AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF PUBLIC AND OTHER LAMPS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Weston, of Flat Street, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Machinist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE
LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF PUBLIC AND OTHER LAMPS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Weston at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1877.
GEORGE WESTON, of Flat Street, Sheffield, in the County of York, Machinist. “AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF PUBLIC AND OTHER
LAMPS."
My Invention relates to certain valves or appliances for permitting, stopping,
and regulating the supply of gas to public and other lamps, and for the lighting
and extinguishing of such lamps, and is accomplished in the following manner,
that is to say :-
I avail myself of the usual and regular practice of gas manufacturers of altering
the amount of pressure of gas between day and night, and use the same as fol-
lows: I connect to the service pipe before reaching the burner an air-tight vessel
containing water or other fluid, and the service pipe acting as an inlet pipe for the
gas is made to reach nearly to the bottom of such vessel; out of the top of the said
vessel an outlet pipe proceeds to which the burner is attached. The vessel must be
affixed in an upright position, and is furnished with a side feed pipe for the water
or other fluid used in the vessel. The said inlet or service pipe inside and below
the cover of the vessel is perforated, so as to allow a small portion of gas to proceed
direct to the outlet pipe, and thus allow of a small jet being kept constantly
burning; or I employ a drop valve constructed as follows:-A tube fixed in an
upright position is attached to the service pipe by its lower end, thus affording an
inlet for the gas into the tube, which has a small aperture at the lower half
with a larger aperture at its upper half, covered with a screw cover to allow
of examination and adjustment into such larger aperture I place a sliding
plug, hollow at the upper end, into which any small substance, such as shot,
corns, or the like, may be placed to regulate the weight thereof, such plug to
fit accurately in its seat, or I employ a spiral spring instead of the plug adjustable
by means of a screw through the cover. To one side of the said tube I fix an
outlet pipe for the gas above the seat of the plug; I also make a small incision

page_text: across the bottom of the plug or on its seat, thus allowing a small quantity of gas
to flow from the inlet to the outlet to enable a small jet of gas to be kept constantly
burning; or I produce pressure to counteract the pressure of gas by the use of a
column of mercury, spirit, or other liquid not liable to freeze, acting on a valve or
diaphragm composed of vulcanised india-rubber or other pliable substance, and
contained in a small box so constructed that the side on which the pressure works
is indented, so as to allow for deflection, and such pressure acts upon one side of the
said valve or diaphragm. The box on the opposite side to the valve or diaphragm
on which the pressure acts has an inlet and an outlet for the gas, and by the appli-
cation of the pressure I prevent the flow of gas through the apertures in the box,
such box being so placed as to intercept the supply of gas from the service pipe to
the burner; or I produce the pressure required to counteract the pressure of the gas
by means of a flat spring adjustable by micans of a screw passing through the top
of the box, or I store compressed air in any suitable holder, and convey the same by
means of pipes to each lamp, and cause such compressed air to act in the same
manuer as the column of mercury, spirit, or other liquid, or the flat spring would
act on the said valve or diaphragm.
The gas having been lit, to perpetuate its continuance or cause its continuance, I
make a small incision or duct froin the inlet to the outlet of the above-mentioned
apertures, so that a small portion of gas may pass to the burner. To protect such
small portion of gas from being extinguished, I place on and surrounding the burner
a shield or screen, or, in addition to or substitution of any of the above-men-
tioned methods of perpetuating the burning of a small jet of gas, I take an
independant supply of gas from the service pipe before it reaches the before-men-
tioned vessel or box, and keep such small jet burning in sufficient proximity to the
burner as to ignite the gas on the removal of the pressure, and I protect the same
from being extinguished by placing the same in a pipe or sleeve; thus by means of
the foregoing apparatus I suppress the day pressure of the gas, and prevent its flow
until the night pressure actuates the same, and thus accomplish the object in view.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Weston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th Sep-
tember 1877.
GEORGE WESTON, of Flat Street, Sheffield, in the County of York, Machinist. "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE LIGHTING AND EXTINGUISHING OF PUBLIC AND OTHER
LAMPS."
My Invention relates to certain valves and other appliances for permitting,
stopping, and controlling the supply of gas to public and other lamps, and for the
lighting and extinguishing of such lamps, and is accomplished by the following
ways or methods, that is to say :-
I accomplish the lighting of the main or principal light by keeping constantly
burning a small portion of gas in close proximity to the ordinary burner, so that
when the gas issues from the ordinary burner it becomes ignited; and I protect tho
said small portion of gas from being extinguished by causing it to burn within a
perforated slleve or pipe environment.
The constant burning of the said small portion of gas is accomplished by an
independant or separate supply pipe taken from the service pipe immediately before
it enters into any of the following apparati.
I propose three distinct methods or processes, by any one of which the permitting
or stopping of the supply of gas to the main or principal burner is or may be
accomplished, viz. :—
First. The automatic or differential pressure or flexible valve.

