IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MODES AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING COCKS AND VALVES, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF STREET AND OTHER LAMPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Owen, of the City of Coventry, in the County
"
of Warwick, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
MODES AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING COCKS AND VALVES,
ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF STREET
AND OTHER LAMPS."
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 17th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Owen at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
SAMUEL OWEN, of the City of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MODES AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING
AND CLOSING COCKS AND VALVES, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE LIGHTING
AND EXTINGUISHING OF STREET AND OTHER LAMPS."
The object of this Invention is to apply machinery or apparatus to cocks and
valves in such a manner that when the said machinery is set or regulated in a
certain definite manner, which may conveniently be indicated on an index or dial, it
shall at a certain time open or close such cock or valve.
As applied to cocks or valves for street and other lamps, I may light the same by
making use of a small branch or side pipe, which starts from below the cock or valve
and reaches to within a short distance of the main burner, as has heretofore been
proposed for lighting such lamps; but according to my Invention I protect the small
burner or lighting flame against the wind by means of a kind of lantern or envelope
enclosing the same, this envelope being formed with one or more apertures below
for the entry of air and being at the top nearly closed, but there formed with one or
more fine apertures through which the flame from the small burner can project, the
said top of the envelope being some little distance above the small burner.
According to this Invention I open and close the cock or valve, say of a street or
other lamp, by wheel or clock work operated by spring or weight; the machinery is
enclosed, and has a dial or index with one or more hands or pointers.

page_text: According to one arrangement I use two wheels or sets of wheels, each connected
to its hand on the same or on two separate dials marked with numbers like an
ordinary clock dial, and I connect each set of wheels with appliances similar to
ordinary hour striking gear, and with an escapement or equivalent means for regu-
lating. The striking gear I connect with the cock or valve, so that to whatever
hour the one hand is set on the dial the striking gear then set in motion shall open
the cock or valve by means of ratchet gear or other suitable mechanism, and to
whatever hour the other hand is set on the dial the same or corresponding striking
gear then set in motion shall shut the cock or valve.
By my Invention I am thus enabled to light and extinguish any or all the lamps,
say, in a street, or town, or place at any desired hour, all according as the hands on
the dial are set, and similarly to extinguish them or any number of them at any set
hour.
The machinery may be arranged to be wound up or set going, say, once a week,
or at any other suitable intervals.
Machinery, operating as above described, may be applied to many other modes of
lighting lamps than the one just referred to. Thus, for instance, a strip of paper or
other material, having small portions of explosive igniting material fixed thereto at
regular intervals, may be operated by a hammer or equivalent striking appliance at
the required time for lighting the lamp, the said strip of paper being placed in
suitable proximity to the lamp burner and propelled the required distance each time
the cock is opened.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th October
1878.
SAMUEL OWEN, of the City of Coventry, in the County of Warwick. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MODES AND APPARATUS FOR OPENING
AND CLOSING COCKS AND VALVES, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE LIGHTING
AND EXTINGUISHING OF STREET AND OTHER LAMPS."
The main object of this Invention is to apply machinery or apparatus to cocks
and valves in such a manner that when the said machinery is set or regulated in a
certain definite manner, which may conveniently be indicated on an index or dial, it
shall at a certain time open or close such cock or valve.
As applied to cocks or valves for street and other lamps, I may light the
same by making use of a small branch or side pipe, which starts from below
the cock or valve and reaches to within a short distance of the main burner;
as has heretofore been proposed, for lighting such lamps, but according to my
Invention I protect the small burner or lighting flame against the wind by
means of a kind of lantern or envelope enclosing the same, this envelope being
formed with one or more apertures below for the entry of air, and being at the
top nearly closed, but there formed with one or more fine apertures through which
the flame from the small burner can project the said top of the envelope, being some
little distance above the small burner.
This part of my Invention in several of its applications is illustrated by Figures 1
to 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is an outside elevation of the burner part with regulator and tap of an
ordinary street lamp fitted with my improved lantern or envelope a on the auxiliary
pipe b, which starts from below the tap c and terminates with its small burner
nipple e some little distance below and by the side of the main burner nipple d.
The lantern a has several apertures below for the entry of air all round, and
contracted at top by the inward bent leaves or cut-out parts of the envelope. The
burner e has a very fine aperture for a small lighting flame, which is always burning,
and which when the gas is turned on to the main burner d serves to light this
latter; the tap c may be opened and closed in the ordinary manner by the lamp-
lighter.
The taps c of all the lamps in any place, or any number of same fitted as just
described with auxiliary pipe b and cap a, may be turned on simultaneously by
suitable pneumatic pressure, or vacuum, or hydraulic, or electric appliances instead.
of one by one by the lamplighters.
