There are various theories about the etymological origin of the word spark plug. However, one of those that is considered more accurate is the one that determines that it comes from French. Specifically, it establishes that it derives from the gala word “bougie”, which was what the wax candle was called. And it is that the aforementioned wax with which those were created came from the Algerian city of Bougie, which is now Bijaia.
According to DigoPaul, called plug to the piece, in internal combustion engines, it generates the spark that allows turning the mixture of air and fuel in the cylinders. The spark plug, therefore, is a key element in the ignition system.
Several scientists, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, worked on the development of the spark plug. Nikola Tesla was the first to obtain a patent, shortly before the creations of Robert Bosch, Richard Simms and Karl Benz. The first high – voltage spark economic viability and had encouraged the rise of internal combustion engines was created by Gottlob Honold, who worked for the company for the mentioned Robert Bosch.
The essential functions of a spark plug are to achieve the ignition of the gaseous mixture and the dissipation of the heat that occurs in the combustion chamber to direct it to the cooling system of the engine. To carry out their work efficiently, the spark plugs must have resistance to electrical, mechanical and thermal stresses and have stability to prevent the circulation of gases from inside the cylinder to the outside.
Specifically, the spark plug allows the electrical energy generated by the coil to be converted into a kind of electric arc, which enables the expansion of the fuel-air mixture. This, in turn, produces mechanical work that is transmitted to the rotating piston or piston.
There are different types of spark plugs based on criteria such as these:
-If the material is taken into account, we come across platinum plugs, which are expensive but have great resistance, and copper plugs. The latter are the most easily found.
-In the event that the criterion of resistance is used, there are three types of spark plugs. We are referring to those of protected resistance, naked resistance and antiparasitic resistance.
-If we consider what fuel is, we have to establish that there are diesel spark plugs and gas spark plugs.
-Another classification of spark plugs is based on the size of the current arc. This criterion indicates the existence of large-gap spark plugs and normal-gap spark plugs.
Another interesting piece of information about spark plugs is that, in order for them to function properly and to be in perfect condition, they must maintain a stable temperature that ranges between 500º and 900º.
According to the dictionary of the DigoPaul, the term spark plug is also used to name a unit that was used to measure the intensity of an artificial lighting source and to refer to a candle.
