JPH11182846A - Igniter using liquid fuel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure combustion characteristics meeting to requirements as an igniter by regulating a saturated flame length, while ensuring the initial flame length and thereafter expansion length in combustion effected through suction of liquid fuel through a combustion wick at the tip thereof. SOLUTION: Inner cotton 3 containing liquid fuel consisting mainly of alcohol is contained in the bottom of a fuel tank 2 to form an upper space 2a in a fuel tank, the inner cotton 3 and the suction part 62 are brought into contact with each other o suck up liquid fuel by capillary phenomenon. The partial surface of a combustion wick 6 burned at a combustion part 61 is exposed to the upper space 2a to regulate fuel feed capacity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol and ignites a lighter for a smoking article equipped with a combustion wick which draws up and burns the liquid fuel from a fuel tank by utilizing capillary action. In particular, the present invention relates to the structure of the combustion wick portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, fuels for burning equipment such as lighters for smoking equipment, igniters, torches, lighting equipment, etc. include alcohol fuels such as ethyl alcohol, petroleum benzene benzene fuels including gasoline, butane gas, propane gas and the like. Liquefied gas fuel is used.

[0003] The performance, ease of use, and design structure of each burner differ depending on the type of fuel used, and each burner has its own characteristics.

For example, in the case of a benzene fuel made of a mixture of petroleum benzene hydrocarbon compounds, the fuel is a mixture of compounds having different boiling points, and a benzene component having a low boiling point volatilizes in an early stage of use after ignition of a combustion appliance. Since the volatile components are sequentially shifted to hydrocarbons having a high boiling point, the fuel composition remaining in the combustion equipment changes according to the burning time,
The same applies to gasoline, which causes a change in flame length. In addition, benzine and gasoline have high volatility, and in the case of a burning appliance that uses this, a sealed structure that reduces volatilization from the fuel storage unit and the combustion wick is required.
If the sealing is insufficient, the fuel is volatilized and lost, the frequency of replenishment of the fuel is high, the fuel is complicated, and benzine and gasoline have a peculiar smell and may not be preferred.

[0005] In the case of liquefied gas fuel, the gas pressure is high in the operating temperature range of the combustion equipment, and a container for storing the fuel needs a pressure-resistant structure. Further, the flame length changes in accordance with the fluctuation of the gas pressure. In particular, the gas pressure has a characteristic of greatly changing logarithmically with the temperature, and there is a problem that the flame length greatly changes with the temperature. In order to reduce the change in the flame length, special design measures for compensating for the temperature of the fuel supply mechanism of the combustion apparatus are required, which complicates the structure and is disadvantageous in cost.

On the other hand, in the case of alcohol fuel, a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol such as lower monohydric alcohol such as ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol and propyl alcohol is liquid at room temperature, has a relatively low vapor pressure, and has a low fuel pressure. A pressure-resistant container in the storage section is not required, and the fuel tank and the combustion wick may be hermetically sealed so that the alcohol does not evaporate, which is advantageous in terms of simplification of the structure of the combustion apparatus and cost.

[0007] Further, in the combustion apparatus using a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol, as a means for supplying the liquid fuel from the fuel storage section to the combustion section, generally, the surface tension of the liquid fuel is utilized. A combustion wick is used that sucks up continuous pores or slits formed by bundling fine fibers by capillary action and burns at the tip.

[0008] Specifically, the above-mentioned combustion wick is used for sucking up the fuel, in which the fiber is twisted into a string, the glass fiber is bundled, or both are used, and the glass fiber is wrapped with a cotton yarn, and this is melted. In order to avoid this, a material wound around a thin metal wire or the like is used, the lower end wicking portion functions as fuel wicking, and the upper end combustion portion burns.

[0009]

However, in an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article using the above-mentioned combustion wick, the initial flame length after ignition depends on the material, size and shape of the combustion wick. Since the change in the flame length, the saturated flame length, and the like are different, it is necessary to configure the ignition device to satisfy the desired characteristics.

[0010] For this reason, as the combustion wick, there is provided a combustion wick portion, in addition to the above-mentioned conventional technology, in which a cord-like fiber in which fibers are twisted, a glass fiber bundle or a combination of both are used. In order to stabilize the combustion at a temperature, it is conceivable to use a ceramic fiber squeezed into a thick plate, extruded into a rod, or felt. Further, glass fiber or carbon fiber alone or as a mixture thereof may be used as the heat-resistant fiber material, and a material processed into an appropriate shape as a combustion core may be used.

When these combustion wicks are used in an igniter such as a lighter for smoking equipment, a suction portion for supplying the liquid fuel in the fuel tank to the combustion portion, and the fuel sucked in contact with the suction portion is burned. It is possible to adopt a type in which a combustion wick formed by forming the tip combustion portion with a different material, and an integrated combustion wick formed by integrally forming the suction portion and the tip combustion portion using the material described above. is there.

