Patent GB-636047-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to pyrophoric lighters
IPC: F23Q2/46
Filed: 1947-05-29
Abstract: 636,047. Frictional igniters. DURR & CO. AKT.-GES., A. May 29, 1947, Nos. 14340 and 14341. Convention dates, May 29, 1946 and May 23, 1947. [Class 75 (iii)] A pyrophoric lighter has at least two friction wheels actuated simultaneously by a single operating member through a toothed gear to project sparks towards the wick from opposite sides thereof. Two friction wheels 7, 8, Fig. 1, mounted on separate horizontal axles 11, 12 on the top 4 of a casing 1, are rigidly connected to meshing gear wheels 13, 14 respectively. Part of the rim of the gear wheel 13 projects at the side to serve as a thumb wheel, so that the wheel 13 and its friction wheel 7 can be turned anti-clockwise while the meshing gear wheel 14 and its friction wheel 8 turn clockwise, whereby sparks from separate vertical flint tubes 9, 10 are directed from opposite directions on to the wick 6 situated between the friction wheels 7, 8. In another construction shown in top plan in Fig. 5, two vertical axles 17, 18, mounted on the top 4 of a cylindrical casing on opposite sides of the wick 6, are guided at their upper ends in brackets 19, 20 and each carries a gear wheel 21, 22, rigidly connected to a friction wheel 23, 24. An internally toothed ring 27, rotatably mounted between the top 4 and an annular member 16 carried by props 15 on said top, meshes with the two gear wheels 21, 22, and has a milled outer operating edge, so that said ring 27 can be turned to rotate the gear wheels 21, 22, and direct sparks from flints housed in horizontal tubes 25, 26 from opposite directions on to the wick 6. A modification Fig. 6 (not shown) has an internally toothed actuating ring mounted on a horizontal axle and meshing with one of the two meshing gear wheels carrying the friction wheels ; the lid, which in the closed position completely covers that part of the ring projecting above the casing, may be spring- urged to the open position and be operatively connected to the actuating ring so that rotation of the parts is effected automatically when the lid is released. Alternatively the cover may be of sector shape, centrally pivoted and having an extension provided with internal teeth to engage one of the meshing gear wheels Fig. 8 (not shown), said extension moving in a path to one side of the wick guide and flint tubes. Figs. 1 1 and 12 show a form in which the gear wheels are actuated by release of a spring-stressed toothed ring. The friction-wheel axles 17, 18 project through a plate 45 spaced from the top 4 of the casing 1 and carry, below the plate 45, gear wheels 21, 22 respectively, which mesh with the internal teeth 46 of a ratchet disc 47 mounted to rotate about the wick guide 5. An actuating ring 52, mounted between the top 4 and plate 45, has on its upper face equallyspaced pins 56 corresponding in number to notches 48 provided on the disc 47 for co-operation with a spring-urged pawl 49 pivoted on the underside of the plate 45. The ends of a coiled spring 53 are fixed to a pin 55 on the disc 47 and an inwardly projecting pin 54 on the actuating ring 52 respectively. On turning the ring 52 clockwise, the disc 47 is held stationary by the pawl 49 so that the spring 53 is tensioned, until one of the pins 56 contacts the inclined edge 58 of the pawl 49 to release the latter, whereupon the disc 47 is freed and is pulled round by the spring to rotate the gear and friction wheels until a pin 59 on said disc abuts the pin 54 of the ring 52. The pin 56 of the ring 52 now releases the pawl 49 which springs into the next notch 48 to hold the disc 47 stationary again. If the disc 47 does not spring round when the pawl 49 has released it, due for example to excessive flint pressure on the friction wheels, continued rotation of the ring 52 results in engagement of its pin 54 with a pin 60 on the disc 47 which is then positively driven round by said pin 54, until the pawl engages another notch 48 in the disc 47, whereupon the process may be repeated if necessary.