Patent Application
20250052424
Embodiments herein generally relate to ignitor systems having ignitors for lighting industrial fired equipment. More specifically, one or more embodiments relate to retractable and extendable portable ignitors, ignitor systems, and associated methods for lighting industrial fired equipment.
Many industrial processes, such as refining or manufacturing processes, utilize industrial fired equipment to provide heat to fluids or components therein. A startup process for the equipment may include igniting pilot and/or main flames adjacent to burners of the equipment, which may combust a fuel that flows into the burner and release heat. In some cases, an ignitor or ignitor system is built into the industrial fired equipment, requiring expensive design considerations and infrastructure to provide desired self-lighting capabilities. As a more cost-effective measure, a portable ignitor system or portable ignitor such as a wand, torch, or rod may be used by a technician to ignite a pilot flame or burner for the industrial fired equipment. Certain portable ignitor systems may be generally categorized as an electric type or a gas-fed type. Regardless of its type, the industry-standard portable ignitor may be designed with a fixed length intended to be suitable for a range of applications.
However, the present disclosure recognizes that these existing portable ignitors have limited applicability for lighting pilot flames that are in hard-to-reach areas, such as areas that are very close to the ground or above an average eye level. In these low or high clearance cases, technicians wielding the ignitors may improvise unstandardized methods for lighting pilots or burners, thereby risking their safety and equipment damage. As such, a demand is recognized herein for an ignitor and ignitor system having suitable adjustability and features to improve ignition procedures and startup processes.
Accordingly, Applicants have recognized a need for systems and methods to provide retractable and extendable portable ignitors for lighting industrial fired equipment. The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of such systems and methods for retractable and extendable ignitors to light industrial fired equipment, as introduced herein. Ignitor systems disclosed herein may include an ignitor having various features that facilitate extension and/or retraction of a main body of the ignitor to any suitable operating length, while delivering effective ignition capabilities for a wide variety of equipment. The adjustability of the length of the ignitor therefore enables a single device to be utilized for lighting burners of industrial fired equipment that may have previously been inaccessible or difficult to access.
For example, certain ignitors may include telescoping body portions that are slidable relative to one another to provide telescopic extension and retraction to the main body. As another example, the main body may include threaded body portions that may be rotated relative to one another along suitable threaded connectors to provide threaded extension and retraction to the main body. The ignitor system may be gas-fed, such as by providing a proximal end of the ignitor with fuel gas from a fuel source. In certain embodiments, the ignitor may include an internal conduit within the main body that directs the fuel gas from the proximal end to a distal end of the ignitor. Additionally, certain embodiments may include the ignitor having sealing elements fitted to the main body to form a flow path for fuel gas with inner surfaces of the main body. Indeed, the ignitor may be extendable and retractable by any suitable mechanisms to provide dynamic length adjustability while delivering a fuel-fed flame for lighting burners of industrial fired equipment. In some embodiments, the ignitor may include locking threads that facilitate retention of the ignitor at a target operating length. Certain embodiments also include an electric sparking assembly that improves processes for lighting the fuel gas at the distal end of the ignitor. The ignitor disclosed herein may therefore include enhanced versatility and maneuverability, based on extension and retraction combined with the fuel-fed nature of the ignitor.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, an ignitor is provided for lighting industrial fired equipment. The ignitor may include a main body having a first body portion having a first length and a second body portion having a second length. The first body portion may be movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the second body portion so as to extend or retract to a target operating length of a plurality of operating lengths, thereby to define an adjustable main body. The ignitor may include a flow path extending through the adjustable main body, a fluid outlet positioned at a distal end of the flow path, and a fluid inlet positioned at a proximal end of the flow path. The fluid inlet may be configured to receive and direct a fuel flow through the flow path and to the fluid outlet. The ignitor may include a sparking assembly connected to the adjustable main body proximate the fluid outlet to provide an ignition spark to the fuel flow when passing through the flow path, thereby to facilitate lighting industrial fired equipment via a fueled flame maintained proximate the fluid outlet.
In an embodiment, the sparking assembly may include an electrical sparking assembly having a sparking tip and a battery electrically coupled to the sparking tip. In an embodiment, the flow path may include a conduit disposed within and extending substantially the entire length of the first body portion and the second body portion. In an embodiment, the ignitor further includes a conduit retainer coupled between a distal conduit end of the conduit and the adjustable main body proximate the fluid outlet to retain the distal conduit end in the adjustable main body during extension or retraction thereof.
In an embodiment, the flow path includes inner surfaces of the adjustable main body, and the ignitor further includes one or more sealing components disposed between the first body portion and the second body portion of the adjustable main body, thereby to provide fluid scaling of the inner surfaces of the flow path between the first body portion and the second body portion when the fuel flow passes therethrough. In an embodiment, the adjustable main body further has at least one intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion and having the flow path extending therethrough so that the flow path collectively extends through the first body portion, the intermediate body portion, and the second body portion.
In an embodiment, the ignitor further includes one or more telescopic connectors connected to the first body portion and the second body portion, thereby to provide telescopic extension and retraction, so that the first body portion is movable relative to the second body portion based on the one or more telescopic connectors. In an embodiment, a first one of the first body portion and the second body portion includes an inner surface sized and having a larger inner diameter so as to slide over an outer surface of a second one of the first body portion and the second body portion having a smaller outer diameter of a size smaller than the larger inner diameter.
In an embodiment, the adjustable main body further has at least one intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion and having the flow path extending therethrough so that the flow path collectively extends through the first body portion, the intermediate body portion, and the second body portion. The first body portion may also have a first inner surface in slidable contact with a first outer surface of the at least one intermediate body portion, and the at least one intermediate body portion may also have a second inner surface in slidable contact with a second outer surface of the second body portion.
In an embodiment, a first one of the first body portion and the second body portion includes internal threads having a larger inner diameter so as to threadedly engage with external threads of a second one of the first body portion and the second body portion having a smaller outer diameter of a size smaller than the larger inner diameter, thereby to enable threaded extension and retraction of the adjustable main body. In an embodiment, the flow path includes inner surfaces of the adjustable main body, and the ignitor further includes (a) one or more retaining shelves defined at a threaded connection between the first body portion and the second body portion of the adjustable main body and (b) one or more sealing components disposed within the one or more retaining shelves, thereby to provide fluid sealing of the inner surfaces of the flow path between the first body portion and the second body portion when the fuel flow passes therethrough.
In an embodiment, the ignitor further includes a fuel source connector connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, thereby to connect a gas source to be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The gas source may include a gas tank or an industrial gas supply when connected to the fuel source connector. In an embodiment, the ignitor further includes a spring-biasing coupler operatively coupled to the adjustable main body, thereby to facilitate extension or retraction of the adjustable main body.
In another embodiment of the disclosure, a method is provided of using an ignitor to light industrial fired equipment. The method may include providing an ignitor having a main body including a first body portion having a first length, a second body portion having a second length, and a fuel flow path extending through the main body. The method may include moving the first body portion relative to the second body portion along a longitudinal axis so as to extend or retract the main body to a target operating length of a plurality of operating lengths. The method may include igniting a fuel flow proximate a fluid outlet positioned at a distal end of the fuel flow path of the main body, thereby to ignite and maintain a fueled flame adjacent the distal end of the fuel flow path. The method may include directing the fueled flame to one or more of: (a) an unlit pilot burner, or (b) a main burner of an industrial fired equipment.
In an embodiment, the igniting the fuel flow may include activating an electrical sparking assembly coupled to the main body proximate the fluid outlet. In an embodiment, the moving the first body portion relative to the second body portion may include sliding an outer surface of the first body portion into or out of an inner surface of the second body portion along the longitudinal axis.
In an embodiment, the fuel flow path may include a conduit disposed within the main body, the conduit may extend substantially the entire length of the first body portion and the second body portion, and the ignitor may further include a fuel coupler connected to the main body and the conduit and configured to connect the fuel flow path to a fuel source. In an embodiment, extending or retracting the main body by a distance along the longitudinal axis may cause a length of the conduit corresponding to the distance to recede into or protrude from the main body, respectively.
In an embodiment, the moving the first body portion relative to the second body portion may include rotating a threaded outer surface of the first body portion relative to a threaded inner surface of the second body portion along a circumferential axis defined about the longitudinal axis. In an embodiment, the fuel flow path extending through the main body may be open for fluid flow in each operating length of the plurality of operating lengths.
In an embodiment, the main body further may have at least one intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion and having the fuel flow path extending therethrough. The method may further include (a) moving the first body portion relative to the at least one intermediate body portion along the longitudinal axis so as to extend or retract the main body to the target operating length or (b) moving the second body portion relative to the at least one intermediate body portion along the longitudinal axis so as to extend or retract the main body to the target operating length.
In another embodiment of the disclosure, an ignitor system is provided for lighting industrial fired equipment. The ignitor system may include industrial fired equipment including a fired heater having one or more of a pilot burner or a main burner. The ignitor system may include an ignitor having a main body having a first body portion having a first length and a second body portion having a second length. The first body portion may be movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the second body portion so as to extend or retract to a target operating length of a plurality of operating lengths, thereby to define an adjustable main body. The ignitor may include a flow path extending through the adjustable main body, a fluid outlet positioned at a distal end of the flow path, and a fluid inlet positioned at a proximal end of the flow path. The fluid inlet may be configured to receive and direct a fuel flow through the flow path and to the fluid outlet. The ignitor may include a sparking assembly connected to the adjustable main body proximate the fluid outlet to provide an ignition spark to the fuel flow when passing through the flow path. The ignitor system may include a fuel source connected to the ignitor, thereby to provide fuel to the fluid inlet of the ignitor so as to facilitate lighting of the fired heater of the industrial fired equipment via a fueled flame maintained proximate the fluid outlet.
In an embodiment, the flow path of the ignitor may include inner surfaces of the adjustable main body, and the ignitor may further include one or more sealing components disposed between the first body portion and the second body portion of the adjustable main body, thereby to provide fluid sealing of the inner surfaces of the flow path between the first body portion and the second body portion when the fuel flow passes therethrough. In an embodiment, the adjustable main body of the ignitor may further include at least one intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion and having the flow path extending therethrough so that the flow path collectively extends through the first body portion, the intermediate body portion, and the second body portion.
In an embodiment, the ignitor may further include one or more telescopic connectors connected to the first body portion and the second body portion, thereby to provide telescopic extension and retraction, so that the first body portion is movable relative to the second body portion based on the one or more telescopic connectors. In an embodiment, a first one of the first body portion and the second body portion of the adjustable main body of the ignitor may include an inner surface sized and having a larger inner diameter so as to slide over an outer surface of a second one of the first body portion and the second body portion having a smaller outer diameter of a size smaller than the larger inner diameter.
In an embodiment, the adjustable main body of the ignitor may further have at least one intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion and the second body portion and having the flow path extending therethrough so that the flow path collectively extends through the first body portion, the intermediate body portion, and the second body portion. The first body portion may also have a first inner surface in slidable contact with a first outer surface of the at least one intermediate body portion, and the at least one intermediate body portion may also have a second inner surface in slidable contact with a second outer surface of the second body portion.
In an embodiment, a first one of the first body portion and the second body portion may include internal threads having a larger inner diameter so as to threadedly engage with external threads of a second one of the first body portion and the second body portion having a smaller outer diameter of a size smaller than the larger inner diameter, thereby to enable threaded extension and retraction of the adjustable main body based on rotation along the internal threads and the external threads. In an embodiment, the fuel source may include a gas source and the ignitor may further include a fuel source connector connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, thereby to connect the gas source to be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The gas source may include a gas tank or an industrial gas supply.
Still other aspects and advantages of these and other embodiments are discussed in detail herein. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing information and the following detailed description provide merely illustrative examples of various aspects and embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and embodiments. Accordingly, the advantages and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent through reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and may exist in various combinations and permutations.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following descriptions, claims, and accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only several embodiments of the disclosure and, therefore, are not to be considered limiting of the scope of the disclosure.
So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, as well as others, which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, a more particular description of embodiments of systems and methods briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, in which one or more are further illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the systems and methods disclosed herein as it may include other effective embodiments as well.
