IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE APPARATUS for LIGHTING GAS
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1877. A communication from
abroad by William Washington Batchelder, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America, Machinist & Engineer.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE APPARATUS for
LIGHTING GAS." [A communication from abroad by William Washington Batchelder,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Machinist and
Engineer.]
This Invention relates to an improved portable percussion torch for lighting
gas, its object being to provide an instrument of cheap and simple construction that
can be readily and conveniently manipulated to feed and successively ignite a series
of percussion pellets, arranged upon a tape in the same manner as in the ordinary
percussion primers; and the said Invention comprises a metallic tube of suitable
length, provided at its upper end with a device for withdrawing a tape or primer
containing a series of explosive pellets from the magazine feeding the said tape, and
igniting pellets thereon, and at its lower end with a magazine for holding the
primer, a lever for operating the feeding and igniting mechanism through the
medium of a wire extending up through the body of the tube, and a handle, by
meaus of which the instrument may be held by the operator.
I use a tube of metal or other suitable material, of convenient length, which is
preferably curved at the upper end to bring the igniting mechanisın into convenient
position over the gas burners. The said tube is divided on its interior into two
longitudinal compartments, from a point at or near one end to a point at or near
the other end of said tube. At the upper end of the tube is an enlarged tubular
extension, provided with slots, said extension having a shoulder at its base, upon
which sets one end of a spiral spring. A short tubular section is provided with a
shoulder at its outer end, the said section being adapted to ride upon the tubular
extension, the shoulder thereon bearing against the other end of the spiral spring.
Within the tubular extension, and permanently secured to the same at its base, is a
spring, extending to the extremity thereof, the end of said spring being bent to

page_text: form a hammer, which bears against an anvil at the extremity of the said extension,
the spring being also provided with a recess at one side. The interior of the said
extension at the rear of anvil is provided with a rectangular groove, in which the
tape travels. To the rear of said spring is secured an additional spring, the upper
end of which terminates behind the upper end of the first spring. A tumbler is
located within the said extension, and provided with projecting pins, which ride in
the slots in the said extension and are pivoted in the said tubular section. The
said tumbler is provided with a right-angled or L shaped projection, which projects
through the lower recess in the aforesaid first spring, the bent arm setting to the
rear of said spring when the parts are in their normal position.
A wire, chain, or cord is fastened at one end to the shoulder of the section and
extends down through one of the longitudinal chambers in the tube, the other end
being secured to a thumb lever passing through the said tube, and pivoted to a
standard in such position as to be under the control of the thumb or finger of the
operator.
The magazine in which the primer is contained consists of a flat cylindrical
casing with a removable cover. It is attached to the tube on the side to which the
handle is secured. The primer is in the form of a tape, provided with percussion
pellets at suitable intervals, the tape being in the form of a coil. A removable
cylindrical casing is secured over the said extension and section to protect the
working parts thereof, and the lower end of said casing is provided with a bell to
collect the gas as it escapes from the burner, and hold it until ignited by the
explosion of one of the pellets.
I provide each tape or primer at the ends with some means by which it can be
fastened to the magazine. Any convenient fastening device may be employed for
this purpose, but I prefer simply to tip the ends of the tape with mucilage, so that
when inserted it can be looped and fastened around a pin at the centre of the
magazine, and when required another can be readily attached to the nearly
exhausted one.