Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Shutting Off the Gas Supply of Gas Motor Engines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 1st Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Shutting Off the
Gas Supply of Gas Motor Engines.
1, SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the purpose
of automatically
shutting off the supply of gas from gas motor engines at any given time, so that for
certain classes of work when once the engine is started it may be left without further
attention, and on completion of its work it will stop.
A
In order to accomplish this object I employ suitably arranged mechanism somewhat
similar to an ordinary alarum or alarm clock and actuated by a main spring, weight
or other motive power, so that it will continue working during any given time.
suitable index and regulator enables the attendant to easily and accurately set the
apparatus to work for any convenient time, according to requirements, and at the end
of such time a lever or other suitable mechanism is moved by a detent (or other
suitable contrivance) and closes the gas valves, which are arranged for this purpose in
connection with the gas supply of the engine.
This apparatus is intended to shut off both the main supply as well as that of the
pilot lights simultaneously: I therefore advantageously combine both valves on one
spindle, and working in the same casting, such casting having separate inlet and outlet
passages for the main gas supply and pilot lights-but do not limit myself thereto,
neither do I confine myself to any precise details in carrying out my present
invention.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Gas Supply of Gas Motor Engines.
1, SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works Bath in the County of Somerset
Engineer 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 :-
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the purpose of automatically
shutting off the supply of gas from gas motor engines at any given time, so that for
certain classes of work when the engine is started it may be left without further atten-
tion, and on completion of its work it will stop.
In order to accomplish this object I employ suitably arranged mechanism somewhat
similar to an ordinary alarum or alarm clock and actuated by a main spring, weight
or other motive power, so that it will continue working during any given time. A
suitable index and regulator enables the attendant to easily and accurately set the
apparatus to work for any convenient time according to requirements, and at the end
of such time a lever or other suitable mechanism is moved by a detent (or other
suitable contrivance) and closes the gas valves which are arranged for this purpose in
connection with the gas supply of the engine.
This apparatus is intended to shut off both the main supply as well as that of the
pilot lights simultaneously. I therefore advantageously combine both valves on one
spindle, and working in the same casting though I do not limit myself hereto such
casting having separate inlet and outlet passages for the main gas supply and pilot
lights.
In certain cases in which this apparatus is employed in connection with a gas motor
engine for driving a dynamo the opposite end of the lever which is connected with the
gas valve may advantageously be connected with an electric cut out or contact
breaker so that while the gas valve is being held open, and consequently the gas motor
and dynamo are in motion, metallic connection is made by the before mentioned cut
out or contact breaker, so that the electric circuit inconnection with the dynamo is
complete, but immediately on the gas valve being closed so that the gas motor and
dynamo will cease running the metallic contact will be broken by the before
mentioned cut out or contact breaker and consequently no electric current can pass
either to or from the dynamo in either direction.
I would remark that I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements herein
described neither do I confine myself to any precise details in carrying out my present
invention as it will be obvious that these are capable of many modifications.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
In the drawings annexed a is a case containing suitable mechanism actuated by any
convenient power and so arranged as to cause the dial plate to revolve making one
revolution or portion of a revolution in a given time so that its periphery may be
equally divided into spaces representing hours and fractions of hours. This plate c
has attached to and revolving with it a smaller plate d (shown in dotted lines) which
plate has on its outer edge a recess or slot e, into this slot the detent or projection of
the lever g will drop when the slot passes beneath it. One end of lever at h is
connected with the gas valve i, the opposite end at being if necessary connected with
any suitable electric cut out or contact breaker. The spindle khas on it two valves l. l.
one of which controls the main gas supply m the other controlling the supply to pilot
or ignition lights n. The pointer o is for the purpose of setting the apparatus to run
for any given time. The lever p stops or starts the mechanism according to its
position.
The operation is as follows:-
The apparatus is set in action by first raising the end of the lever g so that the
gas valves 1. 1. on the spindle will be open. The plate is now moved round into
any required position (according to the time which the motor is required to run) such
position being determined by the relative position of the index on the plate in regard
to the pointer o. The lever will be supported in its position by the detent or
projection resting upon the edge of the plate d which plate is attached to and
revolves with the plate c. The lever p being now moved into position the mechanism
commences working, which continues until the slot e, passes under the detent or
projection when the lever g drops, thus closing the gas supply as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
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1st. In combination with gas motor engine the arrangement of mechanism by which
a lever or other suitable device is caused to move at any given time in such a manner
as to actuate a valve or electrical contact breaker either in combination or separately.
2nd. In combination with gas motor engine the arrangement of gas valves by which
the main supply as well as the supply to pilot or igniting jets is opened or closed
simultaneously substantially as set forth.
3rd. In combination with gas motor engines I claim the general arrangement of
mechanism, in connection with a gas valve or valves by means of which the supply of
gas to a gas motor engine can be automatically shut off at any convenient or given
time substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
represented in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 1st day of September 1887