Improvements in Lighters for Incandescence Gas Lamps.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1896
Comalato Carnification
oft 05th Man 1007 Accented
21 at Aud
4007
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lighters for Incandescence Gas Lamps.
We, CHARLES PHILIBERG JOSEPH CLÉMENT, and HANS VON KROHN, both of 47 Rue
Cheri, Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The gas lighters actuated by electricity from a distance, as heretofore used for
lighting incandescenco lamps possess no device for closing the gas valve, but are
merely provided with valves or cocks which operate either with great frictional
resistance, or which are liable to become leaky, and they moreover supply the gas
irregularly when clogged by dust and other matter. In these lighters the lighting
device is generally placed outside the crown of the burner, which renders the re-
placement of the incandescence body difficult, and also causes the lighting to take
place always at the centre, below the incandescence mantle, thereby shortening its
life. In addition to this, the arrangement is for the most part complicated and
expensive.
The electric gas lighter forming the subject of the present invention entirely
obviates the before-mentioned inconveniences. The opening and closing of the gas
admission orifice is effected by raising and lowering the core of a coil, the lower
extremity of which is bell shaped, and can be dipped at will into a liquid such as
mercury.
The apparatus for lighting by means of an induction spark, is provided in the
centre within the burner head, and insulated by an incombustible and non-con-
ducting substance in such a manner that all the parts of the lighter and of the
head of the burner may be readily taken to pieces for cleaning without in the least
deteriorating the conductors.
Owing to the simple arrangement of the parts the contact is automatically made
when the circuit is closed, one of the conductors being at the centre within the
burner head, whilst the return conductor is formed by the external part of the said
burner, and the incandescence mantle may remain in place without being interfered
with in any way.
At the lower part of a cylindrical sleeve forming the lower part of the apparatus
is fixed an annular cup, pierced lengthwise at its axis with a gas admission channel,
and filled with mercury to a suitable height. Into the cup dips the lower extremity
of the bell, formed on the steel rod whose upper extremity is the core of an
induction coil.
This rod, adapted to move in the interior of the coil, may be raised or lowered,
and consequently the bell is raised out of the liquid or dipped into the same so as to
permit or prevent the arrival of the gas.
Upon the cylindrical sleeve a magnetized steel ring is screwed. This latter is
permanently magnetized and its poles are so arranged that one half forms the south
pole and the other the north pole; one of the extremities of the steel ring, pro-
longed inward to the centre, forms one of the magnetic poles and carries a coil. By
exciting this coil the poles of the neutral steel rod or core which it surrounds are
formed; it is raised until its upper extremity touches the prolongation of the steel

page_text: ring; in this position it remains, the adjacent poles being of opposite polarity. By
passing the current in the opposite direction through the coil, the steel rod will be
repelled by the ring magnet pole, so that the bell will be dipped into the mercury
of the cup, and the passage of the gas interrupted. The opening and closing of the
admission orifice consequently takes place without any friction, and no escape is
possible, because the steel rod or core with the bell at its extremity is sufficiently
heavy to counterbalance the pressure of the gas. The operation of the mechanism
is only possible with certainty if the rod or core is of hardened steel; its value rests
thereon, since the core may also be of soft iron.
Directly upon the magnet ring is screwed a metallic flange provided at its middle
with a short screwed pipe upon which the burner proper is fitted, an insulating
cylinder formed of an incombustible and non-conducting material (for example
steatite) is also fitted within the flanged pipe. In this insulating cylinder is placed
a small disc pierced with holes for the passage of the gas. One of the conducting
wires for the induction current passes through a hole pierced in the inagnetized
steel ring, then into the insulating cylinder, finally terminating at the perforated
disc.
In the centre within the head of the burner and fixed upon the lower part of it
is a disc which carries a kind of sleeve of insulating incombustible substance through
which passes a conducting rod. The lower extremity of this conducting rod touches
the aforesaid perforated disc at the joint of the burner and lighter. The upper
extremity of this rod touches a disc or trellis of metallic wires forming a lighting
surface at the top of the burner.
The trellis disc is usually surrounded by a ring of steatite and consequently
insulated from the casing of the burner.
When a trellis disc and the conducting wire are included in the circuit of the
induction current, the small perforated disc making contact between the said con-
ducting rod and terminal wire, the induction spark will be forced to leap over the
insulating ring between the trellis disc and the outer ring of the burner at a great
number of points of the circumference; under these conditions the lighting of the
gas takes place not in the middle below the incandescence mantle, but in a favour-
able and uniform manner, which is of great importance for the preservation of the
said mantle.
The outer metallic surface of the entire apparatus and also the gas pipe upon
which it is held are utilized as return passages both for the current for exciting the
coil as well as for the induction current.
It is therefore possible, without disfiguring the apparatus, and by means of only
two conducting wires, to effect two entirely distinct operations, that is to say, the
exciting of the coil by the main current and the lighting by an induction spark.
The magnetized steel ring may also have two poles acting in lieu of one and there-
fore may carry, one arranged by the side of the other, two coils the cores of which
are connected at their lower part by a transverse piece supporting the bell.
The novelty of the apparatus is therefore characterized by
(1) The employment, as a core of an electromagnet, of a rod of hardened steel,
whose lower extremity forms a bell and is raised by magnetization out of the liquid
into which it dips.
(2) The use of a metallic disc pierced with holes for the passage of the gas and
making contact between two conductors.
(3) The employment of a permanent magnet ring serving as a connecting piece
between the burner proper and the lighter. This magnet also forms part of the
device for opening and intercepting the admission of the gas, and carries the coil
fixed to one of its poles which is prolonged from the circumference to the centre of
the ring.
(4) A burner head, in the middle of which is a conducting rod insulated from the
body of the burner by an incombustible insulating sleeve. The said rod bears upon

page_text: the upper side of the perforated disc mentioned under (2) and against the under
surface of the trellis disc.
Dated this 14th day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Lighters for Incandescence Gas Lamps.
We, CHARLES PHILLIPPE CLEMENT, Gun Manufacturer and HANS VON KROHN,
Engineer, both of 47 Rue Cheri, Liege, in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The gas lighters actuated by electricity from a distance, as heretofore used for
lighting incandescence lamps possess no device for closing the gas valve, but are
merely provided with' valves or cocks which operate either with great frictional
resistance, or which are liable to become leaky, they moreover supply the gas
irregularly when clogged by dust and other matter. In these lighters the lighting
device is generally placed outside the crown of a burner, which renders the
replacement of the incandescence body difficult, and also causes the lighting to
take place always at the centre, below the incandescence mantle, thereby short-
ening its life. In addition to this the arrangement is for the most part complicated
and expensive.
The electric gas lighter forming the subject of the present invention entirely
obviates the before-mentioned inconveniences. The opening and closing of the gas
admission orifice is effected by raising and lowering the core of a coil, the lower
extremity of which is bell shaped, and can be dipped at will into a liquid such as
mercury.
The apparatus for lighting by means of an induction spark is provided in the
centre within the burner head, and insulated by an incombustible and non-conduct-
ing substance in such a manner that all the parts of the lighter and of the head of
the burner may be readily taken to pieces for cleaning without in the least
deteriorating the conductors.
Owing to the simple arrangement of the parts the contact is automatically made
when the circuit is closed, one of the conductors being at the centre within the
burner head, whilst the return conductor is formed by the external part of the said
burner, and the incandescence mantle may remain in place without being interfered
with in any way.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a burner constructed in accordance with our
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of a steel ring hereinafter described.
Figure 3 is a detail of a modified form of ring and coil.
Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the cylindrical sleeve and the ring
shown in Figure 1 and
Figure 5 is a central vertical section of a modified form of burner.
At the lower portion of a cylindrical sleeve a forming the lower part of the
apparatus is fixed an annular cup b, having a central gas admission channel, and
filled with mercury to a suitable height. Into this cup dips the lower extremity
of the bell m formed on the steel rod m¹ whose upper extremity constitutes a core
of an induction coil e.

page_text: This rod, adapted to move in the interior of the coil, may be raised or lowered,
and consequently the bell is raised out of the liquid or dipped into the same so as to
permit or prevent the arrival of the gas.
Upon the cylindrical sleeve a is screwed a magnetized steel ring c. This latter is
permanently magnetized and its poles are so arranged that one half forms the south
pole and the other the north pole; one of the extremities of the steel ring c pro-
longed inward to the centre c' forms oue of the magnetic poles and carries the coil e.
By exciting this coile the poles of the neutral steel rod or core m¹ which it surrounds
are formed, it is raised until its upper extremity touches the prolongation c¹ of the
steel ring; in this position it remains, the adjacent poles being of opposite polarity.
By passing the current in the opposite direction through the coil, the steel rod m¹
will be repelled by the ring magnet pole c, so that the bell will be dipped into
the mercury of the cup, and the passage of the gas interrupted. The opening and
closing of the admission orifice consequently takes place without any friction, and
no escape is possible, because the steel rod or core m¹ with the bell at its extremity
is sufficiently heavy to counterbalance the pressure of the gas. The operation of
the mechanism is only possible with certainty if the rod or core m¹ is of hardened
steel; its value rests thereon, since the core may also be of soft iron.
Directly upon the magnet ring c is screwed a metallic flange g provided at its
middle with a short screwed tubular projection upon which the burner proper fis
fitted, an insulating cylinder i formed of an incombustible and non-conducting
material (for example steatite) is also fitted within the flanged tubular projection.
In this insulating cylinder i is placed a small disc il pierced with holes for the
passage of the gas. One of the conducting wires for the induction current passes
through a hole pierced in the magnetized steel ring c, then into the insulating
cylinder i finally terminating at the perforated disc i¹.
In the centre within the head d of the burner and fixed upon the lower part of
it is a disc d2 which carries a kind of sleeve d¹ of insulating incombustible sub-
stance through which passes a conducting rod d'. The lower extremity of this
conducting rod d* touches the aforesaid perforated disc at the joint of the burner
and lighter. The upper extremity of this rod touches a disc or gauze d³ of
metallic wires forming a lighting surface at the top of the burner.
The disc d³ is usually surrounded by a ring of steatite and consequently insulated
from the casing of the burner d.
When the disc d³ and the conducting wire are included in the circuit of the
induction current, the small perforated dise il making contact between the said
conducting rod d' and the terminal wire x, the induction spark will be forced to
lap over the insulating ring ds between the disc d³ and the outer ring of the burner
at a great number of points of the circumference; under these conditions the
lighting of the gas takes place, not in the middle below the incandescence mantle,
but in a favourable and uniform manner which is of great importance for the
preservation of the said mantle.
The outer metallic surface of the entire apparatus and also the gas pipe upon
which it is held are utilized as return passages both for the current for exciting the
coil e as well as for the induction current.
It is therefore possible, without disfiguring the apparatus and by means of only
two conducting wires, to effect two entirely distinct operations, that is to say, the
exciting of the coil by the main current and the lighting by an induction spark.
The imagnetized steel ring c may also have two poles acting in lieu of one and
therefore may carry, one arranged by the side of the other, two coils the cores of
which are connected at their lower part by a transverse piece supporting the bell.
In the modification shown in Figure 5 a brass seat t with valve u is screwed to
the upper part of the ring C.
To the lower part of the magnetic ring c2 beneath the seat t is likewise screwed a
coil in the interior of which a soft iron core e is arranged, the upper extremity of
which bears against the valve rod. In the central portion of the ring c³ an opening
is provided toward the centre of the apparatus in such a manner that the gas can

page_text: pass from the interior of the lighter toward the valve u', when the bell shaped
piece m is lifted. Upon the seat of the valve a pipe p is screwed which conveys
the gas to a burnor forming a socondary lighter. A rod v is carried upon a small
insulating support or plug a and connected at the upper part to the pipe p by means
of a platinum wire z. Suitable connecting wires yl, yll are provided.
If now the electric current traverses the coil e as indicated in Figure 5 through
the coil r, the rod v, and thence passes through the platinum wire toward the
pipe p then through the body of the lighter and the gas conduit and finally returns
to the battery through suitable couductors, (not shown), the core s will be lifted in
the coil r simultaneously with the bell m by magnetic action and the core 8 will act
upon the valve u thus lifting the latter to such an extent that the gas simul-
taneously passes to the crown of the burner and to the upper part of the secondary
lighter p. The current then necessarily passes through the platinum wire 2, and
produces a spark which ignites the gas at the opening p¹. The top portion of the
flame, thus produced, rises sideways of the burner head d and ignites the burner
proper. When the current ceases, the core 8 falls back in the interior of the coil r
and the valve u¹ is thus closed, whilst the bell m remains in suspension as in the
previously described device. In this manner only a thin and narrow flame or
secondary lighter is retained for the subsequent lighting and this for so long a
period as the knob is being pressed, whilst when coasing to press this knob, the
thin secondary flame is extinguished, and the burner alone continues to emit its
light until the current is reversed, as hereinbefore described, when tho bell m falls
back. As in this manner the small platinum wiro only remains for a very short
time exposed to the flame, it will not become deteriorated as would be the case if
exposed for a comparatively long time.
The novelty of the apparatus is characterized by
(1) The employment, as a core of an electromagnet, of a rod of hardened steel,
whose lower extremity forms a bell and is raised by magnetization out of the liquid
into which it dips.
(2) The use of a metallic disc pierced with holes for the passage of the gas and
making contact between two conductors.
(3) The employment of a permanent magnet ring serving as a connecting piece
between the burner proper and the lighter. This magnet also forms part of the
device for opening and intercepting the admission of the gas, and carries the coil
fixed to one of its poles which is prolonged from the circumference to the centre of
the ring.
(4) A burner head, in the middle of which is a conducting rod insulated from
the body of the burner by an incombustible insulating sleeve. The said rod bears.
upon the upper side of the perforated disc mentioned under (2) and against the
under surface of the disc or gauze.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
In gas lighters actuated from a distance the employment of
First. A rod of hardened steel constituting the core of an electromagnet coil
whose lower extremity is arranged in the form of a bell.
Second. A metallic disc pierced with holes for the passage of the gas and insulated
by its support, serving as a contact between the stationary lighter and the head
of the burner screwed to the top of the said lighter.
Third. A permanent magnetic ring employed as a connection between the
stationary lighter and the burner, one of its two poles extending from the circum-
ference to the centre.
Fourth. A burner head carrying an incombustible ring composed of insulating
substance, the said burner having at its axis a conducting rod, the lower extremity
of which bears upon the perforated metallic disc referred to in the second claim, the
upper extremity touching the metallic disc forming the top of the burner.

page_text: Fifth. The use of a secondary lighter provided with a movable interior valve;
of a coil with a likewise movable soft iron core arranged beneath said lighter; and
of an insulated rod arranged sideways of the lighter, the said rod being connected
to the pipe or nozzle by means of a conducting wire of platinum upon a magnetic
ring referred to in the third claim.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.