Improvements in Apparatus for Igniting Gas-jets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Igniting Gas-jets.
I, ADOLF BACHNER, of 76 Blumenstrasse, Berlin O, Germany, Director,
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 relates to an apparatus which may be employed in various forms
for igniting gas jets. Important features of this apparatus are that it is arranged
outside of the jet and that it regulates in the most simple manner, and without the
aid of complicated mechanism, the supply and the shutting off of the gas to and from
the burner and the igniting-device proper.
In consequence of the absence of these qualities in constructions heretofore used,
the various igniting-devices were greatly exposed to wear, which naturally entailed
faulty operation; moreover, with those apparatus which have been proposed for use
with incandescent gas-light, the mantle very soon became damaged, because the gas
was ignited from the top.
The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which represents
various arrangements according thereto.
Fig. 1 shows in sectional elevation an arrangement which is automatically and
mechanically operated.
Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement ignited directly by hand; and
Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2° show the tap used therein, as seen from three sides.
Fig. 3 is a section showing a third arrangement, in which the igniting-device is
operated by electrical means;
Fig. 3 is a view, taken at right angles to Fig. 3, of the platinum-wire carrier;
and
Fig. 3B is an elevation showing the contact apparatus as seen from the right-hand
side of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 shows a fourth arrangement, in which ignition is effected by hand, but by
electrical means;
and
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the contact apparatus taken at right angles to Fig. 4.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, gas enters at c into a casing a, which is
closed by the bottom b, whence the gas supply branches off in two directions,
towards d and e. Above e there is arranged an expansible bladder f, which is con-
nected by means of a cap p with a lever q, which is mounted directly upon the
tap-plug g.
From this tap there leads a pipe k, which has two branches, one of which,
namely k*, communicates through a small pipe m, with the igniting-device and an
igniting-pill n which is fixed on a platinum wire o.
The pill and the wire are contained in an igniting casing or sleeve z, whereby a
shifting of the relative positions of o and n is rendered impossible, which is of great
importance for the operation of the whole apparatus.
From the pipe k there also leads the igniting-tube proper l, which is provided
with a series of perforations ¹ and extends somewhat beyond the burner-cap. From
the tap g there also extends a tubular piece h which opens into a screw-threaded
part i, upon which the burner is simply screwed.

page_text: In Fig. 2 are to be found almost all the parts found in Fig. 1, but in this case the
tap is operated by hand and not through the medium of a bladder.
In this case also the gas enters through the pipe c which divides into two pipes or
passages d and e.
The pipe e again carries the igniting-tube / with the apertures (1,
together with the igniting-device proper consisting of the pill n, the wire o, and the
igniting-sleeve z. The regulation of the gas admission is effected in this case by
means of a tap 6, the construction of which is clearly shown in Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2°.
The tap is formed with a through passage k, and at its end corresponding to the
passage e with a groove c¹, which does not extend quite around it.
Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangement which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except
that in this case the ignition is effected by electrical and not by chemical means.
On the bottom 6 there is situated an insulating plate x, which carries two contact
pieces s and r. The contact-piece s is formed with a shoulder s¹, which, when the
two contact-pieces come together, actually closes the circuit. The contact-piece ris
provided with a projection w, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. In
this case the igniting-device consists merely of the platinum wire o which is held by
two holders v and v', which are mounted upon an insulating plate y.
Fig. 4 finally shows an arrangement in which the tap 6' carries a rubbing contact-
piece. The casing of the tap is also provided with a disc 82 which carries a
rubbing contact-piece 8¹. In this case also the igniting-pill is omitted.
The mode of operation of the four arrangements is as follows:-
It is assumed, as regards the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, that the main tap is
open. The gas enters at c, then divides, and flows to d and e, expands the bladder f,
raises the lever q, and operates the tap g, which in its original position already
allowed the gas to pass through from 6 to k, so that it reached m and land caused
the pill and the wire o to become incandescent. The gas contained in the tube is
ignited at the igniting-holes and in consequence a pointed flame is produced at the
top of the igniting-tube. Meanwhile, the bladder f having continued to rise, has
raised the lever q still further and has allowed the gas to pass through h to i-that
is to say,
to the burner proper--whilst at the same time, the supply to the pipe k has
been shut off. The pointed flame at now ignites from below the gas that is
escaping at the top of the burner, and immediately after doing this it is extinguished,
because in the meantime the supply of gas to k has ceased. So long as the jet burns,
the bladder f is expanded and keeps the lever q in its raised position-that is to say,
it keeps the tap in the desired fully open position. When the main tap is turned to
close it, of course the jet becomes smaller and when the last remainder of the gas
coming from the bladder f has been burned, the flame is entirely extinguished.
The procedure with the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is similar to that above
described. If, in this arrangement, the tap 61 is slightly opened, then a position is
first produced with which the gas does not pass to the burner, but passes through
the groove c¹ to the passage e and to k and l. The pill and the wire o now become
incandescent and ignite the gas in the igniting-tube l. In this case also a pointed
flame is produced at the end of the tube 7. On opening the tap to a further extent,
the gas passes through the apertures k¹ to the burner proper and is also in this case
ignited from underneath by the pointed flame. When the tap is fully opened, then
as a result of the construction of the tap-plug, the passage of the gas to the pipe e is
entirely closed, so that the pointed flame is extinguished but the burner receives the
maximum supply of gas.
As regards the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, let it be assumed that the main tap
is opened. The bladder f is.then expanded, raises the lever q, and brings the two
contact-pieces 8 and r into contact at 81; the circuit is thus closed and the platinum
wire o included in the circuit is caused to become incandescent. In this case also
a pointed flame is produced at the upper end in the known manner, but in the
meantime the bladder f has expanded and risen quite high, and the contact-
pieces 8 and r have again moved out of contact, the projection w of the contact-
piece having moved into a recess in the lever q. When the main tap is closed, the
same effect is produced in this case as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1—that is
-

page_text: to say, the flame of the burner is extinguished after the last remainder of gas from
the bladder f has also been consumed.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the operation is begun by turning the tap,
whereby the rubbing contact-piece comes into contact with the rubbing contact-
piece 81, so as to close the circuit, with the result that the platinum wire o becomes
incandescent and again produces a pointed flame at the upper end of the tube, in
the manner repeatedly described. On turning the tap further, the passage of the
gas from c to h becomes wholly open, the pointed flame again ignites the gas, the
contact-pieces 81 having in the meantime slid past the contact r¹ the supply of gas
to k is cut off, and the pointed flame is extinguished.
From what has been said it will be perceived that all the modifications have in
common the arrangement of the igniting device outside of and near to the burner
In all the
proper, which has the result of diminishing wear of the device.
modifications a pointed flame is produced which ignites the burner jet proper from
below and thus diminishes the wear of the glow-mantel. Finally, in all these
modifications the admission and the shutting off of the gas to and from the burner
and to and from the igniting-devices and the pointed flame, are effected
automatically and in a very simple manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An igniting apparatus for gas-jets in which the igniting-device proper is
arranged outside of the burner-flame in such a manner that the ignition of the
burner-jet is effected from below by means of a pointed flame, and wherein the supply
and shutting off of the gas to and from the igniting-device and the burner are
regulated automatically.
2. An igniting apparatus according to the preceding claim, in which the pointed
flame is produced automatically by means of a bladder f through the medium of an
igniting-pill, substantially as described with reference to and shown in Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. An igniting apparatus according to claim 1, in which the pointed flame is pro-
duced by hand through the medium of an igniting-pill, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 2, 2A, 2B, and 2° of the accompanying drawings.
4. An igniting apparatus according to claim 1, in which the pointed flame is pro-
duced automatically by electrical means, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 3A, 3B and 30 of the accompanying drawings.
5. An igniting-apparatus according to claim 1, in which the pointed flame is
effected by hand by electrical means, substantially as herein before described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 4 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Thated this 22nd day of November 1897
F. WISE HOWORTH
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. Agent for the Applicant.