GB1594556A

GB1594556A - Device for regulating the flow of gas in a liquefiedgas lighter

Info

Publication number: GB1594556A
Application number: GB1279478A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ST Dupont SA
Current assignee: ST Dupont SA
Priority date: 1977-03-31
Filing date: 1978-03-31
Publication date: 1981-07-30
Also published as: BE865591A; ATA226178A; DE2812492A1; CH620980A5; ES235057U; DE2812492C2; JPS53125169A; AT354169B; FR2385988B1; ES235057Y; FR2385988A1

Abstract

The lighter is controlled by modifying the compression of a permeable elastic body (36) positioned in the path of the gas between a first rigid part (46) which is stationary relative to the lighter body and a second rigid part or pressure member (38), this second part being pressed against said permeable body by a pressure screw (44). The pressure screw presses on the pressure member via a rigid ball (42) in point contact with the pressure member. Application to controlling the flow of gas from a liquefied-gas lighter. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS IN A LIQUEFIED-GAS LIGHTER (71) We, S. T. DUPONT a French Corporate Body of Tour Maine Montparnasse, 33, Avenue du Maine, Paris 15 , France do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention refers to improvements in devices for regulating the flow of gas in liquified gas lighters.

In these lighters, the regulation of the flow of gas is in general obtained by modifying the area of passage presented to the gas by an elastic permeable body arranged in its path, this modification of the area of passage of the elastic permeable body being obtained by making its state of compression, and thus its permeability, vary. For this purpose the elastic permeable body is arranged between two parts whose spacing can be varied, a first rigid part fixed with respect to the body of the lighter and a second rigid part movable with respect to the other, called hereafter the - pressure member. The spacing of these two parts is regulated by a pressure screw which bears against the pressure member.

One disadvantage of devices of this type is that the friction between the pressure screw and the pressure member is such that the rotation of the pressure screw brings about that of the pressure member which then exerts upon the elastic permeable body twisting forces which can cause its deterioration.

It has been proposed, in order to restrict this disadvantage, to arrange the elastic permeable body in a socket in contact with the rigid part integral with the lighter body through a surface of hemispherical form, the socket and the rigid fixed part thus being in contact only through one point. During the course of regulation, because of the low friction transmitted through the point contact, the pressure screw drives in rotation the assembly formed of the pressure member, the elastic permeable part and the socket.

One disadvantage of devices of this species is that the elastic permeable body must transmit the rotational drive of the pressure screw to the socket. In addition they have the disadvantage of necessitating a socket having a hemispherical surface which is difficult to machine and the asymmetrical shape of which complicates automatic production.

The aim of the present invention is to correct these disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a liquified gas lighter in which gas flow is regulated by an elastic permeable body arranged in the path of the gas flow, the permeability of the body being adjustable by a pressure screw acting on the body through the intermediary of a pressure member placed against the body and wherein a rigid ball is disposed between the pressure member and the screw to transmit thrust from the screw to the pressure member.

With this arrangement, elastic permeable body transmits only an axial force, its freedom to rotate relative to the pressure screw being assured by a part which is simple to produce and of symmetrical shape.

Two forms of liquified gas lighter flow regulating devices in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the regulating device in accordance with the invention in axial section; and Figure 2 shows the second embodiment, also in axial section.

With reference to Figure 1, the device for regulation of gas flow comprises an elastic, permeable disc 36 located in a cylindrical cavity 34 in the body of the lighter, a pressure member 38, a spiral spring 40, a metal ball 42 of, for example, stainless steel, and a pressure screw 44.

The cylindrical cavity 34 is formed in the upper wall of the body 46 of the lighter. It is open to the inside of the reservoir of the lighter and communicates with the burner by a channel 50 through shut-off means 52.

The elastic permeable disc 36 is arranged at the bottom of the cavity 34.

The pressure screw 44 is screwed into the bottom of the body 46 of the lighter. It is coaxial with the cavity 34 and has an axial cavity 54 with a conical bottom in which the ball 42 is seated.

The pressure member 38 consists of a cylindrical metal rod provided with a collar 56. Its bottom end 58 is introduced into the cavity 54 and is in contact with the ball 42.

Its top end 60 is engaged in the cavity 34 and is in contact with the elastic permeable disc 36.

The spring 40 bears against the body 46 of the lighter and against the collar 56, and ensures permanent contact of the pressure member 38 with the ball 42.

In order to modify the flow of gas, the area of passage presented by the elastic permeable disc 34 is made to vary by adjusting the state of compression of the latter. To do that, the pressure screw 44 is rotated so as to bring the pressure member 38 nearer to the bottom of the cavity 34. The contact between the ball 42 and the flat end 58 of the pressure member being point contact, the result is that the rotation of the pressure screw is not transmitted to the pressure member 38 and disc 34. On the other hand the conical bottom of the well 54 centres the ball 42 with respect to the well and to the pressure member 38. The force transmitted by the ball to the pressure member is thus applied purely axially.

It is clear that the conical cavity might equally well be formed at the bottom end of the pressure member 38.

In the variant embodiment as Figure 2 the pressure member 60' and the pressure screw 62 exhibit flat endwalls so that the contacts between the said walls and the metal ball 64 are point contacts.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A liquified gas lighter in which gas flow is regulated by an elastic permeable body arranged in the path of the gas flow, the permeability of the body being adjustable by a pressure screw acting on the body through the intermediary of a pressure member placed against the body the wherein a rigid ball is disposed between the pressure member and the screw to transmit thrust from the screw to the pressure member.

2. A liquified gas lighter according to Claim 1, wherein the ball is seated in a conical cavity in either the pressure screw or the pressure member.

3. A liquified gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein the ball abuts flat faces of the screw and pressure member, respectively.

4. A liquified gas lighter having a gas flow regulating device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or with the reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. upper wall of the body 46 of the lighter. It is open to the inside of the reservoir of the lighter and communicates with the burner by a channel 50 through shut-off means 52. The elastic permeable disc 36 is arranged at the bottom of the cavity 34. The pressure screw 44 is screwed into the bottom of the body 46 of the lighter. It is coaxial with the cavity 34 and has an axial cavity 54 with a conical bottom in which the ball 42 is seated. The pressure member 38 consists of a cylindrical metal rod provided with a collar 56. Its bottom end 58 is introduced into the cavity 54 and is in contact with the ball 42. Its top end 60 is engaged in the cavity 34 and is in contact with the elastic permeable disc 36. The spring 40 bears against the body 46 of the lighter and against the collar 56, and ensures permanent contact of the pressure member 38 with the ball 42. In order to modify the flow of gas, the area of passage presented by the elastic permeable disc 34 is made to vary by adjusting the state of compression of the latter. To do that, the pressure screw 44 is rotated so as to bring the pressure member 38 nearer to the bottom of the cavity 34. The contact between the ball 42 and the flat end 58 of the pressure member being point contact, the result is that the rotation of the pressure screw is not transmitted to the pressure member 38 and disc 34. On the other hand the conical bottom of the well 54 centres the ball 42 with respect to the well and to the pressure member 38. The force transmitted by the ball to the pressure member is thus applied purely axially. It is clear that the conical cavity might equally well be formed at the bottom end of the pressure member 38. In the variant embodiment as Figure 2 the pressure member 60' and the pressure screw 62 exhibit flat endwalls so that the contacts between the said walls and the metal ball 64 are point contacts. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A liquified gas lighter in which gas flow is regulated by an elastic permeable body arranged in the path of the gas flow, the permeability of the body being adjustable by a pressure screw acting on the body through the intermediary of a pressure member placed against the body the wherein a rigid ball is disposed between the pressure member and the screw to transmit thrust from the screw to the pressure member.