LIGHTING STREET AND OTHER GAS LAMPS AUTOMATICALLY
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOSEPH JOHN BUTCHER, of 4, St Nicholas' Buildings, in the City and County
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for LIGHTING STREET AND OTHER GAS LAMPS AUTOMATICALLY to be as follows:-
I employ a small permanent flame (called sometimes a jockey flame, or master
light) beside the burner which has to be lighted, which is protected from the wind
and from draughts by suitable casing, and is so situated that when the principal
gas burner has its gas supply turned on, this gas, as it emerges from the burner,
will be ignited.
To disconnect and connect the gas from the mains with the pipe leading to the
burner which is to be ignited by the permanent flame I utilize a difference of
pressure in the gas mains. To illustrate this method it may be assumed that
arrangements have been made at the gas works to have a pressure during the day-
light period of each twenty four hours equal to one and a half inches of water, and to
have a pressure during the dark hours equal to two and a half inches of water. To
utilize this difference of pressure for the purpose the apparatus is so constructed
that when the pressure of the gas in the mains is light, the junction between the
gas pipe leading to the burner and the gas from the mains shall be closed by a
liquid which acts as a valve, and prevents any gas flowing towards the burner.
When, however, the pressure in the mains is increased the junction between the
pipe leading to the burner and the pipe from the main is uncovered, so that the
gas from the latter flows freely into the former. When the liquid used for.
breaking the connection is relatively heavy (such as mercury is) the apparatus is'
so constructed that the pressure of the gas lifts the pipe leading to the burner, or
the junction between it and the pipe leading from the main, out of the liquid which
cuts the connection. When the liquid used for the purpose light (such as water,
spirit, oil, &c) the apparatus is so constructed that the pressure of the gas depresses
it sufficiently to make such connection, the operation being similar to the depression
of water in one arm of an ordinary water gauge used for testing gas pressures.
In the case of using a heavy liquid, such as mercury (which has the double
advantage of a low freezing point, and the absence of tendency to evaporate at
ordinary temperatures) the gas from the main is allowed to enter through a pipe
which discharges its gas beneath a glass (or other) inverted cup or bell, the sides of

page_text: which are vertical or nearly so, and dip into an annular channel filled or partially
filled with mercury. In the action of this apparatus the sides of the cup never
rise out of the mercury, which thus prevents any escape of the gas from beneath the
sides of the cup.
From the centre of this inverted cup a tube hangs down open at
the bottom end and closed at the top, and when the gas pressure is low this tube
dips into a second annular channel filled partly with mercury, which thus prevents
any gas passing into this hanging tube, while the inverted cup is in this position.
A second tube open at the bottom end passes up through the bottom of the
apparatus and enters this inverted tube, the two tubes being of such size
respectively that a free space is allowed for the gas to flow up the inverted tube
before it flows down the inner tube. The bottom of the inner tube is connected
with the pipe leading to the main gas jet. The weight of the inverted cup with its
hanging tube is supported by the gas pressure, and suitable guides are fitted so as
to allow of a free vertical movement of this portion of the apparatus without its
falling over or upsetting. Small weights are added where necessary upon the top
of the cup until the day pressure of gas fails to lift the inverted tube out of the
mercury into which it dips. When the pressure of the gas in the mains rises,
however, it overcomes the resistance of the weights to be lifted, and the inverted
cup and tube rise so that the latter is lifted out of the mercury, and permits the
gas to flow freely upwards, and then to escape through the inner tube to the
burner where it is at once ignited by the small permanent flame previously
described.
In the case of breaking the connection of the gas from the main by means of a
light liquid, the former is made to enter a tube partially filled with the liquid upon
which the gas presses this tube is in communication at the bottom with a second
and much larger reservoir into which the liquid has free ingress. The pressure of
the gas during the day will maintain the level of the liquid in the larger reservoir
(which is open at the top to the atmosphere) one and a half inches higher (or
thereabout) than the surface of the liquid in the smaller tube. When, however, the
gas pressure is increased to two and a half inches the level of the liquid in the tube
will fall until the differences of elevation between the surfaces of the liquid in the
tube and in the reservoir equals two and a half inches (or thereabout) and the
alteration of levels will have taken place without much affecting the surface level
in the receiver which is relatively large, but almost wholly by a change in the
level of the liquid in the tube which is relatively small.
