GB2160302A - Mechanical ignitions for gas burners - Google Patents

Abstract

A mechanical ignition is mounted on a gas burner 1 and includes a wheel-like friction body 4, an operating rod 10 extending axially from the friction body 4, and connecting means carrying the friction body 4 and the operating rod 10 and providing a pivot H for enabling the friction body 4 to be selectively moved towards and away from a combustion zone defined by a combustion plate 2, the connecting means being detachably attached to the gas burner, and including a sleeve 7 forming part of an ignition body 5 to which the friction body 4 and the operating rod 10 are rotatably mounted, and further including a wire-like support 8 having a portion rotatably mounted in said sleeve 7 to form said pivot H. The wire support may be mounted on a plate 3, or in the valve body 12, or clipped around a tube connecting the valve body and combustion plate 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanical ignitions for gas burners The present invention relates to mechanical ignitions for gas burners where the gas is derived from any fuel which may or may not need to be vaporised before burning.

A drawback of mechanical ignitions including a wheel-like friction body, as in my US Patent 4392819, is that the friction body becomes hot after ignition of a flame in a combustion zone of the gas burner, and should the flame be extinguished the friction body may well be too hot to handle for reignition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical ignition which tends not to be heated after ignition of the combustion zone and may in any event be easily operated at a safe distance from the combustion zone.

In accordance with the present invention, there is a mechanical ignition which is mounted on a gas burner and includes a wheel-like friction body, an operating rod extending axially from the friction body, and connecting means carrying the friction body and the operating rod and providing a pivot for enabling the friction body to be selectively moved towards and away from a combustion zone of the gas burner.

Preferably, the connecting means is detachably attached to the gas burner.

Also preferably, the connecting means includes a sleeve forming part of an ignition body to which the friction body and the operating rod are rotatably mounted, and the connecting means further includes a wire-like support having a portion rotatably mounted in said sleeve to form said pivot.

In one embodiment, the support is attached to a tubular part of the gas burner near the combustion zone, and the support has a pair of end portions shaped to clip removably around said tubular part. In another embodiment, the support is attached to a valve body of the gas burner, and the support has a pair of end portions shaped to be a push fit into said valve body. In yet another embodiment, the support is attached to a plate-like part of the gas burner near the combustion zone, and the support has a pair of end portions shaped to be screwed releasably onto said plate-like part.

A free end of the operating rod may be formed with a knob to assist finger manipulation thereof.

Moreover, the gas burner may be formed with a slot for receiving the operating rod when the friction body is moved to a position away from the combustion zone.

Three embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of the first embodiment; Figure 2 is a side view partly in crosssection of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates a storage position for the mechanical ignition of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the upper part of the second embodiment; Figure 5 is a perspective view of parts of the third embodiment before assembly; and, Figure 6 is a side view of Fig. 5 after assembly.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 to 3, the upper part of a gas burner 1 is shown with a combustion plate 2, defining the location of a flame in a combustion zone, and a plate-like portion 3 for mounting three supporting legs.

A small wheel-like friction body 4 is rotatably mounted on an ignition body 5 which is integrally formed with a flange 6 ending in a sleeve 7. A central portion of a wire-like support 8 is rotatably mounted in the sleeve 7 to form a pivot H. End portions 9 of the support 8 are cranked as shown best in Fig. 1 and are releasably attached to the plate-like portion 3 by a pair of screws 9'. An operating rod 10 is fixed to and extends axially from the friction body 4, with a free end of the rod 10 being formed with a knurled knob to assist finger manipulation thereof. A slot 11 is formed in the plate-like portion 3 in the path of movement of the rod 10, and a valve body 1 2 is provided for control of the gas flow through the combustion plate 2 in a conventional manner.

Before use, for example during transit, the mechanical ignition is stored in the attitude shown in Fig. 3. To prepare the gas burner for use, the rod 10 is swung through approximately 270 , and through the slot 11, so that it assumes the attitude shown at A in Figs. 1 and 2. The friction body 4 is here spaced away from the combustion plate 2. To ignite gas issuing from the combustion plate 2, the rod 10 is swung through approximately 100 , and through the slot 11, to bring the friction body 4 into the proximity of the combustion plate 2. The mechanical ignition is here in the attitude shown at B in Figs. 1 and 2. Turning the knurled knob on the rod 10 will turn the friction body 4 against a flint, for example, in the ignition body 5 to create a spark and light the gas. After ignition, the rod 10 is again swung through approximately 100 , and through the slot 11, to assume the attitude shown at A in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that the flange 6, sleeve 7, support 8 and screws 9' together constitute connecting means carrying the friction body 4 and the operating rod 10 and providing a pivot H for enabling the friction body 4 to be selectively moved towards and away from a combustion zone of the gas burner 1.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the end portions of the wire-like support 8 are shaped to be a push fit in the valve body 12, whereas in the further embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, the end portions of the wirelike support 8 are shaped to clip removably around a tubular part 2' which abuts the combustion plate 2.

Claims (11)

1. A mechanical ignition which is mounted on a gas burner and includes a wheel-like friction body, an operating rod extending axially from the friction body, and connecting means carrying the friction body and the operating rod and providing a pivot for enabling the friction body to be selectively moved towards and away from a combustion zone of the gas burner.

2. A mechanical ignition according to claim 1, in which the connecting means is detachably attached to the gas burner.

3. A mechanical ignition according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the connecting means includes a sleeve forming part of an ignition body to which the friction body and the operating rod are rotatably mounted, and the connecting means further includes a wirelike support having a portion rotatably mounted in said sleeve to form said pivot.

4. A mechanical ignition according to claim 3, in which the support is attached to a tubular part of the gas burner near the combustion zone.

5. A mechanical ignition according to claim 2 and claim 4, in which the support has a pair of end portions shaped to clip removably around said tubular part.

6. A mechanical ignition according to claim 3, in which the support is attached to a valve body of the gas burner.

7. A mechanical ignition according to claim 2 and claim 6, in which the support has a pair of end portions shaped to be a push fit in said valve body.

8. A mechanical ignition according to claim 3, in which the support is attached to a plate-like part of the gas burner near the combustion zone.

9. A mechanical ignition according to claim 2 and claim 8, in which the support has a pair of end portions shaped to be screwed releasably onto said plate-like part.

10. A mechanical ignition according to any preceding claim, in which a free end of the operating rod is formed with a knob to assist finger manipulation thereof.

11. A mechanical ignition according to any preceding claim, in which the gas burner is formed with a slot for receiving the operating rod when the firction body is moved to a position away from the combustion zone.

1 2. A mechanical ignition substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

1 to 3, Fig. 4, or Figs. 5 and 6, of the accompanying drawings.