IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING GAS BY ELECTRICITY, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES."AL SP
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Leigh Clarke and John Leigh, both of Manchester,
in the county of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING GAS BY ELECTRICITY, PARTS
OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Leigh Clarke and
John Leigh at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March
1882,
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE and JOHN LEIGH both of Manchester in the County
of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
GAS BY ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES"
This Invention relates to improvements upon the apparatus for which previous
Letters Patent No. 2229 in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty and No. 245 in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
one have been granted to us; the first part of the said invention consisting in
improvements in the general construction and arrangement of our electric lamp for
lighting gas and the second part of the same consisting in an improved battery
which besides being specially adapted to our improved electric gas lighter is also
applicable to other electrical appliances wherein a small portable battery is
required. In the first place we make our improved electric gas lighter in a tubular
form the casing being in three pieces attached together by screwing and comprising
first the battery, second the induction coil and contact breaker and third the
lighting tube with its terminal points and guard. These three parts are so con-
structed and arranged that the mere act of screwing them together establishes the
necessary metallic communication between the various parts necessary for the
evolution of the electric current. The screws are cut true to gauge so that the parts
are interchangeable and when the battery becomes exhausted a fresh battery can
CD 631

page_text: .
be substituted by merely unscrewing the old one and screwing on a fresh one in
its place.
The improved battery we construct as follows:-
Upon a smooth flat surface or slab we lay a piece of muslin blotting paper or
other suitable material—Over this we place a layer of chloride of silver about one
eighth of an inch in thickness which we cover with a piece of thin silver foil having
a projecting lug for connection.
Above this we place a second plate or slab and submit the whole to pressure to
solidify the dry chloride.
We then remove the top slab, and placing on the silver foil a cylindrical core of
ebonite or other suitable material we roll the silver foil with its adherent coating
of chloride of silver round it with the muslin outwards and then bind the whole
together by a few turns of thread or in any other suitable manner.
Outside this we place a tube of zinc leaving a cylindrical space between them of
about an eighth of an inch.
This battery is placed in a cell of a tubular form composed of vulcanite or other
suitable material (into which the zinc tubo fits) and a metallic bolt is passed through
the centre of the core and cell.
The exciting fluid being added the top plate of vulcanite is placed on (over an
india rubber washer) and the nut screwed on to the end of the bolt which holds all
together securely and prevents leakage. As the central bolt passes in metallic
contact with the lug of the silver foil it establishes a connection with one pole of
the battery; and the zinc is similarly connected to a brass ring outside the
vulcanite top by means of three zinc screws which pass through the vulcanite and
into a flange at the top of the zinc tube-If preferred the arrangement of the
elements of this battery may be reversed, that is to say, a zinc core and silver foil
outside with the chloride between or the order may be silver, zinc and silver or
zinc, silver, zinc.
The exciting fluids which we employ with this battery are a diluted solution of
sodic sulphato or of potassic sulphate or of ammonic sulphate.
The contact breaker which we employ to make and break contact is fixed on the
lower end of the induction coil and is constructed as follows:-
The framing of the contact breaker is formed of two plates of vulcanite or other
suitable material united by metal pillars. The button or pusher is connected to a
spring which carries a small two armed catch, one arm of which pushes against
the vibrator. As the button is pushed home the second arm of the catch comes
against a fixed pin which causes the catch to oscillate and causes the first arm to
slip from off the vibrator thus setting it vibrating so as to make and break contact.
As soon as the button is released the spring returns it to its original position
without touching the vibrator and the second arm of the catch coming against a
second fixed pin replaces the first arm in a position to act on the vibrator as soon
as a fresh pressure is given to the button or pusher.
By the use of this arrangement it will be evident that it will not be possible to
exhaust the battery by keeping pressure on the button or pusher, as each separate
pressure only causes two or three vibrations sufficient to produce a spark at the
end of the terminal wires of a duration long enough to light a jet of gas, and no
further effect is produced by keeping the pressure of the thumb and finger longer
on the button or pusher before releasing it.
The lighting tube is screwed onto the upper end of the case above the induction
coil, the requisite metallic contact being mado by means of springs to which the
ends of the wires are connected. The terminal points are near to the top of this
tube, slots or openings being cut or formed in the latter to allow of the access of
the gas to the induced spark formed at the end of the terminal wires when
electrical contact is established at the same time that it forms a perfect guard
against accidental shocks.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Leigh Clarke and John Leigh in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st August 1882.
CHARLES LEIGH CLARKE and JOHN LEIGH both of Manchester in the County
of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING
GAS BY ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
"
This invention relates to improvements upon the apparatus for which previous
Letters Patent No. 2229 AD 1880 and No. 245. AD. 1881. have been granted to
us, our said Invention consisting of improvements in the construction and
arrangement of the various parts whereby the same is made much more portable
and handy, it can be placed or kept in any position without detriment, the strength
of the battery cannot be exhausted by continued pressure on the button or pusher,
and the battery when exhausted can readily be replaced by another. The invention
also comprises an improved battery which is applicable to other electrical
purposes.
The various improvements will be clearly understood on reference to the
accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and the following
description thereof, that is to say,
Fig. 1 is an external elevation of our improved electric gas lighter ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, with the three main parts or portions
unscrewed from each other; and Figs 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7. are detached views of various
parts of the same.
In the first place we make our improved electric gas lighter in a tubular form
the casing being in three pieces attached together by screwing, and comprising
first the battery A, secondly, the induction coil B and contact breaker B', and
thirdly the lighting tube C with its terminal points and guard.
These three parts are so constructed and arranged that the mere act of screwing
them together establishes the necessary metallic communication between the
various parts necessary for the development of the electric current. The screws
at b, b and c, c are cut true to one gauge so that the parts are interchangeable
and when the battery A, becomes exhausted a fresh battery can be substituted by
merely unscrewing the old one and screwing on a fresh one in its place.
The battery A, we construct as follows.
Upon a smooth flat surface or slab we lay a piece of muslin blotting paper or
other suitable material. Over this we place a layer of chloride of silver about one
eighth of an inch in thickness which we cover with a piece of thin silver foil d, d
having a projecting lug e, e for connection see Figs 2 and 8 the latter of which is
a horizontal section of the battery A.
Above this we place a second plate or slab and submit the whole to a suitable
pressure to solidify the dry chloride.
We then remove the top slab, and placing on the silver foil d, & a cylindrical
core f,f of ebonite or other suitable material we roll the silver foil d, d with its
adherent coating of chloride of silver round it with the muslin outwards and then
bind the whole together by a few turns of thread or in any other suitable manner.
Outside this we place a tube of zinc leaving a cylindrical space between them of
about an eighth of an inch.
This battery is placed in a cell i, i of a tubular form composed of vulcanite or
other suitable material into which the zinc tube h, h fits and a metallic bolt k, k is

