KR820000042B1 - Torch igniter - Google Patents

Abstract

Manually operated piezoelectric device for igniting a welding or brazing torch(10) has a movable electrode structure which can be moved between a position where it provides a spark to ignite the gas and a retracted position where it is protected from damage by the torch body. Since ignition is provided at the torch nozzle the risk of explosive combustion is reduced and as the igniter(22) is fixed to the torch structure it cannot be lost. The mechanism can be readily adapted for use with different nozzle sizes.

Description

Torch lighter

1 is a side view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention by attaching a known gas flame torch indicated in the electrical storage position.

2 is a side view of one embodiment of the first FIG. Invention with the electrode rotated towards the ignition position.

3 is a side view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 when the electrode is in the ignition position and exits through a tip such that the gas is ignited.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of arrow 4-4. FIG.

5 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow 5-5.

5a or 4b is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrows 5A-5A.

6 is a side view of a secondary device constructed in accordance with the present invention with a known gas flame torch attached with an electrode in an ignition position shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 in the direction of arrow 7-7. FIG.

Gas flame torches used in cutting, welding, soldering and hard soldering metals are known in the art. The torch generally has the same structure and includes a tip connected to tubing for disposing the tip in a gas delivery body having a gas supply such as a gas tank. The main difference between torch is selecting the tip for special use.

When using such a torch, the user frequently shuts down or puts down the torch, in order to prevent the flame as much as possible for his work and also to save the use of gas. Therefore, in order to resume work, it is necessary to re-ignite the torch. Due to this frequent use of igniters it is important to make this convenient in order to be safe in case the user is busy.

The most common igniter is a separate device from a torch called a cup-type striker. This striker has a cup disposed at one end of the spring and having a rough surface and flint disposed at the other end of the spring. To ignite the gas released, the cup is placed in the gas stream and the flint is quickly moved on the rough surface to spark the gas. As such, there is a problem in that the igniter is separated because they are separated from the torch. To understand this problem, one must think that the user ignites the torch, puts it down and initiates the assigned task. The torch turns off after the end of the service period. The user then starts looking for an igniter to ignite the torch again. Thus, the user may go back to the igniter or even lose the igniter to find another igniter to use the igniter. As such, there is a problem in time wasted to find the igniter. A problem with special "com-type strikers" is that water, such as raindrops, interferes with the spark. In this way, a special operation is required to dry the striker.

The proposed solution to this problem is to provide strikers to each torch user, but this does not help the torch user to forget. One thing about the user is that he may misplace the strikers or forget to bring them with them in their daily work.

Another proposed solution to this problem is to provide an igniter for use in a gas regulator located on a gas tank. The user then goes to the regulator each time to ignite the torch. However, users generally do not think they lose the igniter, so they take the igniter from the regulator and produce the same results as before.

The proposed solution to these problems is a torch that ignites with an electrode that is mounted within the torch. Examples of this type of torch include US Pat. Nos. 2,383,046, 3,220,459, 3,255,803, 3,280,881, 3,431,058, 3,436,164 and 3,667,895. In these torches, the electrode is present in the flame gas so that the electrode earthquake must be screened as heat resistant or the electrode will wear out. In other torches, a large amount of gas is ignited in the combustion chamber and therefore transported to the tip to ignite the released gas. This implies that the torch will explode if the gas fills the combustion chamber. In the torches, the hot gas flame passes through the electrode, causing the electrical resistance of the electrode to change, thus preventing the release of sparks. Again, these torches do not entirely solve the waste of time.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for ignition gas that travels from its stored position and exits through the tip of a gauze flame torch, wherein the electrode is located away from the tip, ie from the ignition position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for ignition gas exiting the tip of a gas flame torch that can be attached to a known torch without modifying the torch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for ignition gas exiting the tip of a gas flame torch in order to eliminate misplacement of the igniter and to save time spent finding the misplaced igniter.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for ignition gases that exit through the tip of a gas flame torch and to prevent the potential danger of the torch exploding when the gas is ignited in a combustion chamber installed in the torch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for ignition gas exiting the tip of a gas flame torch to prevent the collapse of the electrode used to ignite the gas without specially selecting materials to make the electrode.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used for other shapes of torch by slightly modifying the appearance of the device in providing the device for the gas exiting the tip of the gas torch.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for igniting gas exiting the tip of a gas flame torch. Such a device includes a device having electrodes for emitting sparks to ignite the gas exiting the tip. The frame supports a gas ignition located on the torch and allows movement of the electrode from the storage position, where the electrode is positioned relative to the ignition position, ie far from the tip, while in ignition the electrode is close enough to the tip. The spark is released by the action of the ignition device to ignite the gas. Hangers having a contour suitable for being mounted to the part of the torch may also be used to bind the frame device to the torch so that the frame having a simple construction can be attached to another torch simply by changing the mounting contour of the hanger.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which like numbers are used for like parts throughout.

While the present invention has been described with reference to two embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments only. In other words, on the contrary, all changes, modifications, and similarities may be included within the meaning and scope of the present invention, which are limited by the meaning and scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the known gas flame torch 10 is shown having an instrument 12 attached thereto. The gas flame torch is of known construction and also has a tip 14 connected to tubing 16. Tubing 16 serves to connect the tip to a gas supply (not shown). Valve 18 and lever 20 are interconnected within torch 10 to regulate gas flow to tip 14 relative to tubing 16. Torch 10 is shown to take a representative structure in which tip 14 is positioned horizontally with respect to tubing 16.

Device 22 is installed to ignite the gas exiting tip 14. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the igniter 22 has an electrode 24 that sparks to ignite the gas exiting the tip 14. The gas igniter 22 is preferably arranged in the housing 24 to be a piezoelectric generator having a piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric generator causes sparks to be released from the electrode when the hammer for hitting the crystal and the plunger 26 for activating the hammer arranged in the 26 plungers collide with each other. One embodiment of such a generator is sold by Leon Co. under the trade name PR-23.

The frame 28 is installed to support the gas ignition device 22 on the torch 10 to allow the transfer 24 to be moved away from the power storage position, wherein the electrode is positioned relative to the ignition position, ie from the tip 14 (first and sixth degrees). Electrode 24 is also positioned near tip 14 so that the spark that is emitted therefrom ignites the gas coming from tip 14 (FIGS. 3 and 6). Preferably frame 28 has a tubular lever arm 30 pivotally connected to torch 10 located at primary 32 and supporting an electrode on secondary 34. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gas igniter 22 is supported in 36 enclosures secured to the lever pressure 30. Enclosure 36 is secured to arm 30 by any known means, for example spot welding 38. The electrode 24 is then moved from the gas igniter 24 through the tubular arm 30 to the secondary electrode 34. Hole 40 may be located in secondary 34 (as shown in FIGS. 1-4 degrees and 6-7 degrees) in order to be located in the gas zone with the spark or the sparks emitted across electrode 24. It may extend to the end of secondary 34 (not shown) to locate the gas zone with the spark that is released across the stage. In order to prevent the electrode 24 from shortening along the arm 30, the insulator 41 is provided in 30 tubular arms around the electrode 24. Such an insulator may be made of a plastic material as shown, or may be made of a ceramic material according to the consumption amount determined by the user. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, opening 49 is positioned in the gas field exiting tip 14 by rotating arm 30 from the storage position to the ignition position and the released gas is ignited by pressing the plunger 26. Hanger 42 is used to attach frame 28 to torch 10 and has an attachment geometry suitable for portions of the torch. This attachment geometry is also designed for other torch geometries so that frame 29 and ignition 22 can be used for other torch geometries by using different hangers. Thus, the only required change in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-5A for the welding torch and the cutting torch is hanger 42.

For the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5a the hanger 42 is divided into halves 44 and 46 as well shown in FIGS. 4 and 5a. For the illustrated torch contour, the halves 44 and 46 tighten each side of the tubing 16 which is mounted in place by known fastening devices, ie nuts and bolts 48. Half bodies 44 and 46 have tabs 50 and 52 continuous in a parallel direction from tubing 16. The rod 54 as provided with the bolt shown is passed between the tabs to pivotally support the parallel plate 56 welded to the primary end 32 of the arm 30. The lever arm 30 is thus rotated from its storage position and into the tubing 16 to prevent possible damage. In operation, the hanger 42 is adapted to fit the contour of torch 10 and is thus attached by bolts and nuts 48. Frame 28, together with fixed ignition 22, is pivoted to hanger 42 by parallel plates 56, located between tabs 50 and 52, and held there by bolts 54. The hanger 42 is then adjusted to ensure that the sparks released from the electrode 24 are located in the gas from the tip 14. After the adjustments have been made, the instrument 12 is mounted to ignite the gas exiting the tip 14 by rotating the arm 30 from the storage position to the ignition position and by pressing the plunger 26 to cause a spark from the electrode 24. As such, device 12 cannot be lost or lost by the user.

Embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be attached to the same torch as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5A. The gas ignition device 22 is as described above. Frame 28 uses a similar tubular lever arm 30 with an electrode 24 installed in the position described above except that arm 30 has 58 elbows bent to the side since instrument 12 is curved from torch 10.

Hanger 60 is used to attach frame 28 to torch 10 as described above, but uses two universal hose clamps 62 to mount support plate 64 to the torch. As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the plate 64 is held in the tubing 16 to form a relatively flat surface. The bolt 66 inserted into the tubing of the plate 64 extends perpendicular to the flat surface and has a nut 68 attached thereto. Intermediate support 70 has tab 72 pivotally attached to bolt 66 and supports ignition 22 on arm 30. The adjustment bolt 74 is fitted with an intermediate support at 70 to move the plunger 26 in relation to the eccentric cam 76 attached to 66. In this embodiment the bolt 74 is moved to adjust the position of the piezoelectric generator 22 in relation to the cam 76. This adjustment is made so that the hammer hits the crystal when the secondary 34 is in the ignition position and the hammer becomes active by the plunger 26 along with the surface of the cam 76. After this adjustment is made, the torch 10 is ignited by rotating the arm 30 from the storage position to the ignition position in this embodiment.

If the electrode is not used to ignite the emitted gas, the device 78 can be used to hold the electrode 24. The device 78 is preferably a coil spring surrounding the rod 54 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5a and the bolt 66 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. After this ignited gas produces a flame, device 78 returns frame 28 to the storage location held there.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the present invention is particularly suitable for carrying out the above-described objects, together with other obvious and inherent advantages of the device.

It will also be appreciated that either one part and subassembly may be used in conjunction with another part and subassembly. It is believed that this is within the scope of the claims.

While various implementations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (1)

A device comprising a device having an electrode 24 emitting sparks to ignite the gas exiting tip 14 of a gas flame torch 10 and a frame supporting a gas ignition device 22 above the torch. A torch igniter characterized in that an electrode, which can be moved from a stored position to an ignition position, is positioned close enough to the tip such that sparks released by the action of the gas ignition device ignite the gas released from the tip.

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