An ignitor may generally describe an ignition device of an ignitor system that is used to provide a spark or flame to ignite a flame-based component, such as a burner in a furnace or heater. As noted above, traditional ignition devices for industrial fired equipment may lack adjustability and be inconvenient or unsuitable to use for lighting pilot flames and/or main flames of certain, less-accessible burners. Moreover, certain ignition devices may be completely electric-based, relying on sparks provided at the end of a rod and generated by a suitably powerful battery or power source to light burners. However, these electric-based devices provide ignition energy in the form of sparks that cover a notably small physical area and, thus, are often unsuitable for lighting flames at positions that cannot be directly contacted by the generated sparks. Accordingly, the present disclosure recognizes these problems and addresses them with the disclosed embodiments of retractable and extendable portable ignitor systems and associated methods for lighting industrial fired equipment. Indeed, embodiments of ignitors disclosed herein include gas-fed devices capable of delivering flames to burners with a robust area of effect or margin, thereby providing reliable, customizable, and convenient ignition to burners, based on extension and retraction along a longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, a portable ignitor system includes an ignitor having a main body that is provided with mechanical components that enable retraction and extension of a length of the main body, thereby providing adjustability to reach any suitable burner. For example, in certain embodiments, the main body includes telescoping body portions that may slide relative to one another to provide telescopic extension and retraction. In some embodiments, the main body may include threaded body portions that may be rotated relative to one another about a longitudinal axis to provide threaded extension and retraction and/or to lock the ignitor at a target operating length. The ignitor system may be gas-fed, such as by providing a proximal end of the ignitor with fuel gas from a gas tank or canister and/or an industrial gas supply. In certain embodiments, the ignitor may include an internal conduit within the main body that directs the fuel gas from the proximal end to a distal end of the ignitor. Additionally, some embodiments include the ignitor having sealing elements fitted to the main body to form a fluid-tight flow path with inner surfaces of the main body itself.
Accordingly, the adjustability of the length of the ignitor enables a single ignitor system to be used in an embodiment of a method to light pilots or burners of fired equipment both (i) in tighter spaces than previously accessible by traditional ignitors and, additionally, (ii) in overhead applications that were previously out of reach from the traditional ignitors. The ignitor of certain embodiments may have a similar diameter to diameters of existing ignitors and, therefore, be usable to deliver fueled flames to an ignition area of a pilot or burner through existing equipment openings, without necessitating equipment modifications. Moreover, the adjustable portable ignitor is usable with all or a majority of operating units in industries that implement fired equipment, such as refining or manufacturing industries. These and other features, as well as their use and benefits, are described herein with reference to the figures.
Generally, the burner 22 of the fired heater 20 may sustain a flame at or proximate the fuel gas tip 34 to facilitate combustion of the fuel gas within a combustion zone during operation of the fired heater 20. Additionally, to reestablish the flame during or after startup processes, a fueled flame 40 of the ignitor 12 may be used to light the burner 22 or a pilot burner thereof. As such, certain embodiments include an opening 42 through the burner body 30 to enable a technician to position the ignitor 12 close to the fuel gas tip 34 or pilot burner and light the burner 22. In embodiments, the opening 42 is provided through the burner body 30 or heater body 26 in any suitable position from which the burner 22 may be lit. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes a well 44 or excavation in ground 46 beneath the fired heater 20, which may be supported by metal beams 50. The opening 42 may be positioned in a bottom surface 52 of the burner body 30, such that a technician standing in the well 44 may direct the ignitor 12 vertically upward and through the opening 42 for lighting the burner 22.
The ignitor 12 may include a main body 60 or adjustable main body having two or more body portions 62 that are movable relative to one another along the longitudinal axis 14 to adjust an operating length 64 of the ignitor 12. In some embodiments, the body portions 62 include a first body portion 62a and a second body portion 62b. The operating length 64 of the ignitor 12 may be dynamically adjusted in the present embodiments to correspond to a burner height 66 of the burner body 30. That is, in situations in which the fuel gas tip 34 is positioned away from the opening 42 by a first distance, the ignitor 12 may be adjusted to a length that corresponds to the first distance. Then, for another fuel gas tip 34 positioned away from the opening by a second distance, larger than the first distance, the ignitor 12 may be extended or elongated to a longer length corresponding to the second distance. Indeed, certain embodiments of the ignitor 12 are continuously adjustable, such as by extending or retracting the main body 60 to any target operating length of multiple operating lengths. As discussed below, the ignitor 12 may include telescopic features, threaded features, or any other suitable features to facilitate length adjustment of the main body 60 in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis 14.
The ignitor 12 of some embodiments may receive fuel gas to maintain the fueled flame 40 from a suitable fuel source, such as a gas tank 70, an industrial gas supply 72, or a combination thereof. The gas tank 70 may include any suitable pressurized vessel containing fuel gas. In certain embodiments, the gas tank 70 may include a physical form factor and/or weight that enables a technician to move or transport the gas tank 70 along with the ignitor 12 throughout a facility, such as between various equipment to be lit. As such, the gas tank 70 and the ignitor 12 of certain embodiments are portable. The industrial gas supply 72 may include any suitable source of fuel gas that is integrated with the facility, such as a pipeline, a refining process, and so forth. The gas tank 70 and/or the industrial gas supply 72 may provide the fuel gas to the ignitor 12 via a fuel conduit 74 or multiple fuel conduits 74. In embodiments, the ignitor system 10 includes one or more control valves 76 disposed along the fuel conduit 74, which may be manually or electronically actuated to start, adjust, and/or stop fuel flow to the ignitor 12. The control valves 76 may be include a first control valve 76a adjacent to the ignitor 12, a second control valve 76b adjacent to the gas tank 70, and/or a third control valve 76c adjacent to the industrial gas supply 72, in some embodiments. As a non-limiting example of fueling the ignitor 12, the second control valve 76b or third control valve 76c may be opened to fill the fuel conduit 74 with fuel gas. Then, the first control valve 76a may be opened to supply a controlled flowrate of the fuel gas into the ignitor 12. The ignitor 12 may be supplied with fuel via control valves 76 and/or other flow control devices arranged in any suitable manner, in certain embodiments.
