1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wick assembly and, more particularly, to a wick assembly made of metal and provided for being mounted to a lamp device for precisely control the flame combustion scale.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional lamp device includes a fuel cup storing fuel, and a wick connecting into fuel stored in the fuel cup. Moreover, the wick is normally made out of braided cotton and works by capillary action. Fuel is drawn up through the wick to reach the flame produced on the disk. The above lamp device is actively used for various purposes, such as lighting, decorating, or increasing atmosphere. For example, an oil lamp is used in religion, or an alcohol lamp is used in medical or chemical laboratories.
The conventional cotton wick must be cut to a predetermined length adapted for being mounted to the lamp device. However, after trimming, the cotton wick is easily loosened at its terminal end. After ignition, fuel vaporizes and combusts on the wick, the tip of the cotton wick will be carbonized and burnt out gradually on the tip due to higher temperature on the top of flame. Thus, the cotton wick must be pulled out and trimmed to a certain length every once in a while to maintain combustion scale. Trimming the cotton wick results in the wick eventually unconnected with fuel, so that users can only replenish fuel or replace a new wick. It is inconvenient and wasteful.
The wick length, diameter, stiffness and fire-resistance are the major factors used to adjust fuel wicking and flame scale for the lamp device. However, cotton wicks with low stiffness and low fire-resistance cannot be adjusted easily to maintain proper fuel wicking and flame scale, especially for high viscosity or high flash point fuels results in producing carbon deposits and difficult to ignite. If the fuel drawn is slower than it burns, wick will be carbonized and burnt out. If the fuel drawn is more than it burns, usually occurring on burning high flash point fuel, will cause slow evaporation of the fuel and produce soot due to incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion not only produces soot but also toxic fumes.
Taiwan Patent No. 493,722 discloses a wick includes a plurality of fiberglass filaments disposed and assembled at a center thereof to form a fiberglass layer, and a plurality of fiberglass yarns and melted silks arranged around the fiberglass layer. The fiberglass layer is able to draw fuel by capillary action, hard to burn down, and not easily being loosened at its terminal end. However, the fiberglass layer does not draw fuel effectively to cause the flame extinguished easily and the flame scale difficult to be controlled. Moreover, Taiwan Patent No. 580,106 discloses a wick includes a cotton thread enabling to draw fuel and a plurality of fiberglass filaments covering around the cotton thread to avoid the cotton thread diverged to provide a compound wick.
Therefore, the wick disclosed by said patents both include fiberglass filaments, but the fiberglass is expansive, difficult processing. Momentously, the wick is a large quantity of consumable items, but the fiberglass wick is expensive, and not environment-friendly. Additionally, when the fiberglass wick is processed, inhaling the fiberglass can cause damage to human lungs and be harmful to manufacturing personnel. Inhaling of fiberglass will jeopardize the health of workers during fiberglass-reinforced plastic processing. The fiberglass fiber can also cause skin, eye and throat irritation to users. At higher exposure levels, the fiberglass also has been associated with skin rashes and difficulty in breathing.
Likewise, fiberglass wick will be carbonized and burned out during combustion, but only slower than cotton wick, so that the fiberglass wick needs be trimmed also. Furthermore, the fiberglass wick and the cotton wick are easy to sag due to gravity when they are saturated with fuel. Thus, the user cannot adjust the flame height or scale easily. If a user wants to adjust the flame height or scale, the user has to pull the wick out from the lamp device constantly. At the same time, the user may also contact fuel in the wick and cause inconvenience or even danger.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.
The present invention revolves these requirements and other problems in the field of a metallic wick assembly including at least one mesh member and a sleeve member mounted around the mesh member. The mesh member first and second ends disposed opposite to each other, first and second surfaces respectively extended from the first end to the second end thereof and arranged opposite to each other, a plurality of meshes penetrating the first and second surfaces between the first and second ends thereof, and a transport channel extending from the first end to the second end thereof drawing fuel by capillary action. The mesh member includes a first length defined between the first and second ends thereof. The sleeve member includes a second length defined between two longitudinal opposite ends thereof. The second length of the sleeve member is less than the first length. A third length is defined between a distal end of the sleeve member and the first end of the mesh member. The sleeve member is slidable with respect to the mesh member to adjust the third length for controlling the flame scale.
In an example, the metallic wick assembly generally includes a mesh member rolled into a tubular shape and having a plurality of circles spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis to form an Archimedean spiral cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
In another example, the metallic wick assembly generally includes the sleeve member has a plurality of apertures, with the sleeve member delimited first and second sections at two opposite ends thereof, with the plurality of apertures arranged at the first section to provide fuel passing therethrough and drawn up freely to the first end of the mesh member.
Preferably, the first section of the sleeve member is arranged adjacent to the first end of the mesh member and has a fifth length. The second section of the sleeve member is arranged adjacent to the second end of the mesh member and has a sixth length. The fifth length is less than the sixth length.
Preferably, the range of the ratio of the fifth length to the sixth length is 0.3 to 0.5.
In another example, the metallic wick assembly includes a plurality of mesh members respectively rolled into the plurality of different-sized tubes assembled and radially spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis to form a concentric circular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
In a further example, the metallic wick assembly includes a plurality of mesh members spaced from each other and arranged in a longitudinal stacked array.
Preferably, each of the plurality of mesh members is formed in a flat shape.
Preferably, the sleeve member is made of metal and formed in a rectangular tubular shape.
An advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the sleeve member is slidable with respect to the mesh member to adjust the third length for controlling the flame scale.
Another advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the sleeve member is slidably mounted around the mesh member to prevent the mesh member unassembled.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the sleeve member has the plurality of apertures to provide fuel passing therethrough and drawn up freely to the first end of the mesh member.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the sleeve member is slidably mounted around the mesh member, so that they are assembled each other easily and quickly.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the metallic wick assembly is made of metal, so that it cannot be carbonized or consumed to maintain a fixed shape and height thereof to maintain the flame combustion scale.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the mesh member has an end producing the flame thereon and heated by the flame to cause fuel drawn to the end thereof vaporized and combusted more completely due to higher wick temperature.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the number of circles, the size of meshes the surface roughness and the coating materials of the mesh member are adjustable to control ability of capillary action adapted for wicking various fuels with different viscosity, so that the metallic wick assembly can draw more viscous fuel faster to the tip thereof and can be ignited shortly (one minute or less) after inserting the wick in fuel.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the metallic wick assembly does not loosen at a terminal end of the mesh member after cutting a predetermined length or trimming to be mounted on the lamp device easily.
A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the present invention is that the metallic wick assembly is made of metal reducing manufacturing costs to provide a popular price, in a preferred form, the mesh member can be formed by a common metal wire mesh and the sleeve member can be formed by a common metal tube.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrative embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood.
Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “end”, “portion”, “longitudinal”, “radial”, “diameter”, “width”, “thickness”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrative embodiments.
The sleeve member 20 is made of metal and formed in a tubular shape. The sleeve member 20 is slidably mounted around the mesh member 10 to prevent the mesh member 10 restored from the tubular shape to a flat shape. Moreover, the second surface 14 of the mesh member 10 is closely abutted against an inner periphery of the sleeve member 20 by elastic restoring force thereof to prevent the mesh member 10 inadvertently sliding with respect to the sleeve member 20.
Furthermore, the mesh member 10 includes a first length L1 defined between the first and second ends 11 and 12 thereof. The sleeve member 20 includes a second length L2 defined between two longitudinal opposite ends thereof. The second length L2 of the sleeve member 20 is less than the first length L1 of the mesh member 10.
A third length L3 is defined between a distal end of the sleeve member 20 and the first end 11 of the mesh member 10. A fourth length L4 is defined between another distal end of the sleeve member 20 arranged adjacent to the second end 12 of the mesh member 10 and a bottom surface of the fuel tank 21 to provide fuel 23 entering into the mesh member 10. Additionally, the fourth length L4 is greater than zero. Moreover, the sleeve member 20 is slidable with respect to the mesh member 10 to adjust the third length L3 for controlling the flame scale. When the third length L3 is greater (shown in
The lamp device 2a further includes a supporting assembly 3 mounted on the cap 22a. The supporting assembly 3 includes a fixing member 31 and a shield member 32. The fixing member 31 is connected to the bottom portion 221a of the cap 22a and has a through bore 311 communicated with the through hole 222a of the cap 22a. The shield member 32 is mounted into the through bore 311 of the fixing member 31. The shield member 32 includes a bottom section 321, three connecting holes 322 longitudinally extending through the bottom section 321, and a wall section 323 formed around a periphery of the bottom section 321. The three connecting holes 322, the through hole 222a of the cap 22a, and the open end of the fuel tank 21a are interconnected to each other, and the three metallic wick assemblies 1 respectively insert therethrough. Thus, fuel 23 is drawn from the second end 12 to the first end 11 of each of the three metallic wick assemblies 1 via the transport channel 16 by capillary action between the plurality of meshes 15. The bottom section 321 hinders the flame produced at the first end 11 to ignite fuel 23. The wall section 323 provides windproof function.
The sleeve member 20a is made of metal and formed in a tubular shape. The sleeve member 20a is slidably mounted around the mesh member 10 and has a plurality of apertures 201a. The sleeve member 20a is delimited first and second sections 202a and 203a at two opposite ends thereof. The plurality of apertures 201a is arranged at the first section 202a to provide fuel 23 passing therethrough and drawn up freely to the first end 11 of the mesh member 10. The first section 202a of the sleeve member 20a is arranged adjacent to the first end 11 of the mesh member 10 and has a fifth length L5. The second section 203a of the sleeve member 20a is arranged adjacent to the second end 12 of the mesh member 10 and has a sixth length L6. The fifth length L5 is less than the sixth length L6 (shown in
The sleeve member 20b is made of metal and formed in a rectangular tubular shape corresponding to the rectangular cross section of the mesh member 10b. The sleeve member 20b is slidably mounted around the mesh member 10b to prevent the plurality of the mesh members 10b unassembled each other.
The metallic wick according to the present invention includes the following advantages:
1. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c includes the sleeve member 20; 20a; 20b being slidable with respect to the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b to adjust the third length L3 for controlling the flame scale.
2. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c includes the sleeve member 20; 20a; 20b slidably mounted around the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b to prevent the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b unassembled.
3. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c includes the sleeve member 20; 20a; 20b having the plurality of apertures 201a to provide fuel 23 passing therethrough and drawn up quickly to the first end 11; 11a; 11b of the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b.
4. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c includes the sleeve member 20; 20a; 20b slidably mounted around the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b, so that they are assembled each other easily and quickly.
5. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c is made of metal, so that it cannot be carbonized or consumed to maintain fixed shape and height thereof to maintain the flame combustion scale.
6. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c includes the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b having an end producing the flame thereon and heated by the flame to cause fuel drawn to the end thereof vaporized and combusted more completely due to higher wick temperature.
7. The number of circles, the size of meshes 15; 15a; 15b, the surface roughness and the coating materials of the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b are adjustable to control ability of capillary action adapted for wicking various fuels with different viscosity, so that the metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c can draw more viscous fuel faster to the tip thereof and can be ignited shortly (one minute or less).
8. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c does not loosen at a terminal end of the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b after cutting a predetermined length or trimming to be mounted on the lamp device 2; 2a easily.
9. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1a; 1b; 1c is made of metal reducing manufacturing costs to provide a popular price, in a preferred form, the mesh member 10; 10a; 10b can be formed by a common metal wire mesh and the sleeve member 20; 20a; 20b can be formed by a common metal tube.
Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
101135342 | Sep 2012 | TW | national |