Claims:We Claim:
1. A glow plug (10) in a vehicle, said glow plug (10) comprising :
- a housing (12) enclosing a terminal stud (14) ;
characterized in that:
- a washer (16) mounted on said terminal stud (14), an inner surface (15) of the washer (16) being frusto-conical to accommodate said terminal stud (14).

2. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said washer (16) comprises a first section (18), a second section (20) and a third section (22), said first section (18) is smaller in shape and size than said third section (22).

3. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first section (18) comprises multiple hexagonal cut-sections (24) to tighten said washer (16) when positioned on said terminal stud (14).

4. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second section (20) is larger in shape and size when compared to said first and third sections (18,22).

5. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second section (20) is circular in shape to accommodate a portion of said housing (12).

6. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said washer (16) has multiple L-shaped cut-sections (26) made on an outer surface corresponding to cut-sections (28) of said housing (12) , such that, said washer (16) is tightened on said housing (12) using at least one tightening technique.

7. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein due to the positioning of said terminal stud (14), at least one portion of said washer (16) is sealed.

8. The glow plug (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein a space is formed between said inner surface (15) of said washer (16) and a bottom portion of said terminal stud (14) due to said inner surface (15) being frusto-conical. , Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a glow plug having an integrated washer in a vehicle.

Background of the invention
[0002] Until recent times, the technology of glow plugs, as applied to diesel internal combustion engines, has primarily evolved to satisfy the requirement of merely assisting the startup of such engines. Glow plugs are well known for their function of heating the air in the combustion chamber of the diesel engine to improve its starting in a cold temperature. Such conventional glow plugs are designed to be temporarily energized, by electrical-resistance heating, to a preselected moderately high temperature (for example, about 900°C) only during the brief period of starting. It has also been customary to preheat conventional glow plugs to the moderately elevated temperature prior to cranking and starting of the diesel engine. The design of the glow plug plays a vital role in the functioning of the glow plug during the starting of the vehicle.
[0003] A Prior art document US3326260 discloses a self-locking nut, including, an elongated body having a correspondingly elongated bore. The bore have plurality of radially inwardly and axially extending ribs formed in the wall thereof, the lower extremities of the ribs terminates at progressively greater distances from the lower extremity of the body. This defines a predetermined pitch angle and intermittent portions of an imaginary thread pattern, at least the ribs being formed of a ductile material.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0004] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:
[0005] Fig.1 illustrates a glow plug in a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] Fig.1 illustrates a glow plug 10 in a vehicle, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The glow plug 10 comprises a housing 12 enclosing a terminal stud 14 and a washer 16 mounted on the terminal stud 14. An inner surface 15 of the washer 16 being frusto-conical to accommodate the terminal stud 14.

[0007] Further the construction of the glow plug 10 and the components of the glow plug 10 are explained as follows. The glow plug 10 comprising the washer 16 as disclosed above is integrated according to one embodiment of the invention. The washer 16 comprises a first section 18, a second section 20 and a third section 22. The first section 18 is smaller in size and shape when compared to the third section 22. The first section 18 comprises multiple hexagonal cut-sections 24 to tighten the washer 16 when positioned on the terminal stud 14. The second section 20 is larger in size and shape than the first and the third sections (18, 22). The second section 20 is circular in shape to accommodate a portion of the housing 12.

[0008] The washer 16 comprises multiple L-shaped cut-section 26 made on an outer surface (on a portion of second section 20 and the third section 22) corresponding to cut-sections 28 made on the housing 12. The cut-sections 26 of washer 16 gets fix into the cut-sections 28 of the housing 12, when the washer 16 is tightened using at least one tightening technique. The tightening technique as disclosed above is a tightening technique that uses a spanning tool. However, it is not restricted to that, but can be any tightening technique as known to a person skilled in the art.

[0009] Due to the positon of the terminal stud 14, at least one portion of the washer 16 is sealed. The terminal stud 14 is positioned inside the washer 16 such a way that, one part of the terminal stud 14 will be in contact with a portion of the inner surface 15 of the washer 16. A space is formed between the inner surface 15 of the washer 16 and a bottom portion of the terminal stud 14, due to the shape of the inner surface 15 being frusto-conical.

[0010] During the manufacturing of the glow plug 10, the washer 16 is positioned into the housing 12 of the glow plug 10, and is tightened into the housing 12. The washer 16 is fixed on the housing 12 as the cut-sections 26 of the washer 16 is locked into the cut-sections 28 of the housing 12 when tightened. The terminal stud 14 is inserted into the inner portion of the washer 16, and is tightened using the tightening tool (For example, a spanning tool).

[0011] The spanning tool 30 is positioned on the hexagonal cut-sections 24 present on the first portion 18 of the washer 16, and the washer 16 is tightened, such that, the terminal stud 14 is fixed into the housing 12 and the washer 16. One end of the terminal stud 14 is positioned in proximity to an engine and other end is connected to a control unit, for operating the glow plug 10 as known in the state-of art.

[0012] With the above-disclosed glow plug 10, the washer 16 is integrated into the housing 12, such that, it acts as a sealing ring and round nut. The washer 16 is made as a single component, which makes it easy and fast during manufacturing process of the glow plug 10.

[0013] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.