US3589851A - Gas-fueled lighter - Google Patents

Gas-fueled lighter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3589851A
US3589851A US840352A US3589851DA US3589851A US 3589851 A US3589851 A US 3589851A US 840352 A US840352 A US 840352A US 3589851D A US3589851D A US 3589851DA US 3589851 A US3589851 A US 3589851A
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United States
Prior art keywords
fuel
lighter
throttling device
throttling
vaporizing
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US840352A
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English (en)
Inventor
Peter Rabe
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Heinrich Maltner GmbH
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Heinrich Maltner GmbH
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Publication date
Application filed by Heinrich Maltner GmbH filed Critical Heinrich Maltner GmbH
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Publication of US3589851A publication Critical patent/US3589851A/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23Q—IGNITION; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES
    • F23Q2/00—Lighters containing fuel, e.g. for cigarettes
    • F23Q2/16—Lighters with gaseous fuel, e.g. the gas being stored in liquid phase
    • F23Q2/173—Valves therefor

Definitions

  • a gas-fueled lighter comprises a fuel tank for liquified gaseous fuel, a burner structure having an inlet and an outlet, igniting means for igniting fuel issuing in gaseous state from the outlet, vaporizing means upstream of the inlet for receiving fuel in liquid state from the latter and supplying it in vaporized state to the inlet of the burner structure, and a throttling device interposed between the vaporizing means and the fuel tank so as to throttle the flow of fuel from the latter to the former.
  • the throttling device is thermally insulated at least from the burner structure a d the vaporizing means so as to prevent vaporization of fu l in the throttling device prior to entry into the vaporizing means.
  • PATENTED JUN29 [8?” sum 1 OF 2 F igd lnren/ormuml S. Srnker AHorn 'Y GAS-FUELED LIGHTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • the present invention relates to lighters in general, and more specifically to gas lighters.
  • gas lighters may be divided into two broad categories according to the manner in which the gaseous fuel is supplied to the burner structure.
  • One category supplies the burner structure directly from the gaseous phase of the liquefied gas contained in the fuel tank.
  • the other type known as liquid-gas lighters, supplies the burner structure with fuel directly from the liquid phase of the liquefied gaseous fuel contained in the fuel tank.
  • This latter type with which the present invention is concerned, has the advantage that no filler materials such as felt or the like need be accommodated in the interior of the tank. It is well known that the use of such filler materials, which are necessary in the type of gas lighter supplying the burner structure from the gaseous phase, presents certain problems which it has long been attempted to overcome.
  • liquid-gas lighters The problem with the so-called liquid-gas lighters" is that it has heretofore been very difficult to obtain a quiet-buming stable flame of constant size. I-Ieretofore this type of gas lighter has been known for the fact that its flame pulses, flickers and is generally unsteady, particularly at low temperatures, for instance below C.
  • a still more specific object of the invention is to provide such a gas lighter which will operate reliably and with a steady flame in all operating conditions, even at low ambient temperatures.
  • one feature of my invention recites in a gas-fueled lighter which comprises fuel tank means adapted to contain a supply of liquefied gaseous fuel, and burner means having an inlet and an outlet. Igniting means ignites fuel which issues in gaseous state from the outlet and vaporizing means is arranged upstream of the inlet and communicates with the same and with the fuel-tank means for receiving from the latter fuel in liquefied state and for supply ing this fuel in vaporized state to the inlet of the burner means.
  • I provide a throttling device which is interposed between and communicates with the fuel-tank means and the vaporizing means for throttling the flow of fuel from the former to the latter.
  • the provision of such throttling devices is already known.
  • I thermally insulate the throttling device from the remaining components of the lighter in order to thereby prevent transmission of heat energy to the throttling device, because this can lead to premature vaporization of the fuel as it passes through the throttling device and prior to entry of the fuel into the vaporizing means, this being the reason for the unsteadiness of the flame in known lighter constructions of the type under discussion.
  • thermobridge between the throttling device and the exterior of the lighter, particularly the surface portion of the lighter which is heated by the flame which develops when the lighter is in use.
  • This thermobridge that is the heat-exchanging relationship between the thus-heated exterior of the lighter and the throttling device, allows sufficient heat to be transmitted to the latter to cause partial vaporization of fuel passing through the throttling device.
  • This on the other hand, naturally results in the development of gas bubbles which impede the flow of fuel through the throttling device to the vaporizing means; in fact,
  • the flow of fuel may be intermittently and temporarily interrupted.
  • fuel is erratically supplied through the vaporizing means to the burner means, and the flame is there fore unsteady because it does not receive a constant supply of fuel.
  • My invention overcomes this problem by preventing the transmission of heat to the throttling device, and by therefore preventing any vaporization of liquefied gas passing through the throttling device. vaporization takes place only upon passage of the liquefied gas through the vaporizing means, and the supply of gas through the throttling device is therefore not impeded. The result is a steady flame.
  • the present invention can be used with particular advantage in gas lighters of the type in question which have a fuel tank consisting of synthetic plastic material.
  • Lighters having a metallic fuel tank with its relatively good thermo conduction are less affected by the problem in question because the comparatively large surface areas of the metallic fuel tank radiate a significant amount of the heat which is transmitted inwardly from the area of the flame and the surface heated by the flame, to the ambient atmosphere. Thus there is less heat available for heating the throttling device and causing the problems in question.
  • the throttling device includes a throttling element which in known manner may itself consist of thermally insulating porous material. This throttling element is thermally insulated in the manner still to be described in more detail hereafter. It is advantageous to assure that the throttling or flow resistance of the throttling device changes in dependence upon the ambient temperature, that is that the compensation is automatically efiected. The reason for this is that, as is well known, the pressure of the fuel in the fuel tank increases as the ambient temperature increases. This results in a higher flame because the fuel is forced out of the burner at greater pressure.
  • Compensating devices for this purpose are already known, and may for instance consist of a metallic member and a throttling member of synthetic plastic material, the intention being to vary the flow resistance of the throttling device in dependence upon the ambient temperature to thereby maintain the height of the flame constant.
  • the compensating devices provided for this purpose are influenced not only by the ambient temperature but also by the temperature of the burner structure and/or the throttling device itself, it has been found that the compensation provided is frequently entirely inadequate.
  • this problem is avoided because the starting temperature of the throttling device, that is the temperature of the throttling device at the time the lighter is activated, and which temperature corresponds to the temperature of the liquefied gas in the fuel tank and thereby to the ambient temperature, is maintained constant or largely constant.
  • the vaporizing means located downstream of the throttling device as seen with respect to the fuel flow, be in heat-exchanging relationship with heated portions of the lighter.
  • the term heated is of course relative in that no part of the lighter, including the burner structure, will necessarily get uncomfortably warm in the sense which is conventionally employed when the term heated is used. It should therefore be understood that the term heated as employed herein refers to any temperature rise of lighter components beyond the temperature which the lighter components would have if they did not receive heat energy-directly or indirectlyfrom develops when the lighter is activated.
  • the reason for desirably having the vaporizing means be in heat-exchanging relationship with heated components of the lighter is that this will aid in vaporization of the fuel as it passes through the vaporizing means. Whereas such vaporization is undesirable in the throttling device, it is clearly desirable that the vaporization be intentionally aided in the vaporizing means where it is legitimately intended to take place.
  • the burner arrangements used in such lighters are usually very small, and the heat of vaporization of liquid gas is approximately lcal./g.
  • the vaporizing means will be composed of a porous material having good heat-exchanging properties of at least 10 and preferably in excess of 50kcal./m.h. C. (mean hour C.).
  • vaporization takes place simultaneously in a plurality of parallel or substantially parallel fluid paths, and because of the large heat exchange surfaces bounding these various paths the supply of heat energy to the fuel is good and aids in the vaporization.
  • the result is that at the downstream or outlet end of the vaporizing means there will at all times be available a substantially constant supply of fuel in gaseous state, regardless of the particular circumstances which may prevail in any given one of the plurality of individual paths at any given moment.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side-elevational view of a gas lighter embodying the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through a gas lighter of the type shown in FIG. 1, incorporating a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but ofa gas lighter incorporating a second embodiment of the invention.
  • the lighter shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a burner unit 6 which is threaded into the tank 1, as diagrammatically shown, and a filling valve 7 is provided in the bottom of the tank I so that the latter may be filled with liquid gaseous fuel.
  • FIG. 2 I show in a fragmentary enlarged section one embodiment of the invention, with the burner unit being illustrated in its closed position in which no gas can issue from the outlet.
  • the arrow 8 in FIG. 2 indicates the closing force exerted by the cap 5 when the latter is in the position shown in FIG. 1.
  • the cap 5 has been omitted in FIG. 2 and its operation, as well as that of the pressure valve 4 which activates the cap 5 as well as the ignition means, are well known to those skilled in the art and entirely conventional.
  • the fuel tank 1 is provided with threads 9 into which there is threaded a metallic housing 12, a sealing element 10 being interposed to prevent the escape of fuel.
  • the housing 12 is in turn provided with threads 13 into which there is threaded a throttle-setting member 14 whose upper open end is provided with exterior teeth 15 and onto which a setting wheel 16 is pushed which is maintained in place by the teeth 15 so that rotation of the wheel 16 results in rotation of the member 14.
  • An elastic annulus 17 of known construction prevents the wheel 16 from unintentionally coming off the member 14.
  • a tubular burner 18 is located in the interior of the member 14 and is shiftable in a telescopic member 20 against the force exerted by a spring 19.
  • a valve member 21 is located below the member 20 and urged by contact with the same against a valve seat 22 when the burner 18 and the member 20 are shifted in the direction indicated by the arrow 8 in response to movement of the cap 5 from open position to the position illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • An expansion spring 23 is provided which tends to lift the valve member 21 off its valve seat 22 when the force acting in the direction of the arrow 8 is relaxed or released.
  • An insert 24 is provided which is formed with the valve seat 22 and which is provided at its underside facing towards the interior of the fuel tank 1 with a recess in which there is lodged a disc-shaped porous vaporizing member 26 of a material having good thermally conductive properties.
  • the edge face of the member 26 is in heat-exchanging contact with the insert 24.
  • the outlet side of the member 26, that is the side at which vaporized fuel issues from the member 26 for entry into the valve 21, 22, is identified with reference numeral 27 and its surface is largely unobstructed. It is opposed by a slightly conical wall 28 of the insert 24 which tapers towards the outlet passage 29 closed by the valve 21, 22 when the structure is in the closure position shown in FIG. 2.
  • the lower end of the metallic housing 12 is provided with a recessed generally cup-shaped extension 11 of synthetic plastic material which is secured to the housing 12 via screw threads 37.
  • These screw threads 37 should advantageously be sealed and this may be accomplished by filling them with a sealing material, for instance a sealing material which hardens in the absence of air, such as the material known and commercially available under the trade name Loctite.
  • the extension 11 has a bottom wall 38 provided with an inlet aperture 34.
  • a throttling element 30 Received in the recess of the extension 11 is a throttling element 30 which in the illustrated embodiment is composed of three discrete portions 31, 32 and 33 which may have different porosity.
  • the material of the element 30 may be a porous elastically cross-linked polyurethane, such as the material which is commercially available under the trade name Zellvulkollan.” interposed between the throttling element 30 and the insert 24 is an elastic sealing ring 36.
  • the throttling element 30 is substantially surrounded by thermally insulating material, namely on the one hand by the bottom wall 38 of the extension 1 l and on the other hand by the elastic sealing ring 36.
  • thermally insulating material namely on the one hand by the bottom wall 38 of the extension 1 l and on the other hand by the elastic sealing ring 36.
  • a porous insulating layer 39 for instance consisting of filter paper.
  • Such transmission of heat energy is confined, particularly if the element 30 itself consists of a material having poor thermal conductivity, to the region immediately adjacent the vaporizing member 26.
  • a plug 35 of porous material is located upstream of the aperture 34 and liquefied gas passes through this plug 35 from the interior of the tank 1 to the throttling element 30.
  • This plug also, is thermally insulated from the housing by the presence of the extension 11, so that the possibility that gas bubbles could develop in the plug 35 as a result of transmission of heat energy to the latter is avoided, or at least substantially reduced.
  • the material of the element 30 and of the sealing ring 36 will undergo the largest volume changes of the various components, under the influence of changes in the ambient temperature.
  • the termal expansion of the metallic components 12, 14 and 24 as well as of the synthetic plastic component 11 is negligible by comparison.
  • the construction shown in FIG. 2 provides for automatic temperature compensation of the throttling action of the element 30. In other words, compensation is made independence upon the temperature of the fuel contained in the tank 1, and accordingly in dependence upon the pressure prevailing in the tank I.
  • the flow resistance provided by the element 30 at the time the lighter is first activated changes only insignificantly during the period of time for which the lighter is in use, that is during the period of time during which a flame burns at the outlet end of the burner tube 18. The reason for this is the heat insulation afforded by the material of the sealing ring 36 which' is cooled by the fuel with which it comes in contact and which. thus experiences an at most negligible temperature increase.
  • the fuel contained in the tank 1 has a substantially higher temperature, then the volume of the element 30 and the sealing ring 36 which are contacted by the liquefied fuel has increased and the flow resistance has increased concurrently. This increased flow resistance remains unchanged after. activation of the lighter and development ofa flame.
  • the fuel tank 41 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 consists of synthetic plastic material.
  • the housing 12 of FIG. 2 is replaced with a housing 42 also consisting of synthetic plastic material and being, in fact, of one piece with the fuel tank 41.
  • the housing 42 is provided with threads 43.
  • the sealing member 10 of FIG. 2 may be omitted.
  • the sealing ring 36 prevents the fuel from bypassing the valve 21, 22 and escaping along the threads 43.
  • the synthetic plastic material of the fuel tank 41 and of the housing 42 is a poor thermal conductor, as is the material of the sealing ring 36 and, as pointed out earlier, that of the throttling element 30. Accordingly, heating of the metallic components 14, l8-and of course l6-will have no influence upon the throttling element 30 because no heat will be transmitted to the same. Conversely, however, heat can be readily transmitted via the metallic component 14 to the vaporizing body 26, and the construction of FIG. 3 has the same desirable advantages outlined above with respect to that of FIG. 2.
  • a gas-fueled lighter comprising fuel-tank means adapted to contain a supply of liquefied gaseous fuel; burner means having an inlet and an outlet; ignitingmeans for igniting fuel issuing in gaseous state from said outlet; vaporizing means upstream of said inlet and communicating with the same and with said fuel-tank means for receiving fuel in liquid state from the latter and supplying it in vaporized state to the former; a throttling device interposed between and communicating with said fuel-tank means and said vaporizing means for throttling the flow of fuel from the former to the latter; and thermally insulating means thermally insulating said throttling device for preventing direct transmission of heat to fuel in said throttling device past said vaporizing means in response to transmission of heat to the region of said vaporizing means.
  • said throttling device comprises a throttling element having an exposed surface
  • said insulating means comprises a thermally insulating element thermally insulating said throttling element and in surface-to-surface contact with at least a portion of said exposed surface
  • said insulating means comprises a first portion of thermally insulating material provided with a recess having a bottom wall formed with a fuel passage communicating with said recess and said fuel tank means, and said throttling device comprising a second portion received in said recess disposed on said bottom wall and constituting a throttling element.
  • said compressing means including an engaging portion, and said insulating means comprising an annular. member of thermally insulating material interposed between said second portion and said engaging por- 8 exchanging contact with said burner unit for exchanging heat with said surface portion.
  • said vaporizing means comprises a vaporizing element composed of a porous material having good thermal conductivity.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lighters Containing Fuel (AREA)
US840352A 1968-07-17 1969-07-09 Gas-fueled lighter Expired - Lifetime US3589851A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19681782088 DE1782088B1 (de) 1968-07-17 1968-07-17 Gasfeuerzeug mit einer brenneranordnung

