Improved Device for Lighting Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
Improved Device for Lighting Gas.
We, COLEMAN TUTTLE LYND, of 2644, Howard Street, San Francisco, California,
United States of America, Gentleman, and MRS. BELLE MAY MILLER, Matron, of same
place, 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, that is to say: -
Our invention relates to an improved device for lighting gas in that class of
burners in which the gas tip is enclosed within a chimney, shield or mantle, so
that a match or taper cannot be applied directly to the gas tip, and it is particularly
applicable for lighting the well known Welsbach burner, in which the gas tip is
surrounded by a mantle that becomes incandescent from the heat of the burning
gas inside of it. In this latter class of burners the gas is usually ignited by
applying a lighted taper to the top of the chimney after the gas has been turned
on, so that the gas which has escaped through the mantle into the chimney is
ignited, and the flame being carried downward through the mantle to the gas at
the gas tip, the lighting is thereby accomplished. In this case the combination
of air and gas within the chimney forms an explosive mixture so that a slight
explosion accompanies the lighting, which has a tendency to injure the delicate
structure of the mantle.
Our invention consists of a diaphragm placed inside of and across the gas tip
just below the burner, through which diaphragm are two or more small perfora-
tions. A lighting tube has its lower end connected with this diaphragm so that the
passage through it can be brought in line with one of the perforations and thereby
supply gas to the lighting tube at the same time that the unconnected perforations
supply gas to the main burner, thereby permitting the gas at the gas tip to be
lighted through the medium of the lighting tube, after which a slight shifting
of the lighting tube disconnects it from, the perforations in the diaphragm, thus
cutting off the gas from the lighting tube and permitting the gas which flowed
into it through the perforations to pass up into and through the gas pipe to the
main burner.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1, is a vertical section showing our invention applied to a Welsbach
burner;
Fig. 2, is an enlarged part of the gas pipe in perspective, showing the diaphragm
with its tube and valve connection;
Fig. 3, is a vertical section of the same.
Let A, represent the gas pipe, through which the gas is led from the gas main
to the burner B is the gas tip, which is enclosed with the mantle C, and chimney D.
E, is the burner cage, upon which the chimney and mantle is supported. F, is
the air supply case, which surrounds the gas pipe just below the cage, E. The
gas pipe has openings, i, through it inside this case, and the case has a guage or
perforated bottom, through which air enters and is drawn into the gas pipe to
mix with the gas going to the burner in order to make a heating flame.
In the gas pipe A, just below the openings i, i, we introduce a diaphragm k,

page_text: which extends entirely across the pipe and plugs the passage. Through this
diaphragm we make two or more small holes or perforations o, through which
the gas will pass on its way through the tube to the burner tip. Upon the upper
face of this diaphragm we mount the gas lighting tube m, by means of a swivel
arm or valve n. This swivel arm or valve has one end pivoted to the upper face
of the diaphragm near the side opposite the perforation, while the lower end of a
lighting tube is secured to its opposite or free end, so that when the arm is swung
across the face of the diaphragm the lower end of the lighting tube can either
be brought directly over one of the openings o, in the diaphragm or thrown off,
as desired. The lighting tube is the ordinary small tube with perforations at
intervals in its length to carry the flame of the burning gas towards its tip, and it
is bent so as to pass out through one of the side openings, i, of the gas tube A, and
thence up to the burner tip within the cage and mantle so that its upper end
terminates at a point near the tip where the flame carried upward by it will ignite
the gas at the burner tip.
In passing upward towards the burner tip, after it passes out of the gas tube A,
the lighting tube m passes through an opening in the upper portion of the air
case 1', and then passes through an opening in the burner cage E, so that a portion
of its length is exposed, and at this exposed point the match or taper can be
applied to light the gas.
The air case F, fits loosely around the gas tube, so that it can be turned upon
it as far as the lighting tube, which passes through the opening in its top will
permit, so that by turning this case, in one direction, the lighting tube is brought
into line with the perforation in the diaphragm, and by turning it in an opposite
direction the tube is thrown to one side, and its lower end thrown out of line with
the perforation, and the flow of gas into the lighting tube cut off. This can be
accomplished by hand, or by means of a gas lighter.
In lighting the gas at the burner tip the air case is first turned so as to bring
the lower end of the lighting tube in line with one of the perforations in the
diaphragm as shown in Fig. 3. The ordinary gas cock which admits the gas to
the burner is then turned on full head. The gas thus admitted into the gas
tube A, will be divided, one portion passing through the perforation in the
diaphragm into the lighting tube, and the other portion which passes through
the other perforations in the diaphragm, going up the gas tube to the burner tip.
A lighted taper or match is then presented to the lower perforation in the lighting
tube, and the gas which issues therefrom is ignited. This flame is then carried
upward from the perforation to the successive perforations in the tube until it
reaches the top of the tube, where it ignites the gas that issues from the burner
tip. The air case is then turned so as to cut off the gas from the lighting tube,
and this extinguishes the line of flame that reaches to the burner tip, and the
gas which was cut off from the lighting tube then passes up through the tube A,
to the burner tip along with the gas that passes through the other perforations in
the diaphragm. By this means the gas inside the mantle or shield is lighted
without explosion.
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:-
1. A gas lighting device consisting of a diaphragm placed across the interior
of the gas pipe at some point between the ordinary gas cock and burner, said
diaphragm having two or more perforations through it, in combination with a
perforated lighting tube having its lower end adapted to be placed in connection
with one of said perforations and to be disconnected therefrom after the gas is
lighted substantially as described.
2. A gas lighting device consisting of a diaphragm placed across the interior
of the gas pipe, at some point between the ordinary gas cock and the burner, hav-
ing two or more perforations through it, a swivel arm pivoted to the diaphragm

page_text: and adapted to have its free end swing over one of said perforations and a perforated
lighting tube connected at its lower end with. the free end of the swivel arm and
adapted to pass through an opening in the gas tube and thence to the burner tip,
substantially as described.
3. A lighting device for gas burners consisting of a diaphragm having two or
more passages through it, placed across the interior of the gas pipe, and a lighting
tube connected therewith, so that it can be moved to register with one of the gas
passages, or be moved to one side to disconnect it from the gas passage, substan-
tially as described.
Uated this 30th day of October 1807
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicants' Patent Agents.