Patent ID: 8217309

Claim:
A glow plug assembly for an internal combustion engine and having an integrated internal pressure sensor, said assembly comprising: a shell having an axially extending bore; an elongated heater probe having a base end disposed within said bore in electrical contact with said shell; an electrode in electrical contact with said base end of said heater probe while being electrically insulated from said shell; a pressure sensor disposed within said shell, said pressure sensor supported on one side thereof against said base end of said heater probe and adapted to measure pressure fluctuations when said glow plug assembly is installed in an engine; and a canister disposed within said shell and surrounding said pressure sensor, said canister extending between first and second ends thereof with said first end operatively fixed to said shell and said second end in pressing contact with said pressure sensor for establishing a compressive preload force on said pressure sensor without transmitting transient distortions occurring in said shell to said pressure sensor.