Fuel supplying device of igniter

Abstract

A fuel supplying device of igniter includes a fuel chamber with an outlet, a gas discharge section, a buffer and a drainage core installed in sequence, wherein an end of the gas discharge section is extended from the outlet for controlling the output of the fuel, the buffer is provided for absorbing the pressure produced by discharging the fuel, and the drainage core has an external pipe disposed around the periphery of the drainage core, such that only a portion of the drainage core that has its back facing the buffer is exposed in order to reduce the fuel incoming area of the drainage core. Thus, the pressure of the fuel passing through the drainage core and buffer is reduced, so that when the fuel is lighted up, there will not be any danger due to the high pressure of the fuel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a fuel supplying device of igniter, and more particularly to a fuel supplying device of igniter that comes with a safety measure for preventing an excessively large pressure when the fuel is discharged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Science and technology advances day after day, and people spare no effort to renovate and make progress in the development of technological inventions, not only emphasizing on high-tech products and areas, but also on products for daily uses. To improve the convenience and practicability of these daily products or bring our life to a higher quality level or have a better life, constant discoveries and improvements are made according to the inconvenience of our life and the complaints of the poor design of the daily products.

For example, igniter plays an important role in barbeques, and there are all kinds of igniters, and one among these is a pressurized gas igniter. The pressurized gas igniter stores a high-pressure gas, and the pressure of the gas is about 10 atmospheres (which equals to 10.336 Kg/cm²).

Referring to FIG. 1, a fuel pipe of igniter has a gas chamber (not shown in the figure) comprised of a hollow adjusting button 50, a copper pipe 51, a copper casing 52 and a copper base 53. The copper pipe 51 includes a folded wire 54 extended from the interior and both ends of the wire 54 are disposed in the copper pipe 51. The distance between the wires 54 is very short, such that gas can be sucked between the wires 54 by a capillary action. One side of the copper casing 52 is disposed outside one side of the copper pipe 51, and another side of the copper casing 52 includes a hollow area 520 for collecting the gas. The copper base 53 is disposed on the copper casing 52 at a position proximate to the hollow area 520 and with its back facing an end of the copper pipe 51. The copper base 53 also can absorb the pressure of the gas, such that the gas will not leak when it is discharged.

From the description above, the components of the fuel pipe are usually made of copper to resist the high pressure of the gas, so as to maintain its normal operation. However, the material and manufacturing cost of copper is very high, and thus manufacturers have to carry a higher cost and sell the products at a higher price. As a result, users have to pay for an unreasonably high price for the product. Furthermore, copper has a heavy weight, which is not easy to be handled by women or aged people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the shortcomings of the prior arts, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive researches and experiments and finally developed a fuel supplying device of igniter in accordance with the present invention.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide a fuel supplying device of igniter, which includes a fuel chamber for containing fuel, and the fuel chamber has an outlet disposed on one end and having a gas discharge section, a buffer and a drainage core installed in sequence. An end of the gas discharge section is extended from the outlet for controlling the output of the fuel. The buffer is provided for absorbing the pressure produced by discharging the fuel, and the drainage core has an external pipe disposed around the periphery of the drainage core, such that only the portion of the drainage core that has its back facing the buffer is exposed in order to reduce the fuel incoming area of the drainage core. The pressure of the fuel passing through the drainage core and buffer is reduced, and the fuel is discharged from the gas discharge section, so that when the fuel is lit, there will not be any danger due to the high pressure of the fuel.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 for a fuel supplying device of igniter of the invention, the fuel supplying device 1 includes a fuel chamber 10 for containing a fuel such as methane or butane, and the fuel chamber 10 has an outlet 120 at one end, and the fuel supplying device 1 also includes a gas discharge section 20. The fuel supplying device 1 further includes a gas discharge section 20, a buffer 30 and a drainage core 40. The gas discharge section 20 is disposed at the outlet 120, and one portion of the gas discharge section 20 is protruded from the outlet 120 for controlling the output of the fuel. The buffer 30 is installed in the outlet 120 at a position facing another end of the gas discharge section 20 for absorbing the pressure of the fuel when the fuel is discharged. The drainage core 40 is installed in the fuel chamber 10 at an end of the gas discharge section 20 with its back facing the buffer 30. The drainage core 40 includes an external pipe 410 wrapped around a portion of the periphery, such that the drainage core 40 does not wrap around the incoming portion of the external pipe 410 in order to reduce the fuel incoming area of the drainage core 40. When the fuel is discharged from the fuel chamber 10, the drainage core 40 is used to reduce the incoming fuel, such that the flow of fuel is reduced and the pressure is lowered to pass the fuel to the buffer 30. The discharged pressure is absorbed, so that the fuel pressure released from the gas discharge section 20 will not be too large or cause any potential danger.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drainage core 40 is made of a foam material, and the drainage core 40 has a plurality of pores at it surface. The fuel is a liquid compressed with a high pressure, and thus the fuel can be permeated from the surface of the drainage core 40. Since a large quantity of fuel in the fuel chamber 10 is pushed towards the pores on the surface of the drainage core 40, the fuel is forced to pass through the drainage core 40 to the buffer 30. The external pipe 410 wraps the drainage core 40, such that only a part of the drainage core 40 which is far from the buffer is exposed. The external pipe 410 is a durable pressure-resisting metal pipe, and the fuel is forced to permeate from the unwrapped portion of the drainage core 40. Therefore, the exposed area of the drainage core 40 is reduced. The fuel passing through the pores is reduced and forced to flow into the drainage core 40 through a maximum distance of the outlet 120 at a position far from the outlet 120 as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, the flow of the fuel is slowed down and the pressure of fuel passing the drainage core 40 is reduced greatly. Further, the optimal length of the external pipe 410 that wraps around the drainage core 40 is 9/10 of the length of the drainage core 40, and the minimum length is preferably not less than ⅓ of the drainage core 40.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 for the invention, the drainage core 40 includes an external sleeve 420 at the periphery of an end facing the buffer 30, and the external sleeve 420 includes a plurality of gas outlets 421 at an end proximate to the buffer 30, and an end of the external pipe 410 proximate to the buffer is coupled with the external sleeve 420. When the fuel in the fuel chamber 10 is pushed by pressure to flow from the drainage core 40 towards the buffer 30, the fuel is pushed out from the gas outlets 421 to the buffer 30 by the high pressure. The external sleeve 420 could be integrally coupled with the external pipe 410, so that the external pipe 410 is extended to replace the position of the external sleeve 420.

Referring to FIG. 3 again for the preferred embodiment, the buffer 30 is comprised of a pin member 310 and a foam 320, and the foam 320 is disposed at a position with its back facing an end if the drainage core 40 reduces and absorbs the pressure of the fuel. The pin member 310 is installed between the foam 320 and the drainage core 40, and has a portion (substantially a nail member) passing through the foam 320 and exposed from the surface of the foam 320. An end of the buffer 30 proximate to an end of the pin member 310 is disposed securely at an end of the external sleeve 420 to force the fuel coming from the drainage core 40 to pass through the gas outlets 421 only. The fuel passes the gas outlets 421, and then enters into the foam 320 for another buffering, and the fuel finally enters into the gas discharge section 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 again, the gas discharge section 20 installs a gas discharge pin 210, an adjusting member 220 and a control valve 230. The adjusting member 220 is installed at a position facing the control valve 230 and the adjusting member 220 has a hole 221 at an end. The adjusting member 220 further includes a first opening 222 at the other end. A portion of the control valve 230 is inserted into the first opening 222. The control valve 230 is installed at a position facing the buffer 30, and a surface of the control valve 230 facing the buffer 30 includes an injection opening 231, and the other end of the control valve 230 includes a second opening 233. The gas discharge pin 210 is hollow and one end of the gas discharge pin 210 passes through the hole 221 out of the adjusting member 220, and the other end passes through the first opening 222 into the second opening 233. The fuel is inputted from the injection opening 231 of the control valve 230 and sent out through the pipe of the gas discharge pin 210.

Referring to FIG. 4 for the present invention, a protruded ring 211, a second protruded ring 212 and a third protruded ring 213 are installed in sequence between the hole 221 on the gas discharge pin 210 and the injection opening 231. A plastic pad 214 is installed at an end of the third protruded ring 213 proximate to the gas discharge pin 210 for preventing the fuel from permeating from the gap of the injection opening 231. A gas incoming hole 215 is installed on the gas discharge pin 210 at a position between the plastic pad 214 and the third protruded ring 213, such that the fuel is inputted from the gas incoming hole 215 and outputted from an end of the gas discharge pin 210. A first plastic washer 216 is installed on the gas discharge pin 210 at a position proximate to an end of the second protruded ring 212, such that when an end of the gas discharge pin 210 passes through the hole 221 and out from the adjusting member 220, the first plastic washer 216 can prevent the fuel from permeating from the periphery of the gas discharge pin 210 that is inserted into the adjusting member 220, and that may cause danger or accidents. In the meantime, the second protruded ring 212 is slightly larger than the hole 221, so that the gas discharge pin 210 will not be separated from the adjusting member 220. A resilient member 217 is installed on the gas discharge pin 210 at a position between the second protruded ring 212 and the third protruded ring 213 for providing a resilience to resume the gas discharge pin 210 to its original position. Therefore, the injection opening 231 is sealed by the resumed plastic pad 214 that stops the output of the fuel.

Referring to FIG. 4 for the invention, an end of the control valve 230 is coupled with the adjusting member 220 for containing a section of the gas discharge pin 210, such that the plastic pad 214 blocks the injection opening 231, and the fuel cannot enter into the injection opening 231. Further, a second plastic washer 232 is installed at the control valve 230 proximate to a periphery of an end of the injection opening 231 for preventing the fuel from permeating from the gap of the buffer 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 for the invention, a thread section 223 is disposed around the adjusting member 220, and the adjusting member 220 is turned to engage the thread section 223 with another thread section 130 disposed inside an outlet 120. With the screwing depth of the thread section 223 and another thread section 130, the tightness between the control valve 230 and the buffer 30 can be adjusted so as to control the flow of the fuel. If the adjusting member 220 is turned towards a direction, the connection between the control valve 230 and the buffer 30 is tightened slightly, and the quantity of the outputted fuel is reduced. On the other hand, if the adjusting member 220 is turned to another direction, the connection between the control valve 230 and the buffer 30 is loosened slightly, and the quantity of the outputted fuel is increased.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 for the invention, a transversal rod 240 is installed at the outlet 120 of the gas discharge section 20, and the gas discharge pin 210 penetrates an end of the transversal rod 240, so that the transversal rod 240 is latched on the first protruded ring 211 of the gas discharge pin 210. The transversal rod 240 uses the lever principle to move the gas discharge pin 210 outward, so that the plastic pad 214 is displaced to open the injection opening 231, and the fuel is inputted into the gas discharge section 20.

Referring to FIG. 2 for another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an incoming gas sleeve 110 is installed at another end of the fuel chamber 10, and the incoming gas sleeve 110 allows the refilled fuel to enter the fuel chamber 10 and prepare the fuel chamber 10 for the use of a second time.

With the foregoing components, the transversal rod 240 lifts the gas discharge pin 210 and the gas discharge pin 210 opens the injection opening 231 of the control valve 230, so that the fuel passes through the gas outlets 421, the foam 320 and then out of the injection opening 231. At this moment, the external and internal pressures of the fuel chamber 10 are unequal, and thus the fuel in the fuel chamber 10 is affected and moved towards the drainage core 40. The external pipe 410 wraps a portion of the drainage core 40, and thus the fuel cannot move quickly outward, and the flow is reduced. With a series of pressure reduction measures by the external sleeve 420, the foam 320, the buffer 30 and the adjusting member 220, the pressure of the fuel can be controlled to a safety range during its ignition.

The present invention abandons the use of the large, heavy and expensive copper, but simply wraps a portion of the drainage core 40 with the external pipe 410, so that the area for inputting the fuel into the drainage core 40 is reduced, and the fuel can be inputted from a rear end of the drainage core 40. The pressure of the fuel is reduced when the fuel is discharged so as to achieve the following three main purposes.

1. The pressure of the fuel outputted from the fuel chamber 10 will not be excessively high when the fuel supplying device is in use, and thus the invention can prevent any sudden output of fuel and avoid any improper large flame and provide a safe use of the device.

2. The material cost of the copper product is lowered, and the issue of ejecting extra fuel is overcome. The invention avoids wasting any fuel.

3. The weight of the igniter is reduced to lessen the burden of carrying the device by women or aged people.

While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A fuel supplying device of igniter, comprising:

a fuel chamber, containing a high-pressure fuel and having an outlet at an end of said fuel chamber;

a gas discharge section, having an end disposed at said outlet and the other end extended out from said the outlet, for controlling the output of a fuel; a buffer, installed between said gas discharge section and said fuel chamber for absorbing the pressure of said fuel when discharging said fuel;

a drainage core, installed in said fuel chamber at an end of said gas discharge section with its back facing said buffer; and

an external pipe, disposed on a portion of the periphery of said drainage core for reducing the fuel incoming area of said drainage core and forcing said fuel to come in from a portion of said drainage core unwrapped by said external pipe for reducing the pressure of said fuel when being discharged.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said drainage core is made of a foam material and a plurality of pores are disposed on the surface of said drainage core.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said external pipe wraps around said drainage core, and exposes a portion of said drainage core that is far from said buffer for forcing said fuel coming in from an unwrapped portion of said drainage core.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said external pipe is a durable, pressure-resisting metal pipe.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said external pipe wraps around said drainage core, and the optimal length of said external pipe is equal to ⅓˜ 9/10 of the length of said drainage core.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said drainage core includes an external sleeve sheathing the external periphery of an end facing said buffer, and said external sleeve includes a plurality of gas outlets disposed at an end proximate to said buffer.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said external pipe with its end proximate to said buffer is coupled with said external sleeve.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said external sleeve is coupled integrally with said external pipe.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said buffer comprises:

a foam, disposed at an end with its back facing said drainage core for reducing the pressure of said fuel when being discharged; and

a pin member, disposed between said foam and said drainage core, and one part of said pin member passes through said foam and is exposed from the surface of said foam.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said gas discharge section comprises:

a control valve, disposed at a position facing said buffer, and having an injection opening disposed on said control valve at an end facing said buffer, and a second opening disposed at another end;

an adjusting member, disposed at a position facing said control valve, and having a hole disposed at one end of said adjusting member and a first opening disposed at the other end, such that a portion of said control valve is accommodated in said first opening; and

a gas discharge pin, being in a hollow form and having an end extended from said hole out of said adjusting member, and the other end extended from said first opening into said second opening.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said gas discharge pin includes a first protruded ring, a second protruded ring and a third protruded ring installed in sequence from said hole to said injection opening, and said gas discharge pin includes a plastic pad disposed at an end proximate to said third protruded ring for prevent said fuel permeating from the gap between said injection openings, and said gas discharge pin includes a gas incoming hole disposed between said plastic pad and said third protruded ring, such that said fuel passes through said gas incoming hole and out from an end of said gas discharge pin, and said gas discharge pin includes a first plastic washer disposed at an end proximate to said second protruded ring for preventing said fuel permeating from the gap around the position where said gas discharge pin is inserted into said adjusting member.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said second protruded ring is slightly larger than said hole, so that said gas discharge pin is not separated from said adjusting member.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said gas discharge pin includes a resilient member disposed between said second protruded ring and said third protruded ring, such that after said gas discharge pin is pushed outward by an external force, the resilience of said resilient member resumes the original position of said gas discharge pin.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said control valve accommodates a portion of said gas discharge pin when coupling with said adjusting member.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said control valve includes a second plastic washer disposed at the periphery of an end proximate to said injection opening for preventing said fuel permeating from the gap between said buffers.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein said adjusting member includes a thread section disposed around its periphery, and said thread section is coupled with another thread section disposed in said outlet, and the degree of tightness between said thread section and said another thread section controls the level of tightness between said control valve and said buffer.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein said gas discharge section includes a transversal rod disposed at said outlet, and said gas discharge pin penetrates an end of said transversal rod, so that said transversal rod is latched against said first protruded ring of said gas discharge pin, and said transversal rod drives said plastic pad to shift and said fuel is sent into said gas discharge section.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said adjusting member is rotated in a direction, and said gas discharge section is coupled with buffer to a certain level of tightness so as to reduce the content of said fuel.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein said adjusting member is rotated in another direction, and said gas discharge section is released from said buffer to a certain level of tightness so as to increase the content of said fuel.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said fuel chamber includes an incoming gas sleeve disposed on the other end, and said incoming gas sleeve refills said fuel into said fuel chamber, such that said fuel chamber can be reused.