In the case where an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article using a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol is manufactured, when the combustion wick is ignited, the fuel contained in the combustion portion of the combustion wick is subjected to the combustion portion. Volatilizes from the surface, starts burning and forms a flame. The length of this flame is defined as the initial flame length.

Then, the combustion portion of the wick is heated by this combustion, the amount of fuel volatilized from its surface increases, and the flame length increases. However, the temperature rise due to the combustion of the fuel on the surface of the combustion wick becomes an equilibrium state and stops as the combustion proceeds, and the elongation of the flame length also saturates and stops, resulting in a saturated flame length. As the fuel contained in the combustion portion of the combustion wick burns off from its surface, the fuel diffuses from the inside of the combustion wick to the surface, and the fuel in the fuel tank is sucked up and replenished through the suction portion of the combustion wick. You.

If the consumption of fuel from the surface of the wick, the supply of fuel from the inside of the wick, and the suction of fuel from the fuel tank are performed, combustion continues in an equilibrium state and the flame length is stabilized. If the consumption of fuel from the surface of the combustion wick is not accompanied by the supply of fuel from the inside of the combustion wick, the flame length changes from the initial flame length, and becomes an equilibrium state according to the fuel supply or extinguishes fire.

By the way, in an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article, the initial flame length immediately after ignition is as long as possible. In practical use, this value is at least about 20 mm.
It satisfies the combustion conditions that the time required for the flame length to reach 25 mm is as short as possible, within about 10 seconds in practical use, and 70 mm or less in practical use so that the saturated flame length after ignition time does not become too long. Is preferred.

In view of this requirement, preferably, from the purpose of use, the flame length immediately after ignition is a flame length suitable for use as an igniter as much as possible, and even if the flame length is extended, the flame length is suitable for use as soon as possible. As well as the flame length,
It is desirable that the length of the subsequent saturated flame be as short as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an igniter using a liquid fuel capable of obtaining a combustion state suitable for a purpose of use.

[0018]

The igniter using the liquid fuel according to the present invention, which has solved the above-mentioned problems, has a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol contained in a batting accommodated in a fuel tank, and the batting and a wicking portion are contained. A combustion wick that contacts and draws up liquid fuel by capillarity and burns at the tip combustion portion, a wick holder that holds the combustion wick at the top of the fuel tank, and an ignition member that ignites the tip combustion portion of the combustion wick; A closing cap for volatilization preventing the tip burning portion of the combustion wick so as to be openable and closable, wherein the filling is accommodated in a bottom portion of the fuel tank, and an upper space is formed in a fuel tank above the filling. A part of the surface of the combustion wick is exposed to an upper space of the fuel tank.

It is to be noted that the combustion wick may be configured such that a suction portion in contact with the batting and a tip combustion portion are formed of different materials, so that the combustion portion side material is exposed in an upper space of the fuel tank. Good. At this time, it is possible to provide an opening in the inside of the fuel tank in the wick holder, and to expose a part of the material on the combustion portion side of the combustion wick to the upper space through the opening. Further, in the inside of the fuel tank in the wick holder, a gap communicating with the upper space of the fuel tank can be provided around the material on the combustion portion side of the held wick, and can be exposed to the upper space.

It is preferable that the combustion wick has a lower suction fuel supply capacity of the liquid fuel in the suction part below the suction combustion capacity of the liquid fuel in the tip combustion part. Specifically, it is possible to provide the combustion core with a small cross-sectional area at a contact portion with the batting. Further, the combustion wick may be provided at a portion below the front end combustion portion and at least exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank so that the liquid fuel suction capacity differs between the central portion and the outer peripheral portion.

The suction supply capacity of the liquid fuel from the suction part to the tip combustion part in the combustion wick is 2.5 to 5.3 mg /
sec, more preferably 3.5 to 4.4 mg / sec.

When the combustion wick of an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article using a liquid fuel as described above is ignited, immediately after the ignition, the fuel contained in the combustion portion of the combustion wick volatilizes from the surface of the combustion portion. Burn. When combustion starts, the temperature of the combustion portion of the wick rises, the amount of fuel vaporized rapidly increases, and the fuel contained in the combustion portion of the wick is consumed, and the batting in the fuel tank is impregnated and held. The fuel thus collected is sucked up through the capillary of the wicking portion of the combustion wick that comes in contact with the batting, and supplied to the tip combustion portion. At this time, an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article must be designed so that the flame length immediately after ignition and the flame length at the beginning of ignition match the intended use. In order to satisfy these two characteristics, the material and size and shape of the tip burning portion of the burning wick must be specified.

As a material, the holding amount of the liquid fuel is large,
In addition, replenishment accompanying the combustion of liquid fuel is sufficiently performed, and further, heat resistance is required. In order to meet this purpose, heat-resistant fiber materials such as ceramic fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, etc. are bundled alone or a mixture of these, or are added to a plate-like plate with a small amount of a binder or hardener added to make What has been dried and solidified and cut into the required dimensions and shape,
Alternatively, a small amount of a binder and a curing agent may be added to a rod shape, extruded, dried and solidified, or further, the fiber processed into a felt shape may be cut into a required shape and used.

Such a combustion wick can be formed so as to have fine holes also on its side surface, and a part of the surface of the combustion wick is fixed so as to be exposed to a space in the fuel tank. If a sufficient space is provided around the exposed portion of the combustion wick in the fuel tank, an appropriate flame length can be obtained after ignition of the combustion wick, immediately after the ignition and in the initial stage, by the size and shape of the protruding portion of the combustion wick from the wick holder. However, for the continuation of the combustion thereafter, the saturated flame length can be controlled by regulating the supply amount from the fuel tank to the combustion portion of the combustion wick.

That is, when the fuel supply corresponding to the fuel consumption of the combustion portion of the combustion wick is performed from the fuel tank, the maximum saturated flame length is maintained. On the other hand, when the fuel supply to the combustion portion of the combustion wick is smaller than this, combustion continues at a flame length commensurate with the fuel supply amount, or when the fuel supply is further reduced, the flame length decreases over time. As a result, combustion cannot be continued.

In the present invention, by utilizing this phenomenon, the amount of fuel supplied from the fuel tank to the front end combustion portion of the combustion wick is regulated by exposing a part of its surface to the upper space in the fuel tank. It controls the saturated flame length. As an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article, the dimensional shape of the tip of the combustion wick is determined by the material constituting the combustion wick so that the flame length immediately after ignition and the flame length can be extended to the required flame length early thereafter, and Fuel consumption is also determined by the part.

The combustion wick in the present invention as described above has a fuel wicking portion and a tip combustion portion formed integrally of the same material, or a fuel wicking portion and a combustion portion formed of different materials. , Which are connected to each other.

When the surface of the combustion portion of the combustion wick is exposed to the upper space in the fuel tank, air enters the surface layer at the portion of the surface that comes into contact with air, and this surface layer has a resistance to suck up liquid fuel. It became clear that the suction capacity of the surface layer was lower than the fuel suction capacity inside the combustion wick, and the fuel supply capacity was lower than when the entire combustion wick surface was in contact with the batting. Accordingly, when the combustion wick is made of a different material for the combustion portion and the suction portion, the material portion on the combustion portion side is particularly exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank. By exposing the upper part from the contact part with the batting to the upper space,
The saturated flame length could be regulated.

Further, in addition to the above, as a material of the combustion wick,
The saturation flame length could be set low by using a liquid fuel with a low suction capacity. At that time, when the material of the combustion core was different between the tip burning portion and the wicking portion, the saturated flame length could be set low by selecting a material having a low liquid fuel wicking ability for the wicking portion. Similarly, in a single or separate structure combustion wick,
The saturated flame length was able to be reduced by designing the cross-sectional shape of the suction part small. The relationship between the material of the wick and the suction capacity will be described in detail in Experimental Example 1 below.

Further, the suction portion of the combustion wick has a two-layer structure of an outer peripheral portion and a central portion, and by changing the material of both,
The initial flame length and the elongation of the flame at the initial stage were set by the size and shape of the tip burning portion of the wick, and the subsequent saturated flame length could be reduced.

As the liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol, for example, a lower monohydric alcohol such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or propyl alcohol is used as a main component, and a saturated hydrocarbon such as hexane or heptane for coloring a flame is added thereto. A mixture is used.

[0032]

According to the igniter using liquid fuel of the present invention, a batting containing a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol is stored in the bottom of the fuel tank, and an upper space is provided in the fuel tank above the batting. Forming, in contact with the batting, sucks up the liquid fuel by capillary action and exposes a part of the surface of the combustion wick to be burned in the tip burning portion to the upper space of the fuel tank, thereby exposing it to this upper space. Air penetrates into the surface of the burning part and regulates the fuel supply capacity, so that the shape of the burning part at the tip of the combustion wick secures the initial flame length when combustion is started by igniting it and the elongation characteristics from it In addition, the subsequent fuel supply is reduced and the increase in the saturated flame length can be suppressed, and the desired combustion characteristics can be secured by a simple structure as an igniter such as a lighter for a smoking article as a whole. .

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the igniter using the liquid fuel according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional structure of a lighter for a smoking article as an example of an igniter using a liquid fuel. The lighter 1 has a bottomed cylindrical fuel tank 2, into which a batting 3 made of a fibrous material impregnated and holding liquid fuel is inserted, and an upper lid 4 is fixed to the upper part of the fuel tank 2. Thus, a fuel storage unit 5 that stores the liquid fuel is configured. The batting 3 is filled into the bottom of the fuel tank 2 to form an upper space 2a.

For example, the fuel tank 2 is a molded article made of polypropylene and has an inner volume of 5 cm ³ .
Filling 3 is a 6-denier polypropylene fiber,
It is pushed at a density 0.05 g / cm ³ in the fuel tank 2, the ethyl alcohol 95 wt% batting 3, the liquid fuel mixed with n- hexane 5 wt% is stored is 4g injected impregnation.

Further, a metal core holder 7 is fixedly penetrating the upper lid 4 vertically into the fuel tank 2.
A rod-shaped combustion core 6 is mounted on the core holder 7 in the vertical direction. The combustion wick 6 is separately formed of a different material into a combustion portion 61 at the tip and a suction portion 62 below, and is installed in a state where the lower end of the combustion portion 61 and the upper end of the suction portion 62 are in contact with each other. I have.

The combustion portion 61 of the combustion wick 6 is made of ceramic fiber, protrudes from the upper end of the wick holder 7 by a predetermined amount, and has a lower end lower than the lower end of the wick holder 7 in the fuel tank 2. It is held in a protruding state. On the other hand, the wicking portion 62 of the combustion wick 6 is formed of acrylic fiber, and the lower portion is inserted into the batting 3 to come into contact with the batting 3, and the liquid fuel impregnated in the batting 3 is subjected to capillary action. The upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the batting 3 and contacts the lower end of the combustion portion 61 in the upper space 2a to supply the sucked liquid fuel to the combustion portion 61. Then, the wick tip portion of the combustion portion 61 of the combustion wick 6 protruding above the wick holder 7 is ignited to generate a flame and burn.

The burning portion 61 has, for example, a thickness of 2.
A small amount of an organic binder and a curing agent are added to ceramic fibers obtained by fibrillating a raw material mainly composed of 8 μm alumina and silica to form a plate so that the packing density of the fibers becomes 0.16 g / cm ^3. Is cut and the cross section is 3mm x 4mm
A 15 mm long rod is inserted into the core holder 7 having an inner diameter of 4.0 mmφ, an outer diameter of 5.0 mmφ, and a length of 7.0 mm. The upper end of the combustion portion 61 is fixed so that the protruding length from the upper end surface of the wick holder 7 is 5 mm, protrudes from the lower end surface of the wick holder 7 with an exposed length A of 3 mm, and the outer peripheral portion thereof is fuel. It is exposed in the upper space 2a of the tank 2.

The suction portion 62 has a fiber thickness of 3
A binder and a curing agent are added to denier acrylic fiber, bundled and solidified into a rod shape, and the porosity after fixed molding is 60%, the outer diameter is 3.4 mmφ, and the length is 37 mm. The length of insertion into the batting 3 is 30 mm, and a portion protruding 7 mm above the contact portion with the batting 3 is exposed in the upper space 2a.

An ignition member 10 is disposed on the upper lid 4 so as to face the end of the combustion portion 61.
A pyrotechnic stone 12 is inserted into a bracket 11 fixed to the upper lid 4 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A rotating file 13 is provided on the upper lid of the bracket 11, and a tip of the pyrotechnic stone 12 is provided around the rotating file 13. It is provided in a structure that is pressed by the urging force of the stone pressing spring 14, and is provided so that a spark flies toward the combustion wick 6 by rotating the rotary file 13.

The volatilization-preventing closure cap 16 that covers the combustion portion 61 together with the projection of the wick holder 7 so that it can be opened and closed.
The closing cap 16 is provided with the fuel tank 2.
Is rotatably supported by a pin 17 at one end of the upper surface of the upper lid 4. On the inner surface of the closing cap 16,
An inner lid 16a is provided, which surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the core holder 7 and covers and seals the tip of the combustion portion 61. Further, an O-ring 19 is horizontally attached to the outer peripheral root portion of the core holder 7, and is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the inner lid 16a to improve the airtightness. Note that a top plate 18 is provided on the upper surface of the upper lid 4.

The circular inner peripheral surface of the core holder 7
The gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the combustion portion 61 and the rectangular cross section functions as a vent that communicates the upper space 2a in the fuel tank 2 with the outside.

Using the smoking article lighter 1 of FIG. 1 as described above, the change in the flame length in the case of continuous burning from ignition was measured. The flame length immediately after ignition was 28 mm, from which the flame length gradually increased. Approximately 30 seconds after the ignition, the flame length became 43 mm, after which the flame length did not change and became equilibrium (see FIG. 11). As described above, both the securing of the initial flame length and the suppression of the saturated flame length were achieved, and the flame length change characteristics satisfying the required combustion conditions as a smoking article lighter were obtained.

The fuel tank 2 of the combustion part 61 as described above
The relationship between the exposure length A to the upper space 2a and the flame length change characteristic will be described in detail in Experimental Example 4 described later.

<Second Embodiment> In this example, a portion of a combustion wick is schematically shown in FIG. 2, and the combustion wick 6 in the example of FIG. This is an embodiment in which ceramic fibers are integrally formed.

The length of the integral combustion core 6 is 52 mm, and the length of the exposed portion of the combustion core 6 in the upper space 2a of the fuel tank 2 is 10 mm.

