EP2136130B1 - Light source - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a light source combustible with liquid fuel, in particular a lamp which can be fired with ethanol, petroleum or oil, according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the NL 290 410 is a fireable light source known. From the DE 1 807 940 A1 is known to operate with liquid fuel lighter.

The US 1 959 128 discloses a liquid fuel candle whose reservoir has a lid in which a tubular portion projecting into the interior of the container is provided. This tubular portion is funnel-shaped upwards.

The design of interiors, especially from a designer's point of view, has been gaining in importance lately, with design objects for positively influencing the ambience in turn being particularly high in the consumer's course. Such design objects are, for example, light sources which can be fired by liquid fuel, ie lamps which, due to their natural light and their simultaneous heat radiation, spread a particularly pleasant atmosphere. Such light sources or lamps which can be fired with liquid fuel usually have a reservoir for the liquid fuel and a wick-holding device which can be suspended or immersed in the reservoir by a cover-side opening of the reservoir such that a wick can come into contact with the liquid fuel and this due to the capillary action in a combustion zone upwards, where it then burns. However, the handling of such light sources is not necessarily safe because, for example, in a repelling or falling over of the liquid fuel-fired lamp leakage of the liquid fuel can not be completely avoided and thus usually leads to an increased risk of fire. In addition, such lamps also exert an obviously great stimulus to small children, which leads in the worst case that the children - out of pure curiosity - try to reach the lamp oil, that is, the liquid fuel. The ingestion of this liquid fuel can lead to severe lung damage and even in infants especially lead to death, with very small children between one and three years, even the smallest amounts of lamp oil sufficient to cause severe lung complications with even fatal outcome. For this Reason should such lamps always have a particularly secure state, for example by a large-scale edition, and also be placed in places where the risk of repelling or falling over and the unwanted access of children is at least reduced.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of providing for a generic light source, an improved or at least another embodiment, which in particular meets an increased security need.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments, however, are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea, a reservoir for liquid fuel of a combustible with this liquid fuel light source so that liquid fuel can escape from the reservoir at any time, regardless of the location of the reservoir itself. This is to be avoided in particular A reversal of the liquid fuel-fired light source of liquid fuel leak and can lead to fire. Another key advantage is that it is impossible with the light source according to the invention for children to get to the toxic liquid fuel present in the reservoir, which can also be taken into account the increased security needs of modern times. A light source according to the invention which can be fired by liquid fuel has in this case above said reservoir for the liquid fuel and a wick-holding device which can be suspended in the reservoir by a cover-side opening of the reservoir in such a way that a wick can come into contact with the liquid fuel. From the cover-side opening projecting within the reservoir a tubular portion is arranged, through which on the one hand the Liquid fuel is filled into the reservoir and is the only connection from the outside to inside the reservoir and the other is matched with respect to its axial length to the dimensions of the reservoir that only so much liquid fuel in the reservoir can be filled by this, that leakage of Liquid fuel from the reservoir regardless of its location is impossible. By means of the storage container according to the invention, it is thus possible to rotate or tilt it freely, without liquid fuel passing through the cover-side opening to the outside. It is important in this case that, when the storage container is upright, a maximum level of the liquid fuel in the storage container always remains below the tubular portion projecting from the lid of the storage container. In the invention, this is guaranteed by the fact that further filling of the reservoir above the aforementioned maximum level is impossible, since only air can escape from the reservoir through the tubular portion, as long as the level of the liquid fuel is below the raw-shaped portion and thus thus not filled with liquid fuel. A "overfilling" of the reservoir is thus impossible. The reservoir can thus usually only be filled to the extent that it can be rotated about any horizontal or oblique axes, without the risk that liquid fuel exits from this.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, at the edge of the lid side opening projecting axially within the reservoir ring collar is provided, wherein the tubular portion widens funnel-shaped opening towards the lid side and is connected radially outside of the annular collar with a lid of the reservoir. As a result, serving as a leak protection reservoir for the liquid fuel located in the reservoir can be realized. For example, if the light source is rotated about a horizontal axis and thereby turned upside down, an amount of liquid fuel still remaining in the tubular portion, for example, can only be within the green portion to run to the reservoir, but not escape. As a result, even the unwanted leakage of small amounts of liquid fuel from the reservoir can be reliably avoided.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a latching device, in particular a latching lug, is provided on the cover-side opening, which cooperates with a counter-latching device arranged on the wick-holding device and correspondingly designed, in particular with a retaining ring, thereby unintentionally removing the wick-holding device from the reservoir at least more difficult. In this way, an effective backup can be created, which makes it difficult for unauthorized persons, especially children, to remove the wick-holding device from the storage container and thereby reach the liquid fuel in the storage container. To remove the wick-holding device, it must preferably first, according to a child protection in cleaning agents, pressed against the reservoir and then tilted obliquely to solve the dochthalteeinrichtungsseitigen retaining ring from the reservoir-side locking lug. This requires a certain motor skills that can not usually be done by children.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, a spring device is provided, in particular with a plurality of spring arms, which biases the wick-holding device in its latched state with the reservoir to form an at least small axial gap. The provision of such an at least small gap, allows venting of the reservoir, which is required in the operation of the light source to replace a volume reduced by burned liquid fuel by trailing air and thus to ensure that the operated with liquid fuel light source also continues to liquid fuel due the capillary effect in the wick up to the combustion zone and thus can emit light. Of course, it is also conceivable that the arms as an annular disk with at least certain axial height are formed in the manner of a plate spring, so that the wick-holding device is supported on this disc-like disk formed on the lid of the reservoir. In the latter embodiment, an axial gap would not be provided, wherein for example in the plate-spring-like collar disc, a small passage opening may be provided, which ensures the required during operation of the light source volume compensation.

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, in addition it can be provided that the storage container is double-walled and thus also an increased safety requirement against leakage of the liquid fuel can be taken into account. In particular, in simply produced, for example, from sheet metal flanged walls, there is the danger after a long time that such a reservoir is leaking and thereby unintentionally liquid fuel can get out of this into the environment. Since the operation of the light source is always open fire, therefore, an unwanted leakage of liquid fuel from the reservoir must be avoided. This effort can be aided by the fact that - as suggested above - the reservoir is double-walled.

Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with reference to the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

Fig. 1

ein Vorratsbehälter einer erfindungsgemäße Lichtquelle in einer Schnittdarstellung,

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 1, jedoch bei einem eingeführten Trichter zum Befüllen des Vorratsbehälters der Lichtquelle,

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 2, jedoch bei maximal mit Flüssigbrennstoff befülltem Vorratsbehälter,

Fig. 4

die Lichtquelle mit teilweise eingeführter Dochthalteeinrichtung,

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 4, jedoch mit weiter eingeführter Dochthalteeinrichtung,

Fig. 6

die Lichtquelle mit vollständig eingeführter Dochthalteeinrichtung, welche jedoch noch nicht verrastet ist,

Fig. 7

die Lichtquelle mit vollständig eingeführter Dochthalteeinrichtung, welche jedoch verrastet ist,

Fig. 8

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 7, jedoch um eine horizontale Achse um 45° gedreht,

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 7, jedoch um eine horizontale Achse um 90° gedreht,

Fig. 10

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 7, jedoch um eine horizontale Achse um 135° gedreht,

Fig. 11

eine Darstellung wie in Fig. 7, jedoch um eine horizontale Achse um 180° gedreht,

Show, in each case schematically,

Fig. 1

a reservoir of a light source according to the invention in a sectional view,

Fig. 2

a representation like in Fig. 1 but with an inserted funnel for filling the reservoir of the light source,

Fig. 3

a representation like in Fig. 2 , but with a maximum of liquid fuel filled reservoir,

Fig. 4

the light source with partially inserted wick-holding device,

Fig. 5

a representation like in Fig. 4 , but with a further introduced wick-holding device,

Fig. 6

the light source with fully inserted wick-holding device, which is not yet locked,

Fig. 7

the light source with fully inserted wick-holding device, but which is locked,

Fig. 8

a representation like in Fig. 7 but rotated about a horizontal axis by 45 °,

Fig. 9

a representation like in Fig. 7 but rotated about a horizontal axis by 90 °,

Fig. 10

a representation like in Fig. 7 , but rotated by 135 ° about a horizontal axis,

Fig. 11

a representation like in Fig. 7 but rotated about a horizontal axis by 180 °,

According to the Fig. 7 , Has a light source 1 according to the invention can be fired with liquid fuel 3, a reservoir 2 for receiving the liquid fuel 3. In this case, in particular ethanol, petroleum or oil may be considered as liquid fuel 3, with an odorless and soot-free combustion being possible with ethanol. In addition, the light source 1 has a wick-holding device 4, which by a cover-side opening 5 (see. Fig. 1 ) of the storage container 2 can be suspended in such a way that a wick 6 of the wick-holding device 4 with the liquid fuel 3 in contact and this can promote due to its capillary action in a combustion zone 7 upwards.

In principle, with such decorative light sources 1, there is always the risk that the liquid fuel 3 stored in the storage container 2 may leak when the light source 1 is tilted, thereby posing a fire hazard. Far more dangerous, however, is that such decorative light sources 1 exercise a particular attraction to children, so they are often tempted to get hold of the light source 1 and, for example, to drink the previously filled liquid fuel 3 by tilting the light source 1. Since this led to serious accidents, especially in the mid-nineties, the European Commission issued a standardization mandate for the creation of safety-related specifications for decorative (oil) lamps, which was adopted as DIN EN14059 in January 2003 in the German standards. The DIN EN14059 for oil lamps is primarily aimed at at least complicating the access of small children to lamp oil, although the products that comply with DIN EN14059 should nevertheless not be considered completely safe. In order to effectively prevent abusive access of particular infants to the liquid fuel 3 deposited in the storage container 2, in the light source 1 according to the invention, a tubular portion 8 protruding from the lid-side opening 5 to within the storage container 2 is provided, through which the liquid fuel 3 in FIG the reservoir 2 can be filled. At the same time, this tubular portion 8 is the only connection from the outside to inside the reservoir 2. The section 8 is also tuned with respect to its axial length to the dimensions of the reservoir 2, that through this only so much liquid fuel 3 in the reservoir 2 can be filled is that leakage of liquid fuel 3 from the reservoir 2, regardless of its location is impossible.

The filling of the reservoir 2 of the light source 1 takes place, as in the Fig. 2 and 3 is shown. First, a tuned to the light source 1 funnel 9 is inserted through the lid-side opening 5 and the adjoining tubular portion 8 in the reservoir 2 and then filled liquid fuel 3. Like that Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen, the funnel 9 has a mark 12 which is positioned so that when filling the funnel 9 with liquid fuel 3 to the mark 12, this can be pulled out of the lid-side opening 5 while the liquid fuel 3 completely in the Reservoir 2 drains without a liquid fuel level 10 from below reaches the tubular portion 8, so that leakage of liquid fuel 3 from the reservoir 2, regardless of its location is impossible. If you compare the two 3 and 4 , it can be seen that when filling the funnel 9 only up to its mark 12, the amount of liquid fuel 3 present in the funnel 9 is equal to that which after removal of the Funnel 9 can still flow into the reservoir 2, without then the level 10 of the liquid fuel 3, higher than a lower opening edge 14 of the raw-shaped portion 8. Thus, it can be ensured at all times that only so much liquid fuel 3 is filled into the reservoir 2 can be that this can not run out of this even with any twisting. At maximum liquid level of the liquid fuel, the wick 6 dips easily into the liquid fuel 3 and is therefore also easily due to its capillary action able to transport the liquid fuel 3 up into the combustion zone 7.

In a rotation of the reservoir 2 and the light source 1 about a horizontal axis, as shown in the 8 to 11 and how this would be carried out, for example, by a child attempting to reach the liquid fuel 3, it can be seen that in none according to the 8 to 11 shown liquid fuel 8 through the tubular portion 8 and the adjoining lid-side opening 5 can reach the outside, so that the child can turn the light source 1 and turn as it wishes, without causing the risk that liquid fuel 3 passes to the outside , For better illustration, while the level 10 of the liquid fuel 3 in the 8 to 11 always drawn.

How the particular Fig. 1 can be clearly seen, the tubular portion 8 is formed slightly waisted and has at its, the lid-side opening 5 opposite end, a funnel-shaped widening. In this case, the tubular portion 8 is formed for receiving the wick-holding device 4, which can be centered in this. On the edge side of the cover-side opening 5, an axially projecting within the reservoir 2 annular collar 17 is provided, wherein the tubular portion 8 funnel-shaped widens the lid-side opening 5 and is connected radially outside of the annular collar 17 with a lid of the reservoir 2. This can serve as a leak protection reservoir 18, for in the reservoir. 2 located liquid fuel 3 can be realized. If, for example, the light source 1 is rotated about a horizontal axis and thereby turned upside down, an amount of liquid fuel 3, for example, still remaining in the tubular section 8, can only run within the rough-shaped section 8 as far as the reservoir 18, but not escape. As a result, even the unwanted leakage of small amounts of liquid fuel 3 from the reservoir 2 can be reliably avoided.

The wick holder 4, as in the Fig. 4 to 11 is drawn, has a, the wick 6 leading tubular element 11, which at least partially surrounding the wick 6 on its lateral surface fitting. The wick 6 is here as well as the tubular element 11 radially expanded in the combustion zone 7, whereby on the one hand the wick 6 positively held in the tube member 11 and in particular an upside down light source 1, early dripping of liquid fuel 3 due to the volume-enlarged wick 6 in the area Combustion zone 7 and the associated increased storage capacity, at least can be delayed. In addition, the wick-holding device 4 on the outside of the wick 6 leading tubular element 11, a ring collar-like sealing / centering device 23, in particular a substantially conical and in the installed state downwardly open sealing / centering, with the help of which the wick holder 4 on the one hand in the tubular portion 8 is supported and on the other hand, an unwanted flow of liquid fuel 3 in the direction of an igniting provided end of the wick 6 on the outside of the tubular element 11 is prevented. A radial distance between the sealing / centering device 23 and the tubular portion 8 is formed so that only a passage of air is possible, but not of liquid fuel. 3

At his, according to the Fig. 4 upper longitudinal end, the wick holder 4 has a directly or indirectly supporting on an opening edge of the lid-side opening 5 collar portion 16, at which at the same time a manual Touching and in particular a lifting out of the wick holder 4 from the opening 5 is possible. At its longitudinal end facing away from it, the tubular element 11 has a radial widening, via which the wick-holding device 4 is supported in the tubular section 8 or held therein. It is conceivable that the tubular portion 8 has a complementary to a recess provided on the tubular element 11 recess shaped, so that a haptic resistance is felt, if the wick holder 4 has assumed its mounting position. At the same time, the wick-holding device 4 has a wick-shaped ring-shaped wick guard 24 surrounding the wick 6 in an annular manner.

At the collar region 16, the reservoir 2 facing (spring) arms 19 of a spring device 20 may be provided, via which the wick holder 4 is supported to form an at least small gap 15 on the lid of the reservoir 2. The gap 15 enables the volume compensation required during operation of the light source 1, which is created by the fact that liquid fuel 3 is burned and has to be compensated by a corresponding volume of air sucked from the outside. Of course, while the arms 14 may be formed as a plate spring-like trained collar disc, which may be formed as well as, for example, the arms 14 in addition resiliently. The spring device 20 thereby causes the wick-holding device 4 is biased in its latched to the reservoir 2 state to form the at least small axial gap 15. The possibility of locking the wick holder 4 on the reservoir 2 is provided by a provided on the cover-side opening 5 latching device 21, in particular a detent, which cooperates with a arranged on the wick holder 4 and corresponding counter-locking device 22, in particular with a retaining ring 13, and thereby at least complicates an unwanted removal of the wicking device 4 from the reservoir 2. To install the wick holder 4 in the reservoir 2, the latter must first in the tubular portion. 8 introduced and slightly swiveled shortly before reaching the installation position, to guide the retaining ring 13 under the locking lug. This can be done only with simultaneous tensioning of the spring device 20. Subsequently, the wick holder 4 is again coaxially aligned with the tubular portion 8, so that the mating latching device 22, respectively the latching lug, the latching device 21, respectively the holder ring, engages behind. In the latched position, the latching connection is secured by the spring device 20. In this way, an effective backup can be created, which makes it difficult for unauthorized persons, especially children, to remove the wick-holding device 4 from the storage container 2 and thereby reach the liquid fuel 3 in the storage container 2. To remove the wick-holding device 4, this preferably first, according to a child safety device for cleaning agents, pressed against the reservoir 2 and then tilted obliquely to solve the dochthalteeinrichtungsseitigen retaining ring 13 from the reservoir side locking lug 21. Children are not capable of such a coordinated movement.

