IMPROVEMENTS IN GASALIERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GASALIERS." A communication from abroad by Charles
Deavs, of the City and State of New York, United States of America,
Mechanic.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th March 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GASALIERS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Deavs, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America, Mechanic.
The object of this Invention is to produce improved mechanism for sustaining
the weight in a gasalier of the extension or drop tube and its lights, and the said
Invention consists in certain new combinations of parts, principal among which is
the combination of a drop or extension tube, provided externally with a spiral rib or
equivalent device, a frictional spring, and a two-part clutch; the said parts being so
arranged that when the drop tube is at rest the clutch will be engaged and provide
sufficient frictional power to support the extension or drop light tube and its
attachments; and that when said drop tube is being moved upward the clutch will
be disengaged and offer no resistance.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a centre slide gasalier, showing the
position of the parts of said sustaining mechanism when the drop tube is at rest
or when being drawn down.
Figure 2 is a similar section drawn to an enlarged scale through the said
sustaining mechanism, showing the position of the parts when the drop tube (a
portion of which is shown in side elevation) is being moved upward.
Figure 3 is a plan on the same scale as Figure 2 of the frictional spring box, the
cover of which as well as the loose part of the clutch has been removed to expose
the spring and lower part clutch; also showing a cross section of the drop tube.
CD

page_text: Figure 4 is an inverted plan on the same scale as Figures 2 and 3 of the loose
part of the clutch, showing a cross section of the drop tube within its square
aperture.
And Figure 5 is a transverse section of a main stem taken on the plane of the
line x, x, Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows showing the
wings on the drop tube, which slide in longitudinal grooves, and prevent the
turning or twisting of the said drop tube.
A designates an outer tube, and C an inner tube, the latter being within the
former, and of such diameter as to leave an annular space f between them, which
space opens into a distributor K secured to the tube A; these tubes A, C, con-
stitute the main stem of a gasalier. The annular space before mentioned provides
an independent gas way leading from the ceiling distributor or stiff joint to the said
distributor K for supplying gas to the burners of the stationary arms or branch
lights m of the gasalier.
B designates the extension or drop light tube which passes through a central
opening in the distributer K and up within the tube C, where it is fitted to slide
upon a stationary supply tube L which is pendant from the ceiling stiff joint, and
supplies gas to the drop light tube B, thus providing a gas way for the supply of
the drop light burners entirely independent of that which supplies the burners of
the stationary branch lights m. Any suitable packed joint g may be employed at
the upper end of the drop light tube B to prevent leakage of gas at that joint. The
said extension or drop light tube is provided at its upper end with wings or pro-
jections b, see Figure 5, that project into grooves c which run lengthwise of the
tube C. These wings and grooves serve to steady the extension or drop tube B,
and to prevent its being twisted or turned around, so that when moved up or down
it shall travel in a vertical line without capability of any appreciable torsional
movement. It may be here remarked that pins or projections on the inner surface
of the said tube C so arranged as to enter longitudinal grooves in the exterior
surface of said tube B would serve to steady the latter. The said extension or drop
tube B is also provided on its exterior surface with four spiral ribs a, whose
functions will be herein-after explained.
D designates a box which is shown secured to and just below the distributer.
Within this box there is arranged a friction producing spring E, which in the
example shown in the Drawing is a convolute spring, its inner end being fastened
to a hub G that has its bearings in the said box D, and is capable of being revolved
as herein-after described. The outer end of said spring is caused to bear against
the inside vertical surface of said box with sufficient force to produce the frictional
power necessary to sustain the weight of the drop light tube and its lights. A
dog or lever provided with a flat spiral or other suitable spring for causing one of
its ends to bear against the inside surface of the box with the requisite force,
the other end being attached to the said hub G so as to secure the necessary revo-
lution may be employed as a substitute for the convolute spring.
I designates a toothed ring located within the hub G and permanently attached
thereto, its teeth pointing in an upward direction. The aperture of this toothed
ring is sufficiently large to permit the drop light tube B to move up and down
through it without rotating or otherwise disturbing it.
J designates another toothed ring with its teeth pointing downward. This ring.J
is arranged loosely in the upper part of the hub G, directly over the toothed ring I,
so as to engage with it; and it is shown provided with a square aperture, into
the corners of which project the spiral ribs & on the drop light tube B, as shown in
Figure 4. These two toothed rings I, J, constitute a clutch which may be thrown
into and out of gear at pleasure; for it will be understood, upon reference to
Figure 2, that an upward movement of the drop tube B will cause the toothed
ring J to revolve uselessly in the upper part of the hub G, being lifted out of
engagement with the toothed ring I by said drop tube B; and it will be further
understood, by reference to Figure 1, that the weight of the toothed ring J on the
drop tube, or both, will cause the teeth of said ring J to engage with the teeth-

page_text: of the ring I whenever the drop tube is at rest or being pulled down. When
drawing down the drop tube only sufficient force need be exerted to overcome the
unemployed part of the frictional power of the spring E, and such force exerted on
the drop tube B causes it to revolve the clutch I, ring J, hub G, and frictional
spring E so long as the downward movement continues. When the drop tube
is again pushed up the two parts of the clutch become disengaged during such
upward movement, but immediately re-engage when the drop tube is at rest.
It is proper here to remark that many obvious modifications may be made in
the above mechanism; for instance, instead of providing the drop light tube with
spiral ribs a for entering the corners of a square aperture it may have spiral grooves,
into which may project pins on the toothed ring J; and again, the rings I, J,
instead of being provided with teeth may have engaging pins or be otherwise so
constructed as to ensure a quick engagement and disengagement.
The gasalier shown in the Drawing is of that class technically called "centre
slide gasaliers," but it is to be understood that the new sustaining mechanism above
described is applicable to gasaliers having no stationary branch lights m; in such
cases it is obvious that the tube A and distributor K.may be disposed with.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the saine, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination in a gasalier with the spirally ribbed or grooved drop or
extension tube of the two-part clutch, as herein specified.
Second. The combination in a gasalier with the two-part clutch and drop or
extension tube of the steadying wings moving in the vertical grooves of the
enclosing tube, as herein specified.
Third. The combination in a gasalier with the spirally ribbed or grooved drop
light tube of a sustaining spring, arranged and operating as above set forth for the
purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination in a gasalier with a friction producing spring or device
of the two-part clutch and spirally ribbed or grooved extension or drop light tube,
as herein specified.
Fifth. The combination of the outer and inner tubes A and C, distributer K,
stationary branch light ducts m, pendent tube L, drop light tube B, spring drum D,
spring E, hub G, and two-part clutch I, J, as herein set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Sixth. The combination of the tube C, the pendant tube L, the drop light tube B,
the spring drum D, the spring E, hub G, and the two-part clutch I, J, as herein set
forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HENRY JAMES NOONE.
WM ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)