Apparatus for Producing Light for a Certain Length of Time.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Producing Light for a Certain Length of Time.
I, PAUL LASNIER-HUBERT of Rieux, Oise, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for affording illumination either
locally or at a distance for a limited duration of time..
The apparatus is put in action by hand, either by means of a pressing button, or
by a handle or pulling cord, and it is arranged to cease acting at the end of a
predetermined time, thus stopping the illumination.
By way of example, the apparatus may be employed. to the lighting of a
staircase for the length of time required to ascend or descend the same.
.In this case the apparatus may either be put in action by the person ascending
or descending as he passes the same, or by the hall porter from within his lodge;
or it may be actuated automatically on opening a door.
The apparatus comprises three essential devices; one effecting or intercepting
the supply of electric current or of gas to one or more lamps, a second controlling
device causing the light to be extinguished at the end of a greater or shorter lapse
of time, and lastly an igniting device.
The first of these devices may be, according to circumstances, either a wheel
acting upon a wick, or an extinguisher, if an oil lamp is used; or it can be a cock,
valve, flap or other closing device if gas burners are used, or an interrupter in the
case of electric illumination.
The controlling device is regulated by a clockwork mechanism which is started
at the required moment, or a flywheel with vanes, or a glycerine pump, air pump,
or other suitable known device.
The lighting device may be a small continuously burning gas jet or other flame,
or an electric igniter operating by means of a spark or by the incandescence of a
metal wire.
I will describe an arrangement of the apparatus suitable for gas illumination.
According to this arrangement a pivotted lever has its. one end connected to a
suitable pull, while its other end is fixed to an axis carrying firstly a spring ratchet
connected to a clockwork mechanism with flyer, and secondly attached to one end
of a spiral. spring, so that by the downward motion of the lever and consequent
partial rotation of its axis, the spring is wound up to a certain extent but
its action is at the same time controlled by the connection with the clockwork
and flyer through the ratchet gear, so that on releasing the pull on the lever this
will only be moved up slowly again by the spring controlled by the clock work
and flyer.
'
The lever carries a projecting stud which on its downward motion pulls down a
rod to the upper end of which is connected a valve pressed by a spring against: a
seat on the gas supply passage, so that by the downward motion, the valve is
pulled open so as to allow the gas to flow to the burner, the rod being held by a
catch at the end of the downward motion so as to keep the valve open.
The gas having been lit at the burner by meaus to be presently stated, it
continues to burn until the lever, at the end of its slow upward motion, acts upon
the catch so as to release the valve stem, the valve being consequently then closed,
and the light extinguished.

page_text: The burner may either be provided with a continuously burning small jet
supplied by a by-pass so that on opening the valve the flame is simply enlarged
to the required extent, or the gas jet can be ignited by electricity.
For this purpose the casing of the apparatus is connected to one terminal of a
current generator the other pole of which is connected to an insulated post on the
casing carrying a spring contact, with which a stud on the lever comes in contact
when it is moved downwards by the pull..
The circuit being thus completed a spark is produced or a wire is heated to
redness in close proximity to the gas jet so as to iguite it...
It will be seen that this apparatus is applicable for effecting the discharge of a
certain quantity of any combustible gas or liquid, such quantity being determined
by the duration of time between the opening and closing of the supply valve.
When applying the said apparatus to electric lighting the beforementioned rod
actuated by the pull lever, instead of carrying a supply valve is formed with a
contact piece so arranged as to close an electric circuit when the lever is moved
down, and maintain it closed as the lever rises, and until it assumes its highest
'position again..
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, PAUL LASNIER-HUBERT of Rieux, Oise, France, 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 an improved apparatus for affording illumination either
.locally or at a distance for a limited duration of time.
The apparatus is put in action by hand, either by means of a pressing button, or
by a handle or pulling cord, and it is arranged to cease acting at the end of a
predetermined time, thus stopping the illumination.
By way of example, the apparatus may be employed to the lighting of a
. staircase for the length of time required to ascend or descend the same.
In this case the apparatus may either be put in action by the person ascending
or descending as he passes the same, or by the hall porter from within his lodge ;
or it may be actuated automatically on opening a door.
The apparatus comprises three essential devices; one effecting or intercepting
the supply of: electric current or of gas to one or more lamps, a second controlling
device causing the light to be extinguished at the end of a greater or shorter lapse"
of time, and lastly an igniting device.
The first of these devices may be, according to circumstances, either a wheel
acting upon a wick, or an extinguisher, if an oil lamp is used; or it can be a cock,
valve, flap or other closing device if gas burners are used, or an interrupter in the
case. of electric illumination.
The controlling device is regulated by a clockwork mechanism which is started
. at the required moment, or a fly-wheel with vanes, or a glycerine pump, air pump,
or other suitable known device.
The lighting device may be a small continuously burning gas jet or other flame,
or an electric igniter operating by means of a spark or by the incandescence of..a..
metal wire.