Additionally, the ignitor 12 may be connected to and in fluid communication with the fuel conduit 74 in one of the multiple ways disclosed herein, as described below with reference to later figures. In embodiments, the ignitor 12 includes a proximal end 80 that receives the fuel gas into the main body 60 and a distal end 82 that directs the fuel gas out of the main body 60. Accordingly, fuel gas near the distal end 82 of the ignitor 12 may be ignited to establish a fueled flame 40 at the distal end 82. In an embodiment, a sparking assembly may be provided or mounted near the distal end 82 of the ignitor 12 and may be activated to ignite the fuel gas of the ignitor 12. In some embodiments, a technician may manually ignite the fuel gas of the ignitor 12 using a separate or handheld lighter, sparker, match, and so forth.
Once lit, the ignitor 12 may be used to direct the stable, fueled flame 40 to the fuel gas tip 34 of the burner 22 to ignite the burner 22. The ignitor 12 may be extended or retracted to reach the fuel gas tip 34 in less accessible positions more conveniently than non-extendable ignitors, in some embodiments. Additionally, use of fuel gas to feed the fueled flame 40 may provide the fueled flame 40 with a target flame width or size that is capable of reaching burners at positions laterally offset from the ignitor 12, unlike electric-based ignitors that may only provide sufficient ignition energy in small areas that are directly contacted by their working ends. The ignitor 12 of embodiments disclosed herein therefore includes enhanced versatility and maneuverability, based on extension and retraction along the longitudinal axis 14 in conjunction with fuel-fed nature of the ignitor 12.
In certain embodiments, the ignitor 12 may include a main body 60 having two or more body portions 62. For example, the main body 60 may include a first body portion 62a or distal body portion that is movable relative to a second body portion 62b or a proximal body portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 60 also includes a third body portion 62c or intermediate body portion positioned between the first body portion 62a and the second body portion 62b. Any suitable number of intermediate body portions may be positioned between the first body portion 62a and the second body portion 62b, in certain embodiments, such as zero, one, two, three, four, or more intermediate body portions. Additionally, each of the body portions 62 may be formed with any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical and/or tapered shape. The ignitor 12 may be adjusted in length based on selective application of mechanical force to cause movement between the body portions 62, thus providing a target operating length for lighting industrial fired equipment. For instance, the first operating length of
In more detail, each body portion includes a respective length defined along a longitudinal direction, such that the first body portion 62a includes a first length, the second body portion 62b includes a second length, and the third body portion 62c includes a third length. In certain embodiments, each of the body portions 62 may be movable relative to one another along the longitudinal direction to adjust an amount of their respective lengths that overlap with adjacent body portions and establish an overall length of the ignitor 12. For example, the first body portion 62a having the first length may be moved relative to the third body portion 62c having the third length so as to extend or retract the main body 60 to a desired or target operating length, based on overlapping of the first length with the third length. The main body 60 may also include any suitable ergonomic features to facilitate wielding the ignitor 12, such as a handle 104 positioned near a proximal end 80 of the main body 60.
Additionally, the ignitor 12 may include a flow path extending through the main body 60, where a fluid inlet 110 is positioned at the proximal end 80 of the flow path (within the second body portion 62b) and a fluid outlet 112 is positioned at a distal end of the flow path (within the first body portion 62a). In certain embodiments, the flow path is open for fluid flow in each operating length of the ignitor. The fluid inlet 110 may receive a fuel flow and direct the fuel flow through the flow path and to the fluid outlet 112. In certain embodiments having one or more intermediate body portions, the flow path collectively extends through the second body portion 62b, each intermediate body portion, and the first body portion 62a. The ignitor 12 of certain embodiments may also include a fuel source connector 114 or fuel coupler that is connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet 110. Additionally, the fuel source connector 114 may be connected to and in fluid communication with the fuel conduit 74 that provides fuel gas from a suitable fuel source, such as a gas source. As such, the fuel gas from the fuel source may be provided to the ignitor 12 through the fuel source connector 114. In some embodiments, the fuel conduit 74 may be reversibly removable from the fuel source connector 114 for storage or maintenance of the ignitor 12, such as with a threaded connection or snap fit connectors. Further examples of embodiments of the ignitor 12, the adjustability of its length, and the fuel path therein are provided with reference to later figures.
In some embodiments, the ignitor 12 includes a sparking assembly 102 connected to the main body 60 proximate the fluid outlet 112 to provide an ignition spark to the fuel flow when passing through the flow path, thus maintaining a fueled flame 40 proximate the fluid outlet 112. In some embodiments, the sparking assembly 102 is provided near the distal end 82 of the main body 60. The sparking assembly 102 may be mounted on or attached to the main body 60 of the ignitor 12 via any suitable fasteners, coupling mechanisms, and/or adhesives. As such, the sparking assembly 102 is positioned to provide an ignition spark to fuel gas as it exits through the fluid outlet 112 of the fuel path within the main body 60, thus establishing the fueled flame 40 proximate the fluid outlet 112.
As illustrated in
The illustrated embodiment of the sparking assembly 102 is provided as one non-limiting example, and other arrangements or components may be provided to ignite the fuel gas of the ignitor 12. For example, some embodiments may include positioning the sparking tip 124 of the sparking assembly 102 through an opening in a wall 134 proximate the distal end 82 of the main body 60 to provide the ignition spark to the fuel gas therein. In some embodiments, the sparking tip 124 may be included as a spark plug that is electrically coupled to the battery 122 and the spark controller 130. In certain embodiments, once activated, the sparking assembly 102 may generate sparks for a predetermined amount of time, such as 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, and so forth. As such, the sparking assembly 102 may efficiently apply activation energy to ignite fuel gas from its position near the distal end 82 of the main body 60. This positioning and small form factor may also increase a wear resistance of the sparking assembly 102, compared to other sparking devices that may be actuated and/or powered from a distant portion of a main device, such as near a handle. In some embodiments, the sparking assembly 102 or its battery 122 may be efficiently maintained or replaced at appropriate service intervals, based on its positioning along an external surface of the main body 60. Accordingly, the sparking assembly 102 may be provided onto any suitable ignitor 12 disclosed herein to increase the case by which fuel flow of the ignitor 12 may be ignited.
With the above context and details in mind, further discussion is provided to various embodiments of the ignitor 12 and its operation. For improved understanding, certain non-limiting examples of the ignitor 12 are denoted via reference characters 12a, 12a′, 12b, 12c, 12d, and 12c, which may each include respective features. However, it should be understood that one or more features of the embodiments of these ignitors 12 may be combined in any suitable manner.
