Feb 8, 1966
`
`E. SEUTI-_i»_E
`ELECTRICALLY HEATED SMOKE PRODUCING DEVICE
`
`3,234,357-
`
`-3
`
`Filed Oct. 29, 1962
`
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`NU MARK Ex.1013 p.1
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`

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`Feb. 8, 1966
`
`E. saums
`ELECTRICALLY HEATED SMOKE PRODUCING DEVICE
`
`3,234,357
`
`Filed Oct. 29, 1962
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`NU MARK Ex.1013 p.2
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`

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`3,234,357
`Patented Feb. 8, 1966.
`
`United States Patent Office
`
`-1
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`2
`
`3,234,357
`ELECTRICALLY HEATED SMOKE
`PRODUCING DEVICE
`V
`Eberhard Seuthe, Romerstrasse 60, Uhingen,
`'
`Wurttemberg, Germany
`Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,531
`Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 2, 1961,
`S 76,518
`9 Claims;
`(Cl. 219-273)
`
`This invention relates in general to smoke, fume or
`vapor producing devices, and in particular to a new and
`useful device for producing smoke by the evaporation of
`oil or similar liquid, especially for use with toy locomo-
`tives, buildings and the like.
`The present inventionris particularly concerned with a
`device for producing a visible fume, vapor or smoke, and
`such devices are hereinafter referred to collectively as
`“smoke-producing devices.” With known devices of this
`type, it is usual to provide a heating wire or similar heat-
`ingrelement which is arranged adjacent to, or wound
`around, anevaporation medium such as an oil in a tube
`or container. Withconstructions of this type it is neces-
`sary to provide sealing means for the heating wire,
`in-
`cluding special jackets or covers of heat or electrically
`insulating material. One difliculty -with apparatus of
`this type is that it is very complicated and expensive to
`manufacture and, in. addition, occupies a large space. A
`further disadvantage of devices of this character is that
`auxiliary devices such as a movable piston and the like
`are required for etfecting the pumping of the exiting smoke
`in order -to simulate, for example, the exhaust of a loco-
`motive.
`' In accordance with the present invention, there is pro-
`vided an improved construction which includes a tubular
`element or riser tube having a capillary size bore which
`is arranged in a reservoir for the evaporating liquid. A
`feature of the construction is that the heating means for
`theevaporating liquid may advantageously comprise a
`single heating element which is arranged to extend through
`the riser tube or it may comprise the riser tube itself in
`order to provide sufiiicent heating within the tube, so that
`smoke is generated from the top end thereof, exiting in a
`pufling fashion.
`In one embodiment, the tube having the
`capillary bore may advantageously be a riser pipe sur-
`rounded by an insulating cover, each made of flexible, in-
`expensive material and arranged to communicate with a
`reservoir or supply line for the evaporating liquid. With
`‘such ‘a construction, a flexible or pliable riser is provided
`— which may be bent and adapted to various space require-
`ments, so that it may be easily incorporated into the many
`types of prefabricated toys such as locomotives, houses,
`etc. A particularly simple construction is obtained when
`the riser pipe is made as a spiral tube which extends up-
`wardly through the liquid to be evaporated and which is
`made of an electrically conductive material which is elec-
`trically connected at opposite ends within the reservoir
`for the evaporating liquid.
`In accordance with another feature of the invention,
`‘the pipe having the capillary bore is advantageously made
`of a material which provides an electrical heating resist-
`ance for the evaporating agent or, alternatively, the tube
`may contain an electrical resistance within the capillary
`bore.‘
`Accordingly, it.is an object of this invention to provide
`'a‘smoke"producing device.
