EP0746726A1

EP0746726A1 - Improved lighter producing a tinted flame, tinting composition therefor and refill member

Info

Publication number: EP0746726A1
Application number: EP95902815A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Rosada; Christine Lapene; Christian Authie
Original assignee: Etienne LaCroix Tous Artifices SA
Current assignee: Rivonia Trading Lda
Priority date: 1993-11-30
Filing date: 1994-11-30
Publication date: 1996-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-30
Also published as: EP0746726B1; ATE192841T1; US5984669A; AU1192995A; CA2189966A1; AU701550B2; WO1995015464A1; DE69424445D1

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR94/01397 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 5, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 5, 1996 PCT Filed Nov. 30, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/15464 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 8, 1995The invention relates to a tinted flame lighter having a tank (1000) suitable for containing a mixture (L) under pressure of a tinting agent and of a flammable volatile liquid. The lighter includes a porous filter (1020) suitable for expanding the mixture delivered to the outside of the tank for burning while it is at least partially in the liquid state, and means for feeding the porous filter with the mixture in the liquid state.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of lighters with a colored flame.

There are two ways to color the flame of a lighter. A first way consists in spraying on the flame a coloring agent, for example a metallic species dissolved in an alcoholic solution, the latter being contained in a specific tank distinct from that containing the combustible liquid.

A second way consists in mixing the coloring agent directly with the combustible liquid used to produce the lighter's flame. This process is more delicate to implement than the previous one, in particular if it is wished to use as a combustible liquid a volatile flammable liquid stored under pressure, since it is necessary to ensure both a perfect mixing of the coloring agent in the liquid. volatile flammable used and the correct and regular entrainment of the coloring agent outside the lighter, in particular avoiding premature dissociation of the mixture during its expansion, liable to cause problems of fouling of the burner or irregular coloring of the flame.

There has been described in Japanese publication JP-A-63 058 021 a lighter containing, in its reservoir, a coloring composition and a liquefied gas forming a phase distinct from the coloring composition and supernatant thereon. The present invention has for first object a new lighter making it possible to use, for coloring the flame, a coloring agent mixed with a volatile flammable liquid stored under pressure in a same tank as the coloring agent.

According to a first advantageous characteristic of the invention, the mixture of the coloring agent and the flammable volatile liquid forms only one liquid phase in the tank.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lighter comprises a porous filter capable of relaxing the flammable mixture sent outside the tank at least partially in the liquid state for burning and means for supplying said porous filter with said mixture in the liquid state. Preferably, at least one capillary is arranged in series with the porous filter. The use of a porous filter supplied with the flammable mixture in the liquid state, and preferably associated with at least one capillary, makes it possible to bring the mixture at least partially in the liquid state outside the tank and thus avoids the aforementioned problems by ensuring correct training of the coloring agent outside the tank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture expanded by the porous filter is sent into a vaporization duct located outside the tank, and subjected during the use of the lighter to the heat given off by the flame.

In embodiments of the invention, the lighter comprises a capillary extending downstream of the porous filter to send the mixture to the outside of the tank after passing through the porous filter. Advantageously, the internal diameter of the capillary extending downstream of the porous filter is between 0.25 and 0.4 mm.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vaporization conduit is formed by a tube connected end to end at one end to the capillary extending downstream of the porous filter, this tube having an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the capillary. Preferably, the tube has a curvilinear portion extending around the axis of the flame upwards and a free end opening into the axis of the flame. Advantageously, the tube has, between its free end and said curvilinear portion a downwardly inclined portion, so that said free end is located below a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flame and tangent to said curvilinear portion. Advantageously, the internal diameter of the tube is between 0.5 and 1 mm.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vaporization duct is integrated into a part forming a flame guard. Advantageously, the vaporization duct is formed between two stamped sheets attached one against the other of the part forming a flame guard. Advantageously, the capillary located downstream of the porous filter is connected at one end to the vaporization duct. The latter extends along a convex curve towards the axis of the flame and is connected to an outlet tube opening along the axis of the flame, below a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flame and tangent superiorly. to said curve.

In another embodiment of the invention, the vaporization conduit is internally traversed by a conductive wire of the heat, extending out of the conduit to the heart of the flame when using the lighter. Preferably then, the spray duct is formed in a lighter shutter body.

Many known compositions have been proposed for coloring the flame of a lighter. Reference may be made, for example, to the publications FR-2 675 243, FR-2 651 861, FR-2 650 878, FR-2 639 635 and FR-2 615 597. These publications describe the use, for coloring a flame, of 'A borate suspended in butane from a liquefied gas lighter, a gelled boron methanolate, or metallic salts in solution to impregnate the wick of a lighter. These compositions are not entirely satisfactory.

The second object of the invention is a coloring composition capable of being used in a lighter as mentioned above, in particular a composition which makes it possible to color the flame of a butane gas lighter.

This composition according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises in solution in an alcohol a coloring agent capable of giving by burning a desired color with a flame. The alcohol considered is advantageously methanol or ethanol. The coloring agent can be a metal or alkali metal salt, a derivative of boric acid or an alkali metal oxide. This composition can be used as such, mixed with butane from a gas lighter in the tank thereof, to be brought simultaneously with the gas outside the tank to burn; as a variant, it can also undergo a treatment intended for its gelation to be then used in the form of a gel in the gas outlet pipe of a lighter, in order to load the gas with coloring agent in its passage; it can also be used to impregnate a support, for example a porous substance, placed in the gas outlet duct of the lighter to charge the gas with coloring agent in its passage.

