Transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine employed in automobiles or the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, ignition systems for internal combustion engines are made such that a high voltage output from an ignition coil is transferred through a transmission device to a spark plug. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional direct plug-fitted transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine. In the figure, a cylinder head 1 is provided with a plug aperture 2. A spark plug 3 is screwed into a bottom portion of the plug hole 2. The spark plug 3 has an electrically conductive portion 3a. 
     An ignition system 4 of an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil 5 and a transmission device 6. The transmission device 6 has an insulating coat 7 and a conductor 8. The insulating coat 7 is made of a silicone rubber which is an elastic insulating material. The insulating coat 7 has a cylindrical housing portion 7a that has a larger circumference at the spark plug 3 end and the end of which is formed into a thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. A spring 11 is housed in the cylindrical housing portion 7a. The conductor 8 is turned out from a stiff round brass bar and covered with the insulating coat 7 thereby being insulated from the outside. 
     A plug-side elastic member 9 is provided with an inner cylindrical portion 9b having, at its center portion, a plug engaging aperture 9a in which the spark plug 3 is fitted. Further, the plug-side elastic member 9 is equipped with an outer cylindrical portion 9d located outside the inner cylindrical portion 9b with an engagement groove 9c being formed therebetween, and a reinforcing flange portion 9e formed at the top end portion of the outer cylindrical portion 9d as illustrated. These portions of the plug-side elastic member 9 are integrally formed using a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. 
     The thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7 is inserted into the engagement groove 9c of the plug-side elastic member 9 so that a gap F exists between the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 9d and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b, and a gap G exists between the outer circumference of the inner cylindrical portion 9b and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. A silicone rubber-based adhesive agent 10 is packed in the gap F over the length L as illustrated. The adhesive length L is determined so that the plug-side elastic member 9 and the cylindrical housing portion 7a of the insulating coat 7 do not become disconnected from each other when the plug-side elastic member 9 is removed from the spark plug 3 by pulling on the insulating coat 7. Further, the adhesive agent 10 extends slightly above the flange portion 9e so that the cylindrical housing portion 7a and the outer cylindrical portion 9d thereby adhere to each other. 
     Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure that the conductor 8, the spring 11 and the electrically conductive portion 3a of the spark plug 3 are insulated from such grounded members as the cylinder head 1. To this end, the bonding adhesive agent 10 is packed so that a leakage gap does not remain between the outer circumference of the cylindrical housing portion 7a and the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 9d. The cylindrical housing portion 7a is inserted into the engagement groove 9c after the adhesive agent 10 is applied onto its outer circumference over the length L. The spring 11 is formed by winding an elastic, conductive wire into a coil, and its upper end portion is then fixed to the conductor 8 to be electrically coupled thereto. 
     A coil-side elastic member 12 is made of an elastic polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Further, although not illustrated, in the inside of the coil-side elastic member 12, one end portion of the conductor 8 is electrically connected with the high voltage side terminal of the ignition coil 5 and insulated from the outside. The transmission device 6 is composed of the insulating member 7, the conductor 8, the plug-side elastic member 9, the adhesive agent 10, the spring 11, and the coil-side elastic member 12. 
     In the transmission device 6 constructed as described above, the spark plug 3 is fitted into the plug engaging aperture 9a of the plug-side elastic member 9 with a given force, and the spring 11 is compressed to press the conductive portion 3a of the spark plug 3 to be electrically connected therewith. 
     The operation will now be described. A high voltage output from the ignition coil 5 travels from the conductor 8 through the spring 11 to the spark plug 3. The gap G present between the inner cylindrical portion 9b of the plug-side elastic member 9 and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7 permits enlargement and deformation of the diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 9b when the spark plug 3 is fit into the plug-side elastic member 9, thus facilitating insertion and removal of the spark plug 3 into and from the plug-side elastic member 9. 
     A problem arises with such conventional transmission devices for ignition systems, however, in that a long adhesive range, i.e., adhesive length L, between the cylindrical housing portion 7a of the insulating coat 7 and the outer cylindrical portion 9d of the plug-side elastic member 9 is necessary, resulting in difficulties in achieving size-reduction, particularly the reduction of the axial dimension thereof, of the plug-side elastic member 9 made, for example, of an expensive silicone rubber. In addition, there is a possibility that the adhesive agent 10 could flow under the lower end portion of the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b into the gap G between the inner cylindrical portion 9b of the plug-side elastic member 9 and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7. If the adhesive agent 10 runs into the gap G and then hardens, difficulties are encountered in the enlargement and deformation of the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 9b, so that more effort is required for the inserting it on or removing it from the spark plug 3, thus decreasing its workability. Accordingly, strict control of the application conditions and amount of the adhesive agent 10 is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been achieved with a view toward solving the problems described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a small and low-priced transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine in which the connection with a spark plug or an ignition coil is relative easy and requires little effort. 
     To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a conduction member for transmitting a high voltage for ignition generated by an ignition coil to a spark plug; an insulating member having a cylindrical terminal portion formed on its end portion, and covering the conductive member to insulate the conductive member from the outside; and a cylindrical terminal member made of an elastic material and having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the inner circumference being made to be engaged with one of the ignition coil or the spark plug and further having a cylindrical engagement portion made to be engaged with the terminal portion of the insulating member at the outer circumference, the cylindrical engagement portion having a thick-wall portion provided with an escape space to permit radial elastic deformation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The object and features of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine according to a First Embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of the transmission device according to the First Embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Third Embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a plug-side elastic member of a transmission device according to a Fourth Embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the same plug-side elastic member of the transmission device according to the Fourth Embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Fifth Embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Seventh Embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIRST EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a transmission device for an ignition system of an internal combustion engine according to a First Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the essential portion of the transmission device according to the First Embodiment. The parts which are the same as or corresponding to those shown in FIG. 8 will be given the same reference numerals. 
     In FIGS. 1, 2, an ignition system 24 of an internal combustion engine includes the ignition coil 5 and a transmission device 26. The insulating coat 7 is made of silicone rubber which is an elastic insulating material. The insulating coat 7 has a cylindrical housing portion 7a that has a larger circumference at the spark plug 3 end and the end of which is formed into the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. A spring 11 is housed in the cylindrical housing portion 7a. The conductor 8 is turned out from a round brass bar of a predetermined rigidity and covered with the insulating coat 7 thereby being insulated from the outside. 
     A plug-side elastic member 29 as a terminal member, provided with an inner cylindrical portion 29b which in turn, is a cylindrically shaped engagement portion having, at its central portion, a cylindrical plug engaging aperture 29a for housing the spark plug 3. Also included in the plug-side elastic member 29 are an outer cylindrical portion 29d which is provided outside of the inner cylindrical portion 29b so that an engagement groove 29c is formed between the inner cylindrical portion 29b and the outer cylindrical portion 29d, a disc-like reinforcing flange portion 29e located at the upper end portion of the outer cylindrical portion 29d as illustrated, and a ring-like clearance groove 29f which is an escape space formed in the thick-walled portion of the inner cylindrical portion 29b to be coaxial with the plug engaging aperture 29a and having a depth (longitudinal length) of L1. These parts of the plug-side elastic member 29 are integrally constructed by using a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. 
     The thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7 is inserted into the engagement groove 29c of the plug-side elastic member 29 so that a gap F exists between the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 29d and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b, and a gap G exists between the outer circumference of the inner cylindrical portion 29b and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. The silicone rubber-based adhesive agent 10 is packed in the gap F over the length L as illustrated. The adhesive length L is determined so that the plug-side elastic member 29 and the cylindrical housing portion 7a of the insulating coat 7 do not become disconnected from each other when the plug-side elastic member 29 is removed from the spark plug 3 by pulling on the insulating coat 7. Further, the adhesive agent 10 extends slightly above the flange portion 29e so that the cylindrical housing portion 7a and the outer cylindrical portion 29d are thereby adhered to each other. 
     Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure that the conductor 8, the spring 11 and the electrically conductive portion 3a of the spark plug 3 are insulated from such grounded members as the cylinder head 1. To this end, the adhesive agent 10 is packed so that a leakage gap does not remain between the outer circumference of the cylindrical housing portion 7a and the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 29d. The cylindrical housing portion 7a is inserted into the engagement groove 29c after the adhesive agent 10 is applied onto its outer circumference over the length L so that the excess adhesive projects a little beyond the end of flange portion 29e. The spring 11 is formed by winding an elastic, conductive wire into a coil, and its upper end portion is then fixed to the conductor 8 to be electrically coupled thereto. 
     A coil-side elastic member 12 is made of an elastic silicone rubber Further, although not illustrated, in the inside of the coil-side elastic member 12, one end portion of the conductor 8 is electrically connected with the high voltage side terminal of the ignition coil 5 and insulated from the outside. The transmission device 26 is composed of the insulating member 7, the conductor 8, the plug-side elastic member 29, the adhesive agent 10, the spring 11, and the coil-side elastic member 12. 
     In the transmission device 6 constructed as described above, one end portion of the conductor 8 is electrically connected with the ignition coil 5, and the spark plug 3 is fitted into the plug engaging aperture 29a of the plug side elastic member 29 with at a given tightness. Further, the spring 11 is compressed to press the conductive portion 3a of the spark plug 3 to be electrically connected therewith. 
     In the transmission device 26 thus constructed, in response to the spark plug 3 being fitted into the plug engaging aperture 29a of the plug-side elastic member 29, the ring-like clearance groove 29f of the plug-side elastic member 29 temporarily yields so that the plug engaging aperture 29a is easily enlarged or deformed. Accordingly, coupling therebetween is possible without requiring a stressing force. In addition, detachment of the spark plug 3 from the transmission device 26 (plug-side elastic member 29) can similarly be achieved. 
     Since a partition exists between the ring-like clearance groove 29f and the engagement groove 29c to which the adhesive agent 10 is applied, the ring-like clearance groove 29f dependably functions as an escape space as the adhesive agent 10 is inhibited from flowing into the ring-like clearance groove. In addition, even assuming that the adhesive agent 10 runs into the gap G present between the inner cylindrical portion 29b and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7 and then hardens, the presence of the ring-like clearance groove 29f allows the plug engaging aperture 29a to be readily deformed. Therefor, the insertion or removal of the spark plug 3 can be accomplished using a little effort, thus facilitating the attachment and detachment operation. As a result, particularly strict control of the conditions for applying the adhesive agent 10 are not necessary. Moreover, since the ring-like clearance groove 29f serving as an escape space is formed to be coaxial with the inner circumference of the plug engaging aperture 29a, the die structure for the formation of the plug-side elastic member 29 can be simplified, which facilitates removal from the die and reduces manufacturing costs. 
     SECOND EMBODIMENT 
     Since the aforesaid plug-side elastic member 29 has the above structure, i.e., the ring-like clearance groove 29f in the inner cylindrical portion 29b, it is not always necessary to leave a space (gap G) between the outer circumference of the inner cylindrical portion 29b and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7. Accordingly, the adhesive agent 10 can be packed in both the gaps F and G so that both the inner and outer circumferences of the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b are adhered to the plug-side elastic member 29, thereby allowing the adhesive length L to be reduced by nearly half. This permits a reduction in size of the plug-side elastic member 29. 
     THIRD EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Third Embodiment of this invention. In the figure, a plug-side elastic member 39 as a terminal member, provided with an inner cylindrical portion 39b which in turn, is a cylindrically shaped engagement portion having, at its central portion, a cylindrical plug engaging aperture 39a for housing a spark plug 3. Also included in the plug-side elastic member 39 are an outer cylindrical portion 39d which is provided outside of the inner cylindrical portion 39b so that an engagement groove 39c is formed between the inner cylindrical portion 39b and the outer cylindrical portion 39d, a disc-like reinforcing flange portion 39e located at the upper end portion of the outer cylindrical portion 39d as illustrated, and a ring-like clearance groove 39f is an escape space formed in the thick-walled portion of the inner cylindrical portion 39b to be coaxial with the plug engaging aperture 39a and having a depth (longitudinal length) of L2. These parts of the plug-side elastic member 39 are integrally constructed by a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. 
     The thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7 is inserted into the engagement groove 39c of the plug-side elastic member 29 so that a gap F exists between the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 29d and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. The silicone rubber-based adhesive agent 10 is packed in the gap F over the length L as illustrated. The adhesive agent 10 is packed so that a leakage gap does not occur between the outer circumference of the cylindrical housing portion 7a and the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 39d and so that it is insulated. The other constructions are the same as the First Embodiment shown in FIG. 2. 
     In other words, a feature of the Third Embodiment is that the bottom portion of a ring-like clearance groove 39f is positioned to be lower (formed to be axially deeper) than the lower end portion of the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b. This arrangement allows the adjustment of the elastic formation. That is, as the axial relationship between the ring-like clearance groove 39f and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b is appropriately set, elastic deformation of the inner cylindrical portion 39b can be adjusted so that the coupling force of the plug-side elastic member 39 and the spark plug 3 can be optionally selected. 
     FOURTH EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a plug-side elastic member of a transmission device according to a Fourth Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the same plug-side elastic member of the transmission device according to the Fourth Embodiment. In these figures, a plug-side elastic member 49 as a terminal member, provided with an inner cylindrical portion 49b which in turn, is a cylindrically shaped engagement portion having, at its central portion, a cylindrical plug engaging aperture 49a for housing a spark plug 3. Also included in the plug-side elastic member 49 are an outer cylindrical portion 49d which is provided outside of the inner cylindrical portion 49b so that an engagement groove 49c is formed between the inner cylindrical portion 49b and the outer cylindrical portion 49d, and a disc-like reinforcing flange portion 49e located at the upper end portion of the outer cylindrical portion 49d. Further, the plug-side elastic member 49 is provided with 8 columnar space portions 49f, i.e., 8 escape space portions each having a given depth and with an oval or athletic track like configuration, formed in the thick-walled portion of the inner cylindrical portion 49b and located circularly to be coaxial with a plug engaging aperture 49a, and further provided with coupling portion 49g for coupling the inner circumference side and outer circumference side of the inner cylindrical portion 49b. These parts of the plug-side elastic member 49 are integrally constructed by using a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. 
     The plug-side elastic member 49 is adhered through an adhesive agent to a cylindrical housing portion of an insulating coat in the same manner as the First Embodiment shown in FIG. 2. 
     In the plug-side elastic member 49 thus constructed, the inner circumference sides and outer circumference sides of the inner cylindrical portion 49b are coupled through the coupling portions 49g, with the result that the strength of the inner cylindrical portion 49b increases, thus improving durability. 
     FIFTH EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Fifth Embodiment of this invention. A plug-side elastic member 59, as a terminal member, has an outer diameter of D which is the same as that of the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of an insulating coat 7. Since it is not always necessary to provide a space between the outer circumference of an inner cylindrical portion 59b, which is the cylindrical plug engaging portion of the plug-side elastic member 59, and the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b of the insulating coat 7, the space-therebetween is adhered with a silicone rubber-based adhesive agent 50. Even in this case, for insulation, the adhesive agent 50 is packed so that a leakage gap is not generated between the inner circumference of the thin-walled cylindrical portion 7b and the outer circumference of the inner cylindrical portion 59b. The other structures are similar to those for the First Embodiment in FIG. 2. 
     The reduction of the outer diameter D of the plug-side elastic member 59 brings about size and cost reductions of the plug-side elastic member 59 made, for example, of an expensive silicone rubber. 
     SIXTH EMBODIMENT 
     Although, in the foregoing First Embodiment, a single ring-like clearance groove 29f is provided as an escape space in the plug-side elastic member 29, it is also possible that a plurality of ring-like clearance grooves are provided to be coaxially with each other. 
     SEVENTH EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the essential portions of a transmission device according to a Seventh Embodiment of this invention. In the figure, an ignition coil 65 is provided with a high voltage side terminal 65a for generating high voltage and a protruding portion 65b made of a PBT and surrounding the high voltage side terminal 65a. Further, a transmission device 66 is composed as follows. That is, an insulating coat 67 is made of a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. The end of the ignition coil 65 side of the insulating coat 67 is relatively large in dimension. A coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a as a cylindrical terminal portion is provided on the end of the ignition coil 65 side of the insulating coat 67. The coil-side thin-walled cylindrical portion 67b is formed on the tip portion of the coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a. Within the coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a is housed a conduction spring 73 fixedly secured and electrically connected to one end portion of a conductor 8. Although not illustrated, the spark plug side of the insulating coat 67 has the same structure as that in the foregoing First Embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and is coupled to a similar plug-side elastic member. 
     A coil-side elastic member 72, which is a terminal member, is equipped with an inner cylindrical portion 72b which is a cylindrical engaging portion having, at its central portion, a cylindrical coil-receiving hole 72a. In addition, around the outside of the inner cylindrical portion 72b there is an outer cylindrical portion 72d so that an engagement groove 72c is formed with respect to the inner cylindrical portion 72b. Also included in the coil-side elastic member 72 are a step portion 72h and a ring-like clearance groove 72f which is an escape space portion formed in the thick-walled portion of the inner cylindrical portion 72b to be coaxial with the cylindrical coil-receiving hole 72a. These parts are integrally formed by a silicone rubber with a given elasticity. The coil-side thin-walled cylindrical portion 67b of the insulating coat 67 is inserted into the engagement groove 72c of the coil-side elastic member 72. This coil-side thin-walled cylindrical portion 67b is adhered by a silicone rubber based adhesive agent 70 to the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 72d and further to the outer circumference of the inner cylindrical portion 72b. At this time, the step portion 72h existing at the tip portion (lower end portion in the illustration) of the outer cylindrical portion 72d is engaged with the coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a, making the coupling therebetween more firm. In this case too, a given adhesive range is used to inhibit the disconnection of the coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a of the insulating coat 67 when the coil-side elastic member 72 is engaged with or removed from the protruding portion 65b of the ignition coil 65 by hand. This adhesion can ensure a firm connection between the coil-side cylindrical portion 67a and the coil-side elastic member 72. 
     It is necessary to ensure the insulation of the conductor 8, the spring 73 and the high voltage side terminal 65a of the spark coil 65 from such grounded members as the cylinder head 1. To this end, the adhesive agent 70 is packed so that no leakage gap remains between the outer circumference of the coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a and the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical portion 72d. The coil-side cylindrical housing portion 67a is inserted into the engagement groove 72c after the adhesive agent 70 is first applied onto its outer circumference over a given axial length. 
     In the transmission device 66 thus constructed, the coil-receiving hole 72a of the coil-side elastic member 72 is engaged with the protruding portion 65b of the ignition coil 65. At this time, the existence of the ring-like clearance groove 72f allows for the easy deformation of the inner cylindrical portion 72b, which enlarges the coil-receiving hole 72a thereby facilitating the engagement therebetween without excessive effort. 
     EIGHTH EMBODIMENT 
     Although the plug-side elastic member is generally designed to be detachable from the spark plug, there is no need to remove the coil-side elastic member from the ignition coil. Accordingly, in the foregoing Seventh Embodiment, the ignition coil and the coil-side elastic member can be integrally adhered to each other. That is, it is also possible that an adhesive agent is applied to the outer circumference of the protruding portion 65b of the ignition coil 65, before the ignition coil 65 is engaged with the coil-side elastic member 72. This structure exhibits the same effects as those of the Seventh Embodiment. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing relates to only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiments of the invention herein used for the purposes of disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although in the foregoing embodiments the cylindrical housing portion and the coil-side cylindrical housing portion have cylindrical configurations, this invention is not limited to these configurations, but can take different shapes such as square or other angular configurations. In addition, it is also appropriate that the tip portions of the thin-walled cylindrical portion, the coil-side thin-walled cylindrical portion and so on be cut into comb-like configurations, which facilitates the insertion of the plug-side elastic members into the engagement grooves and the insertion of the coil-side elastic members into the engagement grooves. 
     Furthermore, it is also possible to accomplish the connection between the outer circumference of the cylindrical housing portion of the insulating coat and the outer cylindrical portion of the plug-side elastic member by means other than adhesion with an adhesive agent, for example, by fusion. 
     Although in the foregoing embodiments the ignition coil is located above the spark plug and both are directly connected to each other electrically through the stiff conductor, it is also possible that they be indirectly connected through a distributor or high voltage cord. Moreover, it is also acceptable that the conductor and the insulating coat are flexible.