US2011073A - Automatic lighter - Google Patents

Description

Aug 13, 1935. s. w. NELDNER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed Nov. 24, 19:0

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1935. I s. w. NELDNER AUTQIQATI IC LIGHTER Filed Nov. 24,1930

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. w. NELDN-ER Afn'onnc LIGHTER Filad Nov. '24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic lighters for gas heaters for use particularly in connection with gas stoves, ranges and ovens. One object of the present invention is the provision of an automatic lighter which will produce an igniting'flame in response to movement of a burner control element prior to the admission of gas to the burner so that ignition of the burner will be effected promptly upon admission of gas thereto.

Anotherobject of the present invention is the provision of gas connections between the several burner valves and the flash lighter so that movement of any burner control element will effect the projection of a lighting flame to the several burners.

Another object is the provision in a gas stove havinga plurality of burners, one of which is an oven burner, and a single lighter therefor of means for igniting an auxiliary jumper flame in response to movement of the oven burner valve to eflect lighting of that burner from the flash lighter through the jumper flame.

A further object resides in the provision of novel means for effecting the flash lighting flame by initial movement of the valve handle by either axial movement or rotation thereof.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel and improved tip for the flash lighter.

Another object resides in the improved means for establishing a simmer flame by rotating a valve stem beyond the normal open position to thereby cut oil a portion of the gas supply to the burner.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompany n w s:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional gas stove and oven equipped with an automatic igniting system constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate the operation.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the burner control valves.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the operating valve taken atrightangles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2; the dotted line showing of the valve stem indicating the position of the ports to effect a simmer flame by continued rotation of the valve stem beyond the normal full open position.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section and partly'in 5 elevation of the oven control valve shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on 10 the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8.

.Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through the lighter tip and housing therefor.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through the lighter tip and hood taken on the line l2-i2 of Fi 11.

The gas stove shown in Fig. 1 is of conventional form and includes the usual burners I0 and an oven burner II which are supplied from the customary gas manifold l2 through cocks I3 which differ from standard construction in a manner to be hereinafter more specifically described. The stove is also equipped with a flash lighter I having the general attributes of the ordinary lighter but provided with novel features to be hereinafter more specifically described. The flash lighter I4 is positioned in the usual manner between the several burners I 0 and receives its gas supply through a tube l5 from the manifold I! through apporpriate gas connections to be hereinafter described in detail.

Although the valve bodies l3 are of usual design and appearance they are provided with valve stems l6 which are specially constructed to carry out the novel method of effecting ignition of the flash lighter by the initial movement of the operating handles II which are suitably connected to the valve stems l6 in a manner to be herein after more specifically recited.

The gas cook shown in Figs. 2 to '7 is adapted 40 for use in any of the stove burners ill, the remaining valves for the stove burners ill being' similar save for the fact that they are not provided with bleed ports or needle valves to main tain a'pilot-lightin the flash lighter. The valve i3" for the oven burner ll difiers slightly from the construction of the remaining valves and is clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive in the drawings. Its construction in operation will be more clearly recited when the functioning of the system is ,later described.

The general assembly of the several elements is identical with present day stove assembly save for the fact that the several valves are provided with means which will automatically establish an igniting flame from the flash lighter upon initial movement of any of the valve handles |1 prior to the admission of gas to the particular burner which the valve normally regulates.

The valve housing l3 comprises a pair of oppositely directed nipples l8 and IQ for connection with the burners I and manifold |2 respectively. The housing I3 is also provided with a threaded boss 26 adapted to receive the end of a supply pipe 2|. A suitable coupling nut 22 serving to anchor the pipe 2| to the boss 20 securely to prevent gas leakage. A longitudinal bore 23 in the valve housing |3 serves to receive the valve stem Hi. The valve stem or plug -|6 is of hollow construction and rotatable in the housing |3 to control communication between the nipples I9 and I8 and thus control-the supply of gas to the burner In. A spring 24 on one end of the stem l6 coacts with the end of the housing l3 in a well known manner to maintain the tapered stem |6 snugly seated within the bore 23 of the housing l3. A usual stop pin 25 on the stem I6 is movable within a cutaway portion 26 of the valve housing I3 to limit the rotation of the stem.

The nipple I9 is provided with a central passage 21 which is in constant communication between the manifold I2 and a'central bore 21 in the valve stem l6. A bleed passage 28 is directed from the passage'21 and communicates with a passage 29 to supply thepilot lighter M with willcientgas to maintain the pilot light. The amount of gas so supplied is controlled through adjustment of a needle valve 30 within the passage 28. The passage 29 opens into a bore 3| within the boss 20, and thence is directed through the pipe 2| to the pipe l and thence to the lighter tip. Thus it will be noted at all times that thepilot lighter receives a supply of gas regardless of the position of any of the valve handles by virtue of the open communication with the manifold l2.

An auxiliary plug 32 is fitted for longitudinal movement within a reduced passage 33 which communicates with the passage 21. The plug 32 is provided with an enlarged head 34 which forms a valve for controlling the passage of gas from the chamber 21' to the bore 33. The plug 32 is provided with a reduced portion so as to permit a flow ofgas from the bore 33 through a port 36 in the valve stem so as to communicate with the annular passage 31 in the casing l3 and thence with the passage 3| in the boss 20.-

The plug 32 is-provided with screw threading 38 at its upper extremity for the purpose of receiving a screw threaded plug 39 which is seated within a bore 40 at the upper end of the valve stem |6. A coil spring 4| which surrounds the plug 32 serves to retain the head 34 against the valve seat by virtue of the fact that it is confined between the plug 39 and the base of the bore 40. A pair of oppositely disposed slanting slots 42 are directed transversely through the upper portion of the valve stem l6. An anchoring pin 43 serves as a means for anchoring a head casting 44 onto the stem |6. The head casting 44 is provided with a central hollowed out portion 45 which is adapted to fit snugly over the upper end of the valve stem I6. The valve operating handle I1 is anchored withinthe head 44 by means of a cap screw 46 whose threaded.

end is anchored within a spherical member 41.

A pin 48 which passes through the head 44 of the member 41 serves to anchor the last named I member against rotation within the member 44 but permits a rocking movement of the handle |1 within the head 44 upon the pin 43. The

- 39 thereby compressing the spring element 4| and disengaging the valve head 34 from its seat to thereby permit the admission of gas from the passage 21 through the passages 33, 36, 31 and 3| and thence to the supply pipe 2| to provide a charge of gas to energize the flash lighter to produce the several projecting flames for igniting the burner.

The identical result described in the preceding paragraph may be accomplished by the initial rotation of the valve operating handle |1 through the lost motion connection aiforded by cooperation of the pin 43 with the slots 42. Upon rotation of the handle l1 and the head 44 the pin 43 will be for sea downwardly and engage the upper face of the plug 39 to effect a depression of the same to free the valve head 34 from its seat and effect the gas connection previously referred to for the purpose of energizing the flash lighter.

It will thus be noted that the initial movement of the valve operating handle |1 will serve to establish a gas connection between the manifold l2 and the lighter I4 regardless of whether the initial movement be one of rotation or axial displacement of the handle l1. Continued rotation of the handle |1 will establish communication between a port 52 in the valve stem l6 and a central passage 53 within the nipple l8. A port 54 in the valve stem I6 serves always to afiord communication between the passage 21 in the nipple l3 and the longitudinal bore 21 in the valve stem l6, The pipe 2| which leads from the valve I3 is connected to a boss 20 of the next successive gas cook l3. The construction of the second gas cook being substantially identical to the one just described save for the fact that a pair of diametrically opposed bosses 20' are provided instead of the single boss 20 as shown in the valve portrayed in Fig. 2. Each of these bosses communicates with the annular passage 31 in the valve body |3 through passages 3| which are similar to those shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The other respect in which the succeeding valves housings I3 differ from the one previously described resides in the fact that the additional housings are not provided with the bleed passage to effect a gas connection for maintaining a pilot light.

The oven cock l3 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 differs from the other cocks I3 and I3 by reason of the fact that no bleed passage is provided and further that passage 31 contained in the other valves has been eliminated. The oven valve is similar in all other respects with the valve shown in Fig. 2 save for construction of the valve plug 6' which is provided with a pair of ports 36' and 36 instead of the single port 36 as shown in the valve stem I6. Ports 3| and 3|" contained in the bosses 26' serve to cooperate with the ports 36' and 36" to establish gas communication between the central bore 33' of the valve stem I6 and the pipe 2| and a pipe 55. The pipe 55 is directed inwardly and terminates in a nozzle 56 which cooperates with an aperture 51 in the that the initial movement of the operating handle H" serves only to establish gas communication between the manifold l2 and the lighter M in a manner identical with that described heretofore with respect to valve |3. The continued rotation of the operating handle |1" will place the port 36" in communication with the port 3| so that both ports and 36" are simultanenously supplying gas to their respective passages during a portion of rotation of the valve body l6. Further rotation of the valve body l6 will cut oil communication between ports 36' and 3| andthus cut oil the gas supply to the lighter M. This particular sequence of operation is important by reason of the fact that initial movement of the valve handle II" will energize the lighter M; continued movement of the handle will supply the nozzle 55 of the pipe 55 with a gas supply which is projected in the path of one of the lighter flames. When this condition exists the gas supply to the nozzle 56 will be ignited and form a jumper flame to carry the lighter flame to a remote burner and to ignite the same. In this case the remoteburner is the oven burner Further rotation of the valve stem l6 will supply gas to the oven buner H and upon release of the valve handle H" the gas supply to the jumper torch will be cut off in a manner identical with the operation of the valve I3.

The novel lighter tip embodied in the present invention comprises the usual supply pipe l5 which is upwardly turned at its extremity and provided with threading 2|. A nut 59 serves as a foundation upon which the lighter assembly is supported. A base'plate 60 rests upon the nut 59 and is provided with a downwardly turned flange portion 6|. A hood 62 preferably formed of sheet metal is provided with a plurality of apertures 63 through which igniting flames may be projected. A tip 64 fashioned in the form of a nut adapted to be received on the threaded portion 2| on the pipe I5 is provided with a reduced upper extremity. A central passage 65 extends longitudinally through the nut 64. A plurality of slots 66 are cut down from the upper extremity of the reduced portion of the nut 64 to form gas ports. A plug 61 is adapted to close the upper extremity of the passage 65 and is longitudinally adjusted by reason of frictional engagement with the'walls of the passage 65 so that the desired portion of the slots 66 may be uncovered to provide the proper size jet for the igniting flame to insure its projection to the several burners l0 and also to the jumper flame nozzle 56.

The provision of the jumper flame together with an igniting flame for carrying a. light to a will establish communication be remote burner provides great flexibility in operation of stove and oven burners by reason of the fact that it eliminates the necessity for the installation of a second lighter element within the oven in orde to provide automatic lighting of the oven burner upon manipulation of the oven valve cock. l

While the device lias been described in consideralclc detail in the foregoing specification, various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim: 1. The combination of a plurality of gas burners, individual regulating valves therefor, a

flash lighter for igniting said burners, an independently operable auxiliary valve associated with each of said regulating valves for controlling said lighter, a control element for each of said regulating valves effective to operate the associated auxiliary valve, and means for automatically closing each auxiliary valve upon manual release of the associated control element.

2. The combination of a plurality of gas burners, individual regulating valves for said burners, a flash lighter for said burners, an auxiliary valve associated with each of said regulating valves for controlling said lighter, a control element for each of said regulating valves, and an operating connection between each. of said control elements and the associated auxiliary valve effective to render said lighter effective upon initial movement of said element and to render said lighter ineffective upon release of said element.

3. The combination of a plurality of burners, individualregulating valves for said burners, a flash lighter forsaid burners, an auxiliary valve associated with each of said regulating valves for controlling said lighter, a single control element for each of said regulating valves and its associated auxiliary valve, and means responsive to initial movement of each control element for operating said associated auxiliary valve and responsive to further movement thereof to operate the associated regulating valve. 7

4. The combination of a plurality of gas burners including a remote burner, individual valves including a remote burner valve for controlling the admission of gas to each of said burners, a lighter positioned between said burners for projecting igniting flames toward said burners, gas communications between said valves and lighter, a torch connected with said remote burner valve and lying in the path of one of said igniting flames, means responsiveto operation of said remote burner valves to, supply gas to said torch, said torch projecting an igniting flame picked up from said lighter flame and projecting the'same toward the remote burner, means responsive to the initial rotation of said remote burner valve to render said lighter effective, means for supplying gas to said remote burner while said torch is supplied with gas and means for cutting on" the gas supply to said torch when said remote burner is lit.

STEPHEN W. NELDNER.

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