Improvements in connection with Gas Lamps or Burners applicable for Lighting and Signalling Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Gas Lamps or Burners applicable
for Lighting and Signalling Purposes.
I, GEORGE JOHN GIRARDIN, of 26, Melanchthonstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, German Empire, Civil 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 :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for lighting halls, vestibules, stairs and
similar places automatically at night for a short time by gas. The apparatus is
operated by the opening and closing of the house-door in such a manner, that, on
opening the door, a certain quantity of gas is sucked into a cylinder, and is after-
wards, on closing the house door, pressed into a reservoir, from which the gas feeds
the flame until it is consumed. A small gas flame is burning continually, and this
flame is increased by the gas of the reservoir so as to afford a sufficiently strong
light for a certain time.
The construction and manner of working of my apparatus will be more readily
understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a is the gas pipe
with the burner b, the auxiliary cock and the main-cock d. The cock c is
provided with a double-armed lever e, el, the longer arm el of which, is connected
with the arm f of another double-armed lever f,fi, pivotted at f", by means of the
rod g. The arm f¹ of this latter lever is connected by a rod h, slide i, and piston
rok, with the piston 1, within a cylinder m, the latter being in communication with
conduit a by means of pipe n. This pipe has a cock o, which is connected with
arm e of lever e, e¹ by means of the links p p. Above the cylinder m is arranged
a reservoir from which a pipe z is led to the uppermost part of conduit a, or to a
burner b. In the position shown the cock e is partly open, while the cock o is
perfectly closed, and a small flame with but very little intensity is constantly
burning at b.
The movements of the house door is transferred to the apparatus by a pin s, or
other convenient means, to the rod t, and the bell-crank lever v pivotted at v³, and
from this through a rod u, to the arm of the lever f, f. As soon as the house
door is opened the rod u is drawn downwards, lever f, f, is turned, the cocks e
and o are completely opened by rod g, and lever e, el, and the piston 1 is moved
downward within the cylinder m by means of the rods h and k, so as to suck gas
into the latter through pipe n. The flame is burning now with full intensity, and
remains burning not only so long as the door remains open, but is fed a certain time
after the closing of same by the gas contained within the cylinder m.
The quantity of gas is pressed into reservoir q through valve was soon as the
house door is closed, and consequently, all parts regain their original or former
position when the cock o is closed again completely, and cock c is nearly closed, and
the flame will burn low again after the gas out of reservoir 9 is consumed.
C
As will be seen, cock c will not be closed, that is to say, not fully closed, if the
house door remains open, and therefore, the flame will burn constantly with full
intensity. This will give a sign to the watchman policeman or other person passing
through the street or other place at certain intervals, that the door is not closed,
and his attention would be thereby attracted, and the cause investigated.
C
For getting a better effect of the flame, the light is concentrated by the main
reflector and the auxiliary reflector y, the former throwing the greatest part of
the light in the hall, vestibule or the like while the reflector y throws the remainder
into the house, street or other direction desired.
In order to effect, that the gas is spontaneously cut off at break of day, an
auxiliary device is connected with main cock d,
.

page_text: This device consists of two boxes A A¹ which are firmly fixed to a double armed
lever B attached to cock d, and which communicate with each other by means of a
longitudinal channel C, provided within B. The latter, when in its normal state, as
in the drawing, has an oblique position, and is kept therein by a spring D. The
vessel A' is filled with fine dry sand or a like material, and this is allowed to run
slowly from the higher box down into the lower one, until the latter gets the over-
weight in such a measure, that finally the strength of spring D is overcome, when
the vessel A will descend and bring B into a more or less vertical position by the
superweight of A, and close the cock d, so as to extinguish now, even the small
flame of burner b. The apparatus is then perfectly out of use, and will not be
operated by the house-door in the manner stated, until the vessel A with its
contents is brought into the high, and B into the oblique position, and its contents
transferred to A', before the flame is lit up the next night. By altering the
tension of spring d by means of screw E or reducing or extending the quantity
of sand in A A¹, the time after which the cock d will be closed, may be predetermined
according to the length of the night.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In an automatic gas governing apparatus for signalling and other purposes,
the construction and use of the herein described combination of stationary and
movable parts, connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth and shown by the drawings herewith.
2nd. In combination with a gas supply service pipe a the application of a main
cock d, provided with a double lever arm B, having a channel C, communicating
with compartments A A¹ fixed upon the ends of B, and containing fine sand or its
equivalent, operated by gravitation and a spring E, with tension regulator D,
connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn.
3rd. In combination with a gas service pipe a, provided with a burner 6 and
suitably disposed reflectors x and y, the employment of a cock C, provided with a
double arm lever e, e', the end e¹ whereof being connected by a rod g to a double
lever ff, pivotted at 11, the opposite end e being connected to a hinged link p, p',
operating the cock o, of a pipe n, forming a connection below C with the service
pipe a, and a cylinder m, in connection with a compression chamber or reservoir q
communicating by a pipe Z with the service pipe a above C, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and shewn.
4th. In combination with the parts set forth in the preceding claim the employ-
ment of a cylinder m, communicating by a return valve w, with the compression
chamber and having a piston head upon a rod k connected to a slide i pivotally
connected to a rod h, hinged or otherwise connected to the free end of the
double lever f, f', substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn.
5th. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claims the
manner of operating the same automatically by the closing and opening of a door,
the motion of which is conveyed thereto through a rod t, connected to a crank v,
pivotted at v', and connected to one end of a rod the opposite end being pivotally
connected at g' to the arm f' of the lever ff¹ substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn.
Doted this 14th dov of Julv 1902
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.