Improvements in and relating to Electric Gas Lighters and Extinguishers and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Gas Lighters and
Extinguishers and the like.
JAMES TARBOTTON ARMSTRONG of 64, Aldersgate Street, London, E.C.
Engineer, and CARL GUSTAF GEORG BRAUNERHJELM, of 15 Fredsgatan
Stockholm, Sweden, 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 :-
This invention relates to electrically operated gas lighters and extinguishers in
which a solenoid or electro-magnet is utilized to lift a soft iron valve contained
within it, when the said solenoid or electro-magnet is energised by the passage of a
current. Included in the circuit containing this solenoid or electro-magnet is a
suitable resistance, situated near the burner, which the said current heats
sufficiently to enable it to ignite the gas when the circuit is established.
Our improvements refer to means of regulating the opening and closing of the
gas valve which we effect by applying a permanent magnet to an extension of
brass or other non-magnetic material attached to the valve.
This permanent magnet is so applied to the said extension as to be attracted or
repelled if a bar magnet is used, or in the case of one of horse-shoe pattern, moved
to the right or left, according to the direction of the current in the circuit, and
consequent polarity of the surrounding solenoid or electro-maguet.
This permanent magnet is adapted to engage one or more pins, projections,
corners of a hole, or other suitable parts when the said magnet is moved in one
direction, which thereby prevents it with the extension and the valve to which
they are attached from falling back on to its seat when the circuit is interrupted,
but when however, the said permanent magnet is caused to move in the opposite
direction by virtue of the reversal of the direction of the current, and consequent
change of polarity in the solenoid or electro-magnet, the valve is allowed to reach
its seat owing to its supported permanent magnet having been deflected clear of all
obstruction to its descent. We do not restrict ourselves to the use of any particular
form of valve but prefer that having a conical end, or in certain cases a mercury
cup, and in other cases we may use a second supplementary valve to insure against
the possibility of an escape of gas.
In practice we use a two way switch duplicate push button, or other suitable
means of controlling the direction of the current when the circuit is closed, so as
to light or extinguish the gas as desired.
In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicate like parts:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a gas lighter and extinguisher, to which our improve-
ments have been applied.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line -a, in Fig. 1; and Fig. 24 is a
partial section taken on the line y-y in Fig. 2, the valve, its extension-piece, and
permanent magnet being shown in elevation.
Figs. 3 & 4, are respectively an elevation and plan of parts of an electric gas
lighter, and extinguisher showing a modified form of our improvements.
Figs. 5 and 6, are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of parts of au
electric gas lighter showing a further modified form of our invention.
Fig. 7 is a detail showing a side elevation of the valve-extension, its permanent
magnet, and a part of the valve, forming part of the modification illustrated in
Figs. 5 and 6.

page_text: Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively a front, side elevation, and plan of parts of an
electric gaslighter and extinguisher, showing another modification.
Figs. 11 & 12 are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of another form of
our invention and Fig. 13 illustrates a detail of the last modification.
In Figs. 1 & 2, "A" is a bobbin suitably wound with insulated wire, "a" having a
threaded socket "b," and bored axially to receive a valve "c," this valve "c" is
provided with a forked extension piece "d" between the upwardly extending arms
of which is pivotted a permanent bar magnet "e" capable of moving about the
pin "f."
This magnet "e" is slightly curved and its upper end is made heavier than its
lower end, so as to give the said lower end a normal tendency to escape the
pin "g"; "" and "" are binding screws by which the current enters and leaves
the lighter after having passed through the coil "a" the insulated conductor "k,"
resistance "," and the other insulated conductor k¹; "" is the insulation
which supports the conductors "k" and "k" and "s" is an air tight cover which
encloses the working parts and into which the gas passes on its way to the
burner "t."
In practice, the coil "a" is wound in the direction to give the upper end of the
soft iron valve an opposite polarity to the lower end of the permanent magnet "e,"
when the current enters through one of the binding screws, which we will consider
is "h," with the result that when the circuit is established in that direction the
valve, which constitutes a soft iron moveable core, rises, so as to enclose the
greatest possible number of the lines of force, and owing to the polarity of
the adjacent poles of this core (the valve c) and the permanent magnet "e" being
of the opposite kind, mutual attraction takes place, causing the magnet "e" to
assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and thus engage the conical
end "g" of the pin "9," thereby preventing the valve from falling back on to
its seat, when the circuit is broken; on the other hand, when the circuit is
established in the opposite direction the polarity of the soft iron core (the valve c)
is reversed while that of the permanent magnet remains the same as before, with
the result that the adjacent poles being of the same polarity mutual repulsion takes
place between them, causing the lower end of the magnet "e," by virtue of this
force and the greater weight of its upper end, to be driven outwardly so as to
escape the pin "g'
7" thus allowing the valve "c "to drop on to its seat and so cut
off the supply of gas.
The adjustable pin "g" is provided with a conical projection "g" adapted to
receive the lower end of the permanent magnet "e" when the valve "c" is open,
the extent to which the said valve "c" is kept open being governed by the distance
of the said projection g' from the extension piece "d"; this pin "9" which lays
within the fork of the extension piece "d" also prevents the valve from turning
on its axis or being lifted too high when the solenoid is energised.
In Figs. 3 and 4 is illustrated a modified construction, in which a permanent
horse-shoe magnet "e" is used, the lifting of the valve and lighting being effected
in precisely the same manner as before, the operation of this arrangement is as
follows: when the current enters one binding screw the core, after rising attracts
the pole "1," into a position to engage the stop pin "glx" when the valve begins
to fall, thus preventing it from reaching its seat, on the other hand when the
current enters the other binding screw--the polarity of the core having been
reversed it will attract the pole "2" and repel the pole "1" out of the way of the
pin "g" which will no longer prevent the valve from falling to its full extent.
The valve and its attachments are prevented from twining or being lifted too
high by the pin "n" which travels in a suitable slot, and the movement of the
magnet "e" is limited by the boss "v," which it straddles.
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is illustrated another construction in which a permanent
magnet e having a depending piece "w" secured to it, is used, the lifting of the
valve, and lighting being effected by the same means as before, the working of
this arrangement is as follows: when the direction of the current is such as to

page_text: give the upper end of the valve "c" the opposite polarity to the pole "N" of the
permanet magnet "e" the latter will be attracted in the direction of the arrow so
that the corner "3" of the depending piece "o" will engage the edge of the hole,
that contains it, when the valve is lifted, and retains it in an elevated position,
with the said valve off its seat; when the circuit is broken; on the other hand
when the current is reversed and the polarity of the valve with it, the other
pole "S" will be attracted, and so cause the depending piece "w" to assume the
position shown in Fig. 5, enabling the valve to fall to its full extent and thus cut
off the supply of gas, when the circuit is broken.
In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 is illustrated a further modification, having a horizontally
vibrating permanent bar magnet "e" the lifting of the valve, and lighting being
effected in the same manner as before described.
In this arrangement "4" and "5" are the opposite poles of the permanent
magnet "," and "w" a part carried by the said permanent magnet "e³," having
a long point 6 and a short point 7, adapted to co-operate with the V or recess "8"
of another part "o," secured to the top of the bobbin, A.
When the current is made to circulate through the coil of the solenoid in one
direction, the valve is lifted and one of the poles, say "5," of the magnet "e" is
made to approach the moveable core (valve c) until it is stopped by one of the
pins "9," when the long point "6" of the part "w" will be found to be in a position
to engage the recess 8 of the part "o," and so prevent the valve from reaching its
seat; on the other hand when the current is reversed the valve is again lifted and
the other pole "4" will be attracted with the result that the short point "7" will
engage the recess "8" of the part "o," and thereby allow the valve to fall to its
full extent and cut off the supply of gas.
"4"
Another modification is shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 in which is used a
permanent horse-shoe magnet pivoted to the extension "d'," on a pin "f,"
this magnet "e" has a long and a short pole, "1" and "2," respectively the long
pole "I" being attracted, so as to engage the inner rim "10" of the guide
piece "to so keep the valve off its seat, when the current enters the magnet
coil from one end, and when the direction of the said current is reversed the other
short pole "2" of the magnet e is attracted while the end of the long pole "1"
engages the outer inclined edge of the rim "11" of the guide piece "," and is
so prevented from hindering the descent of the valve, which therefore cuts off the
supply of gas. In this arrangement is shown a supplementary ball valve "
P₁
"
which is unseated when the valve "c," with its extension "d¹," are retained in their
upper position by the pole "1," engaging the inner rim "10" of the guide
piece "," and the lower end of the valve "c" in this modification has, instead
of a conical point, an inverted cup "9x" whose rim enters a mercury seal "q"
when the valve drops to cut off the supply of gas.
The body of the valve "c," in the different constructions described is either
provided with longitudinal grooves or is of a size that will permit the gas to pass
freely when the valve is lifted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an electric-gas lighter
and extinguisher substantially as described in the specification with reference to
Figs. 1, 2 & 24.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an electric gas-lighter
and extinguisher substantially as described in the specification with reference to
Figs. 3 & 4.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an electric-gas-
lighter and extinguisher substantially as described in the specification with
reference to Figs. 5, 6 & 7.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an electric-gas lighter

page_text: and extinguisher substantially as described in the specification with reference to
Figs. 8, 9 & 10.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting an electric-gas lighter
and extinguisher substantially as described in the specification with reference to
Figs. 11, 12 & 13.
1000,
JAS. T. ARMSTRONG,
64 Aldersgate Street, London, E.C.
Wm. Brookes & Son,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.