Improvements in Ignition Apparatus for Gas Burners.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
0
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ignition Apparatus for Gas Burners.
I, ADOLF MARTINI, of 81, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Chemist, 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 improvements in ignition apparatus for use in con-
nection with gas burners, whereby the gas upon being turned on is directed upon
a pillule of porous platinum or like material to effect automatic ignition in the
manner described in the Specification to the Applications for Letters Patent
No. 22901 and 27198 both of 1898, previously made by me.-
The invention consists in improvements in the construction of such apparatus
rendering the manufacture thereof simpler and cheaper while at the same time
producing an apparatus effective and reliable in working.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively elevation and plan of an ignition apparatus
according to one modification wherein a platinum pillule is removed out of the
current of hot gases by the explosion caused on ignition and maintained in that
position by the upwardly issuing gases.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of an ignition apparatus according to
a second modification wherein the platinum pillule always remains in one fixed
position and yet is not subjected to the current of hot gases after ignition.
Figures 5 to 9 illustrate further modifications of the invention wherein the
expansion of a metal spring due to heat is utilised to remove the platinum
pillule after ignition.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate improved means for ensuring quick ignition by
allowing free ingress of air at the lower part of the burner chimney.
In carrying the invention into effect according to one modification as illus-
trated in Figures 1 and 2 a plate a is pivotally mounted above the burner
chimney on a bracket 6 and normally maintained in a horizontal position by
means of a balance weight d adjustable on an arm c connected to the plate. The
bracket is in the form of a clip and is provided with a series of holes e in which
screws are introduced so as to cause the bracket to clip the chimney and sup-
port the plate a in a suitable position above the chimney top, the series of holes e
affording a means of varying the position as desired. The plate a is provided
with an aperture or apertures g near the centre over which a pillule h of platinum
or the like is suspended from a support i.
Upon the gas being turned on it issues through the apertures g and causes
he pillule to glow, whereupon the mixture of gas and air in the chimney
gnites with a slight explosion and forces the plate upwards about its pivot as
hown in the dotted lines Figure 1, and the pillule h is removed away out of the
urrent of hot gases. The plate is counterbalanced by the weight d so that the
pward current of burnt gas is sufficient to maintain it in its upper position but
3 soon as the gas is turned off the plate will fall back into its normal nosition
Pain

page_text: The effective force of the explosion can be regulated by varying the height of
the plate above the chimney by adjusting the bracket b as above described.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the platinum pillule h instead
of being carried on the plate a is mounted upon a fixed support on a bracket b
which may be similar to that above described with reference to Figures 1 and 2,
and the gas is directed upon it through an aperture g¹ situated at the side of the
plate a as shown.
On ignition being effected the plate a is forced upward similarly as described
with reference to the modification shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the hot gases
pass upwardly without being directed upon the pillule h as it is situated at the
edge of the chimney.
In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 a spiral
spring which expands on being heated by the hot gases is utilised to remove the
pillule.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 a spiral spring j is sup-
ported at its centre within a cap or cover k mounted above the burner chimney.
The free extremity of the spring carries a platinum pillule h which is normally
situated opposite a slot or opening in the cover k. On the gas being turned on
the pillule becomes incandescent and ignition is effected. The heat of the burnt
gases thereupon causes the spiral spring to expand and therefore partly uncoil
and its free extremity carries the pillule through the slot outside the cover
as shown in Figure 6 where it is protected from the injurious effect of the hot
gases. As soon as the gas is turned off the spring cools and contracts and with-
draws the pillule again within the cap or cover k.
According to another modification as illustrated in Figure 7 the spiral spring j
is mounted upon a small adjustable bracket b¹ which also supports a small cap m
for directing the gas upon a platinum pillule carried by the free extremity of
the spring the pillule being normally situated immediately above an opening at
the apex of the cap. The heat of the burnt gases after ignition causes the
spring to expand and partly unwind and carry the pillule away over the edge of
the chimney the spring contracting and bringing the pillule back again to its
normal position when the gas is turned off
In a further modification as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the pillule is held
within the cap m which is carried on the extremity of the spring j so that on
ignition being effected the cap as well as the pillule is removed to one side as
shown in Figure 9, a stop n being provided to limit its outward movement.
When using ignition apparatus such as before described it is sometimes found
that the ignition is retarded owing to the excess of gas in the mixture of gas
and air impinging upon the pillule when the gas is turned on.
This difficulty is overcome by forming the chimney as illustrated in Figure 10
with air inlets o at or near its base, or by employing the device illustrated in
Figure 11 which consists of a ring attached by suitable clips such as s to the
base of the chimney and provided with air inlet apertures t. The chimney used
in the latter case may be an ordinary plain one. The ring when attached to the
chimney may be placed within the ordinary gallery of the burner as shown in
the drawing by dotted lines.
By employing either of the above devices sufficient air is drawn into the chim-
ney when the gas is turned on to form a suitable explosive mixture which will
readily ignite on impinging upon the pillule of the ignition apparatus.
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:
1. An improved gas ignition apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. An improved gas ignition aparatus in which a fixed platinum pillule is
employed and in which a cover plate is provided with an aperture through which

page_text: Gite mixture of gas and air issues upward to impinge upon the platinum pillule
so as to effect ignition the plate being then uplifted by the upwardly issuing
heated gases to such extent that the heated gases do not impinge upon the pillule
substantially as described.
3. In gas ignition apparatus such as hereinbefore described means for remov-
ing the pillule on ignition out of the way of the upwardly issuing gases substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings.
4. In gas ignition apparatus means for ensuring quick and certain ignition
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated.
Dated this 21st do
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.