IMPROVED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR IGNITING ILLUMINATING GAS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Reid Molison, of Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, Scienco Teacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVED ELECTRICAL
APPARATUS FOR IGNITING ILLUMINATING GAS,"
Sealed the 4th February 1879, and dated the 5th September 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Reid Molison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1878.
ALEXANDER REID MOLISON, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Science
Teacher. "IMPROVED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR IGNITING ILLUMINATING
GAS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a portable electrical apparatus which
will serve the purpose of a lighted taper for igniting gas, and will be ready for
instant use although no electric action takes place in the apparatus until it is
required to be brought into use.
The apparatus consists of a closed vessel for receiving the exciting liquid and the
battery elements; these latter are fitted to the cover of tho vessel, and depend from
the under side thereof.
Supposing carbon and zinc to be the elements used, the carbon is insulated from
the cover and a wire is carried up from the carbon through the cover and through a
tube standing up from the cover. In the upper end of this tube a plug of insu-
lating material is fitted to receive a fine tube, to which the wire from the carbon is
attached. A similar fine tube is soldered to the plug tube, and the two fine tubes
are connected together by a strip of platinum foil. Surrounding this plug is an
outer tube open at its upper end, and terminating at its lower end in a broad flange.
Pendant from this flange is a rod, which passes through the cover of the vessel
containing the exciting liquid, and connects with the zinc element.
Surrounding the plug tube and interposed between the cover of the vessel and
the flange of the outer tube is a coiled spring, which serves, by pressing on the
under side of the flange, to support the zinc element clear of the exciting liquid and
LD

page_text: to keep the outer tube raised above the platinum foil, and serve as a protection
thereto.
When it is desired to ignite a gas jet with this apparatus it is only necessary to
depress the outer tube and to present the platinum thereby exposed to the stream
of gas. This depression of the tube, by forcing the zinc into the exciting liquid,
will cause an instant electrical action to be set up, and the platinum being thereby
heated will serve to ignite the gas.
On releasing the outer tube from pressure the coiled spring will lift the zinc out
of the exciting liquid, force the outer tube up above the platinum, and thus the
electrical action will be arrested and the apparatus will be restored to its normal
state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Reid Molison in the Great Seal Patent Offico on the
5th March 1879.
ALEXANDER REID MOLISON, of Swansen, in the County of Glamorgan, Science
Teacher. "IMPROVED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR IGNITING ILLUMINATING
GAS."
The object of this Invention is to provide a portable electrical apparatus which
will serve the purpose of a lighted taper for igniting gas, and will be ready for
instant use although no electric action takes place in the apparatus until it is
required to be brought into use.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is an external view of the apparatus and
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation when taken through the centre of the apparatus.
In these Figures a is a closed vessel for receiving the exciting liquid and the
battery elements; and a', a water-tight cover secured in place by a bayonet joint.
The battery elements are fitted to the removable cover a' of the vessel, and depond
from the under side thereof.
Supposing carbon and zinc to be the elements used, the carbon shewn at b
supported by a metal clip is insulated from the cover, and a wire c is carried up
from the carbon clip through the cover and through a tube d standing up from the
cover. In the upper end of this tube a plug of insulating material e is fitted to
receive a fine tube f, to which the wire c from the carbon is soldered. A similar
fine tube f' is soldered to the tube d, containing the plug, and the two fine tubes f
and are connected together at their outer ends by a strip of platinum foil g,
which is secured thereto by wedges.
Surrounding the tube d, and in metallic contact therewith, is an outer tube or
sleeve h, terminating at its lower end in a broad flange h¹. Pendent from this
flange is a rod i, which passes through a guide tube inserted in the cover a', and
connects with the zinc element shown at k.
Interposed between the cover of the vessel and the flange h¹ of the sleeve his a
coiled spring, which serves, by pressing on the under side of the flange, to support
the zinc element clear of the exciting liquid aud to keep the sleeve raised above
the platinum foil, which sleeve will thus serve as a protection to the platinum.
When using carbon and zinc as the elements I prefer to employ an acidulated
solution of bichromate of potash as the exciting liquid.
To ignite a gas jet with this apparatus it is only necessary to depress the sleeve h
and to present platinum foil thereby exposed to the stream of gas. This depression
of the tube, by forcing the zinc into the exciting liquid, will cause an instant
electrical action to be set up, and the platinum being thereby heated will serve to
ignite the gas.
On releasing the sleeve h from pressure the coiled spring will lift the zinc out of
the exciting liquid, and thereby stop the action of the battery, and the sleeve being
forced up to its normal position above the platinum will form a protection
thereto.
A modification of this apparatus is shewn in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings, wherein provision is made for preventing the escape of the exciting
liquid in the event of the apparatus being turned over.
Fig. 3 is an external view of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation
taken through the centre of the apparatus.
In these Figures a is a closed vessel for receiving the exciting liquid and tho
battery elements, and a¹ a water-tight cover secured in place by a bayonet joint.
The battery element are fitted to the removable cover a¹ of the vessel, and depend
from the under side thereof.
The carbon shewn at b is cemented to and insulated from the cover, and by means
of a wire c is brought into electric connection with the tube d standing up from the

page_text: cover. In the upper end of this tube a plug of insulating materials e is fitted to
receive a fine metal tube f, to which one end of a strip of platinum foil g is secured
by a plug. The other end of this platinum foil is similarly secured to a second
metal tube f¹ situated immediately above the tube f, and carried by a cage formed
from an extension of the tube d.
Surrounding the tube d is an outer tube or sleeve h, terminating at its lower end
in a broad flange h¹.
Interposed between the cover of the vessel and the flange h' of the sleeve his a
coiled spring 1, which serves, by pressing on the under side of the flange, to keep
the tube in the raised position shewn in the Drawing. k is the zinc element
attached to the lower end of a central rod i, which passes up through the tube d
and terminates in a button a little below the small tube f. Pendent from this
tube is an elastic pressing piece i¹, which serves to bring the rod i, and conse-
quently the zinc element k, into electric connection with the platinum foil. This
rod is supported by being connected through a collar and screw with the sliding
tubo h, the tube & being slotted longitudinally to permit of the coupling screw
connecting with the collar and sliding freely with the tube h.
When the spring I sustains the tube in the position shown in the Drawing, the
zinc will be suspended above the exciting liquid, and no electric action will tako
place. In its raised position the sleeve h will serve as a protection to the platinum
foil.
In order to close the tube d against the exciting liquid I line the lower part
thereof with lead, and attach to the upper end of this lining an india-rubber
sleeve m, the lower end of which I secure tightly to the bottom of the central rod i.
The elasticity of this sleeve will permit of the free vertical motion of the rod i,
while it closes the tube d against the passage of the exciting liquid through that
tube in the event of the apparatus being upset or unduly inclined during its use.
In such event the leaden lining will protect the tube d from the corrosive action of
the exciting liquid.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Electrical
Apparatus for Igniting Illuminating Gas," and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim, the combination of parts above described constituting a self-
contained gas igniter, the same acting substantially as and for the purpose above
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Reid Molison, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-nine.
ALEXANDER REID MOLISON. (Ls.)