Improvements in Self-lighting Gas Burners.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-lighting Gas Burners.
I, FRIEDRICH ZACHER, of No. 15, Wandsbeckerstieg, Hamburg, in the Empire
of Germany, Merchant, 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:-
-
The present invention relates to improvements in self-lighting gas burners in
which an auxiliary or pilot burner is employed for the purpose of igniting the
main burner, said auxiliary burner being fitted with an ignition pellet which is
ignited by coming into contact with the gas when the latter is turned on.
After having ignited the main burner, the auxiliary burner is automatically
extinguished by the expansion by heat of a suitable body. The plug of the tap
in the burner supplies, according to its position, a main and an auxiliary pipe with
gas; said tap being under the influence of a spring, and on turning on the gas for
the ignition of the auxiliary and the main burner is retained in a certain position,
in which the auxiliary pipe is completely opened but the main burner pipe
only partly so, by means of a locking lever, until by virtue of the expansion of a
suitable body caused by the emission of heat from the auxiliary flame a rotary
movement of the locking lever is produced, which releases the tap and permits
same to be returned by its spring to its medium position, in which the auxiliary
pipe is completely closed and, the main burner pipe completely open.
The idea forming the basis of this invention has already been attempted to be
carried out in practice for a similar purpose previous to my invention, but the
constructions arrived at did not solve the problem, a constant reliable action being
unattainable as the expansion body was expected to fulfil work which it was
impossible for it to perform, as will be pointed out hereinafter in order to establish
the novelty of the present invention, the construction of which is new in principle
and alone adapted and fit for practical use, besides being totally different from the
constructions previously referred to which aimed at the same result.
The expansion body which, in order to attain a sufficient expansion, has
naturally to be a long thin rod or wire, was in all previous constructions that have
come to my knowledge expected to exert a certain direct-pressure on a locking
lever. To actuate this lever, the expansive force not only had to overcome the
frictional resistance of the locking surfaces but also the power of the spring which
normally kept the locking lever in its position. The applicability of the
expansion-body for direct pressure purposes must however be considered a failure,
as in its action, especially when heated and consequently in a softer and less-
resistible condition, it easily suffers a lateral distortion and is then obviously
rendered unfit for action. Such a distortion will all the easier take place should
the wire show the slightest sign of a flow or bend, or should the starting points.
of the expansive body (wire) not be situated exactly in alignment. Even suppos-
ing that these drawbacks are not present immediately in a construction based on.
the direct pressure action of the expansive body, it will be obvious that after a
short usage they must present themselves, which proves such devices are wrong in
principle, necessitating a construction unsuitable for practical and lasting use.

page_text: The present invention assigns a totally different purpose to the expansive body
(wire) which it will be enabled to perform under any circumstances and for an
unlimited space of time, even should the wire present a flow or bend, the defects
above referred to. The expansion body in the construction according to the
present invention is claimed in respect of its contracting action, not for exerting
direct pressure, so that consequently its work has not to be performed while in
heated condition but when subsequently cooling down. Its action while heated
is of a mere passive nature.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings, in which a self-lighting gas burner made according
to the present invention is illustrated in
Fig. 1 in lateral elevation, whilst.
Figs. 2, and 4 are front elevations of same, the position of the tap being
varied in every figure; Figures 1 and 2 corresponding to the position for igniting
the burner, Fig. 3 showing the tap in the position for use or burning" position,
and Fig. 4 the final or closing position of the tap.
In the drawings: a indicates the body of the burner, b is the main burner
pipe, the auxiliary or ignition pipe, d the igniton pellet, e the ignition pellet
carrier, the rod-like expansion body, preferably made of wire, g the carrier or
support for the expansion body, and h the lever for actuating the plug in the
burner body.
The plug lever is under the influence of a spring which exerts its force
to turn the lever h so as to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 3. A locking
catch is secured to the free extremity of the lever h, which catch on turning
the lever into the position for ignition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, catches and
engages under the nose 7 of a locking lever m.
at n and is connected at its other end to the expansive body f
The latter is pivotally supported
In the position for ignition the lever h presses under the influence of the
spring with its locking catch k against the nose of the locking lever m, the
latter not being able to move away owing to its connection with the expansion
body on which latter consequently a pulling force will be exerted. The gas
passes through the auxiliary pipe c, the auxiliary flame is ignited, thereby heating
the expansive body f which will expand downwards and consequently assign a
certain movability to the locking lever m. In view of this movability the catch k
is enabled to laterally push the nose / so as to clear same, thereby releasing the
lever h which under the influence of its spring i is brought to the position illus-
trated in Fig. 3 when the gas supply to the main pipe will be completely open,
and the auxiliary flame extinguishes. Whilst the heat of the auxiliary flame acts
on the expansive body f, the jet of the main burner is ignited by the flame of the
auxiliary burner. The expansive body f now again contracts, thereby influencing.
the easily movable and not spring-influenced locking lever m to return to its
normal position so as to be ready to be caught and actuated again for ignition
purposes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If it is required to extinguish the main-
Hame, the lever h is turned by hand into the closing position illustrated in Fig. 4,
in which it is retained owing to frictional resistance, but this may be effected in
any other suitable manner.
My improved self-igniting gas burner as described above is applicable in
principle as well as in construction for incandescent gaslight, as well as for
ordinary gas burners.
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:-
1.) A self-igniting gas burner having the spring-influenced plug in the burner
body retained in the position for ignition by means of a locking lever, said locking
lever attaining on heating the expansive body sufficient movability to enable the
lever in connection with the burner-plug to displace same and to assume under
4

page_text: the influence of its spring the position for the constant burning of the main flame,
substantially as set forth.
2.) A self-igniting gas burner, the whole arranged constructed and adapted to
operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of August 1899.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.