Flame-Producing Assembly With Magnetic Fuel-Level Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette lighters made of opaque plastic materials prevent users from visually determining the fuel level, leading to premature disposal and increased plastic waste.
Innovation Solution
A flame producing assembly with a fuel indicator that changes appearance in proximity to a magnetic field, using a level tracking member with a magnet supported by a buoyant member to indicate the remaining fuel level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If opaque plastic materials are used to provide a safe enclosure for liquidized butane, then safety is improved, but visibility of fuel level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic field acts as an intermediary to transfer information about fuel level from the interior of the opaque lighter to the exterior indicator. The magnetic field penetrates the opaque plastic and couples the internal fuel level (via the floating magnet) to the external visual indicator, enabling information transfer without compromising the opaque safety enclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel indicator utilizes color changes in response to magnetic field strength to communicate fuel level information. As the magnetic field intensity varies with fuel level, the indicator material changes color accordingly, providing visual feedback about remaining fuel without requiring transparency of the lighter body.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional opaque lighter design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but premature disposal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighter provides self-service information about its fuel status through the automatic magnetic field-based indicator system. The floating magnet automatically responds to fuel level changes, and the indicator automatically displays the status without user intervention, enabling users to accurately assess remaining fuel and avoid premature disposal.
3Loss of information
If fuel level indication system is added, then fuel level visibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic or mechanical fuel level sensing systems with a simple magnetic field-based mechanical indicator. The floating magnet responds to buoyancy forces driven by fuel level changes, and this mechanical motion is transmitted through the magnetic field to the indicator, eliminating the need for batteries, electronics, or complex mechanical linkages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate visualization of fuel levels, reducing premature disposal and plastic waste by ensuring the lighter is used until the fuel is exhausted.
Implementation Method 1
a level tracking member comprising at least one magnet supported by a buoyant member configured to apply a magnetic field to the fuel indicator, thereby causing the fuel indicator to indicate an amount of liquid fuel remaining in the sealed body
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the fuel indicator is capable of changing appearance when in proximity to a magnetic field
Implementation Method 3
a level tracking member comprising at least one magnet supported by a buoyant member
Data Source
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AI summary
A flame producing assembly (10) comprises a sealed body (12) comprising a proximal (14) and a distal (16) end aligned on a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the sealed body comprises a void, a fuel supply (18) comprising liquid fuel accommodated in the void within the sealed body, a fuel release assembly (20) enabling a controllable release of the fuel supply in gaseous form from the sealed body, a fuel indicator (22) configured to indicate a remaining amount of liquid fuel contained in the sealed body to a user of the flame producing assembly, wherein at least a portion of the fuel indicator is capable of changing appearance when in proximity to a magnetic field, and a level tracking member (24) comprising at least one magnet (26) supported by a buoyant member (28). The at least one magnet is configured to apply a magnetic field to the fuel indicator, thus causing the fuel indicator to indicate an amount of liquid fuel remaining in the sealed body to a user.