Patent Publication Number: US-9431797-B2

Title: Spark plug electrode gap setting tool

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a tool for setting a spark plug electrode gap. 
     Many reciprocating engines (e.g., internal combustion engines, such as spark ignition liquid, or gas fuel engines) utilize a spark plug to ignite combustion of a fuel with an oxidant within a combustion chamber. Typically, it is desirable to maintain a specific electrode gap between electrodes of the spark plug to ensure proper engine operation. Improper adjustment or setting of the electrode gap may result in a shorter life for the spark plug (e.g., due to unequal erosion of the electrodes) and/or poorer ignition within the engine. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. 
     In accordance with a first embodiment, a spark plug electrode gap setting pliers is provided. The pliers include a first jaw portion coupled to a first shim and a second jaw portion coupled to a second shim. Upon actuation of the pliers, the first and second jaw portions close in parallel to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of electrodes or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment, a system includes a tool configured to set a spark plug electrode gap between a pair of electrodes of a spark plug. The tool includes a first jaw portion including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first longitudinal length and the second portion has a second longitudinal length less than the first longitudinal length. The tool also includes a second jaw portion including a third portion and a fourth portion disposed across from the first and second portions of the first jaw portion respectively, wherein the third portion has a third longitudinal length and the fourth portion has a fourth longitudinal length less than the third longitudinal length. The tool further includes a first handle portion coupled to the first portion of the first jaw portion. The tool still further includes a second handle portion coupled to the third portion of the second jaw portion, wherein the first and second handle portions are coupled at a fulcrum, and the first and second portions close in parallel with respect to each other along the first, second, third, and fourth longitudinal lengths upon actuation of the first and second handle portions. The system also includes a first shim contacting the first jaw portion and a second shim contacting the second jaw portion. The second longitudinal length of the second portion of the first jaw portion and the fourth longitudinal length of the fourth portion of the second jaw portion, upon actuation of the first and second handle portions, provide a bending moment to the first and second shims, respectively, to bend respective electrode supports of the pair of electrodes or bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment, spark plug electrode gap setting pliers are provided. The pliers include a first jaw portion coupled to a first shim and a second jaw portion coupled to a second shim. Upon actuation of the pliers, the first and second jaw portions close to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of opposing electrodes or to bend the pair of opposing electrodes to set a radial gap distance relative to a longitudinal length of a spark plug between the pair of opposing electrodes. The first and second jaw portions are configured to interchangeably couple to shims of different thicknesses to provide different radial gap distances between the pair of opposing electrodes upon actuation of the pliers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool (e.g., pliers) for setting a spark plug electrode gap; 
         FIG. 2  is a side axial view of the pliers in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side axial view of an embodiment of jaw portions of the pliers in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a jaw portion of the pliers in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side axial view of an embodiment of a fastener securing a shim to the jaw portion; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the pliers of  FIG. 1  setting multiple spark plug electrode gaps. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of fabrication and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a tool (e.g., pliers) for setting a spark plug electrode gap. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure include pliers (e.g., spark plug electrode gap setting pliers) that include jaw portions coupled to shims, where upon actuation of the pliers (e.g., actuation of handle portions of the pliers) the jaw portions close in parallel to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of electrodes (e.g., opposing electrodes) or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. In certain embodiments, jaw portions may each be configured to interchangeably couple to shims of different sizes to provide different parallel gap distances between the pair of electrodes upon actuation of the pliers. For example, the pliers may include fasteners to secure the shims to the respective jaw portions. These fasteners may be adjusted to enable removal or securing of the shims to the jaw portions. In certain embodiments, the jaw portions may each include a couple of portions with one of the portions having a shorter longitudinal length than the other portion. The longitudinal lengths of the shorter jaw portions may provide a bending moment to the shims to enable the bending of the electrode supports or electrodes. The disclosed embodiments of the pliers may enable a more accurate and a more parallel gap to be set between the electrodes. In addition, by setting a more accurate and more parallel gap, erosion may occur more evenly on the electrodes and extend the life of the spark plug. 
