US2984093A - Gas fueled candle - Google Patents

Description

y 1961 J. A. GODDARD ET AL 7 2,984,093

GAS FUELED CANDLE Filed May 19, 1958 y. WWW m INVENTORS JOHN ANSELL GODDARD WILLIAM RETZLER BY i fn'omuzvs I May 1961 J. A. GODDARD ETAL 2,984,093

GAS FUELED CANDLE Filed May 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN ANSELL GODDARD WILLIAM RETZLER ATTORNEYS.

GAS FUELED CANDLE John. AnsellGoddard, Cobham, and William Retzler,

Great Bookham, England, assignors, by mesne assign-,

ments, to Ronson Corporation, Woodbridge, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,157

' 4Claims. c1. 67- 87) The invention relates to a candle or like implement which is fueled by combustible gas of the butane type, i.e. by gases such as butane or propane which assume gaseous form when released under usual atmospheric temperatures fand pressures, but which remain largely in liquid form at such temperatures when held under sufficient pressures. In accordance with the invention an elongated barrel-like member which serves as the main body member of a candle, torch, or'like implement, surrounds an ice Y which encloses a fuel chamber 2, which latter is constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure.

An appropriate fuel charging valve mechanism, the hous ing of which is denoted at 3 in Fig. 2, may be understood as provided at the bottom end of the body member 1.

A'forrn of valve appropriate for fuel charging purposes will be later described in greater detail, it being understood for the present that the chamber 2 will normally carry fuel of the butane type partially in liquid form and partially in the form of gas at vapor pressure.

' At the upper end portion of the body member 1 a fuel outlet valve mechanism is provided, the housing of this internal fuel chamber into which fuel of the butane type may be charged and held under pressure. A fuel outlet valve mechanism is mounted in the top portion of the body member, and the upper portion of the candle-like structure is constituted by a shell member which encloses the space above the outlet valve mechanism, this shell member being so coordinated with the outlet valve mechanism that angular movement of the shell member with respectto the body member opens and closes the outlet valve mechanism. The rate of flow of gaseous fuel through the outlet mechanism also is preferably regulatable by such angular movement of the shell member while the valve mechanism is open, to afford regulation of the height of the flame which is produced when the gaseous fuel issuing from the structure, is ignited in admixture with surrounding air. The implement also is preferably provided with appropriate bafie means as hereinafter described in greater detail, for minimizing the passage of fuel in liquid form into the outlet valve mechanism, under conditions where the flame height has been appropriately adjusted for the flow of fuel in gaseous form into the outletvalve mechanism. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the description hereinafter contained which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of candle-like implement constructed to function in accordance with the invention; the disclosure'however should be considered as merely illustrative of the invention in its broader aspects. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a candle-like implement constructed to function in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, the intermediate portion of the structure being cut away and its upper and lower parts being enlarged to show them more in detail;

Fig. 3 is a still further enlarged central longitudinal section of a fuel outlet valve mechanism appropriate for use in the structures of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a form of fuel charging valve mechanism appropriate for use in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view partly in section,

I be later described in more detail, but for the present itmay be understood that such mechanism includes a depressible valve stem 6 which is exposed at the delivery side of the valve mechanism, and which closes the valve mechanism when depressed, but opens the valve mechanism for the upward flow of fuel therethrough from chamber 2, when downward pressure upon the stem 6 is released. The fuel outlet valve mechanism may be also understood as including an angularly movable member 7 (Figs. 2, 3 5 and 6) which respectively increases and decreases the rate of flow of fuel through the outlet valve mechanism when turned in opposite directions, with the valve stem 6 in open position. 7

A shell member 8 encloses the space above the fuel outlet valve mechanism, so as to provide a chamber 9 (Fig. 2) therein into and through which gaseous fuel flows when the valve stem 6 is in open position. I'his shell member preferably constitutes in eifect an upward tapering extention of the body member 1, but is mounted to aiford angular movement thereof with respect to the body member 1, about the longitudinal center line of the structure as an axis. In the form shown, a cylindrical sleeve 10 is provided within the shell member 8, and acollar 11 is provided which overlaps the joint between the shell member 8 and body member 1. The sleeve 10 position with respect to the body member 1, and when the shell is in operative position the user may readily twist it' angularly with respect to the body member 1. In the illustrated form of the invention a cam member 14 (Figs. 2; 5 and 6) is slidably mounted within the showing disassembled, certain of the operating parts sleeve 10 to afford up and down movement of the cam member, but'the cam member is constrained to move angularly with sleeve'10 when the shell member 8 is twisted as above described. As shown the sleeve 10 is provided with a tongue 15 struck'inwardly therefrom (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) this tongue being received in. a groove 16 (Fig. 5) in the annular wall of cam member 14. A spring 17 in the shell member 8','urges the carn'member 14 downwardly toward a position in which'its central portion engages the stem 6 of the fuel outlet valve mech-' anism'to'hold the latter in closed position, but in most angular positions of the shell member 8 and cam member 14,'a stop member'IS (Figs. 2, 5 and 6), whichis secured to and extends upwardly from the fitting 5; engages the bottom wall of cam member 14 .and holds the. latter in the elevated position shown in Fig. 12, under. which conditions the cam member is free of stem-6' and the fuel outletvalve mechanism-'is'open. Howeverin' the angular position of shellmember 8, sleeve 10' and cam '14 whichis shown in Fig.6, the stop member 18,

