Twin Wick Torch Touchless Refill System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid fueled patio torches face challenges in convenient refilling due to the need to handle sooty wicks and risk of spilling flammable fuels, with wicks often being too small for effective combustion, resulting in inadequate light and pest repellant performance.
Innovation Solution
A touchless fill system featuring a flame bowl with a shroud and multiple wick holders, a baffled flow barrier, and a removable fuel reservoir, allowing for safe and efficient refueling without touching the torch, with features like foam inserts and ventilation tubes to control vapor escape and prevent ignition sources from entering the fuel canister.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the wick is made larger to provide effective combustion, then the light and pest repellant performance is improved, but air and flame control becomes problematic resulting in a flame that may be too small or too smoky
Solution Approach 1:
The wick system is divided into multiple separate wicks (typically three) arranged in a triangular pattern within the flame bowl. Each wick is held in a separate wick holder, allowing independent positioning and adjustment. This segmentation enables better control of the flame structure and air flow patterns compared to a single large wick, while still providing sufficient total burning surface area for effective light output and pest repellant performance.
2Ease of operation
If the canister top is removed for filling, then the fuel can be refilled, but the handling of sooty wicks and risk of spilling flammable fuel increases
Solution Approach 1:
A removable funnel is provided as an intermediary device for fuel transfer. The funnel has a spout that fits into the fill hole of the canister, allowing fuel to be poured through the funnel without removing the canister top. This intermediary device channels the fuel flow in a controlled manner, preventing spills while enabling easy refilling. The funnel can be detached and cleaned, and its design specifically addresses the hazard of flammable fuel spillage during the refilling operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a funnel is used for filling, then spilling is prevented, but the device complexity and number of handling steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel is designed with multiple functions: it serves as the fuel transfer device, acts as a seal for the fill hole to prevent vapors from escaping during filling, and provides a handle for easy manipulation. The funnel's spout is specifically shaped to fit the canister opening, and the funnel body can be removed and cleaned. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional separate components while maintaining spill prevention capabilities.
4Ease of operation
If the canister top is handled multiple times, then filling and replacement are completed, but the time and complexity of the operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is pre-equipped with a threaded fill hole and internal threading to accept the funnel and cap. The funnel is designed to screw onto the canister opening, and the cap is pre-threaded to secure the funnel in place. These preliminary structural preparations allow the refilling operation to be completed in a single continuous action sequence without removing and reattaching the canister top, significantly reducing the time and complexity of the refilling process.
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 safe, convenient refueling and enhances combustion performance by allowing larger flames and improved light and pest repellant capabilities, while preventing fuel spills and ignition source entry into the canister.
Implementation Method 1
At least two wicks are retained in the at least two wick holders, the at least two wicks providing a burning region within the flame bowl and passing through the wick holders and the fitting
Implementation Method 2
A shroud is connected to the flame bowl and extends away from the flame bowl. The shroud defines a plurality of slots
Implementation Method 3
features like foam inserts and ventilation tubes to control vapor escape
Implementation Method 4
ventilation tubes to control vapor escape and prevent ignition sources from entering the fuel canister
Implementation Method 5
the at least two wicks providing a burning region within the flame bowl
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus having a flame bowl, a shroud surrounding the flame bowl, and a fitting connected to an underside of the flame bowl is disclosed. At least two wick holders are disposed in the flame bowl. The shroud connects to the flame bowl along a top thereof and is spaced apart from the flame bowl along a bottom thereof.