Improved Means or Apparatus for Igniting and Extinguishing Gas from a Distance by Means of Electricity.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
BARRENAL DIECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Igniting and Extinguishing Gas
from a Distance by Means of Electricity.
I, JOSEPH DENIS CYPRIEN CHATEAU, of 118, Rue Montmartre, Paris, France,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the igniting and extinguishing from a distance by
means of electric currents, and at different times, the whole or a part of a series
of gas burners controlled by the same wire, or to effect generally by means of
electric currents the operation of the whole or part of a certain number of igniting
and extinguishing devices arranged in series on the same wire.
Apparatus for effecting this comprises (1) Gas burners arranged in such a
manner that the gas issuing therefrom will be ignited by the passage of an electric
current in one direction and be extinguished by the passage of an electric current
in the reverse direction. (2) Gas Burners so arranged that the gas issuing there-
from will be ignited by a current irrespectively of its direction and to be extin-
guished by the mere operation of a switch.
(3) Igniting devices, one for each burner, designed to effect the igniting opera-
tion proper under special conditions. (4) A. switch constructed to distribute the
current in a special manner to the gas burners. (5) Various details of construc-
tion hereinafter referred to.
The burners of the first mentioned kind comprise a valve such as a ball, cone
or the like placed on a gas outlet orifice in a suitable casing that may be adapted
to be screwed onto a gas supply pipe; a mass of soft iron situated above the
valve and preferably in the form of a short cylinder; a magnet in the form of
a tube fixed around the valve casing by means of a screw to an approximately
V-shaped part situated in line with and above the valve and the soft iron mass;
a solenoid arranged on the stem of the burner above which is the burner proper;
and a rod of steel (hereinafter called the solenoid core) arranged within said stem.
The power of the magnet is so designed that under ordinary conditions, it is
not able to support the soft iron mass and the valve. When however an electric
current is passed through the solenoid in the proper direction, the solenoid core
is magnetized and acts to aid the magnet in such a manner that by means of
the V-shaped part, the soft-iron mass and the valve are raised. But when,
on the contrary, a current is passed through the solenoid in the reverse direction,
the solenoid core acts in the reverse direction and the point of the V-shaped
parts becomes a consequent point of the whole of the magnets and soft iron parts,
and consequently the valve falls on to its seat, thereby cutting off the further
supply of gas.
The soft iron mass bears upon the valve so as to effect a more
As a modification of this kind of gas burner, an arrangement may be employed
in which the soft iron mass is dispensed with, the solenoid core acting directly
upon the valve whose seat is formed by a screw having a hole pierced centrally
through it. Burners of the kind arranged so that the gas is ignited upon the
complete closure thereof.

page_text: passage of a current in either direction comprise a hardened steel rod or core
arranged inside the burner stem; a solenoid around the said stem; a valve; and
a soft iron mass. The arrangement is such that if a current be passed through
the solenoid in either direction, the steel rod or core will be energized and the
soft iron mass will be attracted and become itself energized, and will in its turn
attract the valve which allows the gas to pass. In order to shut off the gas,
alternating currents of decreasing strength are sent through the line wire and
consequently through the solenoid. The rod or core thereby becomes an inert
piece of steel, and the valve falls to its seat and the soft iron mass drops onto
the valve and ensures complete closure thereof. In a modification of this kind
of gas burner, the solenoid instead of being slipped on to the burner stem is
arranged on one side, and its core is arranged to act magnetically upon the soft
iron mass above the valve. In another form the soft iron mass is replaced by a
V-shaped part similar to that employed in the first and second arrangements
hereinbefore described.
In another arrangement the gas instead of flowing through a stem direct to
a burner is arranged to flow through a passage in a pipe controlled by a valve
having above it in a tube a soft iron mass, the solenoid is slipped upon the tube
which is provided with a copper cap suitably soldered or brazed, and in the centre
of which is a small iron rivet. The tube receives a hardened steel bar the mag-
netism of which when excited, is transmitted to the soft iron mass by the rivet,
whilst the cap prevents all escape of gas through the tube. The ignition of the
gas emitted by the gas burner in each case is effected by the aid of a shunt
current which produces incandescence of a suitable metal wire. This wire is
arranged in such a manner as to utilize both the heat produced by the electricity,
and the condensation or occlusión of the gas produced by the said wire which is
situated in the midst of the issuing combustible gas. As will be seen, the current
serves solely for the purpose of raising the metal wire to the requisite tempera-
ture to enable it to acquire the property of absorbing or condensing the gas and
of becoming further heated in consequence thereof. The said wire may be of
platinum, palladium, or of any metal possessing the property of condensing com-
bustible gases. For iridized platinum, for instance, the said temperature which
is about 200° C., requires a relatively very weak current. The gas in coming
into contact with the wire immediately raises the same to incandescence and the
burner is ignited by the simultaneous action of the current and of the condensa-
tion of the gas. The ignition of a combustible spirit, or gas other than coal
gas may be effected in the same manner. The igniting wire need therefore only
be heated to a much lower temperature than would be necessary if the ignition
were effected by electricity alone, because it is really subjected only to the action
of the temperature of the flame increased by that produced by the starting current.
The wire or igniter may be of any suitable form or construction. Thus for
example, it may be a wire twisted in the middle into the form of a small plait
or simply into the form of a sharp right angled bend or elbow in such a manner
that the wire comes in contact with itself at the base of the said bend or elbow.
In this case the free end of the bend or projection only is immersed in the gas
and resulting flame and no current passes through it. It is therefore only
exposed to the temperature of the flame, whilst the portion of the wire through
which the current passes is subjected only to the radiant heat of the flame and
the heating effect due to the passage of the relatively weak current which flows
through it. There is therefore no danger of the wire proper situated outside
the flame being melted.
The bend or projection may be formed of a metal such as palladium, other
than that of the wire proper which may be made of iridized platinum or other
metal; for instance a short rod of palladium may have a few turns of the wire
proper wound around it. This last construction is more particularly suitable
for Bunsen burners or such as have an air current supplied to them. In the
case of bats wing burners, the wire is placed perpendicularly, to the flame so a

page_text: to be located within the blue non-illuminating portion thereof. When an excess
of temperature capable of melting the wire is feared, it is advisable to use a small
cylinder of graphite around which the wire is coiled. The mass of graphite
becomes gradually heated, and no sudden differences in the strength of the current
are then to be feared.
I shall now describe a construction of switch employed for use in conjunction
with apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described. The switch comprises a
number of keys arranged in a suitable manner on a board but so that on touching
two determined keys, a current of an intensity equal to N will be made to pass
through the lead in which the gas burners are included. On touching two
other keys, a current of intensity N-1 will be caused to pass, but in the reverse
direction. On touching two other keys, a current of intensity N-2 will be caused
to pass, but in a negative sense, and so forth. Then two keys will be touched,
which will cause a current having a strength equal to
and then a current of a strength equal to O.
to pass into the lead,
The currents, alternately positive
and negative and of decreasing intensity, bring in a few seconds, into a magnetic
state that is practically nil, any piece of steel placed inside or near a solenoid
traversed by the currents.
In one arrangement of the switch there is a handle provided with two metal
strips insulated from each other and each having its free end bent at right
angles to the remainder, the strips, which form movable contacts, being con-
nected to the respective ends of the line or lead in which the solenoids of the
igniting devices are located. On the base of the switch are arranged a number
of fixed contacts for instance nine which I will designate by the
references m, m2, m³, m², m³, me, m², m8 and m³ arranged in the order mentioned
and respectively connected to galvanic elements (zinc and carbon) which I will
designate by M, M³, M³, M³, M, M7, M6, M7 arranged in series in the order M7
M5 M3 M M M M M the fixed contacts being connected to the positive or
carbon electrode of the corresponding elements except in the case of contact m³
which is connected to the negative or zinc electrode of M. The movable contacts
on the said handle are moved over fixed contacts in such a manner that the con-
tacts will simultaneously touch two keys. By this means the aforesaid result
is obtained. The same result may be obtained with a switch consisting of a
lever rotating about a centre and carrying the brushes or contacts at the end of
the line wire successively over the different fixed contacts or keys.
In all cases on simultaneously touching, for instance the contacts m³ and m8,
by the pair of movable contacts the burners of one of the kinds above mentioned
are alone lighted. On simultaneously touching for example the contacts m
and m² the burners of both kinds are lighted. Then, on touching successively
all the other contacts advancing towards the contact m¹ all the burners will be
extinguished.
When there is no need for igniting a part only of the burners on the same
line, there may be employed as a modification of this switch, an apparatus con-
posed of two current reversing knobs or pushes mounted on a commion board and
designed, one for igniting, and the other for extinguishing purposes. The ar-
rangement is such that on pressing the one knob or push there will be caused
to pass into the line, a current of ampere strength in for instance the + direc-
tion, and on pressing the other knob, a current of the same strength but in the
reverse direction, will be caused to pass into the line, whilst however inserting
as a shunt to the line, a determined resistance, with the object of obtaining a
current of suitable ampere strength for reducing to zero, the magnetization of
the solenoid cores in the igniting devices. By the use of a current regulating
levice herein after described, no attention need be paid to the resistances of the
otal circuit. A current regulating device designed to maintain automatically
he ampere strength of the line in which the igniting devices are situated, at a
constant value comprises an electro-magnet, a soft iron armature, a resistance
ox, and a pair of contacts I will call h and h¹.

page_text: The electro-magnet, the resistance box, and the contacts are situated on the
line in which the igniting devices are included. The other contact h¹ forms a
shunt.
As soon as the ampere strength becomes sufficient to cause the electro-magnet
to raise the armature the connection between the latter and the first mentioned
contact is broken, and a resistance due to the resistance box is added to that of
the line. The ampere strength falls at once, and the armature consequently moves
back on to the contact h. The same phenomenon is repeated indefinitely, and the short
circuiting of the armature, by its successive oscillations, adds to the total cur: cut
what is necessary to maintain the ampere strength of said current at its constant
mean value. If the voltage of the battery should become too great, and the
resistance introduced by the rising of the contact h be insufficient to reduce the
current to the desired strength, the armature will be attracted with greater force,
and held against the contact h¹ so as to afford a path for the direct return of
the current to the battery without passing through the igniting devices. The
winding of the electro magnet then ceasing to be traversed by the whole current,
will release the armature which will leave the contact h¹ and return to contact h.
The same succession of operations will be repeated indefinitely, the winding of
the electro-magnet this time allowing the non-utilized excess of current to return
directly to the battery.
Dated thin and dox of December 1896
Improved Means or Apparatus for Igniting and Extinguishing Gas
from a Distance by Means of Electricity.
I, JOSEPHI DENIS CYPRIEN CHATEAU, of 118, Rue Montmartre, Paris, France,
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 the igniting and extinguishing from a distance by
means of electric currents and at different times, of the whole or a part of a series of
gas burners controlled by the same wire, or to effect generally by means of electric
currents the operation of the whole or part of a certain number of igniting and
extinguishing devices arranged in series on the same wire.
Apparatus for effecting this comprises: -
(1) Gas burners arranged in such a manner that the gas issuing therefrom
will be ignited by the passage of an electric current in one direction and be
extinguished by
the passage of an electric current in the reverse direction. This
kind of burners is hereinafter referred to by the letter X.
(2) Gas burners so arranged that the gas issuing therefrom will be ignited by
a current irrespectively of its direction and will be extinguished by the mere
operation of a switch. This kind of burners is hereinafter referred to by the
letter Y.
(3) Igniting devices, one for each burner, designed to effect the igniting opera-
tion proper under special conditions.
(4) A switch constructed to distribute the current in a special manner to the
gas burners.
(5) Various details of construction hereinafter referred to.

page_text: ng drawings, to which reference will be hereinafter made,
Fig. 1 shows by way of example and in vertical section, a gas burner of the
kind X:
Fig. 2 shows another variety of this kind of burner;
Fig. 3 shows, by way of example and in vertical section, a burner of the
kind Y;
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show varieties of this kind of burner;
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show various arrangements of igniters;
Figs. 10 and 11 show a switch in elevation and in plan respectively;
Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of a switch that can be used in place
of that shown in Figs. 10 and 11;
Fig. 13 shows the arrangement of a current-regulating device included in the
lead on which the gas-igniting devices are arranged.
The burners of the kind X comprise, as shown in Fig. 1 a valve a, such as a
ball, cone or the like, placed on a gas-outlet orifice 6 in a suitable casing that
is adapted to be screwed upon a gas-supply pipe; a mass e of soft iron situated
above the valve and in the form of a short cylinder; a magnet A in the form
of a tube fixed around the valve casing by means of a screw v to an approximately
V-shaped part d situated in line with and above the valve a and the soft iron
mass c; a solenoid B arranged on the stem C of the burner at the top of which
is the burner proper; and a rod D of steel (hereinafter called the solenoid core)
arranged within the said stem. The power of the magnet A is made such that
under ordinary conditions, it is not able to support the soft iron masse and the
valve a. When, however, an electric current is passed through the solenoid B
in the proper direction, the solenoid core D is magnetized and acts to aid the
magnet A in such a manner that by means of the V-shaped part d, the soft iron
mass c and the valve a are raised. But when, on the contrary, a current is
passed through the solenoid B in the reverse direction, the solenoid core D acts
in the reverse direction and the point of the V-shaped part d becomes a con-
sequent point of the entirety consisting of the magnets and the soft iron parts,
and consequently the valve falls upon its seat, thereby cutting off the further
supply of gas. The soft iron mass bears upon the valve so as to effect a more
complete closure thereof. As a variety of this kind of gas burner, there may be
used the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, in which the soft iron masse is dispensed
with, the solenoid core D acting solely, through the part d, upon the valve a, whose
seat is formed by a screw having a hole b made centrally through it.
to pass.
Burners of the kind Y comprise, as shown in Fig. 3, a hardened steel rod
or core 1) arranged inside the burner-stem C; a solenoid 13 around the stem C;
a valve a; and a soft iron-mass c. The arrangement is such that if a current be
passed through the solenoid B in either direc.ion, the steel rod or core D will
be energized aud the soft iron mass e will be attracted and become itself energized,
and will in its turn attract the valve a, which will allow the gas
In order to shut off the
shut off the gas, alternating currents of de-
creasing strength are sent through the line-wire and consequently through
the solenoid B. The rod or core D thereby becomes an inert piece of steel, the
valve a falls to its seat, and the soft iron mass c drops upon the valve and ensures
complete closure thereof. As varieties of this kind of gas burner there may
be employed, for instance, the arrangements illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. In the
example shown in Fig. 4 the solenoid B, instead of being slipped unon the burner
stem C, is arranged on one side, and its core is arranged to act magnetically upon
the soft iron mass c above the valve a. In the example shown in Fig. 5 the
soft iron mass e is replaced by a V-shaped part d similar to that employed in
the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
In another arrangement, shown in Fig. 6, the gas, instead of flowing through
a stem C direct to a burner is arranged to flow through a passage C in a pipe
controlled by a valve a having above it a soft iron mass c, and the solenoid is
slipped upon a tube provided at its lower end with a copper cape which is

page_text: suitably soldered or brazed and in the centre of which is a small iron rivet e¹.
The tube contains a hardened steel bar D the magnetism of which when excited,
is transmitted to the soft iron mass c by the rivet e¹ whilst the cap e prevents all
escape of gas through the tube t.
The ignition of the gas emitted by the gas burner in each case is effected by
the aid of a shunt current which produces incandescence of a suitable metal
wire. This wire is arranged in such a manner as to utilize both the heat produced
by the electricity, and the condensation or occlusion of the gas produced by the
said wire which is situated in the midst of the issuing combustible gas.
will be seen, the current serves solely for the purpose of raising the metal wire
to the requisite temperature to enable it to acquire the property of absorbing or
condensing the gas and of becoming further heated in consequence thereof. The
said wire may be of platinum palladium, or any metal possessing the property of con-
densing combustible gases. For iridized platiuum, for instance, the said temperature,
which is about 2000 C., requires a comparatively very weak current.
The gas
in coming into contact with the wire, immediately raises the same to incan-
descence and the burner is ignited by the simultaneous action of the current and
of the condensation of the gas. The ignition of a combustible spirit, or gas other
than coal gas may be effected in the same manner. The igniting
wire need, therefore to be heated only to a much lower temperature than
would be necessary if the ignition were effected by electricity alone, because it
is really subjected only to the action of the temperature of the flame increased by
that produced by the starting current.
The wire or igniter may be of any suitable form or construction. Thus, for
example, it may as illustrated in Fig. 7, which is a plan, be à wire f twisted
in the middle into the form of a small plait or simply into the form of a sharp
right-angled bend elbow or projection ff in such a manner that the wire comes
into contact with itself at the base of the said bend, elbow, or projection. In
this case the free end of the bend or projection f only is immersed in the gas
and resulting flame and no current passes through it. It is therefore only exposed
to the temperature of the flame, whilst the portion of the wire through which
the current passes is subjected only to the radiant heat of the flame and the
heating effect due to the passage of the relatively weak current which flows
through it. There is therefore no danger of the melting of the wire proper
situated outside the flame.
The bend or projection may be formed of a metal, such as palladium, other
than that of the wire proper, which may be made of iridized platinum or other
suitable metal, for instance a short rod of palladium may, as shown in Fig. 8,
have a few turns of the wire proper wound around it. This last construction
is more particularly suitable for Bunsen burners or such as have an air current
supplied to them. In the case of batswing burners, the wire is placed perpen-
dicularly to the flame so as to be located within the blue non-illuminating portion
thereof. When an excess of temperature capable of melting the wire is feared,
it is advisable to use a small cylinder of graphite g (see Fig. 9) around which
the wire f is coiled. The mass of graphite becomes gradually heated, and no
sudden differences in the strength of the current are then to be feared.
I shall now describe a construction of switch that I employ in conjunction with
apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described. The switch comprises a number
of keys arranged in a suitable manner on a board but so that on touching two
determined contacts, a current of an intensity equal to N will be made to pass
through the lead in which the gas igniting devices are included. On touching
two other contacts, a current of intensity N-1 will be caused to pass, but in the
reverse direction. On touching two other contacts, a current of intensity N-2
will be caused to pass, but in a negative sense, and so forth; so that penultimately
two contacts will be touched, which will cause a current having a strength equal
to 1 to pass into the lead, and finally two contacts will be touched that will cause
a current of a strength equal to 0. These currents, alternately positive and

page_text: negative and of decreasing intensity, bring in a few seconds, into a magnetic.
stute that is practically nil, any piece of steel placed inside or near a solenoid
traversed by the currents.
