Improvements in Electric Gas Lighters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Electric Gas Lighters.
I, LEWIS LANE BORRADAILE, residing at 50 North Twenty-third Street, in the
City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention has relation to the means for controlling the valve and electric
igniting apparatus of a pendent gas burner, and its object is to simplify and
cheapen the constructions heretofore in use, by providing inexpensive, simple,
and certainly-operating, devices for controlling the set of the valve-operating lever
in both its ** open and "closed" positions.
A burner embodying a good form of my improvements is represented in the
accompanying drawings, as hereinafter described, the particular subject-matter
claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a burner embodying my improvements, the
parts being represented in the positions which they occupy when the gas valve is
closed.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same burner, with the parts represented in the
positions which they occupy when the gas valve is open and the gas assumed to be
lighted.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the burner represented in Figure 1, section being
supposed through the pillar above the lever controlling spring.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the burner represented in Figure 2, similarly
sectioned.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In the drawings,
A is the pillar or body of the burner.
B is the valve casing or chamber, through which passes the usual cylindriform
valve b, the maintenance and adjustment of which are effected by a screw
washer 6, in the usual manner.
C is the valve-operating lever, conveniently connected by a screw 6* with the
valve, and formed in the usual manner with an approximately vertical arm, termed
the wiping arm c, and with an approximately horizontal arm which I term the
manipulating arm, to the outer end of which a dependent lever handle c* is
connected.
The tip portion a of the burner A is shown provided with the usual fixed spark
terminal a¹, and the upper portion of the wiping arm c of the valve-operating lever
is shown equipped with the usual spring spark terminal 2,-the said terminals
being those of the usual battery circuit.
2 is a lug or stop on the burner for engaging one or the other of the stop
shoulders of the valve-operating lever, to limit its movement in one or the
other direction.
D is a spring, which I term the lever spring, the same being a spring of the
spiral variety, made of wire coiled round the burner, and having one extremity
secured to said burner by the fastening screw d.

page_text: The free end d* of this spring is extended outwardly or tangentially away from
the convolutions of the body proper, is conveniently formed with a terminal
loop d, and intermediate of its length is preferably bent inwardly to form an
externally-protecting angle, or hump, d', so to speak.
In the mounting of the parts, the spring is preferably applied to the burner
just above the valve casing, and the free end projects between the arms of the
lever, and, in the normal position of the parts, that is to say, in the position
represented in Figures 1 and 3 in which the burner is closed,-bears outwardly
against the inner edge of the wiping arm and serves to maintain the lever in the
position represented in said Figures, that is to say, with the stop shoulder in
encounter with the stop b².
It will be readily understood that in this position the stress or resilience of the
free end of the spring in its tendency to unwind, for it is to be understood that
in the mounting of the parts the spring is coiled so closely, or otherwise in such
manner, as to possess a constant tendency to expand or uncoil,-will act at almost
a right angle to the wiping arm of the lever, upon its inner edge, and in a direction
opposite to that of its then only possible movement, namely, a movement towards
said free end in the downward pull of the lever handle.
Such being the normal relation of the parts, it will be further obvious, that
when, in the downward pull of the lever handle, the valve operating lever is de-
Hlected from the position represented in Figures 1 and 3 to that represented in
Figures 2 and 4, the action of the wiping arm against the free end of the spring
will be to force said free end, first, in the direction of its own (the arm's) move-
ment, and, second, inwardly toward the burner, with the result that when the
valve lever has been deflected into this second position, or that in which the gas
valve is open, the free end of the spring will lie against the inner side face instead
of the inner edge of the wiping arm of said lever, and will tend to prevent the
reverse, or any, movement of said lever, by the stress which it exerts outwardly
against the side of said lever arm in a direction right angular to the path of
possible movement of said arm.
It will be further obvious that in the lift of the handle and the consequent
reverse deflection of the lever, the action will be, first, to cause the upward and
backward sliding of the inner side face of the wiping arm against the end of the
spring, before said spring commences or can commence to move outwardly from
the burner, and, second, the general outward uncoiling movement of said free end
of said spring away from the burner and into contact with the inner edge of the
wiping arm.
The bending of the free end of the spring intermediate of its length, is not
essential, but it is convenient, as it insures the best results in operation, the bent
end portion of the spring included between terminal loop d and the hump d'
lying in parallelism with and consequently flat against the inner side face of the
wiping arm when the parts are in the second position or that represented in
Figures 2 and 4.
While I prefer to apply the spring to the body of the burner in the manner and
location represented, yet it will be obvious that so long as its free end operates
with respect to the wiping arm of the lever in the manner described, the location]
of the spring with respect to, and its mode of application to, the burner, are
inconsequential.
It is not, moreover, necessary that the spring should be a complete spiral, as
good results, although not the best results, can be secured from the use of a flat or
other spring not wound in a complete spiral.
It is, however, important, in the embodiment of the invention represented, that
the free end of the spring should act upon the edge of the arm of the valve-
operating lever, in one position of said lever, against the direction of its then only
possible movement, and also act upon said arm, in the other possible position of
said lever at an angle, preferably a right angle, to the plane of its then only

page_text: possible movement, to the end of securing the maintenance of the lever in its then
position by the frictional contact between the inside face of said lever and the end
of said spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is:
1. In a pendent gas burner the following elements in combination:-a gas
burner; a gas valve for the same ;-a valve operating lever; and a spring one
end of which is fixed relatively to the burner and the other end of which is free and
acts upon said valve-operating lever in one of its positions in the plane of and
against the direction of its then possible movement, and in the other of its positions
at an angle to the plane of its then possible movement;--substantially as set
forth.
2. In a pendent gas burner, the following elements in combination:-a gas
burner; a gas valve for the same;-a valve-operating lever embodying both a
wiping and manipulating arm; and a spring one end of which is fixed relatively
to the burner, and the other end of which is free and acts upon the edge of the
wiping arm when the valve-operating lever is in its normal or closed" position,
and upon the side of said wiping arm when the lever is moved into its second,
open," position and the spring flexed by said movement;-substantially as
set forth.
or
66
3. In a pendent gas burner, the following elements in combination:-a gas
burner; a gas valve for the same; a valve-operating lever embodying both a
wiping and a manipulating arm; and a spring one end of which is fixed relatively
to the burner, and the other end of which is free, extends tangentially from beyond
the convolutions of the body between the arms of the valve-operating lever and
acts upon the edge of the wiping arm when the valve-operating lever is in its
normal or "closed" position, and upon the side of said wiping arm when the lever
is moved into its second, or open," position and the spring flexed by said
movement; substantially as set forth.
Dated this ist da Of Alaren, A.1. 1091.
Witnesses:
FREDERIC NORMAN DIXON
THOMAS KEYS LANCASTER
LEWIS LANE BORRADAILE.