JP2001272036A - Discharge structure of slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent erroneous discharge by using a discharge terminal that is compact and less expensive, and can be assembled easily in a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter. SOLUTION: A discharge terminal 7 is provided at the upper end of a piezoelectric unit 4 and is fixed by a holder 8 and assembled to a lighter body 1, support parts 22 and 22 of an operation cap 20 are locked to the lighter body 1, and the tip of press levers 23 and 23 is brought into contact with press parts 8d and 8d that are provided at the lower extension part of the holder 8. Also, a curved surface part 1a is formed at the upper portion of the lighter body 1. Then, the operation cap 20 is rotated by a slide operation, the press parts 8d and 8d of the holder 8 are pressed by the press levers 23 and 23, an outer box 41 of the piezoelectric unit 4 are pressed down, a valve mechanism is opened via a gas lever 5 for emitting a fuel gas, and at the same time discharge is made between a discharge terminal 7 and a nozzle chip 11, thus igniting the fuel gas.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter which is ignited by a slide operation of an operation cap, and more particularly to a discharge structure for eliminating troubles such as erroneous discharge and improving the incorporation of parts. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A piezoelectric ignition type gas lighter is provided with a piezoelectric unit including an outer box containing a piezoelectric element and an inner box containing a hammer as an ignition mechanism. The valve mechanism is opened via a gas lever interlocked with the operation of the piezoelectric unit to eject fuel gas from the nozzle, and a discharge voltage is generated in the piezoelectric unit to discharge between discharge electrodes to ignite the fuel gas. And the method of the ignition operation is that the piezoelectric unit is normally pressed via an operation button or the like of an up-down sliding type, and in addition, a slide-type operation cap which is supported by rotation is provided, and the operation cap is attached. In some cases, the piezoelectric unit is pressed downward through a lever or the like by sliding along the curved surface of the lighter body. It is called a lighter and sometimes abbreviated as a slide type lighter.

The discharge structure of a piezoelectric ignition type gas lighter is configured such that one end of a high voltage lead wire is connected to one electrode located below a piezoelectric unit, and the other end of the high voltage lead wire is used as a discharge electrode to form a nozzle oblique. In general, the piezoelectric unit is fixed at a predetermined upper position, and the other electrode of the piezoelectric unit is conductively connected to the nozzle via, for example, a gas lever, so that the nozzle tip member serves as the other discharge electrode.
In particular, in a lighter of a type in which an ignition operation is performed with an up / down sliding operation button or the like, one electrode terminal is provided on the upper part of the piezoelectric unit, and a plate-shaped upper end of the piezoelectric unit is brought into contact with the electrode terminal. A device provided with a discharge terminal is also known.

[0004]

As described above, the discharge structure of a gas lighter of the piezoelectric ignition type includes a structure using a high-voltage lead wire and a structure using a plate-shaped discharge terminal. In a lighter of a type in which an ignition operation is performed by an operation button or the like, any discharge structure is provided for practical use.However, in the slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter in which a slide-type ignition operation is performed, discharge using a discharge terminal is performed. Conventionally, it has been difficult to adopt a structure, and a discharge structure exclusively using a high-voltage lead wire has been employed.

[0005] In order to dispose the discharge terminal at the upper end of the piezoelectric unit to form a discharge electrode, the position of the discharge terminal must be a predetermined distance above the nozzle which is the other discharge electrode. It is necessary to increase the relative position of the piezoelectric unit with respect to the position, and also, when the operation cap is rotated by the slide operation and the pressing portion of the operation cap presses the piezoelectric unit, the stroke in the pressing direction is necessary for the operation of the piezoelectric unit. It is necessary to increase the turning radius of the operation cap so that the size becomes large, the operation space becomes large, and therefore, the shape of the lighter becomes large, causing problems such as design, and the shape and size of the lighter are reduced. If not changed, the tank position will be lowered by the size of the operation space, and the tank volume will be reduced. Problems. Therefore, conventionally, it has been practically difficult to use the discharge terminal in the slide type piezoelectric ignition lighter.

However, in the discharge structure using the high-voltage lead wire, the distance from the electrode terminal of the piezoelectric unit to the discharge electrode becomes long, and there is a possibility that erroneous discharge is caused between them.
There is a problem that electricity may be transmitted to a finger due to erroneous discharge, or it may be impossible to ignite fuel gas by discharging to other parts.

Further, the electrode terminal for connecting the high-voltage lead wire is usually located below the piezoelectric unit and deep in the upper portion of the lighter main body, so that the lead wire becomes long, and the long lead wire is inserted between parts. It is necessary to insert the lead wire from the narrow gap to the back, and there is also a problem that the lead wire is easily bent at the time of insertion and it is not easy to incorporate the lead wire into the designated position.

In addition, there is a problem that the cost of parts is increased because such a long lead wire must be used and the lead wire must be covered.

The high-voltage lead wire is fixed to a partition or the like on the side serving as a discharge electrode. However, variations occur in the discharge interval due to variations in the partition itself or its assembly dimensions, and there is thermal deformation. There is also a problem that it is difficult to keep the interval constant.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a discharge structure of a slide-type piezoelectric ignition lighter which enables the use of discharge terminals which are compact, low cost and easy to incorporate, and which can prevent erroneous discharge.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a discharge structure for a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter, wherein the discharge structure rotates on a curvature center of a curved surface portion provided on an upper end of the lighter body at one upper end of the lighter body. The operation cap is slid along the curved shape of the curved surface portion, and the operation lever is pressed to one side in the sliding direction to press the piezoelectric unit with a pressing lever below the operation cap to generate a discharge voltage to discharge. A discharge structure of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter that discharges and ignites between electrodes, wherein a plate-like discharge terminal is provided at an upper end of the piezoelectric unit and fixed by a holder, and the above-mentioned holder is fixed to a lower extending portion of the holder. A configuration in which the pressing lever of the operation cap is brought into contact with the operation unit and the piezoelectric unit is pressed via the holder by a sliding operation of the operation cap. One in which the.

In this case, the pressing lever of the operation cap which is rotated by the slide operation abuts on the lower extension of the holder at a side position lower than the upper end of the piezoelectric unit,
Since the piezoelectric unit is configured to act on the holder at this position and press the piezoelectric unit, the operation space above the piezoelectric unit can be reduced, so that the shape and dimensions of the lighter are prevented from increasing upward, and problems such as design are reduced. Since it is not necessary to lower the tank position, the tank volume can be sufficiently secured.

Since the discharge terminal is used, it is possible to prevent erroneous discharge at a part other than the discharge electrode as in the case of a lead wire, and it becomes a compact as a component, and does not need to be covered, so that the cost is reduced. As described above, it is not easy to bend at the time of assembling, and the assembling of parts becomes easy. Further, the discharge terminal in this case is compatible with a discharge terminal used in a normal piezoelectric ignition type gas lighter operated by a sliding operation button as it is, and the cost of parts can be further reduced. Further, since the discharge terminal is fixed to the upper end of the piezoelectric unit by a holder and moves up and down with the pressing operation of the piezoelectric unit, the problem of variation in the discharge interval hardly occurs.

This slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter is:
The apparatus may include an ejection unit that opens a valve mechanism via a gas lever interlocked with the operation of the piezoelectric unit and ejects fuel gas from a nozzle.

In the above-mentioned discharge structure, the discharge terminal is connected to one electrode of the piezoelectric unit, and the nozzle is connected to the other electrode of the piezoelectric unit via, for example, the gas lever. The member and the member may constitute a pair of discharge electrodes.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) showing the upper part of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention with some parts omitted, and a longitudinal sectional view (b) in a non-operation state, and FIG. FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of the mechanical holder assembly of the slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the operation cap, and FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this lighter has a nozzle 2 for ejecting a fuel gas through a valve mechanism for opening and closing a gas passage at one end inside an upper portion of a lighter main body 1 constituting a fuel gas filling tank. Is provided, and a piezoelectric unit 4 is disposed adjacent to the ejection unit 3 on the other end side inside the upper portion of the lighter main body 1, and is sandwiched between the ejection unit 3 and the piezoelectric unit 4. A gas lever 5 is provided at the center of the upper portion of the lighter main body 1.

The gas lever 5 has a substantially L-shape, one end of which extends substantially horizontally, and engages with the neck of the nozzle 2 constituting the valve mechanism of the ejection unit 3, and the other end thereof is located below the side surface of the piezoelectric unit 4. It extends so as to be in sliding contact with the lever pusher 6 also serving as one electrode terminal of the piezoelectric unit 4, and is arranged so that the central portion is supported by the lighter body 1 as a swing fulcrum.

