US1531003A - Igniter for acetylene lamps - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1925. 1,531,003

A.L. HANSEN IGNITER FOR ACETYLENE LAMPS Filed Dec. 21. 1922 Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

sures PATENT OFFICE,

AUGIE L. .HANSEN, 10F EVANSTQN, ILLINOIS.

- emma m Marx-mm LAMBS- lippiication filed pecember 21, 192?. Serial No. 605,234.

lamps and the like.

U The object of the invention is to provide van improved igniting device embodying features calculated to prolong the period of operation without renewal of materials, and capable of being operated with greater ceranne Further objects will be made manifest from the description of'a preferred embodiment of the invention as (jlisclosed in the a cemp y s d aw n s; in Wjh h.

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a lamp with the improved ignit applied h r o, I

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the lamp and igniter, and

r Fig. 3 is'a t P Plan Vi w of the lamp with the reflector, burner, and igniter parts shown in section, as taken online3, 3 .of Fig. 2.

The lamp proper, which need not be described in detail, is typical of the small acetylene ,miners lamp, consisting in general of a lamp body l, a carbide container 2, an open burner 3, and 1a reflector {l surrounding the burner. The burner extends outwardly ,from the side of the lamp body and is set within a depression or cavity a at the center of the reflector.

Fixed to the lamp body is a ,U-shaped band or strap 5 surrounding the rear half .of the lamp; and extending forwardly in the form of arms 5, 5 which in turn are bifurcated .to provide pairs of fingers 5P, 5*, which grip the periphery of, the reflector at opposite .sideslthefreof! Formed integral with, or otherwise secimed to the strap 5, at it rear port on a e the lamp upp rting members, as well as a hinged cap for the filling opening in the top of the lamp body. The ignition device'is located at one side of the burner' 3 and consists of parts supported on the reflector and immediately behind the reflector. As in most ignition devices of this character the ignition is effected by the throwing of sparks into the jet of gas issuing from the burner, said sparks being produced by therapid contact of a metallic sparking element with a mass of pyrophoric substance.

In its present application, the combination of spark producing elements have the form of a fixed pyrophoric element 6 and an endwise movable disc 7 mounted upon a stem 8 extending radially outward to a point v adjacent the periphery of the reflector. tainty, and in a simpler and more posit ve The pyrophoric element is mounted at the inner and free end of a radial arm 9 fixed 7 to the periphery of the reflector by means of a screw 10, said inner end having a rearwardly facing cavity or depression 9 in which the element 6 is retained. As clearly I shown in Fig. 3, the arm 9 stands away from the surface of the reflector and, by reason of its mounting, is slightly resilient. Immediately behind. or rearwai dly of the pyrophoric element an aperture 11 is cut or formed in the reflector throughwhich extends the sparking disci bearing edgewise against the surface of saidvpyrophoric element ,6. Asa preferableconstruction the central cavity 4* is surrounded by a bead 12 which is extended radially on either side of the aperture 11 in the reflector, as at 12*, 12*. This feature, however, is not essential to the results to be attained.

The sparking disc 7 is preferably beveled at its periphery for the purpose of presenton ing a sharpened edge for contact with the pyrophoric element 6. Innnediately adjacent the disc 7 is a cylindric portion 13, somewhat less in diameter than the disc but of greater diameter than the stem '8. This ,pcylindric portion 13 serves primarily as a bearing and guide for the disc in its movement in contact with the pyrophoric element, as will best be understood from the es ons .within the somewhat triangular shaped space included between the reflector, the lamp body, and the reflector supporting arm 5 is a Ll-shaped supporting frame 14; consisting of inner and outer parallel arms 14 and 14: extending generally at right angles to the reflector, and an intermediate portion 14 lying against the reflector and having at its outer end a lip 15 extending to the periphery and secured in place bymeans' of the screw 10. I

In the inner arm 14 of the supporting frame 14 is a round ,hole 16 in which the cylinder portion 13 of the stem slides. In

