US2638972A

US2638972A - Torch

Info

Publication number: US2638972A
Application number: US140981A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren A Sparks
Original assignee: JOHN M HENRY
Current assignee: JOHN M HENRY
Priority date: 1950-01-28
Filing date: 1950-01-28
Publication date: 1953-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-19

Description

w. A. -sPARKsA TORCH Filed Jan. 2a. 195o May 19, 1953 INVENTOR. Mavim A. SPA/exs.

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Patented May 19, 1953 TORCH Warren A. Sparks, Long Beach, Calif., assigner to John M.v Henry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 28, 1950, Serial No. 140,981

(Cl. 15S-27.4)

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to torches, and more particularly to oxyacetylene torches of the trigger type.

While there have been proposed various acetylone torches operated upon .the snap of a trigger to strike a striker against the int to light the acetylene name, it is believed that heretofore no one has successfully proposed such a trigger operation bullt into the torch for oxyacetylene use. In the use of an oxyacetylene torch, however, it is necessary to first ignite the pure acetylene flame and thereafter to supply to the acetylene flame the oxygen supply, and accordingly, it is a feature of this invention that upon initial actuation of the trigger mechanism, the supply of acetylene is turned onand thereafter the strike of the flint is made, but prior to the opening of the passage for the supply of oxygen, thus assuring that the acetyiene ame is ignited prior to supplying oxygen thereto.

`It is, accordingly, one obj-ect of this invention to provide an oxya'cetylene torch having a trigger action for igniting the flame. 2

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an oxyacetylene torch in which means is provided for ilrst turning on the supply of acetylene, secondly ignlting the acetylene llame, and lastly turning on the supply of oxygen.

1n achieving'these objects, novel valve means hereinafter described have been invented and it is, accordingly, one object of this invention to provide such novel valve means capable of sequentially supplying initial flow of acetylene and then yoxygenand thereafter concurrently supplying acetylene and oxygen to the torch.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through a torch embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 4is a left side view of the device shown in Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is .a section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line A-- of Figure l.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the Vnumeral I il indicates a body member which,` as shown particularly in Figure 3,15 channel shaped in cross section, having legs I I and I2. The lower edges of the legs II and i2 are curved as at I3l to provide a hand grip and between the two legs there is pivotally mounted. a trigger member it mounted upon afpin I5. The trigger member I4 is, itself, preferably channel shaped, as shown in Figure 3, and has a corresponding rounded lower surface it for ease of gripping by the hand of the operator. The body portion l0 has a web I1 which is bored throughout its length as at I8. Intermediate its ends, the web portion I1 has its lower half cut away, forming an opening I9.

Thev body portion Iii, toward the left hand side is enlarged to form a circular member 20. The circular member 20' is shown as provided with a hub 2l on one side, and a hub 22 on the other side.

The circular member 2li is provided with a pair of bores 23 and 24, and is tapped at 25 and 26 to receive the members 21 and 28 to which the acetylene and oxygen supply tubes, respectively, are attached. Transversely the circular inember 20 is bored and tapped to receive the

needle valves

29 and 30 which regulate the rate of supply of acetylene and oxygen, respectively. 0- rings 3l are provided for sealing the needle valves. Thebore 2'4 is aligned with and communicates with the bore I8 in the web l1. The bore 23 traverses the hubs 2l and 22 and on its right hand side is tapped as at 32 to receive a tube 33 which communicates with the bore 23 and is itself aflixed in an opening 34 in the web l1. The bore I8 at its farthest left hand extremity is tapped as at 35-to receive the threads of a short length of tubing 36 which is positioned within the bore as shown in Figure 1. A further tube 31 having an enlarged boss or ring 38 disposed cen-v traily thereon is disposed in the bore I8 with .a portion extending into the tube 36, as shown ln Figure l. To the right of the tube 31, a further tube 38 is disposed Within the bore I8 and a portion of the tube 31 extends into the tube 39, and the left hand side of the tube 39 engages the boss 38, as shown. The tube 39v is bored as at 40 to receive the inner end of the tube 33 and thus acetylene from the member 21, the bore 23 and the tube 33' is passed to the interior ofthe tube t9. T'o the right of the tube 39, a tube M is located in the bore I8. A piston 42 is provided having one end extending into the tube 4I to the left of the opening I9 and the other end extending into a tube 43 to the right of the opening I9. The tube 43 is located in the bore I S, as shown in Figure l. Piston #l2 has an enlarged portion or collar 44 located in the opening I9. The piston 42 is itself provided with a central bore 45 and a pair of sealing Oerings 45 and -41 are provided in grooves in the piston to seal the same to the tubes 4I and 43, respectively. A transverse bore 481s provided toward the left Vend of the piston 42 communicating with the central bore 45. The web I1 terminates at 50 and a tube 5| provided with a reduced end 52 is positioned beyond this termination with the reduced end 52 received within the tube 43 and sealed thereto by an 0- ring 53. At its right end, the tube is tapped as at 54 to receive the burner tube 55. The burner tube 55 is supported at 54 and in rounded portions 56 and 51 in the upper walls of the legs and I2, as shown in Figure 4. The tube 5| has a central bore 58 communicating the interior of the tube 43 and the interior of the burner` tube 55. The tube 55 is bored as at 60 to provide a spark opening.

A shaft or pin 6| is journalled in the legs and l2 and carries a pinion B2 and a striker or steel 63. A second pin 64 is mounted in the walls I| and |2 and slidably supports a rack 65. The rack 65 is carried by a rod 66 which is provided with a pin 61 for retaining a coil spring 68 mounted thereon. A Ypin 69 extends across the two legs of the channel shaped trigger |6 and carries a peg 18 which peg 'I0 is adapted to support the left end of the coil spring 68. The peg is terminated short of the left end of the rod 66 to normally leave a clearance between the two, as shown in Figure 1.

A tube 80 is mounted between the two sides or legs I and I2 and receives a rod or post 8|. The

rod or post 8| is integral with a cross member 82 which also ycarries a further rod 83 and a thumb knob 84. The rod 83 has affixed to its left hand end one end of a coil spring 85, the other end of which is affixed to a pin 86 carried by the two arms of the channel shaped trigger member I6, as shown in Figure 3. A piston-like int member 90 is positioned within the tube 8| and adapted to be engaged by the striker wheel 63.

A pin 9| is mounted between the two legs Il and I2 and pivotally mounts a bell Icrank or lever 92 having one leg engaging the collar 44 and the other leg engaging the upper periphery 93 of the trigger I6.

The operation of the above described device is as follows:

Assuming :that oxygen and acetylene tubes have been attached to the members 28 and 21, respectively, and it is desired to operate the torch, the operator merely seizes the same in one hand with his fingers wrapped about the trigger I6. Depressing the trigger I6 causes the same to pivot about the pivot point |5 and to compress the coil spring 68. After the coil spring 68 has been compressed suiiiciently to overcome the resistance of the flint against the striker wheel 63 caused by the coil spring 85, the rod 66 and consequently the rack 65 will be forcibly moved to the right with a snap action. coincidentally, the pinion 62 and the striker wheel will be revolved, the striker wheel 63 throwing a spark from the flint 90 through the bore 60 into the combustion tube 55. Suflcient air is admitted into the combustion tube through the opening 60 to promote ignition.

While the above described operations are being carried out, the bell crank or lever 92 has been engaged by the trigger and pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, thus moving the piston 42 to the left. The left end of the piston 42 engages a rod |00. The rod |00 is positioned within an enlarged bore |0| in a, tube |02. Tube |02 y is provided with a'collar |03 received between the tubes 39 and 4|. The rod |00 toward its left end is provided with an enlarged head |04 to the right of which there is applied a rubber sealing ring 4 |05 adapted to seat against the left end of the tube |02. The rod |00 has an extension |06 upon which is mounted one end of a coil spring |01 which coil spring is mounted within the tube 39. Movement of the piston 42 to the left causes the same to force the rod |00 to the left, thus unsealing the sealing ring |05 from the tube |02. The enlarged head |04 and the sealing ring |05 are of lesser external diameter than. the interior diameter of the tube 39 and thus acetylene supplied to the interior of the tube 39 by the tube 33 is permitted to enter the clearance within the bore l0| and hence through the transverse bore 48 to the bore 45 ofthe piston. From the bore 45, the acetylene passes through the bore 58 into the interior of the tube 55.

