Patent Abstract:
Lighting apparatus suitable for use in a gas lantern lighting fixtures and containing a single piece body member with a horizontally oriented gas inlet, a vertically oriented gas outlet, and a fastener along with a valve; an orifice; and a burner tip connected to one another are disclosed. Lighting apparatus which are easy to assemble and capable of efficiently producing an aesthetically pleasing flame along with associated methods are described.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/640,307 filed on Apr. 30, 2012 and entitled Gas Fitting Apparatus for Lamps and Lanterns. 
     
    
       [0002]    Lighting apparatus described herein may be used in gas lantern lighting fixtures. Various lighting apparatus disclosed herein are capable of producing a broad and aesthetically pleasing flame pattern using less gas than many conventional lighting apparatus. Lighting apparatus described herein may further be useful due to the ease of assembly of the apparatus and the assembled apparatus may have only a small number of connections, thereby reducing the opportunities for leaks. Lighting apparatus described herein may further possess features which limit the total flame produced by the apparatus thereby enhancing safety and protecting associated equipment. 
         [0003]    Lighting apparatus described herein may, for example, comprise: a first body member comprising a horizontally oriented gas inlet, a vertically oriented gas outlet, and a fastener, wherein the first body member is a single piece; a valve; an orifice; a burner tip; an interruptible flow path connecting the first body member, the valve, the orifice, and the burner tip; wherein the valve is arranged and configured to close the interruptible flow path. In a related example the orifice may have a diameter of less than 1.2 mm. In a further related example the orifice may have a diameter of less than 1.6 mm. In a further related example, the horizontally oriented gas inlet may be arranged and configured to accept tubing by compression fitting. In a further related example, the fastener may be a threaded fastener. In a further related example, the fastener may be a threaded stud. In a further related example the valve, the orifice, the burner tip, and the first body member may be aligned vertically. In a further related example, the burner tip may be arranged and configured to produce a flame having a flame width and a flame height, wherein the flame width is greater than 0.35 times the flame height. In a still further related example, the burner tip may be arranged and configured to produce a flame having a flame width, wherein the flame width is greater than 0.75 inches. In a further related example, the maximum flame height may be less than 5 inches. 
         [0004]    Lighting apparatus described herein may, for example, comprise: a burner comprising: a first gas supply orifice, an air supply orifice, and a burner tip slot; a second gas supply orifice; a fastener; and a valve. In a related example, the fastener may be arranged and configured to secure the burner within a gas lantern lighting fixture. In a further related example, the second gas supply orifice may have an orifice diameter of less than 1.2 mm. In a further related example, the second gas supply orifice may have an orifice diameter of less than 1.6 mm. In a further related example, the burner, the second gas supply orifice, and the valve may be arranged and configured to produce a flame; wherein the flame has a flame height, a flame width, and a gas utilization rate; wherein the flame width is greater than 0.75 inches; and wherein the gas utilization rate is less than 1000 BTU/hour. In a further related example, the flame width may be greater than 1.0 inch. In a further related example, the gas utilization rate may be less than 900 BTU/hour. In a further related example, the flame height may be greater than 1.0 inches. In a still further related example, the flame height may be less than 3.0 inches. In a still further related example, the flame height may be less than 2.5 inches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a lighting apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  depicts an exploded side view of a lighting apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  depicts a lower assembly of an embodiment of a lighting apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of a burner. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  depicts a frontal view of a burner. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  depicts a frontal view of a flame produced at a burner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example 1 
       [0011]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, Base assembly lower hex cap  10  may be used in conjunction with Base assembly support washer  20 , and Base assembly body  30  to secure the lighting apparatus into a fixed position at the base of a gas lantern lighting fixture wherein Base assembly lower hex cap  10  is used to compress Base assembly support washer  20  against an interior floor of the gas lantern lighting fixture. The interior floor of the gas lantern lighting fixture is generally situated in a horizontal orientation. Natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas is supplied to the lighting apparatus at Base assembly body  30  by way of metal tubing which is commonly copper tubing. The metal tubing is fixed to Base assembly body  30  in part through the use of Compression nut  50 . Gas ultimately flows upward through Base assembly body  30  to Valve assembly  85  where the flow of gas to Burner  140  may be regulated by manually positioning Valve handle  98 . Upper vertical extension coupling  102  carries gas from Valve assembly  85  to Burner  140 . Burner hexagon wrench grip  145  is used to screw Burner  140  into Upper vertical extension coupling wrench grip  115 . Burner  140  mixes air with the gas so that a flame may be produced at Burner tip  160  and more specifically at Burner tip slot  165 . 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, Base assembly lower hex cap  10  is screwed onto Base assembly support stud  35  such that Base assembly support washer  20  secures the lighting apparatus against the interior floor of a gas lantern lighting fixture. Base assembly support stud  35  is a mechanical fastening element, through which there is no flow path. Horizontal flow axis  55  and Vertical flow axis  120 , both shown as dashed lines in  FIG. 2 , represent the flow path of gas through the lighting apparatus and represent axes around which some elements are partially symmetrical. Compression fitting  40  represents the point of entry of gas into the lighting apparatus and Ferrule  45  and Compression nut  50  secure tubing, through which gas is supplied to the lighting apparatus, to Base assembly body  30 . Valve assembly  85  is connected to Base assembly body  30  by Lower close threaded nipple  70  which screws into both Valve assembly lower female threaded end  80  and Base assembly top union  60 . Valve assembly  85  comprises Valve stem  95  and Valve handle  98 . Upper vertical extension coupling  102  has a length that allows for the positioning of Burner  140  within a gas lantern lighting fixture such that the flame that comes from Burner  140  is positioned at a visually pleasing location within the gas lantern lighting fixture. Upper vertical extension coupling lower male threaded end  105  screws into Valve assembly upper female threaded end  90  with the assistance of Upper vertical extension coupling wrench grip  115 . Upper vertical extension coupling wrench grip  115  may take the form of two notches in the side wall of Upper vertical extension coupling  102  which form parallel surfaces suitable for gripping by a wrench. Upper vertical extension coupling upper double female threaded end  110  is a threaded female connector positioned both inside and below another threaded female connector. The innermost threaded connection point is arranged and configured to receive Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  and the other interior female threaded connection point is configured to receive Burner male threaded end  150 . Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  is configured such that it has an orifice situated along Vertical flow axis  120  and situated in the lower portion of Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130 . Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  further has a hexagonal socket positioned along Vertical flow axis  120  and in the upper portion of Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  such that a hex key can screw Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  into the innermost threaded connection point of Upper vertical extension coupling upper double female threaded end  110  and such that upon removal of the hex key the only substantial flow restriction in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  is the orifice itself Burner male threaded end  150  screws into the other interior female threaded connection point of Upper vertical extension coupling upper double female threaded end  110  using Burner hexagon wrench grip  145  such that Burner hexagon wrench grip  145  fits closely to the upper surface of Upper vertical extension coupling upper double female threaded end  110 . Burner  140  consumes fuel at Burner tip  160 . 
         [0013]    The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  of the drawings, is an embodiment in which Valve stem  95  is positioned at 135° rotation from Compression fitting  40  using Vertical flow axis  120  as a frame of reference. In an alternate embodiment Valve stem  95  is positioned at 180° rotation from Compression fitting  40 . 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, Burner  140  comprises Burner hexagon wrench grip  145 , Burner male threaded end  150 , Burner tip  160 , and Burner tip slot  165 . Burner tip  160  has a rounded top and is bell shaped with the lowermost portion of Burner tip  160  arcing outward near the body of Burner  140 . Burner internal orifice  152  (shown as a dashed line) is centrally located within Burner  140  and restricts the flow of fuel traveling from the lower portion of Burner  140  toward Burner tip  160 . 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, Burner  140  is substantially as depicted in  FIG. 4 , but rotated 90°. Each of Burner hexagon wrench grip  145 , Burner male threaded end  150 , and Burner tip  160  are configured similarly to the depiction in  FIG. 4 . Burner air inlet orifice  155  is on the side of Burner  140  allowing for the introduction of combustion air into the interior of Burner  140 . Another equivalent Burner air inlet orifice  155  is similarly positioned on the opposite side of Burner  140 . 
         [0016]    Referring collectively to  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings, Burner internal orifice  152  is at the uppermost point of a raised barrier separating Burner  140  into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Burner air inlet orifice  155  allows a limited amount of combustion air into the upper chamber at a height that is approximately the same as the height of Burner internal orifice  152 . 
         [0017]    In the embodiments represented by  FIGS. 1-5 , Burner tip slot  165  may be 0.55 mm wide for natural gas and 1.2 mm wide for liquefied petroleum gas. In separate but related embodiments, Burner tip slot  165  may be less than 1.4 mm wide, less than 1.0 mm wide and less than 0.7 mm wide. 
         [0018]    In the embodiments represented by  FIGS. 1-5 , Burner internal orifice  152  may be may be a square orifice measuring 0.74 mm×0.74 mm for natural gas and 0.67 mm×0.67 mm for liquefied petroleum gas. Burner air inlet orifice  155  may be a 0.9 mm orifice for natural gas and a 4.7 mm orifice for liquefied petroleum gas. 
