US3413070A - Gas lighter - Google Patents

Description

NOV- 26, 1968 R. s. PIFFATH ETAL 3,413,070

GAS LIGHTER Filed June 28, 1966 FIG. ne. 2.

/Nl/ENTRS RODA/EY 5, P/FFA TH, JAMES R. VWL/(ER, JR.

5r THE/x? Arm/@Nens #42E/5, K/Ec/f, RUSSELL @c KERN United States Patent O 3,413,070 GAS LIGHTER Rodney S. Pitfath, Burbank, and James R. Walker, Jr., North Hollywood, Calif., assignors to James A. A. Smith, trustee in bankruptcy of the estate of Star-Fire, Inc., bankrupt, assignors to Gene Goble, Escondido, Calif.

Filed June 28, 1966, Ser. No. 561,188 6 Claims. (Cl. 431-89) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A lighter adapted to burn a gaseous fuel of the liquefied petroleum type. The lighter includes a container for the liquefied gaseous fuel and includes a valve operating member threadedly connected to the container to regulate the ow of gaseous fuel therefrom. The operating member carries a burner and a device for igniting the gaseousfuel emanating from the burner. A common retainer secures the igniting device to the operating member, and also secures a wind guard thereto. A check valve in the gaseous fuel passage through the operating member responds to an excessive rate of flow to reduce such rate.

Summary and objects of invention The present invention relates to lighters, and more particularly to lighters adapted to burn a liquid petroleum gas as a fuel, such as butane.

An object of the invention is to provide a lighter capable of containing a liquid gas producing fuel under pressure, such as butane, and embodying a single valve mechanism for shutting oirr the fuel supply to the burner of the lighter, for adjusting the size of the burner ame, and for refilling the lighter with liquid fuel under pressure from a suitable source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighter of the type above indicated, which is easy to ignite, safe to operate, and which automatically reduces the size of the gas flame in the event of its becoming excessive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas lighter adapted to contain a liquid petroleum gas under pressure, such as butane, which is reliable in its operation, possesses a minimum number of parts, resulting in its simplicity and economical production, and of strong and sturdy construction.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be tal-:en in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Description 0f drawing Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in section, of a lighter embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale,

3,413,070 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 ICC through the upper portion of the lighter disclosed in FIG. l, with its valve mechanism closed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the lighter in its open and operating condition;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 0f FIG. 2.

Description of exemplary embodiment of invention The device illustrated in the drawing is a lighter adapted to burn a gas derived from a liquid petroleum fuel under pressure, such as butane or propane. Such liquid fuel under pressure, which will be partially in a gaseous state, is disposed within a suitable pressure vessel or container 10, which is preferably of cylindrical shape, closed at its lower end by an end closure or plug 11 and at its upper end by an upper plug or valve body 12, the lower and upper plugs being suitably secured to the cylindrical portion of the container in leakproof relation by a suitable adhesive, such as an epoxy resin, ywhich may be disposed in circumferential grooves 13 in the plug periphery for adherence to the wall of the cylindrical container. The lower portion 14 of the upper plug or valve body has a lesser external diameter than its upper portion to provide an annular space 15 with the cylindrical container. Located below the lower end of the valve body is a retainer member or disc 16 having a lesser diameter than the inside diameter of the container, this disc resting upon the upper end of a foamed plastic 17, such as an open cell polyurethane foam, which substantially completely ills the storage area or chamber of the container 10 between its bottom pug 11 and the retainer 16. The mass of polyurethane foam serves to limit the rate of escape of the gas in the container resulting' from vaporization of the liquid fuel when the valve mechanism 18, of which the valve body 12 forms a part, is in an open condition.

The lower end of the valve body has a central inlet port 19 surrounded by an upwardly facing tapered valve seat 2t), the port opening into a central passage 21 in the lower portion 14 of the body, which, in turn, opens into an enlarged counterbore 22 in the upper portion 23 of the valve body. A valve stem 24 has an externally threaded portion 25 meshing with companion internal threads 26 in the valve body, this stem carrying a valve head 27 in its lower portion fitting within a lower stem socket 28, an axial rod portion 29 of the head being disposed within a companion bore 30 in the stem. The valve head has a tapered flow restricting portion 31 depending from the main part of the head, which is adapted to be disposed in various relative positions with respect to the tapered seat 20, so as to control the flow of gas passing through the inlet 19 and into the valve body. The valve head 27 may be made of a suitable elastic material, such as nylon. Its main portion surrounding its tapered dow restricting part 31 may engage the upper end of the seat 20 to fully close the inlet. When the valve stem 24 is threaded upwardly within the valve body 12, the tapered portion 31 of the head 27 can be spaced at various distances from the tapered valve seat 20 to regulate the rate of flow of gas through the inlet 19 and into the valve body.

The valve stem 24 has an upper portion 35 mounted within and secured to a burner supporting and valve operating body member 36 having a lower reduced diameter portion 37 piloted within the counterbore 22 of the upper plug or valve body 12. The upper portion 35 of the valve stem may be knurled or roughened on its exterior so that, when forced into a companion ybore 38 in the member 36, the member 36 and stem 24 will be firmly secured to one another. Leakage of fluid between the two body members 36, 12 is prevented by a suitable seal 39, such as a rubber or rubber-like O-ring, mounted in a peripheral groove 40a in the reduced diameter portion 37 of the member 36 and slidably and sealingly engaging the wall of the counterbore 22. The stem 24 and supporting member 36 are assembled within the valve body by inserting them into the latter and threadedly securing the stern within the valve body 12, the parts being held in assembled relation by a split expansible snap retainer ring 40 mounted in a peripheral groove 41 in the pilot portion 37 of the member 36 and adapted to snap outwardly partially into an internal circumferential groove 42 in the valve body. The upper end 43 of the valve body is tapered or llared to facilitate insertion of the main body member 36, its seal ring 39, and retaining ring 40 into the valve body 12, the internal groove 42 having a length substantially longer than that of the cross sectional diameter of the snap retainer ring 40 to permit limited longitudinal movement of the supporting member 36 and valve stem 24 relative to the valve body 12 in controlling the valve mechanism 18. The upward limit of travel of the parts within the Valve body is determined lby engagement of the ring 40 with an upper groove shoulder 43a normal to the axis of the parts, yand which will, therefore, prevent their disassembly.

The gas owing through the inlet 19 and into the lower space 21 of the valve body 12 can pass through a side port 45 in the valve stem 24 into its central passage 46 thereabove, the upper end of this passage communicating with the upper portion of the bore 38 of the main supporting member 36 which communicates with its offset passage 47 in which the lower end of a burner member 48 is received and suitably secured to the supporting member 36. This burner member has a lower passage 49 of large diameter that terminates at a tapered seat 50, from which a reduced diameter passage or outlet 51 extends to the upper end or tip 52 of the burner member. The exterior of the tip 52 tapers in an upward direction to coact with a liquid butane filling can (not shown), or other source of fuel, when the lighter is to be recharged with fuel. The gas discharging from the outlet 51 can be ignited and will burn at the tip.

For the purpose of preventing the continued existence of too large a gas flame projecting from the tip 52, a safety check valve 53 is incorporated in the apparatus. As disclosed, a piston type of valve is disposed within the passage 47, this valve being hollow to decrease its weight and having a lower cylindrical portion 54 and an upper tapered portion 55 from which a pin or stem 56 projects. The included apex angle of the tapered portion 55 is slightly less than the included angle of the frustoconical seat 50 in the burner member 48 such that the upward movement of the piston check valve 53 to engage its tapered portion 55 with the tapered seat 50 still permits a restricted quantity of gas to ow between the tapered parts and around the stem 56 piloted within the reduced diameter outlet 51 for burning at the tip 52. This valve 53 is moved automatically upwardly in the event the velocity of gas flow exceeds a predetermined value. Upon reduction of the velocity of gas flow, the piston checkV valve 53 drops back to its lower position illustrated in FIG. 2 to permit gas to flow therearound and through the outlet 51 of the burner, the rate of gas flow being determined by the adjustment of the valve stem 24 and its head 27 relative to the valve seat 20.

The open or closed condition of the lighter is determined by rotating the supporting member 36, as by grasping its knurled head 60, which will turn the stem 24 and feed the latter and its valve head 27 axially of the valve body 12. With the valve 18 in an open condition, the gas flowing therethrough and from the burner outlet 51 can be ignited by a spark derived from a int 61 slidably mounted within a int post 62 disposed within a socket 63 in the upper end of the main supporting member 36, this post being retained in the socket by a retainer ring 64, such as a C-ring, mounted within a peripheral groove 65 in the main supporting member above its knurled head 60 and disposed within a transverse groove 66 cut in one side of the lower portion of the int post 62. A helical compression spring 67 is disposed in a central passage 68 through the iiint post, its lower end bearing against the base of the supporting member bore 63 and its upper end against the flint 61, urging the latter in an outward direction. The spark is generated by rotating a striker wheel 69 disposed in a slot 7) extending across the upper end of the llint post and mounted upon a shaft 71 secured t0 the post. Turning of the striker wheel 69 will force its teeth or knurls 72 on the periphery of the striker wheel against the flint 61, the spark being projected toward the gas emanating from the burner tip 52 to effect ignition of the latter.

A wind guard 73 surrounds the burner portion 48 of the ga-s lighter and the int post 62. This guard has its lower portion disposed over the upper portion 74 of the supporting member 36, being frictonally held in place by engaging the C-ring retainer element 64. The guard has an upper slot 75 through which the striker wheel 69 extends, and also one or a plurality of slots 76 adjacent to the burner tip 52 through which secondary air can pass for assisting in the complete `combustion of the gas emanating from the tip.

When the lighter is not in use, its supporting memlber 36 is disposed in a position to lirmly engage the nylon head 27 with the valve seat 20 so as to prevent the escape of gas from the container 10. When the lighter is to be used, the knurled head 6i) is grasped and rotated, as in a counterclockwise direction, assuming a right-hand threaded connection 25, 26 between the valve stern 24 and valve body 12, which will shift the valve stem outwardly of the valve body and remove the nylon head 27 from its companion seat 20. The gas, which is usually at the upper end of the container 10', with the fuel still remaining in its liquid state therebelow, will flow around the retainer or spacer member 16 and in through a transverse groove in the latter into the inlet 19, passing between the valve seat 20 and head 27 into the valve lbody space 21, and through the side port 45 and central passage 46 into the member passages 38, 47, flowing around the safety check valve 53 and through the outlet 51. The striker wheel 69 can be rotated in the proper direction to produce a spark that will ignite the gas. Upon its ignition, the knurled head 60 can ybe appropriately turned to adjust the valve 18 and secure a ilame of the desired length at the burner tip S2 by appropriately spacing the tapered valve portion 31 of the valve ihead with respect to its companion tapered seat 20. In the event the valve 18 has been opened too far initially, the spark will ignite the gas, producing a flame of too great a size. Under such conditions, the velocity of flow of the gas through the passages 46, 38, 47 will carry the piston check valve 531 upwardly into engagement with the tapered portion S0V of the burner, immediately restricting the flow of gas and automatically reducing the size of the gas ame. The turning of the knurled head 60 in the appropriate direction to reduce the elfective area through the valve seat 20` will allow the check valve 53 to drop back to its initial position.

In the event the fuel supply becomes exhausted, the container 10 can :be recharged with liquid petroleum fuel under pressure, such as liquified butane, merely by turning the knurled head 60 to remove the valve head 27 from its seat 20 and by placing the refilling spout (not shown) of a butane source (not shown), which is of a known type, against the tapered tip 52 and in sealed relation therewith, after which the valve mechanism of the f-uel source is opened, the liquid fuel passing downwardly through the outlet 51 and the passages 47, 38, 46, 45 into the valve body, continuing through the valve seat and inlet 19 into the container 10, until the latter has received a suitable quantity of fuel, whereupon the knurled head 60 is turned to close the valve 18 and the source (not shown) disengaged from the tip 52,

It is apparent that a comparatively simple liquefied petroleum gas lighter has been provided, which is of strong and sturdy construction, and which can operate to provide a gas flame of the desired size. In the event the ame ybecomes inordinately great, it is automatically reduced in size because of the throttling action provided by the safety check valve 53. A single valve 18 is available for shutting off the fuel supply, and for adjusting the rate of iiow of gas from the container 10, as well as for effecting recharging or refilling of the container with additional fuel.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. In a gas fueled lighter:

(a) a container adapted to retain under pressure gaseous fuel of the liquefied petroleum type;

(b) a valve body secured to said container and having an inlet communicable with the fuel in said container;

(c) a valve stem threadedly mounted in said body and rotatable with respect thereto to regulate the ow of gaseous fuel through said inlet, said stem having a passage for receiving gaseous fuel passing through said inlet;

(d) an operating member secured to said stem for rotating said stem in said valve body to regulate the flow of gaseous fuel through said inlet and having a passage communicating with said stem passage;

(e) said operating member having burner means thereon providing an outlet for gaseous fuel from said member passage;

(f) means on said operating member adjacent to said burner means for igniting the gaseous fuel discharging from said outlet; and

(g) means responsive to an excessive rate of flow of Igaseous fuel through said member passage for reducing said rate of iiow.

