Improvements in or relating to Electric Gas Lighting Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Gas Lighting Apparatus.
A communication by MILTON ULMER, of 1, Gleisbühlstrasse, Nuremberg, in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
The electric gas lighting apparatus hitherto employed have the drawback of
being too inconvenient in their manipulation, consequently they have come very
little into use. The reason for this is mainly in the fact that, in order to ignite the
gas, two conducting wires are necessary, and consequently it is necessary to close
the circuit twice.
The gas cocks must first be opened, and then the electric spark produced, before
the lighting of the gas can take place.
The invention which forms the object of this application removes entirely the
above named drawbacks.
In one form of apparatus, the current passes through an insulated clamp or
terminal, and has its return through the gas pipe. On closing the circuit, a magnet,
which we will call magnet No. 1, attracts its armature, and this latter, by actuating
a pawl, moves a suitable toothed wheel one tooth onward, and thereby turns a
suitable shaped and bored gas cock which is connected with the wheel. The gas
can then flow through it. During its attraction, the armature has also simul-
taneously pushed upwards a pin, which has at its upper end an insulated piece.
This pin operates the switching device. By means of this latter, the circuit to
magnet No. 1 is broken and the magnet loses its current, and simultaneously the
circuit of two other magnets, No. 2 and No. 3, is closed. Magnet No. 3 is wound
with very fine wire, so that it takes very little current. When it is energised, it
attracts a small armature attached to a sheet spring and carrying a pin which keeps
the armature hereinbefore mentioned of magnet No. 1 in its elevated position.
Magnet No. 2 performs the operation of igniting the gas. The armature of this
magnet No. 2, when the circuit is closed, is moved upwards by means of the
switching device herein before mentioned, thereby pushing a pin (which is held in
a brass carrier) away from a platinum contact held in a suitable bracket fixed to
and insulated from the burner, thus producing, between these points, a spark. The
current to magnet No. 2 is simultaneously cut off and the armature of this
magnet falls, and the piu returns by means of a spring to its position of contact
with the platinum contact herein before described. Thereupon the circuit is again
closed, the armature moves again upwards, the pin rises, and again a spark results
at the points of contact.
This process is repeated in rapid succession as long as the pressure knob, which
provides the whole apparatus with current, remains closed (depressed), so that a
constant stream of powerful sparks results at the points of contact, and the gas is
ignited. When the gas is lit, the circuit is broken by releasing the pressure
Knob, and all current is cut off from the apparatus. The pin hereinbefore
mentioned then returns into contact with the small contact piece attached to the
burner and the armature drops down, magnet No. 3 releases its armature, which;
under the action of its spring, returns to its normal position, and 'thús also releases

page_text: the armature of magnet No. 1. This latter drops down, and the pawl falls downward
over the next tooth. The extinction of the flame is effected by pressing on the
same pressure knob. The armature of magnet No. 1 and its pawl again rise and
cause the ratchet wheel to move round another tooth, at the same time turning the
cock and shutting off the gas. The same action of the magnets is then repeated as
previously described.
If the apparatus is to be employed for large circular gas burners, or Auer's
incandescent gas lights, the insulated contact points in the ordinary slit burner are
arranged in proximity to the exit of the gas, the long pin carrying one of the
contacts is suitably extended, and, in place of the slit burner, a thread is employed,
on which a particular kind of burner is screwed.
The supply of current may be obtained from any suitable house battery, which
may be in connection with an induction coil, without movable parts.
There may be other forms of construction in which the operation takes place
by hand.
In one arrangement, a three armed bracket is firmly connected with the gas cock,
and the opening of the cock takes place by pulling one of the arms.
The ignition
takes place by an igniting spring, which may be suitably made of German silver
and arranged on another of the arms. When the tap is opened, this spring rests
against an insulated platinum contact, which is attached by means of a ring or
clamp to the case of the burner, and by this means the closing of the circuit is
brought about. The spring is so arranged that it leaves this insulated contact the
moment the cock is quite opened, so that a spark is produced, which produces the
lighting of the gas. In order to close the cock, it is sufficient to give the third
lever arm a pull. The extent of the opening or closing is limited by means of
stops.