Thus, the invention also relates to a butane gas lighter incorporating such a composition, and a refill element for such a lighter, in the form of a refill of liquid gas incorporating the composition, of a gel or of an impregnated support. of composition.

In a first embodiment of a composition according to the invention, intended to give the flame a green color, the composition comprises between 19 g / 1 and 160 g / 1 of orthoboric acid in solution in methanol of which the degree of purity is greater than or equal to 99.8%. In the case where this composition is mixed directly with butane in the tank of the lighter, preferably 30% by mass of liquefied butane and 70% of a 40 g / l solution of orthoboric acid in methanol will be used. The Applicant has found that, unexpectedly, the composition, used in the abovementioned proportions, was stable (no decomposition, no phase separation within the limits of use from 0 to 40 ° C., from 1 to 3 bars), provided flame without spitting and the combustion products were non-toxic. We could still use between 20 and 80% of butane and obtain satisfactory results.

In another embodiment of a composition according to the invention, intended to give the flame a red color, preferably use a solution of lithium formate in methanol with a concentration of between 7 g / 1 and 10 g / 1 . The methanol is preferably methanol whose degree of purity is 99.8% minimum.

Finally, a composition according to the invention makes it possible to give the flame a particularly stable color. The composition is also perfectly stable, which makes it possible in particular to gel it, or to use it to impregnate a support. Finally, the combustion products are non-toxic for the compositions described giving the colors green and red.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of seven nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section view of a lighter according to a first embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show in isolation certain elements constituting the lighter represented in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view in axial section of a lighter according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D show in isolation certain elements constituting the lighter represented in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a view in axial section of a lighter according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 6A to 6F show in isolation certain constituent elements of the lighter represented in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view in axial section of a lighter according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 is a view in axial section of a lighter according to a fifth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 shows in isolation, on an enlarged scale, the vaporization duct shown in FIG. 8, - FIG. 10 is a top view according to arrow X in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a view in axial section of a sixth embodiment of a lighter according to the invention,

FIG. 12 is a side view along the arrow XII in FIG. 11,

- Figure 13 is a top view along arrow XIII of Figure 12, and - Figure 14 is an axial sectional view of an eighth embodiment of a lighter according to the invention.

The four lighters 100, 300, 500 and 700 according to the invention shown respectively in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 7 all have the same tank 10. The three lighters shown respectively in Figures 8, 11 and 14 each have a tank 1000. All these tanks are intended to contain an inflammable mixture L stored under pressure, constituted in this case by 30% by mass of liquefied butane and 70% of a solution with 40 g / 1 of orthoboric acid in methanol . This mixture is intended to give the flame a green color, but one can of course choose, depending on the color to give the flame, a different composition. It is possible in particular to use other coloring agents and other volatile flammable liquids, in particular other alcoholic solutions of metal salts mixed with other alkanes, in proportions such that the mixture forms a single liquid phase (alcoholic solution and alkane in proportions such that they are fully miscible with each other), as will be explained below.

The tank 10 is formed by the union of a lower body of tank 1 1, symmetrical of revolution around an axis of symmetry X, open at its upper part, and an upper body of tank 12 also symmetrical of revolution around of the same axis, screwed onto the lower body 11. An O-ring 13 is interposed radially between the upper body 12 and the lower body 1 1 to ensure the sealed closure of the reservoir 10. It is of course possible to modify the shape of the reservoir 10 without depart from the scope of the present invention, and use for example a one-piece reservoir 10 molded.

The upper body 12 of the reservoir 10 is crossed by a tapping 12f centered on the axis X, intended for mounting a part forming a burner referenced respectively 130, 330 and 530 for the lighters shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The internal thread 12f opens onto a counterbore 12g at its end opposite the reservoir 10.

The burner part 130, shown in isolation in FIG. 2B, has a generally symmetrical shape of revolution about an axis Y coinciding with the axis X when the part 130 engages with the internal thread 12f by means of a thread s extending over a part 131 of its length, from its lower front face 130a, and opening into the reservoir 10. The part 130 has a flange 132 intended to come axially into abutment in the bottom of the counterbore 12g and, above of the collar 132, a collar 137 of smaller radius than it, defining, with a shoulder 139 extending axially the collar 132 opposite the lower front face 130a, an annular recess 133 for receiving an O-ring seal 150 , intended to ensure a tight closure of the burner as will be explained below. The part 130 has above the flange 137 a cylindrical upper part 135. The part 130 is traversed along its length along the axis Y by a longitudinal channel 134 intended to receive a capillary 110. This longitudinal channel 134 opens onto the upper front face 130b, flat and perpendicular to the axis Y, of the part 130 to supply with flammable mixture L taken from the bottom of the tank 10 a porous filter 160 attached to the front face 130b.

