US4975044A — Gas mantle technology

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A light source comprising a fuel supply, a fuel supply conduit connected to said fuel supply and having an outlet port, a self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle supported on said fuel supply conduit adjacent said outlet port, the subassembly of said conduit and said mantle having a strength (shock resistance) figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said mantle retains such strength after said mantle has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C., a fuel control for controlling the flow of fuel to said mantle through said conduit, and an igniter mechanism for igniting said fuel to cause said mantle to become incandescant and emit light, said light source having a luminous efficiency of at least about one-half lumen per watt.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

A light source comprising a fuel supply, a fuel supply conduit connected to said fuel supply and having an outlet port, a self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle supported on said fuel supply conduit adjacent said outlet port, the subassembly of said conduit and said mantle having a strength (shock resistance) figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said mantle retains such strength after said mantle has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C., a fuel control for controlling the flow of fuel to said mantle through said conduit, and an igniter mechanism for igniting said fuel to cause said mantle to become incandescant and emit light, said light source having a luminous efficiency of at least about one-half lumen per watt.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

The source of claim 1 wherein said source has an output of at least ten lumens with an isobutane fuel flow rate of one gram per hour, a wattage rating of less than fifty watts, and said mantle has strength to withstand impact loads in excess of 300 g's without failure.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The source of claim 2 wherein said source has a handle portion sized to be grasped in a hand, and said fuel supply is in said handle portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

The source of claim 3 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle is composed of metal oxide strands that have a cross-sectional dimension in the order of 0.1 millimeter and said mantle has an open area in excess of fifty percent.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The source of claim 4 wherein said metal oxide strands are multi-filament, each said filament having a cross-sectional dimension in the order of ten micrometers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The source of claim 1 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle has an overall length of about one half centimeter and a diameter of about one half centimeter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The source of claim 1 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle is shrink-supported on said fuel supply conduit.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The source of claim 1 wherein said fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon such as isobutane, propane, gasoline or the like.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

The source of claim 1 and further including a pressure regulator connected in said conduit between said fuel supply and said outlet for supplying fuel to said outlet at a pressure of less than three psi.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The source of claim 1 and further including an aspirator mechanism for supplying an air-fuel mixture in approximately stoichiometric ratio connected in said conduit between said fuel supply and said outlet.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

The source of claim 7 wherein said mantle is composed of interlocked metal oxide fibers, each said fiber being about seven micrometers in diameter, a significant portion of the crystallites of said fibers being greater than one micrometer in size.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

The source of claim 11 wherein said fibers of said mantle are composed of the oxides of a host metal selected from the class of zirconium, yttrium, thorium, hafnium and rare earth metals; and at least one dopant metal selected from the class consisting of cerium and other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, calcium, magnesium, and zirconium, said dopant metal being different from said host metal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 115 words

The source of claim 11 and further including a pressure regulator connected in said conduit between said fuel supply and said outlet for supplying fuel to said outlet at a pressure of less than three psi, said liquid fuel supply in said housing is isobutane, and an aspirator mechanism for supplying an air-fuel mixture in essentially stoichiometric ratio is connected in said conduit between said fuel supply and said outlet, said source having an output of at least ten lumens with an isobutane fuel flow rate of one gram per hour, a wattage rating of less than fifty watts, and said mantle having strength to withstand impact loads in excess of 600 g's without failure.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 88 words

A sturdy flexible metal oxide article composed of the oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of thorium, zirconium, hafnium, yttrium, cerium, other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, calcium, and magnesium, said metal oxide being in microcrystalline form with a substantial number of individual crystallites having a size in the range of 1-2 micrometers and with well-delineated crystallite boundaries, said microcrystalline structure being stable at temperatures of 1500° C., and said article having a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 88 words

A sturdy flexible metal oxide article composed of the oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of thorium, zirconium, hafnium, yttrium, cerium, other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, calcium, and magnesium, said metal oxide being in microcrystalline form with a substantial number of individual crystallites having a size in the range of 1-2 micrometers and with well-delineated crystallite boundaries, said microcrystalline structure being stable at temperatures of 1500° C., and said article having a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of claim 14 wherein said article is in the form of interlocked elongated fibers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

A fabric article composed of interlocked metal oxide fibers of claim 15, each said fiber being about seven micrometers in diameter, a significant portion of the crystallites of said fibers being greater than one micrometer in size.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The article of claim 16 wherein said fabric article has strength such that it withstands deceleration forces in excess of 600 g's without fracture.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

The article of claim 15 wherein said fibers are composed of the oxides of a host metal selected from the class of zirconium, yttrium, thorium, hafnium, and rare earth metals; and at least one dopant metal selected from the class consisting of cerium and other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, calcium, magnesium, yttrium and zirconium, the dopant metal being different from the host metal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 76 words

A self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle that defines a hollow space comprising an interconnected array of metal oxide fibers, said fiber array having an open area of at least fifty percent and having strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it has a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said mantle retains such strength after said mantle it has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 76 words

