High voltage connection sealing method for corona ignition coil
View Patent ↗A corona igniter assembly 20 comprises an ignition coil assembly 22 , a firing end assembly 24 , and a metal tube 26 connecting the ignition coil assembly 22 to the firing end assembly 24 . A rubber boot 28 is disposed in the metal tube 26 and compressed symmetrically between a coil output member 30 of the ignition coil assembly 22 and an insulator 42 of the firing end assembly 24 . Thus, the rubber boot 28 fills any air gaps and provides a hermetic seal between the ignition coil assembly 22 and the firing end assembly 24 to prevent unwanted corona discharge from forming from those air gaps.
1. An igniter assembly comprising:
a metal tube;
an ignition coil device coupled to one end of said metal tube;
an igniter device coupled to an opposite end of said lube;
an interior space of said metal tube that is not occupied by either said ignition coil or said igniter;
at least one opening extending through a wall of said metal tube in communication with said interior space;
an elastomeric plug disposed in said interior space sealing said at least one opening and providing a hermetic seal between said ignition coil device and said igniter device; and
wherein said elastomeric plug includes a first cup-shaped recess at said one end surrounding a portion of said ignition coil device received therein.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric plug includes a second cup-shaped recess at said opposite end surrounding a portion of said igniter device received therein.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said elastomeric plug includes a channel connecting said first and second cup-shaped recesses.
4. The assembly of claim 3 including an electrical terminal disposed in said channel.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric plug includes a channel extending between said ignition coil device and said igniter device and in which an electrical terminal is disposed.
6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said igniter device includes a ceramic insulator having said portion thereof received in said second cup-shaped recess.
7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said ceramic insulator has a bore and including an electrode disposed in said bore.
8. The assembly of claim 7 including a firing tip crown disposed on a free end of said electrode and operative to produce a corona ignition when the igniter assembly is fired.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the firing tip crown projects beyond said opposite end of said metal tube and the igniter assembly is devoid of a ground electrode and devoid of a spark gap.
10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric plug extends at least partially into said at least one opening.
11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said openings communicating with said interior space and all are sealed by said elastomeric plug.
12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said igniter device is a corona ignition device.
13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said ignition coil device is spaced longitudinally from said igniter device and electrically coupled by an electrode extending through a channel of said elastomeric plug.
14. An igniter assembly comprising:
a metal tube;
an ignition coil device coupled to one end of said metal tube;
an igniter device coupled to an opposite end of said tube;
an interior space of said metal tube that is not occupied by either said ignition coil or said igniter;
at least one opening extending through a wall of said metal tube in communication with said interior space;
an elastomeric plug disposed in said interior space sealing said at least one opening and providing a hermetic seal between said ignition coil device and said igniter device; and
wherein said elastomeric plug includes a recess at said one end and a recess at said opposite end;
said recesses being spaced longitudinally from one another by a central body portion of said elastomeric plug and interconnected by a central channel extending through said central body portion.