IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING
GAS-BURNERS." A communication from Wilhelm Klinkerfues, Doctor of
Philosophy, Professor and Director of the Royal Observatory at Göttingen,
in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1879.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS." A communication from Wilhelm
Klinkerfues, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Director of the Royal Observatory
at Göttingen, in the German Empire.
This apparatus, which can be applied to each flame or burner, consists of two
parts generally, the upper or main part for opening the inlet of the gas to the burner
and for lighting and extinguishing the flame, and the lower part, which serves as a
regulator against the accidental fluctuations of the pressure of the gas. In cases
where these accidental fluctuations are small, as may be the case in conduits from
private gas works, the main part of this improved apparatus alone may be used
and the regulator be dispensed with.
The opening of the burner, and the lighting and extinguishing of the flame is
caused by the action of an auxiliary flame in the following manner:-If the
pressure of the gas is suddenly somewhat increased from the regulator of the works,
the small auxiliary Bame of each corresponding burner becomes large in a greater
degree than other flames, because in the bottom part of the apparatus a new and
large inlet channel of the gas to the auxiliary flame is opened. The enlarged
auxiliary flame rises to and over a narrow metal strip of sheet copper. The action
of the heat forces the middle part of the copper strip, which is fastened at the ends

page_text: upwards in a curve, by means of which motion a small lever which gears into a
toothed wheel, and which is fastened to the copper strip is lifted and turns the
wheel. The wheel is in connection with a pipe enclosing the burner, and this pipe
is at its hollow part furnished with a plug having several upright grooves through
it, which in certain positions of the pipe correspond with the boring of the burner,
while in other positions of the pipe the inlet of the gas to the burner is closed.
When by the motion of the wheel the gas inlet to the burner is opened, the flame
of the latter is ignited by the enlarged auxiliary flame. As soon as the higher
pressure from the works is reduced again, the auxiliary flame becomes small and
the copper strip of the apparatus cools off and returns into its straight position.
The lever disengages from the toothed wheel, and by a mechanical arrangement is
forced to engage a new tooth of the wheel when again lifted by an increased
pressure of the gas which turns the pipe of the burner again for a certain distance,
in consequence of which the inlet channel to the burner is closed and the flame
extinguished.
The second part of the Invention has for its purpose to equalize the action of the
accidental fluctuations of the gas pressure on the apparatus. This arrangement is
somewhat similar to a dry regulator. In the following description it should be
understood that by gradient of gas-pressure or gradient only is meant the increase
of the gas pressure divided by the corresponding increase of time. The main
adventage of this construction against other Inventions for a similar purpose is, as
will be seen from the following, that the operation of the apparatus is not
depending upon the height of the gas pressure but only upon the height of the
gradient, which is fully in the power of the constructor. This second part of the
apparatus consists of a cylinder, with two compartments arranged one above the
other. Through the first compartment are passed two concentrical tubes, of which
one, which is at same time the downward prolongation of the burner, reaches
into the lower compartment. The other tube communicates with the lower
compartment commonly only through a very small opening which allows the gas to
pass to the auxiliary flame. The inlet (main) gas pipe communicates with the
lower compartment.
As long as the gradient remains small as is the case in consequence of all
accidental fluctuations of the gas pressure, even when the latter is very great, the
auxiliary flame remains small, as a leather disc which divides both compartments
retains its position because the pressure in both compartments remains very nearly
the same.
As soon however as the gradient rises the disc is lifted and a larger
opening of the gas inlet is put in communication with the pipe leading to the
auxiliary flame, which is consequently greatly enlarged and produces the action
on the copper strip and on the burner, as is described in the first part of this
Specification.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th April 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BURNERS." A communication from Wilhelm
Klinkerfues, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Director of the Royal Observatory,
at Göttingen, in the German Empire.
This apparatus, which can be applied to each flame or burner, consists of two
parts generally, the upper or main part for opening the inlet of the gas to the
burner, and for lighting and extinguishing the flame, and the lower part, which
serves as a regulator against the accidental fluctuations of the pressure of the gas.
In cases where these accidental fluctuations are small, as may be the case in
conduits from private gas works, the main part of this improved apparatus alone
may be used and the regulator be dispensed with.
The opening of the burner, and the lighting and extinguishing of the flame is
caused by the action of an auxiliary flame in the following manner :-If the
pressure of the gas is somewhat suddenly increased from the regulator of the works,
the small auxiliary flame of each corresponding burner beconfes large in a greater
degree than other flames, because in the bottom part of the apparatus a new and
large inlet channel of the gas to the auxiliary flame is opened.
The enlarged
auxiliary flame rises to and over a narrow metal strip of sheet copper. The action
of the heat forces the middle part of the copper strip, which is fastened at the
ends, upwards in a curve, by means of which motion a small lever which gears into
a toothed wheel, and which is fastened to the copper strip, is lifted and turns the
wheel. The wheel is in connection with a pipe enclosing the burner, and this
pipe is at its hollow part furnished with a plug having several upright grooves
through it, which in certain positions of the pipe correspond with the boring of
the burner, while in other positions of the pipe the inlet of the gas to the burner
is closed. When by the motion of the wheel the gas inlet to the burner is opened,
the flame of the latter is ignited by the enlarged auxiliary flame. As soon as the
higher pressure from the works is reduced again the auxiliary flame becomes small
and the copper strip of the apparatus cools off and returns into its straight position. ⚫
The lever disengages from the toothed wheel, and by a mechanical arrangement is
forced to engage a new tooth of the wheel when again lifted, by an increased
pressure of the gas which turns the pipe of the burner again for a certain distance,
in consequence of which the inlet channel to the burner is closed and the flame
extinguished.
The second part of the Invention has for its purpose to equalize the action of the
accidental fluctuations of the gas pressure on the apparatus. This arrangement is
somewhat similar to a dry regulator. In the following description it should be
understood that by gradiant of gas pressure or gradient only is meant the increase
of the gas pressure divided by the corresponding increase of time. The main
advantage of this construction against other Inventions for a similar purpose is,
as will be seen from the following, that the operation of the apparatus is not
depending upon the height of the gas pressure but only upon the height of the
gradient which is fully in the power of the constructor. This second part of the
apparatus consists of a cylinder with two compartments arranged one above the
other. Through the first compartment are passed two concentric tubes of which
one, which is at the same time the downward prolongation of the burner, reaches
into the lower compartment. The other tube communicates with the lower com-
partment commonly only through a very small opening which allows the gas to

