Glow sensor and engine component combination

A glow sensor provides functions of both a diesel engine glow plug for aiding fuel ignition during starting and low temperature operation and an ion sensor for sensing engine combustion initiation and characteristics. Compact glow sensor components may be assembled directly in combination with an engine combustion chamber defining component, such as a cylinder head, to provide a combination in which separate housings or shells for the glow sensors are not needed. Thus, the glow sensor elements and insulation may be made larger to provide greater electrical resistance in the ion sensor electrical circuit and enhance the operation of the ion sensor function. Various forms of glow sensors may optionally be used in such a combination including, for example, metal sheath type glow sensors with either isolated or non-isolated coils and ceramic rod or flat plate type glow sensors. Exemplary embodiments of glow sensor components mounted in a cylinder head are disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to diesel engines and, more particularly, to glow 
sensors which combine functions of both a glow plug and an ion sensor to 
promote fuel ignition in an engine combustion chamber during starting and 
low temperature running and to sense the occurrence and character of 
combustion events. In particular, the invention relates to a combustion 
chamber defining engine component and glow sensor combination. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is known in the art relating to diesel engines to provide an ignition 
glow plug having a heated glow tip which extends into the engine 
combustion chamber or pre-chamber to promote ignition of fuel, especially 
during starting and low temperature operation. It is also known in 
internal combustion engines to provide an ion sensor in the combustion 
chamber which senses the occurrence of combustion events through 
variations in current flow across a gap through combustion gases in the 
chamber. The combination of a ceramic glow plug tip combined with an ion 
sensor for use in a diesel engine has also been proposed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a combination of a diesel engine component, 
such as a cylinder head, with compact glow sensor components installed in 
bores of a combustion chamber defining wall and providing functions of 
both glow plugs and ion sensors. In particular, the invention provides 
various embodiments of compact glow sensors in combination with a cylinder 
head. For convenience, the term "glow sensor" is used herein to refer to 
devices, such as those described herein, for carrying out functions of 
both a glow plug and an ion sensor. 
In general, the invention comprises a combination of a glow sensor and a 
combustion chamber defining component of a diesel engine, the combination 
comprising: an engine component including a wall having a combustion 
chamber defining surface and a mounting bore through the wall and opening 
through the surface, the bore having a smaller diameter portion at an 
inner end adjacent the surface, a larger diameter portion spaced from the 
surface and defining an annular seat adjacent the smaller diameter 
portion, and securing means adjacent an outer end of the bore; a glow 
sensor element extending through the bore and having a glow tip protruding 
out from the smaller diameter portion through the surface; a ceramic 
sleeve disposed in the larger diameter portion and fixedly connected to 
and surrounding the element, the sleeve having an annular inner end 
operatively engaging the annular seat; and a retainer operatively engaging 
the securing means and having an inner end bearing against an outer end of 
the sleeve and applying an axial force thereon to force the sleeve outer 
end against the bore annular seat and retain the glow sensor element in 
fixed assembly with the component. 
The combination provides the desired glow sensor functions while omitting a 
separate mounting shell which might otherwise be provided for supporting 
the glow sensor components in an engine cylinder head or the like. 
Omission of the mounting shell from the glow sensor provides more room in 
the mounting bore of a cylinder head to install a larger and stronger 
ceramic mounting sleeve and/or a larger sized glow sensor element. Better 
insulation of the electrical elements may thus be provided, resulting in 
greater internal resistance that may benefit operation of the ion sensor 
functions under elevated temperature conditions, where the resistance 
value of the ceramic insulation is decreased.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings in detail, there are shown 
examples of prior art applications of diesel engine glow plugs to both 
open chamber and pre-chamber type diesel engines. These applications 
utilize glow plugs of a common type having a glow tip formed within a 
metal sheath. However, the use of other forms of glow tips in place of the 
metal sheath type glow plugs is also known. 
