US3144758A

US3144758A - Burner devices for liquefied gas lighters

Info

Publication number: US3144758A
Application number: US209611A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iketani Taisho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-08-30
Filing date: 1962-07-13
Publication date: 1964-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-18
Also published as: GB998782A

Description

Aug. 18, 1964 -rAxsHo lKE'rANl 3,144,753

BURNER DEVICES FOR LIQUEFIED GAS LIGHTERS Filed July 15, 1962 w. K wf WM w V WH A M o 7 HW w m/ v/ B United States Patent O 3,144,758 BURNER DEVlCES FOR LIQUEFIED GAS LIGHTERS Taisho lketani, 589 Nogatacho-l-chome, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed July 13, 1962, Ser. No. 209,611 Claims priority, application, Japan, Aug. 30, 1961, 36/31,261; Sept. 21., 1961, S16/47,521 7 Claims. (Cl. 67'7.1)

The present invention relates to burner devices for liquefied gas lighters having means for controlling the flow of fuel gas.

The present invention has for its object to provide a burner device of the character described which is free from the danger that an excessive length of flame be formed.

Another object is to provide a burner device of the character described adapted to smoothly and accurately control the tiow of fuel gas.

According to the present invention a burner device for a liquefied gas lighter comprises an element of porous material impregnable with liquefied gas fuel and a fuel passage formed to open to a sectioned surface of said porous element for conducting the fuel gas to the burner tip.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent as the specification proceeds.

For a better understanding of the principles of the in vention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates some preferred embodiments, and in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary cross-sectional view diagrammatically illustrating the essential structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a burner device embodying the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment.

Referring first to FIG. 1, which diagrammatically shows the essential structure of the invention, a burner casing accommodates a support element 3 having a shoulder 12 and an upwardly extending stem portion 13 with an annular element 4 of porous material fitted over said stem portion to seat on the shoulder 12. Formed in the stem portion is an axial passage 14 opening at the top and terminating at the bottom adjacent to the shoulder and a radial passage communicating with the bottom of said axial passage and opening sidewise to the inner periphery of the porous element 4 which forms a sectioned surface. A movable orifice element 2 is arranged for downward movement to properlycompress the porous element.

Burner devices have previously been known which include two cooperating rigid, parts, one of which is movable and formed with a passage for conducting fuel gas to the tip of the burner, and an element of porous material interposed between the two rigid parts and when compressed operable to cause liquefied gas contained therein to iiow out into said passage. With these burner devices, the porous element, which is formed for example of cotton cord, paper, leather or felt, is deformed, once compressed heavily, to such an extreme extent as substantially to lose its restorableness. As a result, when the movable part is next raised to reduce the compression in order to obtain ICC an increased length of flame, a gap is formed between the movable part and the porous element to allow fuel in the original unmodulated form to flow into the passage to form a flame of an excessive length.

Accordin0 to the present invention, though the porous element is also subjected to varying compression between the shoulder 12 of the support element and the bottom surface 15 of a movable element 2, the passage 10 is located to open in neither of the

cooperating surfaces

12 and 15 but is formed in that portion of the stem portion 13 over which the porous element is tted and thus is at all times embedded in the porous element so as to open to the adjacent sectioned surface thereof irrespective to the extent of compression to which the porous element is subjected, that is, irrespective to the position of the movable element. It will be appreciated that, with this arrangement, a moderately controlled flame can at all times be obtained safely since no unduly large flame as previously frequently occurred is formed even when the movable element is loosened to any substantial extent.

Referring next to FIG. 2, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, numeral 1 indicates a bottomed cylindrical burner casing which accommodates a support element as shown in FIG. 1 with a movable element 2 threadably fitted in the casing from above. A

lfuel passage 10 is formed in the support element 2 to communicate with an axial bore formed in the stem portion 13 thereof. A rubber packing '7 is arranged in the bottom of the bore with a valve rod 6 arranged on said packing to regulate the latter. The valve rod 6 extends through the movable member and projects outwardly through the orifice opening 17 therein. A wick 5 is fixed to the bottom of the burner casing 1 to communicate by way of an aperture 11 formed therein with the space above formed in the casing. It will be observed that liquefied gas is drawn up by the wick 5 to iiow upwardly through the aperture 11 and a groove 18 formed in the bottom surface of the support element and further through an annular spacing formed about the support element 3 to impregnate the porous element 4, which is compressed by the bottom 15 of the movable element. The fuel from the porous element passes into the passage 10 to iioat the packing 7 and the valve rod thereon and enters a cavity 16 in the movable element to evaporate and reach the burner tip.

Another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 includes a bottomed cylindrical burner casing 101 in which a support element 102 having an upstanding stem portion 110, a compressing element 103 and a movable element 104 are incorporated with a wick 106 secured to the bottom of the casing. A washer or annular element 107 of porous material is fitted over the stern portion 110 adjacent to the bottom thereof. A fuel passage 111 is formed in the support element to open sidewise at one end to a sectioned surface of the porous element 107 and at the other end in the center of the top of the stern portion 110. The compressing element 103 overlies the support element 102 and has an axial bore in communication with a cavity defined in the bot-tom of the compressing element by an annular depending wall to receive the stem portion 110 of the support element so that the porous element 107 is compressed by the annular depending wall 112 against the inner wall of said casing 1. A rubber packing 108 having a central valve opening 113 is seated against an annular shoulder between the walls of the cavity and the axial 3 bore of the compressing element in sealing relation to the annular wall 112. A valve rod 105 is fitted in the axial bore of the compressing element and the tip thereof projects outwardly through orifice opening 114, as shown. An annular rubber packing 109 is fitted about the periphery of the compressing element in fluid-tight relation to the inner wall of the casing 1. As seen, the movable element 104 is threadably fitted in the casing from above.

In operation, the liquefied gas fuel held in the lighter tank is drawn up by the wick 106 to impregnate the porous element 107 and thence enters the fuel passage 111 to flow through the valve opening 113 floating the valve rod 5 to reach the burner tip. It will be observed that such flow of fuel gas is finely adjustable by raising or lowering the movable element 104 backing up the squeezer element 103 so as to compress the underlying porous element 107 to a desired degree. In addition to this, the valve opening 113 in the rubber packing 108 is simultaneously varied to control the flow of fuel, said packing S being compressed between the annular shoulder in the compressing element and the stem portion 110 of the support element. It will be understood that in nonuse the cap member, not shown, of the lighter holds the valve rod 105 in its bottom position to close the valve opening closed.

While the invention has been shown in a few forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquefied gas lighter, a burner device comprising a rigid bottomed cylindrical burner casing having a wick secured to its bottom, a support element having a central upstanding stem portion and mounted in the bottom of the casing, an annular element of porous material resting on said support element and fitted over said stem portion thereof, said stem portion being formed with a fuel passage opening at one end sidewise to a portion of the inner annular surface of said element of porous material and at the other end in the center of the top of the stem portion, a compressing element fitted in said casing and having a cavity defined by an annular wall to receive said stem portion so that said annular wall compresses said element of porous material against the inner wall of said casing, a rubber packing having a central valve opening fitted in said cavity in iiuidtight relation to the wall thereof, a valve rod downwardly operable by the cap of the lighter to control said valve opening, and a movable element threadably fitted in said casing for depressing said compressing element.

2. For use in a liquified gas lighter having a fuel reservoir, a burner device comprising,

(a) a burner casing having a rigid bottom wall,

(b) a support element having a base portion and a connected stem portion extending longitudinally of said casing, said stem having a longitudinally extending bore,

(c) the base portion of said element being seated on said rigid bottom wall of said casing,

(d) an annular member of porous material fitted about said stem and seated on the base portion of said element whereby said porous member is firmly supported against displacement relative said casing,

(e) means formed in said burner casing to define a fiuid fuel inlet to permit the flow of fluid fuel from said reservoir to said porous element,

(f) means defining a fuel outlet, said latter means including a passageway extending laterally through the side wall of said stem, said passageway opening at one end to the inner annular surface of said porous member and at its other end to said bore to define a tortuous ow path for the fluid fuel from said inlet to said outlet,

(g) and means for compressing said porous member i against said rigid wall to control the flow of fuel from said inlet to said outlet.

