EP1897193A1

EP1897193A1 - Spark plug for an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: EP1897193A1
Application number: EP06726273A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Xavier Jaffrezic; André AGNERAY
Original assignee: Renault SAS
Current assignee: Renault SAS
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2006-03-23
Publication date: 2008-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-23
Also published as: ES2344994T3; DE602006014404D1; JP2008544459A; FR2887696B1; WO2006136742A1; FR2887696A1; EP1897193B1; US20090050123A1; ATE468640T1; US7652414B2

Abstract

A spark plug for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle; the spark plug is embodied with a generally essentially long shape and includes: an essentially capacitive lower part including two coaxial electrodes, one of which is a central electrode, and the other a threaded shell for screwing in the spark plug on the engine; and an essentially inductive upper part including a central winding including a plurality of coils wound around a coaxial mandrel, an envelope, and an insulator inserted between the envelope and the winding. The essentially capacitive part and the essentially inductive part are mechanically interconnected as to enable transmission of a clamping couple applied to the envelope to the essentially capacitive lower part. The mandrel can be elastically deformed as to compensate effects of dilation of the insulator.

Description

IGNITION CANDLE FOR COMBUSTION ENGINE

INTERNAL

The invention relates to a spark plug for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, of substantially elongated overall shape, comprising:

a substantially capacitive lower part comprising two coaxial electrodes, including a central electrode and a threaded base for screwing the spark plug onto the motor; a substantially inductive upper part comprising a central winding which comprises several turns wound around a coaxial mandrel, a casing and an insulator interposed between the casing and the coil, the essentially capacitive part and the essentially inductive part being interconnected mechanically so as to allow the transmission of a tightening torque applied to the casing to the essentially capacitive lower part; .

The imperatives of increasing efficiency and reducing pollution generate increasingly significant constraints on the architecture of the engines. These constraints are reflected in particular, for the ignition system, spark plug dimensions increasingly reduced, as well as by a reduction of the radial dimensions of the access hole to the candle, in order to be able, in particular, increase the space available in the cylinder head to allow the passage of new cooling channels: the reduction of the space allocated to the candle and its access well led, among other things, to the realization of coils of the "pencil" type "placed directly in the access shaft to the candle.

However, due, on the one hand, to the difference in service life between the actual spark plug and its coil, as well as, on the other hand, to the standardization objectives of the components (each engine type requires a candle specifically adapted, while a type of spark plug coil may be common to several types of motors), the spark plug and its coil are, the most often separated, and the only link existing between them is then electrical type, the mechanical maintenance of each of these two elements being provided independently, including in the case of "pencil" coils previously mentioned. Furthermore, according to a mounting method well known in the state of the art, the tightening torque of the spark plug is generally applied to the base of the spark plug, the cap comprising, conventionally, a male thread intended to cooperate with a thread. complementary female made in the cylinder head, and an element for the controlled tightening of the threaded connection. Such a mounting method then requires the use of a specific tool that is slid around the coil and the candle, in the access well to the candle: such a configuration therefore imposes, in particular, that there is, around the coil and in the access hole to the candle, an unused free space outside the operations of assembly and disassembly of the candle. But the existence of such a space goes against dimensional constraints previously mentioned.

In what follows, the part of a spark plug intended to be the closest to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine will be referred to as "lower", and by "upper" the opposite part of the combustion chamber. candle.

The term "conductive thin layer" of a material having a high electrical conductivity will also denote a metal layer of non-magnetic material having a thickness at least equal to or greater than the skin thickness in the frequency domain under consideration. that is, between 1 Megahertz and 10 Megahertz, ensuring an electromagnetic shielding function. The high conductivity of materials will be similar to that of copper or silver, reference materials in this area. Various methods of mounting a spark plug and its coil are known in which the space reserved around the assembly for the passage of a tool for the mechanical mounting of the spark plug on the cylinder head of the engine is reduced to a minimum. The document EP1249907 thus presents, for example, a method for mounting a candle and its coil in which the candle access shaft is constituted by a certain number of smooth, substantially cylindrical, concentric holes, and whose respective diameters are adapted to form at least one seat substantially perpendicular to the axis of the well, a bearing surface of the candle perpendicular to the axis common to the candle and the access well resting on the seat , the positioning of the spark plug being achieved by means of a projecting element located on the lower part of the spark plug and intended to cooperate with a complementary machining performed in the walls of the access well. In the device presented in EP 1249907, a cap consisting of a substantially cylindrical tubular portion terminated by a substantially flat flange whose outer diameter is greater than the diameter of the access well and whose surface is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tubular portion and the access well, then comes to be placed on the upper part of the candle. The dimensions of the cap are adjusted so that, when the substantially flat flange bears against the upper face of the access well to the spark plug, the end of the tubular portion of the cap bears against a part of the spark plug, thus ensuring a compression hold of the candle in its access well: the tightening of the assembly is achieved by screwing the substantially flat flange on the upper face of the combustion chamber. In the device presented in document EP1249907, the coil is further integrated in the cap, the electrical contact between the coil and the spark plug being made by means of a helical spring placed in compression during the positioning of the cap.

