Colinear burner

• US 7,214,055 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company (Zipcorp Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company (Zipcorp Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meister, Ronald J., Duke, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas; Alfred
• Application Number:
  US10/974,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 431/349, 431/350, 431/351, 431/352, 431/353, 431/354, 431/355, 431/277
• US Class Current: 431/349
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/62 Mixing devices; Mixing tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 2/163 Burners (gas valves)
• CPC Class Codes: F23Q 2/165 with more than one flame

Abstract

A convertible burner for gas-fueled cigarette pocket lighters for use with flint and wheel ignition, the burner including a burner body having a central gas fuel passageway and an air inlet channel in fluid communication with the central passageway and may have a plurality of integrally formed passageways around the periphery of the burner body. An air control structure in the form of a collar is movable to a first position with respect to the burner body to close the air inlet channel and form a post-mix burner for flint and wheel ignition, and to a second position with respect to the burner body to admit air via the air inlet channel to form a pre-mix burner after ignition. The relative movement can be longitudinal or peripheral, and the peripheral movement can be circumferential. In one embodiment, the collar surrounds and is immediately adjacent to the air inlet channel.

Claims

1. A combustible fuel lighter comprising:

a. a burner and air control structure, the burner having an outlet connected to at least one passageway therethrough, the at least one passageway selectively connected to a source of fuel, the burner further having at least one air inlet in fluid communication with the at least one passageway, and the air control structure adjacent at least a part of the burner, wherein the air control structure and burner are movable relative to each other and positionable to a first position wherein ambient air is substantially blocked from entering the at least one air inlet, and further positionable to a second position wherein ambient air enters the at least one air inlet such that when the at least one passageway is connected to a source of combustible fuel, the burner assembly forms a post-mix configuration when the air control structure and burner are in the first position, and the burner assembly forms a pre-mix configuration when the air control structure and burner are in the second position, wherein the burner and air control structure is biased to the first position;

b. an igniter positioned adjacent to the burner; and

c. an actuating mechanism positioned adjacent to the igniter, the actuating mechanism including an actuating portion located on a side of the igniter opposite the burner and operably connected to at least one of the burner and air control structure, whereby actuation of the actuating portion of the actuating mechanism positions the burner and air control structure to the second position.

2. The lighter of claim 1 wherein the actuating portion comprises a contact surface.

3. The lighter of claim 2 wherein the contact surface comprises a pushbutton.

4. The lighter of claim 1 wherein the air control structure comprises a collar surrounding at least a part of the burner.

5. The lighter of claim 4 wherein the burner has a longitudinal axis colinear with the passageway and the relative movement between the collar and burner is at least partially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. The lighter of claim 4 wherein the burner has a periphery surrounding the passageway and the relative movement between the collar and burner is along at least a portion of the periphery of the burner.

7. The lighter of claim 4 wherein the burner has a longitudinal axis colinear with the passageway and the relative movement between the collar and burner is at least partially circumferential to the longitudinal axis.

8. The lighter of claim 1 wherein the fuel includes one or more hydrocarbons.

9. The lighter of claim 8 wherein the fuel includes one or more alkane hydrocarbons.

10. A lighter assembly comprising:

a. a burner body assembly including a burner body and a housing, the assembly having an outlet connected to a passageway therethrough for selectable connection to a source of fuel;

b. an air control structure at least partially surrounding the burner body assembly, wherein the air control structure and burner body assembly are movable relative to each other, and positionable to a first position wherein fuel is admitted to the passageway and ambient air is substantially blocked from entering the passageway, and a second position wherein fuel is admitted to the passageway and ambient air enters the passageway and mixes with the fuel therein such that the burner body assembly and air control structure form a post-mix configuration in the first position, and the burner assembly and air control structure form a pre-mix configuration in the second position, a resilient member biasing at least one of the air control structure and burner body assembly to the first position;

c. an igniter located adjacent the burner body assembly such that sparks from the igniter are directed to the outlet of the burner body assembly at least when the burner body assembly and air control structure are in the first position; and

d. an actuating mechanism operably coupled to at least one of the air control structure and burner body assembly, wherein the actuating mechanism includes an actuating portion located on a side of the igniter opposite the burner body assembly, wherein actuation of the actuating portion of the actuating mechanism positions the air control structure and burner body assembly to the second position.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising an air inlet having a fluid connection selectively connectable to the passageway, wherein the fluid connection between the passageway and the air inlet is substantially blocked in the first position, and the fluid connection between the passageway and the air inlet is opened in the second position.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the burner body assembly has a longitudinal axis colinear with the passageway and the relative movement between the air control structure and burner body assembly is at least partially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the burner body assembly has a periphery surrounding the passageway and the relative movement between the air control structure and burner body assembly is along at least a portion of the periphery of the burner body assembly.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the burner body assembly has a longitudinal axis colinear with the passageway and the relative movement between the air control structure and burner body assembly is at least partially circumferential to the longitudinal axis.