A self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle that defines a hollow space comprising an interconnected array of metal oxide fibers, said fiber array having an open area of at least fifty percent and having strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it has a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said mantle retains such strength after said mantle it has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 64 words

The mantle of claim 19 wherein said fibers are composed of at least one oxide of a metal selected from the class consisting of thorium, zirconium, yttrium, hafnium, cerium, and other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, magnesium, and calcium, said mantle having strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it withstands deceleration forces in excess of 300 g's without fracture.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

The mantle of claim 20 wherein said mantle has strength such that it withstands deceleration forces in excess of 600 g's without fracture

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

The mantle of claim 21 wherein said metal oxide fabric is at least ninety-five percent thoria.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The mantle of claim 22 wherein said metal oxide fabric further comprises ceria and alumina.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The mantle of claim 23 wherein said ceria is in the amount of 0.5-3.0 weight percent and said alumina in the amount of 0.1-2.0 weight percent.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The mantle of claim 19 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle has an integral skirt portion that is shrink-supported on a support tube.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

The mantle of claim 25 wherein said mantle is mechanically secured on said support tube by an inorganic cement.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 12 words

The mantle of claim 26 wherein said inorganic cement is sodium silicate.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 44 words

The mantle of claim 20 wherein said metal oxide is in microcrystalline form with a substantial number of individual crystallites having a size in the range of 1-2 micrometers and with well-delineated crystallite boundaries, said microcrystalline structure being stable at temperatures of 1500° C.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 12 words

The mantle of claim 28 wherein said fibers are elongated and interlocked.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 31 words

The mantle of claim 29 wherein each said fiber is about seven micrometers in diameter, a significant portion of the crystallites of said fibers being greater than one micrometer in size.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The mantle of claim 30 wherein said mantle defines a hollow space of less than about 0.2 cubic centimeter volume.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 64 words

A sturdy refractory metal oxide article comprising an interconnected array of metal oxide portions, said article having an open area of at least fifty percent and having strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it has strength to withstand impact loads in excess of 300 g's without failure and a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 64 words

A sturdy refractory metal oxide article comprising an interconnected array of metal oxide portions, said article having an open area of at least fifty percent and having strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it has strength to withstand impact loads in excess of 300 g's without failure and a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

The article of claim 32 wherein said article has strength such that it withstands deceleration forces in excess of 600 g's without fracture.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 73 words

A metal oxide fabric article composed of interlocked fibers of at least one oxide of a metal selected from the class consisting of thorium, zirconium, yttrium, hafnium, cerium, and other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, magnesium, and calcium, said fabric article having a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said fabric article retaining such strength after said fabric article has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 73 words

A metal oxide fabric article composed of interlocked fibers of at least one oxide of a metal selected from the class consisting of thorium, zirconium, yttrium, hafnium, cerium, and other rare earth metals, aluminum, beryllium, magnesium, and calcium, said fabric article having a shock resistance figure of merit of at least three g-meters, and said fabric article retaining such strength after said fabric article has been heated to a temperature of 1500° C.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 37 words

The metal oxide fabric article of claim 34 wherein said metal oxide fabric article has strength such that, when it is secured to a support member, it withstands deceleration forces in excess of 600 g's without fracture.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 19 words

The metal oxide fabric article of claim 34 wherein said metal oxide fabric is at least ninety-five percent thoria.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of claim 36 wherein said metal oxide fabric further comprises ceria and alumina.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 25 words

The article of claim 35 wherein said article is a luminescent mantle that has a luminous efficiency of at least about one-half lumen per watt.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 27 words

The mantle of claim 38 wherein said mantle has an output of at least ten lumens with an isobutane fuel flow rate of one gram per hour.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 12 words

The mantle of claim 39 wherein said metal oxide fibers comprise thoria.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 15 words

The mantle of claim 40 wherein said metal oxide fibers further comprise ceria and alumina.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 32 words

The mantle of claim 41 wherein said fibers comprises ceria in the amount of less than about two weight percent and alumina in the amount of less than about one weight percent.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 33 words

The article of claim 34 wherein said article is a self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle that has an overall length of about one half centimeter and a diameter of about one half centimeter.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 28 words

The article of claim 34 wherein said article is a self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle that defines a hollow space of less than about 0.2 cubic centimeter volume.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 24 words

The article of claim 44 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle has an integral skirt portion that is shrink-supported on a support tube.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 14 words

The article of claim 45 wherein said support tube is of a ceramic material.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 32 words

The article of claim 44 wherein said mantle comprises ceria in the amount of about two weight percent or less and alumina in the amount of about one weight percent or less.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 23 words

The article of claim 45 wherein said self-supporting metal oxide fiber mantle is mechanically secured on said support tube by an inorganic cement.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 12 words

The article of claim 48 wherein said inorganic cement is sodium silicate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-12-03	1994-06-04	1994-12-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-12-03	1998-06-04	1998-12-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-12-03	2002-06-04	2002-12-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas mantle technology

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag