A Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Gas Lighting in Cases of Failure of Electric Light Installations.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Gas Lighting in Cases
of Failure of Electric Light Installations.
I, HENRY CHARLES SWINDELL of 26 Clifton Road, Aston Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of controlling a system of gas lighting in
conjunction with electric lighting installations in such manner that failure of the
electric light automatically causes the gas lights to come into action and it is
especially applicable to public buildings which are illuminated by electricity where
panic by loss of light would cause serious danger to life.
The invention consists in a method of substituting illumination by gas for
illumination by electricity in an automatic manner, if by any accident such as short
circuiting, stoppage of dynamo or failure of accumulators, the electric current
should cease, or become considerably reduced, and so cause partial or complete
cessation of illumination.
In carrying the invention into effect I arrange the hall building or other electric
installation with suitable gas jets as well as electric lamps, and I apply to the gas
supply pipe or pipes an electro-magnetic apparatus which controlls the gas supply
valve or valves in such manner that so long as the electric current is passing suffi-
ciently to give a fair illumination, the gas supply remains shut off; but so soon as
the current sufficiently diminishes or ceases altogether, then the gas valve at once
opens, and the gas jets are lit at once by a pilot light or lights. In this manner,
the cessation or serious diminution of the electric illumination at once brings the
gas lighting into operation. The apparatus used for this purpose may be constructed
and arranged in various ways but I prefer the following
I sometimes use a lift valve on the gas supply pipe, which is opened and held
open by the action of a weight or spring and a lever; on the lever there is mounted
an armature which is attracted by an electro-magnet. The electric current in use
or a portion of it passes through the coil surrounding the electro-magnet. The
electro magnet and so long as the current passes in sufficient quantity the electro
magnet is excited and by pulling the armature it holds the gas valve closed against
the action of the weight or spring. This cuts off the gas supply to the gas jets,
but by means of a bye pass or separate pipe a pilot flame or pilot flames are kept
alight so that immediately the main gas valve is opened the gas jets are at once
lighted. Or the bye pass may be arranged to supply the jets themselves so that
the flames are turned very low while the electric-current is in action but when it
ceases they are immediately turned up. By this apparatus the gas illumination is
substituted so rapidly for electric illumination in the event of break down, that
there is no possibility of panic due to want of light. One central apparatus may be
adopted or many smaller apparatus to suit the dimensions and character of the
electric installation and the main current may be employed to excite the electro-
magnet or magnets, or a shunt current as desired while the arrangement of electro-
magnets, gas valves and other adjuncts may be varied but so long as the variation
of the electric current is caused to act to open or close a gas supply valve a
characteristic feature of the invention is retained. Thus a solenoid arrangement
may be adopted instead of electric magnet and armature and valves of various types
may be applied without departing from the invention.
Dated this 25th dow of November 1800
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: A Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Gas Lighting in Cases
of Failure of Electric Light Installations.
i
F, HENRY CHARLES SWINDELL, of 26 Clifton Road, Aston, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Electrician, 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 a method of controlling a system of gas lighting in
conjunction with electric lighting installations in such manner that failure of the
electric light automatically causes the gas lights to come into action, and it is
especially applicable to public buildings which are illuminated by electricity where
panic by loss of light would cause serious danger to life.
This invention consists in a method of substituting illumination by gas for
illumination by electricity in an automatic manner, if by any accident, such as
short circuiting, stoppage of dynamo, or failure of accumulators, the electric
current should cease, or become considerably reduced and so cause partial or
complete cessation of illumination.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings; in carrying the
invention into effect I arrange the hall, building, or other electric installation with
suitable gas jets as well as electric lamps, and I apply to the gas supply pipe or
pipes H, an electro-magnetic apparatus which controls the gas supply valve as E,
in such manner that so long as the electric current is passing sufficiently to give a
fair illumination, the gas supply remains shut off; but so soon as the current
sufficiently diminishes or ceases altogether, then the gas valve as E at once opens,
and the gas jets are lit at once by a pilot light or lights. In this manner, the
cessation or diminution of the electric illumination at once brings the gas lighting
into operation. The apparatus used for this purpose may be constructed and
arranged in various ways, but I prefer the following:-
I sometimes use a lift valve E on the gas supply pipe H, which is opened and
held open by the action of a weight or spring as D and a lever as B ; on the
lever B there is mounted an armature which is attracted by an electro-magnet.
The electric current in use or a portion of it passes through the coil surrounding
the electro-magnet or the solenoid coils A, A1, and so long as the current passes in
sufficient quantity the electro-magnet or solenoid is excited, and by pulling the
armature or core it holds the gas valve E closed against the action of the weight,
or spring D. This cuts off the gas supply to the gas jets, but by means of a bye
pass or separate pipe as F a pilot flame or pilot flames are kept alight so that
immediately the gas valve E is opened, the gas jets are at once lighted. Or the
bye pass may be arranged to supply the jets themselves, so that the flames are
turned very low while the electric current is in action, but when it ceases they are
immediately turned up. Although an electro-magnet may be used, I prefer to use
a solenoid coil and cole, or two. solenoid coils and cores as shown at Figures 1 and 2,
the coils being A, A, and the cores A2, A3. By this apparatus the
gas illumination
is substituted so rapidly for electric illumination in the event of break down, that
there is no possibility of panic due to want of light. One central light. may be
adopted or many smaller apparatus, to suit the dimensions and character of the
electric installation, and the main current may be employed to excite the electro-
magnet or magnets, or solenoids, or a shunt current, as desired; while the arrange-
ment of electro magnets, gas valves and other adjuncts may be varied, but so long.
as the variation of the electric current is caused to act to open or close a gas supply
valve a characteristic feature of the invention is retained. Thus a solenoid arrange-
ment may be adopted instead of electric magnet and armature, and valves of various
types may be applied without departing from the invention.
In Figures 1 and 2 a spring. D, is shown as acting on the lever B to open the

page_text: valve E, but a weight may be applied instead of the spring D. So long as the
electric current passes through the solenoids A, A', so long the suck of the
cores A2, A3, pulling the lever B which pivots at C, closes the valve E. The
spindle E' of the valve E is lightly packed to keep it gas tight. G is a cock on
the bye pass F.
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 :-
(1.) A gas controlling apparatus, so arranged in connection with the electric
current used for illumination, that when the electric illumination becomes insufficient
or ceases altogether, the gas is automatically turned on, and gas illumination is
immediately substituted for electric illumination substantially as described.
(2.) A gas controlling apparatus acting in conjunction with the electric current,
so that when sufficient electric current is passing, solenoids or electro-magnets
attract armatures or cores and hold a gas valve closed against the action of a spring
or weight; but when the electric current ceases or becomes insufficient, then the
spring or weight opens the gas valve and substitutes gas illumination for electric
illumination, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
(3.) The apparatus hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings
Figures 1 and 2 having an electrically controlled gas valve as E and a bye pass or
pipe as F as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of August 1891
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.