US 6,378,551 B1 · Lantern with improved choke and regulator

Abstract

A gas operated lantern includes a regulator having a simple mechanism allowing a user to start or stop the flow of gas through the regulator. The regulator preferably exhausts an air/gas mixture in the same direction as which gas enters the regulator. The regulator includes a diaphragm assembly which presses down on a valve assembly to open the valve assembly. A stem enters the regulator and is turnable by the user to raise the diaphragm assembly and thus cause the valve assembly to close. The lantern also includes an automatic choke. The choke is preferably a strip of metal located in the burner tube of the lantern which acts to close off a portion of the burner tube when the lantern is cold, causing the air/fuel mixture to become richer and thus easier to light. As the lantern heats up, the choke straightens to open the burner tube, allowing a greater flow of air through the lantern and causing the air/fuel mixture to become leaner and thus raising the efficiency of the lantern.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A regulator for controlling a flow of gas, comprising:

a valve opening;
a diaphragm assembly including at least a diaphragm, the diaphragm assembly causing the valve opening to narrow in response to a flow of gas against the diaphragm;
a stem movable by a user and causing the valve opening to open or close a valve;
a surface located on the diaphragm assembly engageable by the stem to open or close the valve;
and,
an extension disposed on the stem;
wherein the stem may be turned to cause the extension to engage the surface, and wherein the diaphragm assembly includes a fluid channel therethrough.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lantern with improved choke and regulator

Life of this patent

Lantern with improved choke and regulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5