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US3589851A true US3589851A (en) 1971-06-29

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US840352A Expired - Lifetime US3589851A (en) 1968-07-17 1969-07-09 Gas-fueled lighter

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US (1) US3589851A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1782088B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2013088A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1281032A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2751798A1 (de) * 1976-11-19 1978-05-24 Dupont S T Mit verfluessigtem gas betriebenes geraet, insbesondere feuerzeug fuer raucher
US4224020A (en) * 1975-06-05 1980-09-23 Etablissements Genoud & Cie Societe Anonyme Dite Maximum-flame-height pressure regulator for gas lighter
US4680007A (en) * 1985-04-29 1987-07-14 Schaechter Friedrich Lighter with adjustable flame
CN110671718A (zh) * 2019-11-01 2020-01-10 常浩 打火机及其一体化装配式导气组件

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2313639A1 (fr) * 1975-06-05 1976-12-31 Genoud & Cie Ets Valve pour briquet a gaz
FR2428789A1 (fr) * 1978-06-16 1980-01-11 Dupont S T Dispositif limiteur de flamme pour briquet a gaz
US4235589A (en) * 1979-02-27 1980-11-25 The Gillette Company Flame-limiting device for a gas lighter

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3140593A (en) * 1961-10-11 1964-07-14 Wieden & Co G M B H Fa Gas fueled lighter
US3390945A (en) * 1965-03-25 1968-07-02 Wieden & Co G M B H Liquid gas lighter
US3465355A (en) * 1967-09-29 1969-09-02 Albertus Van Poppel Disposable lighter

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2764008A (en) * 1951-03-26 1956-09-25 Brown & Bigelow Gas lighter control unit
CH310917A (fr) * 1953-07-17 1955-11-15 Nationale Sa Briquet à gaz.
FR1114577A (fr) * 1954-11-17 1956-04-13 Perfectionnements apportés aux détendeurs statiques à absorption pour briquets à gaz liquéfié, allumeurs et autres
CH326667A (fr) * 1955-08-04 1957-12-31 Nationale Sa Briquet à gaz liquéfié
FR1171044A (fr) * 1957-04-09 1959-01-21 Rech S Tech Soc Et Perfectionnements apportés aux briquets à gaz
AT252636B (de) * 1964-10-15 1967-02-27 Alfred Racek Gasfeuerzeug
AT249427B (de) * 1964-08-12 1966-09-26 Alfred Racek Gasfeuerzeug
US3399951A (en) * 1965-03-05 1968-09-03 Mansei Kogyo Kk Fuel control mechanism in liquefied gas fuelede lighter

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3140593A (en) * 1961-10-11 1964-07-14 Wieden & Co G M B H Fa Gas fueled lighter
US3390945A (en) * 1965-03-25 1968-07-02 Wieden & Co G M B H Liquid gas lighter
US3465355A (en) * 1967-09-29 1969-09-02 Albertus Van Poppel Disposable lighter

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4224020A (en) * 1975-06-05 1980-09-23 Etablissements Genoud & Cie Societe Anonyme Dite Maximum-flame-height pressure regulator for gas lighter
DE2751798A1 (de) * 1976-11-19 1978-05-24 Dupont S T Mit verfluessigtem gas betriebenes geraet, insbesondere feuerzeug fuer raucher
US4177646A (en) * 1976-11-19 1979-12-11 S. T. Dupont Liquefied gas apparatus
US4680007A (en) * 1985-04-29 1987-07-14 Schaechter Friedrich Lighter with adjustable flame
CN110671718A (zh) * 2019-11-01 2020-01-10 常浩 打火机及其一体化装配式导气组件

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1782088B1 (de) 1971-10-14
FR2013088A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-03-27
GB1281032A (en) 1972-07-12

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