IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC GAS-LICHTING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC GAS-LICHTING APPARATUS." A com-
mmunication from abroad by Florentine Whitfield Pelton, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING
APPARATUS." [A communication from abroad by Florentine Whitfield Pelton, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to apparatus for lighting gas by electricity in which the
gas-cock is opened and closed by electric action upon a mechanical device connecting
with such cock and a battery, and in which are employed in combination with the
burner a stationary metallic arm terminating in a platinum or other metallic point
in near proximity to the orifice in the burner, this arm or electrode being fixed to
the burner and insulated from it, and connected to one pole of a battery and a
movable arm or electrode which is connected to the other pole of the battery, and
pivotted or otherwise connected to the burner in such manner as when vibrated to
make and break circuit with the latter and produce a spark to ignite the gas.
In this apparatus I employ two electro-magnets and a vertically-arranged
vibrating armature connected with the gas-cock, and arranged between the magnets
in combination with a movable and a fixed electrode, the latter being secured
rigidly to and insulated from the body of the burner, and is connected with a
button wired to an electric battery, while the burner itself is connected with the
opposite magnet and a battery by a button, thereby making connection with the
movable electrode, the whole being so arranged that the movement of the armature,
when attracted to one magnet which is charged from the battery by a pressure

page_text: upon its button, serves to open the gas cock, and when attracted to the opposite
magnet by depolarizing the first and charging the second by pressure upon its
button the cock is closed, while as long as the first magnet remains charged by the
pressure upon its knob the movable electrode vibrates with rapid intermissions,
and certain lighting of the gas is thereby insured.
The present improvements comprise the employment of a horizontal swinging
arm attached to the lower end of the vertical gas-cock, this arm being forked and
straddling an upright bar erected upon the top of a vibrating arinature disposed
between two pairs of electro-magnets, and caused to vibrate by the closing and
opening of an electro circuit from a suitable battery, the vibration of the armature
effecting reciprocation of the lever and cock.
The said Invention also comprises connecting the armature with the lower end
of the movable electrode or arm in such manner that as the armature moves in one
direction and opens the cock it causes the movable electrode to separate from the
fixed and insulated electrode, thus breaking the electric circuit and producing a
spark to light the gas, while a reverse movement of the armature closes the cock
and allows the movable arm to return by the stress of a spring and make contact
with the fixed arm.
It also comprises details of construction hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a cock or gate which turns
on a vertical axis, and is contained within the lower part of the burner, the duct
for the passage of gas taking a horizontal turn opposite the cock for a short
distance and then descending vertically to permit of the introduction of helices
below the burner, and finally taking a second horizontal direction below the
magnets or below a shelf which supports such magnets.
A fixed insulated electrode or arin terminates in a platinum point. There is an
upright post erected upon a shelf secured to the portion of the burner containing
the cock, one of the wires of one magnet being connected with the lower end of
such post, while the other wire of this magnet is connected with one pole of the
battery.
The wire of the opposite magnet connects with one pole of the battery, while by
its other wire it connects the other pole of the battery with some suitable part of
the gas-burner.
A movable or vibrating arm or electrode is formed at its upper end with a
horizontal bend, and its lower and shorter arm extends downward through a slot
in a shelf, a spring being secured at one end to an adjacent part of the burner, and
bearing at its free end against the arm to retract such arm when the attraction of
the maguet for it ceases.
The armature of the magnets is a flat plate disposed vertically between the two
pairs of magnets, and pivotted at its lower edge to one shelf, the upper part of this
armature terminating in a post, the upper extremity of which is straddled by the
forked end of a horizontal arm or lever, the base of which is secured to the lower
end of the gas-cock. This post further carries a horizontal bend or curved arm
which clasps about the extreme lower end of the arm of the movable electrode, the
length of this arm being such that as the armature stands at one extreme of its
movement it draws the movable electrode away from contact with the fixed
electrode and breaks contact between the two, and produces the spark, at the same
time actuating the forked lever and opening the cock; and when the armature
returns to its opposite extreme the cock is closed and the movable electrode returns
to contact with the fixed electrode by the stress of the spring.
The vibrations of the armature are of such extent, and its relations to the
gas-cock and movable electrode are such that the cock is opened before the spark is
produced. The purpose of this is to cause a sufficient volume of gas to issue from
the burner in advance of the spark to ensure its ignition by the latter.
In order to sustain the cock in such a manner that it will be extremely sensitive
to the action of the armature, and also capable of adjustment as to tension in

page_text: turning, I provide a spring having one end secured to the frame and the free end
sustaining the valve.
In order that the continued vibrations of the movable electrode and armature
may be without effect upon the gas-cock I form a notch in the forked end of the
lever of sufficient width to permit of the vibrations of the armature without moving
such-lever.
To provide against objectionable results following the failure of the electric
current to manipulate the armature and open or close the gas cock, I add to the
lower edge of such armature a horn or arm by means of which the armature may
be made to open or close the gas-cock independently of the electric current,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1881.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING
APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Florentine Whitfield Pelton, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus for lighting gas by electricity, in which the
gas-cock is opened and closed by electric action upon a mechanical device connecting
with such cock and a battery, and in which are employed in combination with the
burner a stationary metallic arm terminating in a platinum or other metallic point
in near proximity to the orifice in the burner, this arm or electrode being fixed to
the burner and insulated from it and connected to one pole of a battery and a
movable arm or electrode, which is connected to the other pole of the battery and
pivoted or otherwise connected to the burner in auch a manner that when it is
vibrated to make and break circuit with the latter it produces a spark to ignite the
gas.
In the said apparatus I employ two electro-magnets and a vertically-arranged
vibrating armature connected with the gas-cock, and arranged between the magnets
in combination with a movable and a fixed electrode, the latter being secured rigidly
to and insulated from the body of the burner and connected with a button joined
by a wire to an electric battery, while the burner itself is connected with a magnet
and a battery by a button, thereby making connection with the movable electrode,
the whole being so arranged that the movement of the armature when attracted to
one magnet, which is charged from the battery by a pressure upon its button, serves
to open the gas-cock, and when attracted to the opposite magnet by depolarizing
the first and charging the second by pressure upon its button the cock is closed,
while as long as the first magnet remains charged by the pressure upon its knob
the movable electrode vibrates with rapid intermissions, and certain lighting of the
gas is thereby ensured.
The present improvements comprise the employment of a horizontal swinging
arm attached to tlie lower end of the vertical gas-cock, this arm being forked and
straddling an upright bar erected upon the top of a vibrating armature disposed
between two pairs of electro-magnets, and caused to vibrate by the closing and
opening of an electro-circuit from a suitable battery, the vibration of the armature
effecting the reciprocation of the lever and cock.
The said Invention also comprises the connection of the armature with the lower
end of the movable electrode or arın in such a manner that as the armature moves
in one direction and opens the cock it causes the movable electrode to separate from
the fixed and insulated electrode, thus breaking the electric circuit and producing a
spark to light the gas, while a reverse movement of the armature closes the cock
and allows the movable arm to return by the stress of a spring and make contact
with the fixed arm.
The said Invention also comprises certain details of construction, as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent front, side, and rear elevations of an apparatus
embodying my improvements.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the vibrating armature, and
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the said apparatus.
A represents the gas burner, and B the cock or gate which turns on a vertical
axis, and is contained within the lower part of the burner, the duct for the passage

page_text: of gas taking a horizontal turn opposite the cock, as shewn at C, for a short
distance, and then descending vertically, as shewn at D, to permit of the intro-
duction of helices or magnets below the burner, and finally taking a second
horizontal direction, as shewn at E, below the magnets or below a shelf F which
supports the said magnets. The two magnets are shewn at H, H¹, I, I'. The fixed
insulated electrode or arm, which terminatos in a platinum point a¹, is shewn at G
as an upright post erected upon a shelf J secured to the portion of the burner con-
taining the cock, one of the wires a of one magnet, say H, H¹, being connected
with the lower end of such post, while the other wire b of this magnet H, H¹, is
connected with one pole f' of the battery. The wire of the opposite magnet I, I',
which connects with one pole g₁ of the battery, is shewn at c², while by its other
wire d it connects the other pole of the battery with some suitable part of the gas
burner, as at e², Figures 2 and 5.
The movable or vibrating arm or electrode is formed at its upper end with a
horizontal bend c¹ and is shewn at L as pivoted to the shelf J, and with its lower
and shorter arm c extending downward through a slot in the said shelf, a spring d
being secured at one end to an adjacent part of the burner and bearing at, its free
end against the arm c to retract the said arm when the attraction of the magnet for
it ceases.
N is the armature of the magnets consisting of a flat plate disposed vertically
between the two pairs of magnets, and pivoted on a rock shaft at its lower edge to
the shelf F, the upper part of this armature terminating in a post or pin e, the
upper extremity of which is straddled by the forked end of a horizontal arm or
lever g, the base of which is secured to the lower end of the gas cock. This post e
further carries a horizontal bent or curved arm or yoke h, which clasps the extreme
lower end of the arm c of the movable electrode, the length of this arm being such
that as the armature stands at one extreme of its movement, that is to say, away
from the magnet I, I¹, it draws the movable electrode away from contact with the
fixed electrode, breaks the contact between the two, and produces the spark, at the
same time actuating the forked lever and opening the cock; and when the armature
returns to its opposite extreme the cock is closed, and the movable electrode returns
into contact with the fixed electrode by the stress of the spring d.
It will be seen that the vibrations of the armature are of such an extent, and its
relations to the gas-cock and movable electrode are such, that the cock is opened
before the spark is produced. The purpose of this is to cause a sufficient volume of
gas to issue from the burner in advance of the spark to ensure its ignition by the
latter.
In order to sustain the cock B in such a manner that it will be extremely
sensitive to the action of the armature, and also capable of adjustment as to tension
in turning, I provide a spring 5 having one end secured to the frame and the free
end sustaining the valve B, as shown.
The operation of the apparatus is briefly as follows, that is to say:-Supposing
the gas-cock of the burner to be in such a position that the gas is shut off, and it is
desired to let on and ignite the same, and the two electrodes being in contact, on
closing the circuit through the electro magnet H, H³, by means of a suitable knob
in any part of the circuit, the armature will be attracted in such a direction (that
is toward the said magnet), as to vibrate the forked lever and open the cock, and
as the armature arrives at the extreme of its movement in this direction, its hooked
arm engages the lower end of the movable electrode, and actuates the latter in
such a manner as to cause its upper end to recede from the fixed electrode, and
break contact with the latter, and by the inductive action of the magnet in the
circuit a spark will be produced which ignites the gas issuing from the burner.
In the use of this device the pressure on the knob which charges the
magnet H, H', should be continued for a few seconds, as this produces rapid
intermittent vibrations of the movable electrode and a corresponding number of
sparks, the object of this being to ensure the lighting of the gas should the first
spark fail to do so. In order that the continued vibrations of the movable

page_text: electrode and armature may take place without effect upon the gas-cock, I form
the notch in the forked end of the lever of sufficient width to permit of the
vibrations of the armature without moving the said lever.
When it becomes necessary to shut off and extinguish the gas by a reverse
movement of the cock, the knob in the opposite circuit is pressed and the
magnet I, I, charged, the effect of which is to attract the armature in the opposite
direction and close the cock, while at the same time the movable electrode is
returned by its spring into contact with the fixed electrode.
To provide against objectionable results following the failure of the electric
current to manipulate the armature and open or close the gas-cock, I add to the
lower edge of the said armature a horn or arm b², by means of which the armature
may be made to open or close the gas-cock independently of the electric current.
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 understood
that I claim,-
First. In an electric lighting gas burner, a magnet for turning the gas-cock by
one electric impulse, in combination with a fixed electrode and a movable electrode
normally in contact, and mechanism connecting the armature with the movable
electrode to break the contact between the said electrodes the instant after the gas
is turned on, and create a spark for igniting the same, substantially as above set
forth.
Second. The magnet H, H³, the armature provided with the pin f and the
valve B, having the bifurcated arm g, in combination with the movable electrode,
the spring & and yoke or link h arranged on opposite sides of the lower end of the
movable electrode, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The magnets H, H, I, I', and the armature N mounted on a rock-shaft,
and provided with the pin f and yoke h, in combination with the gas-burner A,
provided with a vertical valve having a bifurcated arm g and spring-support 5, the
fixed and insulated electrode G, the movable electrode pivoted at L, and spring d,
all constructed, arranged, and operated as above set forth and for the purpose.
specified.
Fourth. The armature N mounted on a rock shaft and bearing the post e and
pin, engaging with a bifurcated arm gattached to the gas cock, in combination
with the arm 62 rigidly attached to the armature, and extending through the
casing, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)