     Turning now to the drawings and referring first to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an embodiment of tool or pliers  10  (e.g., spark plug electrode gap setting pliers) for setting a spark plug electrode gap is illustrated. In the following discussion, reference may be made to a longitudinal axis or axial direction  12 , a radial axis or direction  14 , and/or a circumferential axis or direction  16  of the pliers  10 . As described in detail below, the disclosed pliers  10  enable a more accurate and more parallel gap (i.e., spark plug gap) to be set between opposing electrodes of a spark plug. By setting a more accurate and more parallel gap, erosion may occur more evenly on the electrodes and extend the life of the spark plug. The disclosed pliers  10  may be utilized on any pair of opposing electrodes of a spark plug having a gap (e.g., radial gap relative to a longitudinal axis of the spark plug). The pliers  10  may also be utilized on a single electrode gap or multiple electrode gaps simultaneously. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the pliers  10  include jaw portions  18 ,  20  that are structurally mirror images of each other. Each jaw portion  18 ,  20  includes an inward facing surface  22  (i.e., facing towards the other jaw portion  18 ,  20 ) and outward facing surface  23 . The inward facing surfaces  22  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  interface with each other along a longitudinal length  24  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . Jaw portion  18  includes portion  26  that axially  12  extends from an axial end  28  of portion  30 . Jaw portion  20  includes portion  32  that axially  12  extends from an axial end  34  of portion  36 . Portions  26 ,  30  are disposed across from portions  20 ,  32 , respectively. Portions  26 ,  30  of jaw portion  18  differ in longitudinal length (see  FIG. 3 ). Portions  32 ,  36  of jaw portion  20  also differ in longitudinal length (see  FIG. 3 ). For example, the longitudinal lengths of portions  26 ,  32  are less than the longitudinal lengths of portions  30 ,  36 . The portions  26 ,  32  include a maximum height (e.g., in the radial direction  14 ) that is less than a minimum height (e.g., in the radial direction  14 ) of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). In certain embodiments, the height of the portions  30 ,  36  gradually decreases along their longitudinal lengths towards respective axial ends  28 ,  34  (see  FIG. 3 ). In certain embodiments, the height of the portions  26 ,  32  also decrease along their longitudinal lengths from end portions  38  coupled to respective axial ends  28 ,  34  to end portions  40  (e.g., free end portions). In some embodiments, the height of the portions  26 ,  32  may be constant along their longitudinal lengths. As depicted, the portions  26 ,  32  include a wall portion  42  (e.g., arcuate-shaped wall portion) that extends both in the axial direction  12  and in a direction  44  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  12  of the pliers  10 . In certain embodiments, each wall portion  42  may be flat. As depicted, each wall portion  42  is flanked by wall portions  46  (e.g., parallel side wall portions) that extend radially  14  from the wall portion  42 . In certain embodiments, no wall portions  46  may extend from the wall portion  42 . 
     The pliers  10  also include handle portions  48 ,  50  coupled to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . Actuation (e.g., squeezing) of the handle portions  48 ,  50  towards each other (as indicated by reference numeral  52 ) enables the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to close in parallel with respect to each other along their longitudinal lengths  24 . The handle portion  50  includes end portions  54 ,  56 . A recess  58  is located within the handle portion  50  adjacent end portion  56  that enables the end portion  56  to be disposed about (e.g., flank) portions of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . The handle portion  48  includes end portions  60 ,  62 . A recess  64  is located within the handle portion  48  adjacent end portion  62  that enables the end portion  62  to be disposed about (e.g., flank) the end portion  56  of the handle portion  50  and portions of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . Thus, the recess  64  increases in width  66  adjacent where the end portion  62  of the handle portion  48  flanks the end portion  56  of the handle portion  50 . The handle portion  50  is coupled to the jaw portion  20  adjacent an axial end  66  of the jaw portion  20  (e.g., opposite the axial end  34 ) via a fastener  68  (e.g., pin, rivet, etc.) that extends through the jaw portion  20  and forms a rotational joint. The handle portion  48  is coupled to the jaw portion  18  adjacent an axial end  70  of the jaw portion  18  (e.g., opposite the axial end  28 ) via a fastener  72  (e.g., pin, rivet, etc.) that extends through the jaw portion  18  and forms a rotational joint. The handle portion  50  is also coupled to the jaw portion  18  at a location between the axial end  28  and the coupling of the handle portion  48  adjacent the axial end  70  via a fastener  74  (e.g., pin, rivet, screw and nut, etc.) that extends through the jaw portion  18  and forms a rotational joint. The handle portion  48  is also coupled to the jaw portion  20  at a location between the axial end  34  and the coupling of the handle portion  50  adjacent the axial end  66  via a fastener  76  (e.g., pin, rivet, screw and nut, etc.) that extends through the jaw portion  20  and forms a rotational joint. Both of the handle portions  48 ,  50  are coupled to both of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  via a common fastener  78  (e.g., pin, rivet, etc.) that passes through both of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  at a location between where the handle portions  48 ,  50  are coupled to the jaw portions  18 ,  20  via the fasteners  68 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 . The common fastener  78  passing through both of the jaws also forms a fulcrum  79  (e.g., rotational joint) where the handle portions  48 ,  50  are coupled to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . 
     As depicted, the handle portion  50  includes a biasing element  80  (e.g., spring) on an inward surface  82  (i.e., facing handle portion  48 ) that biases (e.g., spring loads) the handle portions  48 ,  50  into an open position. The biasing element  80  is coupled to the handle portion  50  adjacent the end portion  54  and to the axial end  66  of the jaw portion  20 . In certain embodiments, the handle portion  48  may also include an additional biasing element. Alternatively, the handle portion  48  alone may include a biasing element. 
     As depicted, the pliers  10  further include shims  84 . Actuation  52  of the pliers  10  (e.g., handle portions  48 ,  50 ) enables the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to close in parallel to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of electrodes of a spark plug or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap (e.g., gap of equal distance along length of gap) between the pair of electrodes. The longitudinal lengths of the portions  26 ,  32  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  are of a length to provide a bending moment to the first and second shims to bend the respective electrode supports of the pair of electrodes or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide the parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. Each jaw portion  18 ,  20  is coupled to a single shim  84  adjacent axial ends  28 ,  34 , respectively, of the portions  30 ,  36 . Ends  86  of the shims  84  are coupled to the portions  30 ,  36 , while ends  88  extend axially  12  beyond the end portions  40  of the portions  26 ,  32  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 , respectively. The shims  84  may be coupled (e.g., secured) to the jaw portions  18 ,  20  via fasteners  142  (e.g., screws, Allen screws, snap-fit, latch, thumb screw, friction or interference fit, etc.) (see  FIG. 5 ). In certain embodiments, the shims  84  may not be coupled or secured to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 , but instead only contact the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . The jaw portions  18 ,  20  each include a recess  90  to receive the end  86  of a respective shim  84 . Each jaw portion  18 ,  20  also includes a bore  92  located adjacent the axial ends  28 ,  34 . Each bore  92  radially  14  extends perpendicular (e.g., crosswise) to the longitudinal length  24  or axis  12  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  through the portions  30 ,  36  from surface  23  to surface  22 . As described in greater detail below, the fasteners  142  are disposed within the bores  92  to secure the shims  84  to the jaw portions  18 ,  20  (see  FIG. 5 ). In addition, the fasteners  142  may be adjusted to enable the removal of the shims  84  and replacement with different shims (e.g., of a different size). Thus, the fasteners  142  enable the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to interchangeably couple to shims of different thicknesses to provide different parallel gap distances between the pair of electrodes upon actuation of the pliers  10 . For example, a first pair of shims, each of the same size, may provide a first gap distance, while a second pair of shims, each of the same size (but of a different size from the first pair of shims) may provide a second gap distance different from the first gap distance. The pliers  10  may be coupled to any number of shim sets, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more shim sets, which are different from one another to provide different gap distances. Wall portions  94  at the axial ends  28 ,  34  of the portions  30 ,  36  may extend in the radial direction  14  to be nearly flush with or extend beyond an inward facing surface  96  (i.e., surface facing other shim  84  and that contacts an electrode or electrode support) of a respective shim  84  to block movement of the shim  84  in the direction  44 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side axial view of the pliers  10  in  FIG. 1 . The pliers  10  are structurally and functionally as described in  FIG. 1 . Actuation  52  of the pliers  10  (e.g., handle portions  48 ,  50 ) enables the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to close in parallel (e.g., along the longitudinal lengths  24  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 ) to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of electrodes of a spark plug or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap (e.g., gap of equal distance along length of gap) between the pair of electrodes. The closing of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  in parallel also results in the shims  84  closing in parallel. Thus, a distance or gap  98  between the surfaces  96  of the shims  84  along their longitudinal length  100  in the axial direction  12  is constant. 
     A longitudinal length  102  of portions  26 ,  32  of the respective jaw portions  18 ,  20  is of a length to provide a bending moment to the first and second shims to bend the respective electrode supports of the pair of electrodes or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide the parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. The longitudinal length  102  of the portions  26 ,  32  is less than a longitudinal length  104  of each portion  30 ,  36 , of the respective jaw portions  18 ,  20 . The longitudinal length  102  may be less than approximately 50 percent and greater than 0 percent of the longitudinal length  24  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . The longitudinal length  102  may range between approximately greater than 0 to 25 percent, greater than 0 to 15 percent, 15 to 25 percent, 25 to less than 50 percent, 35 to less than 50 percent, and all subranges therein of the longitudinal length  24  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . For example, the longitudinal length  102  may be approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 percent of the longitudinal length  24 . A ratio of the longitudinal length  104  of the portions  30 ,  36  to the longitudinal length  102  of the portions  26 ,  32  may range from approximately 10:1 to 1.25:1, 10:1 to 5:1, 1.25:1 to 5:1, and all subranges therein. The ratio of the longitudinal length  104  of the portions  30 ,  36  to the longitudinal length  102  of the portions  26 ,  32  may be approximately 10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1.5:1, 1.25:1, and all ratios therebetween. 
     Also, as mentioned above, a height  106  (e.g., from surface  23  to surface  22  in radial direction  14 ) of the portions  30 ,  36  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  may vary along the longitudinal length  104 . For example, the height  106  may gradually decrease (e.g., in a linear or non-liner manner) from the axial ends  66 ,  70  to the axial ends  28 ,  34  (e.g., with the smallest height  106  being located adjacent axial ends  28 ,  34 ). At certain portions along the longitudinal length  104 , the height  106  may be constant. Also, a height  108  (e.g., from surface  23  to surface  22  in radial direction  14 ) of the portions  26 ,  32  may vary along the longitudinal length  102 . For example, the height  108  may gradually decrease (e.g., in a linear or non-liner manner) from the axial ends  38  to the axial ends  40  (e.g., with the smallest height  108  being located adjacent axial ends  40 ). At certain portions along the longitudinal length  102 , the height  108  may be constant. In certain embodiments, the height  108  may decrease in a stepped manner from the axial ends  38  to the axial ends  40 . The maximum height  108  of the portions  26 ,  32  is less than the minimal height  106  of the portions  30 ,  36  of the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . The height  108  may be range from approximately greater than 0 to 90 percent, 10 to 50 percent, 10 to 25 percent, 25 to 50 percent, 50 to 90 percent, 50 to 75 percent, 75 to 90 percent, and all subranges therein, of the height  106 . For example, the height  108  may be 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 percent of the height  106 . A ratio of the height  106  to the height  108  may range from approximately 10:1 to 1.25:1, 10:1 to 5:1, 1.25:1 to 5:1, and all subranges therein. In certain embodiments, the ratio of the height  106  to the height  108  may be approximately 10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1.5:1, 1.25, and all ratios therebetween. 
