Improvements relating to Gas Lighting.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1900—Accepted, 17th Mar.,
1900
Improvements relating to Gas Lighting.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Regency Street, Westminster,
S.W., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;-
This invention relates more particularly to incandescent gas lighting, where
the gas is supplied under considerable pressure, but it is also applicable to
ordinary gas lighting, and especially where a number of lamps provided with
pilots are to be lighted by the turning on of a main cock common to the whole
number, instead of turning on each separate burner.
When gas is turned off at the main, each burner being left "on," it is well
known that the gas left in the pipes will gradually escape through the burners,
and the pipes will become filled with air."
In the case of incandescent lighting, this is fatal, for at least two reasons:
1st, that the rush of air out of the pipes, when the gas is again turned on, may,
and, in all probability will, blow out the pilot, so that the burner will have to
be lighted up with a torch, the use of which it is desired to avoid, and 2nd,
an explosive mixture is formed, which, on coming into contact with the pilot
(if alight), will explode, and shatter the mantle.
Now the object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective
appliance to be placed just below each burner, which will automatically seal
the gas supply pipe, when the gas is turned off at the main, and thus prevent
the escape of the gas, and which will automatically unseal the supply pipe
when the gas is turned on again. In other words, the object is to keep the
service pipes full of gas when the main cock is turned off.
In carrying out this invention, the supply pipe to each burner is arranged
to extend into a casing, so as to leave a gutter all round it, in which is placed
a suitable quantity of mercury.
Dipping into this mercury is an inverted cup, which is provided with guide
rods, to ensure its working evenly. A suitable stop carried by the cover of
the casing will prevent the cup rising too high, and the outlet will be con-
nected preferably with the cover.
This cup, which may be more or less weighted, if desired, will rise and keep
up under the pressure when the gas is "on," but directly the pressure ceases,
by turning off the gas, the cup will descend into the mercury, and effectually
seal the supply pipe, from which, therefore, the gas cannot escape.
Dated this 18th day of May 1899.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates more particularly to incandescent gas lighting, where
the gas is supplied under considerable pressure, but it is also applicable to
ordinary gas lighting, and especially where a number of lamps provided, with
pilots are to be lighted by the turning on of a main cock common to the whole
number, instead of turning on each separate burner.
When gas is turned off at the main, each burner being-left on," it is well
known that the gas left in the pipes will gradually escape through the burners,
and the pipes will become filled with air."
In the case of incandescent lighting, this is fatal, for at least two reasons:
1st, that the rush of air out of the pipes, when the gas is again turned on, may,
and, in all probability, will, blow out the pilot, so that the burner will have to
be lighted up with a torch, the use of which it is desired to avoid; and, 2nd,
an explosive mixture is formed, which, on coming into contact with the pilot
(if alight), will explode, and shatter the mantle.
Now the object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective
appliance or device, to be placed just below each burner, which will automatic-
ally seal the gas supply pipe, when the gas is turned off, at the main, and thus
prevent the escape of the gas, and which will automatically unseal the supply
pipe when the gas is turned on again. In other words, the object is to keep the
service pipes full of gas when the main cock is turned off.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the appliance
for shutting off the gas, and Fig. 2 is an underside view of the cap.
A is a casing to be attached to the supply pipe; B is an internal cylinder,
which forms the inlet to the casing for the gas and which is so arranged that
a. gutter C is formed externally thereof. D is a bell or cup, which is intended
to fit over the inlet of B, and dip into the gutter, which contains a mercury
seal. This bell or cup D has a guiding stem E which works in a cross piece F
formed on the cover G below the outlet. This cover G, which screws into the
casing A, is provided with radial projections H, which serve as stops to limit
the movement upwards of the bell or cup D. The burner tube is represented
at J, and is screwed into the top of the cover G.
The bell or cup D may, if desired, be weighted, but usually this may not
be necessary.
When the gas is turned on at the main, the cup of each appliance will be
raised, and kept up by the pressure of the gas in the main, a clear way being
thus provided to the burner, but directly the gas is turned off at the main,
the cup will descend into the mercury, and the supply pipe will be effectually
sealed against the passing out of the gas; thus the supply pipe (assuming of
course that it is otherwise sound) will be kept full of gas, and the disadvan-
tages before named will be obviated.
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) Placing a sealing appliance or device between the end of the gas supply
pipe and a burner, so that the pipe shall be maintained full of gas when the
main is turned off, as and for the purpose set forth.
2) An appliance or device to be used for the purpose referred to in Claim 1,
constructed and operating as shown and described.
Dated this 14th day of Fobmua 1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.