IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SUPPLY. OF GAS TO BURNERS, IGNITING THE GAS, AND SHUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Green, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING
THE SUPPLY. OF GAS TO BURNERS, IGNITING THE GAS, AND SHUTTING OFF
THE SUPPLY."
Sealed the 30th August 1878, and dated the 17th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Green at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1878.
HENRY GREEN, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO BURNERS, IGNITING THE
GAS, AND SHUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY."
This Invention relates to apparatus, operated by temporary augmentation of gas
pressure in mains, for opening and closing the supply of gas to burners and for
igniting gas.
Apparatus for such purposes is described in the Specification of
a former Patent granted to me and John Barrow, the 2nd September 1873,
No. 2889.
The principal object of my present Invention is, by temporary augmentation of
the gas pressure when the quantity being drawn from the mains is comparatively
small, to effect the automatic opening or closing at a later period of the supply to
burners.
Among the uses of my Invention may be named its application to street lamps,
and in other cases where it may be desired to light up at a time when augmentation
of the pressure in the mains to the extent necessary for turning the supply on to
the burners would be attended with difficulty or inconvenience. My Invention for
this purpose is as follows:-In connection with the gas main I arrange a gas holder
of any suitable construction, between which and the main is an apparatus which
will allow gas to flow to the gas holder from the main when the augmented
pressure obtains in the main, and will at other times prevent such flow of gas from
Price Rd 1

page_text: the main to the gas holder. By increasing the gas pressure in the main, so as to
overcome the resistance of the controlling apparatus interposed between the main
and the gas holder, the latter is charged and raised. On subsequent reduction of
pressure, communication with the main is closed by the action of the controlling
apparatus. The contained gas allowed to slowly escape or leak from the gas
holder, which being cut off from the source of supply gradually descends, and in
doing so brings or causes to be brought into operation at a proper time suitable
parts, whereby gas is permitted to flow from the main to the burner, or the flow of
gas to the burner is arrested, as the case may be..
This Invention may be carried out in various forms. "
i
In one arrangement the passage from main to burner is controlled by a valve on
a counterweighted lever, which overbalances the valve. When closed, the valve is
held down by a catch or projection, which moves automatically over the valve
lever. The gas holder at its upper part carries a device, which at each ascent
is caused to make a partial revolution into a position in which it is held by a
ratchet, or click, or other suitable arrangement, during the next descent. The
position into which the device is moved is alternately one in which it will in
descending cause the valve to be opened, and one in which it will cause the valve
to close. To open the valve the device carried by the gas holder in descending
moves the catch or projection clear of the valve lever, or causes it be done by a
crank arm. Assuming the valve to be open which controls the flow of gas to the
burner, towards the completion of its downward movement the device carried by
the gas holder will in descending come in contact with the valve lever, closing the
valve, and the locking catch or projection will automatically move over the valve
lever, locking the valve in the closed position.
A second crank arm on the same axis, if necessary as that above mentioned, may
be connected by wire with and operate apparatus, such as described in the former
Specification herein-before referred to, for igniting gas at the burner with or
without the aid of a temporary gas jet, which may be supplied through a valve
operated as herein-after described, or through the same wire as the flame-producing
apparatus.
In another arrangement the valve governing the supply of gas to the burner
closes by its own weight, and is opened by the device carried by the gas holder
resting upon and pressing down its lever. In this case the supply of gas to the
burner will be kept open so long as the device on the gas holder or other equivalent
rests upon the lever, but when the gas holder rises by the augmented pressure
being turned on the lever of the valve becomes liberated, the valve therefore
descends and closes the supply of gas to burner.
Another method of carrying out my Invention is by causing the gas holder to
operate a rotating plug in a cock or valve, so as by the movements of the gas
holder to turn on or off the gas supply as required.
The gas holder may carry a weight or device, which in descending will come in
contact with a lever carrying another suitable valve, through which gas is allowed
to pass on to a supplementary burner or orifice for facilitating, by a temporary
intermediate gas jet, the transmission of flame to the main burner from the chamber
or vessel in which the chemicals are brought together to produce flame, as described
in the former Specification above referred to.
I do not confine myself to using my present Invention in connection with the
method of igniting gas described in that Specification.
The gas holder, valve, and other parts may be arranged in a metallic box at the
foot of a lamp post.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Green in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th October
1878.
HENRY GREEN, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. “IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO BURNERS, IGNITING THE
GAS, AND SHUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY."
This Invention relates to apparatus, operated by temporary augmentation of
gas pressure in mains, for opening and closing the supply of gas to burners and
for igniting gas. Apparatus for such purposes is described in the Specification
of a former Patent granted to me and John Barrow, the 2nd September 1873,
No. 2889.
