Year: 1885

page_text: improv TE PRO
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
David Rousseau residing at Mott Haven, New York, United States of America)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained-in and by the following statement :-
This invention applies to that class of burners in which the movement of a lever
pivoted on the burners operates the gas valve to turn on the gas and simultaneously
actuates the electrodes to produce the igniting spark. In most all burners of this
type the valve is a rotary friction plug of the common form and is revolved by a
ratchet movement of the lever. In this present invention the burner is provided
with a minute double seating poppet valve which works without packing or friction
in a direction across the gas passage of the burner and the usual ratchet and cam
wheel between the valve lever and the pawl lever or sparking lever is dispensed
with entirely and a direct engagement is formed between the valve lever and the
sparking lever so that the forward movement of the lever opens the valve and
produces the igniting spark whereas the back movement of the lever positively
closes the valve.
A large frame or pawl lever is also pivotted on the sparking lever and limits its
movement on the sparking lever by a stop, and connect the pendent manipulating
pull to one arm of this pawl lever, while the arm of the pawl lever is arranged to
engage a locking projection on the burner in the arc of motion of the lever, and to
this end of the pawl is attached a second pull cord.
When therefore the first cord is pulled the pawl and sparking levers move around
together and thus open the valve and separate the sparking points until finally
the tip of the pawl rides over the projection and thus locks the parts in the open
position.
When however the second cord is pulled the pawl is released and both pawl and
electrode lever are caused to fly back by the action of a spring so as to close the
valve and extinguish the gas.

page_text: One of the said cords pass through a perforated knob or loop sliding on the other
cord so that both cords can be held in the same hand and either operated easily to
close or open the valve without causing either cord to fly out of place when the
lever is allowed to spring back to close the valve. The present invention therefore
consists mainly in the features above outlined, as hereinafter fully set forth.
In the drawings annexed Figure 1 presents a front elevation of this improved
burner with the valve closed and the parts in their positions of repose. Figure 2
is a similar view with the pawl and sparking lever pulled over into their locked
position with the valve open. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the burner with the
parts in the position of Figure 1 and viewed from the right or valve side of the
burner. Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the burner with the parts in the closed
position of Figure 1 and shown partly in section to illustrate the action of the
valve &c. Figure 5 is a similar section to Figure 4 with the parts in the open
position of Figure 2.
Referring to the figures a indicates the body of the burner which is preferably
cast in brass, as usual, having a gas passage extending through it with a screw
socket at the base to screw on to the fixture and a ground socket at the top to
receive the lava or other jet tip as usual. The gas passage b does not extend
straight through the burner but is somewhat eccentric and zig-zag as shown well
in Figure 4 and at the band or zig-zag part of the passage is formed a small recess
or valve chamber c. in which a small double faced poppet valve d works as shown
best in Figures 4 and 5. The stem d¹ of this valve projects freely through a small
screw plug e which is screwed into a threaded bore in the side of the burner
coincident with the valve chamber c. On the base of the valve chamber is formed
a conical ground seat to meet with one face of the valve while the inner end of the
plug e is formed with a similar seat to meet with the other face of the valve. The
extremity of the valve stem d¹ projects of course from the head of the plug e for
operation as shown, and it will now be readily seen that when the valve is forced
inward it will seat on the seat of the valve chamber as shown in Figure 4 and
hence shut off the flow of gas to the tip whereas when the valve is moved outward
it will seat on the seat of the plug c and prevent the escape or leakage of gas
around the unpacked stein d¹ while allowing the gas to flow freely to the jet tip as
shown in Figure 5. Hence this form and arrangement of valve, while being
very simple, works without packing and hence practically without friction so that
it is therefore operated with ease and certainty and is hence admirably adapted for
burners of this class.
This form of valve is not claimed in itself to be new, but it has never been
embodied in a gas burner in combination with sparking electrodes and a pendent
pull devices to operate the same as in this invention, whereby but slight strains are
required to be exercised on the chandelier by such downward pulls owing to the
free motion of the valve. On the other hand rotary frictional plug valves operated
by a pendant pull would subject the chandelier to great strains, which is very
objectionable and likely to cause injury in the case of fine metallic fixtures, and
particularly so in glass fixtures but this serious objection is entirely prevented by
the novel combination of parts which I have shown.
Now referring to Figures 1 and 2 indicates the main operating lever of the
burner, which may also be termed the sparking or electrode lever as the long
arm of the lever forms the moveable electrode which makes and breaks contact
with the yielding electrode g to produce the igniting spark in the well known
manner of burners of this class, which is sufficiently illustrated in the drawing
and needs no description here other than to state that the special arrangement of
electrodes here shown is the same as that patented in the United States N° 235024
of November 30th 1880. The electrode lever f is as shown best in Figure 1 an
elbow lever pivotted at the hub or bend on a stud or screw h which screws into
a boss i on the side of the burner, as shewn best in Figures 1 and 3. In the lower
edge of the hub of the lever is cut a wide notch ; which is coincident with a tooth
or projection k. which projects from the burner, and the ends of this notch will

page_text: Burike against erger side of the projection, when the lever is moved in
direction and thus form stops to limit said motions.
Now around the boss i behind the lever f is coiled a spiral spring 2, one end of
which engages with the projection k while the other end engages the arm 1 of the
lever as shown best in Figures 1. 2 and 3, so as to exert a constant tension to-
swing the lever in the position shown in Figures 1. 3 and 4 with one end of the
notch against the tooth k. Now the lever f is also formed with a short arm fll
at about right angles to the arm f¹ and on the end of this short arm is pivoted
a large pawl or pawl lever m, one arm of which projects outward in line with
the arm while the other arm is curved around the limb of the main lever f and
is terminated with a pawl tip m¹ which normally lies against the projection k..
The pawl lever has only a limited play on the lever f¹ and to and from the pro-
jection k, sufficient to engage and disengage with the projection by reason of a
stop-pin n on the lever which strikes against a shoulder n¹ on the arm fl
Now the gas valve d. is operatively connected with the aforesaid levers by
means of the forked valve lever o. p. which is pivoted on the pin p¹ between
ears o¹ at the base of the burner, and one or both of the arms o. p. of the valve
lever are springy or yielding. The arm o of the valve lever is cleft at the tip and
engages the grooved head or tip of the valve stem, as well shown in Figures 1. 3
and 4 while the other arm p is bent outwards and engages with an eccentric slot r
cut in the hub of the lever f as well shown in Figures 1. 2 and 3. It will hence
be observed that when the levers lie in their position of repose, as in Figures 1. 2
and 4 the tip of the valve lever will be at the inner end of the eccentric slot and
the valve will be closed (see Figures 1 and 4) but if the lever ƒ be swung around
as in Figure 2. the tip of the valve lever will traverse the slot r. toward the
outer end thereof, and the valve will be opened as indicated in Figures 2 and 5,
whereas if the lever f be again released it will fly back into the position of repose
and positively close the valve, as seen in Figures 1 and 2.
Now the throw of the slot 7 and the tension of the spring arms o. p. of the
valve lever are such that a movement is imparted to the lever a little greater than
the throw of the valve so that the overplus of motion slightly flexes the spring
arms and thus keeps a constant elastic pressure on the valve to hold it snugly to
its seat when moved either in or out as will be readily comprehended.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a pendent manipulating
cord or chains depends from the tip of the pawl lever m and connects to a
perforated boss or knob 8', while a second cord or chain t. depends from the upper
arm of the pawl lever passes through the boss or knob 8¹ and connects to a
manipulating knob or ball t¹.
The entire construction being now delineated the operation will be readily
understood. When therefore the burner is in a condition of repose with the gas
turned off the parts will be in the position shown in Figures 1. 3. and 4. If it is
now desired to turn on and light the gas it will only be necessary to seize the
knob t and pull down the cord t.
This will exert a downward strain on the pawl lever m. which will press the
pawl nose against the projection k. and move both the pawl lever and the electrode
lever f. around in a curve, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. which movement
will open the valve in the manner before described and turn on the gas and at the
same time cause the arm f to first engage the electrode g as shown by dotted lines
in Figure 2, and then break contact therewith as shown by full lines and thus
produce an igniting spark to light the issuing gas, while finally the catching
shoulder of the pawl will ride over the projection k and fall into engagement
therewith, as shown by full lines in Figures 2 and 5 thus holding the parts locked
in said position with the valve open and the gas lighted, as will be readily
understood.
When it is desired to extinguish the gas it is only necessary to seize the knob 8¹
and pull down the cord 8. which will slip the pawl m¹ from the projection and thus

