SPARK IGNITION FLAMETHROWER

Abstract

The Spark Ignition Flamethrower may include a plastic or composite housing, a heat shield, fuel manifold, fuel pump, fuel nozzle, electrode, high voltage coil, and control module. The Spark Ignition Flamethrower ignites a fuel using a spark generated by the electrodes without the need for an initial flame. The electrodes may be supplied with high enough voltage to generate a plasma which results in an increased conductive area that increases the efficiency of lighting the fuel. The Spark Ignition Flamethrower may also be oriented in multiple configurations due to the adaptable fuel manifold which is capable of receiving fuel from various fuel sources.

Claims

1. A fuel manifold incorporated into a composite flamethrower with a plasma ignition system, the fuel manifold comprising a check valve/air vent valve, the fuel manifold adaptable to receive fuel from multiple different types of fuel sources including gravity-fed and siphon-fed sources.

2. The fuel manifold of claim 1, wherein the check valve/air vent is configured to allow air to enter the fuel tank source as fuel is consumed.

3. The fuel manifold of claim 1, further comprising a hose adapter configured to connect to a hose to draw fuel from the fuel source into the fuel manifold.

4. The fuel manifold of claim 3, wherein the composite flamethrower is used in either a top grip configuration or a bottom grip configuration, and wherein the fuel manifold is further adaptable in the top grip configuration to receive fuel from the fuel source via gravity, and when the composite flamethrower is rotated, in the bottom grip configuration to receive fuel via a hose connected to the hose adapter which draws fuel from the fuel source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a Spark Ignition Flamethrower according to the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view thereof;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of a second embodiment of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower;

[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded view thereof;

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a nozzle assembly according to the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a third embodiment of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower; and

[0027] FIG. 7 is a close-up, cross-section view of the fuel manifold according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 according to the present disclosure is shown. In one exemplary embodiment, the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 includes a housing 2, a nozzle 4, an electrode 6, and a heat shield assembly 8. The housing 2 may be made of a composite, polymer, plastic, or metal, but is not limited thereto. However, a composite housing made from a suitable polymer or plastic will weigh less and be easier to handle. The housing 2 contains the internal components, which are discussed in subsequent figures. The nozzle 4 is configured to emit a fuel across the electrodes 6. The heat shield assembly 8 is configured to protect the internal components and the housing 2 from excessive heat from the flame, especially in embodiments where the housing 2 is a composite.

[0029] In some embodiments, the heat shield assembly 8 includes a collar 10 and a sheet 12. The heat shield assembly 8 may be comprised of a suitable heat and flame resistant material, such as metal or plastic. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat shield assembly 8 may be aluminum while the housing 2 is comprised of a polymer composite. The sheet 12 may be a mica sheet or any other suitable heat and flame resistant material.

[0030] In some embodiments, the nozzle 4 and electrodes 6 may extend partially through the heat shield assembly 8. In such embodiments, only a small portion of the nozzle 4 and the electrodes 6 are exposed to the heat from the flame.

[0031] In some embodiments, the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 includes an attachment means 20 for attaching the Flamethrower 1 to another weapon, such as a rifle. In one embodiment, the attachment means 20 may be a Picatinny rail as is commonly used in military weaponry.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 shows the internal components. In one exemplary embodiment, the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 includes the housing 2, a nozzle 4, an electrode 6, a heat shield assembly 8, a fuel tank 14, a handle or grip 16, a trigger 18, a fuel manifold 22, a fuel pump 24, a high voltage coil 28, a control module 32, and a power source 34. The fuel manifold 22 may be configured to connect to a fuel tank 14. The power source 34 may be a rechargeable battery. In one exemplary embodiment, the control module 32 may be a simple circuit or control board that electronically connects to the trigger 18 and to the fuel pump 24 and the electrode 6; when a user engages the trigger 18, the control module 32 activates the fuel pump 24 and the electrode 6.

[0033] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has the handle 16 in a top grip position. In top grip embodiments, the fuel tank 14 is attached to the fuel manifold 22 upside-down. In this embodiment, the fuel in the fuel tank 14 moves into the fuel manifold 22 via gravity.

[0034] The trigger 18 may be configured to activate the fuel pump 24, the high voltage coil 28, and the electrode 6 via the control module 32. The fuel manifold 22 then conducts the fuel to the fuel pump 24; the fuel pump 24 transmits the fuel to the nozzle 4; and the fuel is expelled across the electrode 6 thereby igniting to produce the flame.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 is shown configured to receive fuel from a detached source (not shown). In this exemplary embodiment, the Flamethrower 1 includes the housing 2, nozzle 4, spark electrodes 6, heat shield collar 10, heat shield sheet 12, the handle 16 with trigger 18, Picatinny rails 20, fuel manifold 22, fuel pump 24, power coil 28, control module 32, and battery 34. In this embodiment, the nozzle 4 and power coil 28 are mounted onto the nozzle insulator 30; the handle 16 is in a drop grip position on the bottom of the housing 2; and the fuel manifold 22 includes a hose adapter 37 which is configured to connect to a hose (not shown) to draw fuel into the fuel manifold 22 from a detached source, such as a backpack tank.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, an exploded view of another exemplary embodiment of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 in drop grip position is shown with the handle 16 removed. In some embodiments, the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 includes a nozzle/electrode assembly 26. In some embodiments, the housing 2 may include a second heat shield 36 between the fuel pump 24 and the nozzle/electrode assembly 26. The second heat shield 36 may be may be made of any suitable heat dampening material. In one exemplary embodiment, the second heat shield 36 and the heat shield sheet 12 are pressed mica.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates the nozzle/electrode assembly 26. The nozzle/electrode assembly 26 may include a nozzle insulator 30 onto which the nozzle 4, the electrodes 6, and the power coil 28 are mounted.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in some embodiments, the electrodes 6 are nickel-chromium electrodes mounted in a ceramic insulator 7.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the Spark Ignition Flamethrower 1 is configured to draw fuel out of the fuel tank. 14 via a siphon tube 38. The siphon tube 38 is attached to the fuel manifold 22 via a siphon tube adapter 40.

[0040] In one embodiment, the electrode 6 is a spark electrode. Spark ignition uses a spark or arc between two electrodes. When the fuel encounters the spark, the fuel ignites to produce the flame.

[0041] In one embodiment, the electrode 6 is a plasma-generating electrode. The plasma-generating electrodes 6 impart significantly more energy in the creation of the arc between the electrodes. Generally, the ionization process of gas by high voltage takes several steps, as follows. First, the power coil 28 generates a high voltage across the electrodes 6 and there is an air gap between the electrodes. When the voltage first comes on, it looks for any randomly-occurring ionization event within the gap, as would happen if for example an ultraviolet photon happened to hit the surface of one of the electrodes at that time, or if that photon hit a gas molecule just right and temporarily dislodged one of its electrons within the air space in the gap. The voltage then accelerates the loose electron towards the (+) electrode and any positive ion towards the () electrode before they have the opportunity to recombine. They pick up energy from the field and speed up enough that if they happen to collide with another gas molecule on the way, it too gets ionized and the charged particles join in and get accelerated too. Soon you have an avalanche of ions approaching the electrodes and the air between them is rapidly becoming electrically conducting as it gets populated with ions. Then, when one of the positive ions smacks into the negative electrode, it busts loose a bunch of electrons which zoom off toward the positive electrode and very quickly the air gap's resistance falls to almost nothing and if there is no external resistance to limit the current, a huge current develops between the electrodes and since the current is huge and the air gap is still a (small) resistor, ohmic heating then raises the temperature of the ionized gas to incandescence and you have a power arc consisting of an extremely hot plasma.

[0042] The plasma improves the likelihood of ignition of the fuel over the spark because a plasma-generating electrode 6 produces a plasma or corona region that can ignite the fuel. In the spark ignition, the fuel must encounter the spark itself but in the plasma-generating embodiments, there is a plasma or corona region around the electrodes 6 which is a larger area capable of igniting the fuel.

[0043] In one embodiment, the power coil 28 is an induction coil and the electrode 6 is a plasma-generating electrode. The power coil 28 receives low voltage power from the battery 34 and steps up to a high voltage. The high voltage across the electrodes 6 generates a plasma by ionizing the gas in the atmosphere between the electrode tips. By way of example, a pulse frequency of at least 20 kHz may be used to produce the plasma. In one exemplary embodiment, the power coil 28 runs on 6 V input and outputs 375 kV with max output of 0.5 A.

[0044] In some exemplary embodiments, the tips of the spark electrodes 6 are placed between 10-15 mm from the tip of the nozzle 4. The distance between the tips of the spark electrodes 6 may be from 2-10 mm.

[0045] In one exemplary embodiment, the spark electrodes 6 are made of Nickel-Chromium Alloy. For example, an Ni80Cr20 alloy is 80% Nickel by weight and 20% Chromium by weight. Nickel-Chromium may be used over copper, aluminum, or steel because its resistance increases less when hot. Increased resistance causes more strain on upstream electrical components like the high power coil 28, and solid state switching.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, a close-up, cross-section view of the dotted area in FIG. 6 can be seen. FIG. 7 shows a portion of fuel tank 14, fuel manifold 22, fuel pump 24, siphon tube 38, tube adapter 40 and check valve 42. Check valve 42 vents air into fuel tank 14 to displace the fuel being removed. Where check valve 42 meets the body of fuel tank 14 there is a seal which separates the air path so it is completely outside the housings. Check valve 42 is mounted offset just enough to fit within the fuel tank 14 without interfering with the seal where the fuel tank 14 meets the fuel manifold 22. Check valve 42 also does not interfere with the area required to mount a backpack tank or dip tube (siphon) which is concentric with all other inputs.

[0047] Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

[0048] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.