Patent Publication Number: US-2022235932-A1

Title: Tool with improved ignition efficiency

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/155,377, filed on Jan. 22, 2021, now pending, of which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tool and, more particularly, to a tool with improved ignition efficiency. 
     Taiwan Utility Model No. M406154 discloses a lighter and its ignition structure. The lighter includes an insulating container receiving a flammable gas, a metal barrel, a gas guiding tube, and the ignition structure. The flammable gas flows from an interior of the insulating container through the gas guiding tube to the metal barrel. A distal end of the gas guiding tube has an electrically conductive sleeve in electrical connection with the metal barrel. The ignition structure includes an igniter and first and second ignition wires electrically connected to the igniter. The first ignition wire extends through the gas guiding tube and is electrically connected to the electrically conductive sleeve. The second ignition wire is disposed between the gas guiding tube and the metal barrel and is electrically connected to the metal barrel. When the igniter is pressed, the first and second ignition wires generate an electric arc at an opening of the metal barrel to ignite the flammable gas. 
     However, the inner diameter of the opening of the metal barrel affects the spacing between the first and second ignition wires and the flow of the gas. The spacing between the first and second ignition wires affects generation of the electric arc. When the inner diameter of the opening of the metal barrel is small, the flow of the gas is mall. When the inner diameter of the opening of the metal barrel is small, generation of the electric arc is difficult, and the service life of the igniter is shortened. 
     In view of the above, a need exists for a tool with improved ignition efficiency that mitigates and/or obviates the above drawbacks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a tool with improved ignition efficiency. The tool includes a barrel, a guiding wire, and an electrically conductive member. The barrel is made of electrically conductive material. The guiding wire is disposed in the barrel. The barrel and the guiding wire are directly or indirectly connected to two opposite electrodes of a power source. The electrically conductive member is connected to an outer periphery of the guiding wire and is electrically connected to the guiding wire. The electrically conductive member is disposed between the barrel and the guiding wire and is spaced from the barrel. When the power source is activated, an electric arc is generated between the electrically conductive member and the barrel. According to the above structure, the tool can improve the ignition efficiency to stably accomplish the ignition. 
     In an example, the electrically conductive member is made of electrically conductive rubber. 
     In an example, the electrically conductive member is annular and surrounds the guiding wire. 
     In an example, a first edge of the electrically conductive member adjacent to the guiding wire is provided with an inner periphery in contact with the guiding wire, and a second edge of the electrically conductive member opposite to the guiding wire is provided with an outer periphery with a circular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire. 
     In another example, a first edge of the electrically conductive member adjacent to the guiding wire is provided with an inner periphery in contact with the guiding wire, and a second edge of the electrically conductive member opposite to the guiding wire is provided with an outer periphery with an oval cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire. 
     In yet another example, a first edge of the electrically conductive member adjacent to the guiding wire is provided with an inner periphery in contact with the guiding wire, and a second edge of the electrically conductive member opposite to the guiding wire is provided with an outer periphery with a triangular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire. 
     In yet another example, a first edge of the electrically conductive member adjacent to the guiding wire is provided with an inner periphery in contact with the guiding wire, and a second edge of the electrically conductive member opposite to the guiding wire is provided with an outer periphery with a quadrangular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire. 
     In yet another example, a first edge of the electrically conductive member adjacent to the guiding wire is provided with an inner periphery in contact with the guiding wire, and a second edge of the electrically conductive member opposite to the guiding wire is provided with an outer periphery with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire. 
     In an example, the guiding wire includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A first insulating layer and a second insulating layer are disposed around the outer periphery of the guiding wire. The electrically conductive member is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The first insulating layer is disposed between the electrically conductive member and the first end of the guiding wire. The second insulating layer is disposed between the electrically conductive member and the second end of the guiding wire. 
     In an example, a fixing seat is disposed in the barrel. A sheath is disposed on the first end of the guiding wire. The sheath is disposed around the first insulating layer and is connected to the fixing seat. 
     In an example, the barrel includes a front barrel and a rear barrel. The fixing seat is disposed on an inner periphery of the front barrel. The rear barrel is connected to the front barrel and is made of electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive member is contiguous to an end of the rear barrel adjacent to the front barrel. 
     In an example, the tool includes a body. The power source is received in the body. An end of the rear barrel opposite to the front barrel is received in the body. The rear barrel includes a side hole extending in a radial direction of the rear barrel and is located in the body. The guiding wire extends through the side hole. The second end of the guiding wire is located outside of the barrel and is located in the body. 
     In an example, the power source is a piezoelectric igniter. 
     In an example, the guiding wire is flexible and is shapeable. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool with improved efficiency of a first embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partly cross-sectioned view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a portion of the tool of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and shows a cross-sectional structure of an electrically conductive member. 
         FIG. 5  is another partly cross-sectioned view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a tool with improved efficiency of a second embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a tool with improved efficiency of a third embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a tool with improved efficiency of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a tool with improved efficiency of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a tool  10  with improved efficiency of an embodiment according to the present invention comprises a barrel  20 , a guiding wire  30 , and an electrically conductive member  40 . The barrel  20  is made of electrically conductive material. The guiding wire  30  is disposed in the barrel  20 . The barrel  20  and the guiding wire  30  are directly or indirectly connected to two opposite electrodes of a power source  50 . 
     The electrically conductive member  40  is connected to an outer periphery of the guiding wire  30  and is electrically connected to the guiding wire  30 . The electrically conductive member  40  is disposed between the barrel  20  and the guiding wire  30  and is spaced from the barrel  20 . When the power source  50  is activated, an electric arc is generated between the electrically conductive member  40  and the barrel  20 . 
     The electrically conductive member  40  is made of electrically conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, graphite, etc. In this embodiment, the electrically conductive member  40  is made of electrically conductive rubber. The electrically conductive member  40  is annular and surrounds the guiding wire  30 . 
     A first edge of the electrically conductive member  40  adjacent to the guiding wire  30  is provided with an inner periphery  41  in contact with the guiding wire  30 . The inner periphery  41  has a circular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30 . A second edge of the electrically conductive member  40  opposite to the guiding wire  30  is provided with an outer periphery  42  with a circular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30 . Understandably, the outer periphery  42  may have a circular or non-circular cross-sectional shapes, the embodiment shows that the outer periphery  42  has an essentially circular cross-sectional shape. 
     The guiding wire  30  includes a first end  31  and a second end  32  opposite to the first end  31 . A first insulating layer  33  and a second insulating layer  34  are disposed around the outer periphery of the guiding wire  30 . The electrically conductive member  40  is disposed between the first insulating layer  33  and the second insulating layer  34 . The first insulating layer  33  is disposed between the electrically conductive member  40  and the first end  31  of the guiding wire  30 . The second insulating layer  34  is disposed between the electrically conductive member  40  and the second end  32  of the guiding wire  30 . 
     A fixing seat  21  is disposed in the barrel  20 . A sheath  35  is disposed on the first end  31  of the guiding wire  30 . The sheath  35  is disposed around the first insulating layer  33  and is connected to the fixing seat  21 . 
     The barrel  20  includes a front barrel  22  and a rear barrel  23 . The fixing seat  21  is disposed on an inner periphery of the front barrel  22 . The rear barrel  23  is connected to the front barrel  22  and is made of electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive member  40  is contiguous to an end of the rear barrel  23  adjacent to the front barrel  22 . 
     The tool  10  includes a body  60  in which the power source  50  is received. An end of the rear barrel  23  opposite to the front barrel  22  is received in the body  60 . The rear barrel  23  includes a side hole  231  extending in a radial direction of the rear barrel  23  and is located in the body  60 . The guiding wire  30  extends through the side hole  231 . The second end  32  of the guiding wire  30  is located outside of the barrel  20  and is located in the body  60 . 
     In this embodiment, the power source  50  is a piezoelectric igniter. The guiding wire  30  is flexible and is shapeable. 
