Improved Automatic Lighting Apparatus for Gas Jets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Lighting Apparatus for Gas Jets.
I, ADOLPH MÜLLER, of 120, Alexandrinen Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Builder,
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 improved automatic lighting device, which forms the subject of the present
invention, differs from other apparatus of the like nature heretofore employed
in that a spiral spring elongating under the influence of heat and contracting
whilst cooling is employed for moving aside the inflammatory material from the
lighting point in order to place it out of the path of the ascending heat when the
burner is alight, the spiral spring however not carrying, as in existing con-
structions, the lighting material at its free end, but serving to transmit the
movement consequent on its expansion and contraction to a lever which carries
the lighting material at its free end, and which, at the time of corresponding
the chimney of the lamp or removes it aside out of the heat current.
On the accompanying drawings, which represent one form of carrying out
movements of the spring, returns the inflammatory material to the middle of
the invention:-
Figure, 1, represents a sectional elevation of the automatic lighting apparatus
applied to a lamp chimney;
Fig. 2, represents an elevation, partly in section, of a cap applied to a lamp
chimney for directing the gases directly onto the lighting material; and
Fig. 3, is a plan view of such cap.
The automatic lighting device represented in Fig. 1, is removably secured to
the upper edge of the glass or chimney, a, of the gas burner, by means of a
nipping device, b. It is provided with a support, f, of a U-formation and having
an extension or arm, c, which reaches towards or to the centre of the chimney,
as shown on the drawing. At the free extremity of the arm, c, is secured a
spiral spring, d, formed in a known manner of two different metals having
different coefficients of expansion.
Near
In the forked support, f, is pivoted a lever having two arms, g, k, of which
the longer arm, g, carries a hollow conical cap, h, of mica or other suitable
substance, and at the apex of which is placed known lighting material, i.
the fulcrum of the lever a third lever, , projects and forms approximately a
right angle with the shorter arm, k, of the lever, and between these arms, k, l,
the free end, e, of the spring, d, and which is bent at a right angle to the
rectilineal part of the spring, is adapted to work.
If the lighting device be arranged in the usual manner at the upper end of the
glass, and the gas tap be turned on, the lighting of the gas will be effected in
the known manner by the material, i. The spiral spring, d, being heated by the
hot air which ascends within the chimney, then, in consequence of the difference
of the coefficients of expansion of the two metals of which it is composed, deflects
in the known manner and causes its free end, e, to move downwards and depress
the lever arm, k, which causes the lever arm, g, carrying the cap, h, to move in

page_text: the opposite direction, so operating until the lever assumes the position repre-
sented in dotted lines, in which the lighting material, i, is removed out of the
way of the hot current ascending from the burner within the chimney, and while
the convoluted part of the spring remains exposed to the hot current, the cap, h,
is caused to preserve the position indicated by such dotted lines. On the other
hand, if the gas supply be cut off so as to cause the extinction of the flame, the
spring will then cool and will consequently regain its normal position indicated
in full lines. At the time of the return movement of the spring, its extremity, e,
rises and likewise returns to its original position, and, by bearing against the
arm, /, tilts over the lever arm, g, which then gradually regains its normal
position in which the lighting material regains its position for a fresh lighting.
The cap, h, being of a conical formation is of advantage in collecting the ascend-
ing gases to be inflamed. But, in order to render the lighting certain, the
improved lighting apparatus is preferably combined with a special cap or top
for the lanip chimney and by the employment of which the gas which rises in
the chimney from the tap opening is so directed as to be caused to pass through
the central opening of the top and with certainty to come into contact with the
lighting material, whereby the lighting device is prevented from missing fire.
The cap or top represented in Figs. 2, and 3, of the drawings, consists of a
body of appropriate form of metal or other suitable material, provided with
teeth, a, like those of a cylindrical gallery, which serve for holding the top in
place, and depend from a body part or ring, b, formed with through openings, c,
and fitted with a hollow central part, d, which-to attain the aforesaid end-
has the form of a hollow truncated cone with an upper central opening, f, and
is formed with side openings, g, the ring, b, terminating above in an ornamental
gallery which serves for the decoration of the .top.
When such top is applied to a lamp chimney fitted with the improved lighting
device, the ascending gas comes in contact with the oblique faces of the cone, d,
and is deflected as indicated by the arrows, (Fig. 2,) so that the major portion
of the gas current passes through the opening, f, and thus plays upon the
lighting material placed above. The apertures, c, g, provide a sufficient orifice
or opening for the escape, when the lamp is lit, of the gases of combustion and
for admitting in sufficient quantity, the air necessary for combustion..
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:-
1st. An automatic lighter for illuminating gas or other hydrocarbons, charac-
terized by a spiral spring, d, placed at the upper end of the lamp chimney in
the path of the current of hot air, and the free end, e, of which engages with a
lever, g, carrying the lighting material, i, in such a manner that, after the light-
ing, the lever end carrying the lighting material is caused by the movement of the
free end of the spring, to move so as to move the lighting material out of the
path of the hot current escaping from the chimney while the burner is alight, as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2nd. An automatic lighting apparatus, characterized by the lighting material, i,
carried by a lever, g, being arranged in the apex of a cap, h, having the form
of a hollow cone and designed to collect the ascending gas when the carrying
lever is in a lighting position, substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
3rd. A lighting apparatus as described in Claim, 1, characterized by the lever, g,
carrying the lighting material, i, having two arms, k, l, angularly arranged in
relation to one another and which are actuated by the spiral spring, d, which
by deflection or alteration of its shape causes the lever to oscillate in one or the
other direction, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
4th. A device for conducting gas in the desired direction for automatic lighters,

page_text: characterized by a top or cap (carried by the upper end of the chimney) which has
in its central part covering the chimney opening a hollow cone, d, formed with
a central escape opening, f, for the gas, whilst in its sides and in the body
part, b, are arranged through openings, g, e, respectively, which present together
with the opening, f, a sufficient orifice for allowing of the free escape of the
heat given off and of access to the burner of a sufficient quantity of fresh air,
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.