US3846063A - Lighter employing electric spark ignition - Google Patents

Lighter employing electric spark ignition Download PDF

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Publication number
US3846063A
US3846063A US00452999A US45299974A US3846063A US 3846063 A US3846063 A US 3846063A US 00452999 A US00452999 A US 00452999A US 45299974 A US45299974 A US 45299974A US 3846063 A US3846063 A US 3846063A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
supporting plate
lighter
switch
control member
gas outlet
Prior art date
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
Application number
US00452999A
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English (en)
Inventor
De Mere H Courier
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bicosa Societe de Recherches SA
Original Assignee
Bicosa Societe de Recherches SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bicosa Societe de Recherches SA filed Critical Bicosa Societe de Recherches SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3846063A publication Critical patent/US3846063A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F23Q2/28—Lighters characterised by electrical ignition of the fuel
    • F23Q2/285—Lighters characterised by electrical ignition of the fuel with spark ignition

Definitions

  • a lighter employing electric spark ignition includes a casing and a gas reservoir defining therebetween a space in which is mounted a movable supporting plate carrying on one side thereof an electric cell, a voltageraising circuit, a switch for connecting the cell to the voltage-raising circuit, and an ignition electrode.
  • The. other side of the supporting plate has a printed circuit establishing electrical connections between the components on the one side of the plate.
  • a gas outlet valve is operatively engaged by the supporting plate and controls the supply of gas from the reservoir to a burner adjacent which the ignition electrode is disposed.
  • a control member is operable to close the switch and displace the supporting plate to open the gas outlet valve, with the switch being closed before opening of the valve.
  • the supporting plate forms a lever having one end engaged with the gas outlet valve and the switch at its other end.
  • the supporting plate has a first extension engaged with the gas outlet valve and a second extension connected to the control member which imparts a translational movement to the supporting plate.
  • This invention relates to a lighter employing electric spark ignition and comprising a holder for receiving an electric cell, a voltage-raising circuit, a switch which is closable in response to operation of a control member to connect the voltage-raising circuit electrically to the electric cell received in the holder in use, and an ignition electrode disposed adjacent a burner and electrically connected to the voltage-raising circuit, operation of the control member resulting in opening of a gas outlet valve feeding the burner.
  • Lighters of the above kind may be constructed as disclosed in the Applicants French Pat. No. 72 02407 of 25th Jan. 1972 and its three Certificates of Addition No.72 12833 of 12th Apr. 1972, No. 72 247l4 of 7th July 1972 and No. 72 43967 of llth Dec. l972. Hitherto, in such lighters, the cell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the ignition electrode, the switch and the control member were variously arranged and occupied a relatively large volume in relation to the total volume of the lighter.
  • a lighter employing electric spark ignition and comprising a holder for receiving an electric cell, a voltageraising circuit, a switch which is closable in response to operation of a control member to connect the voltageraising circuit electrically to the electric cell received in the holder in use, and an ignition electrode disposed adjacent a burner and electrically connected to the voltage-raising circuit, in which lighter the cell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the switch and the ignition electrode are disposed on a supporting plate having a portion operatively engagedwith a gas outlet valve feeding the burner, the supporting plate being movably mounted between two fixed structures of the lighter, and the control member being operable to close the switch and move the supporting plate to open the gas outlet valve.
  • the supporting plate is mounted between a reservoir and a casing of the lighter.
  • the switch may be'directly actuated by the control member and, in one such embodiment, the supporting plate forms a lever which is fulcrumed intermediate itsends on one of the said two fixed structures of the lighter, one end of the lever being operatively engaged with the gas outlet valve, and the other end of the lever being movable by the-control member via the switch.
  • the switch has a movable contact including a resilient member which is resiliently deformable by the control'member to close the switch.
  • Closure of the switch may result from the movement of the supporting plate in response to operation of the control member and, in one such embodiment, the supporting plate forms a lever having one end operatively engaged with the gas outlet valve and the other end engagable with one of the saidfixed structures of the lighter via the switch, the control member being operable to act on the lever intermediate the ends of the lever to move the said other end of the lever into engagement with the said one fixed structure to close the switch.
  • the switch has a movable contact including a resilient member which is resiliently deformable by abutment with said one fixed structure to close the switch.
  • the plate is arranged to undergo a translational movement in response to operation of the control member, one side of the supporting plate presenting a first bifurcated lateral extension operatively engaged with the gas outlet valve, and the other side of the supporting plate presenting a second lateral extension connected to the control member.
  • the switch has a movable contact including a resilient member which is resiliently deformable to close the switch by abutment with one of the said fixed structures of the lighter in response to movement of the supporting plate by operation of the control member.
