IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING, REGULATING, AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING, REGULATING,
AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS." A communication from Wilhelm
Klinkerfues, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Director of the Royal
Observator at Gottingen in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
A communication
LIGHTING, REGULATING, AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS."
from Wilhelm Klinkerfues, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Director of the
Royal Observatory at Gottingen, in the German Empire.
With this improvement in apparatus for lighting, regulating, and extinguishing
gas burners automatically a metallic thermometer (consisting in its main part of a
metallic spiral ring) is used for turning a valve, which latter opens, regulates, and
closes the inlet of the gas to the burner. By an auxiliary flame, which is temporarily
enlarged by an additional pressure from the gas works, the metallic spiral is heated
and expands consequently. The expanding spiral moves a double armed lever
attached to one free end of same, which lever engages and turns a toothed wheel
fastened to the valve of the burner. This motion of the valve opens the gas inlet
to the burner, the flame of which is lighted by the enlarged auxiliary flame. With
each additional pressure of the gas the auxiliary flame is enlarged and expands the
metallic spiral anew, and the latter gives each time a new turn to the valve, in
consequence whereof the inlet of the gas to the burner can be regulated in size or
be closed altogether.
The apparatus may also be furnished or combined with a compensator for
preventing the auxiliary flame from becoming enlarged by a gradually rising gas
pressure which would interrupt the regularity of the turn or sequence of operations
for opening, regulating, and closing the burners.
The inner boring of the burner of the auxiliary flame may advantageously be
lined with platina, the katalytical action of which prevents the small flame from
being extinguished by wind or rough weather.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th October 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR
LIGHTING, REGULATING, AND EXTINGUISHING GAS-BURNERS." A communication
from Wilhelin Klinkerfues, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor and Director of the
Royal Observatory at Gottingon, in the German Empire.
With this improvement in apparatus for lighting, regulating, and extinguishing
gas burners automatically, a metallic thermometer, consisting in its main part of a
metallic spiral ring) is used for turning a valve, which latter opens, regulates,
and closes the inlet of the gas to the burner. By an auxiliary flame, which is
temporarily enlarged by an additional pressure from the gas works, the metallic
spiral is heated and expands consequently. The expanding spiral moves a double
armed lever attached to one free end of same, which lever engages and turns a
toothed wheel fastened to the valve of the burner. This notion of the valve opens
the gas inlet to the burner, the flame of which is lighted by the enlarged auxiliary
Hame. With each additional pressure of the gas the auxiliary flaine is enlarged
and expands the metallic spiral anew, and the latter gives each time a new turn to
the valve, in consequence whereof the inlet of the gas to the burner can be
Jegulated in size or be closed altogether.
The apparatus may also be furnished or combined with a compensator for
preventing the auxiliary flame from becoming enlarged by a gradually rising gas
pressure which would interrupt the regularity of the turn or sequence of
operations for opening, regulating, and closing the burners.
The inner boring of the burner of the auxiliary flame may advantageously be
lined with platina, the katalytical action of which prevents the small flame from
being extinguished by wind or rough weather.
This Invention will be readily understood from the following description, and
by reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a
front elevation of the apparatus with auxiliary burner in section; Fig. 2 is a
vertical transverse section of the apparatus through a plane at right angles to
Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan; and Fig. 4 a sectional plan showing the valvo
arrangement.
m, m, m, the metallic thermometer, which is placed above the auxiliary flame a,
and which is heated each time that flame a is enlarged by an additional pressure
of the gas, in consequence of which the spiral spring expands in width. The
movements of the spring are transported by arm b upon the double armed lever e, e,
that turns on a bolt or screw o, and which lever engages with and moves by means
of catches the toothed wheel H, said wheel H being in connection with valve P,
which latter, according to turns of wheel H, either opens the inlet of the gas to the
burner S or closes the corresponding channels i, i, paitly or fully. At same time
with the opening of the gas inlet to the burner the main flame is lighted by the
enlarged flame a. The gas enters the apparatus, which is screwed or otherwise
fastened to the lamp post, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 of the
Drawings.
The bottom part of the apparatus contains the compensator, the purpose of which
is to prevent the enlarging of the auxiliary flame by gradual rising of the gas
pressure. The compensator consists of a vessel which is concentrically placed
around the inlet gas tube R, and which is divided into two chambers B and D,
which latter is closed at the bottom by a flexible diaphragm E which is furnished
with a central opening l. The inlet tube R is airtightly fastened to the bottom of

page_text: chamber B, which latter is at this lower part conically enlarged, as is shown in
Fig. 2. The auxiliary burner is in communication with the top plate of chamber B,
and the gas of this flame passes to the burner through the fine borings r and r¹ as
long as the pressure of the gas is not suddenly enlarged. As soon, however, as
this pressure rises suddenly the diaphragm E is pressed upwards and lifts the
conical ring N of vulcanized india rubber or other suitable inaterial, in consequence
of which a greater quantity of gas is allowed to pass to the auxiliary burner by an
opening a of the bottom part of chamber B, which opening was formerly closed by
ring N.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
1. The application of a metallic thermometer in combination with an auxiliary
Blame, which is enlarged by sudden risings of the gas pressure for the purpose of
turning a valve which opens, regulates, and closes the inlet of the gas to the burner,
substantially as described and as illustrated by the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, and
2. The compensator for regulating the flow of the gas to the auxiliary burner,
constructed and operating substantially for the purpose and in the manner as
described and as illustrated by the Figures of the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.