In the writer according to the embodiment of the present invention,
In the combustion, the same combustion characteristics as the lighter in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 were obtained. In addition, the integral combustion wick 6
The material, the suction characteristics and the combustion characteristics will be described later in Experimental Example 2.

<Third Embodiment> This embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 and is different from the above embodiment in the form of the combustion wick 6 and the wick holder 7. For other parts,
It is formed in the same manner as the writer of the embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

First, the combustion wick 6 is made of a different material for the combustion portion 61 and the wicking portion 62. The wicking portion 62 has a central portion 62a and an outer peripheral portion 62b provided in a double structure having different materials. I have. The combustion portion 61 is made of the same ceramic fiber as that of the first embodiment, and has a cross section of 3 mm × 4.
mm and 12 mm in length.

The suction portion 62 has a central portion 62a made of acrylic fiber in the same manner as described above.
2b is formed of a polyethylene powder sintered body. The central portion 62a is formed of acrylic fiber having a fiber thickness of 3 denier and has an outer diameter of 2.5 mm. Outer part 62
b is obtained by sintering polyethylene powder (particle size: 70 to 200 mesh) at 170 ° C. for 10 minutes, and has an outer diameter of 4.0 mmφ and a length of 37 mm.

On the other hand, the core holder 7 is formed to have a larger upper inner diameter and a smaller lower inner diameter. Specifically, the outer diameter of the combustion wick 6 having the above-mentioned size is set to 5.
0mmφ, length is 10mm, and the inner diameter is 7mm from the upper end surface is formed to 4.0mmφ, and the 3mm length from the lower end to the lower end surface is formed to 3.5mmφ inner diameter. I have.

Then, with respect to the core holder 7 as described above, the suction portion 62 of the double structure is inserted and fixed from below into a portion having a small inner diameter at the lower portion, and the lower end of the combustion portion 61 is fixed from above. The upper end of the burning portion 61 protrudes from the upper end surface of the core holder 7 with a protruding length of 5 mm, and the protruding portion is ignited and burned. You. In addition, the core holder 7
The surface of the outer peripheral portion 62b of the suction portion 62 below the lower end of the fuel tank 2 is exposed to the upper space 2a of the fuel tank 2.

In the wicking portion 62, the central portion 62a made of acrylic fiber has a large capacity for sucking up liquid fuel, the outer peripheral portion 62b made of a polyethylene sintered body has a low wicking ability, and the outer peripheral portion 62b has an upper space 2a. As a result, the suction capacity is reduced, and the suction capacity as a whole is lower than that of the first embodiment.

When the change in flame length after ignition was measured using the above lighter, as shown in FIG. 13, the flame length immediately after ignition was 27 mm, and the flame length gradually increased from there. Later, the flame length became 43 mm, after which the flame length did not change and became equilibrium.

<Fourth Embodiment> This example is shown in FIG. 4 and shows still another embodiment of the combustion wick 6. The other parts are formed in the same manner as the writer of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The combustion wick 6 of this embodiment is made of a different material for the combustion portion 61 and the wicking portion 62. Further, the wicking portion 62 is formed so that the portion in contact with the batting 3 at the bottom is small and the cross-sectional area is small. Is provided. By reducing this cross-sectional area, the amount of liquid fuel supplied from the batting 3 by the suction portion 62 and the amount of exposure to the upper space 2a are regulated, and the combustion portion 61
The configuration is such that the saturated flame length is suppressed by reducing the amount of liquid fuel supplied to the fuel tank.

More specifically, the suction portion 62 of the combustion wick 6
Is made by bundling acrylic fibers, and the overall length is 37mm
The outer diameter is 5 mm from the upper end and the outer diameter is 3.4 mmφ, and the 32 mm from the lower end is 1.2 mmφ. The thin part is inserted into the 30 mm long batting 3 and fixed. It was done.

The shape of the wick holder 7 is the same as that of the third embodiment. The inner diameter of the upper part is large and the inner diameter of the lower part is small. The upper end of the upper portion 62 is inserted and fixed and held so that the respective end faces come into contact with each other.

The upper end of the burning portion 61 projects from the upper end surface of the lead holder 7 with a projecting length of 5 mm, and the projected portion is ignited and burned. In addition, the surface of the suction portion 62 is exposed to the upper space 2a below the core holder 7 and above the batting 3.

When the change in flame length after ignition was measured using the above lighter, the flame length immediately after ignition was 24 mm, and the flame length gradually increased from there.
mm, and then the flame length gradually decreased, and after 120 seconds, the flame length became 28 mm (see FIG. 10).

The relationship between the change in the outer diameter B of the suction portion 62 and the saturated flame length is determined in Experimental Example 3.

<Fifth Embodiment> This example is shown in FIG. 5 and shows still another embodiment of the lead holder 7. The other parts are formed in the same manner as the writer of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

First, the combustion wick 6 is made of a different material for the combustion portion 61 and the suction portion 62. The combustion part 61 is made of ceramic fiber and has a cross section of 3 mm × 4 mm.
The length is 11 mm. The wicking portion 62 is similarly formed of acrylic fiber, is formed to have an outer diameter of 3.4 mmφ, a length of 37 mm, and is inserted into the batting 3 having a length of 30 mm.

On the other hand, the core holder 7 has an opening 7a formed in an intermediate portion thereof to open to the upper space 2a of the fuel tank 2 in the lateral direction. The outer diameter of the core holder 7 is 5.0 mmφ, the length is 10 mm, and the inner diameter is 4.0 mmφ for the 6 mm length from the upper end face, and 4 mm length from the lower end to the lower end face. It is formed with an inner diameter of 3.0 mmφ. Further, two round openings 7a each having a diameter of 3.0 mmφ are provided around a position 4.5 mm from the upper end.

Then, with respect to the above-mentioned core holder 7, the sucking portion 62 is inserted and fixed to a portion having a small inner diameter at a lower portion thereof for a length of 5 mm from below, and the lower end of the combustion portion 61 is fixed from above. The upper end of the burning portion 61 protrudes from the upper end surface of the core holder 7 with a protruding length of 5 mm, and the protruding portion is ignited and burned. At the same time, a part of the combustion portion 61 is formed through the opening 7a in the upper space 2a
Exposed. Further, the suction portion 62 is exposed to the upper space 2a below the core holder 7.

When the change in flame length after ignition was measured using the above lighter, the flame length immediately after ignition was 30 mm, and the flame length gradually increased therefrom. After about 30 seconds from ignition, the flame length was 49 mm.
mm, after which the flame length did not change and became equilibrium (see FIG. 12).

<Sixth Embodiment> This example is shown in FIG. 6 and shows still another embodiment of the lead holder 7. The other parts are formed in the same manner as the writer of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

First, the combustion wick 6 is made of a different material for the combustion portion 61 and the suction portion 62. The combustion part 61 is made of ceramic fiber and has a cross section of 3 mm × 4 mm.
The length is 12 mm. The wicking portion 62 is similarly formed of acrylic fiber, has an outer diameter of 3.4 mm, a length of 37 mm, and is inserted into a 30 mm long batting.

On the other hand, the core holder 7 is formed such that the lower portion inside the fuel tank is formed large, and the upper space 2 of the fuel tank 2 is formed.
A gap 7b opening to a is formed. The core holder 7 has a length of 5 mm from the upper end with an outer diameter of 5.0 mmφ and an inner diameter of 4.0 mmφ, and a length of 5 mm from this to the lower end surface has an outer diameter of 6.4 mmφ and an inner diameter of 5.4 mmφ. is there. Further, a 1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm lead holding part 7c is attached to four places on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end part, and the other parts than the lead holding part 7c are open at the lower end to allow ventilation.

Then, the combustion portion 61 is inserted into the above-described wick holder 7 from above so that the protruding length becomes 5 mm, and the lower end portion of the combustion portion 61 is a portion of the inner diameter enlarged portion of the wick holder 7. It protrudes from the gap 7b with an exposed portion length of 3 mm. Further, the upper end of the suction portion 62 is inserted into the lower end of the wick holder 7 for a length of 2 mm, the upper end is in contact with the lower end of the combustion portion 61, and the outer peripheral portion is the wick holding portion 7c. Has been fixed by. The combustion part 61
The protruding portion is ignited and burned, and the lower end of the burning portion 61 and the suction portion 62 are exposed to the upper space 2 a of the fuel tank 2.

When the change in flame length after ignition was measured using the above lighter, the flame length immediately after ignition was 28 mm, and the flame length gradually increased from there.
mm, after which the flame length did not change and became equilibrium.

<Experimental Example 1> In this experiment, the relationship between the saturated flame length and the fuel supply amount was obtained.

The wick used had a fiber diameter of 2.8 μm.
A 3 mm-thick plate formed by molding a ceramic fiber having a packing density of 200 mg / cm ³ and a width of 4 mm is used as a combustion part, and is incorporated in an igniter as shown in FIG. The material is selected so that it has a sufficient suction capacity for the fuel and a supply capacity greater than the fuel consumption accompanying the combustion in the combustion part, and is provided so as to withstand a combustion experiment within an experimental range. Ignition was performed by changing the length of the protruding portion of the combustion part from the wick holder, and the saturated flame length after ignition and the fuel consumption per unit time at that time were measured from the weight change. FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the fuel consumption and the fuel consumption.

From the above results, when the saturated flame length is 30 mm, the fuel supply amount is 2.5 mg / sec, and when the saturated flame length is 40 mm, the fuel supply amount is 3.5 mg / sec and the saturated flame length is 5 mm.
In the case of 0 mm, the fuel supply amount is 4.4 mg / sec, and in the case of a saturated flame length of 60 mm, the fuel supply amount is 5.3 mg / sec. ６０60 mm is suitable, and the corresponding fuel supply amount is 2.5-5.3 mg / sec, more preferably the saturated flame length is 40-50 mm, and the corresponding fuel supply amount is 3.5-4 0.4 mg / sec.

