GB190427297A - Improvements in and relating to Means for Lighting and Extinguishing Gas Lamps by Electricity. - Google Patents

Abstract

27,297. Giorgi, G. Dec. 14. Lighting and extinguishing gas.-Gas is turned on and off by an electromagnetic tap, and is ignited by an electro-chemical lighter. Above an electromagnet is a horse-shoe shaped gallery c, Figs. 2 and 3, on which runs a ball h which closes one or other of two holes e, d, one d of which is connected with the supply pipe and the other with a pilot light i. Projecting from the armature b are two studs o', so that, when it is attracted by the magnet, the ball is knocked from one hole to the other. The gallery c is not quite flat but slopes down to each hole. The whole is enclosed in a glass cylinder m making a gastight joint with a base n and a cover o. The igniter consists of a fine platinum wire f<1> Fig. 5, which, when a current of about one ampÞre passes through it, is raised to a temperature of about 300‹ C. At this temperature, it has a condensing catalytic action on the hydrogen in the gas and the oxygen in the air, causing them to combine. This raises the wire to incandescence and ignites the gas. When the circuit is closed, by pressing a bell-push for instance, the current passes round the coil of the electromagnet, then up the pilot pipe i, and across the fine platinum wire f<1>, Fig. 5, which is electrically connected with a protecting-cage h<1>. This cage is connected by a spring to the burner, so the current passes down the supply pipe to earth. If the ball h was originally closing the supply hole d, it will roll round to the other hole e but cannot close it, while the circuit is closed, on account of the stud o'. Consequently, gas passes to the pilot light, which is ignited and lights the burner but is itself extinguished as soon as the current is broken. On the circuit again being closed, the ball is knocked round to the hole d and the light is extinguished. To prevent the burner tap from being turned on when the gas is turned off at the meter, a switch is arranged in the electric circuit, consisting of a hollow ebonite cylinder C, Fig. 8, partly filled with mercury. Passing through one end is a contact-screw G, and a metal support Q is connected by a pin L to the interior. This cylinder C is fixed to the meter cock by the support Q in such a position that, when the gas is turned off, the mercury flows away from the two contacts L, G so that the circuit is broken ; when the gas is turned on, the mercury covers the two contacts so that the circuit can be closed on pressing a push-knob.