page_text: The Automatic. This process depends for its action upon the usual custom of
the gas manufacturer to place in the servico mains at night a greater pressure than
during the day. In order to take advantage of this circumstance I make use of
the following contrivances :-
(1.) I make two metal plates or discs fixed together, one of which has an inlet
and outlet aperture for the gas. Between the metal plates or discs I place a flexible
diaphragm, and upon the said diaphragm I mix a metal dish-like valve to cover the
inlet aperture, and pack up the diaphragm to allow for the thickness of the same.
In the other plate or disc I make an aperture to which a pipe is attached, in which
air, oil, or other liquid may be placed or confined to press against the diaphragm to
stop or prevent the flow of gas at a given pressure. The last-mentioned plate or
disc is recessed to allow the diaphragm to deflect, so as to permit the passage of the
gas from one aperture to the other when the pressure of the gas exceeds that of the
liquid or air; or I insert the before-mentioned pipe, and cause it to dip into a
vessel of water or other liquid, thereby forcing the air in the pipe against the
diaphragm; or I pass the said pipe through a vessel containing water or other
liquid, and place over it a cover suitably weighted, constituting a gas holder in
miniature.
(2.) I use a spring valve constructed of two metal plates, one of which is flat and
the other of a box-like form. Through the flat plate is an aperturo as inlet for the
gas. Over or covering the aperture I place a hollow conical valve. To hold such
conical valve in its position and to give it flexibility I place a porforated flat spring to
press against the apex of the valve. Intermediate between the valve and the spring I
place india-rubber to increase its flexibility, the said spring being adjusted by a set
screw acting through the upper or box-like plate, the outlet aperture being in the
said box-like plate; or I use a similar valve, but intermediate between the cone of
the valve and the apex of the adjustable screw. I use a hollow tube with pieces
of india-rubber intervening.
(3). I use an apparatus constructed after the following manner, viz. :-I connect
to the service pipe before roaching the burner a vessel containing water or other
fluid. The service pipe, acting as an inlet pipe for the gas, is made to reach nearly
to the bottom of such vessel. The said inlet pipe is furnished with a floating cover
to its orifice. Out of the top cover of the said vessel an outlet pipe proceeds to the
burner; a feed or regulating pipe is inserted in the said vessel.
The Pneumatic. Under this method I propose, in some central or suitable
situation or place, to store atmospheric air under pressure in a structure similar to
those used to store gas, and by a suitable arrangement of piping convey pressure to
the apparatus connected with each lamp.
Three appliances are applicable in this process:-
(1.) Against the flexible diaphragm valve, before described, through the pipe I
cause the air to press and arrest or stop the flow of gas to the burner.
(2.) I take two plates, the under one of which is hollowed in the form of a cir-
cular cavity or trough, into which mercury is placed. Floating in the mercury is
an inverted cup-shaped valve. Though the central pillar of the circular through
the compressed air is made to press against the under side of the cup-shaped
floating valve, causing it to rise and press against the inlet orifice of the upper
plate, thereby stopping the flow of gas, the said upper plate having an outlet pro-
ceeding to the burner.
(3.) I cause the gas to pass through a short length of flexible tube fixed in a
metal frame. The flow of the gas through the flexible tube is arrested by the
action of a lever against an adjustable stop. The lever is made to act by the
compressed air acting upon its extreme end through the medium of an air chamber,
the cover of which to allow of motion is made of a flexible material.
The Electric. In this method I make use of the ordinary and well-known force
of a current of electricity to convert soft pieces of iron into electro-magnets, one of
which clectro-magnets I place in or near to each lamp in connection with the usual
wire arrangements emanating from a suitable central or district battery.

page_text: (1.) The first apparatus or arrangement in connection with this method is con-
structed of two metal plates, the under plate having an inlet aperture. Betwixt
the two plates I place a flexible diaphragm. Upon the said diaphragm, and opposite
the aperture of the lower plate I place a hollow conical valve. An opening in the
upper valve allows the said conical valve to be acted upon by the armature or
keeper of an electro-magnet, the weight of which rests upon the apex of the conical
valve, and prevents the flow of gas through the inlet aperture. Fixed to the upper
plate in a vertical position is placed an electro-magnet. On the passing of a
current of electricity through the magnet the armature is elevated, allowing the
free ingress and egress of the gas underneath the diaphragm to the burner.
(2.) The second apparatus is made as follows:-Upon a wood block I fix two
metal standards having apertures through them for the passage of gas. Attached to
each is a small length of pipe. To connect the two small pipes I introduce a small
portion of flexible tubing. Upon and at right angles to the block aforesaid I fix
another block, and attach thereto an electro-magnet. On the application of a
current of electricity the armature of the electro-magnet in being drawn into
contact with the magnet is made to squeeze or grip the before-mentioned flexible
tubing, thereby arresting the passage of gas to the burner.
Fig. 1 is fully described under the head of automatic in paragraph 1, and is
equally applicable to the pneumatic.
Fig. 2 is referred to and fully described in the latter part of paragraph 1 under
the head of automatic.
Figs. 3 and 4 are fully described in paragraph 2 under the same heading.
Fig. 5 will be found fully explained in paragraph 3 under the same heading.
Fig. 6 is fully described in paragraph 2 under the head pneumatic.
Fig. 7 is explained in paragraph 3 under the head pneumatic.
Fig. 8 will be found to be explained in paragraph I under the head of electric.
Fig. 9 I describe in paragraph 2 under the head of electric.
In conclusion, I claim,-
First. The application of the continuous burning of a small portion of gas with
which to light the gas issuing from the burner.
Second. The construction and application of valves which are actuated by the
varying pressure of the gas.
Third. The use of compressed air for the purpose of stopping the flow of gas to
the burners.
Fourth. The use of a current of electricity applied in the manner specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Weston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE WESTON. (L.S.)