  • Embodiments of the invention provide a space-saving arrangement of the cell holder, the voltage-raising circuit, the ignition electrode and the control member and minimise the number and length of the electrical connections. Further, automatic manufacture of the part of the lighter concerned with its electric ignition is enabled.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a lighter according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a modified detail of the lighter illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a lighter according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a lighter according third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show a gas lighter employing electric spark ignition and comprising a reservoir 1 for liquefied gas and a casing 2.
  • the reservoir 1 has a filling valve 3 and an outlet device 4 which as a rule is so constructed that it can vary the gas output so as to control the height of the flame.
  • the outlet device 4 comprises a gas outlet valve 5 feeding a burner 6, the gas outlet valve 5 opening against the force of a spring 7 which normally keeps it closed.
  • the lighter has an electrical cell 8, a voltage-raising circuit 9, an
  • ignition electrode 10 electrically connected to circuit 9, a switch 11 and a control member 12 operable by the user to close the switch 11 electrically to connect cell 8 to circuit 9 and to open the gas outlet valve 5 feeding the burner 6 adjacent which the ignition electrode 12 is disposed.
  • a spark is delivered at the electrode 12 to ignite the gas fed to the burner 6.
  • the cell 8, the voltage-raising circuit 9, the ignition electrode 10 and the switch 11 are disposed on a supporting plate 13 one portion 13a of which operatively engages the gas outlet valve 5, the supporting plate 13 being freely mounted between two fixed structures of the lighter, i.e., between its reservoir 1 and its casing 2.
  • the supporting plate 13 Towards its end 13a the supporting plate 13 takes the form of a fork engaging around the gas outlet valve 5 below the burner 6, so that it can open the gas outlet valve 5 against the force of the spring 7.
  • the supporting plate 13 is made of an insulating material, the cell 8, the voltage-raising circuit 9, the ignition electrode and the switch 11 being disposed on one side of the supporting plate 13. On the other side of the supporting plate 13 there is disposed a printed circuit 14 providing the electrical connections between the cell 8, the voltage-raising circuit 9, the ingnition electrode 10 and the switch 11.
  • the cell 8 is retained by a holder in the form ofa claw clip 15 attached to the supporting plate by pins 16 extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14 to which they are electrically connected.
  • the pins 16 thus fix the clip 15 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connect a first pole of the cell 8 to the printed circuit 14.
  • a movable switch contact in the form of a resilient strip-shaped member 17 extending above the cell 8 and attached to the supporting plate 13 by pins 18 extending through the sup porting plate to the printed circuit 14.
  • the pins 18 fix the resilient member 17 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connect the resilient member 17 to the printed circuit 14.
  • the swtich 11 is therefore formed by the resilient member 17 and the second pole of the cell 8.
  • the voltage-raising circuit 9 includes an integrated circuit 19 which supports an indcutance coil 20 and is attached to the supporting plate 13 by pins 21 extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14.
  • the pins 21 fix the integrated circuit 19 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connect the integrated circuit 19 to the printed circuit 14.
  • the voltage-raising circuit 9 also includes a capacitor 22 which is attached to the supporting plate 13 by a pin 23 extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14. The pin 23 fixcsthe capacitor 22 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connects the capacitor 22 to the printed circuit 14.
  • Thevolatage-raising circuit 9 further includes a transformer 24 having a primary winding 24a and a secondary winding 24b wound on an insulating ferrite core 246 which is attached to the supporting plate 13 by two pins 25 extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14.
  • the pins 25 fix the ferrite core 240 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connect the primary winding 24a and the secondary winding 24b to the printed circuit 14.
  • a single ignition electrode 10 is attached to the ferrite core 24c and. is electrically connected to the secondary winding 24b.
  • the ferrite core 240 comprises a portion of minor diameter around which the secondary winding 24b is wound, the primary winding 24a being wound around the secondary winding 24b.
  • the ferrite core 24(- has a portion of major diameter (a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the primary winding 24a), such portion of major diameter forming a thermal screen between the burner 6 and the primary and secondary windings 24a and 24b. This portion of major diameter bears the pins 25.
  • the ignition spark is struck between the ignition electrode 10 and the burner 6 which is in the form of a diffuser burner having a central aperture 60 enclosed by an annular aperture 6b.
  • the burner 6 is electrically connected to the printed circuit 14 via a contact member 26 interposed between the supporting plate 13 and the burner 6 and attached to the supporting plate 13 via a pin 27 extending through the supporting plate to the printed circuit 14;
  • the pin 27 fixes the contact member 26 to the supporting plate 13 and electrically connects it to the printed circuit 14.
  • the supporting plate 13 is constructed to form a lever whose forked end 13a cooperates with the gas outlet valve 5.
  • a central region of the plate 13 bears on a fulcrum in the form of a transverse boss 10 provided on the reservoir 1.
  • the other end 13b of the plate 13 is movable by the control member 12 via the switch 11.
  • the fixed terminal of the switch 11 is formed by the second pole of the cell 8 mounted on the supporting plate 13, the movable switch terminal being formed by the resilient member 17 which cooperates with the control member 12. 7
  • control member 12 is adapted to be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow F to cause flexion in the resilient member 17, so that initially the resilient member 17 contacts the terminal of the cell 8 to close the switch 11 and then the resilient member 17 transmits the descending movement of the control member 12 to the supporting plate 13 to cause the plate 13 to pivot and the gas outlet valve 5 to rise and open.
  • FIG. 2 shows a modification of the FIG. 1 embodiment, in which the control member 12 is slidable in the direction of the arrow G.
  • the control member 12 comprises a ramp 12a to cause closure of the switch 11 and the pivoting of the supporting plate 13 to lift the gas outlet valves.
  • the supporting plate 13 is constructed to form a lever whose forked end 13a cooperates with the gas outlet valve 5.
  • the other end 1312 of the plate 13 is arranged for engagement with a projection 2a on the casing 2 via the switch 11, when the plate 13 is displaced upwardly by the control member 12 which acts on a central zone 13d of the plate 13.
  • one of the terminals of the switch 11 is formed by a terminal of the cell 8 the other terminal being formed by the resilient member 17 which is brought into engagement with the projection 2a.
  • the control member 12 is adapted to be pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow H to cause the pivoting of the supporting plate 13 around its end 13a, so that initially the resilient member 17 abuts the projection 2a and comes into contact with the terminal of the side bearing the printed circuit 14, a first bifurcated lateral extension 13c operatively engaging the gas outlet valve 5, and, on the side remote from the printed circuit 14, a secondlateral extension 13f connected to the shown by the arrow] to cause the traversing of the supporting plate 13, so that the resilient member 17 first abuts the projection 2b and comes into contact with the terminal of the cell 8 to close the switch 11, and then the first lateral extension 132 of the supporting plate 13 causes the raising and opening of the gas outlet valve 5.
  • the spring of the gas outlet valve 5 constitutes resilient return means returning the supporting plate 13 into its initial position after the actuation of the control member 12.
  • the expansion device 4 is mounted just below the gas outlet valve 5 and serves to vary the gas output in order to adjust the height of the flame.
  • a knurled disc 4a is provided for this purpose.
  • the transformer 24 of the voltage-raising circuit 9 of FIG. 4 comprises a portion of minor diameter around which the secondary and primary windings are wound and a portion of major diameter attached by its base to the supporting plate 13.
  • the ignition electrode 10 is attached to the portion of major diameter and extends through the supporting plate 13.
  • the normal actuation of the control member 12 by the user of the lighter first causes the closure of the switch 11 and then the opening of the gas outlet valve 5.
  • the offset between the closure of the switch 11 and the opening of the gas outlet valve 5 is about 0.3 s, corresponding to the time required to produce the spark in the voltage-raising circuit. Any loss of gas due to premature opening of the gas outlet valve 5 is therefore obviated.
  • the lighter is made up of three simple elements namely the lighter reservoir, its casing and the supporting plate bearing that portion of the lighter which is used for its electric ignition and acting as .a fork for opening the gas outlet valve. These elements are readily interchangeable without any need for a specialized technician.
  • the construction of the transformer and its insulating ferrite core enables such core to be used as a thermal screen and as a support for the ignition electrode.
  • the lighter can be constructed with a rechargeable reservoir or a throw-away one.
  • the lighter can be constructed with a rechargeable reservoir or a throw-away one.
  • the reservoir there is no particular problem in periodically replacing the reservoir, inter alia if the expansion device becomes worn.
  • a lighter employing electric spark ignition which lighter comprises:
  • a body including a reservoir for gas, said body having two fixed structures defining a space therebetween;
  • a gas outlet valve arranged between said burner and the reservoir of said body for controlling the supply of gas from the reservoir to said burner;
  • a supporting plate movably mounted in the space between said two fixed structures of said body and having a portion operatively engaged with said gas outlet valve for opening said valve on movement of said supporting plate;
  • a switch disposed on said supporting plate for electrically connecting said electric cell to said voltageraising circuit
  • control member supported by said body and operable to move said supporting plate and close said switch.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim 8 wherein said supporting plate presents on one side thereof a first bifurcated lateral extension operatively engaged with said gas outlet valve, and said supporting plate presents on the other side thereof a second lateral extension connected to said control member.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim 1 including a holder for said electric cell, said holder comprising a clipattached to'said supporting plate and having claws for re siliently engaging and retaining said cell.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage-raising circuit comprises an integrated circuit, a capacitor and a transformer each attached to said supporting plate, said integrated circuit supporting an inductance coil.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transformer comprises an insulating ferrite core and primary and secondary windings wound on said core, said core having a portion of minor diameter receiving 8 said windings and a portion of major diameter forming a thermal screen.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim I wherein said supporting plate is made of electrically insulating material, said supporting plate having disposed on one side thereof said cell, said voltage-raising circuit, said ignition electrode and said switch, and having on the other side thereof a printed circuit providing electrical connections between said holder, said voltage-raising circuit, said ignition electrode and said switch.
  • a lighter as claimed in claim 16 including a contact member attached to said supporting plate, said contact member being interposed between said supporting plate and said burner to connect said burner electrically to said printed circuit for generation of an ignition spark between said ignition electrode and said burner upon closure of said switch.
  • a lighter according to claim 1 including a casing, said supporting plate being mounted between said reservoir and said casing.