The wick 6 of the wick-holding device 4 is adapted with respect to its outer diameter to an inner diameter of the tubular element 11 so that it can be inserted into an at least self-locking or self-holding position in the tubular element 11 and clamped in this. This can be supported by the widened in the combustion zone 7 area of the wick. 6

Of course, the reservoir 2 deviating from each in the Fig. 1 to 11 cylindrical shape shown also have a different shape, with all forms in common is that they are tuned to an axial length of the tubular portion 8, that at a maximum allowable liquid fuel level 10 within the reservoir 2, this can be rotated and turned as he wants , without any risk that liquid fuel 3 leak from the lid-side opening 5 and For example, can be drunk by small children. In this case, the tubular portion 8 is tightly connected to the lid-side opening 5. The light source 1 according to the invention thus provides the highest possible safety, especially to protect infants from harmful or even fatal consequences by drinking the liquid fuel 3. In addition, the light source 1 of the invention provides the highest possible security that even with an unintentional repelling or overturning of the reservoir 2, no Flüssigbrennstofif 3 escape to the outside and can ignite, for example.

Claims (10)

1. A light source (1) capable of being fired with liquid fuel (3), particularly a lamp capable of being fired with ethanol, petroleum or oil being provided with

   - a storage tank (2) for the liquid fuel (3),

   - a device for holding the wick (4) which via an opening in the lid (5) of the storage tank (2) can be suspended in such a way that a wick (6) can come into contact with the liquid fuel (3),

   characterised in that

   - a tubular section (8) protruding from the opening in the lid (5) into the interior of the storage tank (2) is provided forming the only connection from the outside to the inside of the storage tank (2) and that with respect to its axial length it is adapted to the dimensions of the storage tank (2) in such a way that through it only so much liquid fuel (3) can be filled into the storage tank (2) and that leakage of the liquid fuel (3) from the storage tank (2) is impossible independently from its position,

   - a gorget (17) protruding axially into the interior of the storage tank (2) is provided on the edge of the opening in the lid (5), wherein the tubular section (8) expands funnel-like towards the opening in the lid (5) and is radially connected to the lid of the storage tank (2) outside the gorget (17).
2. Light source according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that

   - the tubular section (8) is formed in a tapered manner and/or

   - the tubular section (8) is formed to include the device for holding the wick (4).
3. Light source according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the opening in the lid (5) is provided with a detent mechanism (21), in particular a detent nose interacting with a counter detent mechanism (22) disposed and accordingly formed on the device for holding the wick (4), particularly with a holding ring (13) and thus at least impedes unintended removal from the storage tank (2) of the device holding the wick (4).
4. Light source according to Claim 3,
   characterised in that
   a spring device (20) particularly with several spring arms (19) is provided which preloads the device holding the wick (4) in its detent state with the storage tank (2) while forming at least a small axial gap (15).
5. Light source according to one of the Claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the device for holding the wick (4) is provided with a tubular element (11) guiding the wick (6), on which a gorget-formed sealing/centering device (23), particularly a sealing/centering sleeve mainly conical and in the mounted state opened onto the lower part through which on the one hand the device for holding a wick (4) supports itself in the tubular section (8) and on the other hand unintended flow of the liquid fuel (3) in the direction towards the end of the wick (6) intended for lighting on the outside of the tubular element (11) is prevented.
6. Light source according to Claim 5,
   characterised in that
   a radial gap between the sealing/centering device (23) and the tubular section (8) is formed in such a way that only air can pass through and not liquid fuel (3).
7. Light source according to one of the Claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   a funnel (9) bearing a marking (12) for filling the liquid fuel (3) into the storage tank (2) is provided wherein the marking is positioned in such a way that during filling of the funnel (9) with liquid fuel (3) up to the marking (12) it can be pulled out of the opening in the lid (5), and the liquid fuel (3) flowing entirely into the storage tank (2) without the level of the liquid fuel (10) reaching the tubular section (8) from the bottom, so that the liquid fuel (3) cannot possibly leak from the storage tank (2), independently of its position.
8. Light source according to one of the Claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   the device for holding the wick (4) is provided with a tubular, section-formed wick protection (24) surrounding the wick (6) in an annular form.
9. Light source according to Claim 8,
   characterised in that
   the tubular element (11) as well as the wick (6) held in it is radially extended in the wick protection (24) section, so that, particularly, dripping liquid fuel (3) is at least delayed in an inverted light source (1).
10. Light source according to one of the Claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the storage tank (2) is double-walled.

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