Extinguishing Gas Lamps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
Extinguishing Gas Lamps.
We JOHANN RUDOLF SCHILLER and CHRISTIAN MEYER both of Zurich, Switzerland
Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improvement on the apparatus, for which provisional protection
was obtained by us No. 6400 May 2d 1887. Its object is the construction of a similar
apparatus in a more simple and condensed form.
The whole electric apparatus is, enclosed within a gas tight drum or case which is
screwed onto the end of the gas pipe.
At the bottom of this case just above where the gas pipe connects, a sort of inverted
funnel is attached to the inside of said drum in such manner as to prevent impurities
carried by the gas such as tar and other matters to enter the drum itself.
Inside the drum two induction coils filled with thin soft iron wires are fastened.
The induction coils are formed of several layers of thick copper wire upon which
again is wound a layer of thinner copper wire. One end of each of the two thicker
wires is connected with the other while the other two ends are passed insulated
through the bottom of the gas drum or case, where they are fastened to binding posts
connecting with the line. The two ends of the thinner copper wires of the two coils
are also connected with each other; the third end is fastened to the bottom of a coil
and in contact with the metallic gas drum or case whilst the fourth end passes well
insulated through the bottom of the drum and from there is conducted to the gas
burner.
Above the induction coils or spools there is attached so as to swing an electro
magnet to which an arm is attached, the end of which rests between two collars on a
rod carrying at one end a valve cone.
This cone fits into a valve box from where a pipe leads through the top of the gas
drum to the gas burner.

page_text: Opposite to the end of the wire leading from the induction coils to the burner
which end is placed just over the mouth of the latter a small piece of wire is soldered
to the metallic part of said burner.
Upon an electric current being passed through the line the swinging electro magnet
is attracted by one induction coil and repulsed by the other, which movement causes
the arm attached to said magnet to push back the before described valve rod and to
open the valve thus permitting the gas to pass from the drum to the burner. The
current at the same time passing through the wire leading to the burner and the
small piece of wire opposite, sparks are emitted between them whereby the gas is
ignited.
Now the gas continues to pass from the gas pipe, through the drum and its valve
to the burner until the current is changed when the electro magnet is thrown to the
other side and thereby the valve will be closed which extinguishes the flame.
Dated 31st October 1887.
WALTER A. BARLOW,
7, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Extinguishing Gas Lamps.
We, JOHANN RUDOLF SCHILLER and CHRISTIAN MEYER, both of the Town of
Zurich, Switzerland, Engineers, 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 object of our invention is an improvement in the apparatus for lighting and
extinguishing gas lamps, Letters Patent for which were granted to us May 2nd 1887,
No. 6400.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a front view of an improved apparatus, its enclosing box drawn in section
to show the interior.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus with the top of the enclosing box in section
to show the interior.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus, with enclosing box in section as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the complete apparatus as mounted on a gas pipe.
Fig. 5 shows in longitudinal vertical section the gas valve and its gear.
Fig. 6 shows the gas burner with the gas igniting device attached.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the connection of the lamps carrying these apparatus, with the
central station.
The principle of this apparatus is essentially the same as that described in our
Letters Patent dated May 2nd 1887 viz.:
One, two or more electro-magnets act upon an oscillating or swinging armature
when an electric current is passed, in such manner as to cause said arinature to
operate a lever, by means of which the gas cock is either opened or closed. A wire
or wires leading to the gas burner produce sparks as the current passes through
them, whereby the gas escaping from the burner, after the cock has been opened as
above indicated, is ignited.
The apparatus, shown in the accompanying drawings, consists of two electro-
magnetic spools, which, with their armature, are enclosed in a gas tight case or
box G. The bottom of this box G¹ carries on its under surface a nipple or sleeve C,
by means of which box G is attached to the gas pipe. Inside of sleeve C is an
inverted cone C', through which the hole forms a passage for the gas passing into
the box G.
The object of this device is to prevent impurities such as tar etc., carried along by
the gas, from entering box G and deranging the apparatus. Such impurities will
collect in sleeve C and may be removed by unscrewing said sleeve.
Induction coils ff, which have cores e e of bundles of thin soft iron wire, are
attached to the bottom G by means of screws or in other suitable manner, and
consist of several layers of thick copper wire upon which thinner copper wire is
wound. One end of the thick wire of one spool is connected, (as shown in Fig. 1
at n) to one end of the thick wire of the other spool, the other ends of these thick
wires passing at n', n' through the bottom G', from which they are insulated by a
rubber or other insulating plate H.
Outside of the case G G are binding posts H¹ H' for connecting the wires n' n'

