Improvements connected with Automatic Gas Igniting Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Automatic Gas Igniting Apparatus.
I, ADOLF MARTINI, Analytical Chemist, of 81, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The usefulness of any ignition apparatus depends upon the form as well as
upon the igniting pill. For the latter not only the ingredients but also the
method of preparing the same is essential to its value.
In reducing salts, the results obtained are dependant upon the method, when
The pill consists of two parts,
equal quantities and qualities of salts are used.
cach of equal importance, namely:
1. The porous body, which becomes heated to a red heat.
2. A part for the purpose of increasing such red heat to white heat and thereby
igniting the gas.
Up till this time platinum wires or porous fibres or the purposely prepared
incandescent mantle has been used. With regard to the form of my igniter, I
have chosen a cap of cylindrical or conical form permitting free influx of gas and
air, and partially closed at the top.
This cap must be of a size capable of containing the necessary quantity of
mixed air and gas under pressure for ignition purposes. In case such a cap alone
or other holder, the
is used as an igniter, perhaps mounted upon a stick
diameter shall be large enough to cover the greater part of the chimney opening.
Should this cap form a part of an apparatus, for instance an automatic ignition
apparatus, its dimensions must be modified to conform but the proportion of
height and diameter must be retained. The pill must be mounted in this cap in
such a manner as to heat the surrounding mixture of gas and air inside the cap,
heating the walls to a very small extent and transferring the greater part of its
heat to the wire. In order to obtain good pills, any porous material must be
impregnated with any salt of the group of the platinum metals. For example
if meerschaum in its natural state be used, it must be soaked for a certain time
in water before using. If pulverized meerschaum be used it must be soaked in
water 24 hours forming a plastic mass, which may be mixed with rare earth pre-
ferably thorium. These pills, after being air dried are brought in contact with a
current of hydrocarbon gases. For producing these vapors formic and tartaric
acid can be used but also nearly all similar organic acids, aldehydes, even hydra-
zines will answer the purpose.
It is not necessary to complete the reduction by means of such vapors, since
If one commences the
that can be accomplished by boiling in organic acids.
operation of reduction by boiling, the salts will be washed away from the surface.
This method may be used to advantage only in case of repeated impregnation of
the same pill, such as described below. A too large deposit of metal on the surface
prohibits the penetration of the gases to the inside of the pill. In case one desires
to make pills in one quick operation, by boiling, it is necessary first to reduce the

page_text: surface of the pill by heat or hot gas to prevent the unreduced salts from escaping.
Such pills will always retain refuse of organic substance partly carbonized. In
case pills are to be manufactured with a single operation which is not to be
recommended, the whole quantity of dissolved platinum salts are to be incor-
porated at once. These pills containing reduced metal must be brought to a red
heat in a current of gas and air. The pills are then cleansed by boiling in
mineral acids, afterwards they must be treated with water under pressure, some-
times simply boiling in water is sufficient.
It is not advantageous to incorporate the entire necessary quantity of salts at
once, being better to repeat the operation several times with thin solution thus
tending to make the pills more porous. In such cases the cleansing with water and
acids should be the last operation because the carbonized organic remains of the
first reduction must serve to absorb. the second solution of salts etc. After the
reduction of salts is complete, the pills are to be brought to red heat and then
treated with mineral acids and water as before described. This also permits the
introduction of several different salts and the use of the several different reduc-
tion temperatures suitable for these metals. With great advantage I introduce
first a solution of iridium, reduce it at a very high temperature also in a current
of gas and other salts of the group of platinum were successively incorporated.
The iridium is less used for its catalytic quantities, but it is used to form a
skeleton since it possesses an extremely high melting point. This skeleton pre-
vents contraction, also good results will be obtained due to the different property
of absorbing gases of these various metals.
•
In place of salts I have used the amalgams of these metals.
To reduce them the simplest method is the use of heat. Concerning the trans-
ference of heat from the pill to the wire which up to this time no certain method
has been found. In the first place the quantity of gas' surrounding the pill which
must be warmed has been neglected. Even the position of the pill with reference
to the escaping gases, has not received proper cousideration. The certainty of
igniting will be increased not only by observance of the aforesaid facts, but by
the following:-
Small quantities of wire must be used. In case only two wires are taken they
will give better results if they are of two different metals, their melting points
must be widely different, one must be able to bear a white heat, the other a
melting point much lower than the first. The diameter of the second one must
be so chosen, that if brought into a Bunsen flame alone it will melt. Such a pair
of wires is passed through and tied around the pill and the ends twisted together
and projecting over the edge of the pill. I have used palladium with platinum
wire, the first transfering its heat to the second. Two very fine wires of pal-
ladium alone can not be used.
Dated thie 29th day of Ontahan 1900
Improvements connected with Automatic Gas Igniting Apparatus.
I, ADOLF MARTINI, of 81, Leipziger Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Analytical Chemist, 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:-
This invention relates to gas igniting apparatus wherein the gas is ignited by
directing it upon a specially prepared pillule which on the gas impinging upon

page_text: it becomes incandescent and thereby effects ignition. To ensure quick ignition
it is necessary that the mixture of gas and air issuing from the burner chimney
when the gas is turned on shall be directed so as to impinge with some energy
upon the pillule and yet at the same time it is desirable that a small quantity of
the mixture shall be retarded in its flow so as to momentarily remain in proxi-
mity to the pillule. It is also necessary that the pillule shall be so mounted
that the heat evolved on its becoming incandescent shall be rapidly transmitted
to the surrounding gas.
The invention consists of an improved means of mounting the pillule whereby
the above requirements are fulfilled and further in improvements in the manufac-
ture of the pillule whereby a pillule is produced which will rapidly become incan-
descent upon the gas impinging upon it.
The first part of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas igniting apparatus of the kind such as
described in the Specification to Letters Patent No. 27198 of 1898 previously
granted to me, which apparatus is shown fitted with the improved igniting cap
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of part of the apparatus corresponding to
Figure 1, but showing the cap slightly modified in form.
Figure 3 is an enlarged section of the improved cap as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 and 5 are respectively elevation and section of the improved cap
shown affixed to a rod.
Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein the improved cap
covers the entire top of the burner chimney but is protected from the current of
hot gases by means of a deflecting plate as hereinafter described.
In carrying the first part of the invention into effect as illustrated in the draw-
ings a cap a with outlet holes at apex and sides is made of a form preferably
conical or of a form which will collect the gas and cause it to flow towards the
pillule, which is suspended therein, with a certain amount of energy while yet
allowing of the gas to be momentarily retained in the cap and surrounding the
pillule. A pillule 6 preferably manufactured as hereinafter described is sus-
pended within and near the apex of the cap by means of clips c which retain a
Sinall quantity of gas in contact with the pillule. A number of fine wires d are
tied or otherwise attached to the pillule. They are of two different metals, one
being able to stand a momentary white heat and one having a melting point
much below that of the other, such for instance as platinum and palladium
respectively. It is found that by attaching to the pillule such a combination of
wires of different metals, a quick ignition is effected, owing to the fact that the
heat evolved by the pillule, which is not sufficient to instantly ignite the gas and
air mixture is rapidly transmitted through the wires to the gas. The alternate
wires such at platinum and palladium tied around the pillule may be further
secured by a paste containing salts of the metals of the platinum group and the
ends of the wires may project over the edge of the pill. A cap constructed as
above described may be placed above an aperture in the pivoting plate, e of an
ignition apparatus such as shown in Figure 1 and as described in the Specification
of the Letters Patent before referred to or it may in a larger form be placed upon
the end of a rod and be used as an independent igniter as shown in Figures 4
and 5 in which case the cap is simply held over the burner chimney and the gas
turned on.
The modification of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 consists of a cap or
cover o mounted above the burner chimney upon clips or supports p. The cover
is partially closed at its base by a plater which is situated a distance above the
chimney and is provided with a central aperture s. A platinum pillule h is
suspended inside the cover o near its apex. A plate t is pivoted below the plate r
of the cover in such a manner, that it is normally maintained in the position
indicated by dotted lines in the figure in which position it allows the gas on

page_text: being turned on to pass through the openings to the pillule and effect ignition
whereupon the plate t is forced up against the plate r and closes the aperture s
therein.
The plate is counterbalanced by an arm u so that the upward current of hot
gases is sufficient to maintain it in its upper position.
The aperture s is therefore kept closed while the gas is burning and the hot
gases are prevented from impinging upon the pillule, but issue outwardly
through the annilar space q.
The second part of the invention relates to a pillule which is manufactured
according to one modification as follows: A pillule is first produced from a
porous material such as meerschaum containing either salts or amalgams of the
metals of the platinum group. The platinum amalgams if such are employed are
then reduced by heat; the operation being performed slowly to prevent the pillule
cracking. To eliminate any trace of mercury in the pillule it is brought into
dilute nitric acid for a time and afterwards exposed to the action of steam or boil-
ing water to remove any salts which may result from the treatment with nitric
acid.
Pillules containing palladium cannot be treated with nitric acid as the pal-
ladium would also be removed.
Pillules containing platinum salts when such are employed are reduced accord-
ing to the invention by the action of vapours of dilute organic acids, aldehydes,
ketones, hydrazines either alone or in combination with hydrogen gas. In this
method of reduction it is desirable that the acids or other organic materials be but
slightly diluted at the start of the operation and diluted more and more as the
operation continues.
In manufacturing pillules according to another modification the pillules in
which the entire quantity of salts necessary are incorporated, are reduced by
means of vapours of organic acids or aldehydes, ketones or the like in a not very
diluted form, combined with hydrogen gas. In this operation no further dilution
of the organic material is necessary and the vapours must contain no more water
at the end of the reducing period than at the start thereof. The pillules are then
dried and exposed for a moment to strong heat whereby the residues are partly
carbonized. The pillules are next saturated with a second solution of salts and
again reduced by vapours of organic acids which are in a very dilute state
towards the end of the operation. Under such a process the pillufes become very
porous and they absorb during the second treatment a large quantity of salts.
The whole operation is completed by exposing the pillules to steam and drying
them.
It is sometimes necessary, according to the quality of the porous material used,
to bring the pillules after the reduction is completed, into very diluted ammonia.
The ammonia and the salts produced by it are afterwards removed by placing the
pillules in water where they must remain until all the ammonia is removed being
afterwards taken out and allowed to dry very slowly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. Igniting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. An improved cap for automatic igniting apparatus substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In automatic igniting apparatus means for transmitting the heat of the
pillule to the gas by means of wires or very fine metal pieces of different metals
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
4. The manufacture of igniting pillules in which the salts of the metals of the
platinum group are reduced by vapours of organic acids, aldehydes, ketones, and
the like, alone or combined with hydrogen, and in which the pillules may be

page_text: treated with steam or ammonia and water for the purpose and substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5. The manufacture of igniting pillules by repeated immersion in the salts of
the metals of the platinum group, the pillules being subjected to strong heat after
each immersion so as to allow further quantities of the salts to be incorporated
in the pillule substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The manufacture of igniting pillules by the employment of amalgams of
the metals of the platinum group and the reduction of the amalgams and the com-
pletion of the pillules substantially as hereinbefore described.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.