Patented May 16, 1961 is received in a notch 19 (see Fig. 5) in the bottom wall of the cam member, thus permitting the cam member to move downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6, where the stem 6 is engaged and depressed by the cam member to hold the fuel outlet valve mechanism closed. By turning the shell member 8 in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts appear in Fig. 6, the fuel outletvalve mechanism will be opened.

The shell member 8 is shown as provided with a burner opening 20 at its top, through which gaseous fuel passes from chamber 9, andthe fuel issuing from the burner opening 20 may be ignited by any appropriate means to burn in admixture with surrounding air and produce a flame, the height of which will depend upon the rate of flow of gaseous fuel through the fuel outlet valve mechanism above described.

In order to regulate the flame height, the angularly movable flame height adjusting member 7 above described may be provided with a peripheral lug 21 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) which fits between the forked lower end portions 22 of the tongue 15 previously described. When the shell 8 is moved angularly in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6, the fuel outlet valve mechanism will open, and the flame height regulating member 7 will then be set to produce a flame of selected height, but as the angular movement of the shell member 8 is continued beyond the angular position which opens the fuel outlet valve mechanism, the flame height regulating member 7 will move through successive positions in which the flame height is progressively increased or decreased as desired.

Fig. 3 shows more in detail a form of fuel outlet valve mechanism appropriate for fuel regulation in the above manner.

The valve housing 4 is shown as having openings 23 (Fig. 3) through the lower portion of its side wall, through which a strip 24 of porous compressible material such as wicking, is exposed to gaseous fuel within the body member '1, to conduct the fuel into the valve mechanism. The wicking 24 is shown as clamped between a metal ball 25 which rests in the lower end portion of housing 4, and a barrel 26 which is slidably mounted within the housing 4, and provided with an elastic sealing ring 27. When the valve is open, fuel flows through wicking 24 and the passage 28 into the interior of barrel 26, and upwardly through the space surrounding the valve stem 6, which latter when free of downward pressure as previously referred to, is lifted by the gaseous pressure of the fuel, to open passage 28. When valve stem 6 is depressed as previously described, its lower end portion seals the passage 28 against the flow of fuel therethrough.

To regulate the flow of fuel through the valve mechanism when the latter is open, a threaded plug 29 is provided which engages against a resilient washer 30, and the latter is pressed downwardly by plug 29 to bear against a ball race constituted by the balls 31 and race members 32, which in turn press downwardly against an annular flange 33 on the barrel 26. A resilient washer 30a may also be provided underneath the flange 33, to assist in raising the barrel 26 when plug 29'is loosened up to increase the rate of fuel flow. The threaded plug 29 presses the barrel 26 downwardly to compress the wicking 24 between barrel 26 and the ball 25, forming an annular zone of compression which surrounds the mouth of passage 28. As the plug 29 is twisted to move downwardly and increase the compression of wicking 24 and throttle the flow of fuel through the valve, the resilie'nt washers 30 and 3011 are further compressed, which provides a certain amount of lost motion between the downward movement of the plug 29, and the resulting downward movement of the barrel 26. Thus a comparatively large angular movement of the plug 29 produces a much smaller axial adjustment of the barrel 26, which enables steadier and more delicate regulation of the flame height to be obtained. The angularly movable flame height adjusting member 7 is preferably splined to the threaded plug 29, by the intereng'ag'ing g'eai' like tetlf will be put in place with its lug 21 in proper angular position to be rotated by twisting the shell member 8.

as previously described, to adjust the flame to different heights. In the form shown, a snap ring 36 holds the member 7 detachably in position. Gaseous fuel issuing from the outlet valve mechanism above described may pass through the openings surrounding the tongue 15 into the annular space between the shell member 8 and sleeve 10, to fill the chamber 9 with gaseous fuel, from whence the fuel is emitted through the burner opening 20, to be burned in admixture with surrounding air.

Fig. 4 shows more in detail a form of fuel charging v'alve appropriate for use in practising the invention. As there shown, a movable valve member 37 is urged by a spring 38 into sealing engagement with a resilient seat 39 mounted in the valve housing 3. The movable valve member 37 carries a hollow needle 40 which may pen'e-j trate into an appropriate container (not illustrated) of butane type fuel which will be largely in liquid form. During charging the candle assembly will be held in. inverted position, and the fuel supply container will be pressed downwardly against the movable valve member 37 to open the latter and cause fuel, largely in liquid form, to be injected through the passage 41 into the fuel chamber 3. At the same time a vent passage 42 through the valve member 47 will be opened to permit gas to escape from chamber 2 to the outer air during the fuel charging operation.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the outlet valve mechanism shown in Fig. 3 may be set to afford the desired range in flame height under conditions where' the wicking 24 receives fuel in gaseous form, in which eventif fuel in liquid form should reach the wick 24, a flame of abnormally great height would result. The disclosed embodiment of the invention includes a baflle member 43 (Fig. 2) which protects the wicking against direct exposure to fuel in liquid form, while permitting fuel in gaseous form to reach the wicking. As shown this bafile member is in the form of a cup fixed to extend downwardly from the fitting 5 and having one or more openings 44 extending through its side wall. Normally the chamber 2 will contain fuel partly in liquid form, and partly in the form of gas at its vapor pressure, and during charging or at other times the implement may be tilted or inverted in such manner that unless prevented,- the wicking 24 will be wetted by liquid fuel. This may be undesirable if the delicate mechanism is set on the operation with the wicking dry. The baffle member 43 will afford adequate capacity for storage of liquid fuel within chamber 2 while preventing the passage of liquid fuel into contact with wicking 24. For purposes of mounting the implement, a fitting 45 (Fig. 3) may be provided which surrounds the charging valve and serves as a base.

While the invention has been disclosed as carried out by an implement of the above described specific form it should be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim: I

1. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the char acter described, including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valve mechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell member enclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burner opening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell member to move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantially vertical axis, said valve mechanism including a depressible valve stem, and means for opening and closing said valve mechanism, including a cam member, means mounting said cam member to turn angularly with said shell member and to slide longitudinally with respect to said shell member, means urging said cam member to move toward said valve stem, and a stop member engaging said cam member in position to hold said cam member out of engagement with said valve stem in one angular position of said shell member and afford depression of said valve stem by said cam member in another angular position of said shell member.

2. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described, including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valve mechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, said valve mechanism including a depressible valve stem which closes off the flow of fuel through said valve mechanism when depressed, a shell member enclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burner opening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell member to move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantially vertical axis, said outlet valve mechanism controlling communication between said chamber and the space enclosed by said shell member, and means actuated by angular movement of said shell member with respect to said body member for opening and closing said outlet valve mechanism, said last mentioned means including a cam member mounted within said shell member to move angularly therewith, and a spring urging said cam member into valve stem depressing position upon predetermined angular movement of said shell member relative to said body member, said valve mechanism carrying an angularly movable fuel flow regulating member which surrounds said valve stem, and means carried by said shell member and interengaging with said fuel flow regulating member to increase and decrease the rate of flow of fuel through said valve mechanism during angular movements of said shell member relative to said body member.

3. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described, including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valve mechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell member enclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burner opening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell member to move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantially vertical axis, said valve mechanism including a valve stem urged towards open position by the fuel under pressure in said chamber and being depressible to closed position to prevent the fiow of fuel from said chamber, and means for actuating said valve stem including a cam member, means mounting said cam member for sliding axial movement relatively to said shell member and for angular movement with said shell member, spring means urging said cam member towards said valve stem to depress the same, a stop member within said shell, said cam member having a cam surface engaging said stop member and cooperating therewith in one angular position of said shell member to permit said cam member to engage and depress said valve stem to shut off the flow of fuel from said chamber.

4. A gas fueled candle or like implement of the character described, including a hollow body member having therein a chamber constructed to hold fuel of the butane type under pressure, a fuel outlet valve mechanism mounted in the top portion of said body member, a shell member enclosing the space above said valve mechanism and having a burner opening in the upper portion thereof, means mounting said shell member to move angularly with respect to said body member about a substantially vertical axis, said valve mechanism including a valve stem urged towards open position by the fuel under pressure in said chamber and being depressible to closed position to prevent the flow of fuel from said chamber, and means for actuating said valve stem including a cam member, means mounting said cam member for sliding axial movement relatively to said shell member and for angular movement with said shell member, a fuel flow adjusting member adjusting the rate of fuel flow from said chamber, means mounting said adjusting member for angular movement with said shell member to effect such adjustment, spring mean! urging said cam member towards said valve stem to depress the same, a stop member within said shell, said cam member having a cam surface engaging said stop member and cooperating therewith in one angular position of said shell member to permit said cam member to engage and depress said valve stem to shut ofi the flow of fuel from said chamber, a further cam surface on said cam member cooperating with said stop member to retain said cam member out of engagement with said valve stem in other angular positions of said shell member while said adjusting member effects said adjustment of the rate of fuel flow from said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,953 Florman Nov. 25, 1952 2,749,733 Smith et al June 12, 1956 2,836,044 Zellweger May 27, 1958 2,895,318 Zellweger July 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,936 Switzerland Ian. 15, 1958

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