Improvements in Ignition Devices for Gas Burners.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ignition Devices for Gas Burners.
We, HERMANN SCHIMMEL, Chemist, and EMIL BRESLAUER, of 46, An der Stadt-
bahn, Director der Deutschen Gas Selbstzunder Actiengesellschaft, both in Berlin,
in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in ignition devices for gas burners.
It has already been proposed to employ highly porous carbon and also a mag-
nesia mixture as a core or matrix for automatic gas igniters. These bodies possess
the property of absorbing and condensing gas in such quantity that they become by
the condensation of the gas sufficiently heated to automatically cause a considerable
rise in temperature.
It is well known that silicates in the porous form are capable of condensing gases,
which property, however, they do not possess to a sufficient degree to warrant their
employment in the manufacture of automatic gas ignition devices. These bodies
are, however, very durable so that experiments have been made to ascertain whether
they could not be with advantage employed for the above described purpose. In
these experiments it was shewn, for instance, that the porous substance obtained
by heating a mass of porcelain does condense gases but is not capable of producing
good ignition bodies. Further experiments shewed that this mass and also sili-
cates could be very well employed for this purpose if the said substances were
used in a highly porous somewhat concreted form. It was shewn that this porosity
can be obtained by intimately mixing the materials with organic substances, such
as wood charcoal, saw-dust and the like in the form of powder and heating, the
silicates advantageously employed being such as are not attacked by acids.
This invention, therefore, relates to ignition bodies for automatic gas ignition
devices wherein the core or matrix for the finely divided metals of the platinum
group consists of highly porous and concreted silicate.
In carrying out the invention these cores or matrices can be formed by intimately
mixing the powdered silicates with organic combustible substances, such as wood
charcoal, saw-dust and the like and after the mixed substances have been shaped
to the desired form they are burned at a suitable temperature (preferably the tem-
perature employed for biscuit ware) whereby the mass is sufficiently hardened
and acquires the desired degree of porosity by the combustion of the organic sub-
stances.
If such bodies be suitably treated or combined with metals of the platinum
group in the form of a fine powder they acquire the property of immediately be-
coming incandescent when placed in a current of an inflammable gas. The heat
developed in this manner is taken up by a platinum wire connected with the body.
which wire is itself raised to incandescence and effects the ignition of the gas in
the well known manner.
In such incandescent bodies as hitherto employed the wire, which was composed
of a metal of the platinum group, was fastened externally to a loop on the body.

page_text: This method of fastening did not effect a sufficiently intimate connection with the
body to insure a sufficiently safe and powerful action. To overcome these dis-
advantages we insert the wires in the incandescent body and burn them therein;
to this end it is only necessary to insert the wire into the plastic unburned body.
In the subsequent burning operation the material contracts somewhat so that the
wire, of platinum or of a metal of the platinum group, is intimately connected
with the mass of the body. The conduction of the heat necessary for heating the
wire for the purpose of igniting the gas is thereby considerably accelerated and
ensured.
Improvements in Ignition Devices for Gas Burners.
We, HERMANN SCHIMMEL, Chemist, and EMIL BRESLAUER, of 46, An der Stadt-
bahn, Director der Deutschen Gas Selbstzunder Aktiengesellschaft, both in Berlin,
in the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 improvements in ignition devices for gas burners.
It has already been proposed to employ highly porous carbon and also a mag-
nesia mixture as a core or matrix for automatic gas igniters. These bodies possess
the property of absorbing and condensing gas in such quantity that they become
by the condensation of the gas sufficiently heated to automatically cause a con-
siderable rise in temperature.
It is well known that silicates in the porous form are capable of condensing
gases, which property, however they do not possess to a sufficient degree to warrant
their employment in the manufacture of automatic gas ignition devices. These
bodies are, however, very durable, so that experiments have been made to ascertain
whether they could not with advantage be employed for the above described pur-
pose. In these experiments it was shewn, for instance, that the porous substance
obtained by heating a mass of porcelain does condense gases but is not capable of
producing good ignition bodies. Further experiments have proved that this mass
and also silicates could be very well employed for this purpose if the said sub-
stances were used in a highly porous somewhat concreted (or fritted or slagged)
form. It was shewn that this porosity can be obtained by intimately mixing the
materials with organic substances, such as wood-charcoal, saw-dust and the like,
in the form of powder and heating; the silicates advantageously employed being
such as are not attacked by acids.
This invention, therefore, relates to ignition bodies for automatic gas ignition
devices wherein the core or matrix for the finely divided metals of the platinum
group consists of highly porous and concreted (or fritted or slagged) silicate.
In carrying out the invention these cores or matrices can be formed by intimately
mixing the powdered silicates with organic combustible substances, such as wood
charcoal, saw-dust and the like and after the mixed substances have been shaped
to the desired form they are burned at a suitable temperature (preferably the tem-
perature employed for biscuit ware) whereby the mass is sufficiently hardened and
acquires the desired degree of porosity by the combustion of the organic substances.
In such self igniting bodies as hitherto employed the wire which consisted of

page_text: a metal of the platinum group, was fastened externally to a loop on the body.
This method of fastening did not effect a sufficiently safe and powerful action.
To overcome these disadvantages we insert the wires in the igniting body and
burn them therein; to this end it is only necessary to insert the wire into the
plastic unburned body. In the subsequent burning operation the material con-
tracts somewhat so that the wire, of platinum or of a metal of the platinum group,
is intimately connected with the mass of the body. The conduction of the heat
necessary for heating the wire for the purpose of igniting the gas is thereby con-
siderably accelerated and ensured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A medium for igniting gas by its own action consisting of a core of highly
porous and concreted silicate or porcelain containing platinum black or any other
metal of the platinum group in its pores.
2. A medium for igniting gas by its own action having a core of highly porous
and concreted silicate or porcelain and igniting wires, the igniting wires being
connected with the core by inserting same in the core mass before it is hardened.
ciar-
3. The process or method herein before described of manufacturing a core of
highly porous and concreted silicate or porcelain for self igniters which process
consists in mixing the core substance with pore making substances sur
coal, saw-dust or other combustible or volatile materials and withdrawing the
pore making substances by burning substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.