AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC TORCH FOR LIGHTING GAS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
-
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC TORCH FOR LIGHTING GAS."-
A communication from abroad by William W. Batchelder, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman.
Sealed the 3rd May 1872, and dated the 14th March 1872.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 14th March 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
ELECTRIC TORCH FOR LIGHTING GAS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that

page_text: it has been communicated to me from abroad by William W. Batchelder,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification
:-
This Invention relates to a torch for lighting gas by the generation of
an electric current, by means of an electroferous operated by hand, to
liberate the electric spark and cause it to pass to the lighter, which
completes the circuit by its contact with the burner.
The said Invention also relates to the construction, arrangement, and
combination of the several parts of the torch whereby it can be easily
manipulated by hand to both generate and liberate the lighting spark,
as will be more fully herein-after described.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a torch constructed according to this
Invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same; and Figure 3 is
a section of part of the said torch, showing the generating surfaces
separated.
Upon a handle A. I arrange a hard rubber stem B, on whose upper
end is mounted a fixed shell C provided with an interior metallic disc D,
having its surface cushioned with any suitable material, to which and the
disc D is attached a leather facing E. It is highly important to have
this leather facing so attached that its surface will be slightly spongy or
yielding, and I accomplish this object by sewing the same to the disc D;
the latter for this purpose is provided with suitable holes through which
the thread passes, thereby not only producing a very cheap means of
securing the leather surface of the facing, but allowing it to yield at
any point of its surface.
Upon the stem B a moveable shell F is arranged on a sleeve G, which
is also secured to an interior metallic sleeve K. The moveable shell
F is capable of having a compound movement upon the stem B, a
rotary and an axial one, for a purpose to be presently explained. This

page_text: movable shell F is also provided with a metallic disc I, to which a hard
rubber disc J is secured, the surface of the latter is brought into contact
with and separated from the leather disc E' in generating and liberating
the electric charge. The leather disc E and the hard rubber disc J are
alike in size, as are also the shells C and F, the latter being each pro-
vided with flanges c and f, which bear upon each other when the shells
come into contact with each other. The metallic disc I is mounted
upon the interior sleeve K, which is connected to the outer sleeve G of
the moveable shell by means of a pin a, projecting through a slot b in
the sleeve G in order to effect the simultaneous turning movement of
the sleeve K and shell F, and at the same time permit their independent
movement to effect their separation from the fixed shell C. This inde-
pendent movement is of the highest importance, as by it the separation
of the metallic connections C and F is effected in advance of the
separation of the generating surfaces E and J, in order to prevent the
escape of the electricity back through the lips c, f, of the shells, thereby
insuring the passage of the electric spark to the lighter. In the example
shown I accomplish this independent movement by moving one sleeve
upon the other to a limited extent, which is controlled by the pin a and
slot b, whereby they are locked together. The limit of this movement
of the shell being reached, and the metallic connection broken, the
continuance of the axial movement of the sleeves G and K of course
effects the separation of the generating surfaces to liberate the electric
spark.
The electric current is generated by a slight revolving movement of
the hard rubber disc J in contact with the leather disc E, the charge
being held upon the surface of the hard rubber disc J by means of its
metallic back I, so as to give out successive sparks every time the rubber
and leather surfaces are brought into contact with each other, the spark
passing through the fixed shell Cinto the lighting portion of the torch by
means of the contact of the lips c,f, of the moveable and of the fixed shells.
The rotary movement is effected by holding the handle with one hand
and turning the sleeves G and K with the other upon their stem B, and
the separation of the shells and generating surfaces is effected by means
of a thumb piece G³ attached to the outer sleeve G, while the movement
which forces the shells towards each other is effected by means of interior
springs L and M. The spring L acts upon the stem B to force up the
rubber disc J, and the spring M acts upon the inner sleeve K. to bring

page_text: the flanges or lips c, f, of the shells together and into contact with cach
other.
From the fixed shell C rises the metallic conductor N, which may be
of any desired shape or length, and which terminates in an insulated
end O. From the latter projects laterally a metallic lighter P, arranged
to embrace the burner, and having its upper portion slotted or perforated
to ensure the escape of the gas from the said lighter. Immediately over
the perforated point of the lighter P two conductors R are arranged to
have the.break in. the metallic connection immediately over the point
where the gas escapes. One of these conductors R extends from the
metallic lighter, and the other from the main conductor N. The
advantage of having the lighter P at one side of the main conductor is
the protection of the insulator from the heat and soot of the flame; and
this protection afforded to the insulated end O is of the greatest impor-
tance, and renders the device perfect, as the insulated end O cannot
therefore be made to conduct the spark either by being heated or covered
by soot. The conducting stem N is jointed as shewn at n, or otherwise
constructed to permit the adjustment of the lighter P for use in any
desired position. The lighter is in the example shewn made bell-shaped,
and is provided with a metallic link or chain S hanging from its circum-
ference, so as to "sag." The special advantage of this arrangement is
that in using the torch with an insulating tip burner, the contact of the
chain or link will be effected with the burner below the said insulating
tip and thereby always ensure the connection with the earth, thus
adapting the torch to any kind of burner in use. The lighter may be
provided with any non-insulating arm, projection, or any pendant device,
for ensuring the connection of the lighter with the burner below the
insulating tip.
The conducting stem N is provided with a key turner T to open the
gas cock when the latter is out of reach, and the torch by this key
turner is made much more complete and convenient.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. An electric torch for generating and liberating a current of

page_text: Second. The combination of the fixed and moveable flat generating
surfaces E and J with the handle A, conductor N, and lighter P, essen-
tially as described.
Third. An electric torch in which the generating surfaces are separated
and connected by the axial movement of one upon its stem towards the
other, essentially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the metallic connections C, F, with the
generating surfaces E, J, so constructed and arranged that the former
shall have a separating movement in advance of and independent of the
latter, essentially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The combination and arrangement of the inner and outer sleeves
G and K, or equivalent contrivances, with their respective springs L and
M, and the thumb piece G¹, essentially as described.
Sixth. In an electric torch the lighter P arranged at one side of the
insulated end O of the conductor N, for the purpose of protecting the
same from both heat and matter, essentially as described.
Seventh. In an electric. torch the combination with the lighter P
thereof of a suitable device for connecting the lighter with the burner
below an insulated tip, essentially as described.
Eighth. In an electric torch the conductor N made adjustable, essen-
tially as and for the purpose described.
Ninth. In an electric torch the combination of the fixed and moveable
generating surfaces E and J, the handle A, adjustable conductor N,
insulated end 0, laterally projecting lighter P and burner, connecting
device S, the several parts being constructed, arranged, and operating
essentially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
tren
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
WM. ROBT. LAKE.
(L.S.)