In FIG. 1, numeral 100 generally indicates an open chamber type diesel 
engine having a cylinder block 102 defining a cylinder 104 closed by a 
cylinder head 106. A piston 108 is reciprocable in the cylinder 104 and 
defines a recessed bowl which, together with the cylinder head, forms a 
combustion chamber 110. The cylinder head 106 mounts an injection nozzle 
or injector 112 which sprays fuel into the combustion chamber 110 for 
compression ignition therein. The cylinder head also mounts a known form 
of glow plug 114 having a glow tip 116 extending into the combustion 
chamber. The glow tip is heated during cold engine starting and low 
temperature operation to assist in igniting fuel sprayed into the 
combustion chamber during periods when the temperature of compression may 
be insufficient to provide for proper fuel ignition and combustion. 
The illustrated glow plug 114 is of the type having a metallic sheath 
forming the glow tip. A terminal 118 is provided at the outer end of the 
glow plug for connection with a source of electric current. Return current 
flow is from the metal sheath of the glow tip to a metal shell 119 of the 
glow plug and to the cylinder head in which the shell is mounted and which 
is grounded to the electrical system. 
Referring to FIG. 2, numeral 120 indicates a pre-chamber type diesel engine 
having a cylinder block 122 with a cylinder 124 closed by a cylinder head 
126 and carrying a piston 128 reciprocable in the cylinder. The piston and 
cylinder head form a combustion chamber 130 which connects with a 
pre-combustion chamber or pre-chamber 132 within the cylinder head. A fuel 
injector 134 is mounted in the cylinder head for injecting fuel into the 
pre-chamber 132. A glow plug 136 of known form has a glow tip 138 
extending into the pre-chamber to assist in igniting the fuel during 
starting and cold operation. A terminal 140 at the other end of the glow 
plug provides for connection to a source of electric current and the glow 
plug shell 142 is grounded to the cylinder head for completing the return 
current flow path as in the first described embodiment. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention provides a novel combination wherein components of 
glow sensors are combined with an engine component wherein the glow sensor 
elements are directly installed in a bore of a combustion chamber defining 
wall of the engine component, for example, an engine cylinder head. The 
glow sensor embodiments omit a supporting metal shell and instead install 
directly within a bore of the cylinder head or other component. This 
provides more room in the bore for electrical insulation materials or 
components having greater resistance value, as may be desirable for 
operation of the ion sensor functions. The terms "inner end" and "outer 
end" as used in the subsequent description and claims refer to directions 
of the glow sensor components as installed in an engine wherein the glow 
tip forms an inner end extending within a combustion chamber (including a 
pre-chamber) and electrical terminals are located at an outer end 
extending outside the engine cylinder head. 
Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, numeral 10 generally indicates a 
combination according to the invention comprising an engine cylinder head 
12 having a wall 14. Wall 14 includes an outer surface 16 and an inner 
surface 18, the latter defining a portion of a diesel engine combustion 
chamber, not shown. A mounting bore 20 extends through the wall and 
includes a smaller diameter portion 22 located adjacent the combustion 
chamber defining surface 18. A larger diameter portion 24 is located 
intermediate the ends of the bore and securing means in the form of 
internal threads 26 are provided in an outer portion of the bore having a 
still larger diameter. An annular seat 28 is formed at the inner end of 
the larger diameter portion 24 where it adjoins the smaller diameter 
portion 22 of the bore. 
Mounted within the bore 20 are the components of a glow sensor generally 
indicated by numeral 30. Glow sensor 30 includes a glow sensor element 32, 
a tubular ceramic sleeve 34 and a tubular threaded nut 36. 
In assembly, the ceramic sleeve 34 is preferably silver brazed or otherwise 
fixed to the glow sensor element 32, forming an assembly. The tubular nut 
has a hexagonal outer end 38 and an annular inner end 40 which, in 
assembly, engages an outer end 42 of the ceramic sleeve 34. Upon 
tightening of the nut 36, an inner end 44 of the sleeve 34 is forced 
against a gasket 46, formed, for example, of copper or soft steel, which 
is preferably cemented to the sleeve prior to assembly. The gasket engages 
the annular seat 28 in the mounting bore and provides a combustion gas 
seal preventing gas leakage around the exterior of the ceramic sleeve. 
Leakage between the ceramic sleeve 34 and the glow sensor element 32 is 
prevented by the silver brazed joint. 
The elements of the combination so far described are essentially common for 
the several embodiments of the invention to be described so that like 
numerals are used for like parts or features. Differences in the 
embodiments arise primarily from differences in the glow sensor elements 
used in the various embodiments. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 3, glow sensor element 32 comprises a tubular 
metal sheath 48 having a closed inner end 50, defining a glow tip, and an 
open outer end 52. The inner end 50 extends inwardly from the smaller 
diameter portion 22 of bore 20 through the inner surface 18 of the 
cylinder head into the combustion chamber or pre-chamber of an associated 
diesel engine. Within the glow tip is a heating element 54 which may 
comprise a heater coil 56 connected outwardly with a current regulating 
coil 58. However, other forms of heating coils may also be utilized. 
The inner end of the heating element 54 is connected to a central conductor 
60 while the opposite end of the heating element is connected with a 
second conductor 62. Conductors 60, 62 extend outwardly from their 
connections with the heating element through the open end of the metal 
sheath where they are respectively connected with conductive leads 64, 66. 
A third lead 68 connects with the open end of the metal sheath 48. The 
three leads 64, 66, 68 extend up through the hollow nut 36 and out through 
a rubber sealing plug 70 where they are connected externally with terminal 
clips for connection with an electric power source. The interior of the 
metal sheath 48 is packed with ceramic insulation 71, such as magnesium 
oxide (MgO), to support the heating coil and conductors. A rubber or 
plastic sealing plug 72 is forced into the open inner end of the sheath to 
retain the insulation therein and support the conductors 60, 62 extending 
therethrough. 
In operation lead 68 is connected in an external ion sensor circuit which 
provides a positive charge on the metal sheath so that it may act as an 
ion sensor electrode within the engine combustion chamber. When there is a 
combustion event, electrons in the ionized combustion gas will conduct 
current from the metal sheath 48 to the piston or cylinder head which is 
grounded. Lead 66 is grounded and lead 66 is connected with the positive 
terminal of an electric power source. Leads 64, 66 supply electric current 
to the heating element of the glow sensor when desired so as to heat the 
glow tip of the glow sensor element and thereby aid in ignition of fuel 
during starting and cold running operation of the associated diesel 
engine. 
Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown a second 
combination according to the invention and generally indicated by numeral 
74. Combination 74 includes a cylinder head 12 having the features 
previously indicated with respect to the first embodiment. Within the 
cylinder head are glow sensor components which are identical to those 
previously described except for the glow sensor element 76. Element 76 is 
similar to that previously described except that the inner end of the 
heating element 54 is directly connected with the closed inner end 50 of 
the metal sheath 48. Thus only a single conductor 62 is provided within 
the metal sheath 48 and it is connected to the outer end of the heating 
element 54. Conductor 62 then extends through the plug 72 in the outer end 
of the metal sheath 48 and connects with a single ground lead 66 that 
penetrates the plug 70 which seals the open outer end of the tubular nut 
36. Thus, with this embodiment, the positively charged lead 68 that 
connects with the metal sheath 48 provides a positive charge not only for 
the ion sensing function of the glow tip electrode but also to provide 
current to the heating element 54 for the combustion assisting function of 
the glow sensor. 
Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is shown a third combination 
78 formed according to the invention and including a cylinder head 12 
configured as before and other elements differing only in the form of the 
glow sensor element generally indicated by numeral 80. 
Element 80 is formed from a ceramic rod 82 of a ceramic material such as 
silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4). The ceramic rod 82 has molded therein 
a heater element 54 connected with first and second conductors 60, 62. The 
heating element 54 is located in the inner end of the rod which forms a 
glow tip. On the exterior of the rod end there is printed an ion sensor 
electrode 84 of platinum or palladium ink. This electrode connects with a 
third conductor 86 of printed conductive ink, extending up the exterior of 
the ceramic rod 82 from the ion sensor electrode 84 to the outer end of 
the rod. A protective and insulating ceramic coating 87, such as aluminum 
oxide or glass, covers the surface of the rod from adjacent, but not at, 
the inner end that forms the ion electrode to the outer end. The coating 
87 protects the third conductor 86 from exposure to combustion gases. The 
three conductors 60, 62 and 86 connect with leads 64, 66, 68 as in the 
first described embodiment. One other difference is that the ceramic 
sleeve 34 is fixed to the ceramic coated rod 82 by an adhesive cement 
bond, glass seal, or other suitable means, not shown, capable of providing 
a combustion gas seal as well as structural adhesive characteristics. 
FIG. 5A of the drawings shows a variation of the third combination of FIG. 
5 wherein the ceramic rod 82 has a third conductor 88 molded therein in 
place of the printed external conductor 86 of FIG. 5. Conductor 88 may be 
made of tungsten or the like and connects, through a short connector 89 of 
platinum or palladium ink, with the ion sensor electrode 84 on the tip of 
the ceramic rod 82. The connector 89 protects the tungsten wire 88 from 
corrosion due to exposure to combustion gases. The tungsten wire 88 
extends through the ceramic rod 82 to its inner end where it is connected 
to the third lead 68 (shown in FIG. 5) for connection in the ion sensor 
circuit. 
With this variation, the ceramic coating 87 may be omitted from the rod 82. 
Also, the ceramic sleeve 34 could be used as is or a metal sleeve could be 
substituted if desired, since the insulation of the ceramic rod may be 
sufficient without another ceramic member. In this case, the ground 
conductor 62 could be grounded through the metal sleeve and the nut 36 to 
the cylinder head instead of connecting with insulated lead 66. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, there is shown a fourth combination formed 
according to the invention and generally indicated by numeral 90. Here the 
cylinder head 12 as before carries a glow sensor element 91 in the form of 
a ceramic flat plate 92. The flat plate 92 extends completely through the 
mounting bore 20 and has first and second sides 94, 95. The heating 
element 54 is printed in platinum or palladium ink on the first side 94 of 
the flat plate, adjacent the inner end which forms the glow tip. 
Conductors 60, 62 are printed on the same side and extend from the heating 
element 54 to the outer end of the flat plate 92. On the second side 95 of 
the flat plate, an ion sensor electrode 84 is printed in platinum or 
palladium ink and connects with a third conductor 86 that extends from the 
electrode 84 to the outer end of the second side 95 of the flat plate. At 
the outer end, the conductors 60, 62, 86 are exposed for connection with a 
separate terminal clip, not shown, that provides electric power to the 
heater element 54 and the ion sensor electrode 84. 
Any suitable means may be used to support the flat plate 92 within the 
mounting bore 20. In the present illustration the glow sensor element 91 
includes laminated ceramic lugs or shoulders 96 adhered upon a protective 
coating 87 which covers the printed conductors to prevent their exposure 
to combustion gases and the like. These shoulders 96 are supported by 
glass seal or other insulation material 98 within a ceramic sleeve 99. 
Although somewhat longer, sleeve 99 functions in the same manner as 
ceramic sleeve 34 of the previously described embodiments to fix the glow 
sensor element in position within the mounting bore. A tubular nut 36 
engages the ceramic sleeve 99 to hold it in position against a sealing 
gasket 46 as previously described. 
As used in the claims, the term "combustion chamber" is intended to include 
a pre-chamber or precombustion chamber within its scope. 
While the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred 
embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made 
within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. 
Accordingly it is intended that the invention not be limited to the 
disclosed embodiments, but that it have the full scope permitted by the 
language of the following claims.