Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in Electrically Lighting Incandescent and other Gas Burners.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in Electrically
Lighting Incandescent and other Gas Burners.
J FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN, of 238 Tottenham Court Road, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for use in
electrically igniting incandescent or other gas burners and relates to a means of
conveying to or combining with the burner of an incandescent gas light or other
gas burner, a ready and easy means of effecting ignition of the gas by electricity
and so as to a great extent to diminish the explosion that ordinarily takes place
in lighting such burners and thereby increase the life of the refractory mantle
and to gain other advantages.
This invention can be used in conjunction with electrically controlled gas
valves of ordinary or other suitable form and can also be used with other gas
valves either electrically or mechanically controlled.
The gas valve (either electrically or mechanically controlled) may be placed
below the conical piece of the burner-which allows the gas to flow into the
chamber or tubular passage and be combined with the air-as is the case in most
atmospheric gas burners.
I construct my improved apparatus with an electrical metallic connection,
through the said conical piece of the burner either centrally or at the side thereof
and insulated ending in a rod or tube and then I use an extension piece which
may be either of rod, tube or similar connection making efficient electrical
connection.
This electrical conduction device is insulated from the case or base of the
burner and is either attached to the upper part of the burner, where the gas is
ignited, or taken through the upper part of the burner centrally or otherwise.
The electric circuit is completed by means of a piece of platinum or other
suitable metal wire or strip, which is attached to the beforementioned insulated
rod or tube, and can be placed either in direct contact with the case or base
of the burner, or can be attached to a similar insulated rod or tube if necessary
should it not be desired for the case or base of the burner to act as part of the
electric circuit so that the igniting means may, or may not be integral with
the gas conveying fittings.
As there are numerous types of incandescent burners, each type of which varies
or may vary to some extent one from another, and in order that this improved
means of electrically igniting the gas, may be applicable to all types, and so as
to be able to easily replace the piece of platinum or other wire or strip, should

page_text: it ever require renewal, I provide for the purpose pegs, screws, snap or clip contacts
or other suitable means of removably or renewably fastening the same in some
instances I provide for the platinum or the like to be fixed on the ends of tubes or
rods and preferably held together by means of an insulating and refractory piece,
so that an inexperienced person may be able to replace the platinum.
The platinum or other metal wire or strip is preferably arranged within the
mantle and in such a position that the gas and air coming in through the case
of the burner may be allowed to come in contact with the metal wire or strip
and when the electric current passes through the same, it becomes heated and
ignites the gas.
The electric current can be led to the necessary contacts by ordinary or any
convenient means and can either be in series or parallel, with an electrically con-
trolled gas valve or can be placed in series or parallel with other suitable apparatus
or burners as may be desired.
In some instances it may be found advantageous to use an insulating refractory
material to insulate the rod or tube from the case of the burner, when passing
the same through the centre of the said conically shaped piece through which the
gas passes into the chamber to combine with the air.
Dated the 27th day of November 1896.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in Electrically
Lighting Incandescent and other Gas Burners.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN, of 238 Tottenham Court Road, in the County
of London, Electrical Engineer, 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 improvements in means or apparatus for use in
electrically igniting incandescent or other gas burners and relates to a means of
conveying to or combining with the burner of an incandescent gas-light or other
gas burner, a ready and easy means of effe ting ignition of the gas by electricity
and so as to a great extent diminish the explosion that ordinarily takes place in
lighting such burners and thereby increase the life of the refractory mantle and
to gain other advantages.
This invention can be used in conjunction with electrically controlled gas valves
of ordinary or other suitable form and can also be used with other gas valves
either electrically or mechanically controlled.
The gas valve (either electrically or mechanically controlled) may be placed
below the conical piece of the burner which allows the gas to flow into the chamber
or tubular passage and be combined with the air-as is the case in most atmos-
pheric gas burners.
I construct my improved apparatus with an electrical metallic connection,
through the said conical piece of the burner either centrally or at the side thereof
and insulated ending in a rod or tube and then I use an extension piece which
may be either of rod, tuhe, or similar connection.
This electrical conduction device is insulated from the case or base of the burner
and is either attached to the upper part of the burner, where the gas is ignited, or
taken through the upper part of the burner centrally or otherwise.

