AN IMPROVED REPEATING MATCH OR IGNITER FOR LIGHTING GAS, GUN- POWDER, FUSES, TINDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CAPABLE OF IGNITION BY A FLASH
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invcution of
"AN IMPROVED REPEATING MATCH OR IGNITER FOR LIGHTING GAS, GUN-
POWDER, FUSES, TINDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CAPABLE OF IGNITION BY A
FLASH." A communication from abroad by William Washington Batchelder,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED REPEATING MATCH OR IGNITER
FOR LIGHTING GAS, GUNPOWDER, FUSES, TINDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CAPABLE
OF IGNITION BY A FLASH." A communication from abroad by William Washington
Batchelder, of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Manu-
facturer.
This Invention relates to an improved repenting match or igniter adapted for use
in igniting gas or tinder, firing gunpowder or fuses, or causing combustion of any
substance capable of ignition by a flash.
The object of this Invention is to provide a reliable, safe, convenient, and cheap
device for producing ignition, and consists chiefly in securing (in a convenient
position for having small portions brought in contact with each other, while the
main portion is perfectly separated) different substances which are not explosive
in themselves, but which produce explosion or rapid combustion when mixed or
united.
The said Invention comprises,-
First. The combination of two or more substances or compounds which in them-
selves are non-explosive, but which if mixed or united and rubbed or otherwise
mechanically acted upon will explode or burn rapidly, each of said substancos or
compounds being separated and arranged in such manner in relation to each other

page_text: as to produce a flash or flame, or a succession of flashes or flames, without danger
of igniting the mass.
Second. A suitable case divided into adjacent chambers, each of which is adapted
to contain a compound or substance which will produce combustion when mixed
or united with the compound or substance of the other chamber or chambers, in
combination with a suitable scraping or conveying device for mixing or uniting
sipall portions of the said compounds or substances with each other, and an
automatic feeding device for forcing said compounds or substances into position to
be operated upon by the said scraping or conveying device, whereby the com-
pounds or substances may be kept normally perfectly separated, but readily
brought in contact with each other in proper quantity, and ignition produced at
will.
Third. A novel case for a repeating match or igniter, the same consisting of two
separate adjacent chambers with open ends connected by a flush platform or plate,
a spring scraper or conveying, and rubbing, and igniting device, adapted to play
across said platform, and followers or pushers fitting in said chambers, and adapted
to move automatically therein simultaneously with the operation of the scraper in
one direction, whereby when said chambers are filled with the compound or sub-
stance, portions thereof at the open ends or mouths of the chambers will be removed
therefrom by the action of the said scraper, and mixed or united with each other
for the purpose of producing combustion and ignition, and said compounds or sub-
stances will be kept always projected sufficiently across the path of said scraper or
conveyor to be removed thereby.
Fourth. A suitable case divided into two adjacent chambers, each of which
chambers contains a compound or substance which will produce combustion when
brought in contact with the contents of the other chamber, and provided with a
suitable scraper or conveying, rubbing, and igniting device for bringing small
portions of the said compounds or substances in contact with each other and
igniting the same, and an automatic feeding device for forcing the said compounds
or substances sufficiently across the path of said scraper to be removed thereby,
and rubbed one upon the other for producing combustion.
I prepare the explosive substances in the shape of small cylinders or sticks, which
fit into and fill the chambers. The separate sticks for the respective chambers are
prepared as follows:-For the composition of one of these sticks I take chlorate of
potash, three (3) parts; clay, one (1) part, and mix these substances thoroughly,
forming by the addition of water a thick paste, which I then mould into sticks of
the proper size and. allow them to dry. For the other sticks I take amorphous
phosphorous, three (3) parts; clay, one (1) part; mix, mould, and dry as above.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
October 1878.
16
WILLIAM ROBERT Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. AN IMPROVED REPEATING MATCH OR IGNITER
FOR LIGHTING GAS, GUNPOWDER, FUSES, TINDER, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CAPABLE
OF IGNITION BY A FLASH." A communication from abroad by William Washington
Batchelder, of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Manu-
facturer.
This Invention relates to an improved repeating match or igniter adapted for use
in igniting gas or tinder, firing gunpowder or fuses, or causing combustion of any
substance capable of ignition by a flash.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a reliable, safe, convenient, and
cheap device for producing ignition, and it consists chiefly in securing (in a con-
venient position for having small portions brought in contact with each other, while
the main portion is perfectly separated) different substances which are not explosive
in themselves, but which produce explosion or rapid combustion when mixed or.
united.