The principal object of my present Invention.is, by temporary augmentation of
the gas pressure when the quantity being drawn from the mains is comparatively
small, to effect the automatic opening or closing at a later period of the supply to
burners. In other words, my object is to secure an interval of time between the
reduction of the augmented pressure in the main to the normal or ordinary working-
pressure and the opening or the closing (as the case may be) of the gasway to the
burner.
Among the uses of my Invention may be named its application to street lamps,
and in other cases where it may be desired to light up at a time when augmentation
of the pressure in the mains to the extent necessary for turning the supply on to
the burners would be attended with difficulty or inconvenience. My Invention for
this purpose is as follows:-In connection with the gas main I arrange a gas holder
of any suitable construction, between which and the main is an apparatus which
will allow gas to flow to the gas holder from the main when the augmented'
pressure obtains in the main, and will at other times prevent such flow of gas from
the main to the gas holder. By increasing the gas pressure in the main, so as to
overcome the resistance of the controlling apparatus interposed between the main
and the gas holder, the latter is charged and raised. On subsequent reduction of
pressure communication with the main is closed by the action of the controlling
apparatus. The contained gas is allowed to slowly escape or leak from the gas
holder, which being cut off from the source of supply gradually descends, and in
doing so brings or causes to be brought into operation at a proper time suitable
parts, whereby gas is permitted to flow from the main to the burner, or the flow of
gas to the burner is arrested, as the case may be.
This Invention may be carried out in various forms.
In one arrangement the passage from main to burner is controlled by a valve on
a counterweighted lever, which overbalances the valve. When closed, the valve is
held down by a catch or projection, which moves automatically over the valve
lever. The gas holder at its upper part carries a device, which at each ascent
is caused to make a partial revolution into a position in which it is held by a
ratchet, or click, or other suitable arrangement during the next descent. The
position into which the device is moved is alternately one in which it will in
descending cause the valve to be opened, and one in which it will cause the valve
to close. To open the valve the device carried by the gas holder in descending
moves the catch or projection clear of the valve lever, or causes this to be done by a
crank arm. Assuming the valve to be open which controls the flow of gas to the
burner, towards the completion of its downward movement the device carried by
the gas holder will in descending come in contact with the valve lever, closing the
valve, and the locking catch or projection will automatically move over the valve
lever, locking the valve in the closed position.
A second crank arm on the same axis as that above mentioned, may be connected.
by wire or otherwise with and operate apparatus, such as described in the former
Specification herein-before referred to, for igniting gas at the burner, with or without
the aid of a temporary gas jet.

page_text: In another arrangement the valve governing the supply of gas to the burner
closes by its own weight, and is opened by the device carried by the gas holder
resting upon and pressing down its lever. In this case the supply of gas to the
burner will be kept open so long as the device on the gas holder or other equivalent
rests upon the lever, but when the gas holder rises by the augmented pressure being
turned on the lever of the valve becomes liberated, the valve therefore descends
and closes the supply of gas to burner.
Another method of carrying out my Invention is by causing the gas holder to
operate a rotating plug in a cock or valve, 50 as by the movements of the gas holder
to turn on or off the gas supply, as required.
I do not confine myself to using any present Invention in connection with the
method of igniting gas, described in the Specification, No. 2889, of 1873.
The gas holder, valve, and other parts may be arranged in a metallic box at the
foot of a lamp post.
In the accompanying Drawings I have illustrated how my Invention may con-
veniently be carried into practical effect.
Fig. 1 shews partly in elevation, partly in section, a street lamp with my
Invention applied.
Fig. 2 shews in vertical section (full size), the metallic box with its contained
mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a plan (full size) of the metallic box (cover removed) with its contained
mechanism.
Fig. 4 shews (full size) an arrangement for controlling the supply of pills for
creating a temporary flame to ignite gas, issuing from the burner.
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional (full size) of the liquid trap, controlling the communi-
cation between the gas main and the gas holder.
1 is the inlet for gas from the main; 2 is a water or liquid trap, operating as
berein-after described; 3 is a valve resembling an inverted cup, with a central
internal division of less depth than the sides; this valve is carried by one arm or
end of a lever, having on its other arm or end a weight 5. The valve 3 dips in a
sealing bath of mercury 6, and controls the way to the burner, as herein-after
described; 7 is the gas holder, by which the valve 3 is controlled; 8 is an ordinary
lamp governor; 9 is a pipe, leading (through another pipe or extension 10) to the
burner 11.
Gas passes through the pipe 1 from the main, and that pipe is always charged
with gas up to the pipe 12 of the water trap, and the pipe or nozzle 13 under the
valve 3. On the increased pressure of gas being put on in the main, it forces down
the water in the trap, thereby unsealing the pipe 12, and allowing gas to pass
into and up the pipe 14 into the chamber 15, and thence by the pipe 16 into the
pipe 17, and thence to the gas holder 7. After the increased pressure is taken off,
the gas in the gas holder 7 gradually escapes or leaks away through a pipe 18,
which communicates with the gas holder 7 through the pipe 17. The pipe 18 is
suitably stuffed (it may be with wool), so as to make the escape or leakage small;
19 is a device carried by the gas holder, and able to turn on its axis.
