Improvements in or connected with the Lighting and Extinguishing or Controlling the Light of Street and other Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1892-Accepted. 9th Apr.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Lighting and Extinguishing
or Controlling the Light of Street and other Lamps.
1, HARRY TEE, of Waterloo, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, mainly, to provide an improved method of or
means for lighting street and other lamps and extinguishing same, or for controlling
the light of such lamps, and to thereby save a large proportion of the cost which is
at present incurred in attending to such lamps in respect of lighting and
extinguishing, etcetera.
According to this invention I employ in connection with a lamp, and particularly
street lamps, a clockwork motor and timekeeper to effect the operations hereinafter
specified. This clock I adapt to turn out the main light of a lamp, or partially
turn it out, and turn it on at times required, and when so doing I cause the apertures
or spaces through which air ordinarily enters the lamp or escapes therefrom, or
both, to be closed and opened at the required times.
In some cases employ a pilot light to light the main light when turned on, in
which case, of course the main light is entirely extinguished, when light is not
required. In other cases I may only partially extinguish the main light by causing
the clockwork mechanism to turn down the main light.
By excluding the main portion of air from the lamp when the gas is turned out or
low, as above described, I prevent the pilot light or the small flame of the main
light from being blown out in the time of storms and high winds. This light may
also be protected by a shield or shields or like means to aid in preventing its being
blown out.
The clockwork is so constructed and provided with a "setting device" that it
will act and turn the gas on or off and open or close the air apertures at the
required times, night and morning, and it may also be so adapted as to reduce the
light during the hours of early morning. This setting device will also be so
constructed and adapted to operate that, by setting it, the hours of lighting up and
extinguishing or lowering may be changed at will and so provide for the lighting
and extinguishing or lowering to automatically take place at different times to
correspond with the shortening and lengthening of the days.
Motion from the clockwork motor may be imparted to the air shutters, or other
devices, gas taps or valves, by any suitable means, such as chains, rods, shafts, and
the like.
It is to be understood that the invention may be modified and carried out in
different ways and is therefore not confined to the particular constructions above
referred to, and the features herein described may be combined in different ways or
used separately as well as conjointly in connection with different. types of lamp-
ighting devices and their equivalents used without departing from the main or
controlling features of the invention.
Dated this 8th day of April 1891.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.

page_text: '
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Lighting and Extinguishing
or Controlling the Light of Street and other Lamps.
I, HARRY TEE, of Waterloo, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
This invention has for its object, mainly, to provide an improved method of or
means for lighting street and other lamps and extinguishing same, or for controlling
the light of such lamps, and to thereby save a large proportion of the cost which is
at present incurred in attending to such lamps in respect of lighting and
extinguishing, etcetera.
According to this invention I employ in connection with a lamp, and particularly
street lamps, a clockwork motor and timekeeper to effect the operation hereinafter
specified. This clock I adapt to turn out the main light of a lamp, or partially
turn it out, and turn it on at times required, and when so doing I cause the
apertures or spaces through which air ordinarily enters the lamp or escapes there-
from, or both, to be closed and opened at the required times.
In some cases I employ a pilot light to light the main light when turned on, in
which case, of course the main light is entirely extinguished, when light is not
required. In other cases I may only partially extinguish the main light by causing
the clockwork mechanism to turn down the main light.
By excluding the main portion of air from the lamp when the gas is turned out
or low, as above described, I prevent the pilot light or the small flame of the main
light from being blown out in the time of storms and high winds. This light may
also be protected by a shield or shields or like means to aid in preventing its being
blown out.
The clockwork is so constructed and provided with a "setting device" that it
will act and turn the gas on or off and open or close the air apertures at the
required times, night and morning, and it may also be so adapted as to reduce the
light during the hours of early morning. This setting device will also be so
constructed and adapted to operate that, by setting it, the hours of lighting up and
extinguishing or lowering may be changed at will and so provide for the lighting
and extinguishing or lowering to automatically take place at different times to
correspond with the shortening and lengthening of the days.
Motion from the clockwork motor may be imparted to the air shutters or other
devices, gas taps or valves by any suitable means, such as chains, rods, shafts, and
the like.
In the drawings which serve to illustrate this invention, I shew arrangements or
combinations of parts according thereto. By these, in conjunction with the
explanation herein given, the invention may be carried into practical effect by
those skilled in the art to which it belongs or is most nearly connected.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a general elevation shewing one modification.
Figure 2 is a detail shewing the automatic lighting and extinguishing or lowering.
mechanism in front elevation; whilst
Figure 3 is a side elevation of same.
Figure 4 is a side elevation shewing another modification of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a designates
the clockwork case within which a suitable time keeping spring driven clockwork
mechanism is disposed, and a mechanism of any suitable known kind controlled by
said time keeping mechanisms and adapted to actuate the gas supply cock or device
of the lamp as hereinafter described. e is the well or chest in which the mechanism a
is disposed and which is closed against the admittance of air except as hereinafter

page_text: explained. is the gas supply tap, o is the gas burner. is the gas pipe on which
the tap i and burner o are fixed. q is a lamp post. T is the lamp. is a valve
by which air is admitted to the chest e and lower part of the lamp, and t is a valve
on the upper plate 3 of the lamp by which the products of combustion of the gas
and air escape from the lamp.
The time keeping clockwork mechanism in the case a (which as above stated may
be of any known suitable kind) rotates a spindle a¹ which passes through said case,
and upon which a wheel or disc is fixed having upon its periphery teeth as
shewn. Loosely on the spindle a' are also mounted arms e, c, capable of being
sprung away from the disc in the vertical plane and normally standing in the
position shewn with a tooth c' at their outer ends engaging with the teeth. The
extremities of these arms are adapted to engage with the free end of the lever d,
fixed on the spindle d', and to lift and then release it as they revolve past said free
end. The action of lifting the lever d by the arms c, gives what is termed in
practical horologics "warning" to the escapement mechanism in a by which the gas
supply tap i is actuated and the release and fall of the free end of the lever d by
said arms c causes the escapement controlled spring which actuates the tap, to move
the disc-crank (which is driven from said spring) a half revolution, the escape-
ment being adapted to limit the movement of the disc-crank to a half revolution for
every and each action of the arms c and lever d. The movement of the crank-disc
is transmitted to the gas tap i through the connecting rod g and yoke h of the gas
tap plug spindle h¹.
The escapement controlled mechanism by which the disc-crank fis actuated may
be of any suitable kind and its arrangement and operation will be well known to
those skilled in practical horologics and consequently needs no further description,
except to say that it may either be driven by a separate spring or by and from the
spring of the time keeping mechanism which actuates the wheel b.
The air inlet and burnt gas outlet valves s and t are actuated simultaneously with
the actuation of the plug of the gas tap i, to the yoke h of which they are connected
by wires or rods u and, their connection to the yoke being made through the
crosshead 2 thereon. The valve t is opened by a spring (or by a weight if
desired) which normally tends to move said valve upwards about its hinge t2, and it
is closed by the downward pull of the wire or rod ; whilst the air inlet valve s is
opened by the direct lifting or raising of the wire or rod u and vice versa, closed by
the dropping of same.
The size of air opening in the bottom of the chest e controlled by the valves,
and burnt gas apertures controlled by the valve t, are preferably such as will
respectively admit just as much air as is practically required to support combustion
of the gas burnt at the burner o and allow of the escape of the burnt gas.
The operation of the invention is as follows:-When the gas is partly
extinguished or lowered so that only a very small flame is burning at the burner o,
the position of the parts described is that shewn in the drawings, the amount of gas
to keep the small flame burning being supplied through a by-pass groove (or other
known means of supply) in the plug of the tap i, this being a well known means of
supplying a small quantity of gas to a burner. Then, at the time required, when
one of the arms of the clockwork motor sets in operation the escapement of the
mechanism by which is actuated the crank-disc f, through the lever d, said crank
disc is moved a half revolution, thereby bringing the crank pin to the lower end
of its stroke or revolution, and so pulling down the connecting rod and the yoke h.
This turns the gas full on and simultaneously lifts the air inlet valve s off its seat
through the wire or rod u, so admitting air to the lamp, and also releases the wire
or rode, and finally the spring t' (or weight) to lift the burnt gas escape valvet off
its seat.
The turning down of the gas is effected by the other of the arms c coming
into contact with and actuating the escapement lever d in a similar manner to
that just described when the disc-crank is moved another half revolution and

page_text: into the position shewn in the drawings, whereupon the plug of the gas tap i is
actuated and the gas to the burner o cut off, except so much as passes by way of
the by-pass valve specified to keep a small flame burning, at the same time shutting
the air inlet and burnt gas outlet valves s and t through the wires or rods and .
Ordinarily the amount of air necessary to support combustion of the small flame at
the burner o will find its way into the lamp by leakage at the joints of the lamp or
lamp door and the escape of gases of combustion so produced will likewise take
place by leakage; however, small permanently open air inlet, and burnt gas
outlet apertures may be provided in the lower and upper parts of the lamp when or
if required.
To enable the times of turning up or lighting of the lamp and its turning down
or partial extinguishment to be varied according to the period of the year, length
of night, or other requirement as regards the duration of illumination, the two
arms cc, may be set in or engaged with any of the teeth of the time wheel or
disc b, and in any relative positions to each other. Thus, when the period of
time in which it is desired that the lamp should be in full illumination is long
the angle at the base of the turning up and turning down arms ec would be
large, and, vice versa, when such period is short, that angle would be less obtuse or
smaller.
The construction and arrangement of parts herein set forth are such as will in
most cases keep the clockwork sufficiently warm to prevent congealing of the
lubricant in times of frost, and so obviate stoppage of the motor and defective
operation.
As regards the modification shewn in Figure 4, the main flame at the burner o is
entirely extinguished when the lamp is to be turned or put out of illumination, and
a pilot flame is used and burns during the time the main flame is out, and is adapted
to light such main flame gas at the burner o. This pilot flame is supplied from the
tapi by a pipe k, disposed within the tube supported by the gas pipe 7. The tube
or chamber has an aperture at its bottom for the inlet of air, and a valve m at the
top for covering the tube at that end, and uncovering it as desired. When the
valve m is removed from the tube 1, the flame of the pilot light burning at
the burner of the pipe k, is allowed to fly upwards at the moment at which the gas
tapis turned on. At other times when the tapi is turned off, the valve m covers
the top of the tube and prevents the extinguishment of the pilot flame from
possible draughts and currents of air within the lamp.
The valve m is pivotted upon the free end of a bell crank lever n, fulcrumed at n¹,
the lower end of said bell crank passing through an eye ² fixed to the yoke h.
Thus, it will be seen, when the end of the yoke h to which the eye is fixed is
pulled down, the valve m will be moved onto the top of the tube and closes it, and,
vice versu, when that end of the yoke is elevated, the valve m will be removed from
off the tube.
k
The gas is fed from the gas-pipe p to the pipe by providing in the plug of the
tapi a groove or aperture which constantly allows some gas to flow into the tube k
so long as the main flame is out, the said slot or aperture constituting a by-pass;
and it is so formed and arranged that at the moment of lighting the gas at the
burner 0, the pilot flame will jump upwards to or nearly to the level of the burner o
by a relatively large supply of gas being supplied by the by-pass passage. This
by-pass passage will be well understood as regards its arrangement and form, to
those skilled in gas fittings, and needs therefore no further description.
Otherwise than the particulars just specified, this modification operates sub-
stantially in the same manner as that set forth with reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
The clockwork mechanism may be arranged to go for eight days, thirty one
days, or other period of time and it may be adapted to be wound up from the
outside of the chest e, whilst the setting of the arm c may be also effected from the
outside.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is to be stated in conclusion
that the invention is in no way confined to the particular construction of apparatus
shewn in the drawings, as it may be carried out and modified in many different ways
without departing from one or more of the features or improvements herein
specified; and my improvements may be used one or more of them in conjunction
with other automatically operated gas lamps differing widely in general charac-
teristics from the one I have described; and I declare that what is claimed in
respect of the herein described invention is :-
1. The herein described improvement connected with gas lamps, consisting in
effecting the extinguishing or lowering and turning up of the light of street or
other gas lamps, and in conjunction therewith automatically controlling the air
supply and burnt gas discharge, or either of them by automatic mechanism; for the
purposes set forth.
2. In a street or other lamp, a clockwork time-keeping motor, a gas valve or
device operated or controlled by said motor, and valves for the inlet of air and
outlet of burnt gases, or either of them, also controlled or actuated by said motor
(or by a separate motor); as or substantially as in the manner and for the purposes
set forth.
3. In automatically operated or controlled street gas lamps, the herein described
improvement connected with the actuation of same, consisting of an adjustable
device actuated by a clockwork motor, and a gas tap or valve actuating mechanism
(also operated by clockwork) actuated by said adjustable device at such times as it
may be desired that the light is required to be extinguished or lowered and lighted,
or turned up, and whereby such turning on or off or up or down of the gas may by
the adjustment of said adjustable device be caused to take place at different times
of the day, at the different parts of the year, or as required.
4. An automatically operated gas lamp having its parts arranged and adapted to
operate as set forth with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.
5. The combination in an automatically operated street or other gas lamp, of a
main gas pipe and burner, a pilot burner and gas supply, and a tube or chamber in
which said pilot flame is disposed and burns, arranged and controlled as or sub-
stantially as herein described.
Dated this 01. 1...
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.