The piezoelectric unit 4 is known per se,
An outer box 41 containing a piezoelectric element that generates a discharge voltage (high-voltage pulse) by applying a shock, and an inner box 42 containing a hammer that applies a shock to the piezoelectric element.
A part 42 protrudes downward, and is axially extendable between an initial locking position where the hammer faces the piezoelectric element at an interval and a position where the hammer hits the piezoelectric element. Is provided with a return spring for urging the outer case 41 in the direction of increasing the distance between the piezoelectric element and the hammer with respect to the inner case 42,
Inside the 42, a hammer spring for urging the hammer toward the piezoelectric element in a direction to urge the same is arranged.

One electrode terminal of the piezoelectric unit 4 is also used by the lever pusher 6 as described above. The other electrode terminal (not shown) is provided on the upper part of the outer case 41. At the upper end of the piezoelectric unit 4 (the upper end of the outer box 41), a plate-shaped discharge terminal 7 is installed so as to be connected to the upper electrode terminal.
A holder 8 is fitted over the discharge terminal 7, and the discharge terminal 7 is fixed by the holder 8. Discharge terminals 7 and holders 8 are pre-assembled in the piezoelectric unit 4 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2A, and are assembled into the lighter body 1 as an assembly, that is, an assembly (mechanical holder assembly).

In the center of the upper portion of the lighter body 1, a nozzle 2
A partition plate 9 is incorporated so as to partition the ignition space around the distal end from the piezoelectric unit 4 side. The mechanical holder assembly including the piezoelectric unit 4, the discharge terminals 7 and the holder 8 has an upper end which is higher than the tip of the nozzle 2 by a predetermined distance, and has a discharge terminal 7 through a vertically long slit 10 provided in the partition plate 9. The tip of the nozzle protrudes toward the nozzle 2, the discharge terminal 7 moves downward along the slit 10 with the operation of the piezoelectric unit 4, and the discharge electrode at the tip of the discharge terminal 7 and the nozzle at the tip of the nozzle 2 serving as the other discharge electrode It is disposed so as to form a discharge interval of a predetermined size with the tip 11 (nozzle tip member).

An inner cap 12 is mounted on the upper portion of the lighter main body 1 so as to cover the ignition space around the tip of the nozzle 2 partitioned by the partition plate 9 from above. The inner cap 12 mixes the fuel gas ejected from the nozzle 2 with air, ignites discharge, and generates a flame upward. A crater 13 is formed immediately above the nozzle 2, and a crater 13 is formed. An air window 14 is formed in a predetermined arrangement on the side part, and a tongue piece part 15 bent along the flow of the fuel gas ejected from the nozzle 2 is formed inside the end side wall part.

A slide operation type operation cap 20 shown in FIG. 2B is provided on the lighter main body 1 as an operation member for an ignition operation for pressing the piezoelectric unit 4. This operation cap 20 is used for the lighter body 1
A pair of parallel fulcrum levers 21 and 21 are extended downward on the back surface, and the lower ends of the fulcrum levers 21 and 21 are located at positions opposite to each other. A pair of fulcrum portions 22 and 22 are provided so as to project toward. Also,
A pressing lever 2 for pressing the piezoelectric unit 4 is branched from each of the fulcrum levers 21 and 21 toward one side (operating side of the sliding operation).
3, 23 are extended. The lower edge of the operation cap 20 is formed in an arc shape centered on the fulcrum portions 22 and 22 at the lower ends of the fulcrum levers 21 and 21 on one side which is the operation side of the slide operation.

On the inner surface of the upper portion of the lighter main body 1, there are provided grooves 24, 24 for guiding the fulcrum levers 21, 21 of the operation cap 20 and the fulcrum portions 22, 22 at the lower end thereof and locking them at predetermined fulcrum positions. . The operation cap 20 is a fulcrum of the fulcrum levers 21 and 21.
22 and 22 are assembled in accordance with the grooves 24 and 24 of the lighter main body 1, and the fulcrums 22 and 22 are engaged with the lower ends of the grooves 24 and 24. Then, the partition plate 9 is assembled, sandwiched from above, and held in position.

The holder 8 penetrates through the center hole of the discharge terminal 7 on the lower surface of the main body portion 8a which covers the upper end of the outer case 41 of the piezoelectric unit 4 from above the discharge terminal 7. An annular projection 8b fitted to the upper end recess is provided, and a downward extension is provided along the outer case 41 of the piezoelectric unit 4 on the side which is the operation side of the slide operation when mounted on the piezoelectric unit 4. Portion 8c, and the downwardly extending portion 8c
Pressing portions 8d, 8d extending substantially horizontally along opposing side surfaces so that the outer box 41 of the piezoelectric unit 4 is sandwiched between the lower sides of the piezoelectric cap 4 and the tips of the pressing levers 23, 23 of the operation cap 20 are brought into contact with each other. Is provided.