As noted above, the ignitor 12a may include a flow path 160 within the main body 60. In certain embodiments, the flow path 160 includes or is formed by a conduit 162 that is disposed within and extending substantially the entire length of the main body 60. For example, the conduit may extend through each body portion of the main body 60. The conduit 162 of certain embodiments may be an end segment of a fuel conduit that is coupled to a fuel source. In some embodiments, the conduit 162 is a separate component that is coupled to and in fluid communication with the fuel conduit. The ignitor 12a may also include a fuel source connector 114 at a distal end of the flow path 160 within the ignitor 12a, provided to facilitate retention and/or placement of the conduit 162 within the ignitor 12a. In certain embodiments, the fuel source connector 114 is in slidable contact with an outer surface 164 of the conduit 162. For example, the conduit 162 may be moved along the longitudinal axis 14 relative to the fuel source connector 114 to adjust a length of the conduit 162 that is positioned inside an interior volume 166 or cavity of the ignitor 12a, in some embodiments.
In certain embodiments, the ignitor 12a includes one or more telescopic connectors 170, mechanisms, or joints that provide telescopic extension and retraction to enable the body portions 62 of the main body 60 to move relative to one another. The main body 60 may include a first body portion 62a proximate a distal end 82 of the main body 60 and a second body portion 62b proximate a proximal end 80 of the main body 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 60 also includes a third body portion 62c (or first intermediate body portion) and a fourth body portion 62d (or second intermediate body portion) longitudinally between the first body portion 62a and the second body portion 62b.
In certain embodiments, a telescopic connector 170 may be formed or disposed between each adjacent pair of the body portions 62 to provide telescopic extension and retraction between each of the pairs. For example, telescopic connectors 170 may be provided between the first and third body portions 62a, 62c, between the third and fourth body portions 62c, 62d, and between the fourth and second body portions 62d, 62b. The main body 60 may be dynamically adjusted in length via movement of one or more body portions along the longitudinal axis 14, based on the telescopic connectors 170.
The body portions 62 of the main body 60 may also include specifically sized inner and outer diameters that facilitate the telescopic extension and contraction provided by the telescopic connectors 170. In certain embodiments, the body portions 62 progressively increase or decrease in size relative to the longitudinal axis 14, such that adjacent body portions 62 may extend over smaller body portions and/or retract into larger body portions to provide the main body with a target operating length. For example, a larger body portion may include an inner surface that is sized to include a larger inner diameter, which may slide over an outer surface of a smaller body portion having a smaller outer diameter of a size smaller than the larger inner diameter. As a non-limiting example, the illustrated embodiment includes the first body portion 62a having a first outer surface 172 with a first outer diameter 174 and the second body portion 62b having a second inner surface 176 with a second inner diameter 178, where the first outer diameter 174 is smaller than the second inner diameter 178.
In certain embodiments, any included intermediate body portions, such as the illustrated third and fourth body portions 62c, 62d, may include similar inner and outer diameters that interleave between the first and second body portions 62a, 62b. In further detail, the third body portion 62c may include a third inner surface 180 having a third inner diameter 182 and a third outer surface 184 having a third outer diameter 186, and the fourth body portion 62d may include a fourth inner surface 188 having a fourth inner diameter 190 and a fourth outer surface 192 having a fourth outer diameter 194. To enable the telescopic extension and retraction of certain embodiments, the first outer diameter 174 is smaller than the third inner diameter 182, the third outer diameter 186 is smaller than the fourth inner diameter 190, and the fourth outer diameter 194 is smaller than the second inner diameter 178. It should be understood that this arrangement may be applied to ignitors 12a having any suitable number of body portions 62, such as two, three, four, five, six, or more, to enable slidable contact between interfacing pairs of inner and outer surfaces. Additionally, certain embodiments of the ignitor 12a may include different dimensions or orientations than the dimensions illustrated in the figures, which are provided as a non-limiting example. For example, in some embodiments, the first body portion 62a may be sized to closely overlap with the conduit 162, such that a smaller annular gap or no annular gap is provided between the conduit 162 and the first body portion 62a.
The conduit 162 of certain embodiments may be coupled to the first body portion 62a or the distal end 82 of the ignitor 12a to efficiently integrate with the telescopic extension and retraction of the ignitor 12a. As one example, a conduit retainer 200 may be installed between a distal conduit end 202 and a first inner surface 204 of the first body portion 62a to retain the distal conduit end 202 within the first body portion 62a of the main body 60. The conduit retainer 200 may be any suitable fastening mechanism, such as a threaded connection or a welded connection between the first body portion 62a and the conduit 162. In certain embodiments, the conduit retainer 200 may include an annular component, such as a solid or perforated annulus, that is welded, adhered, threaded with, or otherwise attached between the first body portion 62a and the conduit 162. The conduit retainer 200 may be positioned in any suitable location within the first body portion 62a, including those further from or closer to the distal end of the main body 60.
The telescopic extension and retraction of the main body 60 of embodiments disclosed herein may also adjust an amount of the conduit 162 that is covered or revealed by the main body 60. For instance, the conduit 162 may protrude from or recede into the main body 60 based on movement of the body portions 62, in some embodiments. As an example, the ignitor 12a of
In some embodiments, the vents 230 may additionally or alternatively be provided to facilitate cleaning or maintenance actions for the ignitor 12a′. For example, the vents 230 may increase an case by which inner surfaces of the ignitor 12a′ may be cleaned, such as with compressed air or a cleaning solvent provided and subsequently removed through the vents 230. The conduit retainer 200 may be positioned at the distal end 82 of the ignitor 12a′ in some embodiments, illustrating another suitable position in which the conduit 162 may be attached to the first body portion 62a.
As previously described, the ignitor 12b may include the main body 60 having telescopic connectors 170 that enable telescopic extension and retraction of the body portions 62 along the longitudinal axis 14. For example, the main body 60 may include the first and second body portions 62a, 62b and any suitable number of intermediate body portions, such as the third and fourth body portions 62c, 62d. The ignitor 12b may be dynamically adjusted in length based on movement of one or more body portions 62 relative to one another along the longitudinal axis 14, in some embodiments.
In certain embodiments, the ignitor 12b includes a flow path 160 to direct a fuel gas through the main body 60. Compared to embodiments having an internal conduit, the flow path 160 of some embodiments may be fully or partially defined by inner surfaces 250 of the main body 60. For instance, radially outward bounds of the flow path 160 may be defined by the inner surfaces 250 of each of the body portions 62 of the main body 60. In some embodiments, the flow path 160 may span all or a portion of the interior volume 166 of the main body 60. The flow path 160 may be generally separated from a surrounding environment 210 by walls of the main body 60. Additionally, a fluid outlet 112 of the flow path 160 may be provided through the distal end 82 of the main body 60, while a fluid inlet 110 of the flow path 160 may be provided through the proximal end 80 of the main body 60.
Additionally, the ignitor 12b may include one or more sealing components 260 to facilitate sealing the flow path 160 from the surrounding environment 210. A sealing component 260 may be fit or provided at a receiving cavity 262 or chamber formed between each adjoining pair of body portions 62. In some embodiments, the sealing components 260 include an O-ring, a gasket, or any other suitable component for blocking fluid flow. The sealing components 260 may be retained within the receiving cavity 262 with adhesive, a friction fit, or any suitable retaining device, in certain embodiments. As one example, a scaling component 260 may be disposed between the first and second body portions 62a, 62b, thereby to provide fluid sealing of the inner surfaces 250 of the flow path between the first and second body portions 62a, 62b. During operation of the ignitor 12b, the fuel flow therefore passes through the flow path 160 without inadvertent leaking, in certain embodiments.
In some embodiments, the telescopic connectors 170 may include an annular cap 264 or abutment positioned to retain the body portions 62 in mechanical connection with one another. In certain embodiments, the annular caps 264 may also cooperate with the sealing components 260 to facilitate the mechanical connection of the body portions 62, such as by contacting a respective sealing components 260 when a corresponding body portion 62 is at a maximum displacement from adjacent body portions 62. The annular cap 264 of each telescopic connector 170 may have an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of a smaller body portion and that is smaller than an inner diameter of a larger body portion. As such, the annular cap 264 of certain embodiments may define bounds of a minimum displacement and a maximum displacement of the smaller body portion, in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the telescopic connectors 170 may include any mechanical features in addition or alternative to the annular caps 264 to provide each body portion 62 with a target range of movement along the longitudinal axis 14.
The proximal end 80 of the main body 60 may be connected to and in fluid connection with the fuel conduit 74, in certain embodiments, thereby enabling fuel gas from the fuel source to enter the flow path 160. In some embodiments, the ignitor 12b may include a fuel source connector 114 to retain the fuel conduit 74 in connection with the main body 60. The fuel source connector 114 may be any suitable fastening component, such as a threaded connector, a snap fit connector, a welded joint, an adhesive-based joint, and so forth. In certain embodiments, the fuel source connector 114 and the fuel conduit 74 include compatible fastening components, such as one including an internally threaded stub that receives and retains an externally threaded stub of the other. The components of the ignitor 12b disclosed herein may therefore operate together to provide telescopic extension and retraction of the main body 60 to target operating lengths, of which various example are illustrated in
As mentioned above, the ignitor 12 may be extendable and retractable by any suitable mechanisms to provide dynamic length adjustability while delivering a fuel-fed flame for lighting burners of industrial fired equipment. As further example,
The main body 60 may include two or more body portions 62 that enable extension and retraction based on movement therebetween, such as a first body portion 62a and second body portion 62b. In certain embodiments, the main body 60 also includes one or more intermediate body portions, such as a third body portion 62c, positioned between the first and second body portions 62a, 62b. The conduit 162 may extend along a longitudinal axis 14 through each of the body portions 62 to provide the flow path 160 for fuel gas to traverse the ignitor 12. As such, a fluid outlet 112 of the flow path 160 may be defined at a distal end 82 of the main body 60, while a fluid inlet 110 of the flow path 160 may be defined at a proximal end 80 of the main body 60. In certain embodiments, a fuel source connector 114 may be provided at the proximal end 80 of the main body 60 to facilitate slidable motion of the main body 60 relative to the conduit 162.
In some embodiments, the body portions 62 are threadedly connected to one another with respective pairings of threads, such that rotation of a body portion 62 along a circumferential axis 302 or direction defined about the longitudinal axis 14 adjusts a length of the ignitor 12c. The threaded engagement of the body portions 62 thus provides for the conversion of rotational motion into a corresponding amount of longitudinal motion. As an example, the second body portion 62b may include internal threads 310 that engage with external threads 312 of the third body portion 62c as a first threaded connector, and the third body portion 62c may include internal threads 310 that engage with external threads 312 of the first body portion 62a as a second threaded connector. One or more body portions 62 may be rotated to adjust an amount of the threads 310, 312 that are interlocked with one another, in some embodiments.
Additionally, the threads 310, 312 may be designed with a suitably high or coarse thread pitch, such that the main body 60 includes a relatively low number of threads per axial distance, in some embodiments. In such cases, a full rotation of a body portion 62 along the circumferential axis 302 may generate a larger displacement along the longitudinal axis 14, thus increasing an case with which the ignitor 12c may be threadedly extended or retracted. It should be understood that the illustrated example is non-limiting, and the specific implementation of the threaded connections may be adjusted on an individual basis to better suit a particular application. For example, the interiority and exteriority of the threads may be reversed at one or more of the threaded connections between the body portions 62. Additionally, any suitable number of body portions 62 may be provided in the main body 60, such as two, three, four, five, six, or more.
With the threaded connections between the body portions 62, the ignitor 12c may be changed to any suitable target operating length, which may retract or extend the main body 60 over the conduit 162. The illustrated embodiment includes the ignitor in a fully extended configuration that covers a maximum amount of the conduit 162. In some embodiments, the ignitor 12c also includes a conduit retainer 200 within the first body portion 62a to mechanically fix a distal conduit end 202 of the conduit 162 relative to the distal end 82 of the main body 60. As such, retracting the main body 60 by a certain length may cause a corresponding length of the conduit 162 to be uncovered, as discussed above with reference to
The ignitor 12d may also include a fuel source connector 114 to retain or secure a fuel conduit 74 with the main body 60. For example, the fuel conduit 74 may be connected to and in fluid communication with an interior volume 166 of the ignitor 12d to supply fuel gas thereto. In some embodiments, the inner surfaces 250 define the flow path 160 for fuel gas within the main body 60. The fuel gas may therefore flow into the fluid inlet 110 at a proximal end 80 of the main body, pass through the flow path 160, and exit through a fluid outlet 112 at a distal end 82 of the ignitor 12d, at which it may be ignited to maintain a fuel-fed flame.
In some embodiments, the ignitor 12d may also include one or more sealing components 320 to further seal the interior volume 166 of the ignitor 12d from a surrounding environment 210. For example, a sealing component 320 may be provided to each threaded connection between two body portions 62. The sealing component 320 may include an O-ring or other suitable seal that is placed within a retaining shelf or retainer of a corresponding body portion 62. As such, the sealing components 320 in the retaining shelves may block the egress of fuel gas through the threaded connections, without interfering with the rotational motion of the threads 310, 312.
In more detail, the main body 60 of the ignitor 12e includes body portions 62 that are telescopically extendable and retractable, in addition to being lockable in a suitable target operating length via threaded locks 330. The main body 60 of the ignitor 12e may include any suitable number and arrangement of body portions 62, such as the illustrated first, second, and third body portions 62a, 62b, 62c. Additionally, the body portions 62 may be formed with any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape, a tapered shape, and/or a truncated conical shape. The body portions 62 may enable extension and retraction based on movement therebetween along a longitudinal axis 14, as described above with reference to
In certain embodiments, the conduit 162 extends along the longitudinal axis 14 through each of the body portions 62 to provide the flow path 160 for fuel gas to traverse the ignitor 12c. Additionally, a fluid outlet 112 of the flow path 160 may be defined at a distal end 82 of the main body 60 and a fluid inlet 110 of the flow path 160 may be defined at a proximal end 80 of the main body 60. In certain embodiments, a fuel source connector 114 may be provided at the proximal end 80 of the main body 60 to facilitate slidable motion of the main body 60 relative to the conduit 162. In some embodiments, the ignitor 12e also includes a conduit retainer 200 within the first body portion 62a to mechanically fix a distal conduit end 202 of the conduit 162 relative to the distal end 82 of the main body 60. As such, retracting or shortening the main body 60 by a certain length may cause a corresponding length of the conduit 162 to be uncovered, as detailed above.
The ignitor 12e may include the threaded locks 330 that cooperate with the body portions 62 without interfering with the conduit 162 to secure, lock, or otherwise maintain the main body 60 at a target operating length, in certain embodiments. The ignitor 12e may include a threaded lock 330 for each junction or connection between body portions 62. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes a first threaded lock 330 between the first body portion 62a and the third body portion 62c and includes a second threaded lock 330 between the third body portion and the second body portion 62b. In some embodiments, each threaded lock 330 may include external locking threads 332 and internal locking threads 334 positioned at the junctions between the body portions 62. The external locking threads 332 and the internal locking threads 334 of each threaded lock 330 may be provided on corresponding outer and inner surfaces of the body portions 62. Moreover, in some embodiments, the external locking threads 332 are positioned at a proximal end of its respective body portion 62 (nearer the proximal end 80 of the main body 60), while the corresponding internal locking threads 334 are positioned at a distal end of its respective body portion 62 (nearer the distal end 82 of the main body 60). In other embodiments in which the first body portion 62a is larger in diameter than the second body portion 62b and the third body portion 62c, the positioning of the external locking threads 332 and the internal locking threads 334 may be correspondingly reversed or adjusted.
To selectively engage the threaded locks 330, one or more body portions 62 may be rotated along a circumferential axis 302 to interlock the external locking threads 332 with the internal locking threads 334. Additionally, the threaded locks 330 may be selectively disengaged by rotating the one or more body portions 62 in a reversed direction to separate the external locking threads 332 from the internal locking threads 334, in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the body portions 62 may be individually extended or retracted to establish a target operating length for the ignitor 12e. The independent adjustability of each body portion 62 thus enables the efficient movement and securement of the ignitor into a suitable operating length.
For example, in certain embodiments, each body portion 62 may be moved to one of a retracted configuration, an extended configuration, or an extended and locked configuration in which its corresponding threaded lock 330 is engaged. The ignitor 12e may thus be positioned in a fully expanded configuration (as in
The ignitor controller 352 of various embodiments disclosed herein may include one or more processors, such as processor 354, as well as a memory or machine-readable storage medium, such as memory 356. As used herein, a “machine-readable storage medium” may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage apparatus to contain or store information such as executable instructions, data, and the like. For example, any machine-readable storage medium described herein may be any of random access memory (RAM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, flash memory, a storage drive, a hard drive, a solid state drive, any type of storage disc, and the like, or a combination thereof. The memory 356 may store or include instructions executable by the processor 354. As used herein, a “processor” may include, for example one processor or multiple processors included in a single device or distributed across multiple computing devices. The processor 354 may be at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to retrieve and execute instructions, a real time processor (RTP), other electronic circuitry suitable for the retrieval and execution instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium, or a combination thereof.
As used herein, “signal communication” refers to electric communication such as hard wiring two components together or wireless communication, as understood by those skilled in the art. For example, wireless communication may be Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, ZigBee, or forms of near field communications. In addition, signal communication may include one or more intermediate controllers or relays disposed between elements that are in signal communication with one another. In the drawings and specification, several embodiments of ignitor systems 10 and ignitors 12 are disclosed. The ignitor controller 352 may include any suitable instructions to control operation of ignitor systems 10 and their ignitors 12 according to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the ignitor controller 352 may include instructions for suitable software applications, routines, or programming to actuate and/or activate the ignitor 12. In certain embodiments, the instructions provide for a fuel gas module 360, a sparking assembly module 362, and length control module 364 that interoperate to control the ignitor 12.
The ignitor controller 352 may be in signal communication with various components associated with the ignitor 12 and ignitor system 10, in some embodiments. For example, the ignitor controller 352 may be in signal communication with one or more control valves 76 of a fuel supply system, a spark controller 130 of a sparking assembly 102, and/or one or more actuators 370 of the ignitor 12. In more detail, the fuel gas module 360 may be provided to provide instructions to a control valve 76 associated with flow of fuel gas to the ignitor 12. In some embodiments, the control valve 76 includes one or more of the control valves discussed above with reference to
The sparking assembly module 362 may provide instructions to the spark controller 130, in some embodiments. For instance, the sparking assembly module 362 may instruct the spark controller 130 to generate one or more sparks that ignite the fuel flow of the ignitor 12, via the sparking assembly discussed above. The sparking assembly module 362 may therefore cause spark generation in response to any suitable ignition criteria being met. As examples, the ignition criteria may be met in response to receiving data indicative of a technician requesting the sparks be generated, data indicative of a threshold time passing since the control valve 76 has been moved to a fully or partially open position, data indicative of a sensor associated with the ignitor 12 detecting fuel gas proximate the sparking assembly, and so forth.
In some embodiments, the length control module 364 provides instructions to the actuator 370 to instruct the actuator 370 to adjust the ignitor 12 to a target operating length by extending or retracting the main body. In certain embodiments, the actuator 370 includes a motor coupled to or within the ignitor 12 to apply force to one or more body portions of the ignitor 12. The actuator 370 may also include a spring release mechanism that causes extension and/or retraction of the main body, in some embodiments. For example, the actuator 370 may include a spring-biasing coupler that is operatively coupled to the main body to facilitate its extension and retraction. Indeed, any suitable actuator 370 may be included in the control system 350 to facilitate the selective length adjustment of the ignitor 12, according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
At block 402, the method includes providing an ignitor 12 having a main body 60 and a flow path extending through the main body 60. The ignitor 12 may be any of the ignitors discussed above, in certain embodiments. For example, the ignitor 12 may include a conduit within the main body 60 to define the flow path or may include inner surfaces that define the flow path 160 without a conduit, in certain embodiments. Additionally, the ignitor 12 of certain embodiments may include telescopic connectors and/or threaded connectors to enable the main body to be adjusted in length based on telescopic and/or threaded extension and retraction. The ignitor 12 may include a first body portion, a second body portion, and one or more intermediate body portions positioned between the first and second body portions, in some embodiments.
At block 404, the method 400 includes configuring the main body 60 to a target operating length. In certain embodiments, the main body 60 is configured to the target operating length by moving the first body portion relative to the second body portion along a longitudinal axis so as to extend or retract the main body to a target operating length of a plurality of operating lengths. In telescopic embodiments, the ignitor 12 may be adjusted in length by sliding one or more of the body portions relative to other body portions, as described above with reference to ignitors 12a, 12a′, and 12b of
At block 406, the method 400 includes providing a fuel flow along the flow path through the main body 60. As noted above with respect to
At block 408, the method 400 includes igniting the fuel flow proximate a fluid outlet of the flow path to form a stable flame. The fluid outlet may be positioned at a distal end of the fuel flow path of the main body 60, in some embodiments. In certain embodiments, the fuel flow may be ignited based on actuation of a sparking device near the fluid outlet. The sparking device may be coupled to the main body 60, in some embodiments. Additionally, certain embodiments include actuating the sparking assembly via a controller providing instructions to the sparking assembly. In some embodiments, the fuel flow may be ignited manually, such as by a technician generating a spark or flame with a handheld component like a match or a flint assembly. As such, igniting the fuel flow of the ignitor therefore ignites and maintains a fueled flame adjacent the distal end of the fuel flow path.
At block 410, the method 400 includes directing the stable flame to an unlit burner of an industrial fired equipment. In some embodiments, the stable flame may be used to ignite fuel of an unlit pilot burner and/or a main burner associated with the industrial fired equipment. As noted herein, the adjustability of the length of the ignitor 12 facilitates the lighting of equipment having access points that may otherwise be inaccessible or inconvenient to access with ignitor systems without the features disclosed herein.
At block 452, the method 450 includes receiving an indication of a target operating length for an ignitor 12 having a main body 60 and a flow path extending through the main body 60. In certain embodiments, the ignitor controller 352 may receive the indication from a user device associated with a technician using the ignitor 12. In some embodiments, the indication may be received on a user interface that is coupled to or integrated with the ignitor 12, such as a keypad, one or more actuatable buttons, a touch screen, a slider, and so forth.
At block 454, the method 450 includes instructing an actuator 370 to configure the main body 60 to the target operating length. The ignitor controller 352 of some embodiments may instruct the actuator to apply force to a particular body portion of the main body 60, thereby moving the particular body portion relative to another body portion and changing the length of the ignitor 12. As described above, the ignitor 12 may be extendable and retractable based on the interoperation of various components therein, such as telescopically connected body portions and/or threadedly coupled body portions.
At block 456, the method 450 includes instructing a control valve 76 to provide a fuel flow along the flow path through the main body 60. In some embodiments, the ignitor controller 352 instructs the control valve 76 to adjust to an open or partially open position, which fluidly connects the ignitor 12 to a fuel source, such as a gas tank and/or an industrial gas supply. The fuel flow may therefore enter a fluid inlet of the ignitor 12, flow along the flow path, and reach a fluid outlet of the ignitor 12 for ignition. As discussed above, the flow path may be defined by a conduit within and/or defined by inner surfaces of the main body 60, in certain embodiments.
At block 458, the method 450 includes instructing a sparking assembly 102 to ignite the fuel flow proximate the fluid outlet of the flow path to form a stable flame for lighting a burner of industrial fired equipment. The ignitor controller 352 of certain embodiments may provide instructions to a spark controller of the sparking assembly 102, which may generate a spark near the fluid outlet of the ignitor 12. Upon being contacted by a spark, the fuel flow may therefore ignite and form a stable flame, which may be efficiently directed to an unlit burner via the ignitor 12. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the fuel-based, portable ignitor 12 disclosed herein may be implemented to light industrial burners with improved efficiency based on extension and retraction of the main body 60 to various operating lengths.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/517,998, filed Aug. 7, 2023, titled “RETRACTABLE AND EXTENDABLE PORTABLE IGNITION SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although specific terms are employed herein, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Embodiments of systems and methods have been described in considerable detail with specific reference to the illustrated embodiments. However, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of systems and methods as described in the foregoing specification, and such modifications and changes are to be considered equivalents and part of this disclosure.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/517,998, filed Aug. 7, 2023, titled “RETRACTABLE AND EXTENDABLE PORTABLE IGNITION SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63517998 | Aug 2023 | US |