On the gas
holder descending, this device 19 falls with it, and the point 20 coming in contact
with the crank arm 21 forces it down on a catch 22, until it liberates the lever 4
of the valve 3, whereupon the weight 5 descending and raising the valve 3, opens
communication between the pipes or nozzles 13 and 23, the gas then passes through
the pipes 23 on to the governor 8 and pipes 9 and 10 to the burner 11. As the
gas holder still further descends, the point 20 of the device 19 passes below the
crank arm 21, whereupon the weight 24 on the lever 25 (Figs. 1 and 4), by the
connecting wire 26, pulls back the crank by its arm 27 (Figs. 2 and 3). On the
pressure again being augmented, the gas holder again rises, and one of the pins 28
of the device 19, coming in contact with the weighted lever 29 (Figs. 1 and 2), pulls
the said device 19 into the position shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.
When the device 19 is pulled over the catch 30 prevents its being pushed back on
its coming in contact with the crank arm 21. The device 19 having been moved

page_text: into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the gas holder descending,
the device 19 presses upon the lever 4 of the valve 3, thus closing that valve which
is held in the closed position by the catch 22, after the device 19 rises with the gas
holder, and the valve remains so closed until the catch is again removed by the
crank arın 21.
The lever 25 actuates through a wire, the pill lever of apparatus such as described
in the Specification of the former Patent, No. 2889, of 1873, herein-before referred
to, instead of such pill lever being actuated, as shewn in Figs. 1-9, and 17 of the
Drawings of the said Specification.
31 is a segment or curve, over which the wire 26 passes, the wire being held
firmly at one end by the screw 32, and at the other end by the screw 33 on the
segment or curve 34 of the lever 25; 35 is a cast-iron or other metallic cistern,
in which floats the gas holder 7, and at one portion it has a separate bottom 36, to
which are secured various parts of the apparatus, as shewn.
As is obvious, the construction of the gas holder 7 may be variously modified;
it may, for instance, be in the form of an elastic diaphragm or. a collapsible
vessel.
It will also be evident that my method of securing by an escape or leakago of
gas from a suitable holder, into which gas has been forced by augmentation of
pressure in the main, an interval of time between the reduction of the augmented
gas pressure in the main to the normal or ordinary working pressure, and the
opening or closing (as the case may be) of the gasway to the burner, may be
carried out in different ways, and be used in connection with various modes of
igniting the gas so admitted to the burner.
Fig. 6 shews in plan a modification, wherein the valve 3 governing the supply of
gas to the burner closes. by its own weight and is opened by a device 19ª, carried
by the gas holder 7, resting upon and pressing down the valve lever 4ª. By this
arrangement the supply of gas to the burner will be kept open, so long as the
device 19 on the gas holder 7 rests upon the lever 4a; but when the gas holder 7
rises by the augmented pressure being turned on, the lever 4ª of the valve 3
becomes liberated; the valve 3 thereupon descends and closes the way to the
burner.
It will be seen that by this arrangement the augmentation of pressure in the
main when the lights are burning will cause them to be forthwith extinguished.
As the quantity of gas that is being drawn from the mains is usually comparatively
small when street lamps require extinguishing, the arrangement just described for
extinguishing without an interval of time between the taking off of the augmented
pressure and the closing of the way to the burner, may in such cases be advanta-
geously used, the interval of time being still retained for the lighting.
Fig. 7 shews in plan an arrangement wherein the gas holder 7, by a device 19b,
operates the lever 4b of the plug of an ordinary cock 3b. The weight 5b is designed
to close the cock on the lever 4b, being liberated by the device 19b.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I desire to have it understood that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters
Patent first herein-before in part recited is,-
1. Securing, by escape or leakage of gas from a suitable holder into which gas
has been forced by augmentation of pressure in the main, an interval of time between
the reduction of the augmented gas pressure in the main to the normal or ordinary
working pressure, and the opening or the closing (as the case may be) of the gasway
to the burner, substantially as described.
2. Constructing and arranging apparatus, substantially as herein-before described
with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the Drawings, for opening and closing the
gasway to burners, whether such apparatus be used with or without the means
described and shewn for operating apparatus to effect ignition of the gas.
3. The arrangement of apparatus, substantially as described, with reference to
Fig. 6 of the Drawings for opening and closing the gasway to burners.

page_text: 4. The arrangement of apparatus, substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 7 of the Drawings, for opening and closing the gasway to burners.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Green, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
התנגת
הדתיותfr
ENRY
HENRI
GREEN. (...)