page_text: allow the levers to fly back into their positions of repose by the action of the
spring, as shown in Figure 1; which will of course close the valve, as seen in
Figure 4 and extinguish the gas.
It will now be seen that by having the main cord pass through a loop on the
releasing cord 8. that the main cord is prevented from flying up high out of place,
when the levers spring back as it is restrained by passing through the loop 8 and
through the fingers which seize the loop, for it will be seen that if the cord was left
free it might be liable to be jerked up violently against the glass globes on the
fixture and injure the same; but this is prevented by the simple means described.
It will be also seen that the general mechanism of this burner is simple and
positive, and that one forward motion of the lever spans the valve and lights the
gas, and one backward movement closes the valve and extinguishes the gas, and by
reason of the special form of valve used and the direct operative connection
between it and the sparking lever these movements are rendered very easy and the
action of the burner very reliable.
It will be readily understood that in lieu of having the valve lever engage with
the sparking lever by means of the cam groove or eccentric groover any equivalent
connection may be used, for instance a toggle link or connecting rod jointed to the
valve lever and connecting to a crank pin on the sparking lever, but the connection
shown is considered but as it involves less parts.
The invention is not of course confined to the cords ts for operating the pawl
lever, as these cords may be entirely dispensed with and the pawl lever m operated
directly by the hand or by any other suitable connection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent I'declare that what I claim is
1. The combination with a gas burner and sparking electrodes thereon of the
double faced poppet valve d arranged to connect one face with a seat when forced
inward and thus shut off the gas and to contact the opposite face with a seat
around the stem when forced outward and thus prevent leakage around the stem
together with a manipulating device or lever operatively connected with said
sparking electrode and said valve and a pendant pull for operating said parts by
downward strokes of the hand whereby said valve works without packing or
friction and therefore subjects the chandelier or fixture to slight downward strains
through the actions of the pendant pull substantially as herein set forth.
2. The combination in a gas burner with a gas passage extending through the
body thereof and a valve chamber and seat there in with the double faced poppet
valve d and perforated plug e through which the valve stem passes arranged and
operating substantially as herein shown and described.
.
3. The combination with a gas burner of a reciprocating poppet valve moving in
a chamber in the body of the burner and controlling the gas passage thereof with a
sparking lever mounted on the burner a manipulating device for operating said
lever and a direct positive operative connection between said lever and said
reciprocating valve arranged and operating substantially as herein set forth.
4. The combination with a gas burner of a reciprocating poppet valve moving
therein and controlling the gas passage thereof with the operating lever f pivoted
on the burner and provided with the cam groover and with a second lever
connected with the stem of said valve and engaged with the said groove in the
lever and with means substantially as set forth for moving said lever f back or
forth and holding it in either of its positions substantially as herein shown and
Jescribed.
5. The combination with a gas burner, of a lever f pivoted on the burner and a
valve controlling the flow of gas through the burner, with a positive operative
connection between said valve and lever, with the pawl lever m pivoted on the
lever having one arm projecting outward and the opposite arm projecting

page_text: inwardly and arranged to engage a stop or projection k, with a manipulating cord
or its equivalent extending from the respective arms of the said pawl lever,
substantially as herein shown and described."
6. The combination with a gas burner and a valve therein for controlling the
flow of gas, with a lever mounted on the burner and operatively connected with
the valve, a spring tending constantly to move the lever back and close the valve,
with a pawl lever pivoted on the aforesaid lever and adapted to engage a stop
when the lever is moved over to hold the valve open, with a manipulating cord
arranged to pull the said lever or levers over into the position to open the valve,
and a second cord arranged to release the pawl and allow the levers to fly back to
close the valve, one of said cords passing through a loop on the other cord,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with a gas burner with a valve to control the flow of gas, of
the sparking lever f operatively connected with said valve and having a retiring
spring, with the pawl lever m m¹ pivoted to said sparking lever, and having a
limited play thereon, and the locking projection k with which said pawl engages,
arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.