Technical description of a BIC

Saif Allahabi

City college of New York

 

 

 

 

Author’s Note

This paper was prepared for English 21007 taught by professor Susan Delamare.

Correspondence concerning this paper should be addresses to Saif

Contact: saif.allahabi123@gmail.com

 

Table of Contents

Abstract ………………………………………………. p.3

Introduction …………………………………………… p.4

Background …………………………………………… p.5

Parts ……………………………………………..…… p.6

Conclusion ………………………..………………….. p.7

List of Illustrations …………………………………… p.8

References …………………………………………… p.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract

This paper is a verbal and visual explanation of the design and functions of a BIC lighter. It covers the background of the lighter and how people developed it to be easier to use, how it was made and what every part of the lighter is use for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

A lighter is a portable device used to create a flame, and to ignite a variety of combustible materials, such as cigars, gas stoves, fireworks, candles or cigarettes. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with a flammable fluid or pressurized liquid gas (Wikipedia 2018). When you spin the spark wheel from (fig 1) and hold down the gas button the gas will come out from the nozzle and a flame will start as shown in (fig 1).

Figure 1. Bic lighter flame. Reprinted from “How to flick a Bic lighter” Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/32/Flick-a-Bic-Lighter-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/aid562300-v4-900px-Flick-a-Bic-Lighter-Step-6-Version-2.jpg

 

 

 

Background

The first lighters that were made are not the same as today’s lighters, they were heavier, made of steel, and not easy to light. The first lighters were converted flintlock pistols that used gunpowder that shown in (fig. 2). “One of the first lighters was invented by the German chemist named Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner in 1823 and was often called Döbereiner’s lamp” (Roald 2010) as shown in (fig. 3).He added also “This lighter worked by passing flammable hydrogen gas, produced within the lighter by a chemical reaction, over a platinum metal catalyst which in turn caused it to ignite and give off a great amount of heat and light” (Roald 2010).

Figure 2. Flintlock. Reprinted from “Flintlock Ignition” Retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flintlock_ignition_animation.gif/330px-Flintlock_ignition_animation.gif

 

Figure 3.  Döbereiner’s lamp. Reprinted from “Wikimedia” Retrieved from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/D%C3%B6bereiner_fire_gadget.png/255px-D%C3%B6bereiner_fire_gadget.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parts

The entire bottom case and the parts of a lighter are called the outer case assembly, and the inside case (containing the fuel and sparking action) and its parts is called the inner case assembly. The raw materials used for lighter manufacture are mostly metals. The outer case is made of cartridge brass, a material that was developed for rifle cartridges (Dininny 1998). And this is the same exactly as BIC lighter you see below:

Figure 4. Bic lighter’s parts. Reprinted from “deviantart” Retrieved from https://pre00.deviantart.net/6e14/th/pre/i/2011/341/d/0/bic_lighter_v2_by_emmal27-d4igc0z.jpg

1. Guard

Safety guard added over the sparkwheel

2. Sparkwheel

When the sparkwheel, which is made of serrated hardened steel wire, is rotated with sufficient speed and force, it creates a spark (Natalie, 2016)

3. Jet, Fork, and Fork Spring

Those components control the opening and closing of gas coming from the valve (Natalie, 2016).

4. Flint

Supplies material for the sparks. The flint spring applies pressure to the flint to generate sparks (Natalie, 2016).

5. Valve

The subassembly regulates fuel flow and releases a constant level of fuel, permitting a constant flame of predetermined height (Natalie, 2016).

6. Hood

Made of Steel. Windshield and heat protection (Natalie, 2016).

7. Flint spring

Feeds flint onto sparkwheel as flint wears. The flint spring applies pressure to the flint to generate sparks (Natalie, 2016).

8. Base

This is plastic, ultrasonically welded with the body (Natalie, 2016).

9. Body

The body, base and seal ball constitute the gas reservoir (Natalie, 2016).

Conclusion

As we read, lighters’ parts are not complicated and it’s not hard to understand how it works.

In the end, lighters have been an important part in our life since the eighteenth century and now we can’t live our daily life without using it, to light a cigarette, turn the oven on, and many other things to do. If we did not invent the lighter we would still use matches or some kind of powder whenever we needed a flame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of Illustrations

Figure 1            how to flick a Bic lighter………………………………. p.4

Figure 2            flintlock………………………………………………… p.5

Figure 3            Döbereiner’s lamp……………………………………… p.5

Figure 4            Bic lighter’s parts……………………………………… p.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Roald H., Döbereiner F. (1998). American Scientist, 86, no. 4 doi:10.1511/1998.4.326. Retrieved 2010-05-21. From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighter

Dininny, Paulette. (1998) Keepers of the Flame: After Big Sales in World War II and Parts in Old Movies, Zippos are Still Around, Often as Hot Collector’s Items. Retrieved From: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Lighter.html#ixzz5U74PB4kj

Natalie G. (2016). What are all the parts of a cigarette lighter?. Retrieved From: https://www.quora.com/What-are-all-the-parts-of-a-cigarette-lighter

Lighter. (2018). Retrieved From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighter