AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dawson Miles, of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BY ELECTRICITY." -A
communication from abroad by the "New England Electric Gas
Lighting Company" (Incorporated), of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
Sealed the 3rd May 1870, and dated the 24th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dawson Miles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th November 1869.
I, DAWSON MILES, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "An
IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BY
ELECTRICITY," a communication, to be as follows:-
Electrical apparatus or mechanism has been heretofore used for
lighting and extinguishing gas, a ratchet wheel which forms part of such

page_text: mechanism being connected with the gas cock or valve, and rotated by
a pawl operated by an electro-magnet. This apparatus or mechanism is
however objectionable for the following reasons:-Where many lamps or
burners are placed in a circuit it has been found impossible to so
regulate the mechanism connected with each lamp or burner as to cause
the ratchet wheels to be moved the same distance at each forward
vibration of the pawls, the momentum received from the rapid action of
the latter causing some of the ratchet wheels to be carried beyond the
desired point, the gas being thereby turned on in some places, while in
others it is partially or entirely shut off. Furthermore where many
lamps are included in the same circuit so that the several series of such
apparatus are operated simultaneously a very powerful current of
electricity is required, which necessitates the employment of a wire of
large diameter, thus increasing the expence.
The first part of this Invention relates to means for overcoming the
above-mentioned difficulties, and consists in operating only one appa-
ratus at a time, two separate wires being employed (one to turn on and
the other to shut off the gas) in connection with an automatic circuit
breaker in each apparatus. The current of electricity passes through
one wire to the electro-magnet of the first apparatus in the circuit
(returning through the ground), and as soon as the gas valve of this
apparatus has been opened or closed the motion of the mechanism con-
nected therewith is instantly arrested by the breaking of the circuit, the
current being by the same movement of the automatic circuit breaker
connected with a wire leading to the next apparatus, when the
operation is repeated, and so on throughout the whole series of lamps.
Thus it will be seen that one apparatus only is included in the circuit
at a time, the breaking of the circuit in each apparatus serving to
connect the electro-magnet with the other wire, by the current of which
the mechanism may be again set in motion, the two wires being used
alternately, one to turn on and the other to shut off the gas.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements in that
portion of the apparatus used for igniting the gas by an electric spark.
Where many lamps are included in a circuit and lighted simultaneously
as has heretofore been customary, the electric spark has to leap over a
corresponding number of breaks, one at each gas burner. To overcome
the aggregate resistance occasioned by these breaks an exceedingly
powerful current of electricity is required, necessitating an expensive

page_text: covering of great thickness around the conducting wire in order to
secure the required insulation to prevent the escape of the electricity.
This part of my Invention has for its object the prevention of such
great expenditure of electric power. It also enables me to employ a
I thinly coated and consequently less expensive conducting wire, and
consists in breaking and closing the electric lighting circuit at any
desired point for the purpose of producing the sparks to ignite the gas
by means of automatic mechanism, as will be hereafter particularly
described. Upon suitably constructed framework is secured an electro..
magnet whose armature is secured to the end of a bent lever, which is
attached to a horizontal rock shaft, and has pivoted to its upper end a
pawl which engages with the teeth of a ratchet wheel; the shaft of the
latter revolves in bearings in a bifurcated plate projecting down from the
upper plate of the framework. From the hub of the said ratchet wheel
projects a crank pin, which is connected by means of a spring to the.
lower end of the stem of a valve, through which the gas is admitted to
the pipe and burner. The construction of this valve and the spring.
connection between its stem and the crank pin however form no part of
the present Invention. The electric current enters the apparatus by a.
wire, through which it passes to the base of a flat spring secured to an
insulating block. The upper end of this flat spring rests against a bent
plate secured to a second insulating block, the current passing through
the spring and bent plate to a second wire connected with the clectro-
magnet aforesaid. The current is then conducted by a third wire to the.
ground or the street gas pipe, by which it passes to the negative pole of
the battery to complete the circuit. The armature may then be set in
motion by means of a key at the central station, and the pawl vibrated
to produce the rotation of the ratchet wheel, which is stopped as soon.
as it has completed a half revolution (or, in other words, when it has
opened the gas valve to its full extent) in the following manner :-A
cam composed of non-conducting material and secured to the end of the
shaft bears against a triangular projection on the flat spring, and serves
to keep its upper end in contact with the bent plate until its point is
carried past the point of the projection on the said flat spring (as occurs
the instant the ratchet has completed a half revolution), the spring then
assumes such a position that its upper end rests against a second bent.
plate secured to the second insulating block opposite to the first bent
plate. This action serves to break the circuit through the electro-
magnet and to arrest the ratchet. The electric current will then pass

page_text: through the flat spring to the second bent plate, and thence by a fourth
wire to the next apparatus, when the same operation is repeated. It is
evident that the armature cannot be again set in motion (when it is
desired to extinguish the gas) by a current passing through the first
wire when the circuit has been broken, as above described. It therefore
becomes necessary to employ another wire, through which the electric
current passes to the base of a second flat spring (on the opposite side of
the cam), the upper end of which rests against a third bent plate
secured to the second insulating block. This plate is connected with a
wire through which the current passes to the electro-magnet, and by the
third wire to the ground and back to the battery as before. The armature.
may thus be again set in motion, and the wheel rotated for the purpose
of closing the valve and extinguishing the gas. The second flat spring
is provided with a projection (similar to that of the first flat spring)
which rests against the cam, the latter serving to retain the upper end of
the spring in contact with the third bent plate until the revolution of the
ratchet carries the point of the cam past the point of the aforesaid pro-
jection, when the spring will assume such a position that its upper end.
will rest against a fourth bent plate secured to the second insulating
block opposite the third plate. This movement of the spring occurs the
instant the gas valve is entirely closed by the half revolution of the
ratchet, and serves to break the circuit through the electro-magnet, thus
arresting the ratchet and insuring the gas valve being left closed as
required. The current now passes by the last-mentioned spring to the
fourth plate, and thence by a wire to the next apparatus, where the same
operation is repeated, the current passing successively from one lamp to
another until the whole are extinguished. Just previous to the arrival
of the point of the cam opposite to the projection on the said spring a
portion of the cam strikes against the projection of the other flat spring,
forcing its upper end away from the second plate, and bringing it into
contact with the first plate, against which it is held by the cam. It is
then stopped by the breaking of the circuit caused by the movement of
the upper end of the second spring from the third plate to, the fourth
plate. The parts are thus left in such a position that the armature may
be again set in motion to open the valve by the current from the wire,
as first described. The springs are thus operated alternately by the cam
in such a manner that the breaking of one circuit through the wire
spring and electro-magnet will not only cause the current to pass to the
next apparatus, but will leave the electro-magnet connected through the

page_text: second spring with the wire which transmits the current thereof, through
which wire a current may be transmitted at the required time, while
the breaking of the circuit through the said wire and spring and the
clectro-magnet will cause the current to pass on to the next apparatus,.
and at the same time leave the electro-magnet connected through the
first flat spring with the first wire, the two wires being thus used alter-.
nately, one to carry the current for opening the gas valve, and the other
the current for closing. it, and the electro-magnet being at all times
connected with one or the other of the said wires. The circuit is broken
at one point only at a time, that is, at each lamp in succession throughout
the entire series, until they are all lighted in a manner which will now, be
described: Just previous to setting in motion the mechanism, which
opens the gas valves the electric current which produces the sparks is
caused to pass continuously through the several apparatus: within the.
circuit, entering each one by a wire, from which it passes through a
lever (pivoted to the second insulating block to another wire, by which
it leaves the apparatus and passes on to the next one, and when the
lever of cach apparatus is properly adjusted the circuit through the
several apparatus is unbroken and no spark is produced. One end of a
wire is connected with the entrance wire, the other extremity being
brought into close proximity with the insulated tip of the gas burner, to
which is secured another wire connected with the exit wire, and when it
is desired to ignite the gas it is necessary to cause the electric current to
follow the first connecting wire and leap over the break between its
point and the tip so as to produce the electric sparks at this point, and
afterwards pass from the burner to the second connecting wire, and
thence to the exit wire. For this purpose a cam of some non-conducting
material is formed in one piece with the first-mentioned cam, and as the
ratchet is turned into such a position as to partially open the gas valve
a projecting portion of the non-conducting cam is brought into contact
with the lever, when the latter is forced against a spring away from the.
point of the exit wire, thus breaking the connection between the
entrance and exit wires at this point, and when the distance between the
lower end of the lever and the point of contact of the exit wire exceeds:
the space between the point of the first connecting wire and the tip of
the burner the clectric current will pass through the connecting wires,.
producing a stream of sparks, which ignite the gas issuing from the
burner as required. The production of sparks is continued until the gas...
cock is nearly wide open, when the non-conducting cam is revolved until:

page_text: its projecting portion passes a shoulder on the lever; the latter is then
instantly retracted by the spring until its lower extremity is brought
into contact with the points of both the entrance and exit wires; the
circuit is thus closed at this point, when the resistance occasioned by the
break will cause the current to resume the direct course first described
through the lever. Instead of providing each apparatus with a lever for
the purpose of automatically breaking the circuit at each gas burner in
succession, the automatic circuit breakers may be placed at intervals, so
that the electric sparks will be produced at more than one burner at a
time, say at two or three burners simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION.in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Dawson Miles in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAWSON
MILES, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in tho
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Dawson Miles, Her special licence that
I, the said Dawson Miles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Dawson Miles, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use; exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
AND EXTINGUISHING GAS BY ELECTRICITY," a communication to me from
abroad by the New England Electric Gas Lighting Company (Incor-
porated), of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Dawson Miles, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent. .
NOW KNOW YE; that I, the said Dawson Miles, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement, referenco being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming part of this. Specification :-
Electrical apparatus or mechanism has been heretofore used for
lighting and extinguishing gas, a ratchet wheel which forms part of
sucli mechanism being connected with the gas cock or valve, and rotated
by a pawl operated by an electro-magnet. This apparatus or mechanism
is however objectionable for the following reasons:-Where many lamps
or burners are placed in a circuit it has been found impossible to so
regulate the mechanism connected with each lamp or burner as to cause
the ratchet wheels to be moved the same distance at each forward
vibration of the pawls, the momentum received from the rapid action of
the latter causing some of the ratchet wheels to be carried beyond the
desired point, the gas being thereby turned on in some places, while in
others it is partially or entirely shut off. Furthermore, where many
lamps are included in the same circuit, so that the several series of such
apparatus are operated simultaneously, a very powerful current of
electricity is required, which necessitates the employment of a wire of
large diameter, thus increasing the expense.
The first part of this Invention. relates to means for overcoming the
above-mentioned difficulties, and consists in operating only one apparatus
at a time, two separate wires being employed (one to turn on and the
other to shut off the gas) in connection with an automatic circuit breaker
in each apparatus. The current of electricity passes through one wire
to the electro-magnet of the first apparatus in the circuit (returning.
through the ground), and as soon as the gas valve of this apparatus has
been opened or closed the motion of the mechanism connected there-
with is arrested by the breaking, of the circuit, the current. being
by the same movement of the automatic circuit breaker connected
with a wire leading to the next apparatus, when the operation is
repeated, and so on throughout the whole series of lamps. Thus it will
be seen that one apparatus only is included in the circuit at a time, tho
breaking of the circuit in cach apparatus serving to connect the electro-

page_text: magnet with the other wire, by the current of which the mechanism
may be again set in motion, the two wires being used alternately, one to
turn on and the other to shut off the gas.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements in
that portion of the apparatus used for igniting the gas by an electric
spark. Where many lamps are included in a circuit and lighted simul-
taneously, as has heretofore been customary, the electric spark has to
leap over a corresponding number of breaks, one at each gas burner.
To overcome the aggregate resistance occasioned by these breaks an
exceedingly powerful current of electricity is required, necessitating an
expensive covering of great thickness around the conducting wire in
order to secure the required insulation to prevent the escape of the
electricity. This part of my Invention has for its object the prevention
of such great expenditure of electric power; it also enables me to
employ a thinly coated and consequently less expensive conducting wire,
and consists in breaking and closing the electric lighting circuit at any
desired point for the purpose of producing the sparks to ignite the gas
by means of automatic. mechanism, as will be hereafter particularly
described.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of my improved apparatus;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the opposite side of the same; Figure 3. is an
end elevation of the same; Figures 4 and 5 are details to be herein-after
referred to.
A represents the framework of the apparatus, to which is secured the
electro-magnet B, the armature C of which is secured to the end of a
bent lever D. This lever is attached to a horizontal rock shaft a, and
has pivoted to its upper end a pawl b, which engages with the teeth of
a ratchet wheel E, the shaft c of this wheel revolves in bearings d in a.
bifurcated plate G projecting down from the upper plate of the frame-
work. From the hub of the ratchet wheel E projects a crank pin e;
this pin is connected by means of a spring f to the lower end of the
stem g of the valve through which the gas is admitted to the pipe H and
burner. The construction of this valve and the spring connection
between its stem and the crank pin however form no part of the present.
Invention.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the clectric current
is caused to pass through the apparatus for the purpose of rotating the
ratchet wheel E to open and close the gas valve at the required times.
The parts being in the position seen in Figure 1 (the gas valve being
closed) the electric current enters the apparatus at i by the wire j,
through which it passes to the base of a flat spring secured to an
insulating block I. The upper end of this spring k rests against a bent
plate secured to an insulating block K, the current passing through
the spring and bent plate 1 to a wire m connected with the electro-
magnet B, after passing through the latter the current is conducted by
the wire n to the ground or the street gas pipe, by which it passes to the
negative pole of the battery to complete the circuit. The armature O
may then be set in motion by means of a key at the central station in
the usual manner, and the pawl 6 vibrated to produce the rotation of the
ratchet wheel E, the motion of which is instantly arrested as soon as
it has completed a half revolution (which opens the gas valve to its
full extent) in the following manner:-The cam o, composed of non-
conducting material, is secured to the end of the shaft c.
This cam
bears against a triangular projection 8 on the spring k, and serves to
keep its upper end in contact with the bent plate until its point 9,
Figure 4, is carried past the point of the projection 8, as occurs the
instant the ratchet E has completed a half revolution. The spring then
assumes the position seen in Figure 4, with its upper end resting against
a bent plate p secured to the insulating block K opposite to the bent
plate . This serves to break the circuit through the clectro-magnet B,
and arrest the motion of the ratchet E, the electric current will then
pass through the spring to the bent plate p, and thence by a wire q to
the next apparatus, when the same operation is repeated, and so on
throughout the whole series of lamps, one apparatus only being included
within the circuit at a time, and the electric current passing from one
to another in succession until it has passed through the entire series,
thus as one armature only with the mechanism connected therewith
is operated at a time an electric current of very moderate power only is
required, and consequently a wire of small diameter and moderate cost
may be employed, while the automatic breaking of the circuit which
arrests the ratchet wheel and causes the current to pass on to the next
lamp renders it absolutely certain that the gas valve will be left in the
exact position required. The gas having been turned on is ignited
by electric sparks in a manner to be hereafter particularly described.

page_text: It is evident that the armature C cannot be again set in motion (when
it is desired to extinguish the gas) by a current passing through the
wire j, because the circuit has been broken, as above described; it
therefore becomes necessary to employ another wire r, through which the
electric current passes to the base of a flat spring & on the opposite side
of the cam o. The upper end of this spring rests against a bent plate t
secured to the insulating block K when the parts are in the position
scen in Figure 4. This plate is connected by a wire v, through which
the current passes to the electro-magnet B, and by the wire n to the
ground and back to the battery as before. The armature C may thus be
again set in motion, and the wheel E rotated for the purpose of closing
the valve and extinguishing the gas. The spring 8 is provided with a
projection 10 (similar to the projection 8 of the spring ), which rests
against the cam o, the latter serving to retain the upper end of the
spring in contact with the plate until the revolution of the ratchet E
carries the point 9 of the cam past the point of the projection 10. The
spring a will then assume the position seen in Figure 1, its upper end.
resting against a bent plate to secured to the block K opposite to the
plate t. This movement of the spring 8 occurs at the instant when the
gas valve is entirely closed by the half revolution of the ratchet E, and
serves to break the circuit through the electro-magnet B, and thus arrest
the motion of the ratchet E, which ensures the gas valve being left closed
as required. The current now passes by the springs to the plate w, and
thence by a wire a to the next apparatus, where the same operations
are repeated, the current passing successively from one lamp to another
until all of them are extinguished. Just previous to the arrival of the
point 9 of the cam o opposite to the projection 10 the portion 11 of the
cam strikes the projection 8 of the spring k, forcing its upper end away
from the plate p, and bringing it in contact with the plate l, as seen in
Figure 1. Against this plate it is held by the cam when its motion is
arrested by the breaking of the circuit caused by the movement of the
upper end of the springs from the plate t to the plate w. The parts are
thus left in such a position that the armature C may be again set in
motion to open the valve by the current from the wire j, as first
described. The springs and s are thus operated alternately by the
cam o in such a manner that the breaking of one circuit through the
wire j, spring, and electro-magnet B will not only cause the current to
pass to the next apparatus, but will leave the electro-magnet B connected
through the spring & with the other wire r. Through this wire a current

page_text: may be transmitted at the required time, while the breaking of the
circuit through the wire r, spring s, and clectro-magnet B will cause the
current to pass on to the next apparatus, and at the same time leave the
electro-magnet connected through the spring & with the wire j. The
wires j, r, are thus used alternately, one to conduct the current for
opening the gas valve, and the other the current for closing it, tho
electro-magnet being at all times connected with one or the other of the
wires j, r. The electric current which produces the sparks for lighting
the gas passes through the several apparatus, the spark being produced
by the electricity passing over a break or interruption in the circuit at
cach burner. The circuit however is broken at one point only at a time,
this break being produced at each lamp in succession throughout tho
entire scries until they are all. lighted in a manner which I will now
describe. Just previous to setting in motion the mechanism which
opens the gas valves the electric current which produces the sparks is
caused to pass continuously through the several apparatus. within the
circuit, entering each one by the wire b¹; from the point 12 of this wire
it passes through a lever c' (pivoted at d to the block K) to the point 13
of a wire c', as seen in Figure 1; by this wire it leaves the apparatus
and passes on to the next one, and when the lever c¹ of each apparatus
is in the position seen in Figure 1 the circuit through the several
apparatus is unbroken and no spark is produced. A wire f' has onc
end connected with the wire b', the other extremity 14 being brought
into close proximity with the insulated tip of the gas burner h; to this
burner is secured another wire g' connected with the wire c'. When it
is desired to ignite the gas it becomes necessary to cause the electric
current to follow the wire f and leap over the break between its point 14
and the tip h, so as to produce the electric sparks at this point, and after-
wards pass from the burner.h to the wire g', and thence to the wire c¹.
This result is effected: in the following manner:-A cam of non-
conducting material is formed in one piece with the cam o, and as tho
ratchet E is turned into such a position as to partially open the gas
valve the portion 15 of the cam is brought into contact with the
lever c'; the latter is then forced against the resistance of a spring 16
away from the point 13 of the wire c', as seen in Figure 5, thus breaking
the connection between the two wires b' and e' at this point, and as the
lever c' is moved the instant the distance between its lower end and the
point 13 exceeds the space between the point 14 of the wire f¹ and the

page_text: tip of the burner h, the electric current will pass through the wires f', g',
producing a stream of sparks at the point 14, which ignites the gas.
issuing from the burner has required. The production of sparks at
this point continues until the gas cock is nearly wide open, when the
portion 15 of the cam is turned past a shoulder 17 on the lever c'; the
latter is then instantly retracted by the spring 16 into the position scen
in Figure 1, with its lower extremity in contact with the points of both
wires and e'; the circuit is thereby closed at this point, and the
resistance occasioned by the break at the point 14 will cause the current
to resume a direct course, as first described, through the lever c'. This
break in the circuit is produced in succession at each of the several
lamps as soon as the lever c¹ is operated by the cam . This operation
can only take place when the gas valve is being opened, and as these
gas valves are opened one at a time in succession it is evident that but
one break can occur at a time in the circuit which produces the sparks,
that is to say, at the particular lamp being lighted; and as the amount
of resistance to the electric current occasioned by a single break is very.
slight a current of very moderate power may be employed, thus avoiding
the necessity of employing a thickly coated wire to prevent the escape
of the electricity, as has heretofore been necessary where a great number
of breaks occur in the circuit. Furthermore, even if a powerful current
should be employed when the resistance to be overcome is occasioned by:
a single break only, as above described, a conducting wire having a
very thin coating of insulating material may be employed without any
liability of the escape of electricity, consequently a great saving may be
effected in the cost of the conducting wire..
The above described apparatus is of simple construction, its action is-
eertain, and by its use much less powerful currents of electricity, and
consequently less expensive conducting wires are required than with any
other apparatus of this description heretofore employed. Instead of
providing each apparatus with a lever c' for the purpose of automatically
breaking the circuit at all of the gas burners in succession, the automatic
circuit breakers may be placed at intervals, so that the electric sparks
will be produced at more than one burner at a time, say at two or three
burners simultaneously, the aggregate resistance of these few breaks
thus produced being easily overcome. I prefer, however, to produce a
break at one burner only at a time, as first described.

page_text: Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice,
I claim,
First. The within described method of operating gas valves by means
of a current of electricity passing alternately through separate wires, in
combination with the springs 1, 8, and cam o, or equivalent device,
for automatically breaking the circuit through the electro-magnet, and
causing the current to pass to the next apparatus, substantially as
described.
Second Breaking and closing the electric lighting circuit at any
desired point for the purpose of producing the sparks to ignite the gas
by means of the cam i upon the shaft of the gas cock operating the
lever c', substantially as described.
Third. In combination with the mechanism by which the gas valve is
operated the cam i¹ and lever c¹, or equivalent device, for breaking the
electric lighting circuit, so arranged that as the gas valve is opened
the sparks will be produced at the required point to ignite the gas,
substantially as set forth.