2. In a gas fueled lighter:

(a) a container adapted to retain under pressure fuel f' of the liquid petroleum type;

(b) a valve body lsecured to said container and having an inlet communicable with the fuel in said container;

(c) a valve stem adjustably mounted in said -body to regulate the flow of gaseous fuel through said inlet, said stem having a passage for receiving gaseous fuel passing through said inlet;

(d) an operating member secured to said stem for adjusting said stem in said valve body and having a passage communicating with said stem passage;

(e) said operating member having burner means mounted thereon providing an outlet for gaseous fuel from said member passage;

(f) a post in said operating member and extending upwardly therefrom;

(g) retaining means securing said post to 4said oper ating member;

(h) said post being adapted to hold a flint adjacent to said 'burner outlet;

(i) a striker wheel rotatably mounted on said post and engageab'le with the flint to produce a spark directed toward the gaseous fuel discharging from said outlet; and

(j) a wind guard surrounding said operating member,

burner means and post, said guard engaging said retaining means to Ibe attached thereby to said operating member.

3. In a gas fueled lighter:

(a) a container adapted to retain under pressure fuel of the liquid petroleum type;

(b) a valve body secured to said container and having an inlet communicable with the fuel in said container;

(c) a valve stem adjustably mounted in said body to regulate the ow of gaseous fuel through said inlet, said stem having a passage for receiving gaseous fuel passing through said inlet;

(d) an operating member secured to said stem for adjusting said stem in said valve body and having a passage communicating with 'said stem passage;

(e) said operating member having burner means mounted thereon providing an outlet for gaseous fuel from said member passage;

(f) a post in said operating member and extending upwardly therefrom, said post having a transverse groove;

(g) said operating member having a peripheral groove;

(h) a retainer ring in said peripheral groove extending into said transverse groove to secure said post to said operating member; and

(i) a Ivvind guard surrounding said operating member, burner means, post and retainer ring and engaging said ring to be attached thereby to said operating member.

4. In a ga's fueled lighter:

(a) a container adapted to retain under pressure fuel of the liquid petroleum type;

(b) a valve body secured to said container and having an inlet communicable with the fuel in said container, said body having a valve seat surrounding said inlet;

(c) -a valve stem threadedly mounted in said body and having an elastic head engageable with said seat to close said inlet, said head having a tapered portion adapted for axial movement with respect to said seat in response to rotation of said stem in said valve body for regulating the iiow of gaseous fuel through said inlet;

(d) said body having a `chamber into which gaseous fuel owing through said inlet can discharge;

(e) said stem having a passage communicating with said chamber for receiving 4gaseous fuel therefrom;

(f) an operating member secured to said stem for rotating said stem in said valve body and having a passage communicating with said stem passage;

(g) a burner mounted in said operating member and extending upwardly therefrom and having an outlet communicating with said operating member passage through which gaseous fuel `from said member passage can discharge;

(h) a post in said operating member and extending up wardly therefrom, said post having a transverse groove;

(i) said operating member having a peripheral groove;

(j) a retainer ring in said peripheral groove extending into said transverse groove to secure said post to said operating member; and

(k) a wind guard surrounding said operating member, burning means, post and retainer ring and engaging said ring to be attached thereby to said operating member.

5. vIn a gas fueled lighter:

(a) a container adapted to retain under pressure gaseous fuel of the liquefied petroleum type;

(b) a valve body secured to said container and having an inlet communciating with said container and terminating in a valve seat;

(c) a valve element movable toward and away from said valve seat to regulate the ow of gaseous fuel through said inlet;

(d) operating means carrying s-aid valve element and tleadedly Connected to said valve body fox moving said valve element toward Iand away from said valve seat in response to rotation of 'said operating means y relative to said valvebody;l .i g (e) 'said operating means having' al passagertherethrough which''communicatesfwith said inlet whenUV saidmalve element isY spaced from said valve seat; (f) means responsive to an excessiverate of ow of l' gaseous fuel through said passage forv reducing said rateofow; o -Y 1 (g) burner means communicating with"said passage; and 'f Y A (h) means for igniting gaeou's fue] emanating from said burner means. i I

t V 6. A 4gas 'fueled lighter according to claim Swlierejin 15 lsaid means responsive to an excessive rate of ow com- `prises a check *valve seat in said passage and includes a' check'valve insaid -passage movable into engagement with said check valve seat "by an excessive -rate of ow of gaseousfuel through' said passage. l

References Cited Tissot-Dupont 67-7.1

IWARD J'.1 \{HCHAEL,YPrimary Examiner.

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