阅读说明：本技术 火花塞 (Spark plug ) 是由 J·克雷斯 于 2020-03-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开涉及一种用于发动机的火花塞(100)。所述火花塞包括分别包括中心空隙(235、245)和接地空隙(335、345)的中心电极(200)和接地电极(300)。在所述中心电极与所述接地电极之间形成初始火花间隙(150)。中心电极初始表面(225)设置在所述中心空隙与所述火花间隙之间,并且接地电极初始表面(325)设置在所述接地空隙与所述火花间隙之间。所述中心空隙和所述接地空隙可分别通过中心电极初始表面和接地电极初始表面的磨损而暴露。当磨损破坏中心电极初始表面和接地电极初始表面时,磨损产生中心第一集中边缘(237)和接地第一集中边缘(337),它们集中电场并降低燃料分解所需的电压。(The present disclosure relates to a spark plug (100) for an engine. The spark plug includes a center electrode (200) and a ground electrode (300) that include a center void (235, 245) and a ground void (335, 345), respectively. An initial spark gap (150) is formed between the center electrode and the ground electrode. A center electrode initiation surface (225) is disposed between the center void and the spark gap, and a ground electrode initiation surface (325) is disposed between the ground void and the spark gap. The center void and the ground void may be exposed by wear of the center electrode initial surface and the ground electrode initial surface, respectively. When the wear damages the center electrode initial surface and the ground electrode initial surface, the wear generates a center first concentration edge (237) and a ground first concentration edge (337) that concentrate the electric field and reduce the voltage required for fuel decomposition.)

1. A spark plug (100) for use with an engine, the spark plug comprising:

a tip (10);

a bottom end (20) distal to the top end;

a ground electrode (300) disposed adjacent the bottom end, having

A plurality of ground voids (335, 345) disposed within the ground electrode and disposed opposite the bottom end;

a center electrode (200) disposed between the ground electrode and the tip, having

A plurality of central voids (235, 245) disposed within the central electrode and disposed adjacent to a grounded base electrode; and

an initial spark gap (150) disposed between the ground electrode and the center electrode.

2. The spark plug of claim 1, wherein said ground electrode further comprises:

a ground initiation surface (325) disposed adjacent to the spark gap, and a ground initiation area portion (320) extending from the plurality of ground voids to the ground initiation surface; and is

The center electrode further includes:

a central initiation surface (225) disposed adjacent to the spark gap, and a central initiation area portion (220) extending from the plurality of central voids to the central initiation surface.

3. The spark plug of claim 2, wherein the plurality of central voids and the plurality of ground engaging voids are shaped to form a central first wear concentrating edge (237) and a ground engaging first wear concentrating edge (337), respectively, after wearing through the central initiation zone portion and the ground engaging initiation zone portion.

4. The spark plug of claim 1, wherein the plurality of central voids have a central void diameter (D6) measured between 0.5 and 2.0 times the initial spark gap and the plurality of ground voids have a ground void diameter (D4) measured between 0.5 and 2.0 times the initial spark gap.

5. The spark plug of claim 4, wherein said plurality of central voids and said plurality of ground voids are spherical.

6. The spark plug of claim 2, wherein the plurality of central voids are arranged in a single layer perpendicular to the central initiation surface and the plurality of ground voids are arranged in a single layer perpendicular to the ground initiation surface.

7. The spark plug of claim 2, wherein the plurality of central voids are arranged to be exposed by wear of the central initiation area portion.

8. The spark plug of claim 2, wherein a distance (L1) between the ground initiation surface and the plurality of ground voids is between 0.25 and 0.75 times the initial spark gap, and a distance (L2) between the central initiation surface and the plurality of central voids is between 0.25 and 0.75 times the initial spark gap.

9. The spark plug of claim 4, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of ground voids are spaced apart by a distance (D3) between 0.25 and 1.00 times the ground void diameter and adjacent ones of the plurality of center voids are spaced apart by a distance (D8) between 0.25 and 1.00 times the center void diameter.

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to engines. More specifically, the present application relates to spark plugs for engines.

Background

The spark plug is used to electrically ignite a fuel mixture to be combusted in the internal combustion engine. Between the center electrode and the ground electrode of the spark plug there is a spark gap in which an electric ignition spark for igniting the fuel mixture can be formed.

U.S. patent No. 9,397,481 to Dirumdam describes a spark plug for an internal combustion engine having a center electrode and a ground electrode. A spark gap is formed between the center electrode and the ground electrode to ignite the fuel mixture by an electric ignition spark generated between the center electrode and the ground electrode. The center and ground electrodes are contoured such that the ratio of the surfaces of the center and ground electrodes (which may be used to develop the ignition spark to a wear volume when the ignition spark is generated) is increased such that the amplification of the spark gap that occurs due to wear when the ignition spark is generated is minimized.

The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems identified by the inventors.

Disclosure of Invention

A spark plug for use with an engine is disclosed herein. The spark plug includes a top end, a bottom end distal to the top end, a ground electrode, a center electrode, and an initial spark gap between the electrodes. The ground electrode includes a plurality of ground voids disposed within the ground electrode. The center electrode is spaced apart from the ground electrode by an initial spark gap. The center electrode includes a plurality of center voids disposed within the center electrode adjacent the initial spark gap.

Drawings

Details of embodiments of the present disclosure (regarding their structure and operation) may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary spark plug;

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of portions of the center and ground electrodes from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the ground electrode of FIG. 2 along plane III-III;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of portions of the center and ground electrodes from FIG. 2 along plane IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of portions of the center and ground electrodes from FIG. 4 after wear;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of portions of the center and ground electrodes from FIG. 5 after more wear;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary ground electrode having an alternate ground void orientation; and

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along plane IV-IV of a portion of the center and ground electrodes from fig. 2 with an alternate geometry void.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in simplified form in order to simplify the description. Certain surfaces have been omitted or exaggerated for clarity and ease of explanation.

The present disclosure may refer to a top direction or a top and bottom direction or bottom. Typically, the reference to the top direction and the top is for the top end 10 of the spark plug 100. Generally, the reference to the bottom direction and bottom is for the bottom end 20 of the spark plug 100.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary spark plug. Spark plug 100 may be used with an engine to facilitate ignition of an air/fuel mixture within a combustion chamber. Spark plug 100 may have an electrode 110 extending from a top end 10 to a center electrode 200, a bottom end 20 opposite top end 10, and a plurality of external threads 120 around the periphery of spark plug 100 adjacent bottom end 20. Threads 120 may be positioned between body 130 and bottom end 20. The threads 120 may be formed to provide direct engagement with a cylinder head of an engine and to provide a path to ground with the cylinder head of the engine. The electrode 110 may be made of an electrically conductive metal (e.g., tungsten, iridium, silver, platinum, and gold palladium) and is operable to direct current from a power source to ionize (i.e., create a corona within) the air/fuel mixture so as to ignite the air/fuel mixture. Electrode 110 may extend through body 130 of spark plug 100 and may extend through threads 120 and protrude beyond threads 120 to form center electrode 200. Ground electrode 300 may extend from threads 120 to bottom end 20. Center electrode 200 may be disposed adjacent bottom end 20 and ground electrode 300 such that current from a power source may travel through electrode 110, to center electrode 200 and further to ground electrode 300 in order to generate a spark to ignite the air/fuel mixture.

Fig. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a portion of the center electrode and a portion of the ground electrode from fig. 1. The center electrode 200 and the ground electrode 300 may be separated by an initial spark gap 150 adjacent the bottom end 20. The initial spark gap 150 may have a wide range of values and may increase over time due to wear from the discharge. The initial spark gap 150 may be in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.040 inches. The initial spark gap 150 may be in the range of 0.004 inches to 0.010 inches. The ground electrode 300 may be disposed at the bottom end 20 and include a ground perimeter surface 315, a ground initiation surface 325, and a ground initiation convergence edge 327. The ground initiation surface 325 faces toward the center electrode 200 and the tip 10 and may be perpendicular to the initiation spark gap 150. The ground initiation surface 325 may have a rectangular shape. The ground peripheral surface 315 may be a surface portion of the ground electrode 300 that extends from the ground initiation surface 325 away from the center electrode 200 and the top end 10, or in other words, toward the bottom end 20. The ground perimeter surface 315 may be disposed perpendicular to the ground initiation surface 325 and may be parallel to the initiation spark gap 150. The interface between the ground initiation surface 325 and the ground perimeter surface 315 may form a ground initiation concentrating edge 327.

Similarly, the center electrode 200 may have a center peripheral surface 215, a center initial surface 225 (shown in FIG. 4), and a center initial concentrating edge 227. The center electrode 200 may be shaped, for example, as a cylinder or a truncated cone. The center electrode 200 may include various volumetric shapes that are sufficiently shaped to generate a spark. The central peripheral surface 215 may be a peripheral surface of the central electrode 200 that is perpendicular to the central initial surface 225. The central initial concentrating edge 227 may be disposed opposite the tip 10. The initial spark gap 150 may be the shortest distance between the center electrode 200 and the ground electrode 300.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ground electrode of fig. 2 taken along plane III-III. The ground electrode 300 may include a ground void 335 disposed. A ground void 335 may be located within ground electrode 300 as a hollow cavity, opposite bottom end 20. The ground void 335 may not be in fluid communication with ambient air. Each ground void 335 may be a sphere having a circular cross-section and having a ground void diameter D1. The ground voids 335 may be shaped, for example, as cylinders, cones, spheroids, and other shapes having a circular or near-circular cross-section. Additionally, the ground voids 335 may be shaped in other shapes having curved outer surfaces. In addition, the ground voids 335 may take the form of other shapes. The ground voids 335 may each have an equal ground void diameter D1 or have ground void diameters that vary in size. The ground clearance diameter D1 may be in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150. The ground voids 335 may be oriented in a matrix, e.g., rows and columns. The columns may represent ground voids 335 positioned in the left and right directions as shown in fig. 3. The rows may represent ground voids 335 positioned in an up direction and a down direction as shown in fig. 3. The shortest distance between the ground void 335 disposed adjacent to the ground perimeter surface 315 and the ground perimeter surface 315 is represented by distance D2. Distance D2 may be proportional to ground gap diameter D1 and range from 0.25 to 1.00 times ground gap diameter D1. The distance D2 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150. The shortest distance between a ground void 335 and an adjacent ground void 335 is represented by distance D3. Distance D3 may be proportional to ground gap diameter D1 and range from 0.25 to 1.00 times ground gap diameter D1. The distance D3 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150.

Although not shown in a similar cross-section, center electrode 200 may include voids having similar characteristics as disclosed above with respect to the ground electrode shown in fig. 3. It should be understood that the description of the features shown in fig. 3 may also apply to similar features of the center electrode 200.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the center and ground electrodes from fig. 2 along plane IV-IV. The initial spark gap 150 is shown as the distance between the ground initiation surface 325 and the center initiation surface 225, and may be the shortest distance between the ground electrode 300 and the center electrode 200.

The ground electrode 300 includes a ground void 335 disposed adjacent the ground initiation surface 325. Ground void 335 may include a ground void bottom end 336 and a ground void top end 334. A ground void top end 334 may be disposed at the top of the ground base portion 330 opposite the bottom end 20. A ground void bottom end 336 may be disposed at a bottom end of the ground void 335 opposite the ground void top end 334. The ground voids 335 may be positioned in a plane perpendicular to the ground initiation surface 325. The ground voids 335 may each include a spherical shape, a pyramidal shape, or a cylindrical shape that extends into the page. The ground voids 335 may include other shapes as described above in connection with the ground voids 335.

Each ground void 335 may have a circular cross-section with a ground void diameter D4. The ground voids 335 may each have an equal ground void diameter D4 or have a ground void diameter D4 that varies in size. The ground clearance diameter D4 may be in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150. The ground void 335 may have a center C1. The ground voids 335 may be generally oriented in the signal layer such that the center C1 of each ground void 335 varies no more than 1/2 of its diameter D4 in the top or bottom direction as compared to the center of another ground void 335. In other words, the ground voids 335 may be staggered and not in-line.

