electrodes, which are bent towards the central electrode and protrude beyond the insulator by the width of their thickness, being secured to the housing, the contact pin being coated and being shortened in its length such that the burn-off resistor is forward-positioned as far as possible towards the spark gap, and the platinum central electrode having a nail shape, whose rear part has a smaller diameter than its front part, which extends out of the insulator.
Abstract:
To securely seat a ceramic electrode (23, 28) in an insulator (15) of a spark plug, so that it can be sintered together with the insulator, a ceramic plug element (28) has added thereto an additive which renders the ceramic plastically deformable upon application of external energy; the additive may, for example, be a thermoplastic, which permits plastic deformation upon application of heat; or a thixotropic agent, such as glycerin, rendering the material plastically deformable when vibrated. A pellet or plug (28) is introduced into the end portion (32) of the central opening (21) of the insulator, preshaped to be slightly smaller by, for example, 0.2 mm, than the clearance opening in the insulator. The plug is then rendered plastically deformable, compressed by a plunger (34/1) acting against a counter plate (33). Either the plug or the inner surface of the bore can be coated with a conductive coating (27) including a burn-spark-resistant metal, for example platinum, which, upon compression, is not electrically interrupted. In subsequent heating steps, the additive is vaporized-off, and the plug sintered to the ceramic body which, initially, was only presintered.
Abstract:
Methods for making an exhaust-gas-sensing element which is an oxygen concentration cell having a solid electrolyte with an electron-conductive surface on the side exposed to the reference air and a catalytic electron-conductive layer containing micro pores which extend through to the solid electrolyte on the other surface which is adapted to be exposed to the exhaust gases. The electron-conductive catalytic layer is covered with a porous protective layer. The method comprising applying the catalytic layer by means of thin layer techniques and then heating to form the micro pores; or by applying a paste comprising ceramic particles, catalytic particles and a thinning oil and sintering.
Abstract:
A spark plug includes a ceramic component, whose surface is at least in part coated with a glaze, with the glaze containing 0.6% to 4% by weight of fluoride and 6% to 11.2% by weight of zinc oxide.