DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, a first embodiment of an orifice assembly 5 of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The orifice assembly is comprised of an elongate body 7 formed about a longitudinal axis 8 and has a first end 10 and a spaced second end 11. A first helical thread 13 is defined on and extends about the exterior periphery of the first end of the body, and a second helical thread 14 is defined on and extends about the exterior periphery of the second end of the body. A tool engaging surface or flat 15 is also defined on and extends about the exterior periphery of the body intermediate the ends thereof, and may be conventionally formed to be hexagonal in shape if viewed along a cross-section (not illustrated) of the body.

[0024] An elongate bore 17 is defined within the body 7 and extends from the first end to the second end thereof. Positioned within the bore, preferably coaxially about the longitudinal axis 8, is an orifice 18 which forms a first bore 19 and a second bore 21 within the bore 17. As shown, the first bore extends from the first end of the body to the orifice, whereas the second bore extends from the orifice to the second end of the body.

[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first bore 17 may terminate in a frustoconical point 22, i.e., a drilled point, formed at and leading or feeding into the orifice 18. Similarly, a frustoconical point is defined where the second bore extends from the orifice. In an alternate embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, a flat milled surface 23 may be formed as the termination point of the first bore at the orifice, and a second flat milled surface 23′ may serve as the beginning of the second bore 21, all dependent upon the method of fabrication used in forming the bore 17, and in particular the first and second bores thereof, as well as the orifice 18.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the orifice 18 is formed as an integral part of the body of the orifice assembly. This is preferably accomplished by drilling the orifice with a suitably sized drill, dependent upon the dimensioned or specified size of the orifice, as described in greater below.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, a removable filter cartridge assembly 25 may optionally be positioned within the first bore 19, upstream of the orifice 18. The filter cartridge assembly 25 is conventionally fashioned and has a filter cartridge frame 26 with a suitable filter media 27 used therein. The filter cartridge assembly may be permanently positioned within the bore of the orifice assembly should it be intended that the orifice assembly be used until the filter cartridge of the orifice becomes plugged or fouled and then replaced; or, if preferred, the filter cartridge assembly can be constructed to be removable for replacement from within the bore, as desired. The filter cartridge assembly 25, and in particular the filter media 27 thereof, is formed to assist in removing any condensates, i.e., any aerosols, vapors, entrained particulates, or liquids, and may be present within the vaporous gas as it is passed to the first bore of the body, and toward the orifice of the assembly.

[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 4A through 4D, four alternate embodiments of an externally fabricated orifice for use with the orifice assembly of the invention are illustrated for those instances where the orifice is not integrally formed as a part of the body of the orifice assembly. Turning first to FIG. 4A, an externally fabricated orifice unit 28 is shown comprised of a block 29 having an orifice inlet 30 defined therein, an orifice 32 in communication with the inlet 30, and an orifice outlet (or second bore) 33 in communication with the downstream end of the orifice 32. The orifice unit 28 is passed into the bore from the second end 11 of the body, and is received against an annular ring or stop 34 defined within or otherwise inserted into the bore. Once the orifice unit 28 is inserted into the bore 17, it defines the first bore 19 and the orifice outlet 33 serves to define and act as the second bore. It is also anticipated, although not illustrated, that the orifice unit 28 of FIG. 4A could be press fit, for example, through a suitable interference fit, into the bore defined within the body, as desired.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 4B, an alternate construction of the externally fabricated orifice unit 28 is illustrated, in which the block 29 has a first keyway 36 defined therein, and a correspondingly sized and shaped second keyway 37 is defined within the second end 11 of the body 7. Once the orifice unit 28 is inserted into the bore at the second end of the body, a suitably sized and shaped key 38 is passed into the first and second keyways, once aligned, for securing the orifice assembly in position within the bore. Yet another construction of the externally fabricated orifice unit 28 is illustrated in FIG. 4C in which the second end 11 of the body 7 has been counter-bored such that a continuous annular shoulder or ring 40 is defined within the bore and serves as a suitable stop against which the orifice unit 28 is received, the block 29 being correspondingly sized to be received within the counter-bore.

[0030] Another externally fabricated orifice unit 42 is illustrated in FIG. 4D, in which the orifice unit is comprised of an annular plate 43 having an orifice 44 defined therein, which orifice plate is passed into the second end 11 of the body, and into the bore 17, thus defining the first bore 19 and the second bore 21 therein. The orifice plate may be press fit within the bore, or may be formed of any of the constructions for the orifice unit 28 illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4C. Moreover, although not illustrated, it is anticipated that the filter cartridge assembly 25 (FIG. 3) could also be constructed in the same fashion as are the several embodiments of the orifice unit described above for being received within the bore at the first end of the body.

[0031] The orifice assembly 5 is preferably comprised of a non-ferrous material, which may include, but is not limited to, brass or bronze. Additionally, the orifice assembly may be formed of a suitable stainless steel, or where code permits out of a suitable plastic material.

[0032] An exemplary gas fueled system 50 is illustrated in FIG. 5, with which the orifice assembly 5 of this invention may be used. A supply of a pressurized gas, for example, propane, is held within a gas supply illustrated schematically at 52. The gas supply may thus comprise a 20 pound refillable propane cylinder as known, or may comprise a disposable propane cylinder or bottle, where and as appropriate. A conventional and otherwise known type of a pressure regulator 53 is in communication with the gas supply, and is used to regulate the gas pressure to the desired operating pressure based on the type of end use contemplated. Where, for example, the orifice assembly is being used with a propane fueled insect trap, it is anticipated that the pressure regulator will throttle the propane gas down to an operating pressure of approximately 0.30 to 0.40 pounds per square inch.

[0033] A gas supply line 54 extends in fluid communication with the pressure regulator 53 and the orifice assembly 5. By way of example and not of limitation, the gas supply line may comprise a flexible hose formed in conventional fashion, and may further comprise a UL approved, stainless steel wire outer braided gas hose approved for use with fuel gases.

[0034] A first ferrule assembly 56 is received at the first end of the gas supply line that is extended toward, and placed in fluid communication with the first end 10 of the body 7. The ferrule assembly 56 is formed in conventional fashion, and will preferably be a brass ferrule resistant to a 200 pound pull test, as known. The ferrule assembly 56 therefore has a nipple 57 received within the open end of the gas supply line, the nipple also having a seat 58 which is complimentarily sized and shaped for receiving the first end 10 of the body 7 therein. The nipple is affixed to the end of the gas supply line with a crimped fastener 60 in known fashion, the fastener also serving to secure a loose fitting ferrule nut 61 thereon. The ferrule nut has a helical thread 62 defined therein, the thread being complimentary to the thread 13 defined at the first end of the body 7. The ferrule nut also includes a suitable tool engaging surface 64 defined thereon, which again may be a hexagonally shaped tool engaging surface when shown in cross-section (not illustrated).

[0035] A second ferrule assembly 66 is provided at the second end 11 of the body 7. The ferrule assembly 66 thus has a nipple 67 received within an open end of the gas supply line or hose 54 extended toward an end use device 76. The nipple has a seat 68 defined therein, the seat being complimentary in size and shape to the second end 11 of the body 7. The nipple is affixed to the gas supply line by a suitable crimped fastener 70, and a loose fitting ferrule nut 71 is held by the fastener on the ferrule assembly. The ferrule nut has a continuous helical thread 72 defined therein which is complimentary to the thread 14 defined at the second end of the body, and a tool engaging surface 74 along the exterior periphery thereof. The end use device 76 may comprise any desired type of gas consuming device, which by example and not by way of limitation, may include a stove or cooking element, or a catalytic burner or heater which may be used with an insect trap.

[0036] As known, where the gas is supplied from a twenty pound refillable propane gas tank, for example, and the device/system is being used in relatively warm ambient temperature conditions, it is expected that as the propane vaporizes while being passed from the supply tank into the gas supply line that the vaporized gas will be cooled as a part of the gas vaporization process. Although this is not a problem in itself, where the ambient temperature(s) are somewhat warmer than the temperature of the cooled gas, and the device is operated for relatively long time periods of continuous operation in a low gas flow condition, it has been observed that condensation of some of the vaporized gas within the gas supply line or fueling system may occur due to these temperature differences coupled with the dwell time of the vaporous gas within the gas supply line.

[0037] Accordingly, when supplying a low pressure gas flow from a twenty pound propane or other gas storage cylinder, or other high volume gas supply devices or sources, to include a pressurized commercial gas supply, over a continuous period of time, the gas supply could last in the range of anywhere from one to three months of operation. The likelihood that condensates will gather and collect on the inside of the gas supply line, and will bridge across and thus effectively seal or block the orifice becomes quite real. In contrast, in high gas flow applications, the supply tank is exhausted in a relatively short period of time, and any condensates in the gas supply line will likely be drained or vented to atmosphere while changing out gas supply. By placing the orifice assembly 5 of the invention in the gas supply line upstream of the end-use device, any problems that may occur with orifice blockage due to the long term usage of the gas supply have been minimized in that the orifice assembly can be readily removed by loosening the ferrule nuts and then cleaning and reinstalling the orifice assembly, or by discarding and replacing the assembly, dependent on the desires of the user.

[0038] The orifice 18 in all of the embodiments of the invention is sized and shaped to meter or control the velocity of the gas passed therethrough toward a downstream device, for example, a burner. A second and unique function of the orifice assembly of this invention, in each of its disclosed embodiments, is to at least partially cause or induce the condensation of any condensates, to include vapors, aerosols, liquids, and/or entrained particles, to occur and be collected in the gas supply line 54 and/or the body 7, within the first bore 19, upstream of the orifice. This occurs due to the fact that the orifice is sized and shaped to cause the gas to dwell within the gas supply line upstream of the orifice, thus permitting or otherwise inducing any condensates or entrained particulates in the gas flow to at least partially settle out and collect on the inner wall or surface of the gas supply line, and/or the first bore of the orifice assembly.

[0039] Accordingly, the orifice preferably will at least partially cause any condensation that may occur within the gas supply lines/feed system to take place at a selected location, namely within the gas supply line or hose 54 or the first bore 19 of the orifice assembly rather than passing the condensates through and perhaps otherwise fouling the orifice. It is believed that the problem with the vaporized propane gas lies in the hexanes of the vaporous gas, especially when subjected to being passed under low pressures for prolonged periods of time through a gas supply line where relatively higher ambient temperatures are present such that the hexanes tend to condense out of the vaporous propane within the gas supply line. Although hexanes are described here, however, this situation could arise from the condensation of any of the hydrocarbon components within any type of a hydrocarbon based fuel gas vapor, here propane, to include not only hexane, but also pentane or any particulate matter that may entrained within the gas flow.

[0040] Accordingly, in heretofore unknown fashion, should condensation occur within the system, and should it bridge across the orifice 18, a user may loosen the ferrule assemblies 56 and 66, respectively, and remove and replace the orifice assembly, or clean and reinstall the orifice assembly, as desired. The user will not otherwise be required to gain access to an orifice formed as a part of a burner assembly housed or enclosed within the device.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the orifice 18 will preferably have a diameter of approximately six thousandths of an inch (0.15 mm), and will preferably have a depth or length in the range of from approximately eight thousandths of an inch (0.20 mm) to ten thousandths of an inch (0.30 mm). This range of orifice dimensions is particularly suited for use with an insect trap type of propane gas fueled device in which the gas is passed from the gas supply and through the system at an operating pressure of approximately {fraction (1/3)} PSI.

[0042] Although the orifice assembly of the invention has been described above for use with propane as a fuel gas, it is anticipated that the orifice assembly of this invention, and the features and benefits thereof, can be used with any type of a fuel gas, or with other fluids, particularly gases, which may be subject to having condensates, either vapors, aerosols, particulates, or liquids, therein. Moreover, although the specific orifice dimensions discussed above are for use with propane gas and the operating parameters described above, it is anticipated that in those instances where propane gas is not used, the size of the orifice will be determined by the caloric content of the gas used. If, for example, the orifice assembly is to be used with natural gas, a larger diameter orifice opening will be required than that described based on the caloric content of natural gas contrasted to that of propane, as well as the BTUs to be produced by the end-use device.

[0043] Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments in the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

[0044] Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in the generic and descriptive sense only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention; and the words “a,” “and,” or “the” as they appear herein may mean one or more, depending upon the context in which the words are used, and are not otherwise intended to limit the scope of the disclosed invention.