Improvements in the Means of Attaching Metal Contacts in Electrically Controlled and other Gas Burners.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL DIPUIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Attaching Metal Contacts in
Electrically Controlled and other Gas Burners.
FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN of 238 Tottenham Court Road London
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means of attaching metal contacts
to the "steatite" or refractory tip of gas burners in which the gas is ignited by
means of an electric current and can be used either in conjunction with apparatus
whereby the valve or gas cock is actuated by means of electricity or with burners
where other means of controlling the gas is used.
My object is to provide a cheap and ready method of supplying and replacing
that part of gas burners wherein the gas is lit by means of heating a piece of
platinum or other metal wire offering a great resistance to the electric current and
thereby getting hot and igniting the gas.
One of the most important points, that I desire to protect in this invention, is
the right of moulding in the refractory tip or "steatite" one or more pieces of
metal strip or wire which will form contacts for leading the current through that
portion of the circuit which is desired to be made hot for the purpose of igniting
the gas. For use under certain conditions I mould in the said refractory tip or
"steatite two pieces of metal passing down on each side of the hole or slot
through which the gas passes and on two sides of the lower part of the said
refractory tip a V shaped part is made and to each side of which, the ends of
the said two pieces of metal come through and are either flatted out to form (or
are connected with) two small contact plates.
"
The circuit through the burner is made by this V shaped part with the two
separate contact parts attached thereto, becoming in contact with two other
contact plates that are provided within the body or case of the burner and thus
form the circuit.
After having placed the refractory tip with its two contact plates into its. right
position in the body or case of the burner, I prefer placing a little brass circular
cap over a shoulder that is provided in the refractory tip and securely fixing the
same to the case of the burner.
In some instances where the body or case of the burner is used to form part of
the circuit I may dispense with 1 piece of wire being moulded in the refractory tip
and in that case one wire only need become in contact with a contact plate inside
the burner (but insulated from the case or body of the burner) and the other end of
the platinum wire or attachment thereto can be arranged so as to come in contact
with the case or body of the burner and thus complete the circuit. I desire to
explain that I claim the right of using the two contacts that are attached to or
moulded in the refractory tip so that they may be arranged either in series or
parallel with whatever electrical or other apparatus may be used for actuating the
valve or cock of gas burners.

page_text: Improvements in the Means of Attaching Metal Contacts in
Electrically Controlled and other Gas Burners.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD BOARDMAN, of 238 Tottenham Court Road, in the
County of London, Electrical 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means of attaching or securing
metal contacts or circuit connections to stentite or other refractory tips of gas
burners, by means of which (together with a resistance in the circuit at the tip,
such as platinum wire) the gas is ignited on the passage of electricity in the
circuit, in the well known manner. The present invention can be used either in
conjunction with apparatus whereby the gas is turned on or off by electrically
operated devices, or it may be used with burners where other means of controlling
the gas are employed. My object is to provide a cheap and ready method or
special article of manufacture whereby that part of gas burners most liable to get
out of order, the tip, may be easily supplied or replaced.
In the further description of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a sectional elevation,
Fig. 4 a plan of the top, and Fig. 5 a sectional plan of the tip of a bats-wing
burner made with a plug base, shod at the base with two inclined metal contact
pieces arranged in a wedge like manner, the contact pieces and vertical metal
pillars being placed oppositely.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation, Fig. 7 a side elevation, Fig. 8 the same but partly in
section, Fig. 9 a plan, and Fig. 10 a sectional plan of the tip of a bats-wing burner
having a flat or table shaped base. In this example, the two metal circuit
connections or vertical pillars are placed at one end of the burner, rather close
together, instead of exactly opposite as in the former example of the plug shaped
base tip. But in the further modification shown by Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive (which
otherwise respectively correspond in all particulars to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive) the
two metal connections or vertical pillars are placed oppositely, as in the first
example.
In these figures, a represents the steatite or refractory tip of the burner, b the
vertical pillars which form the metal circuit connections, 6 the inclined metal
contact pieces in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and c indicates the resistance in the circuit, or
platinum wire, which connects the upper portion of the pillars 6 in close proximity
to the gas orifice, and this wire being heated by the current energy lights the gas,
in the well known manner.
In carrying the invention into effect the two vertical pillars, conveniently made
of brass wire, are placed or moulded in their respective positions in the steatite or
other refractory material, during the process of making the tip; or sometimes
suitable orifices are made in the said material, and the vertical pillars are placed
in position subsequently, and secured there by screw attachments, (as in Figs. 8
and 13), riveting, or in any other convenient manner. The platinum wire is
securely attached to the top of the two pillars in such a manner that the wire will
cross the gas orifice, as in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 11, 12 and 14, or be in close proximity
thereto, so that the issuing jet of gas will strike the heated wire and thus become
ignited. The latter arrangement is indicated in Figs. 6, 7 and 9.
The tips are usually mounted in a metal body or case, within which the circuit
conductors (or conductor if the base itself is in the circuit) are (or is) placed and

page_text: insulated in any known manner. The electrical connection is also made with the
vertical pillars by means of spring or other contacts against the inclined metal
plates b', as indicated by the arrangement in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; or by suitably
attaching the conductors to the screw or nut indicated at the under side of the
sections Figs. 8 and 13; or in any other convenient manner.
After placing the refractory tip, with its contacts, in the required position in the
body or case of the burner, I prefer to secure it in position by a cap screwing over
a shoulder formed on the tip; but as I make no claim to this, it is not shown in the
drawings.
It is to be noted that my improvements are restricted to the arrangements
described and shown in relation to the tips of gas burners, whereby the improved
tips can be readily supplied to or removed from the body or base of the burner.
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 :-
The herein described improved manufacture of gas burner tips, comprising a tip
of refractory material combined with two vertical pillars or circuit connections
passing through the said refractory material, with a resistance between the outer
portion.or ends of the said pillars, and adapted to connect with the electric circuit
at the lower or inner end of the said pillars, substantially as specified and shown in
the drawings.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
37 and 39, Essex Street, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.