SPARK PLUG ULTRASOUND WHISTLE

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims benefit to United States Provisional Application No. 61/045,190, filed April 15, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND [0002] In a text book published by McGraw Hill, 1960, titled "Whistle Ultrasonics" by Benson Carlin, whistle type ultrasound is described operating in a range of 5000 to 10,000 cycles per second. The frequency wave length for ultrasound is 8 inches in solid material, 2.4 inches in liquids and approximately 0.63 inches in atmospheric air. The type of wave produced by whistles are longitudinal and "L" waves. An ultrasonic wave in a gas or in an air fuel mixture starts out as a longitudinal wave and when it strikes particles of fuel, it turns into a "L" wave. The more particles of fuel the "L" wave hits, the more excited it becomes.

When the "L" wave strikes the side of a spark plug and any other metal surface in it's path, the wave is amplified twice. The more surfaces the ultrasound wave strikes, the greater the acceleration. When sound waves are traveling through various mediums, the waves are reflected, refracted, defracted, scattered and multiplied. Like any whistle sound, the more air that crosses the whistle, the more the volume it produces. Today, ultrasound is used in a variety of industries for cleaning, metal testing and like applications.

[0003] The previous work of inventor Walter Sacarto found in U.S. Patent No.5, 950,585 detailed the use of ultrasonic whistles in sparkplugs and is herein incorporated by reference. In U.S. Patent No.5,950,585 the inventor relied on the placement of ultrasonic whistles formed within the ceramic portion of a specialized or modified sparkplug.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An exemplary sparkplug of the disclosure utilizes ultrasonic whistles formed within the metal threaded portion of a conventional or modified spark plug. Furthermore, the sparkplug includes an ultrasound whistle ring which is manufactured to coordinate with a standard, conventional, or modified spark plug and is fixed in place at the end of the metal threaded portion of said spark plug.

[0005] Another exemplary sparkplug of the disclosure includes spark plug which is either modified before or after production to include a plurality of ultrasound/ultrasonic whistles in the treaded metal portion of the spark plug wherein said whistles accelerate the speed of the air fuel mixture inside a combustion cylinder from about 100 feet per second to an ultrasound range of about 5000 cycles per second. Thereby, improving the air fuel mixture prior to ignition in a gasoline engine.

[0006] Another exemplary apparatus of the disclosure includes a whistle ring (spark plug adaptor component) including a plurality of ultrasound/ultrasonic whistles and adapted to be fixed in place at the end of the threaded metal portion of a standard, conventional or modified spark plug wherein the whistle ring whistles accelerate the speed of the air fuel mixture inside a combustion cylinder from about 100 feet per second to an ultrasound range of about 5000 cycles per second.

[0007] Items and/or techniques described herein may provide one or more of the following capabilities. The utilization of ultrasound spark plugs and/or whistle rings can improve engine efficiency, performance and longevity, while reducing emissions, using cost effective and environmentally friendly technology. An air fuel mixture prior to ignition in a gasoline engine can be improved. Increased engine performance, acceleration and improved fuel mileage can be provided. A cleaner burning air fuel mixture can result in reduced fuel emissions into the environment. The life of the spark plug can be improved under normal operating conditions. The spark plug may not be as susceptible to electrical erosion and the porcelain of the plug is designed can be self cleaning. The speed of the air fuel mixture inside a combustion cylinder can be accelerated where the air fuel mixture is increased from about 100 feet per second to an ultrasound range of about 5000 cycles per second. The increased speed of the air fuel mixture can creates a greater and more homogenous air fuel mixture prior to ignition in the engine cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard spark plug with the ultrasound whistles incorporated into the metal threaded portion of the spark plug. [0010] FlG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a lower portion of the spark plug illustrating the ultrasound whistles incorporated into the metal threaded portion of the spark plug.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of the lower portion of the spark plug with the ultrasound whistles in a spaced relationship to each other disposed around the end of the metal threaded portion.

[0012] FlG. 4 is a perspective view of a whistle ring embodiment with the ultrasound whistles in a spaced relationship to each other.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross sectional of a whistle hole having upwardly extending lips disposed around the top of the hole. Also arrows are shown to illustrate laminar flow of the air fuel mixture prior to passing over the top of the whistle hole and arrows illustrating the increased speed, turbulence and mixing of the air fuel mixture at ultrasound speed when passing over the top of the whistle hole.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a view of a combustion chamber including ultrasound whistles producing modified "L" waves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Embodiments of the disclosure include the following spark plug examples below:

1) A specialized spark plug is manufactured with ultrasound whistles in the metal threaded portion of the spark plug;

2) A standard or conventional spark plug is modified to comprise ultrasound whistles in the metal threaded portion of the spark plug; typically by machining the spark plug after original manufacture;

3) A whistle ring (spark plug adaptor component) manufactured to coordinate with a standard or conventional spark plug is placed at the end of the metal threaded portion of a standard or conventional spark plug and fixed in place;

4) A standard or conventional spark plug is modified after original manufacture typically by reducing the metal threaded portion of a standard or conventional spark plug so that a whistle ring (spark plug adaptor component) manufactured to coordinate with a standard or conventional spark plug may be fixed in place at the end of metal threaded portion of a standard or conventional spark plug.

[0016] Embodiments of the disclosure include ultrasound whistles constructed in the form of whistle holes either in a spark plug itself or in a spark plug adaptor. The whistle holes are disposed around a circumference of the metal threaded portion of a spark plug or separate

metal whistle ring (spark plug adaptor component) in a spaced relationship and next to the spark plug's electrode. The holes have a depth in a range of 0.032 to 0.050 inches. Also, the whistle holes have a diameter in a range of 0.031 to 0.033 inches. Around the top of the small closed end whistle holes are upwardly extending lips. The upwardly extending lips have a height above the surface of the metal of 0.015 to 0.040 inches. The combined structure of the size of the whistle holes in the metal threaded portion or whistle ring and the upwardly extending lips accelerate the air fuel mixture from 100 feet per second to an ultrasound range of 5000 cycles per second. The increased frequency and speed of the air fuel mixture creates a greater and more homogenous air fuel mixture prior to and during ignition in the engine cylinder.

[0017] These and other aspects will become apparent to those familiar air fuel mixtures in an internal combustion engine, the use of ultrasound and whistles operating in an ultrasound range of 5000 cycles per second and greater when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments disclosed herein are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.

[0018] In FIG. 1, a perspective view of a standard spark plug having a general reference numeral 10. The spark plug 10 includes an ignition wire cap 12, a spark plug body 14, a metal threaded portion 16 for mounting the spark plug 10 in a gasoline engine motor block, an electrode 18 for igniting the air fuel mixture inside a combustion cylinder and an electrode ground 20 disposed next to an end of the electrode 18. A gap 21 is shown therebetween the end of the electrode ground 20 and a portion of the electrode ground 20. A ceramic core 22 is disposed around an upper portion of the electrode 18. The ceramic core acts as an insulator for the electrode 18 during the ignition of the air fuel mixture. The downwardly extending exposed end of the electrode 18 typically has a diameter in a range of 0.060 to 0.10 inches. Formed in the end of the metal threaded portion 16 are a plurality of ultrasound whistles 24.

[0019] In FIG. 2, an enlarged side view of a lower portion of the spark plug 10 is shown illustrating the ultrasound whistles 24. In this view the whistles are shown disposed in the metal threaded portion 16 and in a spaced relationship to each other. The number of ultrasound whistles may vary from 3 up to 12 or more. In the gap 21 are broken lines 23 used to illustrate the ignition and burning of the air fuel mixture at the end of the spark plug 10.

[0020] In FIG. 3, a greatly enlarged perspective view of the lower portion of the spark plug 10 is illustrated wherein the ultrasound whistles 24 are shown in a spaced relationship to each other and disposed around the end of the metal threaded portion 16. In this view, the whistles 24 are shown made up of a plurality of whistle holes 26. The whistle holes 26 have a diameter "D". The diameter "D" may be in a range of 0.031 to 0.033 inches. The whistle holes 26 have a closed end. At the top of each hole is a raised lip 28 therearound which is used to increase the speed of the air fuel mixture as it passes over the top of each whistle hole 26.

[0021] In FIG. 4, a greatly enlarged perspective view of a whistle ring 100 is illustrated wherein the ultrasound whistles 124 are shown in a spaced relationship to each other and disposed around the whistle ring 100. In this view, the whistles 124 are shown made up of a plurality of whistle holes 126. The whistle holes 126 have a diameter "D". The diameter "D" may be in a range of 0.031 to 0.033 inches. The whistle holes 126 have a closed end (not shown). At the top of each hole is a raised lip 128 therearound which is used to increase the speed of the air fuel mixture as it passes over the top of each whistle hole 126. A bottom surface 150 of said whistle ring 100 is interfitted with a standard or modified sparkplug such that said bottom surface 150 is in proximity with the threaded end of a sparkplug. The ring may be continuous or have a gap as shown 200 for assisting the mating relationship with a sparkplug. [0022] FIGs 5 and 6 show how the whistles interact with fuel and air to improve the fuel burning process with either a sparkplug including whistles or a whistle ring.

[0023] In FIG. 5, a greatly enlarged cross sectional view of a portion a whistle hole is illustrated. In this view, the ultrasound whistle hole 26 is shown formed in the metal threaded portion 16 with the whistle hole 26 having an upwardly extending lip 28 disposed around the top of the hole 26. The height of the lip 28 above the surface of the whistle hole 26 is approximately 0.015 inches. The hole has a depth "d". The depth "d" is in a range of 0.032 to 0.050 inches.

[0024] Also shown in this drawing are long arrows 30 which illustrate laminar flow of a typical air fuel mixture prior to passing over the top of the whistle hole 26 and having a typical speed up to 100 feet per second prior to combustion. Short arrows 32 illustrate what starts out as a longitudinal wave and then when the sound wave hits an air fuel particle it becomes a "L" wave 32. As the "L" waves 32, as shown in FIG. 6, hit additional air fuel particles within the combustion chamber 40, the speed increases with added turbulence and

increased mixing of the air fuel mixture at ultrasound frequencies in a range of 5000 cycles per second and greater. This important feature provides for an increase of 500 per cent in the air fuel movement past the spark plug 10.

[0025] When the air fuel mixture represented by arrows 30 passes over the top of the whistle hole 26, a vacuum is drawn therein. With the lip 28 around the top of the hole 26, the laminar flow of the air fuel mixture is broken up and turbulence is created. With the turbulence of the air fuel mixture, a more complete mixture of the air and fuel occurs. Also, the air fuel mixture accelerates thus creating, as indicated by the "L" waves 32, a more homogenous air fuel mixture prior to ignition. The use of the whistles 24 on or in proximity with the threaded portion 16 of a sparkplug 10 provide, as mentioned above, for more rapid fire and efficient burning of the fuel thereby greatly reducing fuel emissions into the environment.

[0026] While operating, a gas engine operates at various densities and pressures. In the combustion chamber of the engine and at the time just before ignition occurs, a maximum density and sound frequency using the whistles 24 is reached with a wave length of upward to 2.0 inches. This increase of wave length with the "L" waves 32 provides for greater turbulence and mixing of the air fuel mixture prior to and during ignition. When ignition occurs, the pressure in the chamber escalates along with the ultrasound frequency produced by the whistles 24. The increase in sound frequency drives the burn rate upward into a range of 5000 to 10,000 cycles per second. This is compared to a standard gas engine operating with no ultrasound frequency and at a burn rate of 100 feet per second.

[0027] With a gas engine using the ultrasound whistles and operating at a burn rate of 5000 to 10,000 cycles per second, fuel efficiency improves by 35 to 50 percent with 50 percent reduction in emissions and improved engine horsepower in a range of 25 to 40 percent depending on the rpm of the engine.

[0028] While the disclosure has been shown, described and illustrated in detail with reference to the above described embodiments and modifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure, except as precluded by the prior art.