US1826241A - Combustion cone or protector for torches - Google Patents

Description

"0a. 6, v1931. R, A @URM 1,826,241

COMBUSTION CCNE OR PROTECTOR FOR TORGHES Filed March 29, 1929 /z rfa/@VAG Patented Oct. 6, 1931 i UNITED STATES Parleur 'o1-"Fics ROBERT CUR-RIE, F SYR-ACUSE, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TOR. DIAETZ COMPANY, VOIE' A n NEVI YORK, N."Y.

- COMBUSTION GONE 0R PROTECTGR FOR TORGHES Application filed March 29, 1929. Serial No. 350,935.

rl`his inventionrelates to combustion cones or fiame protectors for lamps, particularly of the torch type which are commonly used in places where they are exposed to out-door weather conditions, and which are not provided with chimneys, globes or the like, such as used in other types of lamps and lanterns. n One object of the invention is to provide a practical and simple device for use on torch lamps which, in operation, will effectually direct the air to the fiame so' as to properly support combustion'r and prev'entthe flame from being extinguished. Y

f \Another object is to provide a device which willfeffectually keep the torch burning dur-v ing strong winds, shifting air currents and otherr adverse weather conditions.

Other objectsof the invention are tofprovide a device of simple and practical construction which will enable the efficient and reliable use of torches out'of doors and prevent vtheir flames from being blown out orbeing extinguished by rain or snowj' also to provide a combustion cone or device which A provides afiame'chamber of such form and dimensions as to insure the necessary supply of lair to the flame to sustain the flamefand revive itin intensity following sudden shifts in the wind; also to provide a combustion cone or flame protector which will keep the torch burning under all vweather conditions; and also to provide a combustion cone .or fiame protector which is of the. improved constructionand has the advantages hereinafter described and set forth in the. claims. Ink the accompanying-drawings: 'i

Fig. ljis a fragmentary elevation on a reduced scale, of a torch lamp provided with a combustion cone or fiame protector embodying my invention.y

Fig. 2 is a plan view, full size, of the combustion cone or protector partly in section on line ,f2-2, Fig. Y f l Fig. 3 isa fragmentary elevation of the torch showing'the cone or protector in section on line'3-8, Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary elevation of the torch showing the holding device for the com-w bustion cone moved out of its holding position. i

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing a slightly modified embodimentof the invention.

Referring now to the drawings l() represents the upper portion of the body or front of a torch lamp and 11 represents the wick tube or burner thereof which projects from the top of the torch body and through which the usual wick 12 passes. The

burner shown has a cylindrical, tubular up# per end portion 13and a circumferential enlargement orflange M at the base of the cylindrical portion of the burner andV which is adapted to bear or seat against the top of v the top of the the cone or protector is of stepped formation,

having three substantially cylindricalV portions 17, 18 and 19, which are of successively larger diameter from the lower tothe upper end of the devic-e, and are ,connected by annular shoulder portions. lower end 2O of the circular wall extends inwardly and has an upstanding or upturned cylindrical sleeve 2l which surrounds and is adapted to be slipped on the cylindrical por# Preferably, Y the tion 13 of the burner tube, whereby the combustion cone or protector is retained in place on the burner resting at. its lower end 2O on the annular enlargement '14 of the burner. Thus, the combustion cone or protector, .pro-V vides a combustion chamber into which the Y.

upper endof ,the burner tube extends, and which forms an annularair space `22k surrounding the upper end portion of the burner 11. v

As shown, the circular wall and top 16 of the protector are formed of separate sheet lne metal pieces or stampings secured together by an interlocking or other suitable joint at the junction of the upper end of the circular wall with the outer periphery of the top plate 16, but the combustion cone or protector could be made of other suitable construction.

The combustion cone or protector is provided in its circular wall with holes or openings of such size, disposition and form as to insure the proper supply of air to the burner to support combustion and to permit the flame to issue or extend through the openings out of the combustion rcone or protector. As shown in Figs. 14e, the intermediate cylindrical portion 18 of the circular wall is provided with a plurality of circular holes Q3 which are spaced equidistantly around this portion 18 of the circular wall, and the uppermost cylindrical portion 19 of the circular wall is provided with elongated openings 2li which are also disposed equidistantly around this largest portion 19 and are preferably of substantially larger area than the holes Q3. Preferably the openings Aare located so that the openings 9A alternate with or are located between the holes 23 circumferentially of the protector. The lower and smaller holes 28 are preferably located with respect to the burner, substantially at the elevation shown, that is so that the lower edges of the holes 23 are at substantially the same elevation or slightly above the top edge of the burner or wick tube 11. The large openings 2.1L are thus disposed at a substantie/il elevation above the top of the burner or wick tube 11.

lith the combustion cone or protector formed and proportioned substantially as shown, the necessary supply vof air to the burner to support combustion is insured and the vfla me will burn within kthe protector, and the tongues of flame will protrude or extend out through the large, upper openings 24 so that the torch will furnish the intended illumination. Nevertheless this construction prevents the flame .from being extinguished by strong winds or drafts. In the use of the torch, the flame varies with wind currents, and even in a strong breeze it may first flare up on one side and then suddenly veer or shift to another side of the device. The large flame or combustion chamber provided, which extends a substantial height above the upper end of the burner tube and at its widest upper portion is of much greater cross sectional area than the burner tube and wick, and which has side openings such as shown, always insures an adequate supply of air for the flame to sustain itself and revive in intensity following sudden shifts of wind. The flame will not be extinguished or in effeet sheared off by blasts of air through the openings in the sides of the combustion cone or protector, as would be the case with a. protector providing a small flame chamber in which the flame openings would be neressarily disposed close to and substantially at or only slightly above the level of the top edge of the wick tube.

The combustion cone or protector shown in Fig. 5 is of substantially the same form and dimensions as that shown in Figs. 1-1 and above described, but in the F ig. construction, an annular row of perforations S25 is provided in the reduced lowermost cylindrical portion 17 of the cone, below the level of the t'op of the burner tube, in addition to the openings in the larger, intermediate and top cylindrical portions 18 and 19 of the cone or protector. 1n this construction a larger number of holes 26 are shown in the intermediate cylindrical portion 18 of the cone or protector, these openings, however, being preferably of about the same size, and disposed at substantially the same elevation as shown in the construction first described. The combustion cone or protector shown in Fig 5 is also preferably provided with an internal flange or deflector ring 27 which projects inwardly from the circular wall of the cone between the two rows of holes 25 and 26 toward the burner tube 11. This flange may be suitably secured to the circular wall of the combustion cone or protector, and as shown, its inner periphery is spaced from the burner tube 11 so as to leave an annular air passage Q8 between the inner edge of the deflector 27 and the burner tube through which air entering through the bottom row of perfor-ations Q5 can flow upwardly around the burner tube into the large (ombustion or flame space in the combustion concor protector. The deflector 27 is preferably formed as shown, that is, it is provided near its inner edge with a. circumferential groove, and the inner edge of the deflector 27 tapers upwardly and inwardly toward the burner tube. In this construction. air is taken in through the bottom row of perforations and is directed through the passage Q8 to the base of the flame so as to support combustion.

Both constructions of the cone or protector shown and described provide a combustion chamber amply large and having openings arranged so as to keep the torch burning during heavy winds, and prevent a shearing action of the wind which would, in effect, out or tear the flame from Ithe wick. Besides, the device performs the important function of feeding the necessary supply of air close to the top of the wick tube. The flame chamber is large enough for the flame to build up and in a way be supported by the side walls of the cone. Then when changing air currents are set up, as for example, by rapidly passing vehicles,there is a space around the flame suflicient to permit it' to recover its balance. The imperforate top of the con'ibustion cone or protector prevents rain or snow from falling on the wick and quenching the flame.

rlhe combustion cone or protector, in either of the forms illustrated and described, may be retained in place on the torch against accidental displacement by suitable means. For example, as shown, the lower end of the combustion cone or protector, as before eX- plained, is adapted to be slipped down over the upper end of the burner tube and against the liange 13 of the burner, and it is releasably held in place on this seat by a bail or handle 30. The ends of the legs of this bail are pivoted in holes in the sides of the wick tube below the lower end of the protector, and the legs of the bail, when the latter is in the upright position shown in Fig. l', are adapted to snap into shallow notches 3l in the periphery of the upper end of the combustion cone or protector, see Fig. 2. The

, legs of the bail have portions which incline inwardly just above the edge of thecone or protector, as indicated, so that when the legs are seated in the notches 3l in engagement with the edge of the protector, the bail will firmly hold the protector on its seat on the burner or wick tube. The bail can be readily disengaged from the protector simply by swinging the bail downwardly to a laterally projecting position, by doing which the legs of the bail will be sprung out of holding engagement with the notches 3l and will release the combustion cone or protector, which can then be pulled or lifted 0H of the burner or wick tube.

