Improvements connected with the Lighting of Incandescent and other Gas Burners.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Lighting of Incandescent and
other Gas Burners.
We, CHARLES WHITE, of Blaenavon, Monmouth, Gas and Water-works Manager,
and THOMAS HERBERT WHITE, of Cwmbran, Monmouth, Gas Works Manager, 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 refers to burners furnished with a bye-pass tap and an opening
which supplies a small jet of gas to burn at the side of the main burner for relighting
same when needed. Our invention is designed to avoid waste of gas caused by the
said jet continuing to burn uselessly while the burner is lit, and to relight same
when the burner is extinguished, without requiring a special tap for same.
This we effect by an arrangement which ensures an automatic action operated by
the varying pressure of the gas during the intervals when the gas is turned on or
off. When the tap is turned on and the pressure is at its maximum, the gas lifts a
small enclosed cap or inverted cup seated on metal or in glycerine or mercury or
presses upwards a flexible or elastic diaphragm, the lifting or expanding of which
raises a rod connected to a valve and closes the outlet to the jet or flash light,
opening at the same time the outlet to the main burner.
When the tap is turned off and the pressure reduced to its minimum, the tiny
stream of gas supplied by the bye-pass of the tap or other suitable device burner
being unable to sustain the cap or diaphragm allows it to fall and the valve opens
the outlet to the jet and closes that leading to the burner.
This action is so timed as to permit the lighting of the burner before the flash light
is extinguished, and similarly to cause the ignition of the flash light before the gas
is entirely cut off from the main burner.
We will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 shews one form of our improved flash light having a flexible diaphragm A,
which by means of the rod B operates the lever C which opens and closes alternately.
the two outlets, N and H.
-
. Fig. 2 shews a plan view in section of Fig. 1 taken at the line A-B.
Fig. 3 shews another form of our flash light in which the action of alternately
opening and closing the two outlets is effected by means of a float valve.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. A is a flexible diaphragm. B is a rod connecting
A to C. C is a small lever hinged at D and furnished at its other end C¹ with a
double seating which closes alternately the outlets N and H. D is the hinge-joint
of C. E is a bracket sustaining the lever C. F is a small chamber above the
H is the outlet to
diaphragm A, which is in communication with the external air.
the main burner. N is the outlet to the flash light. I is the tube to flash light.
J is the tube to main burner. K is a screwed nozzle to receive burner.
L is an
opening to external air, which must be adjusted so as to allow of a gradual escape
of air when the main pressure is turned on, or may if preferred be made regulable
by means of an adjusting screw.

page_text: Referring to Fig. 3. A¹ is a float valve formed by a small cap with a metallic or
other suitable seating. B₁ is a chamber in which the cap A¹ works. C is a turned
seat for cap A¹. An annular space filled with mercury or glycerine may be used if
preferred. D' is a bye-pass valve suspended from cap A¹. E' is the seat of valve D¹.
F is a stop plug to divert gas through passage G¹. F2 is a screw to close external
aperture. G is the passsage supplying gas to underside of A'. K is a screwed
nozzle to receive burner. I¹ is the screwed inlet for gas.
The method of operation is as follows:
Our automatic lighter may be fixed on any gas fitting, and at any height or
distance from the point of control, the flow of gas being controlled by a main tap
furnished with a bye-pass so that a small stream of gas flows through it even when
shut off. This stream supplies the flash light when the light of the burner is
put out.
When the gas is turned on the pressure thereof acting on the cap A¹ and the float
valve D or on the flexible diaphragm A. closes the outlet N or N¹ of the pipe
leading to the flash light, and opens that to the tube of the main burner K.
This outlet to main burner is indicated by H in Fig. 1. but is not shown in Fig. 3.
where it is formed by the lifting of the cap A', the gas flowing under the rim of said
cap. The burner K is ignited from the flash light before it goes out. Similarly
the flash light is lit from the main burner before that expires, shortly after the main
tap is turned off.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
arrangement shewn, as obviously valvular arrangements of various kinds could be
equally well operated by the flexible diaphragm or float valve. For instance the
gas might be fed from outlets in a cylindrical chamber which outlets could be
alternately opened or closed by a flanged disc suspended from the diaphragm or
float valve.
Our device is especially suitable to burners placed out of reach as in large halls,
railway stations, and the like, as by means of a single tap any number of them can
be simultaneously controlled. At present two taps are needed for each burner one
for the main light and one for the bye-pass. This is not only expensive but causes
much waste of gas and trouble. Our automatic flash light device requires only one
tap and one pipe to supply both burner and flash light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A flash light arrangement with automatic action for bye-pass burners consisting
of either an elastic diaphragm or float valve operating a valve or valves whereby
the action of a single tap effects the alternate ignition and extinction of the burner
and flash light; as herein described and set forth.
2. In a flash light for bye-pass burners the combination of the flexible diaphragm A,
rod B, lever C, bracket E, chamber F, outlets N and H, and tubes I and J, or their
equivalents; as herein described and set forth.
3. In a flash light for bye-pass burners the combination of the float valve and
seat A, C, suspended valve D¹, chamber B¹, stop plug F¹, inlet passage G¹, outlets
N and H, or their equivalents; as herein described and set forth.
100
LAB
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.