     According to the above structure, the tool  10  can improve the ignition efficiency to stably accomplish the ignition. In this embodiment, the tool  10  is a gas tool. Gas can flow through the barrel  20  and can be ignited by the electric arc between the electrically conductive member  40  and the barrel  20 . Flame can be ejected from an end of the barrel  20  opposite to the body  60 . 
     Since the electrically conductive member  40  is connected to the outer periphery of the guiding wire  30 , the spacing between the electrically conductive material of the guiding wire  30  and the electrically conductive portion of the barrel  20  can be reduced. This reduces the puncture voltage required for the puncturing phenomenon between the barrel  20  and the electrically conductive member  40 , thereby increasing the success possibility of generation of electric arc between the barrel  20  and the electrically conductive member  40 . After the power source  50  is activated, the electric arc is generated between the barrel  20  and the electrically conductive member  40 . The electric charges emitted by the power source  50  circulate along a loop formed by the barrel  20 , the guiding wire  30 , and the electrically conductive member  40 . Thus, the service life of the power source  50  is prolonged, and the number of times of electric fire provided by the power source  50  is increased. 
     By providing the flexible and shapeable guiding wire  30  cooperating with the annular electrically conductive member  40  that surrounds the guiding wire  30 , the puncture voltage can be further reduced. A metal wire has certain flexibility and can maintain a fixed shape by tensioning. The location of the electrically conductive member  40  in the barrel  20  is so arranged that the guiding wire  30  in this embodiment can change its shape without being tensioned and that no matter how the guiding wire  30  changes its shape, the electrically conductive member  40  is more adjacent to the inner periphery of the barrel  20 . Furthermore, the outer periphery of the electrically conductive member  40  is arcuate to present a small area most adjacent to the barrel  20 . This further reduces the puncture voltage. As long as the guiding wire  30  has a proper length, the electrically conducive member  40  is always spaced from the barrel  20 . 
     The first insulating layer  33  and the second insulating layer  34  can be formed by peeling a rubber sheath of the guiding wire  30  to form two sections. The electrically conductive member  40  made of electrically conductive rubber is resilient and can be stretched across the first insulating layer  33  or the second insulating layer  34 . Finally, the electrically conductive member  40  is disposed between the first insulating layer  33  and the second insulating layer  34 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a tool with improved efficiency of a second embodiment according to the present invention. The structure of the tool of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment except the following differences. Specifically, a first edge of the electrically conductive member  40   a  adjacent to the guiding wire  30   a  is provided with an inner periphery  41   a  in contact with the guiding wire  30   a , and a second edge of the electrically conductive member  40   a  opposite to the guiding wire  30   a  is provided with an outer periphery  42   a  with an oval cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30   a.    
       FIG. 7  shows a tool with improved efficiency of a third embodiment according to the present invention. The structure of the tool of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment except the following differences. Specifically, a first edge of the electrically conductive member  40   b  adjacent to the guiding wire  30   b  is provided with an inner periphery  41   b  in contact with the guiding wire  30   b , and a second edge of the electrically conductive member  40   b  opposite to the guiding wire  30   b  is provided with an outer periphery  42   b  with a triangular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30   b.    
       FIG. 8  shows a tool with improved efficiency of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. The structure of the tool of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment except the following differences. Specifically, a first edge of the electrically conductive member  40   c  adjacent to the guiding wire  30   c  is provided with an inner periphery  41   c  in contact with the guiding wire  30   c , and a second edge of the electrically conductive member  40   c  opposite to the guiding wire  30   c  is provided with an outer periphery  42   c  with a quadrangular cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30   c.    
       FIG. 9  shows a tool with improved efficiency of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention. The structure of the tool of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment except the following differences. Specifically, a first edge of the electrically conductive member  40   d  adjacent to the guiding wire  30   d  is provided with an inner periphery  41   d  in contact with the guiding wire  30   d , and a second edge of the electrically conductive member  40   d  opposite to the guiding wire ( 30   d ) is provided with an outer periphery  42   d  with a hexagonal cross-sectional shape in a radial direction of the guiding wire  30   d.    
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.