`‘
`‘ A further object of the invention is to provide a compact
`smoke producing device which includes a tubular element
`advantageously having a capillary bore through which an
`electrical heating element extends which is suspended in
`a liquid which will vaporize or from smoke when heated.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a smoke
`
`producing device which includes a reservoir of a material
`such as an oil which will readily evaporate into smoke, in
`which reservoir is arranged a riser tube having a capillary
`bore therein which is connected electrically to produce a
`heating resistance for the heating of the material and
`generation of smoke.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a smoke
`producing device which may be adapted for incorporation
`in toysvof various configurations and which is of a con-
`struction which may be simply varied or bent in order
`to provide a universal use therefor.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a device
`which is simple in design, rugged in construction and
`economical to manufacture.
`-
`The various features of novelty which characterize the
`invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims
`annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For
`a better understanding of the invention, -its operating ad-
`vantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference
`should be had to the accompanying drawings and descrip-
`tive matter in which there are illustrated and described
`preferred embodiments of the invention.
`In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a transverse section, on an enlarged scale,
`of a smoke generator constructed in accordance with the
`invention;
`FIGS. 2 and 3 are sections similar to FIG. 1, of anoth-
`er embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 3a is a section taken on the line 3a——-3a of FIG. 3;
`FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sections similar to FIG.
`1, of other embodiments of the invention; and
`FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section of a portion of a loco-
`motive having .a smoke generator installed thereon which
`is constructed in accordance with the invention.
`Referring to the drawings in particular, -the invention
`as embodied therein in FIG. 1 includes a smoke generat-
`ing device comprising a tubular container for a reservoir
`generally designated 1 which is made of a material such
`as metal and which is filled with vaporizable liquid 12
`which is introduced through an open top Id.
`_‘
`In accordance -with the invention, a riser pipe or tu-
`bular element is supported within the container 1 at a
`location spaced upwardly from the bottom wall la there-
`_of and is provided with a bore 2a of capillary size. The
`pipe 2 consist-s of an electrically conductive material, for
`example, metal. The pipe 2 is advantageously made of
`a thin walled construction in order to obtain a heating
`resistance of a rather low ohmic value, for example, of
`about 5 ohms.
`Electrica-1 current supply lines 5 and 6 extend from ter-
`minals or poles 3 and 4. through openings lb and lo: de-
`fined in the bottom wall 1a of the container ll. The
`supply line 5 is connected to the upper part of the pipe
`2, while the supply line 6 is connected to the lower part
`of the pipe 2.
`Insulation 7 is arranged ‘around the supply
`line 6 at the exterior of the container 1, and an insulating
`sleeve 7a is provided -around the supply line 6 at the lo-
`cation of its entrance to the inner container 1. The bot-
`tom wall la is sealed against the exit of liquid from the
`interior of the container 1 by means of an insulating
`‘cement 8.
`
`The riser pipe 2, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is sur-
`rounded by tube 9 of an insulating material which is ad-
`vantageously porcelain or -a synthetic material known in
`-the trade as “Steofit” and insulates both against eletcric
`current and heat.
`Instead of providing separate pipes, a
`coating of the same or similar thickness as the pipe 9 may
`be applied around the pipe 2. Such a coating may be
`applied by means of dipping, painting or spraying, for ex-
`ample.
`. The entiredevice is then advantageously supported in
`an opening formed by a wall 10 of a chimney which may
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`incorporate the stack of a toy locomotive, tfor example.
`Such an arrangement is indicated on a smaller scale In
`FIG. 7. During operation of the smoke producer, when
`the electric. current is switched on, the liquid rises in the
`capillary bore 2:: of the pipe 2, as it is heated by the C1_1T'
`rent which is directed through the riser tube .2. The l-1q—
`uid A12 is evaporated and is such that smoke or vapor is
`formed and ejected from the locomotive, either continu-
`ously or intermittently, as desired.
`In doing so, a pufiing
`noise takes plaw, whereby faithful reproduction of the
`real -pheno-menon of the operation of a toy locomotive is
`produced.
`In the embodiment of FIG. .2, there is provided a con-
`tainer 1’ which is filled -with a liquid 12 of a low boiling
`point which, when evaporated, produces a smoke 11 as
`in the other embodiment. The container 1’ in this em-
`bodiment is provided with a removable bottom 21 upon
`which is mounted a riser pipe or tube element 22 having
`«a capillary size bore extending completely therethrough.
`The lower end 22’ is exposed above the surface of the
`plate 21, so that it will be at a location to draw in liquid
`The tubular element 22 advan-
`'12 by capillary action.
`tageously is made of a thin metal material and has a heat-
`ing resistance slight-ly higher in ohmic value than in the
`embodiment of FIG. 1 and may be, for example, in the
`neighborhood of 50 ohms. An electric line 6’ is passed
`through a suitable opening made in the plate 21 without
`any insulation and is connected to the pipe 22 adjacent
`the lower end thereof. An electrical line 5’ is arranged
`within an insulating sleeve 27 .which is mounted in a ver-
`tical manner in a suitable opening in the plate 21 to ex-
`tend to the upper end of the pipe 22 and connects to the
`pipe 22 -at this location.
`A feature of the construction of this embodiment is
`that the riser pipe 22 and the associated electrical lines 5’
`and 6’ with the insulation 27 may be mounted on the plate
`'21 and the whole assembly inserted through the bottom
`end of the tube 1’ and cemented in place by material 8’
`to form a water tight connect-ion. When the current is ap-
`plied to the lines 5’ and 6’, liquid in the riser pipe 22 is
`vaporized and smoke is generated which exits as indicated
`at 11.
`In the embodiment indicated in FIGS. 3 and 312, a tubu-
`lar element or reservoir 1" is provided in which is located
`a riser pipe assembly or tubular element generally desig-
`nated 33. The riser pipe assembly 33 advantageously
`includes a plurality of bores 32 defined therein extending
`from one end to the other, and the lower end 33’ is ad-
`vantageously angled in respect to a bottom la’, so that
`each of the bores is exposed to the liquid 12 within the
`reservoir 1".
`In this embodiment, a continuous healing
`wire or element -34 is directed successively up one bore
`32 and down another in a continuous manner, and one
`end is connected to an electrical conduit 6" and -an oppo-
`site end is connected to an electrical conduit '5" at loca-
`tions adjacent the bottom edge 33’ but on opposite sides
`of the riser pipe 33.
`In this embodiment, the line 6" is
`conducted through the bottom la’ and is surrounded at
`-such location by an insulating sleeve 7’. The bottom is
`made Water tight by the use of a cement material 8".
`In this construction, the liquid 12 rises in each of the
`bore 32 and is vaporized by the heating element 34 when
`-the current is applied thereto,
`to cause a simultaneous
`formation of several smoke columns which issue as a
`plurality of puifs of smoke 1‘1’.
`t-Pufiing through the tops
`of each of the bores -will take place at spa-ced intervals
`in accordance with the generation of -the vapor in the
`individual bores. The riser pipe 33 in this embodiment
`may advantageously consist of porcelain or synthetic ma-
`terial, as indicated in FIG. 3a.
`In FIG. 4, two spaced riser pipes or tubular elements
`42 and 43 are arranged within the interior of a container
`or evaporating liquid reservoir 41. Evaporating liquid
`12 is positioned within the container 41 as in the other
`embodiment, and a single electric heating wire 44 is ad-
`
`‘
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`4;
`vantageously wound around guiding elements 44' and
`passed through capillary size bores defined in each -of the
`riser pipes 42 and 43 in a continuous manner up one pipe
`and down the other. The ends of the wire are advan-
`tageously connected to electrical conduits 5"’ and 6"’
`which are connected to a suitable source of electrical cur-
`
`rent. The guide elements 44' are advantageously made
`of a material which is easily wetted by the evaporating
`liquid :12. The electrical lines 5”’ and 6"’ are advan-
`tageously covered with insulation sleeve 47 and 46, re-
`spectively, and they are passed through the bottom wall
`41a of the container 41 in a fluid tight manner which is
`assured by providing cement 8"’. A pontion of each of
`the lines 5”’ and 6"’ is exposed without any insulation
`at the interior of the container at locations within spaced
`insulation tubes or elements 49a or 4%. The riser pipes
`42 and 43 are surrounded by an insulation sleeve or tubu-
`lar element 142 which is also cemented in position above
`-the insulating tubular elements 49:; and 49b.
`Sealing cement 48 is applied between the insulating
`sleeve 142 and the insulating sleeves 46 and 47 to stabilize
`the entire structure and also to provide adequate heat
`and current insulation. The bubble formation which is
`produced when the liquid 12 is evaporated by heat from
`the current supplied to the heating element 44 is particu-
`larly enhanced since the heating element 44 also extends
`directly above the top openings of these -tubes and a par-
`ticularly strong heat generation takes place in this vicinity.
`The container 41 in this embodiment may advantageously
`be made as a continuous pipe with the removable -bottom
`41a, and it may be made of a material such as metal, ha-rd
`paper, cardboard or synthetic material.
`In FIG. 5, the smoke producing unit is inserted into
`a chimney 10’ of a toy locomotive and is advantageously
`made flexible throughout its length so that it may be
`accommodated to the particular configuration of the cav-
`ity defined within the toy.
`In this embodiment, a riser
`tube or capillary pipe 51 is provided which consists of
`a heat resistant, flexible insulating hose through which
`heating wire 52 is passed. The heating wire 52 is ad-
`vantageously coiled only in the upper portion of the capil-
`lary pipe 51 and the two ends of the heating wire 52 are
`connected with current supply lines 5a and 6a by means
`of soldering at locations 52a and 52b. The line 6a is sur-
`rounded by an insulating sleeve 7 which forms part of a
`hose 55. The hose 55 is connected by means of cement-
`ing material 56 at one end of a plug member or collar
`57. The plug member 57 may advantageously com-
`prise a small size hollow rivet which widens outwardly
`toward its flanged ends which are in fluidtight commu-
`nication with a reservoir for ‘the smoke producing liquid
`12. The evaporating liquid is advantageously intro-
`duced into the opposite end of the hollow rivet 57 and it
`rises in the capillary tube 51 and is heated by the heating
`wire 52. This smoke producing unit permits a particu-
`larly universal use due to its flexible construction and it
`can be adapted to any possible number of devices, such
`as, for example, factory chimneys, locomotives and other
`toy structures.
`In addition, it can be produced very sim-
`ply and inexpensively.
`In FIG. 6 there is indicated a somewhat modified ar-
`rangement of the embodiment indicated in FIG. 4 which
`comprises a container 61 which may, for example, con-
`sist of an insulating hard paper pipe. The bottom 61a
`of the container 61 is advantageously made separate and
`may be of the same material.
`Insulating cement 68 is ap-
`plied over the whole surface of the bottom 61. Current
`supply lines 5b and 6b are encased in insulation sleeves
`65 and 66, respetcively, and are passed through the bot-
`tom 61a in a fluid tight manner. The lines 5a and 6b are
`connected at their inner ends at points 67 and 69 with the
`heating wire 71 which is directed through the interior
`of a capillary pipe 62. The wire 71 is advantageously
`coiled around a wick or mandrel 63 which is easily
`wetted.
`In order to obtain a stronger heating effect, the
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`NU MARK Ex.1013 p.4
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`4,234,357
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`5
`wire in the upper region is wound in a tighter coiled man-
`ner than the lower portion. An insulating pipe 162 sur-
`rounds the capillary pipe 62 and the upper end of the
`heating wire 71. The lower region of the capillary tube
`62 is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 163 which is
`spaced downwardly from the insulating sleeve 162 and
`offset slightly therefrom.
`In some ‘instances,
`it is de-
`sirable to provide insulating cement between the insulat-
`ing sleeves 162 and 163, and 65 and 66.
`While specific embodiments of the invention have been
`shown and described in detail to illustrate the applica-
`tion of the inventive principles, it will be understood that
`the invention may be embodied otherwise without depart-
`ing from such principles.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A device for vaporizing a liquid such as a liquid
`which produces smoke, comprising a riser pipe having an
`open ended bore defined therethrough of a capillary size,
`an electrical heating wire extending through said bore
`in said riser pipe, the diameter of said wire being smaller
`than the diameter of said bore, said riser pipe having
`one end portion extending substantially vertically and
`having an opposite end portion disposed and operatively
`supported in said device for communication of said bore
`with the vaporizaable liquid, and an electric power
`source operatively connected to said heating wire.
`2. A‘device according to claim 1, wherein said riser
`pipe is made of flexible material.
`3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said riser
`pipe is made of flexible material, and including an outer
`tubular member of flexible insulation material substan-
`tially coextensive with at least said vertically extending
`end portion and surrounding said riser pipe, a plug mem-
`ber extending around said opposite end portion of said
`riser pipe and exposed at one end to the vaporizable
`liquid and connected at its opposite end to said outer
`tubular member and said riser pipe, said plug member
`having a passage therethrough which is in communica-
`tion with said bore of said riser pipe.
`4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said plug
`member is a hollow rivet having an open end exposed for
`communication with the vaporizable liquid, the connec-
`tion between said rivet and said outer tubular member
`and said riser’ pipe including cement material.
`5. In a toy, a device for producing smoke and the like
`by vaporizing a liquid, comprising storage means for
`said liquid in said device, tube means operatively sup-
`ported by said storage means so as to extend at least
`partially into said liquid, said tube means including a
`capillary tube section having at least one capillary bore
`
`6
`extending therethrough, said bore being adapted to re-
`ceive part of said liquid and cause it to vertically rise by
`capillary action in said bore, an electric power source,
`and an electrical heating wire substantially extending
`into said bore of said capillary tube section, the diameter
`of said electric heating wire being smaller than the di-
`ameter of said capillary bore, said electrical heating wire
`being operatively connected to said electric power source.
`6. In a device according to claim 5, wherein said tube
`means comprises a capillary tube section which has a
`plurality of bores defined therethrough of capillary size,
`and wherein said electrical heating wire comprises a
`single heating wire passed continuously through said
`plurality of bores.
`7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said heat-
`ing wire is coiled, with the coils being tighter near the
`upper end of said capillary tube section than at the lower
`end thereof.
`8. The device according to claim 5, wherein said elec-
`trical heating wire extends through the entire tube means
`and is connected at opposite ends thereof to said electric
`power source.
`9. In a toy, a device for producing smoke and the
`like by vaporizing a liquid, comprising storage means for
`said liquid in the toy, flexible plastic tube means opera-
`tively supported in the toy so as to extend at least par-
`tially into said liquid in said storage means, said tube
`means including a flexible tube having a bore there-
`through of capillary cross-section in communication with
`said liquid, an electric power source, and a flexible elec-
`tric heating wire disposed in said bore of said flexible
`tube,
`the diameter of said electric heating wire being
`smaller than the diameter of said bore said flexible electric
`heating wire being operatively connected to said electric
`power source.
`
`912,994
`1,739,817
`1,977,232
`2,461,664
`2.595.548
`3;035:145
`
`References Cited by the Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`2/1909 Conrad ____________ 219_300
`12/1929 Beals ______________ 261._..142
`10/1934 Ginder __________ __ 219_274
`2/1949 Smith __________ __ 219_274 X
`12/ 1954 Bencetti _________ __ 219--275
`4/ 1953 Wray ___________ __ 219-272
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`
`327,614
`
`3/ 1958 Switzerland.
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`
`RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.
`ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner.
`
`NU MARK Ex.1013 p.5