' the outer arm 14 isa slot 17 elongated longitudinally, through which the stem 8 eX- tends, passing likewise between the fingers 5 of the arm 5 and terminating a short dis tance outwardly beyond the periphery of the reflector. Surrounding the stem 8 and located between the parallel arms 14: and 14 of the supporting frame 14: is a coil spring 18 hearing at its inner end against the cylindric portion 13, and at its outer end against the arm 14";

Mounted exterior of the [reflector supporting arm 5" is the operating lever or trigger 19, preferably mounted upon the reflector supporting arm 5 and pivoted at its inner end by inserting an angularly bent ear 19 through slots formed in said arm 5 and the adjacent arm of the supporting frame 14:. Intermediate the ends of the lever is a slot 20 located in axial alinement with the stem 8 and through which the latter extends. A knurled head 21 is mounted at the extremity of the stem 8. The free end of the lever terminates beyond and forwardly of the periphery ofthe reflector in the form of a curved finger piece 22;

In operating the igniting device it israssumed that a quantity of gas is being generated and is escaping through the orifice in,

idly over the end of the lever, so that when released the spring acts to throwthe disc 7 forwardly over the surface of the pyrophoric element with a scraping or striking contact. The sparks thus produced are thrown forwardly toward and into the path of gas,

thus igniting the burner,

The simplicity of action is a desirable feature since it requires no more effort than the striking of a match, hence can be readily used by the most inexperienced workman without the necessity of instruction as tov the proper method of ignition. In this respect an advance has been made overthe forms of i'gmtors in which-palming oi the reflector is recommended in order to trap a qpantity of gas around the burner.

1 further feature emphasized at the out-- set was the dependability and lasting qualities of the elements, these features being best described by use of the terms sure-firing and long life. Manifestly, Lthe pyrophoric substance must be removed from time to time, but this can be easily accomplished by replacing the arm 9 with a new one, or merely inserting a fresh block of the pyrophoric-substance 6 in place of the exhausted one.

It is to'be notedthat the quantity of the spark produced is largely. dependent upon the sharpness of the beveled edge of the disc 7. This condition is assured for a considerable length of time, first, by. employing a disc, and second, by mounting the disc so that'it may be rotated about its axis, thus a new portion of the edge may be presented by rotating the stem 8 from time to time by means of its head 21., The inherent resiliency of the arm 9'supporting the pyrophoric element affords the necessary yielding contact between the spark-producing elements to insure certainty of action. 7 v j Having set forththe advantages ofthe device, its construction, and uses, I claim as my invention I t 1. 'An ignition device for lamps having a burner and a concave reflector, an arm extending in frontof the reflector and terminating at its free end adj acentfsaid'burner,

a pyrophoric element supported at the free endof said arm, a sparking element extending behind said, reflector and projecting therethrough adjacent said burner and positioned to contact with said pyrophoric element, a spring acting to actuate said sparking element and a spark producing contact with said pyrophoric 'element, and means at theside of said reflector for retracting said sparking element.

2; An ignitionrlevice for lamps having a burner and a concave'reflector, an arm secured in front of the reflector and terminating at its free end adjacent said burner, a pyrophoric element supported at the free end of said arm, a sparking element extending behind said reflector and projecting therethrough adjacent saidburner and positioned to contact with said pyrophoric element, a spring acting to actuate said sparking element and a spark producing contact with said pyrophoric element, and an actuating member pivotally secured rearwardly .Of said reflector and extending forwardly beyond the same for retracting'said sparking element. f

3. Ajnjignition device for lamps havin a burner and a concave reflector providedwlth a recess' therein adjacent said burner,- an secured in front of the reflector and terminating; at its free and over said recess,"

a pyrophoric element movablj supported at the free end of said arm, a sparking element movably mounted in said recess and positioned to Contact with said pyrophoi'ic elemerit, tension means behind said reflector for actuating said sparking element in its spark producing movement, and means extending rorwardly at one side or said reflector for manually retracting and releasing said sparking element against the tension of said spring.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of December, A. 1).,

AUGIE L. HANSEN.

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