New or Improved Electrical Lighting or Igniting Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Electrical Lighting or Igniting Apparatus.
1, ERNEST OLDENBOURG, of 1 Dowgate Hill in the City of London, Merchant,
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 apparatus for obtaining a light by means of electricity.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an
apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, Figure 2 is a plan of same
and Figure 3 a horizontal section taken on the line X-x of Figure 1.
A represents the upper part of a vessel or cell of any suitable shape made of
glass, earthenware, or other material adapted to resist the action of the electrolyte
it is intended to contain. B is a cover screwed or otherwise secured on the top of
the vessel or cell A. This cover may be made of metal and forms the base upon
which the various parts of the apparatus are secured. C is a post rising from the
cover B and having a laterally projecting arm D, to the outer end of which is
secured a spirit lamp E preferably provided with two wicks F, G. The larger or
primary wick G is the one to which the lighting or igniting effect of the
apparatus is to be applied in the first instance, and the smaller wick F is a
secondary one intended to be ignited from the primary one G as will be hereinafter
described.
H is an extinguisher for the primary wick G. It is pivoted to the arm D at I
so that it can be raised from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 into that
shown in dotted lines in order to uncover the wick G when it is desired to obtain a
light by means of the apparatus.
The electrical arrangements are as follows:-J, J are two carbon or other
suitable rods forming the negative element of a battery, and K is the zine or
other suitable positive element. The latter is mounted on a metallic rod Ladapted
to slide in a hole in the boss B₁ attached to the cover B, but is insulated from
the plate J¹ to which the negative elements J are attached and through which it
passes in the arrangement shown. The rod L is provided with a head or
bandlo L', and a coiled spring M keeps the said rod L and the positive element K
norinally in the elevated position shown, and out of the electrolyte contained in
the vessel or cell A. N is a post placed in close proximity to the primary wick G.
This post is in electrical connection through the arm D, post C, cover B, boss B¹
and rod L with the positive element K. The negative elements J J are secured
to the cover B as is also the post C with its arm D by means of the bolt l' and
nuts P', which bolt is however, insulated from the cover B and post C, and serves
as a conductor from the negative elements. From the top of this bolt a conducting
wire Q leads to a post R which is insulated from the arm D but is connected by
a fine platinum wire S with the post N.
It will now be understood that when the positive element K is in the position
shown in Figure 1, out of contact with the electrolyte in the vessel or cell A, no
electric current is generated; but on pressing down the rod L the positive
element K is immersed more or less in the sail electrolyte and a current of
electricity is generated, which heats the platinum wire to incandescence and this
ignites the vapour given off by the primary wick G, the extinguisher H having
been removed from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 to that shown by

page_text: dotted lines in the same figure by the action upon it of the lever T and link U
operated by the rod L as the lattor is pressed downwards. The flame produced
by the ignition of the vapour at the primary wick G then ignites the vapour at
the oud of the wick F and the flame thereby produced at F may remain alight as
long as may be required and the electric current having produced the required
effect may then be stopped by allowing the rod L to be pushed up by its spring M
thereby raising the positive element K out of the electrolyte so as to open the
circuit, and causing the extinguisher to be restored to the position showa in
full lines whereby the larger flame at G in extinguished and oxidation of the
parts N, R and S by the action of such flame thus prevented. When the
smaller flame at F has served its purpose it may be blown out or otherwise
extinguished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An electric lighting or igniting device which consists of a galvanic battery
provided with devices for holding the positive element normally out of contact
with the electrolyte but enable it to be immersed therein when required and a
spirit lamp provided with a platinum igniting wire connected with the positive
and negative elements of the galvanic battery, combined and operating substantially
as described.
Second. In an electric lighting or igniting apparatus of the kind herein
described the combination with the device for holding the positive element
normally out of contact with the electrolyte, and for enabling it to be immersed
therein when required, of devices for actuating the extinguisher of the lamp,
substantially as described.
Third. In an electrio lighting or igniting apparatus of the kind herein described
the use of a lamp with two wicks one provided with an electric igniting device
and the other adapted to be ignited from the first aud to continue burning after
the first or primary burner has been extinguished, substantially as described.
Fourth. Electric lighting or igniting apparatus constructed and operating
substantially as described.
Dated this 19th don of November 1900
E.
OLDENBOURG,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.