A second rod |I0 similar to the rod |00 is provided, located mostly within the tube I3'I but having one end extending beyond the tube 31 to receive the other end of the coil spring |01. The rod ||0 is likewise provided with an enlarged head and a sealing ring ||2 adapted to engage the left end of the tube 31 and seal the same. A coil spring I 3 is provided in the tube 36 having one end abutting the enlarged portion 20 and the other end abutting the enlarged head Further movement of the piston 42 to the left will cause the left end of the rod |00' to engage the right end of the rod ||0 and move the same to the left, thus unseating the sealing ring |2 from the tube 31 and permitting oxygen to pass through the member 28 to the bore 24, the tubes 36 and 31 and to the interior of the tube 39. Thus, it will be noted that the sequence of operal tions is rst the opening of a supply of acetylene to the burner tube, second a movement ofthe striker against the flint to ignite the acetylene, and lastly an opening of the supply of oxygen to the burner tube for the creation of an oxygen acetylene flame. If it is desired to extinguish the flame, a mere release -of the trigger I6 will cause the Piston 42 to move to the right under the force of the coil springs and I3, and thus close the passages for the supply of acetylene and oxygen.

If the ilint becomes worn out, it is only necessary for the operator to seize the thumb knob 84 and pull the same to the right against the force of the spring 85 until the rod 8| is removed from the tube 80, at which time a new flint can be inserted therein and the device reassembled.

While there has been described what at present is considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover Iherein all such changes and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A torch comprising: a body; a burner tube; a trigger; a int and striker; lresilient means biasing said ilint against said striker; resilient means connecting said trigger and said striker and Operable to snap said striker against said flint on compression sucient to overcome the resistance of said flint against said striker to ignite gas in said burner tube; said body having a longitudinal bore;` a piston slidable in said bore and operably associated with said trigger; said piston ybeing .provided with a longitudinalgas passage; a conduit for supplying acetylene to said bore; a valve seat in said bore; a valve associated'with said Valve seat and having a stem;

said stem being engageable by said piston upon actuation of said trigger to unseat said valve; a spring normally biasing said valve against said seat; a second valve seat -in said bore having an by on actuation of said trigger said rst valve is opened to4 rst admit acetylene to said burner tube, said flint is next sparked to ignite said acetylene and said second valve is then opened to admit oxygen to said burner tube.

2. A vtorch comprising: a body; a burner tube; a trigger; a flint and striker; resilient means biasing said flint against said striker; resilient means connecting said trigger and said striker and operable to snap said striker against said flint on compression suflicient to overcome the resistance of said flint against said striker to ignite gas in :said burner tube; said body having a. longitudinal bore; a piston slidable in said bore and operably associated with said trigger; said piston -being provided with a longitudinal gas passage; a conduit for supplying acetylene to said bore; a valve `seat in said bore; a valve associated with said valve seat and having a stem; said stem being engageable by said piston upon actuation of said trigger to unseat said valve; a spring normally biasing said valve against said seat; a second valve seat in said bore having an opening communicating with said rst valve seat; a second valve associated with said second valve seat and having a stem engageable upon further movement of said piston by said rst valve to unseat said second valve; a second spring normally biasing said second valve toward closed position; a conduit for supplying oxygen to said bore on the inlet side of said second valve, whereby on actuation of said trigger said first valve is opened to first admit acetylene to sai-d burner tube, said flint is next sparked to ignite said acetylene and said second valve is then opened to admit oxygen to said burner tube; and auxiliary valve means for regulating the proportions of oxygen and acetylene thus supplied to said burner tube.

WARREN A. SPARKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number4 Name Date 1,463,518 Thomas July 31, 1923 1,685,633 Heybach Sept. 25, 1928 1,810,158 Campbell June 16, 1931 2,127,723 Fausek Aug. 23, 1938y 2,365,379 Black Dec. 19, 1944 2,477,917 Wilson Aug. 2, 1949 2,506,114 Sparks May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,921 France Oct. 24, 1914