Lighter
A lighter is a portable device used to create a flame. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas, a means of ignition, and some provision for extinguishing the flame.
History
The first lighter, Döbereiner's lamp, was invented by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1823. It stayed in production until 1880.
The development of lighters accelerated during World War I. Soldiers used matches to find their way in the dark, but the intense initial flare of matches revealed their position. From this need for fire without a large initial flare fostered the lighter industry. By the great War's end lighters were being mass produced. [1]
During World War II, Zippo lighters produced in the U.S. and distributed to American troops[2] became the standard for reliability and function of liquid based lighters. Ronson corporation was noted for stylish luxury lighters, a trade which passed on to its corporate parent Colibri when Ronson was reduced to a commodity producer of lighters and lighter accessories.
With the evolution of inexpensive butane lighters in the latter part of the 20th century, the lighter became a disposable commodity for the majority of users, rather than a long-term personal item or fashion accessory.
A table lighter is an alternative style that is meant for place on a coffee table and is heavier and often shaped like an ornament due to no need for portability.
Operation
Naphtha based lighters employ a saturated cloth wick and fiber packing to absorb the fluid and prevent it from leaking. They employ an enclosed top to prevent the volatile liquid from evaporating, and to conveniently extinguish the flame. Butane lighters have a valved orifice that meters the butane gas as it escapes.
A spark is created by striking metal against a flint, or by pressing a button that compresses a piezoelectric crystal, generating a voltaic arc. In naphtha lighters, the liquid is sufficiently volatile, and flammable vapor is present as soon as the top of the lighter is opened. Butane lighters combine the striking action with the opening of the valve to release gas. The spark ignites the flammable gas causing a flame to come out of the lighter which continues until either the top is closed (naphtha type), or the valve is released (butane type).
A metal enclosure with air holes generally surrounds the flame, and is designed to allow mixing of fuel and air while making the lighter less sensitive to wind. The high energy jet in butane lighters allows mixing to be accomplished by using Bernoulli's principle, so that the air hole(s) in this type tend to be much smaller and farther from the flame. Specialized "windproof" butane lighters producing a pressurized flame are manufactured for demanding conditions such as shipboard, high altitude, and wet climates. Some dedicated models double as synthetic rope cutters. Such lighters are often far hotter than normal lighters (those that use a "soft flame") and can burn in excess of 2,000° Fahrenheit.
Other types
Permanent match
An atypical form of lighter is the permanent match, consisting of a fuel-filled metal shell and separate metal rod serving as wick.
The rod is removed and scratched against a flint on the side of the case to create a spark. Its internal wick catches fire, resembling a match. The flame is extinguished by placing the rod into the shell, where it absorbs fuel for the next use.
Automobile lighter
Some automobiles are equipped with an electric cigarette lighter housed in a 12-volt lighter receptacle. Its electric heating element becomes hot in seconds upon activation.
Decorative lighter
Refillative decorative wands are becoming popular, especially for household use. The Geneva Social Lighter style was featured in popular magazines such as Bon Apetit.[3].
Safety
Two technical standards relate to the safety of lighters: the International Standard EN ISO 9994:2002[4] and the European standard EN 13869:2002 [5]
The International Standard establishes non-functional specifications on quality, reliability and safety of lighters and appropriate test procedures. For instance, a lighter should generate flame only through positive action on the part of the user, two or more independent actions by the user, or an actuating force greater than or equal to 15 N. The standard also specifies other safety features, such as the lighter's maximum flame height and its resistance to elevated temperatures, dropping, and damages from continuous burning. However, the standard does not include child resistance specifications.
The European standard EN 13869:2002 [6] establishes child-resistance specifications and defines as novelty lighters those that resemble another object commonly recognized as appealing to children younger than 51 months, or those that have entertaining audio or animated effects.
As matches, lighters, and other heat sources are the leading causes of fire deaths for children,[7] many jurisdictions, such as the EU,[8] have forbidden the marketing of novelty or non-child resistant lighters. Examples of child resistance features, include the use of a smooth or shielded spark wheel.
In 2005 the fourth edition of the ISO standard was released (ISO9994:2005). The main change to the 2004 Standard is the inclusion of specifications on safety symbols.
Popular culture
White lighter
A white lighter, also known as an ivory lighter, especially for older lighters, is a type of lighter that is widely considered by cannabis smokers, in stoner culture, as bad luck. It is said that the use of a 'white lighter' to light of joint will lead to bad luck of the user, including an unfortunate death. It's rumored that 4 members of the legendary 27 club (Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, and Cobain) had a white lighter in their possession at the time of their death. [9][10]
Origins of this superstition may come from the obvious appearance of soot or ash on a white lighter, indicating that it's been recently used. Other is that many smokers will cover the bowl while inhaling to slow the burn rate or use the end of the lighter to pack the bowl. These both leave telltale burn or ash marks which would be most apparent with a white lighter.
See also
References
- ^ Jason Virga (2006-02-21). "History of Lighters". Jason Virga.
- ^ http://www.zippo.com/corporateInfo/history/lighterHistory.aspx
- ^ [1]
- ^ ISO, ed. (2005), Lighters — Safety specification (PDF), Geneva: ISO, p. 32, ISO 9994:2005(E)
- ^ The European Committee for Standardization, ed. (2002), Lighters — Child-resistance for lighters — Safety requirements and test methods, Brussels: CEN, EN 13869:2002.
- ^ The European Committee for Standardization, ed. (2002), Lighters — Child-resistance for lighters — Safety requirements and test methods, Brussels: CEN, EN 13869:2002
- ^ US Fire Administration (2008-03-12). "Match and Lighter Safety". FEMA.
- ^ European Commission (2006), 2006/502/EC: Commission Decision of 11 May 2006 requiring Member States to take measures to ensure that only lighters which are child-resistant are placed on the market and to prohibit the placing on the market of novelty lighters, pp. 41–45, OJ L 198, 20.7.2006
- ^ Urban dictionary: White lighter
- ^ http://forum.grasscity.com/real-life-stories/81150-white-lighter-bad-luck.html
External links