Such a device, if it eliminates the need to provide a space specifically for the passage of a clamping tool in the access well to the candle, however requires the achievement of a large number of parts precision. It is, moreover, only imperfectly adapted to radiofrequency plasma candles, in particular because of the mode of connection between the candle and its retained coil.

Indeed, a radiofrequency plasma spark plug generally comprises an upper part, essentially inductive, consisting mainly of the spark plug coil and a shielding casing of the essentially inductive portion, and a substantially capacitive lower portion composed mainly of a structure coaxial, the whole behaving like an LC resonator. However, it is known that the continuity and quality of the electrical connection between the different components of such a resonator play a vital role in optimizing its performance. Moreover, the dimensions of said resonator elements must be defined, as a function of the radiofrequency operating range, so as to optimize the performance of the resonator: in particular, the length of the essentially capacitive portion must also be reduced as possible, taking into account the geometric characteristics of the access thread to the combustion chamber, so that the value of the capacity remains low. In addition, the diameter of the substantially inductive portion should be as high as possible, so that the value of the overvoltage coefficient of the resonator thus formed is optimal. These constraints then involve reviewing the embodiment and assembly of the elements of the assembly constituting the previously mentioned resonator.

The object of the present invention is to propose an assembly device in which the connection between the coil and the other elements constituting the spark plug ensures both electrical continuity and mechanical coupling, while allowing the assembly to be put in place. thus formed without having to slide a tool around the coil to come to bear on the base of the candle.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a candle of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the mandrel is deformable elastically dθ to compensate for the effects of expansion of the insulation.

According to other features of the invention, the mandrel is a polygonal section cylinder. According to other features of the invention, the mandrel is a cylinder of revolution.

According to other features of the invention, the mandrel is a tube.

According to other features of the invention, the mandrel is a solid cylinder.

According to other features of the invention, the mandrel comprises at one of its ends an axial depth recess which receives a plug and in that the depth is equal to or greater than a distance defined between the end of the mandrel and a first turn of the winding.

According to other features of the invention, the end corresponds to the connection with the central electrode.

According to other characteristics of the invention, the cap is made of high-density polymer. According to other features of the invention, the mandrel is chosen from polymers.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the invention applies to a radiofrequency plasma spark plug.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic sectional view along the Z axis of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a schematic perspective view of an insulator interposed between a casing and a cylindrical mandrel with an elastically deformable polygonal section of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 represents a schematic perspective view of an insulator interposed between an envelope and a cylindrical mandrel with a deformed polygonal section of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 represents a schematic perspective view of an insulator interposed between a casing and a cylindrical mandrel of elastically deformable revolution of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 represents a schematic perspective view of an insulator interposed between an envelope and a cylindrical mandrel of deformed revolution of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 represents a schematic perspective view of an insulator interposed between a casing and a mandrel which is cylindrical with a polygonal section, elastically deformable and comprising a plug, of a radiofrequency plasma candle according to the invention.

Identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. As represented in FIG. 1, a radiofrequency plasma candle 1 of substantially cylindrical general shape mainly comprises a substantially capacitive lower part C and an essentially inductive upper part I, the parts C and I being of substantially elongated shape, connected in series and having a common longitudinal axis Z.

A rigid connection mode is introduced between some of the elements of each of the essentially capacitive C and essentially inductive I parts. By the use of materials and shapes allowing the transmission of a tightening torque from the essentially inductive part I to the essentially capacitive part C, allows that the connection between the parts C and I of the candle 1 can be performed optimally both mechanically and electrically. The substantially capacitive portion C comprises, in particular, a base 2 intended to be connected to the ground and surrounding a central electrode 3, substantially cylindrical, axis Z, acting as a high voltage electrode. An electrically insulating block, called ^" insulator" 4 is placed between the base 2 and the central electrode 3, the insulator 4 being configured to guide the sparks between the electrodes 2 and 3. In a manner well known in the art state of the art, the base 2 has, on the outer face of its lower part closest to the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine equipped with the spark plug 1, a form suitable for the establishment, maintenance and tightening of the spark plug 1 on the cylinder head (for example and without limitation, as shown in Figure 1: a thread).

The essentially inductive part I of the spark plug 1 comprises, for its part, a winding 5 whose axis is advantageously substantially coincident with the axis Z of the central electrode 3 and the spark plug 1. The winding 5 is, moreover surrounded by an envelope 6. It is intended to reduce the electromagnetic emissions of the spark plug 1 and to act as a shield. The tightening torque for making the connection between the essentially capacitive part C and the essentially inductive part I of the spark plug 1 is transmitted by the envelope 6. The main advantage of this type of transmission is that it reduces the constraints the largest radius available, where the leverage effect is optimal, thus minimizing the mechanical stress on the materials themselves. The transmission of the tightening torque of the essentially inductive part I to the essentially capacitive part C then amounts to the transmission of a torsion torque of the envelope 6 to the base 2. This envelope 6 is made of a rigid material, for example a polymer, a metal.

In the case where the envelope is metallic. According to the known industrial processes, the envelope 6 can be made of different metallic materials and by different techniques. appropriate. It may especially, by way of example and in a non-exhaustive manner, be carried out simultaneously with the base 2 (by stamping or stamping), or be welded to the base 2 after separate production of the two parts (stamping of the base 2 and wire drawing / rolling of the envelope 6). The inner face of the envelope 6 must be coated with a layer of a few tens of microns thick (typically 30 to 50 microns, for example) of a material with high electrical conductivity (for example and without limitation: silver or copper), in order to improve the radiofrequency conductivity of the envelope 6 and to limit the losses by skin effect within it. The transmission of the tightening torque (torsional torque here) of the essentially inductive part I to the essentially capacitive part C of the spark plug is obtained by the rigid metallic connection made during manufacture between the envelope 6 and the base 2. by one of the means described above (simultaneous manufacture of the casing and the base by stamping or stamping, or separate fabrications, then rigid assembly of the casing 6 and the base 2, for example by welding). In the case where the envelope is made of an insulating material of polymer type. Since these materials have a lower mechanical rigidity than metallic materials, the envelope 6 must then have a relatively large thickness (substantially, and for example, of the order of a few millimeters) so as to allow the transmission of the clamping torque at the base 2. In order to ensure the shielding function of the essentially inductive part, the outer face of the envelope 6 must be coated with a layer of a few tens of microns thick (typically and as a non-limiting example: 30 to 50 μm) of a material with high electrical conductivity (for example and without limitation, silver or copper). The application of this coating to the outer face of the casing 6 makes it possible to increase slightly the outside diameter of the essentially inductive part I, which improves the coefficient of overvoltage of the resonator consisting of parts C and I. The transmission of the tightening torque between the substantially I portion and the substantially capacitive portion C of the spark plug 1 is obtained by appropriate shaping of the interface between the base 2 and the envelope 6 as described in the unpublished patent application FR0452790.

The dimensions of the envelope 6 are calculated so as to minimize the risk of breakdown between the winding 5 and the envelope 6. Advantageously, in order to further reduce the risks of breakdown, sources of parasitic energy dissipations, an insulator 7 is placed between the winding 5 and the envelope 6, and the winding 5 is formed around the mandrel 8. In the embodiment of the radiofrequency plasma candle shown in FIG. 1, a complementary insulator 9 is furthermore placed between the 7 insulator and the insulator 4 separating the base 2 and the central electrode 3, a part 10 electrically connected to the base 2 ensuring the connection between the maintenance of insulators 4, 7, and 9.

The materials and embodiments and assembly of these various elements are defined and implemented so as to minimize any inclusion of air at the interfaces, also sources of breakdowns and losses.

A current measuring winding 11 is also generally made around the winding 5, and a connection device 13, integral with a connector 12 (not detailed in the figures), is placed at the upper end of the candle 1. The upper turn 52 of the winding 5 is connected to the connector 12, the lower turn 51 of the winding 5 being connected by appropriate means 14 (not detailed in the figures) to an inner end of the central electrode 3. In order to reduce as much as possible parasitic capacitances (as mentioned above, the performances of the resonator thus formed are all the better that the capacitance value of the capacitive part is small), the length of the connection between the essentially capacitive part C and the essentially inductive part I should be reduced as much as possible. Similarly, the overvoltage coefficient of the resonator LC constituted by the essentially inductive part I and the essentially capacitive part C placed in series is all the better that the diameter of the essentially inductive part I is high. Finally, the electrical quality of the connection between the essentially capacitive C and inductive I parts (electrical continuity, in particular) must also be maximum in order to optimize the performance of the resonator.

According to a first embodiment, the mandrel 8 is a tube of elastically deformable polygonal section. As shown in Figure 2, the tube is hexagonal section. The thickness of each of the walls or axial faces 82 is dimensioned such that the walls or axial faces 82 are able to deform elastically. For example, the walls or axial faces 82 may have a thickness between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. The insulator 7 placed between the winding 5 and the casing 6 may be chosen from fluids or non-compressible solids having a significant coefficient of expansion with the temperature, for example and without limitation the silicone. In this case, the walls or axial faces 82 may deform elastically so as to compensate for the effects of the expansion of the insulator 7. During this deformation, the walls or the axial faces 82 may curl radially inwards of the tube and the axial edges 83 keep a substantially identical positioning allowing the coil to keep substantially the same winding position around the mandrel 8, as shown in Figure 3.

According to a second embodiment, the mandrel 8 is a solid cylinder with an elastically deformable polygonal section. As shown in Figure 4, the solid cylinder is cylindrical section. The mandrel 8 is chosen from compressible materials such as polymers (for example: polymer foam, expanded polymer). The insulator 7 placed between the coil 5 and the casing 6 may be chosen from fluids or non-compressible solids having a significant coefficient of expansion with temperature, for example and without limitation the silicone. In this case, the mandrel 8 can be deformed by a decrease in its volume so as to compensate for the effects of the expansion of the insulator 7, as shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiments described, the materials generally chosen have a low density. It follows a reduction in mass of the winding / spark plug assembly and therefore a significant gain in terms of the inertia of the vibrating parts.

In the previously described embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, so as to avoid electrical leaks at the means 14 connecting the lower turn 51 of the winding 5 and the central electrode 3. For this, the mandrel 8 comprises at one of its ends 81 an obviously of axial depth which receives a plug 20. In addition, the depth h is equal to or greater than a distance d defined between the end 81 of the mandrel 8 and the lower coil 51 of the winding 5. In addition, the plug 20 is dimensioned so as to ensure the mechanical maintenance and the coaxiality between the mandrel 8 and the central electrode 3, the mandrel 8 comprises, at its end 81, the plug 20 pierced with a hole 21 so that at least the head of the central electrode 3 passes through this hole 21. The plug 20 may be high density polymer such as polyethylene.

In all the embodiments previously described, the electrical continuity of the whole of the candle 1 according to the invention is finalized by the connection element 13 intended to connect the connector 12 to the electrical power supply of the candle 1.

Advantageously, the element 13, bound in a rigid form, in particular to the envelope 6 (for example and in a nonlimiting manner, thanks to a means of the type of those just described for the connection of the envelope 6 with the base 2), has a shape adapted to the use of a simple clamping tool for the introduction and tightening of the spark plug 1 in the cylinder head of the engine.

It thus appears that a spark plug 1 according to the invention can be put in place and removed from its access well without being need to slide a specific tool around the candle: it is therefore not necessary to spare, in the access well to the candle 1, a space required for the passage of the specific tool and used only for assembly operations and dismantling the candle.

It should be noted that the principle of rigid connection both mechanical and electrical between the two parts of a spark plug 1 (spark plug itself and its winding), here described in its application to a radiofrequency plasma candle, and preferentially intended for this type of candle, can be transposed to any type of conventional candle.

Claims

Spark plug (1) for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, of substantially elongated general shape, comprising:

a substantially capacitive lower part (C) comprising two coaxial electrodes, including a central electrode (3) and a base (2) threaded for screwing the spark plug (1) onto the motor

an essentially inductive upper part (I) comprising a central winding (5) which comprises a plurality of turns (51) wound around a coaxial mandrel (8), an envelope (6) and an insulator (7) interposed between the envelope (6) and the coil (5) the essentially capacitive part (C) and the essentially inductive part (I) being interconnected mechanically so as to allow the transmission of a tightening torque applied to the casing (6) to the essentially capacitive lower part (C) characterized in that the mandrel (8) is elastically deformable so as to compensate for the effects of the expansion of the insulator (7).

2, spark plug (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel (8) is a cylinder with a polygonal section,

3. Spark plug (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the mandrel (8) is a cylinder of revolution.

4. Spark plug (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the mandrel (8) is a tube.

5. Spark plug (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the mandrel (8) is a solid cylinder.

6. Spark plug (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mandrel (8) has at one of its ends (81) an axial depth recess (h) which receives a plug (20) and in that the depth (h) is equal to or greater than a distance (d) defined between the end (81) of the mandrel (8) and a first turn (51) of the coil (5).

7, Spark plug (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the end (81) corresponds to the connection with the central electrode (3).

8. Spark plug (1) according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the plug (20) is made of high-density polymer.

9. Spark plug (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mandrel (8) is selected from polymers.