page_text: k
with the line. One end of the thin copper wire of one spool is connected (ato Fig. 1)
to one end of the thin wire of the other spool. The third end is soldered or other-
wise connected with the bottom of one of the spools and therefore is in contact with
the entire box G, while the fourth end passes (well insulated) through bottom G¹
from whence it runs along the outside of box G to the gas burner. A permanent
magnet & swings in front of spools by means of a sleeve upon a pivot supported
23
by a post or standard 4, which is secured to box G or its bottom G' as shown.
During the passage of an electro magnetic current through the primary coils of
spools the iron bundles e, e, will show homonymous poles, in consequence of which
one end of the permanent oscillating magnet will be attracted, while the other is
repelled. The oscillating magnet k carries a bent arm, the free end of which hangs
between two regulating nuts, collars or lugs D D which are adjustably fastened upon
stem V, Fig. 5.
Stem V slides in two guides or bearings EE and is at one end provided with a
cone E which fits into the seat of a valve V₁, from which pipe A leads through the
top of box G to the gas burner.
The gas enters box G by passage c² through cone C¹, fills said box G completely
and when valve V1 is open passes through pipe A to burner A².
The main (magnetic) current passes from electric source (battery etc.) X, Fig. 7
through commutator W and then through each of the lamp apparatuses L, that is,
through the primary coils of the spools of each such apparatus to the electrode W²,
from here the current passes through the earth to electrode W', through com-
mutator W and back again to source X.
The induction current is generated only in the secondary coils of the spools and
produces the spark for igniting the gas. Source X consists of suitable elements or of
a dynamo, while the current of the circuit need not exceed one ampere.
Commutator W serves for reversing the current, that is, for changing its direction.
The construction of commutators is too well known and need not therefore be
described.
The commutator Y, inserted in the line serves for either sending the current
uninterrupted direct through the line with the lamps L L or for sending it first
through the contact breaker Z and then through the line, whereby the current is made
intermittent.
In consequence of the passing current one of the electro-magnets will, as before
stated, attract the oscillating magnet, while the other repels it. By this oscillation
in one direction arm ², which is rigidly attached to magnet k, is swung aside and,
being situated between the two collars or nuts D D upon stem V, naturally pushes
back the latter and thereby opens the valve V', through which the gas may now pass
to the burner. Steel magnet & having once been attracted by one of the electro
magnets e now remains in that position, even when the main current is broken; also
when the current is made to pass the line in order to produce the igniting sparks, the
current passes in the same direction as before and cannot therefore change the position
of the steel magnet. Even if the current is repeatedly interrupted (broken and
closed) providing it remains in the same direction, the position of steel magnet & is
unaltered.
The operation of igniting the gas flame is performed as follows:-
The current is closed by means of wire a, Fig. 7, passes into interrupter Z and from
there again through the line. In consequence of the interruption of the current at
the central station the current produces in the spools of each apparatus an induction
current which passes through wire l m to the burner where on the opposite side a
wire m is soldered. The sparks produced between these two wires m, and m¹ will
cause the gas escaping from the burner to be ignited. The gas having been ignited
the current is not further discontinued.
For extinguishing the flames commutator W is reversed and the current closed by
wire Magnet is now attracted to the other side and thus closes the valve V¹ in
the manner herein before described. The construction of the apparatus for the lamps
which are to be left burning all night, only differ from that of the others by the

page_text: electro magnet which attracts the armature for closing the valves. It consists of a
bundle of iron wire rather thicker than the other electro-magnet in the same apparatus
and thus the magnetising spool has less windings of thick copper wire.
The consequence of this arrangement is that this electromagnet will be weaker when
the current is closed than those of the other lamps, and will therefore fail at first to
attract the swinging armature or magnet k. Therefore for extinguishing these lamps
the current must be closed and disconnected several times.
The operation of our improved apparatus is as follows: The opening :-It must be
arranged before-hand on which side the commutator has to stand for opening the
valve V in the apparatus. Now a current is passed through the line which passes the
different devices of the central station shown in Fig. 7, excepting the contact
breaker Z. Magnet k in the apparatus is attracted by one of the electro-magnets e
and is repelled by the other, whereby valve V' is opened. (The upper poles of the
electro-magnets being homonymous.)
The lighting-Commutator Y is connected with contact breaker Z in such manner
that the current in the line is now interrupted, that is, it is repeatedly broken and
closed. This produces an induction current in the spools of each apparatus, and
sparks are produced between the opposite standing points of wires m and m' at the
burner A2 which cause the escaping gas to be ignited.
The extinguishing :-Commutator W is reversed and the current sent through the
line. To prevent the current from being interrupted commutator Y is put in direct
connection with the line so that the current cannot pass the interruptor Z. In con-
sequence of this operation magnet is now attracted to the other electro magnet and
repelled by the one to which it was attracted before. This oscillation of magnet k
causes valve V₁ to be closed in the manner herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An apparatus for lighting and extinguishing gas flames, consisting of a box G
screwed upon the gas pipe, and provided below with a sleeve C carrying an inverted
cone C¹, box G containing induction coil or coils f, with iron bundles e e for a core,
before which cores e, e, swings a magnet with fever or arm ², the latter being
situated between two adjustable collars or their equivalents D, attached to stem V of
valve V1, in such manner that a swinging or rocking of said magnet k in one direction
will cause valve V₁ to be opened and in the other direction to be closed: valve V
being provided with a pipe A leading to the gas burner, substantially as set forth.
2. In the hereinbefore described apparatus a device for igniting the gas consisting
of wire m connected to wire leading from the spools of the apparatus, and a wire m
opposite to the former and soldered or otherwise attached to the metallic part of the
burner, substantially as set forth.
3. An electric arrangement for operating the apparatus described in claim 1 and 2,
consisting of an electric source X, commutator W, electrode W¹, commutator Y, with
wires, ¹, interruptor Z and electrode W2, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of July Todd.
J. R. SCHILLER.
C. MEYER.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London E.C.,
Agent.