US891999A - Time lamp-lighting mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

M. W.v LEWIS.

TIME LAMP LIGHTING MECHANISM. APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov.a,19o4.

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TIME LAMP LIGHTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8,1904.

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UNITED sTATEs'PATENT OFFICE.

MARVIN W. LEWIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY -MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CONSOLIDATED LIGHTING CO., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TIME LAMP-LIGHTING MECHANISM.

Specification oi' Letters Patent.

Patented .rune 3o, 190s.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARVIN W. Lewis, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Lamp- Lighting Mechanism, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp regulating mechanism, and particularlyto lamp regulating mechanism for automatically timing the igniting and extinguishing of gas lamps.

The object of the invention is to provide means to open and close a suitable valve in the passage communicating with the source of gas supply and also to provide means for timing the o eration 'of said valve, which means shall a ways be reliable, that is shall always cause the valve to be operated exactly at the predetermined time. I-Ieretofore, in some mechanisms of this sort, the power for setting or otherwise operating the gas supply valve has been transmitted through the timing mechanism. This has resulted invariably in retarding this mechanism to such an extent as to render it absolutely unreliable so far as the proper timing of the valve is concerned. In accordance with the present invention this retardation is overcome by providing means whereby the motor which supplies the power for setting or otherwise operating the valve shall supply this power directly to the valve, that is without transmitting such power through the timing mechanism.

The inventionalso includes means for accomplishing various other objects hereinafter set forth. o

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved mechanism and a portion of the lamp, the valve and casing being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the valve opening mechanism. Fig.. 3 is a detail view in section of a portion of said opening mechanism. Fig. 4L is a view in front elevation of the mechanism with the time adjusting and tripping device removed. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal view of the mechanism, the case being in section.

Referring to the drawings, the lamp, which is only partly shown, is provided with a main burner 1 and an incandescent mantle 2, this burner having the usual mixing chamber 3 with inlet holes to admit the air. Preferably the gas is ignited by a secondary burner or pilot light 4 which burns during the period that the main light is extinguished and is arranged within or adjacent to the main burner, so that the gas from the main burner can be ignited therefrom. Both burners are of the usual construction and communicate with the main supply pipe 5 through `a suitable passage 6 having a valve provided therein. Said valve comprises essentially, a small quantity of mercury or other liquid seal, which forms the valve seat, and a suitable valve plug 7 having vertical movement with relation thereto. Preferably mercury is used, and it is contained in any suitable reservoir S, which may, if preferred, be formed integral with the casing 9 of the regulating mechanism hereinafter to be described. The valve plug 7 has two concentric flanges, thus forming practically an inner and outer chamber. The outer iiange 11 is longer than the inner one 12 and is adapted to remain permanently submerged in the mercury, whereas the inner flange is adapted to be either raised or submerged by the movement of the flange. The outer chamber communicates With the main burner through a passage 13 and the inner chamber communicates with the secondary burner or pilot light through the passage 14. This passage is provided with a secondary valve 15, so constructed that the passage will be opened when the valve plug is lowered and closed when it is raised. The gas from the main source of supply is iirst admitted to the inner chamber and is thus caused to pass through the secondary valve into the pilot light when the valve plug is in its lowered or closed position and to pass between the mercury and the inner flange into the passage leading to the main burner when the plug is in its raised or opened position. Suitable thumb screws 16 may be provided in the passages both to the main and the secondary burners to regulate the amount of gas passing therethrough.

The valve is automatically operated by suitable mechanism preferably contained in a casing capable of being tightly closed so as to prevent access of moisture thereto. A vertically movable member such as a rod 17, extending through the top of the casing, operates against the lower side of the valve to raise it, and in order that the valve may move uniformly and without binding, said vertically movable member engages the valve centrally and so that it acts through the center of gravity of the same. A sleeve bearing 18 may be provided for the rod and a cap or flange 19 may also be provided to surround the sleeve and cover the end of the rod, said cap extending downward into the mercury and preventing the escape of the gas through the bearing. The lower end of the rod engages a pivoted lever 20, which is normally held in its lowered or downward position by a spring 22. The lever is raised or set against the action of the spring from the main spring wheel or drum of a clock 23 or other motor, which may be of any well known or suitable constructionand therefore need not be described. The main spring wheel 24 is provided with a number of lugs 25 arranged at suitable intervals thereon. A rotatable segment 26 provided with a notch 27 secured upon the end of a short shaft 28 which has a long bearing 29 carried by the front plate of the clock (Fig` 3). On the other end of the shaft is a spur 30, which is arranged in the path of the lugs 25 thus causing the segment to rotate when the spur engages with the lugs. A turnbler or guard segment 26/ is j ournaled upon the bearing 29 which corresponds in shape with the segment 26 and said guard segment is provided with a notch 31 corresponding with the notch 27 and adapted to register therewith when said segment and tumbler are in their down or lowermost positions, which is determined by a stop 32. To the end of the lever 2O is pivoted a dog 33 adapted to engage with the notch in the segment but having its engaging face of sufficient width to cover both the segment and tumbler, so that it is prevented from entering the notch inthe segment 26 except when the notch in the tumbler registers therewith. Both the tumbler and segment 26 return by gravity to their lowermost position when released, and if necessary a counterweight, as 34, may be provided for this purpose.

After the lever 2O has been raised or set against the action of spring 22 by the partial rotation of the segment which is effected by the clock, as heretofore l described, it is caught and held in that position by a latch 35 pivoted as at 36. This latch is provided with the trip arm 37, which, when engaged by the tripping mechanism presently to be referred to releases the lever 2() which is then caused by the spring 22 to raise the connecting rod 17, thereby opening the valve. The rod is immediately caught and the valve held in its opened position by a detent 38 which engages a notch 39 provided in the rod. Both the detent 38 and latch 35 are tripped by means which is adjustable so that the time of tripping may be regulated, and

the length of time that the main burner may be lighted andv extinguished thereby determined. Instead of the hands and dial upon the clock, the timing mechanism has a disk 40 which rotates with the hand wheel of the clock. The circumference of the disk is provided with numerals from 1 to 12 or 1 to 24 as desired, and the position of these numerals with relation to a fixed mark 41 enables the time to be told. Two pointers 42 are provided upon the disk and are adjustable thereon by means of suitable screws 43 and stationary nuts 47 which ride thereon. These hands or pointers are provided with pins 44 and 45 which project inward through slots 46 arranged at unequal distances from the center of the disk and are adjustable therein. Said pins are also of unequal length, so that one will engage with the latch 35, and the other with the detent 38. Since the pointers are adjustable they can be arranged as desired with relation to the dial, thereby determining the length of time that the main valve shall remain in its opened and in its closed position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operation of the mechanism is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the gas will pass from the main supply pipe through the inner chamber of the valve and the secondary valve to the pilot light. The valve being in its lowered or closed position the inner flange 12 enters the mercury or sealing liquid and prevents the escape of the 190 gas to the main burner. Meanwhile the lever is held in its raised or set position by the latch 35 until released by its tripping pin 44. As soon as released, the lever, under the action of the spring, raises or opens the valve which is caught and held in its opened position by the detent 38. The raising of the valve closes the secondary valve 15 in the passage to the 'pilot light and opens the passage to the main burner which is lighted A11o before the pilot light is extinguished. As the lever is released the dog is returned to its lowermost position by'riding over the tumbler, if the segment should be raised by the clock, or over both tumbler and the segment if the latter is at rest, where it remains until both notches register, which can only occur when the segments are in their lowermost position. The dog then engages the segment and is raised to its set position by the next. 12o succeeding lug which happens to engage the spur 30. This arrangement renders immaterial the number of lugs on the main spring wheel, or the rate of rotation thereof, provided only that suflcient lugs be provided to insure the lever being in its set position prior to the tripping of the detent. This, as explained, is accomplished by the other of the adjustable pins, as 45, which engages with the depending arm of the detent and disengages it from the connecting rod 17. The valve plug immediatelydro s by gravity, thus shutting ofi' the gas to t e main burner and opening the passage to the pilot light. Having thus accomplished their' cycle the parts are again in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The opening mechanism for the valve, which includes the segments 26 and 26', the dog 33 and lever 20, it will be seen is operated directly from the main spring of the clock and not indirectly through the timing mechanism. For this reason, t ie clock will not become irregular, and the lamp will always be operated at the proper times. i

In so 'far as the arrangement and construction of the valve and of the levers and devices for setting the valve are concerned it will be clear that the motor for the improved mechanism, which motor has been described and shown herein as the main spring of an ordinary spring clock, may be any kind of motor whatsoever, and, if desired, may be provided independently of and entirely separate from the timing mechanism or clock. Thus, an electric or pendulum clock may be used, an additional spring may be provided to set the valve, and, in fact, any other arrangement may be employed provided only the power for setting or otherwise operating the valve is not transmitted through the timing mechanism.

Various other changes may be made in the improved mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim-A 1. The combination of a valve, operating means therefor, a motor, means to transmit power directly from the motor to actuate the valve operating` means, and independent means operated by the motor to time the operation of the valve.

2. The combination of a valve, operating means therefor, a motor, means to transmit power directly from the motor to set the valve operating means in position for` operation, and independent means operated by the motor to time the operation of the valve.

3. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor', a motor, means comprising a lever to transmit power directly from the motor to set the valve operating means in position for operation, and independent means operated by said motor to time the operation of the valve.

4. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clock, means to transmit power directly from the mainspring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means, and timing mechanism for the valve Operated through a train of gears from the mainspring of the clock.

5. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clock provided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly from the main-spring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means, independent means for holding the valve in its open position, and tripping mechanism for said valve operated by the timing mechanism ofthe clock.

6. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clock provided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly from the mainspring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means, and tripping mechanism for said valve operating means actuated by the timing mechanism of the clock.

7. The combination of a lamp, a valve, operating means therefor, a clock provided with timing mechanism, means to transmit power directly from the mainspring ofthe clock to set the valve operating means in position for operation, tripping mechanism for the valve operating means, and tripping mechanism for the valve, both tripping mechanisms being operated by the timing mechanism of the clock. 4

8. A combination of a lamp, a valve, a clock provided with a main-spring and timing mechanism, a main-spring wheel in said clock having lugs thereon, means for operating said valve comprising a spring controlled lever actuated by said lugs, a latch for said lever and a trip for said valve actuated by the timingI mechanism of the clock.

9. The combination of a lamp, a valve, a clock provided with a mainspring and timing mechanism, a main-spring wheel in said clock having lugs thereon, a spring controlled lever ladapted to be actuated by said lugs to set the valve, a latch for the lever, a trip for the latch actuated by the timing mechanism of the clock, and a trip for the valve also operated by the timing mechanism of the clock.

10. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, operating means therefor, a clock, means to transmit power directly from the main spring of the clock to actuate the valve operating means comprising a lever provided with a dog and an actuating segment operatively engaging said dog, said segment bein operated by the mainspring wheel of the clock.

11. The combination of a valve, opening mechanism for the valve, said mechanism including a dog, an actuating segment therefor, and a tumbler or guard segment adapted to register with the actuating segment and prevent the engagement of the rst named segment and dog except at the proper time, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, and means for opening said valve comprising a clock, a lever provided with a dog, a segment actuated by the main spring of the clock adapted to be engaged operatively by the dog, and a tumbler to prevent engagement of the dog and segment when said segment is being actuated by the clock.

13. The combination of a valve, a clock, opening mechanism for the valve actuated by the clock, said mechanism having a dog, an actuating segment with a recess for the dog to engage, and a guard segment or tumbler also having a recess, both segments being of the same size and pivoted at the same point and the recess therein registering when the segments are at rest.

111. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a lever, a motor for setting the lever, means to trip the lever to open the valve, and means independent of the lever to hold the valve in its open position.

15. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a lever for opening the valve, a detent independent of the lever to hold the valve in its open position, a motor for setting said lever, and means for tripping the detent and the lever respectively at a predetermined time.

16. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a valve, a spring lever for opening the valve, a motor for setting said lever, a latch to hold said lever in its set position, a detent independent of the lever to hold the valve in its open position, and means for tripping said valve and lever respectively at a predetermined time.

17. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a lamp provided with a main burner and a secondary burner, a source of supply, a valve arranged between the lamp and supply having a vertically movable plug having passages therethrough to the main and secondary burners, a vertically movable member operating against the lower end of the valve plug and centrally thereof and means for actuating said valve at a predetermined time.

18. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, a lamp provided with a main and a secondary burner, a motor, a source of supply, a valve arranged between the lamp and supply, having a vertically movable plug provided with passages therethrough yto the main burner and to the secondary burner, a vertically movable member actuated by the motor adapted to raise the valve plug and acting along a line passing through its center of gravity, and a time device for controlling the operation of said valve.

19. In a time lamp lighting mechanism, the combination of a lamp, a motor, a source of supply, a valve between the lamp and supply comprising va reservoir containing mercury forming the valve seat and a valve plug, and means for moving said valve plug vertically comprising a rod having a cap adapted to remain submerged in the mercury, said cap operating against the bottom of the plug and in a vertical plane passing therethrough and means for actuating the valve at a predetermined time.

20. In a time lamp lighting mechanism the combination of a lampa source of su ply, and a valve controlling the supply source, operating means therefor, a power train mechanism for operating the valve operating means in one direction by the power end of the train, a valve tripping mechanism and mechanism operated by another part of said train for the actuating of said tripping mechanism, substantially as described.

This speciiication signed and witnessed this 19th day of October A. D., 1904.

MARVIN W. LEWIS.

In the presence of- E. L. SULLIVAN, GEO. F. SAMsoN.

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