Combustion Device Capable of Avoiding Overheat

Abstract

A combustion device includes a burner and a shield. The burner includes a fuel container having a top defining an opening. A wick has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end is inserted into the fuel container via the opening, and the top end protrudes outside the fuel container and is at a first height in a vertical direction. The shield defines a space, and the burner is disposed within the space. The shield has a first through-hole extending therethrough and communicating the space and the outside of the shield. The first through-hole is at a second height in the vertical direction, and the second height is less than the first height.

Claims

1. A combustion device comprising: a burner including a fuel container and a wick, wherein the fuel container has a top defining an opening, and a bottom adapted to rest on a plane, wherein the wick has a bottom end and a top end opposite to the bottom end, wherein the bottom end is inserted into the fuel container via the opening, wherein the top end protrudes outside the fuel container and is at a first height in a vertical direction from the bottom; and a shield defining a space and the burner is disposed within the space, wherein the shield has a first through-hole extending therethrough and communicating the space and the outside of the shield, wherein the first through-hole is at a second height in the vertical direction from the bottom, and wherein the second height is less than the first height.

2. The combustion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is at a third height in the vertical direction from the bottom; and wherein the second height is less than the third height.

3. The combustion device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shield has a bottom portion and a top portion opposite to the bottom portion in the vertical direction, and wherein the space extends from the bottom portion to the top portion.

4. The combustion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shield is formed as a monolithic structure having a side wall and a bottom wall, wherein the side wall is shaped as a hollow cylinder and extends from the bottom portion to the top portion in the vertical direction, wherein the bottom wall is connected to the side wall and inwardly extends from the bottom portion in a horizontal direction, and wherein the first through-hole penetrates through the bottom wall.

5. The combustion device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shield has a plurality of second through-hole penetrating through the side wall and communicating the space and the outside of the shield, wherein any one of the plurality of second through-hole is at a fourth height in the vertical direction from the bottom, and wherein the fourth height is less than the first height and the third height.

6. The combustion device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shield has three support legs disposed at the bottom wall and equally spaced around the first through-hole.

7. The combustion device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the three support legs are adapted to stand on the plane, and wherein the fuel container passes through the first through-hole and is placed on the plane.

8. The combustion device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shield has three support legs disposed at the bottom wall and equally spaced around the first through-hole.

9. The combustion device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the three support legs are adapted to stand on the plane, and wherein the fuel container passes through the first through-hole and is placed on the plane.

10. The combustion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shield is transparent to light.

11. The combustion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shield is made of glass.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combustion device of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the combustion device of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the combustion device of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the combustion device of FIG. 1 in use and producing a flame, as well as air circulating the combustion device to allow the combustion device to dissipate heat, with arrows indicating the air.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combustion device of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the combustion device of FIG. 5 and illustrates the combustion device of FIG. 1 in use and producing a flame, as well as air circulating the combustion device to allow the combustion device to dissipate heat, with arrows indicating the air.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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, bottom, side, end, portion, section, spacing, length, depth, 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIGS. 1-4 show a combustion device of a first embodiment according to the present invention. The combustion device 10 includes a burner 20 and a shield 30.

[0027] The burner 20 includes a fuel container 21 and a wick 22. The fuel container 21 has a top defining an opening 23, and a bottom adapted to rest on a plane. The wick 22 has a bottom end 24 and a top end 25 opposite to the bottom end 24. The bottom end 24 is inserted into the fuel container 21 via the opening 23. The top end 25 protrudes outside the fuel container 21 and is at a first height H1 in a vertical direction from the bottom. The opening 23 is at a third height H3 in the vertical direction from the bottom.

[0028] The shield 30 defines a space 31 and the burner 20 is disposed within the space 31. The shield 30 has a bottom portion 32 and a top portion 33 opposite to the bottom portion 32 in the vertical direction. The space 31 extends from the bottom portion 32 to the top portion 33.

[0029] The shield 30 has a first through-hole 34 extending therethrough and communicating the space 31 and the outside of the shield 30. The first through-hole 34 is at a second height H2 in the vertical direction from the bottom, and the second height H2 is less than the first height H1 and the third height H3.

[0030] The shield 30 is transparent to light. Thus, the shield 30 may be made of glass to be formed as a monolithic structure having a side wall 35 and a bottom wall 36. The side wall 35 is shaped as a hollow cylinder and extends from the bottom portion 32 to the top portion 33 in the vertical direction.

[0031] The bottom wall 36 is connected to the side wall 35 and inwardly extends from the bottom portion 32 in a horizontal direction. The first through-hole 34 penetrates through the bottom wall 36.

[0032] The shield 30 has three support legs 37 disposed at the bottom wall 36 and equally spaced around the first through-hole 34. The three support legs 37 are adapted to stand on the plane, and the fuel container 21 passes through the first through-hole 34 and is placed on the plane.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the combustion device 10 in use and producing a flame, as well as air circulating the combustion device 10 to allow the combustion device 10 to dissipate heat, with arrows indicating the air. The combustion device 10 achieves the effect of dissipating heat and stabilizing the flame through the above structure.

[0034] After the wick 22 is ignited, the high temperature air above the wick 22 rises to cause a low pressure area being formed around the wick 22. In order to balance the pressure, external air from the outside of the shield 30 will constantly pour towards the low pressure area in the space 31 via the first through-hole 34, so that the air convection. Thus, the high temperature air above the burner 20 is kept in a rising state and is not easily reflowed. The air convection between the bottom portion 32 and the top portion 33 maintains a stable flame shape and causes the combustion device 10 provided with a good visual effect.

[0035] Further, the high temperature air heated by the flame is not easily reflowed to cause the high-temperature air prevented from contacting the shield 30, so that the temperature of the shield 30 is not excessively high, thereby avoiding the user from being scalded by the shield 30.

[0036] Furthermore, the external air enters the space 31 via the first through-hole 34 arranged at a lower position of the burner 20 to cause the air introduced into the shield 30 contacting the burner 20 to provide continuous heat dissipation for the burner 20. Thus the fuel container 21 can also maintain in a lower temperature.

[0037] FIGS. 5-6 show a combustion device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter a.

[0038] The second embodiment includes a plurality of second through-hole 38a penetrating through the side wall 35a and communicating the space 31a and the outside of the shield 30a to enhanced the air convection effect. Any one of the plurality of second through-hole 38a is at a fourth height H4 in the vertical direction from the bottom, and the fourth height H4 is less than the first height H1 and the third height H3.

[0039] The combination of the first through-hole 34a and the plurality of second through-holes 38a is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The through-holes 34a and 38a can be disposed on the side or the bottom wall of the shield 30a to achieve the same effect. Further, the through-holes 34a and 38a can also be designed to be different sizes or designed to different height positions, the shape of the through-holes 34a and 38a can also be changed to enhance the aesthetic effect.

[0040] 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.