Improvements in Means for Igniting Gas in Gas Cooking and Gas Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: e of Application, 27th Aug., 1992-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
COMI DUID
75
Improvements in Means for Igniting Gas in Gas Cooking and Gas
Heating Apparatus.
We, THOMAS FLETCHER, and ALFRED CLARE, both of the firm of Fletcher,
Russell & Co. Limited of Thynne Street, Warrington, in the County of Lancaster,
Gas 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 :-
It sometimes happens that through carelessness or oversight, an explosion occurs
when an attempt is made to ignite the gas in a gas cooking or heating
apparatus.
The object of the present invention is to prevent this risk, and for this purpose
we arrange that the gas can be ignited only by means of a pilot light which is
connected with the gas supply tap in such a manner that when the gas is turned off,
the pilot light is moved away from the burner, where it must remain so long as the
gas is turned off, and so also, that when the gas is turned on, the pilot light will
be moved towards the burner and ignite the gas. So long as the gas remains
turned on, the pilot light is near the burner, while, when it is turned off, the pilot
light is away from the burner, and it follows that a glance at the position of the
pilot light will at once shew whether the gas is or is not turned on. The supply of
gas to the pilot light is not turned on or off by means of the tap supplying the
burner, but by means of an independent tap.
We have illustrated in what manner our said invention may be carried into
practical effect by the accompanying drawings to which reference will hereinafter
be had.
In each of the figures of these drawings we have represented our improvements
as being applied to an apparatus in which the burners are contained within a
closed box or chamber, but it will be obvious that our invention may be similarly.
applied to other constructions, and to different arrangements of burners.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation ;
Figure 2, in side view, and
Figure 3 in plan, one form of the arrangement which we may employ,
Figure 4 represents in plan, a modified form.
A, is an enclosed burner chamber which may have any suitable form, and which
will vary in its construction with different kinds of apparatus, and when used it is
preferred to be constructed in such a manner that the burners therein are inacces-
sible for lighting by the flame of a match, taper, or lighted paper, but only by
means of the pilot light provided for the purpose.
B B, are the burners contained in the enclosed chamber. C, is the gas supply
pipe, controlled by the tap D.
E, is the supply pipe for the pilot light F, which is, as hereinbefore described,
connected with the supply tap D, in such a manner that it is compelled to move
near to the burner when the tap is opened, and away from it when the tap is
closed.
We prefer to screw the pipe E, into the upper part of the plug of the tap D,
and make its lower end communicate through a port in the plug with the supply
side of the tap, in whatever position the tap inay be, so that the gas has always
free access to the pipe E. For the purpose of turning off the supply of gas to the
pipe E and pilot light, when required, we arrange a tap H in the pipe. The upper
part of the pipe is turned in a horizontal direction, and has a burner fixed in its
end for the pilot light.
As shewn by Figures 1 and 2, the upper part of the pilot light pipe E, passes,

page_text: when the tap D is turned on, through a horizontal slot or opening G, formed in the
wall of the burner chamber, and comes into the position indicated by the dotted
lines Figure 3, above and to-one side of the burner B, the gas issuing from which
is thereby ignited and ignites the gas issuing from the other burners, if more than
one be used.
On the horizontal part of the pilot light pipe, there may be fixed the shield K,
which, when the pilot light is within the chamber, covers the opening G, and
prevents the insertion of a taper, match, or other means for lighting the gas.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, the gas is represented as being turned off and the pilot
light outside the burner chamber. In the modification represented by Figure 4,
the gas is supposed to be turned on, and the pilot light is within the chamber.
In this modified form of the arrangement, the upper part of the pipe E is curved
as shewn, the centre of curvature being in line with the axis of the tap. With
this form for the upper part of the pipe, the pilot light can be passed through a
hole not much larger than the pipe itself, instead of through the slot G, but we
prefer to employ the straight upper part for the pipe, because with this form it is
casy to move all parts of the pilot light pipe to a safe distance from the burner or
burners.
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―
The combination and arrangement with the tap of a gas cooking or gas heating
apparatus, of a pilot light which when the gas is turned on moves towards the
burner and lights the gas, and which when the gas is turned off' moves away from
the burner, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of August A.D. 1892.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.