The porous filter 160 is constituted in the example described by a ceramic pellet 160 bonded to the upper front face 130b. This ceramic tablet 160 has a cylindrical shape of revolution around the Y axis, delimited axially by two flat front faces and perpendicular to the Y axis and extends the external cylindrical surface of the upper part 135. The ceramic tablet 160 is supplied with mixture L via the capillary 110, straight and extending along the axis X, the lower end 110a of which is situated slightly above the bottom 11g of the reservoir 10 remains immersed in the mixture L until almost -exhaustion of the latter. The capillary 110 extends in the channel 134 passing through the piece 130 and its upper end 110b is located immediately under the ceramic tablet 160. The capillary 110 is held axially in the channel 134 by means of a drop of glue 120 disposed in a cylindrical recess 138 formed on the lower front face 130a of the part 130. In the example described, the capillary 110 is a copper tube, the ceramic disc 160 has a height, measured along the axis Y between 1 and 5 mm and a diameter equal to 5 mm.

When the lighter is not used, a stopper 140 covers the surface of the ceramic tablet 160 exposed to the open air to prevent the mixture L from leaving. This stopper 140, shown in isolation in FIG. 2A, is on the inside, fits tightly on the ceramic disc 160 and the upper part 135 of the part 130, and tightly seals the seal 150, as shown in FIG. 1.

The collar 132 of the part 130 has on its upper front face two recesses 136, shown in top view according to arrow II in FIG. 2C, diametrically opposite and intended for the engagement of complementary projections of a screwing tool of the part 130 in the internal thread 12f. The part 130 is preferably made of metal to resist the heat of the flame.

The filling of the reservoir 10 is carried out, in the embodiment which has just been described as in the other three which will follow, starting by filling the interior of the lower body 11 with the alcoholic solution, then the upper body 12 being screwed, by injecting liquid butane under pressure into the tank 10 by means of a filling device known in itself and shown very schematically. The latter comprises a nozzle 20 communicating with the interior of the reservoir

10 and a non-return valve 30, supplied during filling by a butane pipe 40 under pressure. After filling, the pipe 40 can be disconnected, the valve 30 opposing the departure of the mixture L contained in the tank 10.

In this first embodiment of the invention, the porous filter 160 is supplied with a flammable mixture by means of a capillary 110. The latter makes it possible on the one hand, due to the pressure drop of the mixture passing through it, to supply the filter with a lower pressure than that prevailing inside the tank and on the other hand it avoids premature dissociation of the mixture circulating inside, keeping the butane in the liquid state.

The part 330 equipping the lighter 300, and shown in isolation in FIG. 4B, has a generally symmetrical shape of revolution about an axis Y 'coinciding, when the part 330 is screwed in the internal thread 12f, with the axis X. The part 330 is threaded over a part 331 of its length for mounting in the internal thread 12f, and has a collar 332 intended to come into axial abutment in the bottom of the counterbore 12g with the interposition of a sealing washer 14. This flange 332 has, on its upper front face, two diametrically opposite recesses 336, shown in plan view according to arrow IV in FIG. 4C, for the engagement of complementary projections of a screwing tool, not shown, of the part 130 in the internal thread 12f. The collar 332 is extended axially, on the side opposite to the threaded part 331, by a shoulder 339 defining with a second collar 337 an annular recess 333 for mounting an O-ring seal 350. The part 330 has a upper front face 330b plane and perpendicular to the axis Y ', and between the latter and the flange 337, a cylindrical part 335. The part 330 is internally bored from its lower front face 330a to form a cylindrical housing 330c intended to receive a porous filter 360 and means for mounting and supplying a flammable mixture L thereof, as will be explained below.

The bottom of the housing 330c is located axially at the level of the collar 332, and communicates with the outside of the lighter by a channel 334 extending along the axis Y 'and opening at its upper end on the front face 330b. The part 330 has a threaded part 338 extending axially between the lower end of the threaded part 331 and the lower front face 330a, projecting inside the tank 10, and used for mounting a rod 310 of supply of flammable mixture L of the porous filter 360. The rod 310 is in the example described in the form of a generally cylindrical body of revolution around the axis X, tapped at its upper end to engage by screwing on the threaded part 338. The latter of course has a diameter smaller than that of the threaded part 331 to allow the introduction of the part 330 in the internal thread 12f.

The length of the rod 310 is chosen so that its lower front face 310a provides, with the bottom 11g of the reservoir 10, a space allowing the lower end 312 of a longitudinal channel 311 formed in the rod 310 to communicate with the inside the tank 10. The longitudinal channel 311, extending along the axis X, has a diameter large enough to oppose a reduced pressure drop to the mixture passing through it and opens at its upper end 313 into the bottom of the internal thread 314 the part 330. The porous filter 360 is held inside the housing 330c between a lower support 390 and an upper support 370 both having a radially outer cylindrical surface, fitting closely onto the cylindrical surface of the housing 330c. The support lower 390 is delimited axially by two front faces applying respectively against the bottom of the internal thread 338 against the porous filter 360, and it is crossed along the axis X by a channel 391.

The upper support 370, shown in isolation in FIG. 4D, has a planar lower front face 372 perpendicular to the axis X, intended to rest on the porous filter 360, and a conical housing 371, open on the upper front face 373 of the support 370. The section of the housing 371 narrows away from the upper front face 373 and the bottom of the housing 371 opens with a hole 374 on the lower front face 372. The porous filter 360 is in the form of a pellet made of ceramic, similar to the pastille 160 previously described, cylindrical of revolution around the X axis, with a diameter less than the diameter of the housing 330c but greater than the diameter of the longitudinal channel 312. It is delimited axially by two front planar faces perpendicular to the X axis, applying respectively to the lower 390 and upper 370 supports.

