US3036451A - Anti-blowout flare - Google Patents

Description

Unite.

This invention relates to emergency or safety signals for use along highways when an automobile becomes dis abled, and more particularly to emergency flares or similar signals which depend on a flame to produce light.

Due to the present high speeds with which automobiles travel on highways, expressways, thruways and the like, it is essential and of considerable importance that adequate notice be given of unusual highway conditions ahead, stoppages, bottlenecks and the like. For this purpose, various flares, signal lamps, blinkers, etc. have been produced and made available to the public.

One such type of signal, constituted as a flare, has become extremely popular due to its efliciency in providing an adequate warning, its small size, light weight, and low initial cost. Such flares are commonly constituted of a small cylindrical body approximately 2" in diameter by 4 or 5" high, containing a slow-burning substance which produces a bright light visible over quite a distance. The low cost, lack of maintenance, ease of operation and general overall convenience has placed this type of signal in great demand. However, while these flares have on the whole been eminently satisfactory, the ;1 have exhibited a tendency to blow out in a strong win The above disadvantage of such flares is obviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved flare type signal which is resistant to blowing out, and which will remain lighted even in a strong wind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved flare signal as above characterized, which is extremely simple in its construction and economical to fabricate.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a signal flare improved blow-out preventing means having advantages as above characterized, which may be readily adapted for use with existing flares, as an accessory therefor or addition thereto.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever possible in the several views, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an improved anti-blow out flare made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the flare shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the flare.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flare.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flare shown therein, indicated generally by the numeral may be constituted in any usual manner as regards its body portion and solid fuel material. For example, it may comprise a tubular cylindrical jacket or container 11 of fireproof cardboard or other suitable material having an inturned bottom edge 12 which retains a closure disc 13. While the container is hereinafter described as tubular, it, of course, can be of any suitable shape. The inside of the can or container 11 may have any usual type of slow-burning solid fuel substance 15, adapted to produce a brilliant flame which may be seen from a great distance.

in accordance with the present invention I provide the flare 10 with a novel and improved, greatly simplified anti-blowout means 17, for disposition at the top of tent the container 1'1 so as to project above the upper rim thereof. Such anti-blowout means is so constituted and arranged that at all times it effectively shields some portion of the flame from the wind, and prevents the same from being extinguished regardless of the direction of the wind or nominal strength thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention ilustrated herein, such anti-blowout means is constituted of but two flat vane-like members providing a pair of intersecting partitions or walls. One member, designated 19, crosses the other member 20 at right angles, and to effect this in a simple manner the members 19 and 20 may be provided with slits 21 and 22 respectively, the slit 21 being in the upper half of the member 19 whereas the slit 22 is located 'in the lower half of the member 20. Thus, the members 19 and 20 may be interfitted in a manner which is well-known in the packaging or crating art.

Also, the members 19 and 20 are provided with angularly cut corner portions 23 and 24, thereby to present generally a rounded or blunt configuration which is devoid of sharp corners.

As shown in FIG. 2, the interfitted vanes or walls 19 and 20 are disposed within the upper portion of the container 11, being preferably imbedded in the solid fuel substance 15. Preferably at least the upper halves of the members 19 and 20 project above the top rim 26 of the container, as shown in FIG. 2, thereby to present an appreciable shielding surface to the wind. The shielding members 19 and 20 are constituted of a non-inflammable, relatively thin, stilf board material such as impregnated fiber board, impregnated fabric, fiber glass, asbestos board, asbestos-coated board or the like.

I have found that with a flare as thus constituted above, an eflective anti-blowout action is had through the provision of the intersecting members 19 and 20, whereby the flare will not be extinguished even when placed in a strong wind. The crossing members effectively shield at least some portion of the flame from the wind, to prevent the same from blowing out. It will be understood that the fuel substance 15 becomes ignited in four places extending on both sides of both the intersecting windshielding members, and even if a strong wind should tend to extinguish one or two windward sides of the flame, the remaining shielded sides will continue to burn, and upon the wind letting up, the flame will be resumed at the four sides of the wind shield. Accordingly, the present improved flare as above set forth and constructed has been found to burn effectively without danger of becoming extinguished under extremely adverse conditions of wind, and is much more reliable than flares not provided with shielding walls or partitions as above illustrated and described.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claim, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

An emergency flare type signal for outdoor use, com prising a container having an open top and a solid fuel substance carried therein which produces a bright light visible over a substantial distance, said fuel being adapted to burn within the confines of the container, a wind shielding structure disposed within the open top of the container and extending thereacross and substantially above the upper rim of the container at all times, said wind shielding structure comprising two relatively stiff and thin rectangular structures intersecting each other along their midsections and constituting a non-inflammable porous substance whereby it resists being consumed by the flame, said wind shielding structure being disposed wholly in the upper portion of the container and the space above the top of the container and hav- 3,036,451 3 4 ing substantial exposed areas on their opposite sides to References Cited in the file of this patent shield the fuel from gusts of wind as it burns within the UNITED STATES PATENTS container and to provide a background surface against B A11 8, 1939 WhICh the light from the burning 'fuel can be seen from fii s a1 23, 1943 a substantial distance, said container, wind shielding struc- 5 23/581460 Ciano Aug. 14 1956 tune and fuel constituting an integral structure Which may easily be stored and readily put into use, said container FOREIGN PATENTS comprising a fireproof material. 921,861 Germany Dec. 30, 1954

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