page_text: pass to the auxiliary flame. The inlet (main) gas pipe communicates with the
lower compartment.
As long as the gradient remains small, as is the case in consequence of all
accidental fluctuations of the gas pressure, even when the latter is very great, the
auxiliary flame remains small, as a leather dies which divides both compartments
retains its position because the pressure in both compartments remains very nearly
the same.
As soon, however, as the gradient rises the disc is lifted and a larger
opening of the gas inlet is put in communication with the pipe leading to the
auxiliary flame, which is consequently greatly enlarged and produces the action
on the copper strip and on the burner, as is described in the first part of this
Specification.
The construction of the apparatus is shown in the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
which represent both parts of the regulator combined. The top part of the
apparatus contains the arrangement for opening, lighting, regulating, and extin-
guishing the flame, whilst the lower part is a construction of the regulator as
before described.
Lis the gas inlet to the apparatus; B is the pipe carrying the burner; fis the
small continually burning auxiliary flame, the burner of which is attached to the
cover plate of a tube F concentrical to B, and which is in connection with the
inlet L by a small boring a of the bottom plate of tube F; is the copper plate
placed above the small flame ƒ with its ends kept by standards or bolts. To the
centre part of e a movable lever is fastened, carrying at its outer free end the counter-
weight g, and at its top end a cam h. When flame f is enlarged by an additional
pressure from the works cam h engages the tooth wheel z and turns the same for
the pitch of one tooth. Wheel & is in connection with the valve c surrounding
pipe B, and by means of upright inside grooves r, r, and small openings in tube B
below and above a piece (which latter shuts off the direct connection of the
opening of the gas tube B with the burner) communicating channels between B
and the burner are opened. Figs. 2 and 3 show the apparatus in open position in
which the gas passes through the lower openings underneath i, through r, and
through the upper openings of B into the burner where it is ignited by the
enlarged auxiliary flame. After the pressure from the works is reduced to normal
strength flame f is consequently again reduced, and 1 cools off, in consequence of
which cam h disengages wheel z, and the corresponding lever returns to its normal
position by the pressure of weight g until the lever rests against an arm v fastened
to cover D of the apparatus. By means of borings of different size of tube B, and
by means of different sizes of upright grooves r, inlets to the burner of different
size can be opened by a second and third additional pressure from the works, and
this gives a means whereby to regulate the size of the flame. For extinguishing
the flame, tube c must be turned in a position in which the upright channels r are
out of communication with the openings of tube B.
The regulator consists of the two compartments K and K¹ divided from each
other by the diaphragm m. The opening of the inlet tube L as well as that
of B and the small boring a of tube F all communicate with compartment K².
Above the diaphragm m larger openings o are cut into the tube F, and above these
openings o a projecting rim R is fastened to tube F. As long as the gradient
remains small the opening a is sufficient to balance the pressure within K and K¹,
and the diaphragm m retains its normal position in which it rests on a ring 8
fastened to tube F. As soon, however, as the sudden increase of pressure from
the works takes place the diaphragm m is lifted and pressed against rim R, and
tube F as well as the auxiliary flame, are, through opening o, in communication
with K' and inlet L, in consequence of which a larger quantity of gas can enter
tube F and the burner of the auxiliary flame; the latter is consequently enlarged
and produces the before described action of land motion of wheel 2.
Having thus described the nature and particulars of the said Invention,
I claim,―
First. The application of a copper plate and an auxiliary flame for turning a

page_text: toothed wheel which is in connection with a gas inlet valve of the burner for
opening, lighting, regulating, and extinguishing the flame of the burner, substan-
tially as herein set forth.
Second. The regulator, consisting of two compartments K, K¹, the diaphragm m,
and the openings a and o, for the purpose and in the manner substantially as herein
described and shown in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and
Third. The combined apparatus for lighting, regulating, and extinguishing flames
of gas automatically, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
.set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Th I L BARCAD
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)