IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR RENDERING GAS BURNERS LIGHTING
Year: 1869

page_text: SELF-
ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR RENDERING GAS BURNERS
LIGHTING." A communication from abroad by Samuel Gardiner,
junior, of the, City and State of New York, United States of
America, Electrician.
Sealed the 3rd August 1869, and dated the 10th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th March 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of.
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR RENDERING GAB BURNERS
SELF-LIGHTING," a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, in combining a coil of platinum wire
or its equivalent with a gas burner in such a manner that it will cause
the re-ignition of the gas if the flame should be extinguished, without
shutting off the flow.
Second. In supporting the said platinum coil or its equivalent upon
a ring which may be cast upon the wire and is adapted to fit around
the gas tip or burner.
Third. In combining a cap or hood with a self-lighting gas burner
or self-lighting attachment, substantially as herein-after described.
Fourth. In combining with a platinum coil or equivalent device to
effect or assist the ignition of the gas, a gas cock, key or burner which
will permit a slight leakage of gas while the main supply is turned
off, in order that a small taper flame may be maintained, the contact
of which flame with the wire coil or its equivalent or its proximity
thereto will prevent the cooling of the said coil.
Fifth. In providing a self-igniting gas burner with a tip of lava or
other non-corrosive material. The tip of the burner which is formed
by preference of lava or analogous non-corrosive substance may have
the customary "fish-tail" or any other suitable jet. The hood or cap
is slotted at the top for the passage of the flat flame, and is perforated
for the admission of air to aid combustion. Within the upper end
of the hood is placed the coil of platinum wire or other metal or
any other body of porous or other form and of suitable character
and construction to adapt it when once heated by the flame to retain
and communicate sufficient heat to re-ignite the gas after it has been
extinguished.
In a modification of this Invention the coil instead of being attached
to the hood is secured by casting, soldering, or other means to a ring
of suitable metal or material which is made to fit the burner. It
is preferred to form the coil of platina wire with two legs upon which
a ring of type metal may be cast under pressure, a flat face on the
inside of the said ring fitting a similar flat face which may be formed
on the burner by filing insures the proper adjustment of the coil and
prevents its getting out of place. By the use of this ring the attachment

page_text: is adapted to be made by machinery at a moderate cost instead of
requiring separate and careful manipulation. The ease and accuracy
with which it may be adjusted for use are also enhanced.
In order the more effectually to retain the heat in the platinum
coil or its equivalent the key or plug is preferably formed with a very
small groove, so that when the main supply of gas is turned off it
permits a slight escape of gas, which will burn in an invisible flame
in contact with the coil, the said coil serving to protect such flame
from being permanently extinguished. The result is that after the
gas has been turned off for an indefinite period, when it is again turned
on the gas by coming in contact with the hot platinum coil will almost
instantly reheat it to redness and thereby will be ignited.
The
The said Invention is also very valuable (whether the aforesaid
"leak" be used or not) in causing the instant re-lighting of the gas in
the event of its being extinguished by wind, or from any cause by
ignorance, carelessness, or accident without being turned off.
attachment also assists the combustion of the gas, and thus intensifies
the light.
The cap or hood by causing a forced current of heated air
and concentrating it in contact with the gas causes the more perfect
combustion of the latter, and further increases the intensity of the
light,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the. Tenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis

page_text: trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR RENDERING GAS BURNERS SELF-LIGHTING," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming part of this Specification:-
This Invention consists,
First. In combining a coil of platinum wire or its equivalent with a
gas burner in such a manner that it will cause the re-ignition of the gas
if the latter should be extinguished without shutting of the flow.
Second. In supporting the said platinum coil or its equivalent upon a
ring, which may be cast upon the wire or secured thereto in any other
manner, and is adapted to fit around the gas tip or burner.
Third. In combining a cap or hood with a self-lighting gas burner or
self-lighting attachment, substantially as herein-after described.
Fourth. In combining with a platinum coil or equivalent device to
effect or assist the ignition of the gas, a gas cock, key, or burner which
will permit a slight leakage of gas (while the main supply is turned off)
in order that a small taper flame may be maintained, the contact of
which flame with the wire coil or its equivalent, or its proximity thereto
will prevent the cooling of the said coil.
Fifth. In a tip of non-corrosive material employed in a self-lighting
gas burner or a burner adapted to maintain a constant flame of small

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gas burner illustrating the said
Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same; Figure 3 is a
vertical section in a plane at right angles to that of the section repre-
sented in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical section of a burner illustrating
a different (and in some respects preferable) manner of applying the
platinum coil; Figure 5 is a plan or top view of the burner represented
in Figure 4, the hood or cap being shown in section; Figure 6 is a
perspective view of the platinum coil and its supporting ring, herein-
after described.
3
A is the burner proper, the tip a of which is formed by preference
of lava or analogous non-corrosive substance, and may have the
customary "fish-tail or any other suitable jet; B represents a hood or
cap slotted at top for the passage of the flat flame, and perforated at b, b,
for the admission of air to aid combustion. Within the upper end of
the hood is placed a coil C of platinum wire or any other metal, or any
other body of porous or other form, and of suitable character and
construction to adapt it when once heated by the flame to retain and
communicate sufficient heat to re-ignite the gas after it has been
extinguished.
In the modification of this Invention, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,
the coil C instead of being attached to the hood B is secured by casting,
soldering, or other means to a ring E of suitable metal or material, which
is made to fit the burner A. It is preferred to form the coil of platina
wire, with two legs c, c, upon which a ring E of type metal may be cast
under pressure, or the ring being cast separately and grooved or nicked
for the reception of the legs c, c, may be firmly fastened thereto by
swaging or pressure.
A flat face e on the inside of the ring fitting a
similar flat face, which may be formed on the burner by filing, insures
the proper adjustment of the coil, and prevents it getting out of place.
By the use of the ring E the attachment is adapted to be made by
machinery at a moderate cost, instead of requiring separate and careful
manipulation. The ease and accuracy with which it may be adjusted for

page_text: use are also enhanced. In order the more effectually to retain the heat
in the platinum coil C, or its equivalent, the key D is preferably formed
with a very small groove d, so as when the main supply of gas is turned
off to permit a slight escape of gas which will burn in an invisible flame
in contact with the coil, the said coil serving to protect such flame from
being permanently extinguished. The result is that after the gas has
been turned off for an indefinite period, when it is again turned on the
gas by coming in contact with the hot platinum coil will almost
instantly re-heat it to redness, and thereby will be ignited.
The Invention is also very valuable whether the aforesaid "leak" be
used or not in causing the instant re-lighting of the gas in the event of
its being extinguished by wind or from any cause by ignorance, care-
lessness, or accident without being turned off. The attachment also
assists the combustion of the gas, and thus intensifies the light. The
cap or hood B by causing a forced current of heated air and concen-
trating it in contact with the gas causes the more perfect combustion of
the latter, and further increases the intensity of the light. The slot in
the said cap may preferably be made wider than here represented,
especially when the Invention is used under the form shown in Figures 4,
.5, and 6. The employment of the non-corrosive tip is of manifest
advantage where a small flame is kept constantly burning.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that the said
Invention is not necessarily limited to the precise details above laid down,
but the following is what is claimed:-
First. The platina coil C or its equivalent employed in combination
with a gas burner, in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The supporting ring E, e, employed in connection with the
coil C, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the hood or cap B with a gas burner A and
a coil C, or its equivalent to effect the re-lighting of the gas.
Fourth. The coil C or any equivalent automatic re-lighting attach-
ment in combination with a gas burner adapted to permit a slight
leakage or escape of gas to maintain a flame of small size while the main
supply is turned off.

page_text: Fifth. The tip a of lava or other non-corrosive material when used in
self lighting" gas burner, whether such lighting is effected by means
of a constant flame of small size or by a coil C, or analogous body of
metal or other suitable material.
of a constant flame of small size or by a coil C, or analogous body of
metal or other suitable material.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)