A support cone 381 is engaged in the housing 371, and has a shape complementary to the latter. This cone 381 is crossed along the axis X by a rectilinear capillary 380, the lower end of which is located in the bore 374 immediately above the porous filter 360 and the upper end of which opens onto the upper front face 330b of the Exhibit 330.

The stack formed by the lower support 390, the porous filter 360, the upper support 370 and the support cone 381 is immobilized axially between the bottom of the housing 330c and the bottom of the thread 314 by screwing the rod 310 on the threaded part. 338. A stopper 340 similar in shape to the stopper 140 previously described prevents the mixture L from escaping when the lighter is not used.

When this plug 340 is removed, the mixture L rises, under the effect of the pressure of the gas situated above the level of the mixture L in the reservoir 10, in the channel 31 1 of the rod 310 and the channel 391 of the support lower, is expanded on passing through the porous filter 360, and leaves in at least partially liquid form, with a slight overpressure, the upper end of the capillary 380 to burn when ignited by any ignition means known per se and not shown .

The part 530 forming a burner, equipping the lighter 500, has a generally symmetrical shape of revolution about an axis Y " coinciding, when the part 530 is mounted on the upper body 12, with the axis X. This part is threaded over a part 531 of its length, from its lower front face 530a, to be screwed into the internal thread 12f, and has a collar 532 intended to come axially into abutment in the bottom of the counterbore 12g, with the interposition of a sealing washer 14. The part of the part 530 extending above the collar 532 _j is identical to the part of the part 330 extending above the collar 332 and will not be described again.

The part 530 has a conical housing 530c below, opening onto the lower front face 530a, the section of which narrows away from the latter. A longitudinal channel 534 crosses along the axis Y "the part 530 from its upper front face 530b to the bottom of the housing 530c.

The length of the threaded portion 531 is greater than that of the internal thread 12f so that the part 530 protrudes internally in the reservoir 10, for mounting a capillary 510. More particularly, the mounting of the capillary 510 is carried out by means a first support cone 555, partially inserted in the housing 530c. This cone 555 is held in place by screwing a retaining ring 550 on the threaded part 531 of the part 530 and has at its lower part a section greater than the opening section of the housing 530c, so that one can ensure a tight clamping of the cone in the housing 530c by screwing the ring 550. The latter has two recesses 551 diametrically opposite, intended to receive complementary projections of a screwing tool. The support cone 555 is crossed by the capillary 510, extending above the cone 555 to the upper front face 530b in the longitudinal channel 534, and under the cone 555, through a bore 552 of the ring 550 , until near a porous filter 560.

The latter is held in place near the bottom of the reservoir 10 by a support 520 fixed by its front face lower than the bottom 11g of the reservoir 10. The porous filter is received in an internal housing 521, cylindrical of revolution about an axis Z, coinciding when the support is placed in the reservoir 10 with the axis X, and the filter 560 is held axially in abutment against the bottom of the housing 521 by a ring 522 interposed axially between the porous filter 560 and the bottom 11g of the reservoir 10. The ring 522 has radially opposite radial channels 522a, as shown in bottom view in FIG. 6D, and the support 520 is perforated radially so as to allow the mixture L to reach the interior of the ring 522 and the lower front face of the porous filter 560. The latter is presented as in the previous embodiment in the form of a ceramic pellet, cylindrical of revolution. The support 520 has a conical housing 523 above, opening onto its upper front face 52C) b. The section of the housing 523 narrows in proximity to the lower front face 520a and the bottom of the housing 523 communicates by a bore 524 with the bottom of the housing 521. A support cone 556 is partially inserted in the housing 523 to hold in place the lower part of the capillary 510.

This cone 556 has at its upper part a section greater than the opening section of the housing 523 so that its upper front face protrudes above the upper front face of the support 520. The cone 556 can then be tightened in the housing 523 by screwing a ring identical to the ring 550 previously described, on an external thread 527 of the support 520.

In the absence of the operation of the lighter 500, the upper end of the part 530 is capped by a plug 540 identical to the plug 340 previously described. The porous filter 560, located near the bottom of the tank, remains submerged and impregnated with the mixture L until it is almost exhausted. During the operation of the lighter, the mixture L passes through the radial passages 522a of the ring 522 and the openings of the support 520, is expanded by the passage of the porous filter 560 and enters the lower end of the capillary 510 to open at its upper end. outside the lighter 500, partially in liquid form.

The lighter 700 shown in Figure 7 differs from the lighter 300 shown in Figure 3 in that the rod 310 and the lower support 390 are removed, the rod 310 being replaced by a capillary 710, held by a cone 755 identical to the cone 555 previously described, partially engaged in a support 770 identical to the support 370 but mounted upside down thereof in the housing 330c, the new assembly being retained axially in the housing 330c by screwing a ring 750 identical to the ring 550. The lower end 710a of the capillary 710 opens out near the bottom of the reservoir 10, in order to withdraw the mixture L until the latter is almost exhausted.

We can replace, without departing from the scope of the invention, the caps described, used to prevent the exit of the mixture L, by any known valve device used on gas lighters.

The capillaries used in the exemplary embodiments described in FIGS. 1 to 7 have an internal diameter of 0.25 mm. This diameter can of course be modified to adjust the flow rate of the mixture to any desired value.

The tank 1000 of the lighters shown in Figures 8, 11 and 14 is formed by the assembly by screwing of a lower tank body and an upper tank body, with the interposition of an O-ring 1005 sealing. The lower tank body is identical for the lighters shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 14 and bears the reference 1001. The latter is elongated along a longitudinal axis and also the general axis of symmetry T for the embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 14. can also, of course, adopt for the lower body of the tank 1001 a non-circular cross section, oval for example. The lower body 1001 is traversed at its base by a filling conduit 1002, opening at one end into the bottom 1003 thereof and at the other end on its radially outermost lateral surface. A non-return valve known per se and not shown is disposed inside the conduit 1002 for filling the reservoir. A support 1010 for a porous filter is mounted at the lower end of a capillary referenced respectively 1015, 1115 and 1215 for the embodiments of FIGS. 8, 11 and 14. This capillary plunges into the tank 1000 and opens at its upper end out of the tank.

The support 1010 for a porous filter is in the general form of a cylinder of revolution around an axis of symmetry R, internally traversed along this axis by a central lumen 101 1 in which the capillary is engaged. The central lumen 101 1 opens at one end onto the upper front face of the support 1010 and widens at the other end to form a housing 1013 opening onto the lower front face of the support 1010 and intended to receive a porous filter 1020, of same type as those previously described. The axis of symmetry R of the support 1010 is slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis T of the lower tank body 1001 so as to provide a space 1014 between the lower front face of the support 1010 and the bottom 1003 of the lower tank body 1001, intended to allow the arrival of the liquid mixture L up to the porous filter 1020. The latter comes axially into abutment in the bottom of the housing 1013 and it is held therein by sealing means 1021 applying to the radially external surface of the filter 1020 and the radially internal surface of the housing 1013. These sealing means 1021 are constituted, in the embodiments described in Figures 8, 1 1 and 14 by an annular layer of tin, the porous filter 1020 being constituted by a ceramic pellet, tinned on its radially external surface and the support 1010 being made of copper. Alternatively, the porous filter 1020 can be provided at its periphery with a "Teflon" ring, which would be force fitted into the housing 1013. The capillaries 1015, 1115 and 1215 with the lighters shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 14 are held, at their exit from the support 1010, by a drop of solder or glue 1022 added to the upper front face of the support 1010.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, the capillary 1015 passes through the upper body of the reservoir, referenced 1030, inside a mounting piece 1040, symmetrical of revolution about an axis U parallel to the axis longitudinal T of the lower body 1001 of the tank. The mounting piece 1040 is engaged in a counterbore 1041 opening out below into the tank 1000. This counterbore 1041 is extended above by a tapping 1042, opening out outside the upper body of the tank 1030. The mounting piece 1040 has a lower part 1047 fitting into the counterbore 1041, having on its radially outer surface a groove in which is placed an O-ring seal 1043 interposed radially between the mounting piece 1040 and the radially inner surface of the counterbore 1041. The piece of mounting 1040 has a threaded upper part 1043 screwed into the thread 1042. The capillary 1015 passes internally along the U axis through the mounting piece 1040 through a central light 1044, and it is immobilized in the mounting piece 1040 at by means of a drop of glue or solder 1045 attached to the lower front face thereof. The capillary 1015 leaves the mounting part 1040 outside the lighter to describe a portion of coil 1052 intended to recover part of the heat emitted by the flame.

A tube 1055 having an internal diameter greater than that of the capillary 1015 is attached end to end thereon, to constitute a vaporization conduit for the mixture. In the example described, the tube 1055 used has an external diameter identical to that of the capillary 1015. FIG. 9 shows the portion of the coil 1052 and the tube 1055 forming a vaporization conduit, which extends the latter. The capillary 1015 leaves straight, along the axis U, the mounting piece 1040. The corresponding portion has been referenced 1051a. The axis U corresponds to the intersection of two planes perpendicular to each other, delimiting four quadrants respectively designated by Ql, Q2, Q3 and Q4, according to the clockwise direction around the axis U in FIG. 10. The portion 1051a extends in the first dial Q1 by a curvilinear portion 1051b describing a top view of a U whose branches are oriented, perpendicular to the plane separating the quadrants OJ and QZ. The curvilinear portion 1051b is extended in the second quadrant Q2 upwards by a portion 1053 substantially describing a helical arc over an angle of approximately 75 ° around the axis U. The capillary 1015 cuts perpendicularly the plane separating the quadrants Ql and Q2- Correlatively, the junction plane between the capillary 1015 and the tube 1055 contains the axis of symmetry U and forms an angle of approximately 75 ° with the plane delimiting the dials Q1 and Q2. The portion 1053 is extended by a portion 1056 of the tube 1055 describing the same helix as the portion 1053, at an angle of approximately 115 ° around the axis U. The meeting of the portions 1053 and 1056 described approximately in top view half a -circle centered on the U axis and extends parallel to a plane P inclined on the U axis by 75 °. The portion 1056 is extended clockwise in FIG. 10, from the junction plane between the quadrants Q3 and Q4, by a curvilinear portion 1057 terminated by an outlet section 1059 coaxial with the axis U and it is located under the plane tangent to the union of the portions 1053 and 1056 and parallel to the plane P. The outlet section 1059 is thus located below a plane P 'perpendicular to the axis U and tangent to the portion 1056 of the tube 1055 In the embodiment described, the internal diameter of the tube 1055 forming a vaporization conduit is between 0.5 and 1 mm and the internal diameter of the capillary is 0.33 mm. The axis U also corresponds to the axis of the flame when the lighter is lit, this axis being vertical under normal conditions of use.

A shutter actuated by pusher 1061 is articulated around an axis 1062 on a support 1060 attached to the upper body of the tank 1030. The axis 1062 is contained in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis T. The pusher 1061 presents at l opposite of the end 1061a, to be handled by the user, a tab 1062 curved downward to cover, when the pusher is at rest, the capillary 1015 and the tube 1055 and protect them. This tab 1062 is provided on its lower surface with a seal 1063 which is applied, when no pressure is exerted on the pusher 1061, on the outlet section 1059 of the tube 1055 to close it. In the embodiment described, the angular movement of the pusher 1061 is 80 °. The plunger 1061 is returned to the closed position, in a manner known per se, by a spring not shown.

A wheel 1064 is rotatably mounted on the support 1060 about an axis parallel to the axis 1062 and a lighter stone 1066 is pressed under the wheel 1064, in a manner known per se, to produce ignition sparks when the wheel is rotated by the user. The lighter stone 1066 is slidably mounted in a blind bore 1067 formed in the upper tank body 1030 and it is pressed against the wheel 1064 by a return spring not shown, working in compression between the bottom of the blind bore 1067 and the lower side of lighter stone 1066.

In the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 1 to 13, the capillary, referenced 1115, passes through the upper body of the reservoir 1130 by means of a stage passage 1 131. This passage 1131, cylindrical of revolution about an axis parallel to the axis T, opens at its upper end outside the lighter and at its lower end widens to form a housing 1,133 opening down into the tank 1000. The housing 1,133 accommodates a sealing piece 1140 crossed axially by the capillary 1115. The sealing piece 1 140 has a generally symmetrical shape of revolution, and it has on its radially external surface an annular groove intended to receive an O-ring seal 1 142. The latter is interposed radially between the sealing part 1140 and the housing 1133. The sealing between the capillary 11 15 and the part 1140 is ensured by a drop of glue or penny lasts 1141, applied to the capillary and the lower front face of the piece 1 140. The capillary 1115 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis T at its exit from the upper body of the tank 1 130 outside the lighter, then described a 90 ° bend to connect to a vaporization conduit 1160. The capillary extends above the upper body of the reservoir 1130 parallel to a plane containing the longitudinal axis T and referenced P "'in FIG. 13.

The vaporization conduit is formed in the embodiment of Figures 1 1 to 13 inside a flame guard 1150 having a top view, as shown more particularly in Figure 13, the shape of a U whose concavity is turned towards an axis W parallel to the longitudinal axis T of the lower body of the tank 1001, and whose branches extend parallel to the plane P "'. Preferably, the flame guard 1150 consists of two stamped sheets added against each other and forming between them the aforementioned vaporization conduit 1160. The latter has an internal diameter greater than that of the capillary and preferably between 0.5 and 1 mm. The vaporization conduit 1160 extends, in the curvilinear part of the U, parallel to a plane perpendicular to the axis W then, in the branch of the U opposite to that in which the capillary 1115 opens, downwards in approximation of the upper tank body 1130. The conduit 1160 is connected, at the base of the flame guard 1150, to an outlet tube 1155 describing a right angle bend, and the outlet section 1156 of which is coaxial with the axis W The seal between the capillary 1115 and the vaporization conduit 1160 formed inside the flame guard 1150 is effected by clamping the capillary between stamped portions of the two sheets constituting the latter. The outlet section 1 156 is located under the plane tangent above the vaporization duct 1 160, so that the latter is subjected, during the operation of the lighter, to the heat given off by the flame.

A push-button shutter 1161 is articulated around an axis 1162 on a support 1163 attached to the upper tank body 1130. A thumb wheel 1164 is rotatably mounted around an axis parallel to the axis 1162 for rubbing, so known per se, on a lighter stone 1 166 disposed in a blind bore 1167 of the upper body of the tank 1 130. This stone 1 166 is brought back against the wheel 1 164 by a spring working in compression and not shown. The pusher 1161 drives in rotation two branches 1161b which extend away from the part 1161a by the user, on either side of a median plane of the wheel perpendicular to its axis. These two branches 1161b are joined by a bridge of material 1161c at their end opposite to the part 1161a. A seal 1163, intended to be applied to the outlet section 1156 of the tube 1 155 to close it when the pusher is at rest, is disposed under the material bridge 1161c. The plunger 1161 is returned to the closed position by a spring not shown.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the capillary 1215 is inserted at its upper end into a support piece 1240. This support piece 1240 has a lower part 1245 and an upper part 1241 assembled by screwing, after mounting on the 'interior of the two parts of an inner valve body 1250 and a return spring 1252 of the latter. The internal valve body 1250 is slidably guided by the support piece 1240 along an axis V parallel to the longitudinal axis T of the lower body of the tank 1001. The upper part 1241 has the general shape of a sleeve internally and externally threaded, internally narrowed at its upper end through which the body of valve 1250 to form a radially internal flange 1243. The upper part 1241 is screwed into a thread 1233 of the upper body of the reservoir 1230 until axial stop against a transverse shoulder 1231 delimiting said thread from below. This internal thread 1233 is extended below the shoulder 1231 by a cylindrical surface 1232 of revolution around the axis V, having an internal diameter smaller than that of the internal thread 1233 and opening out below into the tank 1000.

The lower part 1245 of the support piece 1240 is threaded at its upper end 1246 to engage by screwing inside the upper part 1241. It is internally bored in 1247 from its front face, on about a third of its length, to receive the upper end of the capillary 1215. The latter is held in the bore 1247 by a drop of solder or glue 1248. The lower part 1245 of the support piece 1240 is internally bored in a stepped manner 1249 from its upper front face for sliding guide the internal valve body 1250. A seal 1251, mounted at the lower end of the internal valve body 1250, is returned under the action of the spring 1252 in the bottom of the bore 1249. The capillary 1215 communicates with the bottom of the bore 1249 by a channel 1244 coaxial with the axis V and having a diameter equal to the internal diameter of the capillary 1215. The internal body valve 1250 is internally bored in 1255 over its entire length from the seal 1251 to its upper end of ejection of the mixture. When the seal 1251 is detached from the bottom of the bore 1249, by action on a pusher 1270, as will be specified below, the mixture leaves the lighter through the bore 1255 also forming a vaporization conduit. The mixture, in accordance with the invention, emerges outside the reservoir 1000 via the capillary 1215, into the interior of the valve body 1250, at least partially in the liquid state. A heat conducting rod 1260, intended to ensure complete vaporization of the mixture before it leaves the internal valve body 1250 to burn, extends inside the bore 1255 and has at its lower end a foot anchored in the internal valve body 1250. The latter is supported on the outside to form a bearing surface for the lower end of the return spring 1252, the upper end of the latter being retained by the internal flange 1243 of the upper part 1241 of the support piece 1240. A radial channel 1256 is provided to allow the passage of mixture L in the central bore 1255 of the internal valve body when the latter is moved upwards by the pusher 1270 and that the seal 1251 no longer closes the channel 1244.

The internal valve body 125.0 is provided at its upper end extending out of the support piece 1240 with a flange forming a radially projecting outward, under which is applied the edge of a drilling a branch of the pusher 1270, intended to lift the body 1250 and cause the starting of mixture L by the central bore 1255. The control pusher 1270 is rotatably mounted on a support 1280 attached or formed by formation on the upper tank body 1230, around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis T of the lower tank body 1001. As for the embodiments previously described in the figures

8 and 11, the lighter represented in FIG. 14 is equipped with a thumb wheel 1290 and a lighter stone 1300 identical to that previously described and the description of which will not be repeated.

Preferably, as shown, the upper end of the rod 1260 projects superiorly out of the internal valve body 1250 so as to take the heat from the heart of the flame.

The mixture arrives at least partially liquid outside the tank 1000 in the vaporization conduits 1055, 1160 and 1255 which have just been described, subjected to the heat of the flame. These conduits have an internal diameter greater than that of the respective capillaries 1055, 1 115 and 1215 situated upstream of these conduits, so as to avoid an overpressure, under the effect of the heat released by the flame, which would lead to an extinction of the latter.

The porous filters described consist of ceramic pellets advantageously having a porosity of between 1 and 10 μm, the porosity here being defined as being the minimum size of the particles, contained in a liquid which would pass through the ceramic, which would be retained by the latter. . This porosity is high enough not to filter the coloring agent used and low enough for the passage of the porous filter to be accompanied by a pressure drop allowing the mixture to be suitably relaxed. The present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments of the porous filter. We can thus replace the ceramic pellets described by porous filters made of sintered plastic, of metals or sintered oxides, and the geometry of the porous filters described can also be modified.

Finally, the invention makes it possible to use, for coloring the flame of a lighter, a coloring agent mixed with a volatile flammable liquid stored under pressure, thanks to the use of a porous filter to relax the mixture sent, at least partially. in the liquid state, that is to say in the form of a gas-liquid mixture, outside the tank for burning. This porous filter is supplied by the mixture in the liquid state and under pressure, preferably by means forming a conduit taking the liquid from the bottom of the tank as has been described. The use of a capillary upstream of the porous filter advantageously makes it possible to add an additional pressure drop and to decrease the pressure of the mixture L arriving on the porous filter. In this case, the porous filter is preferably placed above the level of the mixture L in the tank, when the lighter is in its normal position of use, that is to say with the vertical X axis, as shown. in Figures 1, 3 and 7. Alternatively, as illustrated with the embodiments of Figures 5 and 8 to 14, the porous filter is constantly immersed in the mixture. The use, in the embodiments of FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, of a capillary downstream of the porous filter makes it possible to add an additional pressure drop. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, with two capillaries placed respectively upstream and downstream of the filter, the appearance of a too high differential pressure on either side of the latter is avoided. The use in the embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 14 of a vaporization conduit downstream of the capillary conveying the mixture outside the reservoir makes it possible to vaporize the latter without however leading to clogging of the capillary or of the conduit by premature deposition of coloring agent, and to obtain an elongated flame resembling that of conventional gas lighters. An attempt at an explanation can be found in the ripple effect due to the speed of the gases in the vaporization pipe subjected to the heat given off by the flame. This ripple effect allows any deposit which accumulates in the vaporization duct to be removed. It is of course possible to equip the lighters described with a valve for adjusting the height of the flame known per se.

Claims

1 / Lighter with colored flame having a reservoir (10; 1000) capable of containing a mixture (L) under pressure of a coloring agent and a flammable volatile liquid, characterized in that the lighter comprises a porous filter (160 ; 360; 560; 1020) capable of expanding the mixture sent to the outside of the tank, at least partially in the liquid state, for burning and means for supplying with mixture (L), in the liquid state, the porous filter. 2 / Lighter according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one capillary (110; 380; 510; 380, 710; 1015; 1115; 1215) is arranged in series with said porous filter.

3 / Lighter according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the porous filter (560; 1015; 1 115; 1215) is immersed, in the normal vertical position of the lighter, in the mixture (L) of the tank.

4 / Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a capillary (1015; 1115; 1215) extending downstream of the porous filter to send the mixture outside the tank after crossing the porous filter. 5 / Lighter according to claim 4, characterized in that the internal diameter of the capillary (1015; 1115; 1215) extending downstream of the porous filter is between 0.25 and 0.4 mm.

6 / Lighter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a spray duct (1055; 1160; 1255) located outside the tank (1000) and supplied with the mixture (L) expanded by the porous filter (1020), this vaporization conduit being subjected during the use of the lighter to the heat of the flame.

7 / Lighter according to claims 4, 5 and 6, characterized in that the vaporization conduit is formed by a tube (1055) connected end to end at one end to the capillary (1015) extending downstream of the porous filter, this tube

(1055) having an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the capillary.

8 / Lighter according to claim 7, characterized in that the tube (1055) has a curvilinear portion (1056) extending around the axis (U) of the flame upwards and a free end (1059) opening into the axis (U) of the flame. 9 / Lighter according to claim 8, characterized in that the tube

(1055) has, between its free end (1059) and said curvilinear portion

(1056) a portion (1057) inclined downward, so that said free end (1059) is located below a plane (P ') perpendicular to the axis (U) of the flame and tangent to said portion curvilinear '(1056).

10 / Lighter according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the internal diameter of the tube (1055) is between 0.5 and 1 mm.

11 / Lighter according to claim 6, characterized in that the vaporization duct (1 160) is integrated into a part forming a flame guard (1150).

12 / Lighter according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the vaporization duct (1160) is formed between two stamped sheets attached one against the other of the part forming a flame protector (1150).

13 / Lighter according to claim 12, characterized in that the capillary (1115) located downstream of the porous filter is connected at one end to the vaporization duct (1160), in that the latter extends along a convex curve towards the axis (W) of the flame and is connected to an outlet tube (1 155) emerging along the axis (W) of the flame, below a plane perpendicular to the axis of the flame and tangent above said curve. 14 / Lighter according to claim 6, characterized in that the vaporization conduit (1255) is internally traversed by a wire (1260) conductor of heat, extending out of the conduit (1255) in the heart of the flame during the use of the lighter.

15 / Lighter according to claim 14, characterized in that the spray duct (1255) is formed in a lighter shutter body.

16 / Composition intended for the coloring of the flame of a butane gas lighter, characterized in that it comprises in solution in an alcohol a coloring agent capable of giving by burning the desired color with a flame.

17 / Composition according to claim 16, characterized in that the alcohol is methanol or ethanol, preferably methanol which has a degree of purity greater than 99.8%.

18 / Composition according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the coloring agent is a metal or alkali metal salt.

19 / Composition according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that it comprises between 19 g / 1 and 160 g / 1 of orthoboric acid in solution in methanol whose purity level is greater than or equal to 99.8%.

20 / Composition according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that it comprises between 7 g / 1 and 10 g / 1 of lithium formate in solution in methanol whose degree of purity is ^' greater than or equal to 99.8%.

21 / Composition according to one of the dreams: indications 16 to 20, characterized in that it is directly mixed with butane in a tank.

22 / Composition according to Claims 19 and 21, characterized in that it comprises 40 g / 1 of orthoboric acid in solution in methanol and in that the butane is in the tank in proportions of between 20% and 80% en masse.

23 / A composition according to claim 22, characterized in that the butane is in the tank in the proportion of 30% by mass and the composition in the proportion of 70% by mass. 24 / Composition according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is used in the form of gel.

25 / Composition according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that it is used to impregnate a support.

26 / Lighter characterized in that it comprises a composition according to one of claims 16 to 25.

27 / Lighter with colored flame having a reservoir capable of containing a pressurized mixture of a coloring agent and a flammable volatile liquid, characterized in that the mixture forms a single liquid phase. 28 / refill element for lighter, incorporating a composition as defined in one of claims 16 to 26, either in the form of a refill of liquid gas incorporating the composition, either a gel, or either under the form of a recharging element impregnated with the composition.