page_text: The electrical circuit is completed by means of a piece of platinum or other
suitable metal wire or strip which is attached to the beforementioned insulated
rod or tube, and can be placed either in direct contact with the case or base of
the burner, or can be attached to a similar insulated rod or tube if necessary
should it not be desired for the case or base of the burner to act as part of the
electric circuit so that the igniting means may, or may not be in electrical con-
nection with the gas conveying fittings.
As there are numerous types of incandescent burners, each type of which varies
or may vary to some extent one from another, and in order that this improved
means of electrically igniting gas, may be applicable to all types, and so as to
be able to easily replace the piece of platinum or other wire or strip, should it
ever require renewal, I provide for the purpose pegs, screws, snap or clip, contacts
or other suitable means of removably or renewably fastening the same; in some
instances I provide for the platinum or the like to be fixed on the ends of tubes
or rods and preferably held together by means of an insulating and refractory
piece, so that an inexperienced person may be able to replace the platinum.
The platinum or other metal wire or strip is preferably arranged within the mantle
and in such a position that the gas and air coming in through the case of the burner
may be allowed to come in contact with the metal wire or strip and when the
electric current passes through the same, it becomes heated and ignites the gas.
The electric current can be led to the necessary contacts by ordinary or any
convenient means and can either be in series or parallel with an electrically con-
trolled gas-valve or can be placed in series or parallel with other suitable apparatus
or burners as may be desired.
In some instances it may be found advantageous to use insulating refractory
material to insulate the rod or tube from the case of the burner, when passing
the same through the centre of the said conically shaped piece through which the
gas passes into the chamber to combine with the air. It may also be found
advantageous to use insulating refractory material to insulate the "beforementioned
extension piece where it passes through the top of the gas burner.
Having described the nature of my invention, I shall now proceed to describe
the same more fully by means of the accompanying sheet of drawings. In the
said drawings:-
Fig. 1 represents a form of electrically controlled gas valve the conical top
part a of which takes the place of the base of the ordinary incandescent gas
burner and is similar thereto with the exception that the small perforated disc b,
through the holes of which, the gas passes before mixing with the air in the
Bunsen tube, is of steatite, or some suitable insulating material through the centre
of which passes the metallic contact e¹ which is connected as described hereinafter.
The contact cand the extension thereof c is thus insulated from the case of the
burner.
Fig. 2 illustrates the Bunsen tube and burner top of the ordinary pattern of the
Incandescent Gas Light Company's burner as adapted according to my invention.
In said figure d is the Bunsen tube, which serews over the conical top part a of
the electrically controlled valve Fig. 1, and d¹ is the burner top which slips over
the Bunsen tube d. e is a brass or other suitable metal tube, rod or the like
split or expanded at its lower end, which tube comes straight down the middle
of the Bunsen tube and burner from the top thereof and fits over contact e shown
in Fig. 1. Said tube rod or the like is bushed or insulated at the top by means
of any suitable insulating material f where said tube passes through the central
top of the burner. Said bushing is drilled through g at an angle so as to
come clear of the mantle supporting-peg hole gl. In top of said rod, tube or the
like e a peg, screw, or any suitable terminal h is fixed so as to electrically connect
one end of the platinum wire, strip or the like 7. The other end of is connected
by means of a similar device h either to the case d as shown or to a separate
insulated contact if desired.
Fig. 3 shows a method of adapting my invention to The Sunlight Incandescent

page_text: Gas Light Company's burner. In this case the top part of the burner d³ is already
insulated from the case of the burner d by means of the steatite insulating
connector f. I therefore bring the central contact e straight through the top d
without further bushing or insulating said contact. One end of the platinum
is connected by means of a peg, or any other suitable terminal h to any con-
venient part of d and the other end of is connected by a similar device h¹
either to the case d' or to a separate insulated contact. i is an extension piece
for affording an easy means of connecting h¹ to the case d¹.
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is another method of connecting the terminal h¹ to the case.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the steatite insulating connector f.
Fig. 8 shows a method of connecting the platinum or other metal wire or
strip or the like to the contacts e and i so that an inexperienced person may
renew the same. The platinum is connected at one end to the spring clip
contact hand at the other end to a similar contact h¹. Said contacts h and h
are held immovably together by the connecting strip k which may be of any
suitable refractory insulating material such as porcelain, steatite, or hard glass.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 8.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
In the case of a mechanically controlled valve one end of contact e is simply
connected to one pole of a battery or other source of electricity and the case or
separate insulated contact is connected to the other pole of the battery. In the
case of an electrically controlled valve the lower end of contact e is connected,
through the solenoid which lifts the valve, to one pole of the battery while the
case, or separate insulated contact, is connected to the other pole. The platinum
connecting the two contacts h and h¹ is therefore is series with the valve lifting
solenoid and when the current is passed through the said valve lifting solenoid
the valve is lifted thus allowing the gas to flow through the burner and the
platinum strip is at the same time rendered incandescent by the current and
so lights the gas as it issues from the burner. Of course the platinum might be
connected through the contacts h and h¹ in parallel with the valve lifting solenoid.
There are numerous advantages attending the use of my invention. In the
first place all contacts are integral with the burner so that they are less liable
to damage or short-circuiting than when the contacts are outside the burner.
Again the said contacts and strip of platinum are completely enclosed, in the case
of an ordinary incandescent gas burner, within the refractory mantle thus lighting
the gas immediately it issues from the top of the burner, and within the mantle,
and in so lighting the gas, lessens the explosion which ordinarily takes place.
Another advantage is that the platinum or other wire or strip may be easily and
effectively, replaced by an inexperienced person.
My invention can, of course, be applied to any form of atmospheric gas burner.
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. In an incandescent or other atmospheric gas burner the employment of a
central insulated contact and a common or case connected contact substantially
as set forth.
2. In an incandescent or other atmospheric gas burner the employment of a
central insulated contact and a separate insulated contact substantially as set forth.
3. In an incandescent or other atmospheric gas burner the employment of
pegs, screws, clips or the like to hold the platinum or other metal wire or strip
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In an incandescent or other atmospheric gas burner the employment of a

page_text: central insulated contact and a common or separate insulated contact_together
with pegs, screws clips or the like to hold the platinum or other metal wire or
strip substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th day of August 1897.
FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN.