Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting Gas by Electricity, Applicable also for other Purposes where Ignition by the Induction of Static Electricity is desired.SES
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting Gas by Electricity,
Applicable also for other Purposes where Ignition by the
Induction of Static Electricity is desired.
We CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE Engineer and HERBERT JOHN COATES Electrician,
both of Cleggs Court Chapel Street Salford in the County of Lancaster do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING GAS BY ELECTRICITY, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE
" to be as
IGNITION BY THE INDUCTION OF STATIC ELECTRICITY IS DESIRED
follows:
This invention relates particularly to improvements in the construction of
various parts of electric gas-lighters wherein the ignition is obtained by means
of that class of static inductive generator known as the "Voss" "Varley" and
"Wimshurst" machines, parts of the said invention being also applicable for other
purposes where machines of this class are employed.
The invention consists
First in the use of light contact springs formed of very thin metal such as tin,
copper, or brass foil and attached to the inner cylinder in such a way that when
the cylinder is revolved a sweeping contact is made with the contact pieces placed
on the inner surface of the outer case.
These light springs act partly by their elasticity and in part by the centrifugal
force developed by the high speed at which they revolve. They are attached to
the inner cylinder by being passed through narrow slots cut therein and secured
on the inside; they are then bent tangentially to the circumference of the cylinder
and in an opposite direction to its revolution. The tin foil carriers are then
cemented inside the cylinder with their upper ends over the fixed ends of the
springs, and in electrical contact with them,
.
When it is desirable to increase the length of the springs so as to get an even
greater lightness of contact, the top of the cylinder may be contracted and the
springs attached to the contracted part, or a separate piece of ebonite may be used
to support the springs which in its turn can be attached to the cylinder; or a recess
may be formed in the interior of the outer case where the collecting contact pieces
can be placed so that a space is left to allow of the expansion and flying out of the
longer springs.

page_text: In some cases the springs may be replaced by brushes of fine wire or tinsel
thread, which of course will act by their springiness and in part by centrifugal
motion.
Secondly. The invention consists in an improved disposition of the working
parts whereby the whole apparatus is simplified-the upper metal cap serving both
to support the sparking tube and to hold the actuating mechanism, the outer case
then serving as a handle.
Thirdly. In the following improvements in the details of the actuating mechanism
which is all arranged on one base plate made to fit into the cap. This cap or metal
case is wide at the bottom and screwed to fit the outer ebonite case, and contracted
at the top to allow the sparking tube to fit or screw therein. The base plate of
the mechanism is fitted on the top with an insulating piece of ebonite and through
both is passed an ebonite bush carrying a contact spring which establishes con-
nection between one of collecting contact pieces and the central wire of sparking
tube. When the cap is screwed on the case the other collecting piece comes into
electrical connection with the cap (and so with the tube) by means of a screwed
stud.
The details of the actuating mechanism are (a) either a sliding plate on one side
of which is cut a rack to gear with a pinion (to be described) or else a quadrant,
working from a pivot, with suitable teeth to gear with the pinion.
If the rack is used a thumb button may be attached to it, the plate projecting
sufficiently through a slot in the cap, or the plate may be bent at right angles to
form a convenient push for the thumb.
If the quadrant is preferred an arm may form part of it and project through a
slot in the cap to which a button can be attached and the quadrant worked by a
downward and sideway push at the same time from the thumb, or a separate push
piece may be used working straight in and out by suitable guides, the end sliding
on one side of the quadrant.. To the quadrant or rack plate a suitable retractile
spring is attached, (b) a suitable pinion gearing with the rack or quadrant to which
is attached a ratchet wheel; concentric with the pinion is a driving wheel on which
is fixed a spring and a click to fall in the ratchet; and (c) a driven spindle
(which is attached to the inner cylinder) formed out of pinion wire or having
pinion leaves cut on its end to gear with the driving wheel. The action is as
follows When the push is pressed, the rack or quadrant communicates a rotary
motion to the driving wheel through being held to it by the ratchet and click.
The driving wheel being geared to the second pinion confers a quick speed to the
inner cylinder. When the pressure of the thumb is taken off the push, the spring
by its retraction brings the push to its normal position and the ratchet slipping
over the click allows the inner cylinder to rotate in the one direction until its
momentum is expended.

page_text: Applicable also for other Purposes where Ignition by the
Induction of Static Electricity is desired.
We CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE Engineer and HERBERT JOHN COATES Electrician,
both of Cleggs Court Chapel Street Salford in the County of Lancaster do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS, FOR,
LIGHTING GAS BY ELECTRICITY APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHERE
IGNITION BY THE INDUCTION OF STATIO ELECTRICITY IS DESIRED" 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 particularly to improvements in the construction of
various parts of electric gas lighters wherein the ignition is obtained by means
of that class of static inductive generators known as the "Voss"-" Varley.".and
"Wimshurst" machines, parts of the said invention being also applicable for other'
purposes where machines of this class are employed.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or inay be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood.
we have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation.
In the annexed drawings (which illustrate the application of our invention to an
electric gas lighter) Fig. I. is an elevation of the inner revolving cylinder detached
Fig. 2. is a transverse section of the outer casing with the inner cylinder in its
place. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper cap and part of the
sparking tube showing also in elevation the actuating mechanism. Fig. 4. is a
similarly enlarged underneath plan view of the same and Fig. 5 is an elevation of
the external appearance of our improved gas lighter complete drawn to a smaller
scale.
Our invention consists first in the use of light contact springs a, a (Figs. 1, and 2)
formed of very thin metal such as tin copper or brass foil and attached to the inner
cylinder b, b in such a way that when the cylinder is revolved a sweeping contact
is made with the contact pieces c, c (Fig. 2) placed on the inner surface of the outer
case d, d. These light springs a, a act partly by their elasticity and in part by the
centrifugal force developed by the high speed at which they revolve.
They are attached to the inner cylinder b, b by being passed through narrow
slots cut therein and secured on the inside; they are then bent tangentially to the
circumference of the cylinder b, b and in an opposite direction to its revolution
(see Fig. 2) The tinfoil carriers or contact pieces c, c are then cemented inside the.
cylinder b, b with their upper ends over the inner fixed ends of the springs a, a
and in electric contact with them.

page_text: When it is desirable to increase the length of the springs a, a so as to obtain an
even greater lightness of contact the upper part of the cylinder b, b may be con
tracted in diameter and the springs a, a attached to this contracted part; or &
separate cylindrical piece or ring of ebonite may be used to support the springs a, a
and attached to the inside of the upper end of the cylinder b, b; or an annular
recess may be formed in the interior of the outer case d, d wherein the collecting
contact pieces can be placed so that a space is left to allow of the expansion and
flying out of these longer springs.
In some cases the springs may be replaced by brushes of fine wire, or tinsel
thread, which of course must be so made and applied that they will act partly by
their springiness or resiliency, and in part by centrifugal force.
Secondly the invention consists in an improved construction and disposition of
the working parts whereby the whole apparatus is simplified.
The upper metal cap e, e (see Figs. 3. 4. and 5) is so made as to serve to support
both the sparking tube f, fand to hold the actuating mechanism, the outer case d, d
then serving as a handle.
Thirdly in the following improvements in the details of the actuating mechanism
which is all arranged on one base plate g, g made to fit into the cap, e, e. This cap
or metal case is made wide. at the bottom and screwed inside (see Fig. 3) to fit the
outer ebonite case d, d, and is contracted at the top to allow the sparking tube f, f
to fit or screw therein. The base plate g, g of the mechanism is fitted on the top
with an insulating piece of ebonite h, h and through both is passed an ebonite
bush i, i carrying a contact spring k, k which establishes connection between one
of the collecting contact pieces c, c and the central wire of the sparking tube f, f.
When the cap e, e is screwed on the case d, d the other collecting piece comes
into electrical connection with the cap e, e (and so with the tube f, ƒ) by means of
a screwed stud, passing through the ebonite case d, d.
The details of the actuating mechanism are (a) either a sliding plate on one side
of which is cut a rack to gear with the pinion 1, 1 (hereinafter described) or else
(as shown at Figs. 3 and 4) a quadrant m, m working on a pivot at n with suitable
teeth to gear with the pinion l, l.
If the straight rack is used a thumb button may be attached to it, the plate
projecting sufficiently through a slot on the cap e, e for that purpose or the plate
may be bent at right angles so as to form a convenient "push" for the thumb.
If the quadrant m, m (which we prefer) is used we employ a separate push
piece m*, m* which works straight in and out guided by a pin o, o in the slotted
plate p, p the end of the said piece m*, m* sliding on one side of the quadrant m, m,
to which latter a suitable retractible spring q, q is attached. (b) A suitable pinion
gearing with a rack or quadrant m, m to which is attached a ratchet wheel; con-
centric with this pinion is a driving wheel r, r on the back of which is fixed a
spring and a click to fall into the teeth of the ratchet, and (c) A driven spindle or
pinion *, * (which is attached to the inner cylinder b, b) formed out of pinion
wire, or having pinion leaves or teeth cut on its end to gear with the driving
wheel r, r.
The action is as follows: When the push m*, m* is pressed, the rack,
or the quadrant m, m communicates a rotary motion to the driving wheel r, r
through being held to it by the ratchet wheel and click. The driving wheel r, r,
being geared to the second pinion *, * confers a quick speed to the inner
cylinder b, b. When the pressure of the thumb is taken off the push mx, m*, the
spring 9, 9 by its retraction brings the "push" m*, m* to its normal position and
the ratchet slipping over the click allows the inner cylinder to rotate in one
direction until its momentum is expended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
"
Firot in annaratud for lighting by electricity the combination with the

page_text: contact springs either in the form of thin plates, brushes or otherwise, so constructed
and applied that they will act partly by their own resiliency and partly by
centrifugal force substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings annexed.
Secondly the combination of such light contact springs (acting partly by their
own resiliency and partly by centrifugal force) with the revolving cylinders or
discs of static inductive generaters of the "Voss," "Varley" or "Wimshurst" type
employed for other purposes.
Thirdly we claim the improved construction and disposition of the working parts
of electric gas lighters substantially as herein before described and illustrated
whereby the upper metal cap serves both to support the sparking tube and to hold
the actuating mechanism.
Fourthly. In an electric gas lighter, the combination of the base plate fitted in
the top cap, with the toothed rack or quadrant, toothed pinions driving wheel,
ratchet and click for actuating the revolving cylinder of the electro-static generator,
all constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicants.