Improvements in or relating to Devices for Supplying Gas to, Lighting and Extinguishing, Gas Burners' and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr:; 1997'
1
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Improvements in or relating to Devices for Supplying Gas to,
Lighting and Extinguishing, Gas Burners' and the like.
A communication from BoĠuLaw Jolles, of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria,
Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The present invention has for its object to enable gas-burners (not only those for
lighting) to be lighted or extinguished from a place situated at any desired distance
from the burner. The characteristic feature of the device is that the valve for
admission of gas is opened by an electro-magnet and is held open by means of a
pawl-device, till the latter is operated to release the valve by another electro-magnet.
placed in an independent circuit. The opening and closing of the gas-supply is
effected in this manner and the lighting of the gas escaping from the burner is
effected in the usual manner by an incandescent igniting device (platinum-wire or
spongy platinum) or by a spark-igniter which is placed in a (third) independent:
circuit.
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In the accompanying drawing is illustrated a construction of the device according
to the present invention applied to an incandescent gas-burner."
Figure 1 shows the burner in elevation, the main part of the device in longitudinal
section and the conductors and switch in a diagrammatic form.
Figure 2 shows the lower half of said main part in plan:
Figure 3 a key-arrangement which may be used instead of switch, in longitudinal
section, and
+
Figure 4 shows again the lower half of the main part only in longitudinal
section and with a device for operating the valve by hand in case of an accident
to the circuit.
The main part of the device is constituted by a globe A which may be connected'
directly to the burner and which, according to Figure 1, consists of two halves
screwed together. In this globe are arranged on the plate a secured to the lower
half, the coils of an electro-magnet B, said coils are connected by conductors I II
III IV, switch 1 and conductor V with the source of electricity (battery) S.
A bar or rod c is vertically adjustable in the plate a and carries at its lower end a
transverse bar C, forming the armature for the electro-magnet; and is formed at its
extreme end as a conical valve D. The weight of c, C, D which is supplemented (or
may be replaced in case of a reverse arrangement) by a spring, applies the valve D
against the valve-seat d at the inlet or outlet of A.
It is preferable to arrange it at the outlet, as in such case the pressure of gas
helps to close the valve.
When the described" circuit is closed and the electro-magnet 'B excited," the
armature C being attracted opens the valve which up to that time had been closed:
Then the pawlf pivotted at f¹ and placed under the influence of a spring f
engages with a notch c¹ on the rod c, thus holding the valve in its open position!"
Fig. 1 illustrates the open position. A short electrical impulse is therefore sufficient
to open the valve which remains open in spite of the current being again interrupted.

page_text: The igniting device shown in Fig. 1 is arranged in the burner itself and consists
of a fine platinum-wire G, which is placed inside or outside the burner in the path
of the escaping gas. The conductors VI, VII, VIII, IX, the switch 2 and the con-
ductor V form a second circuit for the platinum-wire, which circuit, however, may
have the battery S and the return-wire V in common with the first circuit. As the
upper part of the incandescent burner together with the gallery, may be removed
from the lower part (the mixing chamber and pipe), it is advisable to insert in the
wires VII and VIII detachable contacts. They are preferably formed of metal-
plates g attached to a convenient part of the burner, spring-blades 92 provided with
pins, attached to the other (lower) part, which engage with said plates g". The plates and
the spring-blades are insulated from the burner, but are electrically connected with the
part of the wires VII and VIII which. are to be connected. The wires VII and VIII
must of course be properly insulated from the burner; where they are subjected
to the heat of the flame, the insulation is effected by a refractory (asbestos)
covering or by soap-stone or porcelain tubes g³. The platinum-wire. igniter G may
be replaced by an equivalent body made of platinum sheet or spongy platinum or
the like. Instead of an incandescent igniter, a spark-igniter may be employed,
such as two points placed at a suitable distance from each other and connected
respectively with the wires VII and VIII, so that a spark passes between them
when the circuit is closed. Such devices are. sufficiently known. In any case as
soon as the second circuit is closed, after the valve has been opened by the first
switch, the escaping gas is ignited by the incandescent wire or by the passage of
the spark; for this purpose as well as for opening the valve only a short closing
of the circuit is necessary.
The extinguishing of the flame is effected by closing the valve D-d. For this
purpose there is arranged on a a second electro-magnet H (Figures 1 and 2), the
armature F of which is secured to the pawl f. The coils forin a part of a third
circuit formed by the wires I, X, XI, XII, the switch 3 and the return-wire V.
When the circuit is closed and the electro-magnet H attracts its armature F, the
pawl is released from its engagement with the rod c the weight of c, C, D (or the
spring mentioned) becomes operative and D is pressed against its seat d.
"
In the arrangement described many details may be varied. For instance, the
earth may be used in the well-known manner as a return for each circuit by connecting
the wires II, VII, X to a gas-pipe. Any suitable devices may be used for closing or
interrupting the circuits: thus instead of switches 1, 2, 3 the levers i, i, i, of which
are preferably withdrawn from the closed positions by springs may be replaced, say,
by keys. The so-called "cock-switch" of well known construction is especially
suitable for controlling all the three circuits by a single switch in which by turning
the handle one circuit after another is successively closed and in which there is
always an open" position between two "closed" positions. Fig. 3 illustrates a key
which by a single pressure successively closes the two first circuits (for opening the
valve and for igniting the gas). K is the key raised by the spring k the stem of
which key is provided with an enlarged portion k¹. When lowered k¹ touches the
spring L, before its end or point touches the fixed contact m. With L is connected
the wire IV and with m the wire IX, whereas the wire I connects the battery with
the conducting frame M of the key and thus with the metallic key itself. A second
key N may be arranged in the same frame for the third circuit (for extinguishing
the flame; said key N co-operating with a fixed contact m'; the latter being connected
with the wire XII, to the electro-magnet.
In order to enable the flame to be lighted even when the electric current does not
for some reason act, means may be provided to enable the valve D-d to be opened
by hand. A simple and suitable arrangement is the one shown in Fig. 4. In a
stuffing box a¹ on the casing A is an adjustable pin O which is bifurcated in front
and surrounds the rod c under the armature C. If the knob o is pressed at O, the
part c-C-D is raised and the valve opened, and a reverse movement effects the
closure of the valve.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-.
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the.
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. An electric device for operating the gas supply valve lighting and extinguishing
gas-burners from any distance comprising a gas-inlet valve adapted to be lifted from.
its seat by the armature of an electro-magnet each time the electric current is closed
which valve is held in the open position by an automatically engaging pawl, where..
upon by closing a second circuit, an incandescent or spark igniter on the burner is.
caused to ignite the escaping gas which burns until by closing a third circuit, a second
electro-magnet releases the pawl and allows the valve to close and cut off the supply
of gas to the burner.
2. In combination with the device described in Claim 1 a pressure key which
successively closes the two first circuits for the purpose of opening the valve and
lighting the gas, characterised by a key inserted in the electric circuit contacting first
by means of an enlargement upon its stem with contact spring to effect the closing.
of the first circuit and the opening of the valve and subsequently contacting with
another contact to complete the second circuit and effect the lighting of the gas.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a complete device for
operating the gas supply valve igniting and extinguishing gas burners substantially as.
described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In an electric device for operating the gas valve and lighting gas burners a
contact key and connections, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 3.
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of January 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant..