Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed. in Controlling Gas Valves by Electrical Energy.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1897--Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed. in
Controlling Gas Valves by Electrical Energy.
I FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN, of 238 Tottenham Court Road, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of and means or apparatus for use in
actuating gas valves when such valves are controlled by electrical energy and is
especially designed for use in cases where the various valves are distributed over a
considerable area and such valves or some of them are situate at a distance from the
point, or points from which the desired control is to be exercised.
Assuming for illustration, that each gas valve requires a volume of current equal to
1 ampere-then if a building or Street having 20 electrically controlled gas valves
fitted to lamps in it and all the valves are connected up in "parallel," a current equal
to 20 amperes would be required-and the potential of same having sufficient electric
motive force-equal to overcome the resistance of the circuit including leads and coils
of the valves-and in the event of the said 20 lamps (or electrically controlled gas
valves) being connected up in "series" Then of course assuming that the valves
require 1 ampere of current to actuate them we must have sufficient E.M.F in the
circuit to overcome the total resistance of the leads and coils, to allow the necessary
amount of current (vie: 1 ampere, to flow all through the circuit.
Assuming further that you have an area of-say-from 3 to 10 miles to cover, the
cost of supplying the current (although only momentarily required might be very
great to say nothing of the cost of providing and laying the necessary leads.
My object is to devise a means whereby the electrically controlled gas valves
may
be e placed in groups and may be connected up either in "series" or "parallel" and
that the necessary current for actuating the said group of electrically controlled gas
valves may be placed in a suitable position locally with the particular group, it is
desired to work.
Assuming the electrically controlled gas valves to be constructed, in such a manner
that the opening of the valve is done by means of a circuit, which is totally apart from
the circuit which is used for closing the valves, when the said electrically controlled gas
valves are connected up in "parallel" the earth may serve as the "return" for both the
opening and closing of the valves. Or if desired an ordinary return wire insulated
from the earth can be provided.
Imagining a complete electrical circuit consisting of an outer or opening wire a
middle or earth or return wire and an inner line or closing wire the valves being
supposed to be ten in number and to be severally connected to middle wire and
connected by (say) a corresponding number of electrical coil connections which I will call
"spirals" to the outer circuit also by other (say) ten spirals to the inner circuit. The
outer and the inner wires are respectively provided with an automatic or electrically
controlled switch (such as a fork mercurial contacts) and both the outer and inner
wires are connected to the one pole of battery at-say-the left hand whilst the other

page_text: pole (or right hand end) thereof is by earth or "return "wire at the opposite side or
hand.
In order to trace of the circuit used in opening the valves, we may start from the
left hand terminal of the battery and follow the opening line which is connected to
one of the two mercury contacts. And now we must assume that the fork part of the
automatic or electrically controlled switch has been forced into the two mercury
contacts, (the action of which electrically controlled switch will be explained more in
detail hereinafter) and in imagination trace the line along to the 10 opening wire
spirals, which are supposed to represent the coils that open the valves.
then is formed by the current passing through each of the said lamp posts that are
fixed in the earth, and the current returns to the right hand terminal of the battery
thus completing the circuit through the earth contact plates.
The circuit
The middle wire referred to is supposed to constitute the earth wire by means of
which current goes to earth on its return to the battery through each of the lamp
posts.
It is unnecessary to state that both the circuits that are formed for opening and
closing of the valves are insulated froin the earth until the current has passed through
the coils which actuate the valves either way.
The series may be arranged so that all wires insulated from earth, or alternatively
the series may be so arranged that the end valve is connected with earth, all previous
valves being insulated from darth.
My next object is to describe the action of the automatic or electrically controlled
switch, which is, in the first instance also controlled by means of an additional electric
current, or it may be actuated by means of clockwork or other impelling mechanism.
The actuation of the fork into the two mercury or other contacts as may be desired
is effected by means of a current passed through a coil or coils, which actuates an iron
core or equivalent part, that may be pivotted to an arm, which arm may also be
pivotted to a 'support. So that when the current is passed through the coil the iron
core or part is drawn in and the fork or switch completes the circuit two contacts
and thus opens the electrically controlled gas valves in that particular group.
The iron core and fork are held down as long as the circuit is complete through the
coil of switches, and then when the circuit is broken the weight at other end of arm,
draws up the iron core and fork-also breaking circuit-which opens the valves.
A similar electrically controlled switch may be used in both the "opening" or
"closing" circuits of valves.
These electrically controlled switches can be arranged either in parallel or series.
In parallel I should use earth as a general or "return" wire, as previously explained
with regard to the actuating of the opening or closing of the gas valves.
switches are run in series then I should use a wire that is insulated from the earth or
have the whole of the circuit of switches insulated from the earth with the exception
of the last and then that last one could be put to earth.
Such a system can be arranged so as to operate one or more circuits or groups of
gas valves. For instance slow movement over radial contacts or like parts.
This system of arranging the electrically controlled switches in parallel, lends
itself to great utility, as it is possible (by means of a special type of switch hereafter
described) to be able to readily actuate any of the said electrically controlled switches
which control the various groups of electrically controlled gas valves independently.
Supposing such radial 2 way switch to operate ten electrically controlled switches
each of which again may operate 20 electrically controlled gas valves making 200
in all.
I arrange my improved radial two way switch as a pivotted arm carrying two
contact pieces the one (the outer say) constituting the "opening" contact, for
completing the circuit for operating the opening valve and the other contact for
completing the circuit for "closing" valve according as either is depressed against
the normal upward pressure of a spring thereto applied. The pivotted arm is rotated
by an arm and can be locked in the respective desired positions by a locking device
applied to its supporting stem or part.

page_text: The circuit for each such switch may be constituted by a battery connected to the
radially operated switch pivot and each of the radially arranged opening contact
pieces to be selectively brought in connection with the press piece or contact of the
radially moving arm in electrical connection with one end of an electrically controlled
switch (each switch being capable of individually putting one or more groups of
valves into action) and each closing contact is similarly connected to the opposite
part of each corresponding switch.
Supposing it be desired to actuate a switch that controls No. 6 group of lamps.
Follow the opening wire from left hand terminal of battery to the pivotted part of
arm which carries the two contact presses, on pressing down the opening or on
contact the current passes down the movable part and becomes in connection with the
fixed contact, from thence it goes to the "opening" coil of the electrically controlled
switch and then to the earth and back to the battery completing the circuit.
The iron core is then drawn down into the coil, and the fork makes contact with
the two mercury contacts, which completes the circuit and allows the current in the
coils of the electrically controlled gas valves, to open to the valve, then the gas passes
to the burners, and as soon as the circuit through the coil of electrically controlled
switch is broken, the weight pulls up the iron core and fork and breaks the circuit in
electrically controlled gas valve circuit.
To close the electrically controlled gas valves follow the "closing" line-which
works other electrically controlled switches and closes the electrically controlled gas
valves.
Dated the 11th day of December 1806
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed in
Controlling Gas Valves by Electrical Energy.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN, of 238, Tottenhain Court Road in the County of
London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the method and apparatus employed in
controlling gas valves by electrical energy, and is especially designed for service
where the several gas valves are distributed throughout, an extensive area in which
the valves, or some of them, are situate at a distance from the controlling point or
points.
In the further description of my invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a diagramatic representation of the controlling apparatus, consisting
(for example) of ten electro magnetic devices, called "spirals" in the Provisional
Specification hereto, together with the circuits, mercurial opening and closing devices,
and two sources of electricity;
Fig. 2 is an elevation and
Fig. 3 a plan of a balanced mercurial circuit opening and closing device;
Fig. 4 is a front, and
Fig. 5 a side elevation of a similar mercurial opening and closing device, but with
a spring.instead.of a weight; and

page_text: Fig. 6 is an elevation, and
Fig. 7 a plan of a circular switch having its metallic contacts arranged in two
concentric semi-circular lines.