page_text: The exciting fluid being added the top plate g, g of vulcanite is placed on (over
an india rubber washer) and the nut m screwed onto the end of the bolt k, k
which holds all together securely and prevents leakage. As the central bolt passes
through the lug e, e of the silver foil d, d it establishes a connection with one pole
of the battery and the zinc h, h is similarly connected to a brass ring n, n outside
the vulcanite top 1, 1 by means of three zinc screws o, o, o which pass through the
vulcanite, and into a flange at the top of the zinc tube h, h.
If preferred the arrangement of the elements of this battery may be reversed,
that is to say, a zinc core with silver foil outside and the chloride between; or the
order may be silver, zinc, silver; or zinc, silver zinc. The exciting fluids which
we employ with this battery are a solution of sodic sulphate, or of potassic sulphate,
or of ammonic sulphate.
It will be evident that although these forms of our improved battery are
specially adapted for use in our improved electric gas lighter a similar con-
struction of battery is equally applicable to other electric appliances wherein a
small portable battery is required.
Or as a modification of the above battery we sometimes dispense with the
central bolt and nuts and the rubber washer, and fix on the top 7 with its ring o, o
and a central nut by means of cement making the connection with the silver and
zinc by means of wires passing through the cement, and thus we avoid perforating
the bottom of the cell i, i.
The induction coil B may be of the ordinary construction but we prefer to make
it as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us in Great Britain
dated June 1st 1880 No 2229. The contact breaker B₁ (see Fig 5) which we
employ to make and break contact is fixed on the lower end of the induction coil
and is constructed as follows, the framing of the contact breaker is formed of two
plates p, p of vulcanite or other suitable material united by metal pillars q, q.
The button or pusher r, is connected to a spring 8, 8 which carries a small two
armed catch t, t¹, one arm t of which pushes against the vibrator u, u. As the
button, is pushed home the second arm t', of the catch comes against a fixed
pin which causes the catch to oscillate and cause the first arm t to slip from the
vibrator u, u thus setting it vibrating so as to make aud break contact.
As soon
as the button r, r is released the spring 8, 8 returns to its original position without
touching the vibrator and the second arm t¹ of the catch coming against a second
fixed pin v replaces the first arm t in a position to act on the vibrator u, u as soon
as a fresh pressure is given to the button or pusher r, r.
By the use of this arrangement it will be evident that it will not be possible to
exhaust the battery A. by keeping pressure on the button or pusher r, r as each
separate pressure only causes two or three vibrations sufficient to produce a spark
at the end of the terininal wires of a duration long enough to light a jet of gas;
and no further effect is produced by keeping the pressure of the thumb or finger
longer on the button or pusher 7, before releasing it. In a modification of the
contact breaker shewn at Fig. 5* we mount the catch t, t' and the button r, r upon
a lever s', 8 held in place by the springs which is made shorter than in the
former arrangement. The bent end 82, of the lever serves to hold the vibrator u, u
in position and prevent it from making contact in case of an accidental knock.
It will be evident that when the button is pushed home the bent end 8 will recede
and leave the vibrator u, u perfectly free. The lighting tube C. is screwed onto
the upper end of the case above the induction coil, the requisite metallic connection
being made by means of springs w, w, to which the ends of the wires are
connected. The terminal points x, x are near to the top of this tube, slots or
openings being cut or formed in the latter to allow of the access of the gas to the
induced spark formed at the end of the terminal wires when electrical contact is
established at the same time that it forms a perfect guard against accidental shocks.
The way in which the metallic connections are established by simply screwing
the parts A. B. and C together are shown at Figs 3. 4. 6 and 7. Fig 3 showing
the underneath of the cap at the bottom of the lighting tube. Fig 4. the top of.

page_text: the coil-Fig. 6 the underside of the contact breaker and Fig. 7. the top of the
battery.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention.
First the construction of an elastic gas-lighting apparatus, in a tubular or
cylindrical form, in three parts, by the combination of (1) a battery (2) an
induction coil, condenser and contact breaker (3) a lighting tube with terminal
points; each of the parts being so constructed that the requisite metallic con-
nections are established by simply screwing the parts together, end to end,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawing annexed.
Secondly we claim the peculiar construction of the contact breaker as described
and illustrated whereby each pressure on the button or pusher only causes two or
three vibrations, sufficient to develop an induced electric spark of a duration long
enough to light a jet of gas.
Thirdly we claim the peculiar construction of the interchangeable battery
whereby, when the strength of the battery has become exhausted it can be
removed by unscrewing and another substituted substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Leigh Clarke (on behalf of myself
and the said John Leigh) have hereunto set my hand and seal this
twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
CHA³. L. CLARKE. (L.S.)