IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS ARISING PROM THE ESCAPE OF GAS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bramwell, of Buxton, in the County of Derby,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS ARISING PROM THE ESCAPE OF GAS "
Sealed the 17th September 1858, and dated the 19th March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bramwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th March 1858.
I, JOHN BRAMWELL, of Buxton, in the County of Derby, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
BATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS ARISING FROM THE ESCAPE OF GAS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to gas burners used for illumination, heating, or
other purposes, and consists in the adaptation of apparatus which causes the
supply to be shut off upon a diminution of heat taking place, owing to the
flame having become extinguished. For this purpose I cause metal or
other substance to be heated by the combustion of the gas, and during that
heated state the said substance will cause a valve or cock to continue open;
but upon the contraction thereof, owing to decreased temperature, the valve
will become closed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Bramwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th September 1858.
JOHN
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
BRAMWELL, of Buxton, in the County of Derby, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Bramwell, Her special license that I, the said John
Bramwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Bramwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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, au Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS ARISING FROM THE ESCAPE
or Gas," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said John Bram-
well, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same 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 John Bramwell, do hereby declure 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 the
following statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to gas burners used for illuminating, heating, or
other purposes, and consists in the adaptation thereto of apparatus, which
causes the supply to be shut off upon a diminution of heat taking place,
owing to the flame having become extinguished. For this purpose, I cause
metal or other substance to be heated by the combustion of the gas, and
during that heated state the expansion of the said substance will cause a
valve or cock to continue open; but upon a contraction thereof, owing to
decreased temperature, the valve or cock will become closed.
In order to carry my Invention into practical operation, various arrange-
ments or modifications may be adopted; I will, however, in this, my Complete

page_text: Specification, describe certain applications of the principle which will enable
all competent persons to vary the construction, if desired.
Fig. 1 represents the vertical section of part of a gas stove a, with the
improved apparatus adapted. The pipe for conveying gas from the main is
shown at a, and that of the burners at 6; between these is formed a small
chamber c, furnished with a seat d for a valve e. This valve is formed upon
the end of a rod f, which passes through a stuffing box g, and having extended
across the situation occupied by flames from the pipe b, abuts against a set
screw. Behind the valve is a spring i, which therefore tends to force forward
the said valve to its seat d; the thoroughfare for the gas may however be kept
open by pushing backward the rod f, and then turning upward a catch k, so
as to bring it against a stop l, fastened by a set screw to the rod f. The
operation of this arrangement is as follows:-According to the positions of the
parts shown in the Drawing, the stove is lighted, and the flames by heating
the rod have caused an expansion thereof, which keeps the valve open for the
free passage of gas; but suppose a diminution of heat to take place by the gas
becoming extinguished, then the rod fwill quickly cool, and by its contraction
will draw the valve c on to its seat, so as to shut off the supply of gas, and
therefore prevent an escape which would otherwise arise. In order again to
light the stove, the rod f is pushed back to open the valve e, and allow the gas
to pass, in which position it is kept by turning upward the catch k until it
intercepts the stop l. This will allow a sufficient supply of gas to the burners
for being lighted, and their heat will then expand the rod f so as to still
further open the valve, in which position it will be kept so long as the heat be
maintained. Fig. 2 represents a gas bracket and burner in section. The
bracket is of the usual construction, turning upon the plug m, the upper part
of which is furnished with a chamber c, to which are adapted the seat and
valve d, e. The expansion rod is shown atf, and the action of the apparatus
is similar to that previously described in reference to Fig. 1. Another
adaptation is shewn at Fig. 3, which represents a portion of a chandelier with
the improvements applied. The gas enters through a central tube at a as
usual, and passes from thence into a chamber, within which is the valve e.
This valve opens or closes a passage which leads to a chamber n, from which
all the burners receive their supply, and it may therefore be caused to prevent
an escape of gas from the whole of them at the same time. The expansion
rod is shown at passing through the flame as before, but in this instance
instead of the stuffing box of the former Figures, there is a disc of india-rubber
or other flexible material g, which allows sufficient motion for the rod without

page_text: permitting an escape of gas. Upon a contraction of the barf taking place,
owing to the chandelier becoming blown or otherwise put out, it will on
becoming cool close the valve, as before, and by thus shutting off the supply
to the chamber n, will prevent an escape from any of the burners. In order
to keep the valve open for lighting the burners, the rod fis pushed backward,
and a thin disc of metal o moved upward, so as to catch the stop 1; on the
expansive of the rod having taken place the disc o will fall downward. Fig. 4
represents a modified method of applying the expansion rod. In this instance
it is connected at its end to a lever p, which turns upon a fixed centre at q,
and carries at its lower part a rod r, to which the valve is fixed, as the
expansive force acts through the intervention of the lever p, the expansion
rodfmay be shorter than that previously described.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood that
although I have described certain methods of carrying my Invention into
operation, I do not intend to confine myself thereto, as many modifications
may be made without departing from the principle; forinstance, the expansion
rod may be a coil or of other form, and may be placed in any situation
which will admit of its being heated sufficiently, or a fluid may be employed
in place thereof; and I would also remark, that in chandeliers or other
cases in which a number of burners are employed, an expanding rod may
if desired be applied to each burner.
That which I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited
Letters Patent is, the application of a rod or other solid or fluid acting by
expansion and contraction, for the purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bramwell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JOHN BRAMWELL. (LS)