The present invention is intended to be used in combination with the invention
described in the specification to Letters Patent granted to me dated 13th. August,
1896, No. 17958, entitled "Improvements in or connected with burners for use in
gas lighting."
In the drawings, a indicates each opening coil, a the electrical circuit leading
thereto, and b the return circuit from a. Each closing coil is indicated by c, and
the electrical circuit leading thereto by c'. A middle wire, or earth connection, is
indicated by d, and it acts as the return circuit for both the opening coils a, and
the closing coils c. Within each closing coil c a core e is indicated, having a pointed
end, which denotes a gas valve as well as a magnetic core. In practice, each opening
coil a and closing coil e are wound close together, and so arranged in conjunction
with the core and gas valve e that the latter is subjected to the inagnetic influence
of either coil, a or c, moving either upward or downward in accordance with the flow
of current in the coil energized by closing the circuit, and the well known electro
magnetic action on the core and gas valve e, as is also explained in detail in the
before mentioned specification.
f
A switch is shown diagramatically in Fig. 1 and by elevation and plan in
Figs. 6 and 7, with two circuit closers g and h, adapted to work vertically in the
pivoted arm of the switch and to close the circuits af and e¹ respectively. A spiral
spring is placed beneath the insulated cap of each circuit closer g and h, which act
to raise the same above and free of the several metallic contacts al and c¹ placed
in the circuits thereby denoted. When the pivoted arm of the switch is placed
over the first metallic contact al (for example), and the cap g pressed down on
the said contact a', the first opening coil a, Fig. 1 (for example), is energized by
its circuit being closed, and the gas valve core e is opened, on which the pressure
is removed from the cap of g, the spiral spring thereof raising the circuit closer g,
and breaking the circuit a¹. By a device shown and described in the before
mentioned specification, but not forming a part of the present invention, the gas
valve core e is held in its raised or open position until by the similar pressure on and
action of the circuit closer A the closing ceil e is energized, and the gas valve core e
is drawn down within the same (as indicated in Fig. 1), and the gas supply is cut off
from the burners.
In Fig. 1, two sources of electricity and are shown in the circuit connections,
the latter one, being intended as a relay to the former. When the switch arm f is
moved to the right so as to close the circuit a², an electro magnet k attracts its core
downward and with it a pivoted lever against the pressure of a spring or
counterweight, together with a forked mercurial circuit closing device, in the well
known manner; thus establishing current communication through the circuit a' and
the opening coil or coils a, to open the gas valve core e, as previously described.
It is to be understood that the electrically controlled gas valves are arranged in
groups, such as that indicated in Fig. 1, and that a sufficently powerful source of
electricity, such as j, is placed in a suitable contiguous or local position to operate
the same. But as the point of control is frequently at a considerable distance from
the local supply j, and economy in the cost of the connecting electric conductors
is desirable, I use small conductors with a smaller amount of current in the
source of electricity i, but of higher voltage, than that supplied from the source j,
also in the well known manner; and this is done for the purpose of putting the
second electro magnet with its forked mercurial opening and closing device into
action, together with the relay or second source of electricity j, and the circuit
connections.
In Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6, the electro magnetic devices k or (in Fig. 1) are shown in
detail, with their mercury cups m, n, forked connection o, pivoted lever p, and
energizing coil q, all of the usual and well known type. A counter weight ris
shown on the lever p, in Figs. 2 and 3, but in the modified form indicated by

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5, the lever and weight is dispensed with, a spring s surrounding the
forked connection o, an extension of which is adapted to work vertically within a
guide bracket t; the core u, in this case, being placed with its coil q immediately
beneath the forked connection o, while the coil and its core are on one side of the
forked connection in Figs. 2 and 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
The herein described improvements in the method and apparatus employed in
controlling gas valves from a distance by electrical energy, consisting in the
combination of an opening coil a, a closing coil c, a control switch f, an actuating
source of electricity i, and a relay source of electricity j, with suitable opening and
closing devices and circuit connections, operating in the manner and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the drawings.
1111
1007
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
37 & 39 Essex Street, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.