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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . 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 the valve.    
     
     
         2 . The regulator of  claim 1  comprising a surface located on the diaphragm assembly engageable by the stem to open or close the valve.  
     
     
         3 . The regulator of  claim 2  comprising an extension disposed on the stem, wherein the stem may be turned to cause the extension engage the surface.  
     
     
         4 . The regulator of  claim 3  wherein the diaphragm assembly includes a fluid channel therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The regulator of  claim 4  wherein the flow of gas exits the regulator in substantially the same direction as the flow of gas enters the regulator.  
     
     
         6 . A regulator for controlling a flow of gas, comprising: 
 a valve opening;    a valve stop closing and opening the valve opening;    a diaphragm assembly including at least a diaphragm, the diaphragm assembly moving the valve stop to open and narrow the valve opening;    a stem acting to move the diaphragm assembly to cause the valve opening to narrow.    
     
     
         7 . The regulator of  claim 6  wherein the stem includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the diaphragm assembly includes a diaphragm neck, comprising: 
 a lip located on the diaphragm neck; and  
 an extension located on the second end engaging the lip.  
 
     
     
         8 . The regulator of  claim 6  wherein the extension is located axially off center with respect to the stem, and wherein the stem may be turned to cause the extension to move the neck.  
     
     
         9 . The regulator of  claim 6  wherein the diaphragm assembly includes at least a diaphragm neck.  
     
     
         10 . The regulator of  claim 9  wherein the diaphragm assembly causes the valve stop to narrow in response to gas of a certain pressure flowing against the diaphragm.  
     
     
         11 . The regulator of  claim 9  wherein the diaphragm neck includes a fluid channel therethrough.  
     
     
         12 . The regulator of  claim 11  wherein the stem includes a first end and a second end, comprising: 
 a lip located on the diaphragm neck; and  
 an extension located on the second end of the stem engaging the lip.  
 
     
     
         13 . The regulator of  claim 6  wherein the flow of gas exits the regulator in substantially the same direction as the flow of gas enters the regulator.  
     
     
         14 . A choke for a lantern, the lantern combusting gas in a combustion area and having a burner tube allowing an air/fuel mixture to flow therethrough, the choke comprising: 
 a strip located inside the burner tube, the strip positioned so that the strip may absorb heat from the combustion area.    
     
     
         15 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein the strip is bi-metallic.  
     
     
         16 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein the strip comprises iron and nickel.  
     
     
         17 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein when the strip is in a cool state the strip is bent to reduce the flow of gasses through the burner tube and when the strip is in a hot state the strip is less bent.  
     
     
         18 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein when the flow of gasses through the burner tube is reduced the air/fuel mixture becomes richer.  
     
     
         19 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein the burner tube includes at least a section having a substantially rectangular cross section, and wherein the choke is disposed inside the section having a substantially rectangular cross section.  
     
     
         20 . The choke of  claim 14  wherein the burner tube includes a burner tube outlet supplying gas for a flame, the burner tube being positioned so that the flame provides heat to the choke.  
     
     
         21 . A burner tube for a lantern comprising: 
 a channel absorbing heat from a flame; and    a choke strip located inside the channel and acting to control flow through the channel in response to the amount of heat in the channel.    
     
     
         22 . The burner tube of  claim 21  wherein, when the choke strip is in a cool state the choke strip is bent to reduce the flow of gasses through the channel.  
     
     
         23 . The burner tube of  claim 21  wherein the burner tube includes a burner tube outlet supplying gas for a flame, the burner tube being positioned so that the flame provides heat to the choke strip.