IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IGNITING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS JETS OR FLAMES, AND FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF GAS TO THE BURNERS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Ambrose Brydges at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1880. A communi-
cation from Juluis Schuelke, of the City of Berlin.
"
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES, of the Firm of Brydges & Co., Engineers and Patent
Agents, of No. 73, Koeniggraetzer Strasse, Berlin, Germany, and 6, St. Leonard's
Terrace, Upton, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
IGNITING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS JETS OR FLAMES, AND FOR REGULATING THE
FLOW OF GAS TO THE BURNERS." A communication from Juluis Schuelke, of the
City of Berlin.
The object of this Invention is to provide a simple, durable, accurate, and
economical apparatus for automatically igniting gas jets or flames as the pressure
of the gas in the pipe is increased, for regulating the flow of gas to the burner, and
for extinguishing the flame as the pressure of gas is decreased.
Many apparatus have been tried for effecting this object with more or less
success, but they have been found to be so complicated and expensive as to prevent
their introduction into practical use.
In carrying out this Invention an auxiliary burner is used in combination with
the main burner and certain valves, and this auxiliary burner is so arranged that
it may be either continuous or intermittent in its action, that is to say, the flame
may burn constantly night and day, or with a scarcely perceptible flame during
the day, or when the pressure of gas in the pipes is low, but will be extinguished
as the pressure is increased after having ignited the flame of the main burner, and
it will be relighted from the main burner as the pressure is decreased.
The apparatus consists of a case formed in two parts and containing a valve box,
in which is a regulating valve or disc fitted with a pin or spindle. This spindle
moves up and down in tubular guides in the lower part of the case, and is provided
with a slot or opening, by means of which a canal leading to the small auxiliary
burner is brought into connection with the valve box or gas chamber when the
pressure is decreased, so that the regulating valve or disc is lowered.
As soon as the pressure is so reduced that it is no longer powerful enough to
hold up the disc, the connection with the main burner is cut off, and its flame is
extinguished, the gas directed into the canal leading, to the auxiliary burner
having been previously ignited so as to produce the igniting flame for the main
burner.

page_text: It will thus be seen that once put into operation the one flame ignites the other
before it is extinguished, and that a perfect automatic igniting and extinguishing
apparatus is produced on an exceedingly cheap scale, and in which the valve or
disc acts as a perfect regulator, permitting only a desired quantity of gas to pass
to the burner.
As soon as the pressure is increased beyond the required limit the valve is raised,
so that although a larger quantity of gas can enter the valve box or gas chamber
beneath the valve the gas chamber above the valve will be reduced in size.
In this manner the flow of gas to the burner will be kept perfectly equable, the
flame will burn without causing any unpleasant hissing noise, and an enormous
saving in gas will be attained. A second valve is placed in the case, and serves to
cut off the connection between the valve box and the main burner as soon as the
pressure is lowered and the valve or disc sinks onto its seat, and a perforated disc
is used as a stop for this valve.
The gas from the gas pipe enters the valve box or chamber through suitable
openings in the lower part of the case.
In some cases the burner may form the stop for the cut off valve or disc, and
the regulating disc or valve will fit onto a raised ring at the bottom of the gas
chamber or valve box, so that the gas will be cut off from entering the said
chamber by low pressure, but will escape direct from an annular space formed
between the bottom of the chamber and the lower surface of the valve or disc into
the canal leading to the small burner.
As soon as the regulating valve is raised by an increased pressure, gas will flow
to the main burner, and the small burner will be extinguished.
When the auxiliary flame remains continuously in operation, the flow of gas to
the main burner will be cut off as soon as the pressure is decreased, and the gas
will flow through perforations into the canal to the auxiliary burner. The regulator
may be omitted in this arrangement.
A continuously burning auxiliary flame may however be employed with the
addition of the regulating disc or valve.
When the cut off and regulating valves are closed by low pressure sufficient gas
will flow through a cavity or cut made in the ring, or through a hole in the
regulating valve or disc, to supply the auxiliary flame with gas.
Instead of employing the ring the regulating valve can be provided with a pin
or pins, or a stop or stops can be formed on the inner walls of the case.
A cap provided with a slot for the flame to pass through may be placed over
the auxiliary flame to prevent the flame from being extinguished by draught or
wind.
The operation of this apparatus will be as follows:-The apparatus being fixed
and the auxiliary flame ignited the gas from the gas pipe will flow into the valve
chamber, and from thence through the slot in the pin or spindle of the regulating
valve into the canal leading to the auxiliary flame.
As soon as the pressure in the main is increased the regulating valve will be
raised, and the gas will flow around the periphery of the same, or through
cavities or cuts in the periphery into the upper part of the chamber, raise the cut
off valve, and escape to the burner, when it will be ignited by the auxiliary flame.
In the meantime the spindle of the regulating valve having also been raised, the
connection between the valve chamber and the canal leading to the auxiliary
flame will be cut off, and the auxiliary flame extinguished.
On the pressure in the main being lowered the reverse action will ensue.