In one arrangement of the switch, shown in Figs. 10 and 11, there is a handle P
provided with two metal strips p and 2 insulated from each other and each
having its free end bent at right angles to the remainder, the strips which
form movable contacts being connected to the respective ends of the line or
lead in which the solenoids of the igniting devices are located. On the base
of the switch are arranged a number for instance nine, as shown-of fixed con-
tacts m³, m, m³, m³, m³, m", m, m³ and m" arranged in the order mentioned and
respectively connected to the galvanic elements (xine and carbon) M, M³, M³,
M, M, M, M, M' arranged in series in the order M M M MM MM M
the fixed contacts being connected to the positive or carbon electrodes of the corre-
sponding elements except in the case of the contact me which is connected to
the negative or zinc electrode of M. The movable contacts p and p' on the handle P
are moved over the fixed contacts in such a manner that the contacts p and p¹ will
simultaneously touch two of the keys or contacts m¹ m². By this means
the aforesaid result is obtained. The same result may be obtained with a switch
consisting of a lever rotating about a centre and carrying brushes or contacts
forming the ends or terminals of the line wire successively over the different fixed
contacts or keys.
In all cases, on simultaneously touching, for instance, the contacts m and m"
by the pair of movable contacts the burners of the kind Y above mentioned are
alone lighted. On simultaneously touching, for example, the contacts m" and m
the burners of both kinds (X and Y) are lighted. Then, on touching successively
all the other contacts advancing towards the contact m³, all the burners will be
extinguished.
When there is no need for igniting a part only of the burners on the same
line, there may be employed as a modification of this switch, the apparatus re-
presented by Fig. 12, which comprises two current-reversing knobs or pushes
and mounted on a common board and designed, one for igniting, and the other
for extinguishing purposes. The arrangement is such that on pressing the knob
or push k, there will be caused to pass into the line, a current of N ampere
strength in, for instance, the + direction, and on pressing the other knob k¹, a
current of the same strength, but in the reverse_direction, will be caused to pass
into the line, but with the simultaneous connection, as a shunt to the line, of a
determined resistance, with the object of obtaining a current of suitable ampere
strength for reducing to zero the magnetization of the solenoid cores in the
igniting devices. As a result of the use of a current-regulating device hereinafter
described, no attention need be paid to the resistances of the total circuit.
The current-regulating device that I employ for maintaining automatically at
a practically constant value the ampere-strength of the line in which the igniting
devices are situated, comprises (see Fig. 13) an electro-magnet E, a soft iron
armature I, a resistance-box G, and a pair of contacts h and h¹. The electro-
magnet, the resistance box, and the contacts h are situated on the line in which
the igniting devices R are included. The other contact h¹ is placed in a shunt
As soon as the ampere-strength becomes sufficient to cause the electro-magnet E
to raise the armature F the connection between the latter and the contact his
broken, and a resistance due to the resistance-box G is added to that of the line.
The ampere-strength falls at once, and the armature consequently moves back
on to the contact h. The same phenomenon is repeated indefinitely, and the
short-circuiting of the armature, by its successive oscillations, adds to the total
current what is necessary to maintain the ampere-strength of the said current at
its constant mean value. If the voltage of the battery become too great, and the
resistance introduced by the rising of the armature F be insufficient to reduce the
current to the desired strength, the armature will be attracted with greater force,
and held against the contact h¹ so as to afford a path for the direct return of

page_text: the current to the battery without passing through the igniting devices. The
winding of the electro-magnet, then ceasing to be traversed by the whole current,
will release the armature F which will leave the contact and return to the cou-
tact h. The same succession of operations will be repeated indefinitely, the
winding of the electro-magnet this time allowing the non-utilized excess of current
to return directly to the battery.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. For igniting and extinguishing gas from a distance by means of electricity,
apparatus comprising a ball cone, or like valve, free or loose on its seat and
connected to the gas-supply piping; a permanent magnet situated opposite
to soft-iron armature; a core surrounded by a solenoid and serving to modify
the lines of force of the armature of the said magnet for the purpose of producing,
either by reversal of the current or by the use of suitably regulated currents,
different effects on the said valve tending to depress or to lift the same; and an
igniting device brought to incandescence by the current at the moment of rising
of the valve, as herein before described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the combina-
tion of a valve a, a mass c, a part d of V-shape, a magnet A, a solenoid B slipped
on stem C carrying the burner proper, and a steel rod D, arranged, constructed,
and operating in the manner and for the purposes described with reference to
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. As a modification of the arrangement specified in claim 2, the combination
of a valve a, a V-shaped part d, a magnet A, a solenoid B slipped on the stem C
carrying the burner proper, and a steel bar D, as hereinbefore described with refer-
ence to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. For igniting and extinguishing gas at a distance by electricity, apparatus
comprising a ball, cone, or like valve free on its seat connected to the gas-supply
piping, a core surrounded by a solenoid which can be caused, by means of a switch,
to convert the said core into an inert bar and is adapted for raising and lowering
the valve, and an igniter brought to incandescence by the current at the rise
of the said valve, as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the annexed
drawings.
5. In apparatus of the kind referred to in claim 4, the combination of a valve a,
a mass c, a solenoid B slipped on the stem C carrying the burner proper, and
a bar 1, constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner and for the purpose
hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the annexed drawings.
6. As a modification of the arrangement referred to in claim 5, the combina-
tion of a valve a, a free mass c, and a solenoid B which is situated on one side
and whose core acts directly on the mass c, as hereinbefore described with reference
to Fig. 4 of the annexed drawings.
7. As a modification of the arrangement referred to in claim 5, the combina-
tion of a valve a, a V-shaped piece d, and a solenoid B, as hereinbefore described
with reference to Fig. 5 of the annexed drawings.
8. As a modification of the arrangement referred to in claim 5, the combina-
tion of a valve a, a mass c, a tube t with copper cap e and rivet el, a bar D
located in the said tube t, and a solenoid B slipped on the said tube t, arranged
in the manner described with reference to Fig. 6 of the annexed drawings.
9. The ignition of gas-burners by means of a wire of palladium, platinum, or
other metal having the property of condensing or occluding gas when heated,
the temperature of condensation being obtained by an electric current of suitable
strength and the ignition being effected by the heat directly produced by the
electric current in conjunction with that produced by the condensation or occlusion,
as set forth.

page_text: 10. The special construction of igniter hereinbefore described with reference
to Fig. 7 of the drawings and comprising a single wire twisted near its centre
so as to offer to the flame only a portion through which no current or almost no
current is passing, and which is heated by conductivity as a result of its contact
with that portion of the wire through which current is passing, the ignition
being effected by means of the loop or plait in which the condensation or occlusion
of the gas is effected.
11. A modification of the arrangement referred to in claim 10 in which two
metals are used instead of one, the loop or plait being replaced by a piece of
another metal which condenses the gas more readily, the wire, for example, being
made of iridized platinum, and the loop of palladium or of spongy platinum, as
herein before described with reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings annexed.
12. A modification of the arrangement referred to in claim 10, in which the
wire is combined with a small cylinder of graphite which by becoming gradually
heated obviates the risk of sudden variations in the ampere-strength of the
current and the melting of the wire by an excess of heat, as hereinbefore described
with reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings annexed.
13. For igniting and extinguishing gas from a distance by means of electricity,
the combination of the apparatus referred to in claims 1, 2 and 3, and in claims 4,
5, 6, 7, and 8, with the switch hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 10
and 11 of the drawings, or with the modifications thereof referred to, the said
switch and its modifications having for object to vary the strength of the current
and to change its direction in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
14. The modification of the switch referred to in claim 13, described with refer-
ence to Fig. 12 of the drawings annexed, this modification being adapted for use
when it is not necessary to effect partial ignitions on the same line.
15. In combination with apparatus for igniting and extinguishing gas from
a distance by means of electricity, the current-regulating device herein before
described with reference to Fig. 13 of the annexed drawings, for the purpose of
automatically maintaining the ampere-strength in the line.
16. Apparatus for igniting and extinguishing gas from a distance by means
of electricity arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1897.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.