Abstract:
A vented combustion chamber for an insect attractant engine is provided for a flying insect trapping device of the type that relies upon combustion of a fuel to generate a flow of carbon dioxide to attract flying insects. The combustion chamber, which is generally tubular and horizontally oriented in operation, is vented through a hole formed in one side of the chamber wall that extends from the outer surface of the chamber into the interior thereof. During operation of the device, this through-hole allows gas inside the chamber to be vented to the outside, changing the effective length of the combustion chamber for the purposes of wave generation is changed so that creation of a resonance cycle or standing wave, and the resulting acoustic phenomenon of howling, is prevented.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of co-pending application, Ser. No. 12/801,087, filed May 20, 2010, the priority of which is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is related to the field of traps for flying insects such as mosquitos, no-see-ums, and other insects and, more particularly, to a vented combustion chamber for such a trap. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Various flying insect traps have been developed that rely on a combustion chamber to generate a flow of carbon dioxide for attracting mosquitos and other flying insects toward the trap. One such trap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,351 (“the &#39;351 patent”), which is owned by the assignee of the present application and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0006]    During use of cordless insect trapping devices having tubular combustion chambers such as the device described in the &#39;351 patent, conditions have arisen in which various operational parameters including low flow rate, relatively high heat, and unit geometry have combined in such a way that a self-amplifying standing wave is created in the combustion chamber. The result is that the combustion chamber acts as a Rijke&#39;s tube and will resonate to create an audible “howling” noise. This howling interferes with the device&#39;s ability to reach optimum operating temperature and can be bothersome to the user. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a need exists for a cordless flying insect trapping device that uses a combustion chamber in which the Rijke&#39;s tube phenomenon does not occur. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties of “howling” from the use of a tubular combustion chamber in an insect trapping device to generate a flow of carbon dioxide. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding object having a combustion chamber that is vented so that a standing wave is not generated in the chamber. 
         [0010]    A further object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding objects in which the vent is formed by a hole in the side of the chamber body. 
         [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding objects in which the hole used for the vent is the existing through-hole into which the spark igniter electrode assembly is mounted in the combustion chamber. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding objects in which the vent is formed by reversing the mounting order of the spark igniter electrode assembly and a thermistor assembly that shares a common mounting location with the spark igniter, such reversal creating a gap between the mounting flange of the spark igniter and the outer surface of the combustion chamber body that, together with an annular clearance between the spark igniter and the through-hole, forms the vent. 
         [0013]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device having a combustion chamber that is vented to prevent formation of a standing wave by mounting the spark igniter electrode assembly in an existing through-hole in the combustion chamber body using a mounting flange assembly that creates a gap between the mounting flange and the outer surface of the combustion chamber body that, together with an annular clearance between the spark igniter and the through-hole, forms the vent. 
         [0014]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding object in which the mounting flange assembly includes a spacer or washer to create the gap. 
         [0015]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an insect trapping device in accordance with the preceding objects that is not complex in structure and which can be manufactured at low cost but yet efficiently eliminates standing wave formation and the howling that can result therefrom. 
         [0016]    In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to an insect attractant engine having a combustion chamber for a flying insect trapping device of the type that relies upon combustion to generate a flow of carbon dioxide to attract flying insects such as mosquitos into the device. It has been surprisingly discovered that if the interior of the combustion chamber is vented to the outside atmosphere, the problem of howling can be addressed. During operation of the device, this venting allows gas inside the chamber, which is at a higher-than-atmospheric pressure, to exit the chamber to the outside of the device. As a result of this venting action, the effective length of the combustion chamber for the purposes of wave generation is chanced so that creation of a resonance cycle or standing wave, and the resulting acoustic phenomenon of howling, is reduced or eliminated. 
         [0017]    The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a known insect trapping device that includes a conventional combustion chamber assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the combustion chamber assembly of the trapping device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional vertical view of the trapping device and combustion chamber assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an isolated cross-sectional view of the combustion chamber of the combustion chamber assembly of  FIG. 3  as modified with a hole to create a vent in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a known burner assembly having a combustion chamber with a conventionally mounted spark igniter electrode assembly and thermistor assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the spark igniter electrode assembly and the thermistor assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a burner assembly having a combustion chamber with the spark igniter electrode assembly and thermistor assembly mounted in reverse order as compared with  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a thermoelectric generator engine having a burner assembly with a vented combustion chamber in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the components of the thermoelectric generator engine shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of Detail A of  FIG. 9  showing the spark igniter electrode assembly. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is an assembled view of the spark igniter electrode assembly and the burner assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the spark igniter electrode assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the spark igniter electrode assembly shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the combustion chamber and the spark igniter electrode assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of Detail B of  FIG. 14  showing the spark igniter electrode assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  shows an insect trapping device generally designated by reference numeral  10 , of a type that may be modified to include the vented combustion chamber of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is drawn from the &#39;351 patent, previously incorporated by reference. Accordingly, the disclosure of the &#39;351 patent is relied upon for a complete description of a representative trap to which the vented combustion chamber of the present invention may be applied and therefore such description will not be repeated here. Furthermore, the present invention is also suitable for use in other insect traps that rely on combustion to generate a flow of carbon dioxide for insect attraction, and is not intended to be limited to use as a modification of the &#39;351 patent. 
         [0035]    The combustion chamber assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  26 , of the trapping device  10  of the &#39;351 patent is shown in  FIG. 2 . The combustion chamber assembly  26  includes a combustion portion  60  having a combustion chamber  62  therein, shown in  FIG. 3  also from the &#39;351 patent. As evident from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the combustion portion  60  is generally horizontal in orientation and, as shown in  FIG. 3 , has exhaust gases generated therein that are drawn vertically to an outlet nozzle  34  of the device  10  by an exhaust fan  41 . While this may seem contrary to a conventional Rijke tube which has a vertical orientation and relies on the natural upwardly flowing movement of heated gas to generate the standing wave, the fan-forced air movement through the horizontally oriented, generally tubular chamber  62  of the device  10  creates the same effect, causing the chamber to emulate a Rijke tube. In addition, the internal components of the combustion portion  60 , including catalytically active monolith  84  and flow straightener  82 , emulate the wire mesh which is found in a conventional Rijke tube. As a result, under appropriate conditions, a self-amplifying standing wave is created in the combustion chamber  62  so that the combustion chamber, like a Rijke&#39;s tube, will audibly “howl”. 
         [0036]    To solve the combustion chamber howling problem, it has been surprisingly discovered that a vent in the side of the generally tubular combustion chamber  62  through which gas can flow from inside the combustion chamber to the outside atmosphere during operation of the device addresses this problem. Adding the vent in the body of the combustion chamber effectively changes the “tube length” of the chamber, making the chamber immune to the formation of a standing wave. As the pressure differential is always positive with respect to atmospheric pressure during device operation, airflow generated by combustion flows out of the vent, thereby preventing pressure build-up in the chamber and resonant wave formation. 
         [0037]    Most simply, according to a first embodiment of the present invention the vent is formed by drilling a hole  100  in the wall  102  of the chamber  62  that extends from the exterior surface of the chamber into the interior thereof as shown in  FIG. 4  According to the present invention, a hole  100  having a diameter on the order of about 0.179 inches, and hence a cross-sectional area of about 0.025 square inches, is effective. Holes of different sizes are believed to work effectively, provided the hole size is large enough to prevent the standing wave and yet small enough not to disrupt the combustion in the chamber or allow excess leakage of heat and combustion gases from the chamber through the vent. It is believed that the diameter of the hole should be no greater than about 0.25 inches to work effectively, resulting in a vent cross-sectional area of about 0.05 square inches. The hole placement may also vary, provided the hole is positioned to extend from the outside atmosphere into the combustion chamber. 
         [0038]    Rather than drilling a separate hole in the wall  102  of the combustion chamber  62 , however, a more preferred approach is to use the existing through-hole  104  formed in the wall  202  of the combustion chamber, generally designated by reference numeral,  200 , for mounting of the spark igniter electrode assembly generally designated by reference numeral  106  (see FIGS.  9  and  13 - 15 ). Conventionally, the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  is inserted within this through-hole  104  and secured to the exterior surface of the chamber using a fastening element or screw  108 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The same fastening element, is also used to secure the thermistor assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  110 , as also shown. In the conventional mounting arrangement of these two components shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  is mounted first with the mounting flange  116  directly against the outer surface of the wall  202  of the combustion chamber  200 . The thermistor assembly  110  is then mounted on top of the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  using the same fastening element or screw  108  for attachment. When mounted, the ceramic insulator  112  of the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  extends into the chamber  200  (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ). 
         [0039]    Using the through-hole  104  to generate the vent in accordance with the present invention may be accomplished in at least two different ways. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the vent is formed by reversing the mounting order of the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  and the thermistor assembly  110  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Hence, the thermistor assembly  110  is mounted to the combustion chamber wall first, and then the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  is mounted on top of the thermistor assembly mounting flange  114 , with both components again sharing the same screw  108  for attachment. However, unlike in the conventional assembly orientation, in the assembly orientation according to the present invention, the thermistor assembly mounting flange  114  creates a gap, generally designated by reference numeral  115 , between the mounting flange  116  of the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  and the outer wall  202  of the combustion chamber  200 . This gap  115 , in combination with the annular area  280  (see  FIG. 15 ) provided by the clearance between the inner diameter of the through-hole  104  in the combustion chamber and the outer surface of the ceramic insulator  112 , completes the vent. 
         [0040]    As in the case of the first embodiment, the cross-sectional area formed by the annular clearance between the through hole and the ceramic insulator is preferably about 0.025 square inches and should not exceed about 0.05 square inches. The size of the gap between the mounting flange and the outer wall of the combustion chamber is dependent on the thickness of the thermistor flange, which is generally on the order of about 0.060 inches. However, it is believed that the size of the gap may vary provided the cross-sectional area of the open annular clearance between the insulator and the through-hole is between about 0.025 square inches and about 0.05 square inches. However, the gap should not be less than about 0.026 inches so that the gap does not obstruct the venting action provided by the annular clearance. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3-15  illustrate a third preferred embodiment of a vented combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention that also relies on the existing through-hole  104  for mounting the spark igniter electrode assembly. In this embodiment, the chamber  200  is part of a thermoelectric generator engine generally designated by reference numeral  300 . The thermoelectric generator engine  300  includes a burner assembly, generally designated by reference numeral  250 , with the chamber  200  therein that transfers heat to a heat sink  252  through a thermoelectric (TE) module  254 . The function and operation of the TE module  254  is discussed in the &#39;351 patent and more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,243 (“the &#39;243 patent”). The &#39;243 patent is owned by the assignee of the present application and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0042]    As in the previous embodiments, the combustion chamber  200  is generally horizontal in orientation, with the thermistor assembly  110  and the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  mounted to the wall  202  of the combustion chamber  200 . In this third embodiment, however, the thermistor assembly  110  is mounted at a separate location (not shown) from the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  and plays no part in vent formation. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  14  illustrate the spark igniter electrode assembly  106  as mounted to the wall  202  of the combustion chamber  200 .  FIG. 13  shows the spark igniter electrode assembly in exploded view as separated from the combustion chamber. The spark igniter electrode assembly includes the spark igniter electrode  260 , a mounting flange  262 , a washer  264  and a fastening element such as screw  108 . The electrode is received within the through-hole  104  in the combustion chamber wall  202 , and the screw  108  is secured within an aperture  266  formed next to the through-hole  104 . 
         [0044]    The cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 14 and 15  provide the best view of the gap, generally designated by reference numeral  270 , formed between the mounting flange  262  of the spark igniter electrode  260  and the outer surface  271  of the wall  202  of the combustion chamber  200 . Specifically, the washer  264  is placed over the aperture  266  and the ceramic insulator  112  of the spark igniter electrode  260  is inserted into the through-hole  104 . The mounting flange  262  of the spark igniter electrode  260  is placed over the washer  264  in alignment with the aperture  266  so that the screw  108  can be inserted through the center  265  of the washer  264  and into the aperture  266 . With this orientation, a space or gap  270  is provided between the bottom of the spark igniter electrode mounting flange  262  and the upper surface  271  of the combustion chamber wall  209 . This gap allows air to flow from the combustion chamber through the annular area  280  (see  FIG. 15 ) provided by the clearance between the inner diameter of the through-hole  104  and the outer surface of the ceramic insulator  112  of the spark igniter electrode, completing the vent, generally designated by reference numeral  290 . 
         [0045]    Other configurations for creating a vent in the combustion chamber are also contemplated. For example, the vent may be formed by structures such as a chimney, a vent pipe, and the like. 
         [0046]    Regardless of the way in which a gas passageway into the interior of the combustion chamber is formed, venting the combustion chamber as set forth according to the present invention eliminates the propensity of gas flow in the chamber to form a standing wave. A further benefit of the present invention is that, as used with an insect trapping device, the vent improves device function by lowering the plume temperature and raising the power production capability of the device&#39;s TE module (see the &#39;351 and &#39;243 patents). 
         [0047]    The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the vented combustion chamber may be incorporated within a number of devices other than insect trapping devices. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.