       FIG. 3  is a side axial view of an embodiment of the jaw portions  18 ,  20  of the pliers  10  in  FIG. 1 . The jaw portions  18 ,  20  are as described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the jaw portions  18 ,  20  include recesses and/or openings for the fasteners described above. For example, the axial end  70  of the portion  30  of the jaw portion  18  includes a recess  110  (e.g., elongated recess or slot extending through portion  30  perpendicular to the longitudinal length  104 ) for receiving the fastener  72  (e.g., rivet or pin). The axial end  70  of the portion  30  also includes an opening  112  (e.g., extending crosswise relative to the longitudinal length  104  between the surfaces  22 ,  23 ) that enables coupling of the biasing element  80  to the jaw portion  18 . Between the recess  110  and the axial end  28 , the portion  30  includes an opening  114  (e.g., cylindrical opening) that extends through portion  30  perpendicular to the longitudinal length  104  for receiving the fastener  74  (e.g., rivet, pin, screw and nut, etc.). In certain embodiments, the opening  114  may be located closer to axial end  28  than axial end  70 . The axial end  66  of the portion  36  of the jaw portion  20  includes a recess  116  (e.g., elongated recess or slot extending through portion  36  perpendicular to the longitudinal length  104 ) for receiving the fastener  68  (e.g., rivet or pin). Recesses  110 ,  116  axially  12  extend parallel with respect to each other along the longitudinal length  104 . The axial end  66  of the portion  36  also includes an opening  118  (e.g., extending crosswise relative to the longitudinal length  104  between the surfaces  22 ,  23 ) that enables coupling of the biasing element  80  to the jaw portion  20 . Between the recess  116  and the axial end  34 , the portion  36  includes an opening  120  (e.g., cylindrical opening) that extends through portion  36  perpendicular to the longitudinal length  104  for receiving the fastener  76  (e.g., rivet, pin, screw and nut, etc.). In certain embodiments, the opening  120  may be located closer to axial end  34  than axial end  66 . Portions  30 ,  36  of jaw portions  18 ,  20  include cavities or recesses  122 ,  124 , respectively, which together define an opening  126  that extends through portions  30 ,  36  for receiving the fastener  78  (e.g., rivet, pin, etc.). 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the jaw portion  20  of the pliers  10  in  FIG. 3 . Jaw portion  18  is structurally and functionally the same as jaw portion  20 . Also, jaw portions  18 ,  20  are structurally and functionally as described above. As noted above, the shim  84  is coupled to the portion  36  of the jaw portion  20  adjacent the axial end  34 . Specifically, the end  86  of the shim  84  is secured within the recess  90 . The recess  90  includes a first recess portion  128  and a second recess portion  130 . The first recess portion  128  is defined by a main body portion  132  and an overhang portion  134  of the portion  36  of the jaw portion  20 . The overhang portion  134  extends in the axial direction  12  parallel to the main body portion  132  with a gap  136  (e.g., radial gap) between them. The end  86  of the shim  84  is secured within the recess portion  128  as described in greater detail below (see  FIG. 5 ). For example, a fastener  142  disposed within bore  92  may secure or couple the shim  84  to the jaw portion  20 . The bore  92  extends through both the main body portion  132  and the overhang portion  134 . The main body portion  132  extends in the axial direction  12  beyond an axial end  138  (e.g., free end) of the overhang portion  134 . As described above, the wall portions  94  at the axial end  34  of the portions  36  extends in the radial direction  14  to be nearly flush with or extend beyond the inward facing surface  96  of the shim  84  (see  FIG. 1 ). These wall portions  94  along with surface  140  define the second recess portion  130  of the recess  90 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side axial view of an embodiment of a fastener  142  securing or coupling the shim  84  to the jaw portion  20 . Jaw portion  18  is structurally and functionally the same as jaw portion  20 . Also, jaw portions  18 ,  20  are structurally and functionally as described above. The jaw portion  20  includes the bore  92  located adjacent the axial end  34  (see  FIG. 1 ). The bore  92  radially  14  extends perpendicular to the longitudinal length  24  or axis  12  of the jaw portion  20  through the main body portion  132  and partially into the overhang portion  134  of the portion  36  from surface  23  to surface  22 . The bore  92  includes a first diameter  144  between an inner surface  146  of the main body portion  132  and a second diameter  148  between an inner surface  150  of the overhang portion  134 . The first diameter  144  is greater than the second diameter  148 . In certain embodiments, the inner surface  146  of the bore  92  in the main body portion  132  may be threaded (e.g., for threading to fastener  142 ). The end  86  of the shim  84  includes an opening  152  to receive the fastener  142  to secure the shim  84  to the jaw portion  20 . When properly disposed within the recess  90 , a center of the opening  152  aligns with a central axis  153  through the bore  92 . 
     The fastener  142  may include a threaded fastener or screw (e.g., Allen screw) or any other type of fastener that can have a position changed within the bore  92 . In certain embodiments, the fastener  142  may include a recess  155  to receive a tool (e.g., Allen wrench or other type of wrench, etc.) to rotate the fastener  142 . In certain embodiments, a surface  154  may include a threaded surface to engage threads of the bore  92 . In certain embodiments, the fastener  142  may include an anti-vibrational feature to block loosening of the fastener  142  due to unintentional or vibrational loosening. The fastener  142  includes a main body portion  156  portion and a nose portion  158 . The main body portion  156  includes a first diameter  160  and the nose portion  158  includes a second diameter  162 . The first diameter  160  is greater than the second diameter  162 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , when the fastener  142  is in a position to secure or couple the shim  84  to the jaw portion  20 , the nose portion  158  extends through the opening  152  of the shim  84  and the bore  92  into the overhang portion  134 . The main body portion  156  is disposed within the bore  92  in the main body portion  132  of the portion  36 . In certain embodiments, depending on the diameter  162  of the opening  152  in the shim  84 , a portion of the main body portion  156  of the fastener  142  may extend into the opening  152 . To secure the shim  84  to the jaw portion  20 , the fastener  142  is moved linearly along its axis (e.g., in response to rotation) in the radial direction  14  towards the overhang portion  138 . To enable removal of the shim  84 , the fastener  142  is moved linearly along its axis (e.g., in response to rotation) in the radial direction  14  away from the overhang portion  138  until no portion of the fastener  142  is disposed within the opening  152  of the shim  84 . The adjustment of the fastener  142  enables the removal of the shims  84  and replacement with different shims  84  (e.g., of a different size). Thus, the fasteners  142  enable the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to interchangeably couple to shims of different thicknesses to provide different parallel gap distances between the pair of electrodes upon actuation of the pliers  10 . For example, a first pair of shims, each of the same size, may provide a first gap distance, while a second pair of shims, each of the same size (but of a different size from the first pair of shims) may provide a second gap distance different from the first gap distance. In certain embodiments, the shims  84  may not be coupled or secured to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 , but instead merely contact the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . 
     As mentioned above, the pliers  10  may be utilized on any pair of opposing electrodes of a spark plug having a gap (e.g., radial gap relative to a longitudinal axis of the spark plug).  FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the pliers  10  of  FIG. 1  setting multiple spark plug electrode gaps  164  of a spark plug  166  simultaneously. In certain embodiments, the pliers  10  may also be utilized on a single electrode gap. Only portions of the pliers  10  and the spark plug  166  are depicted in  FIG. 6 . The pliers  10  are as described above. As depicted, the spark plug  166  includes structures  168 ,  170 ,  172  extending in the axial direction  12  from the spark plug  166 . The structures  168 ,  170 ,  172  include gaps  164  (e.g., radial gap relative to a longitudinal axis  174  of the spark plug  166 ) between them. In certain embodiments, structure  168  represents the central electrode  168 , while structures  170 ,  172  represent side electrodes  170 ,  172  (e.g., ground electrodes). In certain embodiments, structures  168 ,  170 ,  172  may refer to the electrode supports and the electrodes may be located at free ends  176  of the supports  168 ,  170 ,  172 . Actuation  52  of the pliers  10  (e.g., handle portions  48 ,  50 ) enables the jaw portions  18 ,  20  to close in parallel to bend the structures  168  and  172  (e.g., electrode supports and/or electrodes) of the spark plug  166  to provide parallel gaps  164  (e.g., gap of equal distance along a length  178  of gap) between structures  168  and  170  (e.g., electrode supports and/or electrodes) and between structures  168  and  172  (e.g., electrodes and/or electrodes supports. The same process may be carried out with the pliers  10  for a single pair of opposing electrodes  168  and  170  or  168  and  172  to set the gap  164  between them. As mentioned above, the shims  84  are coupled and/or secured to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . In certain embodiments, the shims  84  are not coupled to the jaw portions  18 ,  20 , but instead contact the jaw portions  18 ,  20 . In this case, the shims  84  are first disposed about the structures  170 ,  172  and then the pliers  10  are utilized on the shims  84  to provide the parallel gaps  164 . 
     Technical effects of the disclosed embodiments include providing pliers  10  for setting a spark plug electrode gap  164 . The pliers  10  may include the jaw portions  18 ,  20  coupled to the shims  84 , where upon actuation of the pliers  10  the jaw portions  18 ,  20  close in parallel to bend respective electrode supports of a pair of electrodes (e.g., opposing electrodes) or to bend the pair of electrodes to provide a parallel gap between the pair of electrodes. In certain embodiments, the jaw portions  18 ,  20  may each be configured to interchangeably couple to shims  84  of different sizes to provide different parallel gap distances between the pair of electrodes upon actuation of the pliers  10 . The pliers  10  may enable a more accurate and a more parallel gap  164  to be set between the electrodes. In addition, by setting a more accurate and more parallel gap, erosion may occur more evenly on the electrodes and extend the life of the spark plug  166 . 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.