The said Invention comprises,―
The combination of two or more substances or compounds which in themselves
are non-explosive, but which if mixed or united, and rubbed or otherwise mechani-
cally acted upon, will explode or burn rapidly, each of said substances or compounds
being separated and arranged in such manner in relation to each other as to produce
a flash or flame, or a succession of flashes or flames, without danger of igniting the
mass.
Also a suitable case divided into adjacent chambers, each of which is adapted to
contain a compound or substance which will produce combustion when mixed or
united with the compound or substance of the other chamber or chambers, in
combination with a suitable scraping or conveying device for mixing or uniting
small portions of the said compounds or substances with each other, and an auto-
matic feeding device for forcing said compounds or substances into position to
be operated upon by the said scraping or conveying device, whereby the com-
pounds or substances may be kept normally perfectly separated, but readily
brought in contact with each other in proper quantity, and ignition produced at will.
Also a novel case for a repeating match or igniter, the same consisting of two
separate adjacent chambers with open ends connected by a flush platform or plate,
a spring scraper or conveying, and rubbing, and igniting device adapted to play
across said platform, and followers or pushers fitting in said chambers, and adapted
to move automatically therein simultaneously with the operation of the scraper in
one direction, whereby when said chambers are filled with the compound or sub-
stance, portions thereof at the open ends or mouths of the chambers will be removed
therefrom by the action of the said scraper, and mixed or united with each other
for the purpose of producing combustion and ignition, and said compounds or sub-
stances will be kept always projected sufficiently across the path of said scraper or
conveyer to be removed thereby.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved repeating match or igniter.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the chambered case and operative parts in their proper
position, the outer shell or enclosing case being removed.
Figure 3 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line y, y,
Figure 1, showing the device for operating the scraper, conveyer, and igniter.
Figure 5 is a view of the said scraper, conveyer, and igniter detached.
Die in a mnation on the line 23 Fimurs 2

page_text: A designates the complete apparatus, a indicating the enclosing shell. B is a
casing of approximately semi-elliptical cross section provided with a nearly oval base
plate b', and a similarly shaped top plate b, and having arranged longitudinally
therein three parallel chambers c, c¹, and d.
The terms "base" and "top" are used merely for convenience in description, as
the apparatus may be held in any desired position.
The chambers c, c¹, are of different diameters, and are separated by a thin par-
tition e, and have longitudinal slots ff', in the outer portions of their walls. Gis
a screw-threaded shaft, the ends of which are journalled in the top and base plate
b, b', respectively, its lower end projecting through the base plate and provided with
a ratchet wheel h. I is a travelling nut fitting upon the screw shaft G, and
having projecting therefrom two lugs i, k, of different sizes, extending through tho
slutted walls of the chambers c, c', and fitting within said chambers respectively so
as to be moved in a longitudinal direction therein by the turning of the screw shaft,
these lugs constitute pushers or followers for feeding forward the contents of the
chambers, as herein-after explained.
K indicates a rod arranged in the chamber d, and having its opposite ends pro-
jecting beyond the ends of said chamber. This rod is surrounded within the
chamber & by a helical spring 6, one end of which is fixed to the rod and the other
to the base plate b₁. The upper projecting ond of this rod is squared to fit a simi-
larly shaped opening through one end of an arm or scraper, convoyer, and igniter
The under
m arranged to sweep across the top plate when the rod is rocked.
surface of this arm is bevelled or robated, so that only its rear longitudinal edge
rests upon the top plate b, while under the other portion of said arm is a space in
which are received and conveyed the small portions of the substances which are at
the same time rubbed one upon another for producing ignition, as herein-after
explained. This arm m is secured to the rod by a suitable nut, and has a flat arm
n projecting from its inner end at an acute angle, so that the said arm will stand
over the mouth of one of the chambers while the arm m lies across the other, thus
preventing the substances from falling out of the chambers or becoming abraded
when the apparatus is not in use.
Upon the lower end of the rod K which projects below the base plate 6' is fixed
an arm or thumb lever o, having lugs p, p, projecting laterally in opposite
directions from its inner end. The lug is held by the action of the spring
against a stop projecting downward from the base plate b₁, and the opposite lug p¹
is bifurcated and has mounted within its fork a spring pawl r, the tail of which is
pressed outward by a spring 7.
The construction of the case and its operative parts may be modified for the
purpose of adapting the apparatus to special uses.
The chambers c and care filled with different substances or compounds respec-
tively, which are of themselves not explosive, but which when brought in frictional
contact with each other produce an explosive combustion or flash. These substances
I prepare in the shape of small cylinders or sticks, which fit into and fill the
chambers c and c', the inner ends of the said sticks or cylinders resting upon the
followers or pushers i, &, so that when the ratchet wheel h is rotated to cause the
nut I to advance the outer ends of tho sticks will be projected a corresponding
distance beyond the open ends of the chambers, and in the path of the rear edge of
the scraper, conveyer, and igniter when it sweeps across the top plate or platform b,
and thèse projecting portions will be scraped off from the mouths of the chambers
and rubbed together upon the exposed surface of one of the sticks, when explosion
or combustion will take place.
The separate sticks for the respective chambers c, c', are prepared as follows, that
is to say, for the composition of one of these sticks I take chlorate of potash three
(3) parts, clay one (1) part, and mix these substances thoroughly, forming by tho
addition of water a thick paste, which I then mould into sticks of the proper size
and allow them to dry. For the other sticks I take amorphous phosphorus three
(3) parts, clay one (1) part, and mix, mould, and dry as above.

page_text: The color of the first-named sticks is white, that of the latter red, and they should
be arranged in such relative positions in the chambers that the white or chlorate of
potash compound will be first removed by the scraper or conveyor, and rubbed
thereby across the exposed surface of the red or phosphorus composition. This
order of scraping and rubbing together the substances I have in practice found pre-
ferable, but ignition may be produced by rubbing the red substances upon the
white.
In order to prevent mistake in arranging the sticks in their most effective relative
positions I form the chambors of different sizes, and the respective composition
sticks of corresponding sizes, thus the large chamber being designated for the
reception of the white stick and the smaller for the red, or vice versa.
While I have found the ingredients and proportions thereof above named to
answer quite satisfactorily I do not limit myself to them, as it is well known that
there are many substances and compounds which might be substituted therefor.
Nor do I confine myself to two chambers or two separate compounds, as three or
more compositions may be formed to produce ignition under the general principle of
my Invention.
When the said apparatus is not in use the arm n of the scraper, conveyer, and
igniter lies across the open mouths of the composition chambers. Now when it is
desired to produce combustion the thumb lever o is pressed in the direction of the
ratchot wheel, causing the rod K to turn and throw the conveyer, scraper, and
igniter in the direction of the arrow, Figures 1 and 3, and when the arm m is clear
of the mouths of the chambers the dog or pawl will engage with a tooth of the
ratchet wheel, turning said wheel sufficiently to cause the travelling nut and
pushers or followers i, k, to advance and project the substances in the chambers c, c',
far enough beyond the top plate b to be in the path of the rear edge or lip of the
scraper, conveyer, and igniting arm m, and now when the thumb lever is released the
action of the spring & returns the parts briskly to their normal position, the scraping
edge of the arm m removing a small portion of the composition extending beyond
the mouth of the chamber c and conveying it across the projecting portion of the
composition of the other chamber c¹ and the top plate beyond the frictional contact
between the two parts thus produced, causing ignition and a flash when the sub-
stances heretofore named are used in the composition of the contents of the respective
chambers.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The combination of two or more substances which in themselves are non-
explosive, but which if mixed or united, and rubbed or otherwise mechanically acted
upon, will explode or burn rapidly, and which substances or compounds are separated
and arranged in such manner as to produce a flash or flame, or a succession of flashes
or flames, without danger of igniting the mass, as above described.
Second. The combination in a suitable casing of two or more separate substances or
compounds which will not explode when separated, but will burn violently or explode
when mixed or brought in contact with each other and rubbed or otherwise
mechanically acted upon, and a suitable device for accomplishing such mixing or
uniting and ignition of said substances or compounds, as above set forth.
Third. A suitable case divided into adjacent chambers, each having one end open,
and adapted to contain a compound or substance which will produce combustion
when brought in contact with the compound or substance, the other chamber or
chambers in combination with a suitable scraping or conveying and igniting device
adapted to traverse the open ends of the said chambers for bringing small portions
of the said compounds or substances in frictional contact with each other, and an
automatic feeding device for forcing said compounds or substances into position to
be operated upon by the said scraping or conveying and igniting device, as and for
the purpose set forth.

page_text: Fourth. A novel case for a repeating match or igniter, and which consists of two
separate adjacent chambers with open ends, connected by a flush platform or plate,
a spring, scraper, or conveyer, a rubbing and igniting device adapted to play across
said platform, and followers or pushers fitting within the said chambers, and adapted
to move automatically therein simultaneously with the operation of the scraper,
conveyer, and rubbing and igniting device, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.