Improved Means for Lighting and Extinguishing Street Gas Lamps.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 17th June, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Lighting and Extinguishing Street Gas Lamps.
We CARL FAUSTMANN, retired Lieutenant Prussian Army, and NICOLAUS MATHIAS,
Architect, both of Markirch, Alsace, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention. has for its object to obviate the inconveniences attending the
lighting and extinguishing of street gas lamps, and to enable these operations to
be effected from a central station in a simple and effective manner.
The Invention consists in a system involving the employment of a main electrical
circuit and devices applied to the burner of each lamp which are operated by the
passage of the current and serve, when the lamps are to be lighted, to open the gas
supply to the lamp and at the same time cause a lighter consisting of a platinum
coil, to glow and to be brought into position. for lighting the lamp or, when the
lamps are to. be extinguished, to turn the gas cock and cut off the supply, the lighter
in this case remaining uninfluenced.
The Invention further relates to means whereby the supply to a certain number of
lamps may remain open after the principal lamps have been extinguished, such
lamps being however adapted to be extinguished, when desired, without opening the
supply to the principal lamps or those extinguished in the first instance.
The Invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein figures 1 and 3 are front elevations, and figure 2 a side elevation, of a gas
burner of a street lamp with the lighting and extinguishing mechanism applied
thereto. In figures 1 and 2 the devices are shewn in the position they occupy in the
act of lighting the lamp and in figure 3 they are represented as being in their normal
position, or the position they assume after the lamp has been lighted. Figure 5 is
a plan view of the burner and the devices in connection therewith. Figures 4, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, and 11, illustrate details and are hereafter more particularly referred to.
Referring to the drawings, F is a counterweighted lever which is free to oscillate
on a stem O forming a continuation of the plug K of the gas-cock A and is
operated by the core D of the electro-magnet B to which it is connected at one.
end, said lever serving through the intervention of the rod 1, to raise the platinum
coil P to the position shown in figures 1 and 2. The cover of the electro-magnet, is
provided with binding screws, and with wires which connect with the lighter which is
composed of the small brass tubes m, n, and the platinum coil P with the coil B and
the next lamp, but for the sake of clearness, these binding screws and connections
are omitted-from the drawings.
Upon the stem O, there are two ratchet wheels e and f, the one e having six
teeth and being secured to the stem and actuated by the pawl 9 pivoted to lever F,
while which is free to rotate on the stem O is actuated by pawl h also pivoted on
lever F. This wheel f is in one with a disc or cam M upon which bears the end
of the latch d which is pivoted on the support a, said support carrying two pawls b
and which serve to check the ratchet wheels e and f. The platinum coil is
carried between the upper ends of the tubes m and n, said tubes being attached to a
block u which oscillates on pin x projecting from collar o. The tube m is insulated
from the block u, and passes through a socket v therein, and its tail end is adapted to
make contact with a contact piece t on a ring p with which the positive pole of the
magnet is connected. In this position the circuit is completed through the collar o,
pin,
and block u, tubes n and m, and the coil P is brought into a state of incan-
descence. The lighter is counterbalanced by a weight 9 and when the disc M is
turned by the oscillation of the lever F the depressions in the disc allow the latch d
to fall, as in figure 1, and the weight q to assert itself and raise the platinum
coil P.

page_text: The action of the apparatus is as follows:-On the closing of the circuit at the
central station, the current passes through the electro-magnet B and attracting the
core D brings the lever F from the position indicated by the lines T, Q, in figure 1
to the position shewn in the same figure, and the wheel e is rotated to the extent of
one tooth, by the pawl g thereby turning on the gas, the disc M having been
brought into the position shewn in figure 1 by previous movement of lever F and
the igniter having been raised to the position shewn in figure 1, above the nipple J
of the burner by the latch d falling into one of the depressions on disc M. The
current at same time passes through the coil and brings it into a state of incandescence
and lights the lamp. The current is thereupon interrupted and passes through the
next lamp; the core D is returned to its original position and the lever F by the
counterweight G is brought back to the position shewn in figure 3. The disc Mis
turned by pawl acting on wheel f and the latch d is thereby pushed upwards so
that the lighter is withdrawn from the burner and assumes the position seen in
figure 3.
