Improvements in Electrically Operated Gas Valves for Burners.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Operated Gas Valves for Burners.
We, THE ACTIENGESELLSCHAFT FÜR FABRIKATION VON BRONCEWAAREN UND ZINK-
GUSS, vorm. J. C. SPINN & Sons, of 9, Wasserthorstrasse, S., Manufacturers, and
STANISLAUS JOHANN VON ROMOCKI, of 76, Krausenstrasse, S.W., Engineer, both of
Berlin, in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to gas valves for street lamps and other burners operated
by means of electricity from a distance and consists in an improved arrangement
or construction of such valves. The various electrically operated gas valves for
the same purpose hitherto made do not act reliably for any length of time, as
the large number and intricacy of their parts occasion defects during their manu-
facture and changes during their use, and because they work with such a small
utilisation of the electro-magnetic force and such large mechanical resistances,
as friction, compression of india rubber bodies and the like, that a small reduction
in the strength of the current, usually supplied from galvanic batteries, puts the
whole installation out of action. In most of them also movable parts pass from
the inside to the outside of the casings, so that in time leakages with their
deleterious results such as loss of gas or explosions, occur.
Besides this the
appearance of these valves is generally unsightly and they are detrimental to the
artistic effect of the gaseliers or lamps to which they are applied. The object of
our invention is to remedy these defects.
For the sake of permanently preventing leakage all moveable parts, and for the
sake of appearance also all fixed parts of our improved electrically operated
valve are enclosed in a flat chamber with the gas inlet and outlet opposite each
other and having preferably a circular section at a right angle to the axis of the
inlet and outlet, so as to form a circular bead or tray on the gas pipe harmonising
with the shape of the gas fittings.
Inside this chamber we arrange two electro magnets each acting with both poles
upon its spring armature. One of these armatures is preferably placed diametri-
cally across the chamber and the electro magnet actuating the same is made semi-
circular or U shaped. This armature hereinafter called valve armature actuates
the gas valve, which is preferably a conical or spherical valve. The other magnet
and armature hereinafter called catch armature are placed to one side of the first
armature. The catch armature moves at a right angle to the movement of the
valve armature and is provided with a peg or projection which when the valve
armature is attracted by its magnet and the catch armature free, catches by the
spring action over the valve armature and holds it to its magnet after the current
exciting the latter is switched off, and releases it when the catch armature is
attracted by its magnet, the peg or projection bearing against the side of the
valve armature when both armatures are released.
The valve may be so connected to the valve armature that the attraction of the
latter by its magnet either closes or opens the valve. In the former case the

page_text: valve is open when both armatures are released; to close the valve the magnet
of the valve armature is excited for a moment, when it attracts this armature
and the catch of the catch armature snaps over it, holding the valve closed. To
open the valve the magnet of the catch armature is excited, when it draws the peg
from the valve armature, the spring of which lifts it off the magnet and opens the
valve. With the reverse arrangement, when the attraction of the valve armature
opens the valve, the peg on the catch armature snaps over the former and holds
the valve open; while the attraction of the catch armature releases the valve
armature and the spring action of the latter closes the valve.
D
1
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
Improvements in Electrically Operated Gas Valves for Burners.
We, THE ACTIENGESELLSCHAFT FUR FABRIKATION VON BRONCEWAAREN UND ZINK-
GUSS, vorm. J. C. SPINN & Sons, of 9, Wasserthor Strasse, S., Manufacturers, and
STANISLAUS JOHANN VON ROMOCKI, of 76, Kraussenstrasse, S. W., Engineer, both of
Berlin, in the German Empire, 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 gas valves for street lamps and other burners operated
by means of electricity from a distance and consists in an improved arrangement
or construction of such valves. The various electrically operated gas valves for
the same purpose hitherto made do not act reliably for any length of time, as
the large number and intricacy of their parts occasion defects during their manu-
facture and changes during their use, and because they work with such a small
utilization of the electro-magnetic force and such large mechanical resistances,
as friction, compression of indiarubber bodies and the like, that a small reduction
in the strength of the current usually supplied from galvanic batteries, puts the
whole installation out of action. In most of them also movable parts pass from
the inside to the outside of the casings, so that in time leakages with their
déleterious results, such as loss of gas or explosions, occur.
Besides this the
appearance of these valves is generally unsightly and they are detrimental to the
artistic effect of the gaseliers or lamps to which they are applied. The object of
our invention is to remedy these defects.
On the drawing appended hereunto
Figure 1 shows an outside view of the valve casing;
Figure 2 a section and plan with the valve closed;
Figure 3 a section and plan with the valve opened;
Figure 4 a section of a modified arrangement of valve.
For the sake of permanently preventing leakage all moveable parts, and for the
sake of appearance also all fixed parts of our improved electrically operated valve
are enclosed in a flat chamber inserted into the gas conduit preferably with the gas
inlet and outlet opposite each other and having preferably a circular section at a
right angle to the axis of the inlet and outlet, so as to form a circular bead or tray
on the gas pipe harmonising with the shape of beads, galleries etc., already existing
on the gas fittings.

page_text: The chamber need have little height, as all the acting parts are arranged
approximately in the same plane. The further external form and size of the valve
casing is determined by its position on the gaselier or burner pipe. For instance
if the gas supply through a gaselier with several lights is to be controlled by one
valve, the valve chamber preferably has the shape as shewn on Figures 1 to 3 of
a hollow beading inserted by means of screwed sockets a and b into the main pipe
of the gaselier.
Inside this chamber we arrange two electro magnets c and d each acting with
both holes upon its spring armature e and f. One of these armatures e is pre-
ferably placed diametrically across the chamber and the electro magnet c actuating
the same is made semi circular or Ų shaped. This armature e hereinafter called
valve armature actuates the gas valve k which is preferably a conical or spherical
valve ground so as to be gas tight on its seating and closing the gas port g when
down on its seating. The other magnet d and armature f hereinafter called catch
armature are placed to one side of the first armature. The catch armature f moves
preferably at a right angle to the movement of the valve armature e and is pro-
vided with a peg or projection n which when the valve armature e is attracted
by its magnet c and the catch armature f free, catches by the spring action over
the valve armature and holds it to its magnet as shewn by Figure 2, and thereby
keeps the gas valve closed after the current exciting the magnet c is switched off,
and releases it and permits it to open the valve when the catch armature f is
attracted by its magnet d, as shewn by Figure 3, the peg or projection n bearing
against the side of the valve armature when both armatures are released.
The valve may be so connected to the valve armature that the attraction of the
latter by its magnet either closes or opens the gas outlet g. In the former case
herein before described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 the valve is lifted when
both armatures are released; to close the valve the magnet of the valve armature
is excited for a moment when it attracts this armature and the catch of the catch
armature snaps over it, holding the valve closed. To open the valve the magnet of
the catch armature is excited, when it draws the peg from the valve armature,
the spring of which lifts it off the magnet and opens the valve. With the
reverse arrangement, when the attraction of the valve armature opens the valve,
the peg on the catch armature snaps over the former and holds the valve open;
while the attraction of the catch armature releases the valve armature and the
spring action of the latter closes the valve.
This latter arrangement is shewn by Figure 4 as arranged in a casing intended
to be inserted immediately below a single burner and is made of a suitable shape
to represent a burner tray or dish or be enclosed in an existing burner tray. The
mechanism in the valve shewn is fixed to the upper part a of the casing which has
the advantage that the lower part 6 can be made of very thin material, which is
more particularly important if it is to be made from sheet metal by punching and
pressing. The conical valve in the apparatus shewn is arranged inside the
threaded nipple and is lifted by the valve armature e and opened when the electro
magnet c attracts the valve armature.
The form of the valve casing and the position of the gas inlet or outlet and the
corresponding position or arrangement of the valve operating armatures may
obviously be varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In gas valves for burners electrically operated from a distance, the arrange-
ment of two electro-magnets and spring armatures one of which actuates the shut
off valve and is alternately locked and liberated by the other, both being arranged
inside an enlargement of the gas conduit, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The arrangement of a gas valve for burners electrically operated from a

page_text: distance with two electro-magnets and spring armatures moving at a right angle
to each other located in an enlargement of the gas conduit one of which armatures
actuates the shut off valve and is locked by the other when the valve is in its
closed position, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 1,
2, and 3 of the drawings.
3. The arrangement of a gas valve for burners electrically operated from a
distance with two electro magnets and spring armatures moving at a right angle
to each other located in an enlargement of 'the gas conduit one of which armatures
actuates the shut off valve and is locked by the other when the valve is in its
open position substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4
of the drawings.
D
1 1
1000
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.