This depression of level in the liquid contained in the gas tube brings the surface
below the junction of a small branch pipe opening into the gas tube first named by
means (preferably) of a long narrow aperture. This branch pipe may be of oblong
section (like a continuation of the long narrow slot bent upwards), the longer
transverse section of the pipe being from the upper towards the lower part of the
bend, so that any bubbles of gas that first enter the higher part of the slot may
tend to rise past the liquid along the higher part of the flatteued bend of the small
branch pipe, while the liquid in it has plenty of room to flow down the opposite
side of the pipe. This flattened branch pipe is preferably arranged to terminate in
a relatively large bulbe or trap within which any splashes of the liquid may be
caught. The bottom of this trap slopes downwards towards the branch pipe, so
that any liquid trapped may at once flow back again down the latter. An aperture
in the bulbe is formed for the escape of the gas towards the pipe leading to the
main gas jet, and is placed in such a position as not to be opposite to the flattened
pipe so that no splashes of liquid may enter it. The flattened pipe might be
substituted by two round pipes, one for the gas to flow up and the other for the
splashes of liquid to drain down, the latter emerging from the bulb and entering
the large gas pipe at lower levels than the former.
When the pressure of the gas in the large main pipe is light, and the level of the
liquid is above the slot, the liquid will be forced up the flattened gas -branch pipe
to the same level as that at which it is sustained in the receiver (so that it formes
an effectual plug to stop the gas entering), but when the surface of the liquid is

page_text: depressed below the level of the slot, bubbles of gas will at once rise up the
flattened gas branch and the liquid will flow downwards until the surface in the
branch pipe and the surface in the main gas pipe are upon a level with one
another, and thus an open communication is made between the main gas pipe and
the flattened gas branch, and a free flow of gas takes place towards the main gas
burner which is at once ignited by the jocky flame previously described. It is
obvious that, where desirable, the office of this jockey flame might be performed by
any ordinary electrical igniter.
In cases in which the gas is turned on by an inverted cup or bell being lifted by
the gas pressure out of a trough or annular channel of mercury, the portion of the
sides of the cup which work in the mercury may be made conical so as to slope
outwards and downwards, so that as the apparatus rises, and the weights of
successive portions of the sides emerging from the mercury have to be sustained by
the gas, a larger and larger area may be presented to the latter and acted upon
by its pressure so as to compensate for the increased weight which has to be
supported.
In cases in which water is used for cutting the connection as described, I take
means (such as sinking the apparatus in the ground, or otherwise protecting it
from cold) to prevent freezing taking place, and also may fit a feed valve, on the
principle of the floating ball cock, which will keep the level of the water in the
larger reservoir always up to the normal position by fresh supplies from the water
main, so as to compensate for the effect of evaporation. Where the variations in
level due to the direct influence of gaseous pressure are not sufficient, I multiply
these differences by using a float in a reservoir or pipe in which water is exposed
to the gaseous pressure as before described, and by connecting this float to a beam,
and hanging the apparatus which makes and breaks the gaseous connection by
means of water or other liquid as before described, I can obtain a greater move-
ment than could be got from the direct action of the gas. In this arrangement the
float is attached to one end of the beam, and the pipe to the other end which may
be longer.

page_text: Lighting Street and other Gas Lamps Automatically.
I JOSEPH JOHN BUTCHER of 4 St Nicholas Buildings, in the City and County
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for LIGHTING STREET AND OTHER GAS LAMPS AUTOMATICALLY, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
I employ a small permanent flame (called sometimes a jockey flame, or master
light) beside the burner which has to be lighted, which is protected from the wind
and from draughts by suitable casing; and is so situated that when the principal
gas burner has its gas supply turned on, this gas, as it emerges from the burner,
will be ignited.
To disconnect and connect the gas from the mains with the pipe leading to the
burner which is to be ignited by the permanent flame I utilize a difference of
pressure in the gas mains.
To illustrate this method it may be assumed that arrangements have been made
at the gas works to have a pressure during the daylight period of each twenty four
hours equal to one and a half inches of water, and to have a pressure during the
dark hours equal to two and a half inches of water. To utilize this difference of
pressure for the purpose the apparatus is so constructed that when the pressure of
the gas in the mains is light, the junction between the gas pipe leading to the
burner and the gas from the mains shall be closed by a liquid which acts as a
valve, and prevents any gas flowing towards the burner. When, however, the
pressure in the mains is increased the junction between the pipe leading to the
burner and the pipe from the main is uncovered, so that the gas from the latter
flows freely into the former. When the liquid used for breaking the connection is
relatively heavy (such as inercury is) the apparatus is so constructed that the
pressure of the gas lifts the pipe leading to the burner, or the junction between it
and the pipe leading from the main, out of the liquid which cuts the connection.
When the liquid used for the purpose is light (such as water, spirit, oil, &) the
apparatus is so constructed that the pressure of the gas depresses it sufficiently to
make such connection, the operation being similar to the depression of water in
one arm of an ordinary water gauge used for testing gas pre-sure.
In the case of using a heavy liquid such as mercury (which has the double
advantage of a low freezing point, and the absence of tendency to evaporate at
ordinary temperatures) the gas from the main is allowed to enter through a pipe
which discharges its gas beneath a glass (or other) inverted cup or bell, the sides of
which are vertical or nearly so, and dip into an annular channel filled or partially
filled with mercury. In the action of this apparatus the sides of the cup never
rise out of the mercury which thus prevents any escape of the gas from beneath
the sides of the cup. From the centre of this inverted cup a tube hangs down

page_text: open at the bottom end and closed at the top, and when the gas pressure is low
this tube dips into a second annular channel filled partly with mercury, which thus
prevents any gas passing into this hanging tube, while the inverted cup is in this
position. A second tube open at the bottom end passes up through the bottom of
the apparatus and enter this inverted tube, the two tubes being of such size
respectively that a free space is allowed for the gas to flow up the inverted tube
before it flows down the inner tube. The bottom of the inner tube is connected
with the pipe leading to the main gas jet. The weight of the inverted cup with
its hanging tube is supported by the gas pressure, and suitable guides are fitted so
as to allow of a free vertical movement of this portion of the apparatus without its
falling over or upsetting. Small weights are added where necessary upon the top
of the cup until the day pressure of gas fails to lift the inverted tube out of the
mercury into which it dips. When the pressure of the gas in the mains rises,
however, it overcomes the resistance of the weights to be lifted, and the inverted
cup and tube rise so that the latter is lifted out of the mercury, and permits the
gas to flow freely upwards, and then to escape through the inner tube to the
burner where it is at once ignited by the small permanent flame previously
described.
In the case of breaking the connection of the gas from the main by means of a
light liquid, the former is made to enter a tube partially filled with the liquid upon
which the gas presses, this tube is in communication at the bottom with a second
and much larger reservoir into which the liquid has free ingress. The pressure of
the gas during the day will maintain the level of the liquid in the larger reservoir
(which is open at the top to the atmosphere) one and a half inches higher (or
thereabouts) than the surface of the liquid in the smaller tube. When, however,
the gas pressure is increased to two and a half inches the level of the liquid in the
tube will fall until the difference of elevation between the surfaces of the liquid in
the tube and in the reservoir equals two and a half inches (or thereabouts) and the
alteration of levels will have taken place without much affecting the surface level
in the receiver which is relatively large, but almost wholly by a change in the level
of the liquid in the tube which is relatively small.
This depression of level in the liquid contained in the gas tube brings the surface
below the junction of a small branch pipe opening into the gas tube first named by
means (preferably) of a long narrow aperture. This branch pipe may be of oblong
section (like a continuation of the long narrow slot bent upwards), the longer
transverse section of the pipe being from the upper towards the lower part of the
bend, so that any bubbles of gas that first enter the higher part of the slot may
tend to rise past the liquid along the higher part of the flattened bend of the small
branch pipe, while the liquid in it has plenty of room to flow down the opposite
side of the pipe. This flattened branch pipe is preferably arranged to terminate in
a relatively large bulb or trap within which any splashes of the liquid may be
caught. The bottom of this trap. slopes downwards towards the branch pipe, so
that any liquid trapped may at once flow back again down the latter. An aperture
in the bulb is formed for the escape of the gas towards the pipe leading to the main
gas jet, and is placed in such a position as not to be opposite to the flattened pipe
so that no splashes of liquid may enter it. The flattened pipe might be substituted
by two round pipes, one for the gas to flow up and the other for the splashes of
liquid to drain down, the latter emerging from the bulb and entering the large gas
pipe at lower levels than the former.
When the pressure of the gas in the large main pipe is light, and the level of the
liquid is above the slot, the liquid will be forced up the flattened gas branch pipe
to the same level as that at which it is sustained in the receiver (so that it forms
an effectual plug to stop the gas entering), but when the surface of the liquid is
depressed below the level of the slot, bubbles of gas will at once rise up the
flattened gas branch and the liquid will flow downwards until the surface in the
branch pipe and the surface in the main gas pipe are upon a level with one

page_text: another, and thus an open communication is made between the main gas pipe and
the flattened gas branch, and a free flow of gas takes place towards the main gas
burner which is at once ignited by the jockey flame previously described. It is
obvious that, where desirable, the office of this jockey flame might be performed by
any ordinary electrical igniter.
In cases in which the gas is turned on by an inverted cup or bell being lifted by
the gas pressure out of a trough or annular channel of mercury, the portion of the
sides of the cup which work in the mercury may be made conical so as to slope
outwards and downwards, so that as the apparatus rises, and the weights of
successive portions of the sides emerging from the mercury have to be sustained by
the gas, a larger and larger area may be presented to the latter and acted upon
by its pressure so as to compensate for the increased weight which has to be
supported.
In cases in which water is used for cutting the connection as described, I take
means (such as sinking the apparatus in the ground, or otherwise protecting it from
cold) to prevent freezing taking place, and also may fit a feed valve, on the
principle of the floating ball cock, which will keep the level of the water in the
larger reservoir always up to the normal position by fresh supplies from the water
main, so as to compensate for the effect of evaporation. Where the variations in
level due to the direct influence of gaseous pressure are not sufficient, I multiply
these differences by using a float in a reservoir or pipe in which water is exposed
to the gaseous pressure as before described, and by connecting this float to a beam
and hanging the apparatus which makes and breaks the gaseous connection by
means of water or other liquid as before described, I can obtain a greater move-
ment than could be got from the direct action of the gas. In this arrangement
the float is attached to one end of the beam, and the pipe to the other end which
may be longer.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, are respectively a sectional elevation; a plan with the cover
removed partly in section; and a sectional plan (through the plane Y. Z figure 1)
of my apparatus as arranged for use with a heavy liquid sealing medium, such as
mercury. Figures 4 and 5 are a sectional elevation, and a sectional plan, viewed
from the bottom, of the essential part of my apparatus as arranged for use with a
light liquid, and figures 6 and 7 are a sectional elevation and sectional plan of a
somewhat more compact form of this latter type enclosed in a metal casing, and
with bye pass feed pipe complete.
In figures 1, 2, and 3, the boss A is screwed to fit the gas supply pipe from
which the gas passes to the passages B and C. From the branch passage C it
enters the pipe D which communicates with a small burner within the draught
guard E which keeps a flame of small size constantly burning for the purpose of
igniting the larger burner F. The burner F is supplied with gas from the
passage G which terminates in the pipe H within, the central tube of the valve I.