The ground electrode 300 may include a ground initiation region portion 320 that may extend from an edge of the ground void (e.g., from the ground void tip 334) toward the top direction and the center electrode 200. The ground initiation area portion 320 can have a ground initiation surface 325 facing in the top direction and the center electrode 200. The distance between ground initiation surface 325 and ground clearance tip 334 is represented by ground initiation length L1. In other words, the ground initiation length L1 is the shortest distance between the ground void 335 and the ground initiation surface 325. The ground initial length L1 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and may be in the range of 0.25 to 0.75 times the initial spark gap 150.

The center electrode 200 may include a central initial surface 225. The central initiation surface 225 faces the ground electrode 300 and the bottom end 20 and may be perpendicular to the initiation spark gap 150. The central peripheral surface 215 may be a surface portion of the center electrode 200 that extends from the central initiation surface 225 away from the ground electrode 300 and the initial spark gap 150. The interface between the central initial surface 225 and the central peripheral surface 215 may form a central initial concentrating edge 227. The central initial concentrating edge 227 may also be shaped as a rectangle.

The center electrode 200 can include a central void 235 disposed adjacent the bottom end of the center electrode 200. A central void 235 may be disposed within the center electrode 200 as a hollow cavity. In some embodiments, the central void 235 is initially (prior to wear) not in fluid communication with the ambient air. The central void 235 may include a central void bottom end 234 and a central void top end 236. The center gap bottom end 234 may be disposed at the bottom end of the center electrode 200 adjacent the initial spark gap 150. A central void top end 236 may be disposed at a top end of the central void 235 opposite the central void bottom end 234. The central void 235 may be positioned in a plane perpendicular to the central initiation surface 225. The central voids 235 may each include a spherical shape, a pyramidal shape, or a cylindrical shape. The central void 235 may include other shapes, such as a shape similar to the ground void 335 described above.

Each central void 235 may have a circular cross-section with a central void diameter D6. The central voids 235 may each have an equal central void diameter D6 or have a central void diameter that varies in size. The center void diameter D6 may be equal to the ground void diameter D4, or both diameters may vary in size. The center void diameter D6 may be in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150. The central void 235 may have a center C2. The central voids 235 may be generally oriented in the signal layer such that the center C2 of each central void 235 varies in the top 10 or bottom direction by no more than 1/2 of its diameter D6 as compared to the center C2 of another central void 235. In other words, the central voids 235 may be staggered and not in a straight line.

The shortest distance between central voids 235 disposed adjacent to central peripheral surface 215 is represented by distance D7. Distance D7 may be proportional to central void diameter D6 and range from 0.25 to 1.00 times central void diameter D6. The distance D7 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150. The shortest distance between a central void 235 and an adjacent central void 235 is represented by distance D8. Distance D8 may be proportional to central void diameter D6 and range from 0.25 to 1.00 times central void diameter D6. The distance D8 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150.

The central electrode may include a central initiation area portion 220 that may extend from an edge of the central gap 235 (e.g., the central gap bottom end 234) in a bottom direction. The central initiation area portion 220 may have a central initiation surface 225 facing in the bottom direction and the ground electrode 300. The distance between the central initial surface 225 and the central void bottom end 234 is represented by a central initial length L2. In other words, the central initial length L2 is the shortest distance between the central void 235 and the central initial surface 225. The center initial length L2 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and may be in the range of 0.25 to 0.75 times the initial spark gap 150.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the center and ground electrodes from fig. 4 after some wear. The grounded initiation area portion 320 and the central initiation area portion 220 may be worn over time by the electrical discharge produced by the spark plug 100. Fig. 5 illustrates an example of wear extending through the ground initiation area portion 320 and the central initiation area portion 220 and into the ground electrode 300 and the center electrode 200. This wear may expose the ground voids 335 and the central voids 235 to the combustion chamber. In addition, new edges and surfaces may be formed, including the grounded first wear surface 332 and the central first wear surface 232. A grounded first wear surface 332 is provided at the top of the grounded electrode 300. A grounded first wear concentrating edge 337 may be formed at the connection of the grounded void 335 and the grounded first wear surface 332 and at the connection of the grounded first wear surface 332 and the grounded perimeter surface 315. The grounded first wear surface 332 may have a grounded first wear width W1, which is a measured width of the grounded first wear surface 332. The grounded first wear width W1 may also represent the distance between two grounded first wear concentrating edges 337 and two adjacent grounded voids 335.

The central first wear surface 232 is disposed at the bottom of the center electrode 200. A central first wear concentrating edge 237 may be formed at the junction of the central void 235 and the central first wear surface 232 and at the junction of the central first wear surface 232 and the central peripheral surface 215. The central first wear surface 232 may have a central first wear width W2 that is a measured width of the central first wear surface 232. The center first wear width W2 may also represent the distance between two center first wear concentrating edges 237 and two adjacent center voids 235.

The initial spark gap 150 has increased to a first wear spark gap 151, which may be the distance between the grounded first wear surface 332 and the central first wear surface 232 or the distance between the grounded first wear concentrating edge 337 and the central first wear concentrating edge 237.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the center and ground electrodes from fig. 5 after more wear. The ground electrode 300 and center electrode 200 may further wear out over time from the electrical discharge experienced by the spark plug 100. The wear may extend further toward the ground-contacting void center of curvature C1 and the center-void center of curvature C2.

In addition, new edges and surfaces may be formed, including grounded second wear surfaces 342 and central second wear surface 242. A grounded second wear surface 342 is provided at the top end of the ground electrode 300. A grounded second wear concentrating edge 347 may be formed at the connection of grounded void 335 and grounded second wear surface 342 and at the connection between grounded second wear surface 342 and grounded perimeter surface 315. Grounded second wear surface 342 may have a grounded second wear width W3, which is a measured width of grounded second wear surface 342. The ground second wear width W2 may also represent the distance between two ground second wear concentrating edges 347 and two adjacent ground voids 335.

A central second wear surface 242 is provided at the bottom end of the center electrode 200. A central second wear concentrating edge 247 can be formed at the junction of the central void 235 and the central second wear surface 242 and at the junction of the central second wear surface 242 and the central peripheral surface 215. The central second wear surface 242 may have a second wear width W4 that is a measured width of the central second wear surface 242. The center second wear width W4 may also represent the distance between two center second wear concentration edges 247 and two adjacent center voids 235.

The first wear spark gap 151 has increased to a second wear spark gap 152, which may be the distance between the grounded second wear surface 342 and the central second wear surface 242, or the distance between the grounded second wear concentrating edge 347 and the central second wear concentrating edge 247.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ground electrode having an alternative ground void orientation. The ground voids 335 may be oriented in a matrix, such as diagonal rows. The ground voids 335 are positioned diagonally or in a staggered fashion so that there is a more densely packed configuration than the orientation in fig. 3. The closest distance between adjacent ground voids 335 may not be in the left and right directions, or in the up and down directions, but in the diagonal direction. The shortest distance between a ground void 335 and an adjacent ground void 335 may be represented by distance D10. Distance D10 may be proportional to ground gap diameter D10 and range from 0.25 to 1.00 times ground gap diameter D1. The distance D10 may be proportional to the initial spark gap 150 and in the range of 0.125 to 2.0 times the initial spark gap 150.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along plane IV-IV of the center and ground electrodes from fig. 2 with an alternate geometry of voids. The ground electrode 300 may have two portions: a ground base portion 330 and a ground void portion 340. The ground gap portion 340 may include a ground gap 345 and is disposed between the ground base portion 330 and the initial spark gap 150. The ground base portion 330 and the ground void portion 340 may be made of the same material or different materials. The ground void portion 340 may be connected to the ground base portion 330 and extend from the ground base portion 330 toward the center electrode 200.

The ground voids 345 and the central voids 245 may be similar to the ground voids 335 and the central voids 235, but with different cross-sectional geometries. The ground voids 345 may be shaped as a cross-section of a semicircle connected to a rectangular base, rotated 360 degrees along its vertical axis. The ground voids 345 may have ground void top ends 344 and ground void bottom ends 346. Ground gap top end 344 may be disposed at the top of ground electrode 300 opposite bottom end 20. The ground gap bottom end 346 may be disposed at a bottom end of the ground gap 335 opposite the ground gap top end 344.

Similarly, the center electrode 200 may have two portions: a central base portion 230 and a central void portion 240. The central void portion 240 may include a central void 245 and is disposed between the central base portion 230 and the initial spark gap 150. The central base portion 230 and the central void portion 240 may be made of the same material or different materials. The central void portion 240 may be connected to the central base portion 230 and extend from the central base portion 230 toward the ground electrode 300.

The central void 245 may have a cross-section shaped as a semicircle connected to a rectangular base, rotated 360 degrees along its vertical axis. The central void 245 may be shaped as a cross-section extending into the page in the shape of a semi-circle connected to a rectangular base. The central void 245 may have a central void top end 246 and a central void bottom end 244. The central void bottom end 244 may be disposed at the bottom of the central electrode 200 opposite the top end 10. A central void top end 246 may be disposed at the top of the central void 235 opposite the central void bottom end 244.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The surfaces of the center and ground electrodes establish an electric field at the concentration point. These foci are subject to wear when an ignition spark is generated. Due to such abrasion, the concentration points of the center electrode and the ground electrode may become circular and reduce the strength of the generated electric field. When the electric field strength is reduced sufficiently, the spark base must be replaced.

The disclosed spark plug 100 may help increase the electric field concentration rather than decrease it as the center electrode 200 and the ground electrode 300 experience wear during use.

The spark plug 100 includes voids (e.g., ground voids 335, 345 and center voids 235, 245), which may be hollow cavities located adjacent to the respective initiation area portions 220, 320. In an embodiment, the voids 235, 245, 335, 345 are not initially in fluid communication with ambient air or the combustion chamber (if installed). When the center electrode 200 and the ground electrode 300 experience surface erosion from the discharge, the grounded initiation zone portion 320 and the center initiation zone portion 220 wear and the voids 235, 245, 335, 345 become exposed to the combustion chamber and increase the number of concentrated edges. The newly created concentration edges may include a grounded first concentration edge 337, a grounded second concentration edge 338, a center first concentration edge 237, and a center second concentration edge 238. The concentrating edges 237, 238, 337, 338 concentrate the electric field and reduce the voltage required for fuel decomposition in the combustion chamber.

Voids 235, 245, 335, 345 may be added to the ground electrode 300 and the center electrode 200 and arranged in a single layer perpendicular to the ground initiation surface 325 and the center initiation surface 225. These voids 235, 245, 335, 345 may be shaped as spheres, spheroids, cylinders, or other volumetric shapes in the ground electrode 300 and center electrode 200. The curved shape of the voids 235, 245, 335, 345 allows for the formation of sharp edges as the electrodes 200, 300 wear. With the plurality of voids 235, 245, 335, 345 arranged adjacent to each other and by utilizing a curved shape, the electric field may be further enhanced as the wear increases. For example, the ground first wear width W1 is greater than the ground second wear width W3, and the center first wear width W2 is greater than the center second wear width W4. In other words, as the wear approaches the shortest distance between the voids (distance D3 and distance D8), the electrode 200, 300 material width between the voids 235, 245, 335, 345 decreases.

The ground electrode 300 and the center electrode 200 may include a plurality of portions including a ground base portion 330, a ground void portion 340, a center base portion 230, and a center void portion 240, respectively. Voids 235, 245, 335, 345 may be machined into the ground and center void portions 340, 240, respectively, prior to attachment to the ground and center base portions 330, 330. This may help facilitate machining a wide variety of void 235, 245, 335, 345 volumetric geometries into the electrode 200, 300.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. In particular, the described embodiments are not limited to use in connection with a particular type of engine. For example, the described embodiments may be applied to generators, engines, machines, devices, or any variation thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in any of the preceding sections. It is also to be understood that the illustrations may include enlarged dimensions and graphical representations to better illustrate referenced items shown, and are not to be considered limiting unless expressly stated as such.

It is to be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. It is to be understood that features illustrated or discussed in one embodiment or example may be combined with other features illustrated or discussed in other embodiments and examples. Embodiments are not limited to embodiments that solve any or all of the problems stated, or embodiments having any or all of the benefits and advantages stated.