US2264905A - Flash lighting device - Google Patents

Description

B. 1.. MATTHEW-S. 2,264,905

Dec. 2, 1941.

FLASH LIGHTING DEVIQE Filed June 16, 1936 INVENTORSI BIRCHARD LMnmaws BY JOHN MA vm' Patented Dec. 2, 1941 FLASH LIGHTING DEVICE Birchard L. Matthews, Lakewood, and John T.

Marvin, Fairview Village, Ohio,

Patrol Valve Company,

poration of Ohio assignors to The Cleveland, Ohio, a cor- Application June 16, 1936, Serial No. 85,552

9 Claims.

The present invention relating, as indicated, to gas burning appliances, refers more particularly to improvements in flash ignition devices for the top burners of gas stoves.

The prime object of the invention is to provide simple, eflicient means for operably connecting a plurality of flash tubes to a common pilot housing in such manner that th tubes may be readily assembled or disassembled with the top burners and-the pilot housing in place upon the gas stove.

One object hereof is to provide a novel connecting means which serves both as a detachable connection for the pilot end of a tube and as a flash directing restriction within the tube.

Another feature of the invention is to so construct the flash tube connecting means that the same permits the tube to be snapped into position and at th same time affording a more or less rigid connection between the flash tube and the pilot housing. In the preferred embodiment this improved connecting means provides for the facility of assembling when the tube is turned slightly about its theoretical pivot, i. e., when the tube is turned out of its normal operating plane with respect to the pilot housing, and also to lock the tube against disassembly when it is in normal operating position.

A still further improvement provided by this invention concerns the correct axial alignment of a plurailty of flash tubes with a common center even though the spacing or arrangement of the burners or other media for connection to the outer ends of the tube be unequal or irregular. With this invention each tube of a plurality may be properly axially aligned with the pilot light to insure the correct direction of the gas passing therethrough and hence the ultimate successful ignition of the gas burners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet or pressed metal assembly of flash tube and pilot housing of simple construction with connecting elements formed integrally with the respect ve" tubes and pilot housing, and by means of such elements effect a universal connection at each tube end whereby to increase its flexibility m use. a

A further object is to devise an improved pilot light housing constructed of a minimumnumber of metal parts constituting a draft deflector for the flame of the pilot light, means for attachment of the pilot connection and means for detachably carrying a plurality of flash tubes in alignment with the pilot light.

A still further object of the invention is to providenovelconnecting means on the pilot housing which cooperates with a flash tube to attach the latter to such housing and which means include a portion adapted to closely fit th interior of the tube to prevent the rocking of such tube and at the same time to provide a gas deflecting restriction element longitudinally of the tube.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, such invention, then, consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings, and th following description setting forth 1 in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure l is a schematic plan view of the novel flash lighter device assembled with respect to a top burner arrangement of a gas stove, there being only one of the burners illustrated. Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged, scale taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain of the parts being shown in elevation for the sake of clearness. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figur 4 is a side elevational View of the present novel pilot housing per se. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the housing of Fig. 4, a portion oi the draft-deflecting cone being broken away. Figure 6 is-a bottom plan view of the pilot end of a flash tube. Figure 7 is adetailed cross-sectional view taken on line 'i -'i of Fig. 2 and showing connection between the flash tube and the pilot housing. Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of the invention. Figure 9 is a topplan View of a modified form of the novel pilot housing together with a plurality of flash tubes attached thereto. Figure 10 is a detailed vertical cross-sectional view taken on line lit-l8. of Fig. 9.

The invention, as stated, does not especially concern any particular type of gas burner, nor is it limited to top burners. From the following description it will appear that the present novel flash lighter assembly may be adapted in use to many types of burners employing flash ignition tubes.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is illustrated a top burner 2!), a gas supply miXing tube 2! therefor, a Bunsen tube 22, a gas manifold 23 and a manual gas cook 2 1 controlling the flow of fuel to the burner 2t. Although in Fig. 1 there is only one of the top burners illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention includes the fiash lighting of. one or a plurality of burners from the common constant burning pilot as is well known in the prior art.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the flash lighter device comprises a constant burning pilot 26 centrally located within the pilot housing assembly generally indicated at 21 and a plurality of flash tubes 28, each of which has one end attached to the pilot housing and its other end attached to a gas burner. The particular construction of the burner end of the tube may be found in an application of Geurink and Schulte, Serial No. 611,586, filed. May 16, 1932, which, however, forms no part of the present invention and is used only to provide an operativ connection between the flash lighter and the gas burner. Suflice it to say that in the use of flash lighters it is required that a port be provided on the gas burner which directs a flow of gas inwardly of the flash tube 23, which gas travels in the customary manner inwardly of the tube until it is ignited by the constant pilot, and thereafter the ignited gas flashes back through the tube to light the gas issuing from the burner main ports. In the aforesaid Geurink and Schulte typ device the outer or burner end of the flash tube 28 has formed therewith a downwardly extending conical projection 29 which is seated in a port 30 in the burner 29 and the projection 25% has a vertical passageway 3| in communication with a lateral passageway 32. In operation, as the gas is supplied to the burner 25, a portion of the gas flows upwardly through the passage 3i and laterally through the passage 32 interiorly of the tube 28 and thus to the pilot light 26.

The pilot light 25 is provided at one end 33 of a supply pipe 3-1 which has its other end 35 connected by means of a regulating valve 36 to the gas manifold 23. In the end 34 of the supply pipe there is inserted a plug 31 providing therethrough a restricted gas orifice. It will be understood that this constantly burning pilot 26 is of customary construction and function, the supply of gas to the orifice in plug 3'! being regulated by means of the valve 35 to adjust the height of the flame 26. It is also to be understood that any other type of flame or adjustment valve may be provided, as for example, the end 33 and plug 3'! may be replaced by an ordinary blue flame pilot device.

As stated hereinbefore, the present invention concerns particularly the novel construction of an improved pilot housing and means for the attachment thereto of the pilot ends of a plurality of flash tubes. The invention in its simplest form is found illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawing and consists of a simple sheet metal pilot housing having a plurality of integrally formed projections adapted to flt into the pilot ends of the flash tubes to detachably lock the latter in place.

The pilot housing 27 in its preferred embodiment comprises only two parts, one constituting the base and tube connecting means, and two the draft deflecting means for the flame 25. Such base member is indicated at 40 and is constituted by a central portion l! of substantially circular form, which base ll has a central aperture therein adapted to receive the end 33 of pilot supply conduit. This aperture 42 may be formed by displacing a portion of the metal of base 4! so'as to provide a vertically annular flange 43, which latter is internally screw threaded to facilitate attachment of the pilot housing to the screw threaded end 33 of the said supply conduit. Such construction will be understood to be extremely simple, inexpensive in manufacture, and to aflord an eficient connection or mounting for the pilot housing upon the pilot supply conduit without requiring coupling nuts or the like.

Formed integrally with the base 4! of the pilot housing are a plurality of laterally projecting lugs 45, in the drawing there being four in number, although the invention is not expressly limited to any particular number of flash tubes and hence this number of lugs depends upon the particular use to which the flash lighter is put. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, each lug 45 extends some distance beyond the edge of base 4! and is then bent upwardly at right angles to the base to provide a vertical lug or extension 46. As will appear more clearly in the following description, each of these extensions 46 cooperate with the pilot end of the flash tubes 23 to detachedly secure the latter.

In detailed construction, each lug 45 has its outer end formed into annular disc il connected to the lower portion of the lug 46 by means of a narrow neck 49. The discs 41 are each pierced with a hole 58. The individual flash tubes 28 in the illustrated form are round hollow tubes and the discs 4'! are of such diameter as to substantially fit the interior 5! of the pilot end of the flash tube.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be seen that each flash tube has formed therein closely adjacent its pilot end a longitudinal slot 52 and these slots are of sufficient length to receive the disc projections 57 therein when assembling the tubes to the ilot housing, as will be presently described. The width 53 of each slot 52 is formed to accomodate the dimension of the neck 49 so that when the tube 28 is assembled upon one of the lugs 55 the longitudinal sides of the slot 52 will closely fit such neck 53 and hold the tube in proper position. In other words, the fit between such longitudinal sides of the slot 52 and the reduced portion #9 on the mounting lug may be sufficiently tight to prevent any accidental shifting of the tube relative to its mounting, and furthermore, with the tube so positioned the end portion M of the mounting closely conforms to the inner surface of the tube to provide a bafile or gas flow restriction therein.

It will be understood that the particular crosssectional shape of the flash tubes 28 is of no moment and that the novel mode of attaching such tubes to the housing may be employed with practically any shape tube. Likewise the gas flow restriction properties of the portion of the attachment lug within the tube may be retained by si..-.ply constructing such lug portion to conform with the inner configuration of such tube.

In devices of the present character it has been found essential to provide some means to direct the flash away from the pilot light and toward the burner. This is especially true under conditions such as illustrated in 2, when the pilot end of the tube is higher than the burner end, because of the fact that gas is lighter than air and naturally tends to flow upwardly. Should no means he provided to impede the flow of gas through the pilot end of the tube there is considerable likelihood that there would be merely an explosion of the gas at such end and the same would fail to flash back to the burner end. It

will also be seen in the drawing that each of the portions d7, of the connecting lugs, which constitute a flash directing restriction, is pierced by the aperture 50 which permits the flow of a sufiicient amount of gas to the pilot light to produce the ignition of the gas within the tube.

It should also'be noted that by making the of this invention assemblies comprising -zontal plane about the moved toward and away slots 52 longitudinally of the tube, not only do these slots facilitate insertion of the ends 47 by the attachment lugs within the tube, but when such tubes are in operative position (Fig. 2) they permit a certain amount of longitudinal adjustment of the tube relative to the pilot mounting. One form of the present novel flash tube consists of a two-piece element having the pilot end formed separately and telescopically fitting the balance of the tube. In this manner a wide range of adjustment is possible and a single metal tube may accommodate stoves wherein there is quite a variation in the distance between the burners and the pilot light. It should be quite apparent that telescopic adjustment between the two parts of the tube structure, also the adjustment of the slotted portion of the pilot end with its mounting, permits a very substantial variation in the length of the tube.

There are shown in the various embodiments 4 flash tubes mounted on a pilot mounting. This number is, however, not limiting to the invention as, manifestly, the improved flash lighter may be attached for use any number of gas light. It may also illustrated in the drawing spaced equidistantly about the outer surface of the base member 4! of the pilot mounting. This particular construction is best adapted for stove burner assemblies wherein the pilot light is centrally located with respect to four (4) equally spaced burners. If, however, such burners are not equally spaced the lugs 46 may be positioned at any point around the base 4i so as to insure the correct axial alignment of the tubes with the pilot flame.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a slight modification in the construction of the pilot end of the flash tube. In this form the attachment slot 55 is restricted in its length so as to accommodate only the width of the neck portion Q9 of the attachment lug. In direct communication with this slot 55 and extending therefrom to the outer end of the tube is a narrower slot 56 which, in the assembly of the flash tube upon the attachment lug, may receive the thickness of the lug. In such assembly the flash tube is turned at right burners and a single pilot be noted that in one form that the lugs 46 are angles to its normal finally adjusted position, i. e. '.;l

with the slot 55 in alignment with the width of the lug 68 and the tube is slid longitudinally upon such lug until the neck portion A9 is received in the slot 55. Thereupon the flash tube is turned to align its axis light, and at such time the sides of slot 55 closely embrace the neck 49 and hold the parts in assembled position. It should be quite apparent that the particular shape of slot 55 is of no consequence, and the present invention contemplates the use of a substantially circular opening in place of the rectangular slot 55, the width of such opening being suflicient to accommodate the width of neck 49.

It will appear from the foregoing that this invention provides a very simple, inexpensive and eiflcient means for the connection of flash tubes to a pilot housing. The attachment lugs described may be formed integrally with the pilot mounting and the tubes themselves adapted for such connection by merely forming a slot therein adjacent the pilot ends. It should be noted that with the construction provided the tubes 28 may have a universal movement with respect to the pilot mounting, they may be rotated in a horiwith stoves employing one or to intercept the pilot lugs 45, they may be from the pilot mounting in a plane longitudinally of the tubes and they may 'be rocked vertically, all without disturbing the connection of such tubes upon the lug 46.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a very simple and eflicient means forming a part of the pilot mounting for deflecting the draft away from the pilot light. One of the requirements in use for a device of this kind is to insure against the extinguishment of the constant pilot flame 26. To accomplish this desired result there is provided a partial conical sheet metal member 58 having its larger circumference substantially fitting the base member 4| and having its upper edge or smaller diameter 59 arranged adjacent or slightly above the pilot flame 26. As will be seen best in Fig. 2 this cone-shaped draft deflector 58 completely surrounds the flame 26 and because of its conical outer shape directs any impinging breeze upwardly and away from such flame. Means for permanently attaching the deflector 58 to the base 4| of the pilot mounting may consist of one or more lugs 58 integrally formed at the lower edge of the deflector and receivable inperipheral recesses 6! of the base M. Figs. 4 and 5 clearly illustrate the mode of securing the deflector -53 to the pilot housing wherein the lugs 60 are shown bent inwardly under the bottom surface of base 4!.

The base member M has therein a series of holes 63 which lie between the flange 53 and the inner surface at the lower end of the draft deflector 58. These several holes 53 provide for the flow of secondary air around the pilot flame 26.

By the construction described above, it will appear that the present invention provides a complete pilot housing including its own mounting means, means for the attachment of a plurality of flash tubes and a draft deflector, all in two (2) simple sheet metal elements.

It is also within the purview of this invention to construct the pilot housing in such manner that a plurality of tubes supported thereby may be adjusted radially of such mounting. Under certain conditions it may be found desirable to permit a certain amount of radial adjustment of a plurality of tubes so as to adapt the same device to many different installations. In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated an embodiment of the invention having the flash tubes 28 carried by individual lugs 56 in the same manner as that described above in connection with the Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. In Figs. 9 and 10, however, the base member'55 of the pilot mounting has formed integrally therewith only two of the lugs is. A second base element or lug carrier is indicated at 66 which lies upon the 1; top of base and is positioned thereon by means of a centrally located hole 51 which rotatably fits the outside of the flange 53 formed onbase 65. This auxiliary base member 65 has integrally-formed thereon two attachment lugs 45, identical in construction and function with respect to the lugs formed on base 65. In this form of the invention a cone or draft deflector 58 is secured to base 55 by lugs 59 similarly to the method described in connection with Fig. 4. This cone 68 as best seen in Fig. 10, is formed with diametral slots 69 into which are received the outwardly extending portions 10 of base member 66. In the device just described the base member 66 is held in position upon the base 65 by means of its engagement around flange 43 and by its confinement in slots 69. The under side of slots 69 may frictionally engage with the upper surfaces of portion 10 so that while permitting a rotation of the base member 66 the latter is held against accidental displacement.

Fig. 9 illustrates in full and dotted lines the manner in which the base members 65 and 66 may be moved relatively to one another to radially adjust the several flash tubes 28 carried by these structures. Secondary air holes 1-! are formed in the base 65.

In the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides a wide range of means for the attachment of a plurality of flash tubes in proper alignment upon the pilot housing. The illustrated forms are embodied in devices having the tubes in multiples of two, although it should be obvious that should an uneven number of tubes be required the lugs 46 upon the base 4| can be formed to accommodate this number, or the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 may comprise a number of base elements corresponding to the number of tubes desired. Under this latter condition each of the several base elements may be rotatably supported by the pilot housing structure at .the end 33 of the supply conduit 34.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed instead of the ones explained, the change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We claim:

1. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a tubular member having an elongated longitudinal slot therein, and mounting means for said tubular member comprising a fixed element having an end portion positioned transversely of said tube and substantially conforming to the transverse dimension of inner surface of said tube, and a reduced portion on said end portion fitting the transverse Width of said slot.

2. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a hollow flash tube having a radial opening adjacent one end, and a mounting element therefor adapted to be positioned transversely of said tube and having an end portion conforming to the inner transverse shape of said tube when so positioned, the thickness of said element being such as to pass through said opening in one position of said tube relative to said mounting element.

3. In a flash lighter assembly, the combination of a hollow flash tube having a longitudinal slot adjacent one end, a mounting element therefor adapted to be positioned transversely of said tube and of a thickness to freely enter said slot when arranged longitudinally with said tube, and an enlarged portion on the end of said element substantially conforming to the inner crosssectional configuration of said tube when in said transverse mounting position.

4. In combination, a pilot housing adapted to support a substantially vertical pilot flame, a substantially horizontal flash tube having its axis arranged to intersect said flame, and cooperating means including a tongue and slot on said housing and said tube to detachably mount said tube on said housing, said tongue insertible in said slot when the tube is in an inoperative position and cooperating with said slot to lock the tube and housing together when the tube is in its operative position and permitting the ready detachment thereof when said tube is turned horizontally and at a substantial angle from its operating position.

5. In combination, a flash tube having formed in its end a longitudinal slot and a radial opening spaced inwardly of the tube end and of greater transverse width than said slot, said slot and opening being in communication, and a mounting element comprising a terminal portion fitting within said tube, and a reduced portion fitting the transverse Width of said opening, said element being of such thickness as to be insertable into said tube through said longitudinal slot.

6. A pilot housing comprising a sheet metal base member having an apertured centrally located horizontal flange constituting the attaching means for the housing, a plurality of horizontally integral radial lugs, vertical mounting means integrally formed on said lugs, and a sheet metal truncated conical member carried by said base between said lugs and vertical means and surrounding said flange.

'7. In a flash lighting device, a plurality of flash tubes, a pilot housing comprising a sheet metal base member having a central aperture therein, an integral flange surrounding said aperture, a pilot connection mounted in said aperture, and a plurality of integral radial lugs, terminal portions on said lugs bent substantially perpendicular to said base, each terminal portion having integrally formed means for the attachment thereto of a flash tube, and each terminal portion being of such dimension to fit the transverse inner configuration of the flash tube.

8. In a flash lighting device, a pilot housing comprising a base member, a flash-tube supporting lug thereon, a second base member r0- tatably mounted on said first member, a flashtube supporting lug on said second member, and

a draft deflector mounted on said first base member and confining said second base member to prevent separation of said members, said mounting between the first base member and draft deflector permitting said rotatable movement between said first and second base members.

9. In a flash lighting device, a plurality of flash tubes, a pilot housing, a pilot light connection, a plurality of flash-tube supports on said housing, said tubes having longitudinally extending end slots engageable over said supports, terminal portions on said supports conforming to the inner cross-sectional configuration of said tubes to provide a flow restriction through said tubes, and said terminal portions having an ignition aperture therein, said tubes being readily disengageable with said supports when in one position and when in another position adapted to place said terminal portions transversely of said slots whereby to prevent separation of said tubes from said supports.

BIRCHARD L. MATTHEWS. JOHN T. MARVIN.

Images