On the upper end of the lighter main body 1 located on the operation side of the slide operation, a curved surface portion 1a formed along the arc shape at the lower edge of the operation cap 20 is formed. The curved surface portion 1a is formed such that the fulcrum portions 22, 22 of the operation cap 20 are located at the center of curvature. By sliding the operation cap 20 in one direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1), the operation cap 20 rotates about the fulcrums 22, 22, and slides along the curved shape of the curved surface 1a.

The operation cap 20 is moved by sliding operation as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the periphery of the crater 13 is opened, and the pressing levers 23, 23 below the operation cap 20 press the holder 8 with the pressing portions 8d, 8d, and the piezoelectric unit 4 is moved via the holder 8. Press down. When the piezoelectric unit 4 is pressed and the outer case 41 is lowered, the gas lever 5 that slides on the lever pusher 6 rotates, the nozzle 2 is lifted, the valve mechanism of the ejection unit 3 opens, and the fuel gas Is squirted. In addition, a discharge voltage is generated in the piezoelectric unit 4 by being pressed, and a predetermined interval is formed between the discharge terminal 7 which has been lowered together with the outer case 41 and the nozzle tip 11 which is the other discharge electrode. And the fuel gas is ignited.

In this case, the operation cap 20 rotates about a position below the upper end of the piezoelectric unit 4 as a rotation fulcrum,
Since the piezoelectric unit is pressed by using the side surface position of the piezoelectric unit 4 as an action point, the space for installing and operating the operation cap 20 is small. Therefore, the shape and dimensions of the lighter do not need to be increased upward, and the tank position can be raised to secure the tank volume.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be embodied with various modifications within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter, the operation space of the operation cap is reduced, and the design is deteriorated due to the increase in the shape and size of the lighter. In addition, a discharge terminal can be provided at the upper end of the piezoelectric unit, which is compact, low-cost and easy to assemble, while ensuring sufficient tank volume, and a discharge structure capable of preventing erroneous discharge can be obtained.

Further, since the discharge terminals are used, a component structure is not required, a component can be easily assembled, and a discharge structure with less variation in discharge interval can be obtained.

Further, as the discharge terminal, the discharge terminal used in a normal piezoelectric ignition type gas lighter operated by a sliding operation button can be used as it is and is compatible, so that the cost of parts can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) showing an upper part of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention with some parts omitted, and a longitudinal sectional view in a non-operation state (b);

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a holder assembly of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention (a) and a perspective view of an operation cap (b);

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an upper part of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to an embodiment of the present invention in an operation state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Writer body 2 Nozzle 3 Ejection unit 4 Piezoelectric unit 5 Gas lever 7 Discharge terminal 8 Holder 9 Partition plate 11 Nozzle tip 20 Operation cap 21 Support lever 22 Support point 23 Press lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] An operation cap is provided on an upper portion of the lighter main body, the operation cap being slid along the curved shape of the curved surface portion by rotating about a center of curvature of a curved surface portion provided at one upper end side of the lighter main body as a fulcrum. An operation of the operation cap to one side in the sliding direction causes the pressing lever at the lower portion of the operation cap to press the piezoelectric unit to generate a discharge voltage, discharge between the discharge electrodes, and ignite the discharge structure of the slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter. A plate-shaped discharge terminal is provided at the upper end of the piezoelectric unit and fixed by a holder, and a pressing lever of the operation cap is brought into contact with a lower extension of the holder, and the operation cap is slid by operating the operation cap. A discharge structure for a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter, wherein the piezoelectric unit is pressed via a holder. 2. An ejection unit for opening a valve mechanism via a gas lever interlocking with the operation of the piezoelectric unit to eject fuel gas from a nozzle.
The discharge structure of the slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to the above. 3. The discharge terminal is connected to one electrode of the piezoelectric unit, the nozzle is connected to the other electrode of the piezoelectric unit via the gas lever, and the discharge terminal and the nozzle tip member are paired. The discharge structure of a slide operation type piezoelectric ignition lighter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discharge structure comprises a discharge electrode.