Improvements in Means or Devices for Automatically Lighting Gas
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Devices for Automatically Lighting Gas,
I, BERNHARD FRÖHLICH, of Constantinstrasse, Reudnitz, near Leipzig, in the
German Empire, 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:-
-
In several forms of automatic gas lighters platinum in a fine state of division
has been employed, the platinum becoming red hot and igniting the gas as soon
as the latter is turned on. If platinum wires at a low or ordinary temperature
are exposed to a current of common illuminating gas they do not become suffi-
ciently heated to effect ignition, but I have found that if fine platinum wire be
raised in temperature and is then exposed to a current of gas it becomes red
hot and will light the gas.
This invention consists therefore in maintaining a fine platinum wire at a
sufficient temperature by means of a pilot or bye-pass light in such a position that
it will be exposed to the main gas jet when the latter is turned on. The platinum
then becomes sufficiently red hot to light the gas.
A convenient way of carrying these improvements into effect is to surround
the outlet of a very fine pilot gas jet with a small globe or netting of fine platinum
wire, so that the flame is contained within the globe. A flame the size of an
ordinary pin head will be sufficient and the globe need only be the size of a
pea. By this means the platinum may be maintained at a sufficient temperature,
say a low red heat.
a is the
The accompanying drawing illustrates the application of the improved devices
to an ordinary atmospheric burner fitted with an incandescent mantle.
pilot or bye-pass gas pipe which may enter the casing of the burner through the
opening and has its upper end enclosed in the fine platinum wire globe b. This
globe touches the mantle e and the latter may have a fine platinum wire or a
line drawn in a suitable solution of a platinum salt extending from the point of
contact to the top of the mantle, and to the bottom of the mantle as well if
desired. The small pilot flame within the globe & maintains the latter at a proper
temperature so that when the main gas jet is turned on the globe becomes suffi-
ciently heated to light the gas.
The platinum globe does not appear to be consumed or to be depreciated after
continued use.
Further advantages are that there is no visible flame from the pilot burner
and that a very much smaller consumption of gas is needed than is customary
with other pilot flames.
When first starting, the main burner should be lighted in the usual manner.
The main tap is then turned off and the platinum globe or equivalent is main-
tained at the required temperature by the bye-pass flame, for example, at a low
red heat. When the main gas is again turned on the globe becomes a bright
red and ignites the gas, either alone or in conjunction with the fine line referred
to in the case of an incandescent gas burner.

page_text: 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:-
An automatic gas lighter, consisting of a globe or equivalent device of platinum
wire which is maintained at a suitable temperature by a bye-pass flame and is
exposed to the main gas jet so that when the latter is turned on the temperature
of the globe is raised and the gas is ignited, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.