When the above-mentioned fuel supply amount is required for the wicking portion of the combustion wick, its material is determined by its suction capacity for liquid fuel and its sectional area. In the case of the above cigarette lighter, when the cross-section of the wicking part is circular in design structure, the diameter is 2
5 mmφ is appropriate, and the cross-sectional area is 3 to 20 mm ^{2. In} this cross-sectional area range, the saturated flame length can be determined by setting the material and structure in consideration of the suction capacity of the suction portion of the combustion wick.

In this experiment, the fuel supply in the combustion portion of the combustion wick was sufficient from the lower fuel suction portion, but the fuel supply from the suction portion was supplied to the combustion portion. If the fuel consumption is lower than the initial fuel length, the initial flame length immediately after ignition and the subsequent flame extension are determined by the protruding length of the burning portion, but the saturated flame length is the amount of fuel supplied to the subsequent burning portion, that is, the fuel consumption amount. It was found that the saturated flame length was appropriate. By utilizing this phenomenon, the initial flame length and the saturated flame length of the combustion wick can be made as desired.

<Experimental Example 2> In this experiment, as in the second embodiment (FIG. 2), a combustion wick in which the combustion portion and the suction portion were made of the same material was used. The relationship between the suction capacity of liquid fuel mainly composed of slag and the saturated flame length after ignition was obtained.

Table 1 below shows the material of the combustion wick used in this experiment, its suction capacity, the fuel holding amount and the measurement results of the saturated flame length. As for the suction capacity, a mixture of 95% of ethyl alcohol and 5% of hexane was colored as a liquid fuel, the combustion wick was set up vertically, and the lower end was immersed in the liquid fuel at a height of 5 mm. , 30mm,
The wicking time until reaching 50 mm was measured. Also,
The maximum fuel holding amount (saturation holding amount) held in the same size combustion wick was measured.

The value of the saturated retention amount is related to the initial flame length after ignition of the combustion wick and the initial flame extension. Further, the saturated flame length is related to the suction capacity of the combustion wick when its sectional area is the same. Depends on the amount of fuel supplied.

[0080]

[Table 1]

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the elapsed time after immersing the lower end of the combustion wick of each material in liquid fuel and the suction height. FIG. 9 shows the results of measuring the change in the flame length of each of the combustion wicks after ignition.

From the above results, it is possible to shorten the saturated flame length by using a material having a low suction capacity as the combustion wick. (Polyethylene core), 5
The siphoning time up to 0 mm is 174 seconds. In this case, the amount of retained fuel is low, and it is difficult to obtain the initial flame length as shown in FIG. Therefore, as the saturated flame length, the initial flame length is 25 to 30 mm.
If it is set to about 40 mm, it will be about 40 mm.

To achieve this, it is appropriate to select a combustion wick having a suction time of about 100 seconds up to a fuel suction height of 50 mm. Therefore, the suction time up to 50 mm is 20 to
Selection and setting within a range of 100 seconds are appropriate.

<Experimental Example 3> In this experiment, the lighter provided with the combustion wick and the wick holder in the fourth embodiment (FIG. 4) was used, and the diameter B of the suction portion was 0.85.
FIG. 10 shows the results of measuring the combustion characteristics when the diameter was changed in the range of mmφ to 3.4 mmφ.

First, with respect to the change in the diameter of the wicking portion, the wicking capacity of the wicking portion for the liquid fuel was measured by the same measuring method as in Experimental Example 2, and the relationship with the time required to reach the wicking height of 50 mm was examined. However, when the material is the same, it is constant regardless of the diameter of the suction part. The change in the diameter of the suction portion changes the fuel supply amount to the combustion portion, and accordingly, the saturated flame length changes.

Since the wicking portion made of acrylic fiber has a high wicking ability, it is possible to supply fuel corresponding to the fuel consumption in the burning portion if there is a certain cross-sectional area. The saturated flame length does not change with the increase in the area, and the diameter needs to be smaller than this in order to regulate the saturated flame length.

From the above points, it is possible to appropriately design the fuel supply amount to the combustion portion by changing the material and thickness of the suction portion with respect to the fuel consumption in the combustion portion of the combustion core, and to set the saturated flame length to a desired value. Set.

<Experimental Example 4> In this experiment, in the lighter of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), the exposed length A where the lower end portion of the combustion portion of the combustion wick is exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank.
And the relationship between the change in the flame length and the saturated flame length. The result is shown in FIG.

When the exposure length A was set to 0, the saturated flame length was about 55 mm. On the other hand, the above exposure length A
Was 3 mm to 10 mm, the saturated flame length could be reduced to about 45 mm.

This is because the combustion wick has a fiber diameter of 2.8 μm.
The combustion part is a 3 mm-thick plate material formed by cutting a ceramic fiber of 3 mm in thickness with a packing density of 200 mg / cm ³ and cutting it to a width of 4 mm. The surface is exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank and comes into contact with air. The air is taken into the surface layer, and the resistance to suction of liquid fuel becomes higher than that of the inner layer,
This is because the suction area of the liquid fuel is smaller than the sectional area of the wick.

In the above, the surface portion of the combustion portion of the combustion wick is exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank to reduce the liquid fuel sucking ability of the surface layer that has sucked the air and to supply the liquid fuel to the combustion portion. Is reduced to reduce the saturated flame length, and a change in the exposure length A of 3 mm or more hardly affects the saturated flame length.

<Experimental Example 5> This experiment is an experiment in which, when the surface portion of the combustion wick is exposed to the upper space of the fuel tank, the exposure in the combustion portion and the exposure in the suction portion are compared.

In this experiment, the lighter of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 5) was used, and it was determined whether the material of the burning portion or the material of the suction portion was exposed at the opening of the lead holder. Was.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the effect of suppressing the saturated flame length is higher when the material of the combustion portion is exposed. This is because the suction capacity of the material of the combustion portion is originally lower than that of the material of the suction portion, and the saturated flame length is significantly reduced due to the influence of the surface exposure.

The fiber diameters of the glass fiber and the ceramic fiber are represented by numerical values, which show average representative dimensions, and the actual dimensions have a distribution with respect to the indicated fiber diameter. , The display value is a representative expression, and various values thicker and thinner are mixed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lighter for a smoking article as an example of an igniter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a combustion core portion of an igniter according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a combustion core portion of an igniter according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a combustion core portion of an igniter according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a combustion core portion of an igniter according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a combustion core portion of an igniter according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between fuel consumption and saturated flame length in Experimental Example 1.

FIG. 8 is a graph comparing the suction capacity of each combustion wick material in Experimental Example 2;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing combustion characteristics of an integrated wick made of various materials in Experimental Example 2.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing combustion characteristics according to a change in diameter of a combustion core suction portion in Experimental Example 3.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing combustion characteristics according to a change in exposure length of a combustion core combustion portion in Experimental Example 4.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing combustion characteristics according to a change in an exposure position in Experimental Example 5;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing combustion characteristics of a combustion wick in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighter (igniter) 2 Fuel tank 2a Upper space 3 Filling 4 Upper lid 6 Burning core 61 Burning part 62 Suction part 62a Center part 62b Outer part 7 Core holder 7a Opening 7b Void 7c Core holding part 10 Ignition member 15 Spring 16 Closure cap

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Nozaki 3-4, Subashiri Shimohara, Koyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka Pref.

Claims (9)

[Claims] A combustion wick for containing a liquid fuel mainly composed of alcohol in a batting housed in a fuel tank, wherein the batting and the wicking part come into contact with each other to suck up the liquid fuel by capillary action and burn it at a tip burning part; A wick holder for holding the wick at the top of the fuel tank, an igniting member for igniting the tip burning portion of the wick, and a volatilization preventing closure cap for opening and closing the tip burning portion of the burning wick. In the igniter using a liquid fuel comprising: the fuel tank, wherein the batting is accommodated in a bottom portion of the fuel tank, an upper space is formed above the batting, and a partial surface of the combustion wick has the fuel An igniter using liquid fuel, which is exposed in an upper space of a tank. 2. The fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the combustion wick is formed of different materials at a suction portion and a tip combustion portion that contact the batting, and a combustion portion side material is exposed to an upper space of the fuel tank. The igniter according to claim 1. 3. An opening is provided in a portion of the wick holder in the fuel tank, and a part of the combustion portion side material of the wick is exposed to the upper space through the opening. Igniter. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a gap communicating with an upper space of the fuel tank is provided in a portion inside the fuel tank in the wick holder, around a burning portion side material of the held wick, and is exposed to the upper space. The igniter according to claim 2, characterized in that: 5. The wick according to claim 1, wherein the suction wicking capacity of the liquid fuel in the wicking portion below the wicking combustion capacity of the liquid fuel in the tip combustion portion is set lower. Item 3. The igniter according to Item 1 or 2. 6. The igniter according to claim 5, wherein the combustion wick has a reduced cross-sectional area at a contact portion with the batting. 7. The combustion wick, wherein at least a portion exposed to an upper space of the fuel tank below a tip combustion portion is provided so that a liquid fuel suction capacity differs between a central portion and an outer peripheral portion. The igniter according to claim 5, characterized in that: 8. The capacity of the wick for supplying liquid fuel from the wicking portion to the tip combustion portion of the combustion wick is 2.5 to 5.3 mg.
The igniter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the igniter is set to / sec. 9. The suction wick supply capacity of the liquid fuel from the suction portion to the tip combustion portion of the combustion wick is 3.5 to 4.4 mg.
The igniter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the igniter is set to / sec.