Improvements in Electric Gas-lighters and Extinguishers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
Improvements in Electric Gas-lighters and Extinguishers.
I, NELSON NEWMAN, of Corner Cook and 8th Streets, Springfield, State of Illinois,
United States of America, gentleman, 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 :-
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same.
On the base A, is supported a rectangular box or case B, of suitable size and which
encloses a suitable electric battery or other source of electricity (not shown).
I prefer to employ what is known in the art as a dry battery, but any suitable.
variety of battery may be used.
A case C, is also arranged on the base and at a suitable distance from one end of.
the battery case. In the case C, is a suitable clock-work mechanism or other motor
(not shown) having the shaft c projecting through its front side and the said shaft is
adapted to revolve once in twenty-four hours. The disc D is fixed upon and revolves
with shaft c. I prefer to employ a clock-mechanism which will continue to operate
for sixteen days after being wound up, but this is not essential and may be varied at
pleasure.
:
The disc D is provided near the centre and at a suitable distance from its perimeter
with series of openings a. b. respectively. The said series of openings are arranged,
in concentric circles, are each twenty-four in number, corresponding to the hours of
the day, and are numbered consecutively from to 24 as shown. The numbers of the
said series or openings may be varied if preferred to suit the exact requirements of
each case.
Near the perimeter of the disc is a third series of openings d. A tappet pin a¹ is
adapted to be inserted in either of the openings in the series a. and to project from,
the rear side of the disk, and a similar pin 6 is adapted to be, inserted in either of
the openings in series b.
1
The gas-pipe E extends through the base and is arranged between the opposing end-
of the battery and clock-work cases and to the upper end of the said pipe is secured
the burner F which may be of any of the well known forms.
"
A valve G is journalled in a seat in the pipe and is of such construction that a very
slight movement will suffice to turn on or cut off the flow of gas.
•
9'
A shaft H, projects from one end of the valve and to the outer end of the shaft are
attached a pair of tappet arms h h¹ of unequal length and extending in opposite
directions. 1%
.
The longer arm is adapted to be engaged by the pin a¹ in the series of openings a
and the shorter arm h is adapted to be engaged by the pin 6' in the series of
openings b.
A plate L is secured on the upper sides of the cases B, C, is circular in form and
has a central opening through which the burner projects. A rock-shaft, J is mounted
in suitable bearings on the plate L has its inner end upturned and curved inward to
form a contact arm e and has its outer end bent downward at right angles to form a
tappet arm K which is in the path of the tappet pin d¹ in the series of openings d.
A rock-shaft M is also journaled in bearings on the plate, is parallel with the
shaft J, and has its inner end provided with a contact arm O adapted to meet the
arm e at a point above the burner and has a depending pendulum arm N provided
with a pendulum P.

page_text: A link rod R connects the pendulum arm to the contact arm e. A pair of binding
posts K are secured, on the case B and connected to the poles of the battery and to
the shafts J and M respectively by conducting wires k.
The operation of my invention is.ası follows.:
We will assume that it is required to light. the gas.at, the ninth hour and extinguish
it at the thirteenth hour. The pin 61 is inserted.in, the opening 9 of the series b; the
pin a, is inserted in the opening 13 of the series a and the pin d'' is inserted in the
appropriate opening 10 of series d. The axis of the valve and shaft Jare not fin
vertical alignment and therefore to compensate for the difference, the pin d must be.
set at a distance of one space in rear of pin b¹. The clock-work mechanism being-put
in motion, revolves the disc D and when the required time has elapsed. the pin 6 will
engage the arm or tappet h and in moving past it, turn the valve sufficient distance
to cause the gas to flow from the burner.
It will be apparent that before the pin b¹ thus engages the arm th, the pin d' will
come in contact with the lever K and will be slowly moving the same and turning
the shaft J. The rod R and pendulum rod to which it is attached, will cause the
shaft M to also turn in the opposite direction, with the result that the, contact arms.
will be moved farther from each other than ordinary: The length of the arm.h, and
the lever K, must be such that at about the instant the pin bhas moved past the
arm h; and thereby turned on the gas, the pin d' will clear the lever K. and conse-
quently set the pendulum in motion thereby causing the contacting arms, to move:
alternately to and from each other and alternately close and open the electric, circuit.
producing a series of electric sparks which serve to ignite the g gas...
The correct lengths of the arm h and lever: K can be readily determined. by: a,
skilful artisan when constructing the apparatus.
When the hours intervening between the ninth and thirteenth have elapsed,.the.
pin a in: opening 13' of series a will engage the arm h of the valve shaft, and in
moving past the said arm will turn the valve a sufficient. distance to cut,, off.the,
flow of gas through the burner and thereby extinguish the light...
As long as the notor or clock-work mechanism continues to operate and, while,
the adjustment above described is preserved, the gas-will be lighted at the ninth
and extinguished at the thirteenth hour automatically and absolutely without the,
necessity of any attention; other than to keep the battery and the motor at
work.
:
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of "my said'
invention and in what manner, the same is to be performed I declare that what I'
claim, is:
1. The combination of the time mechanism having the moving tappets, the gas
valve having the tappet arms and the electric sparkinge apparatus having the
operating lever or arm also adapted to be operated by the tappets; substantially, as
described.
2: The time mechanism having the moving tappets, in combination, with the electric
sparking apparatus having the contacting arm e and the lever or arm K to operate
said: contacting arm and arranged in the path of the:: tappets,, substantialiy,' as
described.
3. The time mechanism having the revolving disc provided with the concentric
series of openings a b d the adjustable tappetapins ale b d in a sail openings
respectively, the gas valve having the tappet arms in theopathi ofthe tappets a¹b};
and the electric spark producing apparatus having the lever, or farm in, the path
of the tappet d all in combination, substantially as described...
E
4. The time mechanism having the revolving disc provided with the tappets
arranged at different distances from; its centre; ina combination with the gas valve
having the tappet arms extending in opposite directions and arranged in the. paths
of the respective tappets whereby the valve will be automatically opened,and, closed,
and the electric spark producing apparatus operated by the time;; mechanism,
substantially as described.

page_text: 5. The electric spark producing apparatus having the vibrating contact arms forming
electrodes adapted to alternately meet and separate and the devices substantially as set
forth to set them in motion.
6. The combination of the disc and the mechanism to revolve it, the adjustable
tappets fixed to the disc, the valve having the levers or arms, and the vibrating contact
arms having the lever to engage the tappets and the pendulum to keep said arms in
motion substantially as described.
7. The combination with the gas burner and the valve having the tappet arms, of
the time mechanisın having the revolving disc, the contacting arms forming electrodes
and arranged to meet and separate above the burner one of said contacting arms
having the lever and the other having the pendulum, the rod connecting said con-
tacting arms for the purpose set forth, and the adjustable tappets arranged on the
disc, substantially as described.
8. The combination with the burner and the valve, of the electric spark producing
apparatus having the vibrating contacting arms forming electrodes and provided with
the pendulum adapted to alternately meet and separate near the tip of the burner and
the devices substantially as set forth to set them in motion.
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
Dated
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.