Wick of flame device

Abstract

A wick configured from a single metallic meshed wick material continuously includes a spiral section with a shape including at least one loop, and a folded section with a shape including a fold. A first length extends away from the spiral section to the fold and along a first imaginary plane, and a second length extends from the fold to the spiral section and along a second imaginary plane. A wrapped section has a shape including at least one contour conforming shapes of the spiral and folded sections.

Claims

1. A flame device comprising: a fuel reservoir; a modular wick holder disposed on the fuel reservoir and including a first wick holder assembly and a second wick holder assembly, wherein the first and second wick holder assemblies include an adjuster operably engaged therewith, wherein the first and second wick holder assemblies are joined together and disposed symmetrical to each other, wherein the first and second wick holder assemblies respectively include a first projection and a second projection disposed oppositely and correspondingly, wherein the first and second projections delimit a space therebetween, and wherein a size of the space is adapted to be changed by operating the adjuster; a wick configured from a single metallic meshed wick material respectively forming a spiral section, a flat folded section, and a wrapped section, wherein the spiral section, the flat folded section and the wrapped section are continuously connected, wherein the spiral section includes at least one loop curled about an imaginary axis, wherein the flat folded section extends from the spiral section and includes a first length extending away from the spiral section along a first imaginary plane to a fold and a second length extending from the fold toward the spiral section along a second imaginary plane, wherein the first and second imaginary planes extend in parallel and are disposed in a spaced relationship with each other, wherein the first and second imaginary planes are spaced and a distance therebetween is smaller than a diameter of the spiral section about the imaginary axis, wherein the wrapped section extends from the flat folded section and includes at least one contour conforming with a shape wrapping around the spiral section and the first and second lengths and the fold of the flat folded section, and wherein the wick is securely held in the space.

2. The flame device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic meshed wick material has a head end and a tail end and defines first, second, and third sections subsequently in a direction from the head end toward the tail end, wherein the first, second and third sections are shaped to form the spiral, folded and wrapped sections of the wick, respectively, and wherein the tail end defines a finish end of the wrapped section.

3. The flame device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the finish end of the wrapped section is disposed adjacent to the spiral section.

4. The flame device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the single metallic meshed wick material includes an overall length, between the head and tail ends, in a range between 500 and 550 mm, wherein the single metallic meshed wick material includes a width in a range between 10 and 50 mm, and wherein the first section of the single metallic meshed wick material measures a length in a range between 40 and 45 mm.

5. The flame device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the overall length of the single metallic meshed wick material is 525 mm, wherein the width of the single metallic meshed wick material is in a range between 20 and 45 mm, and wherein the first section of the single metallic meshed wick material measures a length in a range between 40 and 45 mm.

6. The flame device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first section of the single metallic meshed wick material has first and second lateral sides, wherein one of the first and second lateral sides includes at least one first notch, and wherein when the spiral section is formed, the at least one first notch recesses in a direction parallel to the imaginary axis.

7. The flame device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first section of the metallic meshed wick material includes another of the first and second lateral sides having at least one second notch, and wherein when the spiral section is formed, the at least one second notch recesses in a direction parallel to the imaginary axis.

8. The flame device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one first and second notches comprises a plurality of first and second notches.

9. The flame device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first section of the single metallic meshed wick material has a first chamfer extending from the head end to one of the first and second lateral sides.

10. The flame device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first section of the single metallic meshed wick material includes a second chamfer extending from the head end to the other of the first and second lateral sides.

11. The flame device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spiral section and portions of the wrapped sections which are wrapped around and have contours conforming with shapes of the spiral section define semi-opened chambers.

12. The flame device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second imaginary planes are on opposite sides of the imaginary axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wick of a flame device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a wick material of the wick of the first embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the wick material curled to include a spiral section.

(5) FIG. 5 is a continued view of FIG. 4, with the wick material folded to include a fold section.

(6) FIG. 6 is a continued view of FIG. 5, with the wick material shaped to include more concentric loops at the spiral section and more folds at the folded section.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wick of a flame device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 7.

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a flame device with a wick of the second embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9, with the wick disposed in the flame device and drawing fuel to a flame.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a wick of a flame device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 12 shows a wick material of the wick of the third embodiment.

(13) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a wick of a flame device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 13.

(15) FIG. 15 shows a wick material of the wick of the fourth embodiment.

(16) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a wick of a flame device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15.

(18) FIG. 18 shows a wick material of the wick of the fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(19) FIGS. 1 through 7 show a wick 10 of a flame device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The wick 10 is configured from a single metallic meshed wick material 20 continuously and includes a spiral section 30, a folded section 40, and a wrapped section 50. The metallic meshed wick material 20 is in the form of a ribbon, which is long and has flat surfaces.

(20) The spiral section 30 is with a shape including at least one loop curled about an imaginary axis X, and in which the metallic meshed wick material 20 is curled about the imaginary axis X to include the at least one loop.

(21) The folded section 40 is with a shape including a fold, a first length extending away from the spiral section 30 to the fold and along a first imaginary plane S1 and a second length extending from the fold to the spiral section 30 and along a second imaginary plane S2. The first and second imaginary planes S1 and S2 extend in parallel, and the metallic meshed wick material 20 is folded to include the first length extending away from the spiral section 30 and along the first imaginary plane S1 and the second length extending to the spiral section 30 and along the second imaginary plane S2. A distance between the first and second imaginary planes S1 and S2 is smaller than a diameter of the spiral section 30 about the imaginary axis X. The first and second imaginary planes S1 and S2 are on opposite sides of and equally spaced from the imaginary axis X. The folded section 40 is shaped after the spiral section 30.

(22) The wrapped section 50 is with a shape including at least one contour conforming the shapes of the spiral and folded sections 30 and 40, and the metallic meshed wick material 20 is wrapped to include the at least one contour around the spiral and folded sections 30 and 40. The wrapped section 50 includes three contours wrapping the spiral and folded sections 30 and 40.

(23) The metallic meshed wick material 20 has a head end 21 and a tail end 22 and defines first, second, and third sections 23, 24, and 25 subsequently in a direction from the head end 21 toward the tail end 22. The first, second and third sections 23, 24, and 25 are shaped to form the spiral, folded and wrapped sections 30, 40, and 50 of the wick 10, respectively. The tail end 22 defines a finish end of the wrapped section 50. The finish end of the wrapped section 50 is disposed adjacent to the spiral section 30.

(24) The metallic meshed wick material 20 includes an overall length TL, between the head and tail ends 21 and 22, in a range between 500 and 550 mm. The overall length TL of the metallic meshed wick material 20 is 525 mm. The metallic meshed wick material 20 includes a width W in a range between 10 and 50 mm. The width W of the metallic meshed wick material 20 is in a range between 20 and 45 mm. The first section 23 of the metallic meshed wick material 20 measures a length CL in a range between 40 and 45 mm. The length CL of the first section 23 of the metallic meshed wick material 20 is 42 mm. The second section 24 of the metallic meshed wick material 20 measures a length FL in a range between 50 and 55 mm. The length FL of the second section 24 of the metallic meshed wick material 20 is 54 mm.

(25) FIGS. 8 through 10 show a wick 10a of a flame 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. The wicks 10 and 10a are of similar configuration except that the wick 10a has a longer length than that of the wick 10 and proportions between spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30a, 40a, and 50a are different from proportions between the spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30, 40, and 50.

(26) In addition, FIG. 9 shows a flame device 90 with the wick 10a. The flame device 90 includes a fuel reservoir and a modular wick holder 91 disposed on the fuel reservoir. The modular wick holder includes a first wick holder assembly and a second wick holder assembly joined together. The first and second wick holder assemblies are disposed symmetrical to each other. The first wick holder assembly includes a first projection, and the second wick holder assembly includes a second projection opposite and corresponding to the first projection. The first and second projections delimit a space therebetween. When the modular wick holder and the wick 10a are combined, the wick 10a is securely held by the space. At least one adjusting member inserts through the first and second wick holder assemblies and is operable to make the first and second projections closer and the space include a reduced size.

(27) FIGS. 11 and 12 show a wick 10b of a flame device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter b. The wicks 10 and 10b are of similar configuration except that the wick 10b has a length different from that of the wick 10 and proportions between spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30b, 40b, and 50b are different from proportions between the spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30, 40, and 50.

(28) In addition, a metallic meshed wick material 20b has first and second lateral sides 26b and 27b. The first and second lateral sides 26b and 27b face opposite to each other in a width direction. The width W of the metallic meshed material 20b is measured in the width direction. The first section 23b of the metallic meshed wick material 20b has at least one first notch 231b on one of the first and second lateral sides 26b and 27b. The first section 23b of the metallic meshed wick material 20b has at least one second notch 232b on the other of the first and second lateral sides 26b and 27b. The wick 10b includes the at least one loop of the spiral section 30b including the at least one first notch 231b, and the at least one first notch 231b is recessed in a direction parallel to the imaginary axis X. The wick 10b includes the at least one loop of the spiral section 30b including the at least one second notch 232b, and the at least one second notch 232b is recessed in a direction parallel to the imaginary axis X. The first section 23b of the metallic meshed wick material 20b has a plurality of first and second notches 231b and 232b. Each of the plurality of first and second notches 231b and 232b improves the speed that the spiral section 30b evaporates fuel.

(29) FIGS. 13 through 15 show a wick 10c of a flame device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter c. The wicks 10 and 10c are of similar configuration except that the wick 10c has a length different from that of the wick 10 and proportions between spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30c, 40c, and 50c are different from proportions between the spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30, 40, and 50.

(30) In addition, a metallic meshed wick material 20c has a tail end 22c and first and second lateral sides 26c and 27c, and the first section 23c of the metallic meshed wick material 20c has a first chamfer 233c extending from the head end 21c to one of the first and second lateral sides 26c and 27c. The wick 10c includes the at least one loop of the spiral section 30c including the at least one first chamfer 233c. Each of the plurality of loops of the spiral section 30c is of a length along the imaginary axis X. The plurality of loops of the spiral section 30c has different lengths. The plurality of loops delimits the spiral section 30c with a first concave end 31c. The first concave end 31c is of a depth along the imaginary axis X and has a reduced diametrical dimension with respect to the imaginary axis X proportional to the depth. The first section 23c of the metallic meshed wick material 20c has a second chamfer 234c extending from the head end 21c to the other of the first and second lateral sides 26c and 27c. The plurality of loops delimits the spiral section 30d with a second concave end 32c. The first and second concave ends 31e and 32c are opposite to each other. The second concave end 32c is of a depth along the imaginary axis X and has a reduced diametrical dimension with respect to the imaginary axis X proportional to the depth. The first and second chamfers 233c and 234c improve the speed that the spiral section 30c evaporates fuel. The first and second chamfers 233c and 234c have the same triangular shape.

(31) FIGS. 16 through 18 show a wick 10d of a flame device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and the same numbers are used to correlate similar components of the first embodiment, but bearing a letter d. The wicks 10 and 10d are of similar configuration except that the wick 10d has a length different from that of the wick 10 and proportions between spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30d, 40d, and 50d are different from proportions between the spiral, folded, and wrapped sections 30, 40, and 50.

(32) In addition, a metallic meshed wick material 20d has a tail end 22d, a second section 24d, and first and second lateral sides 26d and 27d, and the first section 23d of the metallic meshed wick material 20d has a first chamfer 233d extending from the head end 21d to one of the first and second lateral sides 26d and 27d. The wick 10d includes the at least one loop of the spiral section 30d including the at least one first chamfer 233d. Each of the plurality of loops of the spiral section 30d is of a length along the imaginary axis X. The plurality of loops of the spiral section 30d has different lengths. The plurality of loops delimits the spiral section 30d with a first concave end 31d. The first concave end 31d is of a depth along the imaginary axis X and has a reduced diametrical dimension with respect to the imaginary axis X proportional to the depth. The first section 23d of the metallic meshed wick material 20d has a second chamfer 234d extending from the head end 21d to the other of the first and second lateral sides 26d and 27d. The plurality of loops delimits the spiral section 30d with a second concave end 32d. The first and second concave ends 31d and 32d are opposite to each other. The second concave end 32d is of a depth along the imaginary axis X and has a reduced diametrical dimension with respect to the imaginary axis X proportional to the depth. The first and second chamfers 233d and 234d improve the speed that the spiral section 30d evaporates fuel. The first and second chamfers 233d and 234d have the same triangular shape.

(33) In a real application test, as shown in appendix A, diffusion flames generated by the proposed invention almost do not produce soot particles. It can be proved either by observation from the flame color and does not therefore have a large portion of typical yellow flame. Even increase the flame scale, after long period of combustion in a closed room, the density of mono dioxide measured is still extremely low. This test can prove the effectiveness of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d of the proposed invention. In addition, the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, sampled as Biounifuel/COSFLAMES, also undergo a SGS combustion test, and the SGS combustion test report shows that the sample produces an extremely low density of mono dioxide.

(34) In view of the forgoing, the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are metallic, so they don't burn down and suffer a problem regarding a conventional wick that is made of cotton. Therefore, a user does not need to adjust the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d constantly to control the flame scale.

(35) The wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are metallic, pliable and resilient, and include the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d and portions of the wrapped sections 50, 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d which are wrapped around and have contours conforming with shapes of the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d tending to expand outward diametrically and creating semi-open chambers that open on the top edges of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, as best seen in FIG. 16. Each of these semi-opened chambers not only increases the surface area that exposes to flame and surrounding air for better fuel evaporation but also provides a zone that can slow down the hot combustion products being carried away by strong convection for a larger flame scale.

(36) The wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d can be held by the modular wick holder 91. It is convenient for a user to position the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d on the modular wick holder 91, because the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are of a size greater than that of the space and the spiral section and each have an end that can abut against the modular wick holder 91. In addition, the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c each have an enlarged cross section, thereby evaporating fuel at a faster rate. Then, the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d can be easily ignited.

(37) The wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d draw fuel by capillary action. By changing sizes and numbers of the meshes, the fuel transmission rate of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are adjusted. The wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, however, are modified in the number of the contours and in the length in respect of fuels of different viscosity or having different ignition points. Modifications in the number of the loops and the diameter of the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d can change an area in which fuel contacts air. The spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d not only increase the number of meshes, thereby improving capillary capacity, but also prevent the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d from becoming oversaturated with fuel and suffering fuel accumulation. In addition, spaces between adjacent loops and contours can greatly improve the area in which fuel contacts air.

(38) The spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d under the heat can evaporate fuel at a greater rate, and fuel can discharge from two open ends of the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d that are on two ends of the imaginary axis X. Thus, it is easy to ignite the spiral section 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d from the two open ends. In addition, problems in which fuel can not evaporate easily and the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d can not be ignited easily if too much fuel is absorbed; fuel in a liquid state splashes out of the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d; and black smokes due to incomplete combustion, are overcome.

(39) The spaces in the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d allow the spiral sections 30, 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d to reach a high temperature, thereby improving the rate of fuel evaporation, and further to make the wicks 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d have a better combustion efficiency.

(40) The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.