page_text: I will describe an arrangement of the apparatus suitable for gas illumination.
According to this arrangement a pivotted lever has its one end connected to a
suitable pull, while its other end is fixed to an axis carrying firstly a spring ratchet
connected to a clockwork mechanism with flyer, and secondly attached to one end
of a spiral spring, so that by the downward motion of the lever and consequent
partial rotation of its axis, the 'spring is wound up to a certain extent, but its
action is at the same time controlled by the connection with the clockwork and
flyer through the ratchet gear, so that on releasing the pull on the lever this will
only be moved up slowly again by the spring controlled by the clock work and
flyer.
The lever carries a projecting stud which on its downward motion pulls down a
rod to the upper end of which is connected a valve pressed by a spring against a
seat on the gas supply passage, so that by the downward motion, the valve is pulled
open so as to allow the gas to flow to the burner, the rod being held by a catch at
the end of the downward motion so as to keep the valve open.
The gas having been lit at the burner by means to be presently stated, it
continues to burn until the lever, at the end of its slow upward motion, acts upon
the catch so as to release the valve stem, the valve being consequently then closed,
and the light extinguished.
The burner may either be provided with a continuously burning small jet
supplied by a by-pass so that on opening the valve the flame is simply enlarged to
the required extent, or the gas jet can be ignited by electricity.
For this purpose the casing of the apparatus is connected to one terminal of a
current generator the other pole of which is connected to an insulated post on the
casing carrying a spring contact, with which a stud on the lever comes in contact
when it is moved downwards by the pull.
The circuit being thus completed a spark is produced. or a wire is heated to
redness in close proximity to the gas jet so as to ignite it.
It will be seen that this apparatus is applicable for effecting the discharge
of a certain quantity of any combustible gas or liquid, such quantity being
determined by the duration of time between the opening and closing of the
supply valve.
When applying the said apparatus to electric lighting the beforementioned rod
actuated by the pull lever, instead of carrying a supply valve is formed with a
contact piece so arranged as to close an electric circuit when the lever :is moved
down, and maintain it 'closed as the lever rises, and until it assumes its highest
position again.
.:
Several forms of apparatus for operating as above described are represented in
the accompanying drawings.
Figure is an external and Figure 2 an internal elevation of one form of
apparatus according to my invention, Figure 3 is an end view. partly in section,
Figures 4 and 5 are sections on planes at right angles to each other, shewing the
gas valve.
The gas supply is led to the passage B furnished with valve C which is with-
drawn from its seat by a lever D connected at a by link c to a ring b, so that when
this is pulled D acts on a pin x on the valve rod. The lever D is pivotted on an
axis E to which is attached one end of a spiral spring F. The lever D on being
pulled turns a wheel d (Figure 6) having ratchet teeth on its face engaged by a
spring pawl e (Figure 7) on a toothed wheel G. When b is let go, the spring F
tends to move D up but is controlled by clock-work to which G is geared, namely
pinions e', and wheels f working a flyer g. A notch in the valve stem is engaged
by a tooth on an arm k pivotted at and pressed by a spring j, but when
completing its up 'stroke, a pin h disengages k from the notch, and the valve C is
closed by a spring . If desired, the catch_k and its appurtenances may be
dispensed with, the valve gradually closing as D ascends.
is
For lighting the gas, a source of electricity has one terminal connected to the
apparatus at m and the other terminal to an insulated post o, but on D being pulled

page_text: down contact is made with a spring a closing the circuit. For lighting by a pilot
flame, a little gas is allowed to pass through a groove z in the valve when the valve
is closed.
Figures 8 and 9 are sections'of similar apparatus but with passages for the gas
to enter centrally at y and issue centrally at . Figure 10 shews a modification in
which the gas enters at y' and, passing the internal valve, issues at :!.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 shew mechanism put in action by the opening of a door.
On the top of the door is fixed a bracket a¹ having a rack 6', on the door frame is
fixed an arm c' carrying a pinion d' which gears with b¹. A crank pin on dis
'
connected by a link with one arm of a bell-crank the other aim of which
is linked to the pull of the lighting apparatus above described which may be at a
distance. When by the opening of the door the rack has turned the pinion the
pin on the pinion stops against the beak of a pawl i which is pivotted at j', then
"by the farther opening of the door the rack escapes from the pinion, and having
passed its dead point, the lighting apparatus would by its pull on g¹ tend to make
the pinion turn farther, but as shewn in Figure 14 it is held by against the beak
of When the door is shut, a lateral arm on the bracket a moves the tail m'
of the pawl, and so disengages ', and thereupon owing to the pull transmitted
by g¹ from the lighting apparatus the pinion continues its rotation to its normal
position. As shewn in Figures 15 and 16 the pinion is directly worked by the
opening and closing of the door. In this case the pinion d' rests in position ready
to engage the rack b, a pin. n' on the back of the pinion is stopped, as shewn in
Figure 17, by a shoulder of the arm c, when the crank pin has passed its dead
point. While the door is open the pinion remains in this position, but in closing
the 'door, the rack engages it and moves it back. The rod g' is then left free
allowing the distant lighting apparatus to act. By removing the pin n¹ the pinion
is left free to turn when the rack is out of the way, and thus the lighting apparatus
can act when the door remains open.
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:
Apparatus for lighting a lamp and extinguishing it after a predetermined time
substantially as described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of May 1897
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.