Wick-holder assembly

Abstract

A wick-holder assembly includes a wick-retention member for retaining a wick thereto and a heat-conductive element extending from a base portion. The heat-conductive element may include materials having different thermal expansion coefficients. The materials may be arranged to interact to cause a portion of the heat-conductive element to move in response to a flame disposed on the wick.

1 . A wick-holder assembly, comprising:
 a base portion;   a wick-retention member for retaining a wick in an operative position extending upwardly from the base portion; and   a heat-conductive element extending from the base portion, the heat-conductive element comprising a first portion including a first material and a second portion including a second material, wherein the first and second materials have different thermal expansion coefficients,   wherein the heat-conductive element moves and is adapted to secure the wick-holder assembly to a raised capillary lobe in response to heat from a flame disposed on the wick.   
   
   
       2 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion moves toward or away from the wick-retention member. 
   
   
       3 . The wick holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-conductive element substantially surrounds the wick. 
   
   
       4 . The wick holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-conductive element is generally a convex shape. 
   
   
       5 . The wick holder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first material and second material comprise at least one of a metal, a ceramic, and a polyester. 
   
   
       6 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the metal comprises at least one of aluminum, steel, nickel, magnesium, copper, iron, silver, zinc, tin, and titanium. 
   
   
       7 . A wick-holder assembly, comprising:
 a wick-retention member having a wick extending therefrom;   first and second heat-conductive elements, wherein each heat-conductive element comprises at least two materials comprising different thermal expansion coefficients; and   a substantially stationary base portion relative to the wick-retention member extending from the wick-retention member to the heat conductive element,   wherein movement of the first heat-conductive element in response to heat from a flame disposed on the wick regulates the temperature of the flame and wherein movement of the second heat-conductive element in response to heat from the flame secures the wick-holder assembly to a raised capillary lobe.   
   
   
       8 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the movement of the first heat-conductive element affects the flow rate of a fuel through a capillary space. 
   
   
       9 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein one of the first and the second heat-conductive elements forms a leg extending from the base portion. 
   
   
       10 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the wick holder and the first heat conductive element both extend upwardly from the base portion. 
   
   
       11 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 10 , wherein movement of the first heat-conducting element adjusts a dimension of a capillary space disposed between the base portion and a support therefore and wherein the dimension comprises at least one of a length, a width, and a height, and wherein at least one of the length, the width, and the height increases in response to heat generated from the flame disposed on the wick thereby restricting flow rate of a liquid fuel charge disposed in the capillary space. 
   
   
       12 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the leg moves into a position to secure the wick-holder assembly to the support structure. 
   
   
       14 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the heat conductive element extends upwardly from the base portion and wherein the movement of the moveable member regulates transfer of heat from the flame to the fuel. 
   
   
       15 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the movement of the heat-conductive element regulates the temperature of the flame. 
   
   
       16 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first heat conductive element moves substantially radially with respect to the wick retention member. 
   
   
       17 . The wick-holder assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second heat-conductive element extends downwardly from the base portion. 
   
   
       18 . A wick-holder assembly, comprising:
 a wick-retention member having a wick extending therefrom and adapted to be placed onto a melting plate;   first and second heat-conductive elements, wherein each heat-conductive element comprises at least two discrete materials comprising different thermal expansion coefficients; and   a substantially stationary base portion relative to the wick-retention member extending from the wick-retention member to the heat conductive element,   wherein movement of the second heat-conductive element in response to heat from a flame secures the wick-holder assembly to the melting plate.   
   
   
       19 . The wick holder assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second heat-conductive element moves in response to heat from the flame in a direction toward a capillary lobe on the melting plate. 
   
   
       20 . The wick holder assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two discrete materials are selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polyester, a ceramic, and combinations thereof.