PRECOMBUSTION CHAMBER DEVICE

A precombustion chamber ignition device for preferably lean fuel-air mixtures and having a precombustion chamber. This precombustion chamber contains a electrode carrier extending into the precombustion chamber and on it at least one ignition electrode is attached, which has at least one ignition portion, which cooperates with a internal wall surface of the precombustion chamber in defining at least one spark gap extending substantially athwart the longitudinal axis of the precombustion chamber. In this respect the internal wall surface acts as a ground electrode. The ignition portion of the at least one ignition electrode is offset in relation to the longitudinal axis of the precombustion chamber and is arranged essentially parallel to the wall surface, which is substantially cylindrical in the spark gap portion, of the precombustion chamber close to the wall surface. In consequence it is possib le for the ignition potential to be reduced and in the case of long term operation for the working life of the precombustion chamber ignition device to be in- creased. More particularly however the reliability of flaming is a substantially improved in the case of diluted fuel-air mixtures (lean mixtures, recycled exhaust gas).