Improved Means of Extinguishing Gas Lamps and Burners.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Extinguishing Gas Lamps and Burners.
I ADAM STEINHELBER of No. 47 Broadway New York, United States of North
America, Manufacturer do hereby declare tho 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 present invention relates to apparatus for cutting off the supply of gas to a
gas-burner as soon as the gas flame is extinguished.
It has been found that many ignorant and awkward persons have blown out the
burning gas without shutting the stop cock. This has frequently caused loss of life.
It is to shut off the flow of gas as soon as the flame is extinguished, and so prevent
any such evil consequences, that my present invention has been devised.
To carry out my invention I use a gas light having a burner and conducting tube
of the common and well known form. In the conducting tube through which flows
the supply of gas, is placed a cock having a key connected to the armature of an
electro magnet, so that when the electro-magnet is energized, it will by attracting the
armature, and moving the key, open the cock. But when the magnet is not energized
springs attached to said armature will draw it the other way, and so close the cock,
shutting off the flow of gas. This magnet may be connected by proper conductors
with a battery of any approved form. In order to automatically break and close the
circuit, at the proper times, I suspend two nearly equal weights upon pulleys, by a
connecting cord, one of which weights hangs directly over the gas flame, and the
.other over the connection device for closing the circuit of the battery. The weight
over the flame should be slightly the heavier of the two. When the flame is lighted
the currents of bot air flowing up from the flame against this weight will bear it up a
little so that the opposing weight will press down on the circuit closer, and the magnet
being thus energized drawing its armature holds the cock open so that the gas can
flow freely to the burner. But when the flame is extinguished, the weight over it
sinks down, the opposing weight is lifted off the circuit closer, the circuit is broken,
the magnet ceases to act, the armature is drawn down by the springs before specified,
the cock is closed, and the supply of gas shut off.
Figure 1, is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating my
invention.
Figure 2, is a detail view partly in section, illustrating the magnet, the cock and a
part of the accompanying mechanism.
G, H, I, J, designates the bracket of a gas light.
D, designates an ordinary stop cock.
K, the burner.
E, the flange against the wall.
U, the wall.
L, the glass globe.
F, the key the magnet works.
d, an upwardly projecting stem of the key F.
B, the armature mounted upon said stem d.
b, eyes at either end of said armature.
c, eyes in the fixture.
gas
C, springs connecting the armature and the gas fixture.
A, the electro magnet.
10,
w, and x, z, wires connecting the magnet with the circuit closer.
R, the circuit closer.
S, supports for pulleys n.
M, and Q, the suspended weights.
O, the cord by which said weights are connected.
N the nulleys upon which said weights are suspended.

page_text: As before specified, while the flame burns, the current of hot air rising around
the weight M, bears it up, so that the weight Q, will press down on the circuit
closer R, and close the circuit from the battery to the magnet A. This being thus
energized draws up the armature B, and with it the stem d, and the key F, which
are all fastened together, and so opening the cock, in which said key works, allows a
full flow of gas. But when the flame is extinguished the weight M, sinking down,
lifts the weight Q, off the circuit closer, and breaking the circuit releases the
armature B, from the magnet A, immediately the springs C, draw down the key F,
and shut off the gas. To light the flame the operator opens the cock 1), and holds up
the weight M, a little until the heat of the flame will leave it up enough to cause the
flow of gas as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I
claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.
The combination with a gas fixture as hereinbefore specified of a cock having a
movable key attached to the armature of a magnet, and springs so arranged that
when said armature is moved one way, by its magnet the cock in which said key
moves will he opened for the flow of gas, and when the springs move the armature
in the other direction the said cock will be closed, and the flow of gas cut off, an
electro magnet connected with a battery to move said armature, a circuit closer within
the circuit of said battery and suspended weights to operate said circuit closer, all
substantially as specified.
Dated this 17th day of June 1880
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C., Patent Agent.