The cock is constructed, and bored, in the ordinary manner for gas cocks.
The return of the current to the battery takes place through the gas pipe, the
supply through an insulated wire.
In another arrangement, the opening, igniting and closing take place by turning
the gas cock of ordinary construction. A lever, which carries the igniting spring,
is connected with this cock. The ignition takes place in the same way as in the first
arrangement.
The operation may be still further simplified by having a movable arm provided
with an igniting spring, arranged between the electrical igniter and the gas cock,
and pivoted on a clamp on the burner. The ignition takes place in the usual way
only with this difference, that the arm must be moved independently of the gas
cock. The return of the current is through the gas pipe, the supply being through
an insulated wire, which is connected with the insulated contact, in close proximity
to the flame.
The supply of current may be obtained from any ordinary house battery,
strengthened by an induction coil, without movable parts.
Dated this 21st day of February 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electric Gas Lighting Apparatus.
A communication by MILTON ULMER, of 1, Gleisbühlstrasse, Nuremberg, in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The electric gas lighting apparatus hitherto employed have the drawback of
being too inconvenient in their manipulation, consequently they have come very
little into use.
The reason for this is mainly in the fact that, in order to ignite
the gas, two conducting wires are necessary, and consequently it is necessary to
close the circuit twice.
The gas cocks must first be opened, and then the electric spark produced, before
the lighting of the gas can take place.
The invention which forms the object of this application and which is illustrated
by the accompanying drawings, removes entirely the above named drawbacks.
In the form of apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3, the current passes through an
insulated clamp or terminal a, and has its return through the gas pipe. On closing
the circuit, a magnet A attracts its armature band. this latter, by actuating a
pawl c, moves a suitable toothed wheel d one tooth onward, and thereby turns a
suitable shaped and bored gas cock which is connected with the wheel. The gas
can then flow through it. During its attraction, the armature has also simulta-
neously pushed upwards a pine which has at its upper end an insulated piece of
sufficient width to prevent it falling through. This pin operates the switching
device f. By means of this latter, the circuit to magnet A is broken and the
magnet loses its current, and simultaneously the circuit of two other magnets B
and G is closed. Magnet G is wound with very fine wire, so that it takes very.
little current. When it is energised, it attracts a small armature 9 attached to
a sheet spring and carrying a pin h which keeps the armature b of magnet A in
its elevated position. Magnet B performs the operation of igniting the gas.
armature of this magnet B when the circuit is closed, by means of the switching
device hereinbefore mentioned, is moved upwards thereby pushing a pink (which
is held in a brass carrier) away from a platinum contact n held in a suitable
bracket fixed to and insulated from the burner, thus producing, between the
points m and n a spark. The current to magnet B is simultaneously cut off and the
armature of this magnet falls, and the pin returns by means of a spring o to its
position of contact with the platinum contact » hereinbefore described. Thereupon
the circuit is again closed, the armature moves again upwards, the pin rises, and
again a spark results at the points of contact.
The
This process is repeated in rapid succession as long as the pressure knob, which
provides the whole apparatus with current, remains depressed, so that a constant
stream of powerful sparks results at the point of contact n and the gas is ignited.
When the gas is lit, the circuit is broken by releasing the pressure knob, and all
current is cut off from the apparatus. The pin hereinbefore mentioned then
returns into contact with the small contact piece attached to the burner and the
armature drops down, magnet G releases its armature, which, under the action
of its spring, returns to its normal position, and thus also releases the armature b.
This latter drops down, and the pawl c falls downward over the next tooth.
The extinction of the flame is effected by pressing on the same pressure knob.
The armature and its pawl c again rise and cause the ratchet wheel to move round
another tooth, at the same time turning the cock and shutting off the gas. The
same action of the magnets is then repeated as previously described.
If the apparatus is to be employed for large circular gas burners, or Auer's
incandescent gas lights, the insulated contact points in the ordinary slit burner
such as shown on the drawings, are arranged at n in proximity to the exit of the
gas, the pink carrying one of the contacts is suitably extended, and, in place of
the slit burner, a thread is employed, on which a particular kind of burner is
screwed.
The supply of current may be obtained from any suitable house battery, which
may be in connection with an induction coil, without movable parts.
The device hereinbefore described may be simplified by omitting the third magnet.

page_text: '
The rest of the arrangement remains the same except that magnet A, Figures 7.
and 8, is wrapped with a double coil, a thin and a thick one.
The working of the apparatus is as follows-
On the circuit being closed with the object of opening the gas cock, the switching
device frests on the contact f¹. The thick coil of the magnet is in communication
with the contact and the thin coil with the stop f2, and. thus current is sent.
simultaneously through both coils so that the armature b is strongly attracted.
This latter operates by means of its pawl and ratchet wheel. the gas cock in the
same manner as herein before described. The armature 6 on rising forces by means
of the pin e the switching device f away from the contact f¹ and thus breaks the
circuit to the thick coil of the magnet. A and closes the circuit to the magnet B
by the switching device coming in contact with the contact f³; the magnet B
then lights the gas in the manner hereinbefore described... The thin-coil of the
magnet A remains constantly in circuit and retains the raised armature b in an
elevated position so that the circuit to magnet B continues to remain closed until
the gas has been lighted.
If the circuit be broken to the circuit closing device which supplies the whole
apparatus with current, the armature again drops and the switching device f
again comes into the contact fi
On the circuit again being closed with the object of extinguishing the gas, the
ratchet wheel is again moved one tooth forward by the armature by which means
the gas is shut off as in the apparatus previously described. The apparatus has in
addition to greater simplicity all the advantages of the one first described, it being
constructed on the same principles.
The arrangement of the apparatus shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of Sheet III
is in its main points the same as those hereinbefore described but it is simplified by
the switching device being omitted. The two magnets remain dependent one on
the other, and the mode of working the apparatus and the course of the current
are as follows-
The current enters the apparatus through the insulated clamp or terminal a, and
is there divided into two parts. One flows through the magnet A causing it to
attract its armature b, whereby the pawl c is caused to engage in the pin wheel di
turning it about 45°, and the cock e, which is connected with this wheel, is turned
sufficiently to allow the gas to flow to the burner. The electric current returns
from the coil of magnet A to the battery through the gas pipe, and the armature b
remains in an elevated position as long as the button which supplies the whole
apparatus with current, remains depressed.
The second portion of the current flows from the terminal a to the coils of the
magnet B, which coils are made of somewhat thinner wire. This magnet has for
its object merely to effect the lighting of the gas, which is done in a manner
entirely similar to that herein before described. The current flows from the
magnet coil to an insulated clamp and from here to the contact pieces m and .n
and returns to the battery through the gas pipe. The armature of the magnet is
thereby. attracted and pushes the contact m attached to the pin k away from the
contact n, so that an electric spark is formed at this point, but the circuit is also
simultaneously broken. The armature thereby again descends and the pin k
returns to its position of contact with the piece n after which the contact i is
again attracted and sparking takes place between the points m and n.
.
These sparks are formed in rapid succession so that there is a strong stream of
sparks between the points. m and n which lights the escaping gas. The magnet B
acts also as long as the button which supplies the whole apparatus with current
remains depressed. When the gas has been lighted, the circuit is broken at the
press button and the armatures 6 and i drop away from their magnets, and the pawl
of the armature b slips over the next tooth of the ratchet wheel. If the gas is to
be again shut off, the circuit is closed by means of the same press button. The two
magnets act in the same way as they do for lighting the gas, the armature b.in
rising. pushes forward, by means of the pawl.c, the ratchet wheel d and therefore

page_text: also the tap of the cock e about 45° further and thus shuts off the gas, after which
the circuit is broken by the press button being released. In this as in the preceding
case, the supply of current may be obtained from any ordinary house battery the
action of which may be strengthened by an induction coil, as shown in Figure 11,
and the current may be supplied through a single wire, the return taking place
through the gas pipe.
.
Other forms of construction in which the operation takes place by hand are
shown in Figures 4 to 6.
In the first arrangement shown in Figure 4 a three armed bracket a' is firmly
connected with the gas cock, and the opening of the cock takes place by pulling the
arm b'. The ignition takes place by an igniting spring g' which may be suitably
made of German silver and arranged on another of the arms c'. When the tap is
opened, this spring rests against an insulated platinum contact e' which is attached
by means of a ring or clamp e to the case of the burner, and by this means the
closing of the circuit is brought about. The spring is so arranged that it leaves
this insulated contact the moment the cock is quite opened, so that a spark is
produced, which produces the lighting of the gas. In order to close the cock, it is
sufficient to give the third lever arm d' a pull. The extent of the opening or
closing is limited by means of stops ƒ¹ƒ³.
The cock is constructed, and bored, in the ordinary manner for gas cocks.
The return of the current to the battery takes place through the gas pipe, the
supply through an insulated wire.
In another arrangement, shown in Figure 5, the opening, igniting and closing
take place by turning the tap A¹ of the gas cock of ordinary construction.
A lever 6' which carries the igniting spring g² is connected with this cock. The
ignition takes place in the same way as in the first arrangement.
In the third form of construction shown in Figure 6, the operation may be still
further simplified by having a movable arm 6' provided with an igniting spring gl
arranged between the electrical igniter and the gas cock and pivoted on a clamp h¹
on the burner. The ignition takes place in the usual way only with this difference,.
that the arm must be moved independently of the gas cock. The return of the
current is through the gas pipe, the supply being through an insulated wire,
which is connected with the insulated contacte in close proximity to the flame.
The supply of current may be obtained from any ordinary house battery,
strengthened by an induction coil, without movable parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion 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 improvements in electric gas lighting apparatus consisting in the lighting
taking place by means of a single supply wire by the raising on the lifting of an
armature b of a switching device f, by a pin e causing on the one hand a magnet G
to attract an armature g and simultaneously to hold fast the armature 6 of a
magnet A by means of a pin h attached to the armature g and on the other hand a
magnet B to be switched on and an armature to be attracted, whereby the
lighting of the gas, or a constant sparking produced substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. In gas lighting apparatus, the extinguishing of the light in the same way as
the lighting by an armature 6 moving a ratchet wheel d one tooth forward by
means of a pawl c, and thereby closing the cock H substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. In a gas lighting apparatus, a brass body a with three lever arms such as
shown in Figure 4, having on the middle lever c¹ a spiral lighting spring 9'
which encounters a contact e¹ on the cock being opened by pulling
a lever b¹
which spring on quitting the contact produces the igniting spark, the extinguishing
of the flame being finally produced by pulling a lever d' substantially as described
and illustrated.

page_text: 4. In a gas lighting apparatus, the arrangement shown in Figure 5 in which a
lever carrying a lighting spring g' is firmly connected with the tap of the gas
cock, and the lighting or extinguishing of the gas takes place by turning the tap A¹
in the usual manner substantially as described and illustrated.
+
5. In a gas. lighting apparatus, the arrangement shown in Figure 6, in which a
lever 6 which carries an igniting spring g' is attached to the burner by means of a
clamp and the lighting is effected by a lever 6 passing over a contact, el
substantially as described and illustrated.
1,
6. In a gas lighting apparatus, the arrangement shown in Figure 7 by which two
independent magnets are brought into action by means of a single supply wire, in
such a way that on the lifting of an armature b, a switching device f is moved by a
pin e, whereupon a magnet G attracts an armature g and simultaneously holds fast
the armature b of a magnet A, whilst a magnet B is switched on and attracts an
armature causing a continuous sparking which lights the gas substantially as
described and illustrated.
1.71575
I
7. In a gas lighting apparatus, the lighting of the gas in the manner described
in Claim I with the modification that the magnet A has a double coil of thick and
thin wire, the thin wire coil serving to hold fast the armature after it has been
attracted, as the thick wire coil is switched off by the switching device f so that the
magnet B is exposed to almost the entire strength of the battery substantially as
:described and illustrated.
8. In a gas lighting apparatus, the arrangement shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11; in
which two interdependent and simultaneously acting electromagnets A and B come
into action, one of which operates by means of its armature 6 and pawl c the
opening and closing of the gas cock by turning the tap, whilst the other effects
the lighting of the gas so that the supply of current to the apparatus takes place
by means of a single wire substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 17th day of October 1894.