U.S. patent application number 10/132202 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for safety mechanism for a torch.
Invention is credited to Hsu, Chin-Mei.
Application Number | 20030203331 10/132202 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29248710 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030203331 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Chin-Mei |
October 30, 2003 |
Safety mechanism for a torch
Abstract
A safety mechanism for a torch includes an activating button
movably received in the housing for engaging with one end of the
lever to activate gas flow from the gas tank. The activating button
has a partially truncated portion and two legs extending out in
parallel. Each leg has a first step and a second step. A safety
plate is selectively abutted against the partially truncated
portion of the activating button and having an extension
selectively corresponding to the first and the second steps so that
movement of the activating button is controlled by the safety
plate.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Chin-Mei; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
29248710 |
Appl. No.: |
10/132202 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/153 ;
431/255; 431/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23D 14/465 20130101;
F23D 14/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/153 ;
431/255; 431/344 |
International
Class: |
F23D 011/36; F23Q
007/24; F23D 014/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety mechanism for a torch having a housing received therein
an electrical igniter and a gas tank with a lever on top of the gas
tank to control gas outflow from the gas tank, the safety mechanism
comprising: an activating button movably received in the housing
for engaging with one end of the lever to activate gas flow from
the gas tank and having a partially truncated portion and two legs
extending out in parallel, each leg having a first step and a
second step; a safety plate selectively abutted against the
partially truncated portion of the activating button and having an
extension selectively corresponding to the first and the second
steps so that movement of the activating button is controlled by
the safety plate.
2. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
spring provided with a first end abutted the activating button and
a second end adapted to engage with the electrical igniter to
provide a recovery force to the activating button.
3. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
boss formed on a bottom face of the extension to hold a secondary
spring which is compressibly received between the extension and the
housing to provide a recovery force to the safety plate.
4. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
stop movably received in the housing to stop the lever from
returning back to shut the gas flow.
5. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
stop movably received in the housing to stop the lever from
returning back to shut the gas flow.
6. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a
stop movably received in the housing to stop the lever from
returning back to shut the gas flow.
7. The safety mechanism as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a
head adapted to be detachably mounted on a front end of the torch
so that the torch is able to be used as a welding gun.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a safety mechanism, and
more particularly to a safety mechanism for a torch. With the
safety mechanism, the user is able to use the torch safely and
unintended ignition of the torch is avoided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the industrial field, torch is widely used to weld
objects via welding rod or to cut object. When using the torch,
normally the worker has an electrical igniter in front of the
torch. With the sparks of the electrical igniter, the torch is
ignited. Then, the worker adjusts the adjusting knob to mix the air
and the gas coming from a gas tank to a reasonable ratio so that
the worker is able to work with the torch to proceed with the or
welding. Before ignited, the gas inside the torch is already ready
for ignition. That is, long before the torch is lit, the gas is
running out of the torch, which is quite dangerous and harmful to
people nearby.
[0003] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to
provide an improved safety mechanism for a torch to mitigate and
obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a safety mechanism for a torch. The safety mechanism ensures that
only when the torch is ignited, the gas is free to flow to support
the flame. Furthermore, the safety mechanism has a stop movably
received inside the torch, with which the user is able to control
the gas flow and thus the flame.
[0005] In order to accomplish the foregoing objective, the safety
mechanism of the torch has a safety plate movably and partially
received in the torch housing so as to selectively release the
control of the activating button. When the activating button is
released, the activating button is able to move to activate the
flow of gas from a gas tank and simultaneously activate the
electrical igniter so that the torch is safely activated. After
activation, the torch further has a stop movably received in the
torch housing so as to be selectively move to a position to hold a
lever in position, wherein the pivotal movement of the lever turns
on/off the gas flow. Therefore, when the torch is ignited and one
end of the lever is depressed by the activating button, the stop is
moved to a position under the lever so as to hold the lever to
allow the gas to continue to flow to support the flame of the
torch.
[0006] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the torch of the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the safety
mechanism of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein
the front cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear
view;
[0010] FIG. 3A is an enlarged schematic view showing the
relationship between the activating button and the safety plate in
a first mode;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein
the front cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear
view;
[0012] FIG. 4A is an enlarged schematic view showing the
relationship between the activating button and the safety plate in
a second mode;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein
the front cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear
view;
[0014] FIG. 5A is an enlarged schematic view showing the movement
of the activating button allows the activating button to abut one
end of the lever so as to free the control of gas in a gas
tank;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the torch in FIG. 1, wherein
the front cover of the torch housing is removed for a clear view;
and
[0016] FIG. 6A is an enlarged schematic view showing the stop is
moved to a position under the other end of the lever to hold the
lever in position so as to allow the gas to flow out of the gas
tank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the torch constructed in
accordance with the present invention has a housing 1 and a gas
tank 2. An activating button 3 is provided at the rear portion of
the torch. An adjusting rod 4 has a first end extending out of the
housing 1 and a second end connected to an outlet of the gas tank 2
to control the gas flow out of the gas tank 2.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the safety
mechanism of the present invention includes an activating button 3,
a safety plate 5 and a stop 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. The
activating button 3 is cylindrical shape and has a partially
truncated portion 31 and two legs 32 extending out from the
cylindrical activating button 3. The cylindrical activating button
3 has a first step 321 and a second step 322 formed on the leg 32.
The first step 321 is inclined relative to the second step 322. The
activating button 3 is movably mounted at the rear portion of the
housing 1. The partially truncated portion 31 of the activating
button 3 extends into the housing 1 and receives therein a spring
33. One end of the spring 33 abuts an electrical igniter 11 inside
the housing 1 and the other end of the spring 33 abuts the
partially truncated portion 31 so that the spring 33 is able to
provide a recovery force to the activating button 3 to allow the
activating button 3 to return to its original position after being
moved. The safety plate 5 has an extension 51 extending out to
selectively correspond to the first and the second steps 321,322 of
the activating button 3 and a boss 52 extending down from the
extension 51 to position a secondary spring 53 which is
compressibly received in the housing 1. Therefore, when the safety
plate 5 and the activating button 3 is assembled in the rear
portion of the torch, the extension 51 engages the first step 321
of the legs 32 of the cylindrical activating button 3. The stop 6
is securely yet movably received in the housing 1 and one distal
end of which extends out of the housing 1.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 4A, when the safety plate 5 is
positioned in the track 12 in the rear portion of the housing 1 and
pressed, the extension 51 slides from the first step 321 to the
second step 322 and the secondary spring 53 is compressed. After
the safety plate 5 is pressed and the secondary spring 53 is
compressed, the safety plate 5 leaves the abutment to the partially
truncated portion 31 and the activating button 3 is unlocked so
that the activating button 3 is able to be moved inward to the
housing 1. When the activating button 3 is moved, the bottom of the
activating button 3 engages a lever 13 which is on top of the gas
tank 2 to control the gas flow out of the gas tank 2. After the
bottom of the activating button 3 engages the lever 13, the pivotal
movement of the lever 13 turns on the gas flow from the gas tank 2,
as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A.
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 6A, after the pivotal movement
of the lever 13, the electrical igniter 11 is ignited. With the gas
flow from the gas tank 2 and the sparks from the electrical igniter
11, the gas is ignited and the resulting flame is maintained as
long as the gas flow is running. Meantime, if the user releases the
force applied on the activating button 3, the activating button
will return to its original position and shuts the gas flow due to
the lever 13 returning to its original position. Therefore, if the
user wants to maintain the gas flow as well as the flame, the user
will have to move the stop 6 to a position under the lever 13 to
stop the lever 13 returning back to its original position.
Therefore, with the assistance of the stop 6, the gas flow
continues to flow out of the gas tank 2 and the flame is
maintained. However, the moment when the activating button 3 is
pushed, the safety plate 5 returns to its original position due to
the recovery force from the secondary spring 53 so that the
extension 51 abuts the first step 321 again and the partially
truncated portion 31 of the activating button 3 is again
stopped.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, it is to be noted that the torch
of the present invention further has a head 7 detachably mounted on
a front end of the torch so that the torch is able to be used as a
welding gun.
[0022] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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