Figure 2 illustrates a mode of accomplishing this object. f is a branch pipe from
say, a pneumatic or hydraulic main, proceeding say from the town gas works, and
leading to all the streets in a town or place there is a branch from same to each.
street lamp. The pipe fis connected to a small cylinder h clamped on or secured:
to the gas pipe, or any other convenient manner, and having an easy-fitting piston g
with piston rod u passing out through a guide gland on the cover; is a ratchet
lever passing through an eye in the piston rod n and having its fulcrum loosely on
the plug of the lap c, to which latter is fixed a ratchet wheel with four teeth; k is
a pawl acting against same; and m, a spring for holding the pawl k against the.
wheel l.
For opening all the cocks c simultaneously air pressure is admitted to the main.
and hence to all the branch pipes f; the pistons are thereby pressed or thrown.
upwards and the pawls k give the ratchet wheels 1, and hence also the plugs of the
cocks c a quarter turn, thereby opening all the cocks c, which are then also simul-.
taneously lighted by the small burners e.
When the air-pressure cock or valve at the gas works or other place is turned off
the pistons g will all descend again, carrying the pawl levers with them, but without
moving the plugs of the cocks c.

page_text: For turning off all the cocks simultaneously the same operation is simply repeated
by again admitting air pressure to the main and branch pipes, whereby the plugs of
all the cocks are turned another quarter of a turn, thereby closing them. To open
them all again repeat the same operation, and so on. It will thus be observed that
to close them all when open, or to open them all when closed requires one and the
same operation, that is, simply to open a cock or valve, say, at the gas works, or any
other convenient place, and then a few moments later to close it.
Instead of cylinders I may use leather bellows h, as shewn at Figure 3, clamped
on or otherwise secured to the gas pipe; or, hollow elastic diaphragm appliances
may be used.
Sometimes, as shown in Figure 4, I apply a lantern a similar to the one described
to the main burner d, and I make it to slide on the gas pipe o. The envelope or
lantern a is here made spring-like or fitted with springs, that is, so as to close
automatically when pushed up above the burner nipple d, as shown in Figure 4 in
full lines. In that position it fulfils the same function as when used with the
auxiliary burner e, Figures 1 and 2, that is, it shields the flame against the wind.
Figure 5 shows the construction of the plug of the cock c. In this arrangement
it is formed with a very fine groove all round the middle, admitting gas to the
burner d in all positions, even when the cock c is closed, the minute quantity of gas
admitted in that latter case being sufficient to maintain a weak burner flame, which
is protected by the raised envelope or lantern a.
When the burner is to give out its light the plug of the cock c is turned one-
quarter of a turn, so as to be fully opened, and by preference simultaneously there-
with the envelope a is lowered. Both these actions may be performed simultaneously
by means of the already-described pneumatic arrangement; his pneumatic cylinder
(or it may be bellows or hollow diaphragm appliance).
When the piston g and piston rod n are raised the ratchet lever i gives the ratchet
wheel a quarter of a turn, thus operating the plug of the cock c; on the plug there
is also fixed a tooth wheel which gears with a tooth wheel q; the latter being
half the size makes half a revolution, and the crank pin r on the fly wheel ¹ on the
spindle of the pinion 7 being connected by the rods to the sliding, lantern a, this
latter is lowered, and the gas being turned on fully the light is visible. Then shut
off the air supply. By again admitting it the envelope a is raised and the plug of
cock c shut off, but the groove in the plug admits gas enough to the burner d for a
small flame, which is protected by the lantern a.
By leading one pipe, say, to all the lamps in any place, I light the whole simul-
taneously, or I prevent one or any number from lighting by putting one or any
number out of gear; or by leading separate pipes to, say, each half of the lamps in
any place, I am enabled when required or desired to light, say, only half the lamps
simultaneously just when it begins to get dark, and the other half say, an hour or
two later when it is getting quite dark; or the lamps may be divided off into sets
in other proportions; again, towards the morning half of the lamps may be put out
simultaneously, and the rest later on. To effect a quick action one or more air-
pressure accumulators may be used.
According to this Invention, and in combination or not, with the part of this
Invention already described, I also open and close the cock or valve, say, of a street
or other lamp, by wheel or clockwork operated by spring or weight; the machinery
is enclosed, and has a dial or index with one or more hands or pointers.
According to one arrangement I use two wheels or sets of wheels, each connected
to its hand on the same or on two separate dials, marked with numbers like an
ordinary clock dial, and I connect each set of wheels with appliances similar to
ordinary hour-striking gear, and with an escapement or equivalent means for regu-
lating.
