IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rowan of Palace Chambers, in the city of
Westminster, Consulting Engineer, and Samuel Williams of Newport, in the
county of Monmouth for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rowan and Samuel
Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December
1882.
.
THOMAS ROWAN of Palace Chambers, in the city of Westminster, Consulting
Engineer, and. SAMUEL WILLIAMS, of Newport, in the county of Monmouth
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GAS, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
The object of our Invention is chiefly to provide a handy portable instrument for
igniting gas and the like, part of the improvements being applicable to other
purposes.
In carrying out.our invention for lighting gas we employ two sets of coils or
electro-magnets with a revolving armature constructed and arranged generally
upon the principle of a Dynamo-electric machine. The armature derives its
revolution from an ordinary spring and gearing for multiplying speed connected
therewith; said spring being in turn actuated; when required, by the common
process of winding up by hand, and allowed to escape for as long as may be
determined, by the release of a detent moved by a push terminating in a stud on
the outside of the case containing it.
We arrange the positions of the coils and armature of our small dynamo-electric
machine so that they will conveniently fit inside a tube of suitable dimensions, the
spring and gearing forming the base in slight extension of the diameter of the tube.
From the opposite end of the tube, proceeds a smaller tube in which may be fitted
other still smaller tubes. telescopically for increasing as need may require the length
of the instrument.
Suitably insulated wires are led from the dynamo-electric machine to the inner-
most of the smaller tubes in the end of which is arranged two or more parts or
--

page_text: pieces consisting of carbon or other conducting material to which motion, one upon
the other, (such as the revolution of two or three small discs upon their axes), may
by suitable connection with the source of motion in the instrument, be given, so as
to increase the volume and intensity of the.spark which is passed and continues to
pass for whatever space of time the spring actuating the dynamo-electric machine
may be allowed to escape.
Our instrument is so constructed as regards the power of the driving spring and
otherwise that once winding up. (which of course can be done by anybody and at
any time) will light a given number of gas jets for a definite time say, for
illustration, twenty for every day during a month, without re-winding.
The hereinbefore described dynamo-electric machine may be applied to other
purposes such as for signalling by telephone bells and other signalling purposes and
otherwise where a battery is now used
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Rowan and Samuel Williams in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th June 1883.
THOMAS ROWAN of Palace Chambers in the city of Westminster, Consulting
Engineer and SAMUEL WILLIAMS of Newport in the county of Monmouth
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IGNITING GAS, PART OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
•
The object of our invention is chiefly to provide a handy portable instrument for
igniting gas and the like, part of the improvements being applicable to other
purposes.
In carrying out our invention for lighting gas we employ two sets of coils or
electro-magnets with a revolving armature constructed and arranged generally upon
the principle of a Dynamo-electric machine. The armature derives its revolution
from an ordinary spring and gearing for multiplying speed connected therewith;
said spring being in turn actuated, when required, by the common process of winding
up by hand, and allowed to escape for as long as may be determined, by the release
of a detent moved by a push terminating in a stud on the outside of the case
containing it.
"
.
We arrange the positions of the coils and armature of our small dynamo-electric
machine so that they will conveniently fit inside a tube of suitable dimensions, the
spring, and gearing generally forming the base. From the opposite end of the
tube proceeds a smaller tube in which may be fitted other still smaller tubes
telescopically for increasing as need may require the length of the instrument.
Suitably insulated wires are led from the dynamo-electric machine to the inner-
most of the smaller tubes in the end of which is arranged two or more parts or
pieces consisting of carbon or other conducting material to which motion may by
suitable connection with the source of motion in the instrument, be given, so as
A
to
12

page_text: create and establish a small arc-light which is maintained and continues to be
maintained for whatever space of time the spring actuating the dynamo-electric
machine may be allowed to escape.
Our instrument is so constructed as regards the power of the driving spring and
otherwise that once winding up (which of course can be done by anybody and at
any time) will light a given number of gas jets for a definite time say, for
illustration, twenty for every day during a month without re-winding.
. The hereinbefore described dynamo-electric machine may be applied to other
purposes such as for signalling by telephone bells and other signalling purposes and
otherwise where a battery is now used.
A modification of our invention dispenses with the spring motor and is so
arranged as regards the gearing which is connected with the armature that a push
on a stud with the finger as the instrument is held in the hand imparts sufficient
speed to the dynamo for the generation of the momentary spark or current as may
be required.
Having thus described our invention and the manner of performing the same
what we claim is :-
Firstly. The herein described improved portable instrument for igniting gas and
the like constructed arranged and operating substantially as described.
Secondly. The use of the dynamo electric machine herein described for signalling
by telephone bells and for other signalling purposes.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Rowan for myself and on behalf of
the said Samuel Williams have hereto set my hand and seal this thirteenth
day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
three
THOMAS ROWAN (LS.)