LSG HALO SPARK PLUGS
The traditional spark plug is virtually unchanged in design since its development in the early part of the last century. The standard plug is an imprecise instrument that is a necessary part of the combustion process. It consists generally, of a center-firing electrode inserted into an alumina ceramic insulator, both of which are inserted and sealed in a threaded metal shell. The ground electrode consists of a piece of rectangular wire welded to the edge of this metal shell, and formed over to cover the top of the firing electrode with a specified gap. Improvements to the design to date have consisted of larger gaps, longer reach center electrodes, multiple electrodes, and precious metal electrodes, all geared to improve the life of the plug, and increase the fuel burning efficiency. However, these items only treated the symptom versus correcting these traditional spark plug deficiencies.
The patented Halo™ design however, is a completely new technology that actually makes the plug a precise component that is an integral part of the combustion system. It consists of a circular ring attached to posts above a lower ring that is mounted to the metal shell of the spark plug (less the standard side-wire electrode). The entire structure is molded into one piece. This design possesses numerous advantages over standard and premium spark plugs that include:
- The open ring provides a direct path for the spark to the air/fuel mixture being pushed up toward the plug from the piston. This direct exposure eliminates the "quenching effect" caused by standard plugs, where the mixture is shielded from the spark directly by the conventional side-wire electrode. The Halo plug results in a quicker initiation of the combustion process.
- This quicker initiation of combustion results in more complete burning of the fuel inside the combustion chamber. This yields more power from a given volume of fuel due to more efficient consumption, and consequently improved engine efficiency.
- The more complete burn reduces the amount of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen. This results in less pollution being emitted from the tailpipe of spark/ignition engines. Halo is an environmentally friendly product.
- The more efficient burning of the mixture also reduces the amount of fuel required, thus improving fuel economy in many vehicles.
- The nature of the location of the upper ring with respect to the center electrode allows multiple firing paths. This eliminates the point erosion (and consequent degradation in performance - usually beginning at about 2,000 miles) evident on standard spark plugs. This erosion has typically been addressed by providing firing surfaces with metals that exhibit improved wear characteristics. With the Halo™ design, plug life is extended by virtue of the performance of the plug, and adding these better wearing metals will only enhance an already vastly improved plug life.
- The multiple firing path performance characteristic of the Halo™ design resists plug fouling better, since alternate paths can be found in the event deposits begin to form on the center electrode. If these deposits occur on a standard plug in the most common firing location, it often inhibits or prevents firing, since another path is less likely to be found. The open Halo configuration also aids in cleaning of the center electrode, further reducing the possibility of deposits forming.
- The reduced propensity for fouling also reduces misfiring. The by-products of a misfire are all emitted pollution in the form of unburned hydrocarbons, thus the Halo™ design further reduces pollution.
Standard spark plugs are highly performance sensitive to combustion chamber configuration. Halo™ plugs have shown much improved performance with radical differences in heat range, reach, and gap, thus allowing the consolidation of many different plug types into only a few. This provides an inventory and availability advantage over most standard plugs.
Standard spark plugs must be gapped to ensure performance. This gapping is an inexact science, at best and typically results in only one point of the standard side wire being at the properly specified distance from the center electrode.
In addition this bending of the wire compounds the metal stress already induced by the bending of the wire over into the "L" configuration. This bending causes cracks and internal stresses that cause the side-wire to move under heat, thereby randomly changing the gap from the optimum location.
Further, any bumping of the electrode during installation also increases the likelihood that the proper gap will be changed, again compromising performance. Similar dangers are inherent with pre-gapped platinum and multiple electrode plugs. Halo™ plugs are the only true factory preset gap plugs that cannot be changed inadvertently (within reason).
The three legs supporting the upper ring form a tripod that is superior structurally to any other design. The gap cannot be changed by a bump from handling during shipment, bumping during installation, or even a minor drop. The nature of the tip fabricating process also eliminates any internal stresses that would tend to relieve and move as the metal is heated thereby assuring the optimum gap is maintained during all conditions.