In the position in which the latter is shewn in figure 1 no gas can enter H as the
bottom edge of the tube J is immersed in, and sealed by, mercury. When,
however, the gas pressure has been raised sufficiently the valve I rises so as to
lift J out of the mercury (which is shewn by horizontal section lines) so that the
gas can ascend the tube J and enter H and thus reach the burner F which is then
ignited by the side light contained in E. At K weights are shewn which may be
adjusted to the pressure of gas at which the opening requires to take place. When
the pressure is again diminished the valve falls and J enters the mercury and thus
cuts off the gas from F. The portion of the outer wall of the valve I which works
through the mercury is shewn of conical form. This allows of a larger area of
lifting surface being exposed to the gas pressure as the valve rises from the
mercury, and compensates for the increased weight to be lifted.
In Figures 4 and 5 a is the gas inlet passage, b is a relatively large receptacle
open at the top to the atmosphere, and c is the pipe which is connected with the
burner. to be lighted. The pressure of the gas entering a depresses the liquid in

page_text: the tube below the level of its surface in band d, but the amount of liquid in the
apparatus is sufficient to prevent the level falling in e below the junction of e with d
when the gas is at low pressure and the lamps do not require to be lighted. When
however the pressure of the gas is increased to that at which it is desired that
lighting should take place the pressure forces the liquid in e below the junction of e
with d, and the gas bubbles up through the liquid in d to the splash bulb f, and so
gets through c which communicates with the burner. The liquid in d then drains
down below its junction with e, but, as the sectional areas of d and s are small
compared with that of b, the process as a whole does not materially affect the level
of the liquid in the latter. When the gas pressure is again diminished and the level
of the liquid rises to the junction, the pressure of the gas again forces the liquid
up d to its level in 6 and thus cuts off communication from the burner and puts
out the light.
An example of this type of apparatus at the same time more compact and more
complete in its details is shewn in figures 6 and 7. In these figures 1 is a boss
screwed to fit the gas service pipe. The gas ascends the pipe 2, and gains access to
the hanging tube 3 (which takes the place of e figures 4 and 5) through the holes 4.
The splash bulb 5 communicates through the pipe 6 with the burner, and the
covered cistern 7 is open to the atmosphere through the hole 8. The gas pressure
when low depresses the liquid in 3 below its level in 9 and 7, but not so low as to
open the connection between 3 and 9. When however the pressure rises to that at
which lighting is desired to take place the level in 3 is depressed below its bottom
end but not below the bottom end of 9. The gas enters 9, and so gains access to
the burner, the liquid contained in 9 draining downward (as in the case illustrated
in figure 4) so as to leave a clear passage for the gas. When the pressure is again
lowered to put the lamps out the level rises above the bottom of 3, and liquid is
forced up 9 to its level in 7, thus effectually cutting off all connection from the
burner. 10 is a small pipe supplying gas direct from the main to the byepass
burner or side light, which may be of the same type as that illustrated in E
figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The arrangement of automatic gas valve substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The method of compensating for the decreasing floating force exerted by the
mercury as the valve lifts by means of making the portion of the wall of the
valve which works through the mercury conical, so that a gradually increased area
is exposed to gas pressure as the valve rises substantially as described and
illustrated in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The construction of an automatic valve such as that shewn in figure 1, so
that the lifting force of the gas is applied to the annular outer portion of the
valve in such a way as to keep it balanced and lift it steadily and vertically and
the withdrawal of the gas for the main flame down the central tube H sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In an apparatus used for the purpose described, and actuated by gas pressure,
the method of drawing the gas for the small permanent flame from behind the
automatic valve, and so as to be independent of it, substantially as illustrated and
described in the accompanying drawings.
5. The method of unsealing a pipe leading to the main gas burner by means of an
increase of gaseous pressure depressing a column of liquid substantially as described
and illustrated in figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The use of a splash bulb (f, figure 4, and 5, figure 6) for preventing any drops
of the liquid sealing medium from being conveyed to the gas burner, substantially
as illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 7. The arrangement of apparatus, shewn in figures 4, to 7, in which the chief
changes of level due to the varying gaseous pressure take place in the gas inlet and
outlet pipes, which are in connection with a receiver open to the atmosphere, and.
of much larger sectional area, substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.