3. For use in a liquified gas lighter having a fuel reservoir,

(a) a burner device comprising,

(b) a burner casing projecting into said reservoir,

(c) said burner casing having a rigid bottom wall,

(d) said bottom wall having an opening therein defining a fluid inlet,

(e) a wick for delivering a fluid fuel to said opening,

(f) a support member seated on said bottom wall,

(g) said support member including a base portion having a peripheral portion thereof spaced from the wall of said casing; and having a stem portion with a bore therein extending upwardly therefrom,

(l1) said base portion having a diametric groove formed in the bottom thereof for communicating said opening with the space defined between said base portion and the wall of said cavity,

(i) an annular member of porous material fitted about said stem and resting on said base portion,

(j) said support member having a laterally extending passageway opening at one end to the inner annular surface of said porous member and having its other end opening to said bore,

(k) a floating packing disposed over said other end of said passageway in the bore of said stern,

(l) a movable element having an orifice opening therein fitted to said burner casing for axial movement with respect thereto,

(m) a valve rod seated on said packing, said valve rod having its end projecting through said orifice opening,

(n) and means operatively associated with said movable elements for compressing said movable member to control the flow of fluid fuel from said reservoir to said orifice opening.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said latter means is formed integral with said movable member.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein,

(a) said packing is formed with a passageway therethrough,

(b) and said latter compressing means including a member disposed between said movable element and said supporting means.

6. For use in a liquified gas lighter having a fuel reservoir,

(a) a burner device comprising,

(b) a burner casing projecting into said reservoir,

(c) said burner casing having a rigid bottom wall,

(d) said bottom wall having an opening therein for defining a uid inlet,

(e) a support member seated on said bottom wall,

said support member including a base portion having its peripheral portion spaced from the wall of said casing to define an annular space therebetween, and said base portion having a connected stem portion extending longitudinally of said burner casing,

(f) means formed in said base portion for connecting said fluid inlet into communication with the space defined between said base portion and the wall of said burner casing,

(g) an annular member of porous material fitted about said stem and resting on said base portion of said supporting member,

(lz) said support member having a laterally extending passageway formed therein, said passageway having one end opening to the inner annular surface of said porous member,

(i) a movable element having an orifice opening there- 5 6 in connected to said burner casing for axial move- References Cited in the le of this patent ment with respect thereto, (j) said other end of said passageway being connected UNITED STATES PATENTS in communication with said orifice opening, 2,734,364 Petersen Feb- 14, 1956 (k) and means operatively associated with said mova- 5 2,737,037 ZellWager Mar. 6, 1956 ble element for compressing said porous member 3,078,010 IChikaWa C131- F611 19, 1963 to control the flow of uid from said reservoir to FOREIGN PATENTS said orifice opening.

7. The inveniien ne defined in elaiin 6 and including 204,311 GefmanX -7 July 10, 1959 a floating packing member adapted to close said other 10 833,074 Great Bfltam APL 21, 1960 1,114,577 IFrance Dec, 19, 1955 end of said passageway.

Claims

1. IN A LIQUEFIED GAS LIGHTER, A BURNER DEVICE COMPRISING A RIGID BOTTOMED CYLINDRICAL BURNER CASING HAVING A WICK SECURED TO ITS BOTTOM, A SUPPORT ELEMENT HAVING A CENTRAL UPSTANDING STEM PORTION AND MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CASING, AN ANNULAR ELEMENT OF POROUS MATERIAL RESTING ON SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT AND FITTED OVER SAID STEM PORTION THEREOF, SAID STEM PORTION BEING FORMED WITH A FUEL PASSAGE OPENING AT ONE END SIDEWISE TO A PORTION OF THE INNER ANNULAR SURFACE OF SAID ELEMENT OF POROUS MATERIAL AND AT THE OTHER END IN THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF THE STEM PORTION, A COMPRESSING ELEMENT FITTED IN SAID CASING AND HAVING A CAVITY DEFINED BY AN ANNULAR WALL TO RECEIVE SAID STEM PORTION SO THAT SAID ANNULAR WALL COMPRESSES SAID ELEMENT OF POROUS MATERIAL AGAINST THE INNER WALL OF SAID CASING, A RUBBER PACKING HAVING A CENTRAL VALVE OPENING FITTED IN SAID CAVITY IN FLUIDTIGHT RELATION TO THE WALL THEREOF, A VALVE ROD DOWNWARDLY OPERABLE BY THE CAP OF THE LIGHTER TO CONTROL SAID VALVE OPENING, AND A MOVABLE ELEMENT THREADABLY FITTED IN SAID CASING FOR DEPRESSING SAID COMPRESSING ELEMENT.