The striking gear I connect with the cock or valve, so that to whatever hour the
one hand is set on the dial the striking gear then set in motion shall open the cock
or valve by means of ratchet gear or other suitable mechanism, and to whatever

page_text: hour the other hand is set on the dial the same or corresponding striking gear then
set in motion shall shut the cock or valve.
Figure 6 shews an arrangement for turning on or off the gas by clockwork,
the lantern being also operated at the same time so as to slide down or up as
required.
Figure 7 is a part plan of the clock with case. A is the clockwork case,
which by preference is annular and screwed on to the gas pipe leading to the burner d,
as shewn; 1, 2, and 3, are hands on a dial on the top of the box A, divided and
marked in 24 parts for the twenty-four hours. One hand 1 is in connection with the
clockwork proper and indicates the time of day or night, the other two, 2 and 3,
are connected to gear which may be similar to ordering hour striking gear, and
which only comes into action at set times and then turns the plug of the cock c and
raises or lowers the lantern a. One of the hands 2 and 3 is set to the time p.m.
that the lamp is to be lit, and the others to the time a.m. that the lamp is to be put
out (or rather, as I prefer it, lowered to a very small flame, as already named).
"
The arrangement in connection with this "striking gear for effecting these
purposes may be, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the former being a part section,
and the latter a part plan. 4 is a bolt or bar which at one end is fastened to the
plate or cross bar 5-(shewn in dotted lines slanting across Figure 9), and at the
other end carries a catch lever, which is held in a notch in a cam by means of a
spiral spring, and which also retains a catch in connection with a fan or fly, such as
is used in the ordinary bell striking gear of a clock. The cam 8 is connected with
the clockwork proper and with the hand 1, and performs two revolutions in the
twenty-four hours, when it comes in contact with one of the cams 6 or 7 (which are
respectively connected with the hands 2 and 3). It is depressed by one of these cains
riding on it, when the bolt 4 is pushed in the direction of the arrow by one of the
cams 6 or 7 pressing against and riding on the cam 8 on the tooth wheel 9, which
is always in gear with the deep pinion 10; the fly is released, and the mechanism
(which is to turn the plug of the cock c and raise or lower the lantern a) set going
by the fusee or other spring; the catch is pushed out of its notch, the cam makes a
revolution (and operates the plug and lantern), the catch falls into its notch again,
and stops till the next time the bolt 4 is operated again by one of the cams 6 or 7.
The other end of the plate or cross bar 5 is guided on the bar 11, the spiral spring
on which tends to bring it back into its normal position.
Referring again to Figures 6 and 7, the mechanism just described, and which is
all contained in the box A, is connected to the spindle 12 and so arranged that it,
when set going by one of the cams 6 or 7 shall make one-fourth of a revolution,
whereby, through the mitre wheels 13 and 14, the plug of the cock receives a
fourth of a turn also. The spur wheel 15 on the plug gears with a pinion 16
of half the diameter, and on the spindle of the latter there is a crank 17 which
by_rod 18 imparts the required raising or lowering motion to the lantern a.
I may actuate any sort of valve, or cock, or appliance for admitting or shutting.
off wholly or partially the supply of gas to the burner, or for otherwise lighting or
extinguishing the light in street lamps, or I may operate any sort of cock or valve
for any other purpose.
By means of clockwork constantly going, but operating a mechanism at any
desired and before-hand fixed or set hour, I am also enabled by electricity to
start and stop the clockwork for moving the carbons in electric lamps, say, all the
lamps in a town, or any proportion of them, as required at a time.
The machinery may be arranged to be wound up or set going, say once a week,
or at any other suitable intervals.
By my Invention I am thus enabled to light and extinguish any or all the lamps,
say, in a street, or town, or place, at any desired hour, all according as the hands on
the dial are set, and similarly to extinguish them, or any number of them, at any
set hour.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
that I claim,-

page_text: First. The application of clockwork to street and other lamps, so that such clock-
work shall at a set time automatically cause such lamps to be lighted, lowered, or
extinguished, substantially as set forth.
.Second. The construction of lamp-burner lantern, as set forth, and its application
to the burner, or to an auxiliary burner.
Third. The application of a lamp-burner lantern, constructed as set forth, in com-
bination with means for raising and lowering such lamp lantern, as set forth.
Fourth. The application of a lamp-burner lantern, constructed as set forth, in
combination with means for opening and closing the gas-burner cock, as set forth.
Fifth. The application of clockwork to a cock or valve for a street or other lamp,
or for any other purpose or object, so that such clockwork shall at a set time auto-
matically cause the cock to be closed or opened, and, if required, also the lantern
fitted to the burner to be raised or lowered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Owen, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
SAMUEL OWEN. (L.S.)