Flame Adjusting Device For Gas Lighters

Abstract

A flame adjusting device of a gas lighter has a disk in the conduit between the fuel tank and the burner valve, which disk is porous and substantially incompressible and is provided with at least one elastic body in pressure contact with a major surface of the disk, and the area of contact between the elastic body and the disk is variable with the pressure exerted therebetween, thereby varying the flow of gas in the conduit.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 859,927, filed Sept. 22, 1969, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to gas lighters, and relates more particularly to a flame adjusting device for gas lighters.

Gas lighters are known which have a flame adjusting device in the conduit between the tank and the burner which carry out the flame adjusting by means of a capillary reduction, or by compression, of a porous mass, thereby varying the flow cross section of the gas within the burner valve. Such a porous mass is formed as a compressible disk, to which there is applied an elastic ring, such as a rubber ring. The flame adjusting is carried out by compressing the porous mass and the rubber ring: the larger the compression of the material, the smaller will be the flow cross section, and thus there will be transmitted a correspondingly reduced amount of gas. There arrangements, however, have the disadvantage that the adjustment is difficult to reproduce, and does not admit of automatic regulation.

It has furthermore been proposed to carry out the flame adjustment within a channel of variable length. By varying the length of the channel, the friction of gas flowing through the channel is changed. Also this solution, however, has the disadvantage that it does not admit of any self regulation of the flame; furthermore, as there is but one channel available, there is the danger of clogging of the channel resulting in a malfunctioning or non-functioning of the lighter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly among the principal objects of the invention to provide for a flame adjustment in a gas lighter that carries out the adjustment easily and in which the size of the flame may be held constant automatically.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a flame adjustment by means of which the flame will remain the same independently of the pressure within the fuel tank.

Generally speaking, this is accomplished by a control by the tank pressure of the pressure exerted from an elastic body against a porous substantially incompressible disk. Instead of one body making contact with one major surface of the disk, there may be a plurality of bodies in contact with a plurality of surfaces of the disk.

Either one or several elastic bodies may be compressed either by the gas pressure within the tank and/or by the pressure of a set screw.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the form of the elastic body is either that of a cone, or of a funnel or cup; the elastic body or bodies may have central bores into which there may be placed metal rings. In accordance with a further embodiment, the self-regulation of the flame adjustment may be improved by providing a second porous member on the side of the first porous member which faces in the direction towards the fuel tank.

In accordance with a further embodiment, the elastic body may be composed of co-axial O-rings, the diameter of which decreases towards the center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary central sectional view of a flame adjusting device for gas lighters showing a porous disk and a funnel shaped elastic body applied to one side of the porous disk before any substantial pressure is applied between the elastic body and the disk;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail of FIG. 1, but showing the porous disk and the deformed elastic body owing to pressure exerted between the elastic body and the disk;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a detail similar to FIG. 1, but disclosing two elastic bodies applied oppositely on the two surfaces of the disk;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, but embodying a modification, showing a conical elastic body pressed by a pressure element against the porous disk;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the pressure element of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a large scale fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, but embodying a further modification showing a funnel shaped porous disk, and a second porous disk, and a cup shaped elastic body engaging the funnel shaped disk, indicating the position of these parts before the application of any substantial pressure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of FIG. 6, but showing the funnel shaped disk and the cup shaped elastic body in engagement after the application of pressure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but embodying a further modification, showing two porous disks, and a funnel shaped elastic body;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing a further modification in which the elastic body is composed of a plurality of co-axial O-rings; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing a still further modification in which a porous disk is surmounted by an elastic body and supported by a resilient rubber body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a conduit 1 in which there is disposed a connecting piece 2 that leads to a fuel tank (not shown). A burner valve 3 is provided, the lower portion of which is shown in FIG. 1 projecting into the conduit 1. Between the part 3 and the connecting piece 2 there is provided an elastic body, such as a rubber body 4 which is funnel shaped; below the rubber body 4 there is provided a porous, substantially incompressible disk shaped body or member 5. The porous member 5 preferably is porous in the axial direction, namely axially of the conduit 1.

The elastic body 4 has a bore 41 that is aligned with a bore 31 that is defined in the lower portion of the burner valve 3.

Whenever the burner valve 3 or the connecting piece 2 moves axially towards the other, the elastic body 4 will be squeezed on the porous member 5. The porous member 5 is gas permeable. By the aforesaid squeezing, however, the flow cross section for the fuel gas through the porous member 5 will be reduced, as best shown in FIG. 2.

By this squeezing, there will furthermore be reduced the width of the bore 41 of the elastic body 4. If, however, such a reduction of the width of the bore 5 should be undesirable, such a reduction may be prevented by inserting a metal insert 411 (FIG. 2) into the elastic body 4, thereby maintaining the cross section of the bore 41 constant.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, there are shown two elastic bodies 4, one on each of the major sides of the disk shaped porous member 5. The two bodies 4 perform the same function as that of the single body 4 of FIG. 1. Similarly, both bodies 4 are funnel shaped, as in FIG. 1. The provision of two elastic bodies 4, instead of but a single body 4 as in FIG. 1 offers the advantage that the cross sectional area for the gas stream flow is now reduced also upstream of the disk 5, as well as downstream thereof. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the disk 5 is a porous member that is primarily porous in a direction axially of the disk, respectively the conduit 1. This arrangement of FIG. 3 provides for an increased self regulation where the gas pressure within the tank is subjected to variations. The higher the gas pressure, the more will the disk 5 be pressed against the upper elastic body 4; as a result, the funnel base will be reduced stronger in width.

In the modification of FIG. 4, the elastic rubber body 4 is no longer funnel shaped but is cone shaped. The function of the body 4 relative to the porous disk member 5, however, is similar to that of the preceding views. Also the self regulation is provided for in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4, for which purpose there are provided elastic seals 6 below the porous disk member 5. The purpose of the elastic seals 6 is to avoid the bypassing around the disk 5 by the gases that stream upwardly. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, on the other hand, this sealing function is performed automatically by the elastic body or bodies 4.

In FIG. 4, the seal between the conduit housing 1 and the burner valve 3 furthermore includes an additional elastic sealing element 7. The advantage of this arrangement of FIG. 4 is that the expanded gas will pass around the elastic body 4 in contact with the interior surface of the conduit housing 1. This increases the heat exchange between the gas and the conduit 1. This heat exchange prevents a back condensation that might easily lead to flickering of the flame. For promoting this effect still further, it is advantageous to surround the elastic body 4 with a metal sleeve 42. The lower portion of the burner valve 3, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided with radial ribs 32, to promote the flow of the gas into the burner valve 3.

In the modification of FIG. 6, the porous member 5 has an arcuate funnel shaped upper surface 51 for contact with the lower, inner surface of the cup shaped elastic body 4 (FIG. 7). The lower surface 52 of the porous member 5 is similarly arcuately shaped, in order to provide for uniform thickness throughout the width of the porous member 5. The elastic body 4, as previously indicated, is cup shaped and surmounts the porous member 5. Above the elastic body 4 there is again provided a portion. In the preceding views, this portion has been identified as a part of the burner valve 3. In FIGS. 6-10, however, the portion 3 is shown disk shaped; it either forms a part of the burner valve or leads to it; and hence in FIGS. 6-10 it will be referred to as the portion 3. The cup shaped elastic body 4 of FIGS. 6 and 7 has an upper tubular projection 43 that engages the portion 3 for pressure takeup. The elastic body 4 surrounds with its cup shaped portion the porous member 5. A cup shaped porous body 8 is provided that supports the porous member 5 and which, in turn, is supported by helical compression spring 9 that is supported from below. The second porous member, namely a porous disk 10 that is porous in the axial direction is mounted on the cup shaped body 8, upstream of the porous member 5. The porous disk 10 together with the porous member 5 provide for a pressure drop between the interior and exterior of the elastic body 4.

In FIG. 7, there is illustrated in detail as to how the elastic body 4 under pressure will cover a portion of the upper surface 51 of the porous member 5, and thereby will reduce the cross section for the flow of the gas through the porous member 5.

In FIG. 8, there is shown a further modification wherein the elastic body 4 has a funnel shaped lower portion that surrounds the porous disk member 5 as well as the second porous disk 10. The elastic body 4 has an upper plate portion 44 for engaging the underside of the portion 3.

The portion 3 of FIGS. 6-10 is movable axially, in contrast to the corresponding arrangement of FIGS. 1-5.

In order to maintain the tension of the elastic body 4, there is provided a helical compression spring between the lower funnel shaped portion of the body 4 and the upper plate portion 44 thereof and which presses the plate portion 44 against the portion 3 and presses the lower funnel shaped portion towards the porous disk member 5.

The cup shaped porous body 8, in a manner similar to that of FIG. 6 separates the disks 5 and 10, and the spring 9 exerts pressure between the connecting piece 2 and the disk 10. The provision of the two disks 5 and 10 that are spaced apart, similar to that of FIG. 6, again has for a purpose to build up a pressure differential between the exterior of the funnel shaped lower portion of the body 4 and the interior thereof, thus providing for a relative overpressure on the exterior of said funnel shaped lower portion of the elastic body 4.

In the modification of FIG. 9, the elastic body of the previous views, for instance of FIGS. 1-3, is in the form of a series, for instance three O-rings 45, 46, 47 which are co-axial about the axis of the conduit 1. The O-rings 45, 46 and 47 engage with their lower surfaces the upper surface of the porous disk member 5.

In the modification of FIG. 10, the elastic body has a greater height than width, thereby providing for a greater resiliency in the axial direction. In order to maintain the equilibrium during self-regulation of the flame adjustment by means of the gas pressure, there is provided a further elastic body 101 that supports the porous disk member 5 from below and, in turn, is supported from below. The portion 3 engages with its underside the upper surface of the elastic body 4. The lower portion of the elastic body 4, on the other hand, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is funnel shaped.

When through axial downward movement of the portion 3 the pressure against the elastic body 4 below is increased, this will result in a reduction of the funnel base area. The same result will be achieved if due to an overpressure, the porous disk 5 is pushed upwardly against the elastic body 4. When the gas pressure is reduced, however, for instance due to cold surroundings, the porous disk 5 will be moved downwardly, in the direction away from the elastic body 4, thereby resulting in an increase of the funnel base area.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A flame adjusting device, for use in connection with a gas lighter having a conduit between the fuel tank and the burner valve and an incompressible porous member in said conduit,

comprising in combination,

at least one elastic body operable to engage at least a portion of a surface of said porous member, the area of said portion varying in accordance with the variations of pressure exerted between said elastic body and said surface, thereby adjusting the flow of gas in at least a portion of said conduit, and a second elastic body operable to engage at least a portion of another surface of said porous member.

2. A flame adjusting device, as claimed in claim 1, said second elastic body having a shape similar to that of said first body and being arranged substantially symmetrically relative thereto about said porous member.

3. A flame adjusting device for use in connection with a gas lighter having a conduit between the fuel tank and the burner valve and an incompressible porous member in said conduit,

comprising in combination,

at least one elastic body operable to engage at least a portion of a surface of said porous member, the area of said portion varying in accordance with the variations of pressure exerted between said elastic body and said surface, thereby adjusting the flow of gas in at least a portion of said conduit, said elastic body including a plurality of co-axial O-rings having decreasing height with decreasing radius.