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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)
US00452999A 1973-04-10 1974-03-19 Lighter employing electric spark ignition Expired - Lifetime US3846063A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7312865A FR2225695B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-10 1973-04-10

Publications (1)

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US3846063A true US3846063A (en) 1974-11-05

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ID=9117695

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00452999A Expired - Lifetime US3846063A (en) 1973-04-10 1974-03-19 Lighter employing electric spark ignition

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3846063A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5041666A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR7402535D0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2414543C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2225695B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1429126A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2309802A1 (fr) * 1974-12-20 1976-11-26 Mansei Kogyo Kk Briquet a gaz a allumage electrique

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55114877U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-02-05 1980-08-13
DE3536198A1 (de) * 1985-10-10 1987-04-16 Webasto Werk Baier Kg W Zuendfunkengeber fuer brennstoffbetriebenes heizgeraet
JP3732390B2 (ja) * 2000-06-19 2006-01-05 株式会社東海 着火装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3321671A (en) * 1967-05-23 Electrically ignited lighter
US3779692A (en) * 1971-07-13 1973-12-18 Dunhill Lighters Ltd Lighter with a capacitor discharge ignition system
US3781163A (en) * 1972-06-07 1973-12-25 Dunhill Lighters Ltd Lighter with a capacity discharge ignition system and means for preventing automatic recharging of said capacitor
US3811819A (en) * 1971-09-20 1974-05-21 Ronson Sa Modular gas lighter with electronic ignition

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4124691Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1964-05-23 1966-12-16
JPS5029025Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-02-04 1975-08-26
JPS4737488U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1971-05-14 1972-12-25

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3321671A (en) * 1967-05-23 Electrically ignited lighter
US3779692A (en) * 1971-07-13 1973-12-18 Dunhill Lighters Ltd Lighter with a capacitor discharge ignition system
US3811819A (en) * 1971-09-20 1974-05-21 Ronson Sa Modular gas lighter with electronic ignition
US3781163A (en) * 1972-06-07 1973-12-25 Dunhill Lighters Ltd Lighter with a capacity discharge ignition system and means for preventing automatic recharging of said capacitor

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2309802A1 (fr) * 1974-12-20 1976-11-26 Mansei Kogyo Kk Briquet a gaz a allumage electrique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2225695A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-11-08
DE2414543B2 (de) 1978-05-24
DE2414543C3 (de) 1979-01-18
BR7402535D0 (pt) 1974-11-19
FR2225695B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-06-11
GB1429126A (en) 1976-03-24
JPS5041666A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-04-16
DE2414543A1 (de) 1974-10-31

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