The lamps are extinguished by again closing the circuit whereupon the wheel e by
the oscillation of lever F is partially rotated and brought to the position seen in
figure 8, and the cock turned so as to cut-off the gas. During this movement, the
latch a moves over the circumference of the disc M and in consequence of this, the
lighter is not acted on, but remains in its lowered position.
It is customary, in some cities, to leave certain lamps (termed direction lamps)
burning for a certain period after the principal lamps have been extinguished. In
order to provide for this we adopt the arrangement illustrated in figures 9 to 11 of
the drawings, which are the cocks of the direction lamps. By comparing these
figures with figures 6, 7, and 8, the arrangement will be understood. Figure 9
represents a gas-cock of a direction lamp with the plug turned so as to cut off the
supply. On turning the ratchet wheel e, one sixth of its revolution, the plug is
turned to open the cock as in figure 10 and by a further movement the cocks of the
principal lamps as in figure 8, are cut off to extinguish the lamps while the cocks
of the "lamps of direction" are brought to the position shewn in figure 11, so that
the supply to these lamps is not cut off and this is not done until a further rotation
of wheel e takes place.
Dated this 17th day of September 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Lighting and Extinguishing Street Gas Lamps.
We, CARL FAUSTMANN, retired Lieutenant Prussian Army, and NICOLAUS MATHIAS,
Architect, both of Markirch, Alsace, 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 has for its object to enable street gas lamps to be lighted and
extinguished from a distance say from a central station, in a simple and effective
manner.
In carrying out the Invention, devices are applied to the burner of each lamp
which are so operated by the passage of electric currents as, at required times (a) to
turn on the gas supply to the lamp and at same time cause a lighter, consisting of a
platinum coil, to glow and to be brought into position for lighting the lamp; and (b)
to turn off the gas supply, the lighter in this case remaining uninfluenced. When
so required, certain of the lamps may be left alight after the remainder have been
extinguished and may be extinguished, when desired, without relighting those
extinguished in the first instance.

page_text: The Invention will be described with reference to the drawings left with the
Provisional Specification wherein figures 1 and 3 are front elevations, and figure 2
a side elevation, of the burner of a street lamp with the lighting and extinguishing
mechanism applied thereto. Figures 1 and 2 shew the position occupied by the
parts in the act of lighting; and figure 3 represents the normal position or the
position assumed after the lamp has been lighted. Figure 5 is a plan view of
the burner and the devices in connection therewith. Figures 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11,
illustrate details and are hereafter more particularly referred to.
A certain number of street lamps are connected together so as to form a system ;
they are placed in a common main circuit formed by a single wire. All the lamps
are connected with this conducting wire by means of secondary circuits so that,
when one lamp fails to act which may be caused say by a defective platinum lighting
wire, the other lamps will not be influenced thereby.
Referring to the drawings, F is a counterweighted lever which is free to oscillate
on the stem of the plug K of the gas cock A and is connected to, and operated
by, the core D of the solenoid B, said lever serving through the intervention of the
rod to raise the platinum coil P to the position shewn in figures 1 and 2. The
cover of the electro-magnet is provided with binding screws and with wires which
connect with the lighter which is composed of the small brass tubes m n and the
platinum coil P with the coil B and the next lamp, but for the sake of clearness.
these binding screws and connections are omitted from the drawings.
Upon the stem O there are two oppositely-acting ratchet wheels e and each having
six teeth, the wheel e being secured to the stem O and actuated by the pawl g pivotedi
to lever F while wheel f, which is loose on the stem O, is actuated by pawl h also
pivoted on lever F. Pawls b, c, pivoted to a bracket a, check the ratchet wheels e
and f. The wheel fis in one with a notched disc or cam M by which the lighting
device is operated. The lighter consists of a platinum coil P attached to the upper
ends of tubular arins m and n attached to a block u pivoted on a pin. e carried by
collar o.
The tube m passes through an insulating socket v in block u and its tail
end is adapted to make contact with a contact-piece t on a collar p, s being the
positive, and the negative, terminal. The block u is connected by a link / with a
lever d that rests on the periphery of the notched disc or cam M, and the lighter is
counterbalanced by a weight 9 by which the coil P is raised into operative position
when the cain M is turned by the oscillation of the lever F so that a notch of the
disc allows the latch d to fall, as in figure 1. The cover plate S of the apparatus is
within the lantern casing and provided with three binding screws, the middle of
which is connected to the feeding device. The second binding-screw conducts a
part of the current by means of a copper-wire to the lighter L; the third screw
conducts the rest of the current, by means of a thicker wire, through the coil B; a
fourth binding screw conducts this part of the current, together with the part returning
from the lighter, to the next lantern.
The action of the apparatus is as follows; On the closing of the circuit at the
central station, the current traversing the solenoid B attracts the core D, brings the
lever F from the position indicated by the line T, Q, in figure 1 to the position
shewn in the same figure, and the wheel e is rotated by the pawl g to the extent of
one tooth, thereby turning on the gas. The ignition coil P having been raised to
the position shewn in figure 1 above the nipple J of the burner by the latch d falling
into one of the notches of the disc M on the previous downward motion of weight G,
the current at same time passes through the ignition coil P and brings it into a
state of incandescence, thereby lighting the lamp. As soon as the controlling or tell-
tale lantern inserted in the circuit (which is now closed) is lighted, the current is
interrupted and conducted by means of a commutator to another circuit in order to
light another system of lamps, and so on. When the current is thus interrupted, the
core D is raised by the counterweight G and lever F is brought back to the position
shewn in figure 3 and indicated by T, Q, in figure 1. The disc M is partially rotate i
by pawl acting on wheel and the lever d is raised so that the lighter is with-
drawn from the flame and assumes the position seen in figure 3.

page_text: When the lamps are to be extinguished, the circuit is again closed whereupon the
wheel e by the oscillation of lever F is again partially rotated and brought to the
position seen in figure 8, whereby the cock is turned so as to cut-off the gas. During
this movement the lever d rests on the circumference of the disc M and consequently,
the lighter remains in its lowered position.
It is customary, in some cities, to leave certain lamps (termed direction lamps)
burning for a certain period after the other lamps have been extinguished. In order
to provide for this, the bore of the cock of the direction lamp is formed as illustrated
in figures 9 to 11 of the drawings and by comparing these figures with figures 6, 7.,
and 8, the arrangement will be understood. Figure 9 represents the gas-cock of a
direction lamp with the gas cut off. Ou turning the ratchet wheel e one-sixth of its
revolution, the cock is opened as in figure 10 and by a further movement, the cocks
of the other lamps are shut off as in figure 8, while the cocks of the direction lamps
are brought to the position shewn in figure 11 so that the supply to these lamps is
not cut off. By a further rotation of wheel e, the direction lamps are extinguished
as in figure 9 and the other lamps are at same time brought into position to be
relighted, (see figure 6).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what we
claim is
-
1. The herein described system of mechanism for lighting and extinguishing gas
lamps from a distance, characterized by the arrangement of a number of lamps in a
circuit in such manner that the current is divided at each lamp one part serving to
excite the solenoid actuating the gas supply cock and one part feeding the lighting
device which is connected with the mechanism controlling the gas supply in such
manner that, by the opening of the gas cock, the gas ignition mechanism is put in
action, the igniter being removed from the flame when the current is interrupted,
substantially as set forth and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In the above described system of gas lighting and extinguishing, the employ-
ment, in combination with the other mechanism described, of gas cocks operating as
described in figures 6 to 9 for the purpose of extinguishing the lamps in series, the
operation being such that, when the last series of lamps are extinguished, those
first extinguished are brought into position for being relighted on the next passage
of the current, substantially as set forth and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated thi 171 1
1000
CARL FAUSTMANN.
NICOLAUS MATHIAS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.