IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE STOP-COCKS OF GAS PIPES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE STOP-COCKS OF GAS PIPES
FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE SAME." A communication from abroad by
Eugene Tourné, of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Sealed the 13th September 1878, and dated the 19th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1878.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE CONNECTED WITH
THE STOP-COCKS OF GAS PIPES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE SAME." [A com-
munication from abroad by Eugene Tourné, of New Orleans, Louisiana, United
States of America.]
By this Invention I provide means whereby the stop-cocks of gas pipes or burners
may be effectually operated in a novel manner to turn the gas on or off or to so regulate
the supply of the same as to increase or diminish the quantity of light to suit the
means, pleasure, or business of the consuiner.
The nature of the said Invention consists in the combination of an oscillating
or spring platform with one or more connecting rods and rock arms or bell
cranks.
The said platform may be arranged on or near the level of the floor, so that it
can be operated by a person stepping thereupon; or it may be placed in an
elevated position, and made to serve as a seat.
The said platform is supported either by means of a central or corner pivots, or
by springs.
If the apparatus is to be operated by the feet the platform should be placed just
within the main entrance of the building or apartment; but it may be operated
equally as well if placed in any other desired locality.

page_text: The motion is communicated by means of a strap or link which connects one end
of a bell crank with the platform frame.
The said crank operates on a pivot, and transmits the motion to the key or handle
of the stop-cock.
Intermediate bell cranks if necessary may be arranged through which to transmit
the motion.
The said cranks should be provided with perforations in order that the connecting
rods may be adjusted to either partially or entirely open or close the gas supply.
If the apparatus be used in connection with self-lighting burners, the gas will
become ignited the moment the platform is depressed, in this manner serving as a
burglar alarm or indicator.
The keys of independent burners may be operated as follows, that is to say :-I
use a device provided for a certain distance from one end thereof with a slit, one
portion of which is enlarged.
Across another portion thereof is constructed a stirrup or bridge for supporting
the device on the flattened portion of a key whenever it is desired that the same shall
be connected with the operating mechanism. As this device is designed to be
employed for operating the keys, so as to increase or diminish the brilliancy of the
light after the gas has been turned on and ignited, I have enlarged and rounded a
certain portion of the slit, as above specified, to allow of its being raised and the
key operated by hand whenever a total extinguishment of the gas is desired.
The device on being released will rest on the upper edge of the flattened portion
of the key, and while conforming to all the movements of the mechanism will cease
to operate the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal; Patent Office on the 19th
September 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS TO BE CONNECTED WITH
THE STOP-COCKS OF GAS PIPES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING THE SAME." A com-
munication from abroad by Eugene Tourné, of New Orleans, Louisiana, United
States of America.
By this Invention I provide means whereby the stop-cocks of gas pipes or burners
may be effectually operated in a novel manner to turn the gas on or off, or to so
regulate the supply of the same as to increase or diminish the quantity of light to
suit the means, pleasure, or business of the consumer.
The nature of the said Invention consists in the combination of an oscillating
or spring platform with one or more connecting rods and rocker arms or belĺ
cranks.
The said platform may be arranged on or near the level of the floor, so that it can
be operated by a person stepping thereupon; or it may be placed in an elevated
position, and inade to serve as a seat.
In the accompanying Drawing,—
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of apparatus for the above purpose as
applied to the interior of an apartment.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a skeleton frame for an oscillating platform.
Figure 3 shows in elevation an arrangement of the platform to operate on
journals secured to the corners thereof.
Figure 4 represents the said platform supported by a spring in lieu of pivots.
And Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the application of an auxiliary device for operating
the keys of separate or independent burners.
A is the platform, which is supported, as above specified, on a line with or above
the floor either by means of central or corner pivots b, b, c, c', or by springs, as
shown at d in Figure 4.
If the said apparatus is to be operated by the feet, the platform should be placed
just within the main entrance of the building or apartment; but it may be operated
equally as well if placed in any other desired locality.
The required motion is communicated to the said apparatus by means of a strap
or link e, which connects one end of a bell crank f with the platform frame.
The said crank operates on a pivot g, and transmits the motion through its arm h
and rod i to the key or handle of the stop-cock, as at k.
Should the latter not be in a direct line, one or more intermediate bell cranks m
and rods n may be arranged through which to transmit the motion.
The cranks should be provided with a series of perforations o in order that the
connecting rods may be adjusted to either partially or entirely open or close the
gas supply. Thus they may be so adjusted as to lower the gas when a person
leaves the apartment, and elevate it when he again enters therein.
Or if the said apparatus is used in connection with a seat the gas may be turned
on full while a person is seated on the platform, and lowered when he rises there-
from, thereby economizing the gas, inasmuch as the pressure is reduced whenever it
is not actually required.
If the said apparatus should be used in connection with self-lighting burners, the
gas will become ignited the moment the platform is depressed, and thus while it will
add to the comfort of the occupants of a house, will also serve as means for in-
dicating the approach of another person, in this manner serving as a burglar alarm
or rather indicator.
In Figures 5 and 6 is represented a device N, by means of which the keys of inde-
pendent burners may be operated. This device, as clearly shown in the Drawing,

page_text: is provided for a certain distance from one end thereof with a slit P, one portion of
which is enlarged, as at q, for purposes herein-after specified.
Across another portion thereof is constructed a stirrup or bridge for supporting
the device on the flattened portion of a key whenever it is desired that the same
shall be connected with the operating mechanism. As this device is designed to be
employed for operating the keys to increase or diminish the brilliancy of the light
after the gas has been turned on and ignited, 1 havo enlarged and rounded a certain
portion of the slit, as above specified, to allow of its being raised and the key to be
operated by hand whenever a total extinguishment of the gas is desired. This
device on being released will rest on the upper edge of the flattened portion of the
key, and while conformning to all the movemonts of the mechanism will by reason
thereof cease to operate the same.
It will however be obvious that various means may be suggested whereby the
required motion may be communicated from the platform to the keys of the stop-
cocks, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement of cranks and
rods shown and described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the combination of a platform or seat arranged for operation by the
weight of a person with one or more stop-cocks or keys of a gas pipe, for the
purpose specified.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TUM
RAR