Patent ID: 7839065
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H01T

Abstract:
1. A plasma jet spark plug comprising: a center electrode; an insulator having an axial bore extending in an axial direction, and retaining the center electrode within the axial bore in such a manner as to accommodate a front end face of the center electrode within a front end portion of the axial bore; a cavity formed in a front end portion of the insulator, said cavity defined by a wall surface of the axial bore and a front end face of the center electrode; a metallic shell surrounding and retaining the insulator from outside with respect to a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction; and a ground electrode disposed frontward of the front end portion of the insulator with respect to the axial direction, said ground electrode having a contact portion contacting the front end portion of the insulator in an annular contact zone such that, as viewed from the axial direction, an opening of the cavity is located internally of the contact portion, said ground electrode further having a communication section for establishing communication between the cavity and an ambient atmosphere; wherein the ground electrode is a composite member formed by joining an electrode base metal and a contact member together, the electrode base metal is not in contact with the insulator with respect to the axial direction and defines an air gap relative thereto in the axial direction, the electrode base metal is in contact with the metallic shell, and is electrically connected with the metallic shell by means of an outer peripheral portion thereof being joined to the metallic shell, the contact member has the contact portion, and a portion of the electrode base metal and the contact member constitute the communication section.