Devices For High Voltage Ignition of Combustible Gas

Abstract

High voltage gas igniters are described, including a hand held portable gas torch igniter of the piezoelectric-type which includes a finger grip housing body actuated by inward depression of the push button igniter to generate a spark-producing voltage when held near the combustible gas exiting the bum tube of a torch or combustible gas exit of a heating device. The igniter has a tube electrode for easy construction, and deflector shield for user protection and gas mixing. Other igniters have multiple spark gaps for increased effective spark length.

1 . A combustible gas igniter comprising:
 a.) a piezoelectric spark generator;   b.) a first electrode,   c.) a generally tubular second electrode, having opposing first and second ends and a longitudinal axis, wherein the first electrode is located on the longitudinal axis of the tubular second electrode, the second electrode extending beyond the first electrode, along the axis in the direction of the first end and in the direction of the second end, and the first end is open to the first electrode,   d.) a combustion zone between the first electrode and the second electrode, and   e.) a deflecting shield to direct combustion gases away from a user of the igniter.   
   
   
       2 . The igniter of  claim 1  wherein the spark generator is located partially within the second end and encloses the second end. 
   
   
       3 . The igniter of  claim 1  further comprising a one-handed finger grip and pushbutton to hold the second electrode and to activate the spark generator. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The igniter of  claim 1  wherein the deflecting shield is at the first end of the second electrode to allow proper mixing of gas and air in the combustion zone. 
   
   
       6 . The igniter of  claim 5  wherein the defecting shield extends asymmetrically from the first end of the tubular electrode parallel with the longitudinal axis to allow access to the combustion zone by a stream of incoming gas and to allow exit of combustion gases away from the user. 
   
   
       7 . The igniter of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the second electrode opens at an angle to the axis to provide a deflecting shield for directing combustion gases away from a user 
   
   
       8 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter comprising finger-grip and conducting metal tube electrode as outer housing body, said outer housing body containing inner housing case of impact type piezoelectric spark generator, said impact type piezoelectric spark generator having push button plunger depressed in direction of longitudinal axis of impact type piezoelectric spark generator inner housing case and outer housing body and movable relative to its piezoelectric generator inner housing case and outer housing body, said impact type piezoelectric spark generator push button depression to generate a spark-producing voltage force with resulting spark occurring at spark gap between terminal electrode of impact type piezoelectric generator and conducting metal tube electrode near open end of conducting metal tube electrode housing body, said spark between terminal impact type piezoelectric electrode and conducting metal tube housing body near open end of conducting metal tube housing body causing ignition of combustible gas within spark gap near open end of conducting metal tube electrode housing body, said ignition taking place when open end of conducting metal tube electrode housing body of igniter is actuated upon or near exit end of burn tube following opening of burn tube control valve, said ignition of combustible gas at spark gap with resulting flame transferred to the exit end of the burn tube having open control valve of the hand held torch, wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark igniter having a geometric portion of the electrical conducting tubular metal material, along the open end of the longitudinal axis of said tubular metal, is removed so that combustible gas escaping nozzle of torch will deflect off of that portion of tubular metal not removed along this same longitudinal axis of tubular metal in such a manner as to allow a 90 degree ignition of said combustible gas. 
   
   
       9 .- 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the terminal impact type piezoelectric electrode is connected to or protected by a heat resistant ceramic shield or material such as a coating of sand or other heat resistant or thermal insulating substance or combination thereof, in such a manner as to protect exposed plastic of the impact type piezoelectric spark generator inner housing case near the terminal impact type piezoelectric electrode from the effects of the ignited flame and heat or conducting wire that may lead to ceramic shield or combination thereof, said conducting wire being connected to terminal impact type piezoelectric electrode allowing outer conducting metal tube electrode housing body to be extended. 
   
   
       13 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark generator having push button plunger depressed in direction of longitudinal axis of impact type piezoelectric spark generator inner housing case and housing body and movable relative to its inner housing case and housing body exerts a force within piezoelectric spark generator on first electrical contact that is transferred directly to the piezoelectric pulse generating crystal. 
   
   
       14 .- 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark generated ignition efficacy is enhanced by multiple spark gaps. 
   
   
       20 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark generated efficacy is enhanced by increasing the spark gap length. 
   
   
       21 . A method and process as described in  claim 51 , wherein said spark may ignite a heating device, such as a combustible gas water heater, stove, or furnace. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . The method and process of  claim 51 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark igniter having a geometric portion of the electrical conducting tubular metal along the open end of the longitudinal axis of said tubular metal is removed so that combustible gas escaping nozzle of torch will deflect off of that portion of tubular metal not removed along this same longitudinal axis of tubular metal in such a manner as to allow a 90 degree ignition of said combustible gas. 
   
   
       24 .- 37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the second electrical contact is separated from a heat resistant ceramic shield by a concussion absorbing adhesive. 
   
   
       39 .- 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark generated ignition efficacy is enhanced by multiple spark gaps. 
   
   
       42 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark generated efficacy is enhanced by increasing the spark gap length. 
   
   
       43 . A portable combustible gas handheld torch igniter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said impact type piezoelectric spark igniter having a geometric portion of the electrical conducting tubular metal material, along the open end of the longitudinal axis of said tubular metal, is removed to provide the deflecting shield so that combustible gas escaping nozzle of torch will deflect off of that portion of tubular metal not removed along this same longitudinal axis of tubular metal in such a manner as to allow a 90 degree ignition of said combustible gas. 
   
   
       44 .- 47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . The igniter of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet port for incoming gas, wherein the inlet port is in the second electrode perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second electrode such that an opposing portion of the second electrode provides the deflecting shield. 
   
   
       49 . The igniter of  claim 48  wherein the deflecting shield allows access to the combustion zone by a stream of incoming gas and allows exit of combustion gases away from the user. 
   
   
       50 . The igniter of  claim 49  wherein the deflecting shield allows proper mixing of gas and air in the combustion zone. 
   
   
       51 . A method and process for igniting a combustible gas, the method and process comprising: igniting the combustible gas using a handheld piezoelectric spark igniter while deflecting the gas off of a deflecting shield to direct combustion gases away from a user of the igniter.