15. A method of igniting a single burner of a lighter in a post-mix configuration and thereafter transforming the burner to a pre-mix configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a burner having a passageway therethrough and an air inlet in fluid communication with the passageway;

b. providing an air control structure surrounding at least a part of the burner having the air inlet therein;

c. positioning the burner and air control structure to a first relative position wherein the air control structure substantially blocks air from entering the air inlet such that the burner and air control structure form a post-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the passageway is not mixed with air until after the fuel exits the burner;

d. igniting fuel exiting the burner with an ignition system while the burner and air control structure are in the first relative position, the ignition system activated by a user'"'"'s digit; and

e. thereafter positioning the burner and air control structure to a second relative position by activating an actuating mechanism positioned adjacent to the ignition system using subsequent motion of the same digit, wherein the air control structure permits air to enter the air inlet and mix with fuel passing through the passageway such that the burner and air control structure form a pre-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the passageway is mixed with air before exiting the burner.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the passageway comprises a primary passageway and the burner includes a burner body having one or more peripheral passageways at a periphery thereof in fluid communication with the primary passageway, and step e. further includes opening a fluid connection between the air inlet and the primary and peripheral passageways.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein step e. comprises causing relative movement between the air control structure and the burner.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the passageway is aligned with a longitudinal axis and the movement is aligned at least in part with the longitudinal axis.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the movement is peripheral to the burner.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the primary passageway is aligned with a longitudinal axis and the movement is at least in part circumferential to the longitudinal axis.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the user'"'"'s digit comprises a thumb.

22. A method of igniting a single burner of a lighter using a flint and wheel with the burner in a post-mix configuration and subsequently operating the burner in a pre-mix configuration wherein a flame is projected from the lighter in both the post-mix and pre-mix configurations, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a burner body assembly having a burner body and housing, the assembly having a primary passageway therethrough;

b. providing a collar surrounding at least a part of the burner body assembly;

c. causing a first relative position between the collar and the burner body assembly wherein the collar substantially blocks air from entering the primary passageway such that the burner body assembly and collar form a post-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the primary passageway is not mixed with air until after the fuel exits the burner body;

d. rotating a wheel of a flint and wheel igniter to ignite the fuel exiting the burner to create a post-mix flame above the burner; and

e. subsequently causing a second relative position between the collar and the burner body assembly by travel of the actuation mechanism wherein the collar in the second relative position permits air to enter the primary passageway such that the burner body assembly and collar form a pre-mix configuration wherein fuel passing through the primary passageway is mixed with air before exiting the burner body, converting the post-mix configuration to the pre-mix configuration.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the burner body assembly includes one or more peripheral passageways and air is permitted to be in fluid communication with the peripheral passageways at least in step e.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein step e. comprises causing relative movement between the collar and the burner body assembly.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the primary passageway is aligned with a longitudinal axis and the movement is aligned at least in part with the longitudinal axis.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the movement is peripheral to the burner body assembly.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the primary passageway is aligned with a longitudinal axis and the movement is at least in part circumferential to the longitudinal axis.

28. A method of making a burner for a lighter capable of operating initially in post-mix configuration for ignition using a flint and wheel igniter and wherein the burner is capable of transforming to a pre-mix configuration after ignition, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a burner body assembly having at least a burner body, the assembly having a primary passageway therethrough and connected to an exit, with a part of the burner body assembly having at least one air inlet channel in fluid communication with the primary passageway;

b. providing a collar sized to closely interfit with at least the part of the burner body assembly having the at least one air inlet channel;

c. assembling the burner body assembly and the collar together in a loose fitting relationship so that the burner body assembly is movable after assembly relative to the collar to substantially block air from an external air environment through the at least one air inlet channel to the primary passageway when the burner body assembly and collar are in a first relative position, and selectively admits air from the external air environment through the at least one air inlet channel to the primary passageway when the burner body assembly and collar are in a second relative position; and

d. providing a flint and wheel ignition system adjacent the burner body such that sparks from the flint are directed toward the fuel after it leaves the exit of the burner body while the burner body assembly and collar are in the first relative position, the flint and wheel ignition system actuatable by a user'"'"'s thumb; and

e. providing an actuating mechanism including a protruding portion extending from the lighter on a side of the flint and wheel igniter opposite the burner body assembly, wherein the protruding portion of the actuating mechanism is actuatable by movement of the same thumb such that the burner body assembly and collar are arranged in the second relative position when the actuating mechanism is actuated.

29. A lighter comprising:

a. a burner and air control structure including;

i. a burner body assembly having a burner body and a housing supporting the burner body and forming the burner, the burner body assembly having a central passageway therethrough for directing fuel to the burner, and the housing having an air inlet channel in fluid communication with the central passageway,

ii. a collar forming the air control structure surrounding at least a part of the burner body assembly having the air inlet channel and wherein the collar has an air inlet aperture movable into and out of registration with the air inlet channel in the housing by relative movement between the burner body assembly and the collar to substantially block and unblock fluid communication between the air inlet channel and an external air environment such that the burner is convertible from a post-mix configuration when the fluid communication is substantially blocked to a pre-mix configuration when the fluid communication is unblocked; and

b. a flint and wheel ignition system including a flint wheel and flint operable to direct sparks from the flint to the fuel after it leaves the central passageway while the burner and air control structure are in the post-mix configuration and;

c. an actuating mechanism positioned adjacent to the flint and wheel ignition system, the actuating mechanism including a user-activatable portion on a side of the ignition system opposite the burner body assembly, the actuating mechanism operably attached to at least one of the burner body assembly and the collar such that user activation of the actuating mechanism converts the lighter from the post-mix configuration to the pre-mix configuration.

30. The lighter of claim 29 wherein the central passageway has a longitudinal axis and the relative movement between the burner body assembly and the collar is colinear with the longitudinal axis.

31. The lighter of claim 29 wherein the burner body is generally gear-shaped and the burner body assembly includes a diffuser ring received on the burner body to define a plurality of peripheral passageways therebetween.

32. The lighter of claim 29 wherein the burner body assembly includes a plurality of peripheral passageways and an auxiliary air inlet in fluid communication with the peripheral passageways.

33. The lighter of claim 29 wherein the burner body is generally gear-shaped and the burner body is received in the housing to define a plurality of peripheral passageways therebetween, wherein the peripheral passageways are in fluid communication with the central passageway.