The bail 80 is preferably the carrying bail or handle for the torch.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a torch having a wick tube, of a hollow protector which provides a combustion chanber surrounding the upper end of said wick tube and having flame openings in its sides at an elevation above the upper end of the wick tube, and air admission holes at a lower elevation, the cross sectional area of the portion of said chamber in which said llame openings are located being more than twice that of the wick tube. n

2. The combination with a torch having a burner, of a hollow protector which provides a combustion chamber surrounding the upper end of said burner, and having flame exit openings in its sides at an elevation above the upper end of the burner, and means for the admission of air to said chamber below said flame exit openings and adjacent the upper end of the burner, the cross sectional area of the portion of said chamber in which said exit flame openings are located being more than twice that of the burner. y

3. The combination with a torch having a wick tube, of a hollow protector which provides a combustion chamber surrounding the upper end of said wick tube and having lame'exit openings and adjacent theupper end of the wicktube, the cross sectional area of the portion of said chamber in which said lflame openings are located being more than twice that ofthe wick tube.

4. VThe combination with a torch burner,y

of a hollow protector which covers theupper -end ofthe burner and has lower,intermedi yate/.and top portions at different elevations `which materially increase in cross sectional area from vthe bottom to the top'portion, and said protector having flame exit openings in the sides of said top portion, andair admission holes in a lower portion.

5. The combination with a torch burner, of a hollow Vprotector which covers the upper endof the burner and has an annular wall vof stepped formation. which increases in diameter from its lower to its upper portion, said upper and lower portions being of materially different cross lsectional area, said 'annular wall having flameexit openings` in itslarge upper portion and `air yadmission `holes inea lower' portion. f Y t 6. Thecombination with a torch burner, of ,a hollow vprotector which covers .the upper end of the burner and isprovided in its sides ywith openings, and a'retaining device .movably connected'to the torch and arrangedto engagesaid protector for releasably retaining it in place on the torch.` Y

7. rPhe combination with a torch burner, of a hollow protector which covers the upper end ofthe burner and is provided yinits sides with openings, and a bail pivoted to the torch and movable into holding engagement with saidprote-ctor for releasably retaining it in vplace on the torch.

8. The combination with a torch burner, of a hollow protector which covers vthe upper Aend of `the-burner and is provided in its sides with openings and at its lower 'end with a sleevefwhichQsurrounds and removably fits the upper end of the burner, and a retaining device movable to and from holding position for releasably holding it on said burner.

9. The combination with a torch having a burner, of a hollow protector which provides a combustion chamber for the burner llame having an upper-portion of materially larger cross sectional area than the burner, and having flame openings in the sides of said upper a portion of materially larger cross sectional area. above said reduced portion, and having flame exit-.openings in the sides ofsaid larger portion and .at an elevation 4above the .upper end .ofthe wick tube, and means for the admission of air to said combustion -chamber r'below ,said ame exit openings.

l1. The combination with :a torch having a wick tube, of a hollow protector which encloses the upper end of the wick tube and .provides a vcombustion chamber for `the torch flame having a reduced lower portion surrounding the upper end of the wick tube and a portion of materially larger cross sectional area above said reduced portion, kand having flame exit openings in the sides of said larger portion and at an elevation above the upper end of the wick tube, aud air admisrsion holes below said flame exitopenings.

12. The combination with a torch having a burner, of a hollow protector which provides a combustion chamber in which the torch flame burns and which increases in .horizontal diameter upwardly and the upper portion :of vwhich is of rmaterially greater cross sectional area than the rlower portion, said eh amber having flame exit openings in the sides ot' said large upper portion at an elevation above the burner, and an air inlet for said combustion chamber at a lower elevation than said flame openings.

13. The combination with a torch having :a wick tube, of a hollow protector which surrounds .the upper end ot' the wick tube and has a reduced lower portion annularly spaced from the wick tube and a portion of materially larger cross sectional area above said re vduced portion, and which has flame exit open- `ings in .the sides of said larger portion and vat an elevation above the upper end of the wick tube, a delector ring' partially closing the annular space between the wick tube and the wall of the reduced lower portion of the protector', and means for the admission of 45 ,-air to said protector above and *below said deflector ring.

ROBERT A. CURRIE.

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