         [0019]    In the embodiments represented by  FIGS. 1-5 , Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  may have an orifice diameter for natural gas of 0.8 mm and an orifice diameter for liquefied petroleum gas of 0.5 mm. In separate but related embodiments, the orifice in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  may have a diameter of less than 1.2 mm and the orifice in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  may have a diameter of less than 1.6 mm. 
         [0020]    As that term is used herein “orifice” encompasses all non-adjustable flow restrictions that may be used to significantly restrict the flow of fuel or air regardless of geometry. References to orifice diameter made herein are made to characterize the degree of flow restriction and for that reason; a reference to the diameter of a non-circular orifice designates the diameter of the circular orifice that would produce an equivalent flow restriction. 
         [0021]    In certain embodiments, the orifice in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  is sized to limit the total flame height produced by the burner such that the flame height of the burner stays below three inches when valve is fully open. In other embodiments, the orifice in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  is sized to limit the total flame height produced by the burner such that the flame height of the burner stays below four inches when valve is fully open. In still other embodiments, the orifice in Upper close threaded nipple orifice  130  is sized to limit the total flame height produced by the burner such that the flame height of the burner stays below five inches when valve is fully open. These limitations may have the effect of protecting gas lantern lighting fixtures from damage and protecting users of those from injury due to excessive flame. The maximum flame height of the lighting apparatus is defined as the flame height when the valve is fully open. 
       Example 2 
       [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, in embodiments in which the gas lantern lighting fixture is mounted on a post or pole gas is designed to come from below the gas lantern lighting fixture. In such situations, the lighting apparatus may be substantially as described in Example 1 from Lower close threaded nipple  70  to Burner tip  160  including Lower close threaded nipple  70 . However, fittings below Lower close threaded nipple  70  may be as follows. Lower vertical extension coupling  170  may screw into Lower close threaded nipple  70  at Lower vertical extension coupling upper female threaded end  180 . Lower vertical extension coupling  170  may have a Lower vertical extension coupling wrench grip  175  which may take the form of two notches in the side wall of Lower vertical extension coupling  170  which form parallel surfaces suitable for gripping by a wrench. Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling upper female threaded end  215  screws into Lower vertical extension coupling lower male threaded end  185  such that the floor of a gas lantern lighting fixture is sandwiched between Mounting washer  195  and Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling upper female threaded end  215 , securing the lighting apparatus in place within the gas lantern lighting fixture. Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling  210  may have a Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling wrench grip  220  which may take the form of two notches in the side wall of Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling  210  which form parallel surfaces suitable for gripping by a wrench. Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling  210 , Mounting washer  195 , and Lower vertical extension coupling  170  are each aligned along Vertical flow axis  120  which in the present embodiment, is the centerline of the gas flow path through the lighting apparatus. Sub-fixture vertical extension coupling lower female threaded end  230  optionally serves as the point of attachment of a compression fitting which connects the lighting apparatus to gas tubing running through the post or pole. 
       Example 3 
       [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, Flame  250  departs from Burner tip  160  which is a component of Burner  140 . The above referenced orifice and Burner tip  160  design produce a flame of particular aesthetic character having a Flame width  255  and a Flame height  260 . Additionally the flame may have multiple Flame peaks  270  and multiple Flame valleys  275 . Table 1 describes a variety of combined characteristics that may be attributable to Flame  250 . Flame  250  may, for example, have a flame height of less than 3 inches, a flame width of greater than 1 inch, a flame width to height ratio greater than 0.35, and consume less than 900 BTUs per hour as described in Example 3.01. Examples of alternate flame characteristics are similarly described in Examples 3.02-3.32 in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Flame 
                 Flame 
                 Width/height 
                 Gas utilization 
               
               
                 Example 
                 height (in.) 
                 width (in.) 
                 ratio 
                 (BTU/hr.) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 3.01 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.02 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.03 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.04 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.05 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.06 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.07 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.08 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.09 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.10 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.11 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.12 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.13 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.14 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.15 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.16 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;900 
               
               
                 3.17 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.18 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.19 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.20 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.21 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.22 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.23 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.24 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.35 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.25 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.26 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.27 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.28 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.29 
                 &lt;3.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.30 
                 &lt;2.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.31 
                 &gt;1.5 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                 3.32 
                 &gt;1.0 
                 &gt;0.75 
                 &gt;0.45 
                 &lt;1000 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0024]    Functional descriptions which may vary depending on the supply pressure of the gas are descriptive of a situation in which a steady supply of 0.2 psig natural gas is available to the apparatus or descriptive of a situation in which a steady supply of vapor phase 0.4 psig liquefied petroleum gas is available to the apparatus. 
         [0025]    The above-described embodiments have a number independently useful individual features that have particular utility when used in combination with one another including combinations of features from embodiments described separately. There are, of course, other alternate embodiments which are obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5