US971581A - Gas-lamp. - Google Patents

Description

E. ,J. WIGGINS.

GAS LAMP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909 Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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EDWARD J. WIGGINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND IVIESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO KNU LIGHT HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS-LAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. WIGGINS, a

cit zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Lamps, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements in illuminating devices and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a gas lamp to which a constant supply of illuminating gas is delivered and in which an ignition gas is employed to obtain automatic initial ignition of the illuminating gas.

One of the special features of this invention consists in an improved device for con trolling admission of the ignition and illuminating gases to the lamp, which, in the most improved embodiment, serves when actuated for admission of the ignition gas to automatically admit the illuminating gas in predetermined timed relation with respect to the admission of the ignition gas, and to thereafter automatically turn off the lgnition gas.

A further object of this invention consists in an improved construction whereby the ignition gas serves to generate the requisite amount of heat necessary in effecting combustion of the illuminant when the same consists of gases such for instance as hydrocarbon.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to obtain automatic ignition of the ignition gas by catalysis but under conditions where reliance cannot be placed upon natural catalytic action taking place, an auxiliary catalytic agent, is employed to positively insure ignition.

The invention has other objects and features which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in the appended claims.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating a lamp embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the burner and the auxiliary catalytic agent. Fig. 5 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 1, 1909.

Patented Get. a, 1910.

Serial No. 480,667.

detail view of a portion of the valve construction shown in Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

As shown in the drawing, the lamp is illustrated suspended from a ceiling, the line of which is indicated at 1, but it will be understood that this precise form of the invention is not essential and that I do not wish to be limited to the construction shown except for such limitations as the claims import.

A support 2, secured in any desirable manner to the ceiling, is provided with pipes 3 and at to which supply pipes 5 and (3, respectively, deliver. The supply pipes 5 and 6 may be connected in any manner to a suitable source of supply of the gases used. The supply pipe 5, in the construction shown, may connect with the source of sup ply of the ignition gas and the supply pipe 6 with the source of supply of illuminating gas. The pipe 3 extends downwardly to a horizontal and preferably reduced extension '7, to the end of which is secured a discharge nipple 8 having an orifice 10, disposed and arranged in a manner to discharge into a mixing chamber formed by a tube 9. The pipe 41 also extends downwardly to a relatively reduced extension 11, the end of which is provided with a discharge nipple 12, having a discharge orifice 13, disposed in a manner to discharge into the mixing tube 9.

A suitably supported globe holder 14 is provided with the usual globe screws 15 for removably supporting the globe 16. The upper portion of the globe support 14 is entirely open so as to freely admit circulation of air and prevent the metal, of which the support is formed, from tarnishing.

A burner 17 is provided and may consist of any suitable material adapted, when subjected to heat, to quickly attain a state of incandescence and emit an effective glow of light. In practice the fragile mantle known as the VVelsbach may be used and also that class of mantles which are known in the trade as rag mantles and which are not previously formed or shaped and are collapsible, may also be used with good results. By reason of the fact that the illuminating gas is supplied under pressure I am enabled to use what is commonly termed the rag mantle and I thereby obtain a great saving in operation. The mantle or burner 17 may be secured to a mantle support 18 having spaced inwardly projecting extensions 19 arranged to register with spaces between lugs 20, on the mixing tube 9, and adapted to rest and be supported thereupon when the mantle support 13 is given a slight turn. At the mantle terminal the mixing tube 9 is provided with means for preventing the burning gases frombacl: firing or receding rearwardly into the mix ing tube 9 and such means, as shown, is in the form of a screen 21. This screen 21 is mounted in a support which consists of a ring 22 adapted to be supported in the end of the mixing tube 9 in any desirable manner, such as by threaded engagement.

In the form of lamp shown the same is designed for using gas supplied under pressure through the supply pipes 5 and 6 and in practice I have found that the best results are obtained by using hydro-carbon gas, as a permanent illuminating gas, and methane or marsh gas, with an auxiliary catalytic agent as an ignition gas, although it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of these specific gases. The following description however will re fer to these specilic gases to illustrate one utility of the invention.

Initial ignition is obtained by catalysis resulting from the admission of the methane or marsh gas to the atmosphere through the mixing tube 9, in contact with the auxiliary catalytic agent. The ignition of the marsh gas serves to generate enough heat in the mixing chamber or tube 9 to effect combustion of the hydro-carbon gas when the same is admitted to said chamber and the requisite temperature of the parts is subsequently maintained by the combustion of the hydrocarbon gas itself. The ignited illuminating gas heats the mantle or burner 17 in the usual manner until the same attains a state of incandescence and transmits light through the globe 16.

lVhile the catalytic action of methane gas will produce initial ignition under some atinitially ignite with absolute certainty. In order to promote initial ignition of the methane gas and positively insure the automatic lighting of the lamp I desirably employ an auxiliary catalytic agent which may consist in coating the ring 22 with black or spongy platinum containing tripoli, or like material, so that when the methane gas reaches the ring 22 it will be instantly ignited, irrespective of the conditions under which the lamp is used. It will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to coating the ring 22 as the ring itself may consist of a catalytic agent upon which the methane gas will chemically act in a manner to result in ignition.

This invention includes an improved controlling device for admitting the self igniting and illuminating gases to the mixing chamber and one specific embodiment of said device will now be described in detail.

The pipe 3 is provided with a valve 23 op erated by a valve member 2 1, which may be in the form of a lever. The valve member 24: may be provided with a chain and ball 25 and 26, respectively, by means of which it may be operated in the usual manner. As shown a spring 27 is connected with the valve member 24C and with a suitable stationary part, as at 28, and normally holds the valve in a closed position. A retarder is provided for resisting closing movement of the valve, under the action of the spring 27 and as shown said retarder may consist of a cylinder 29 open at the bottom and provided with .an air vent '30. Said cylinder may be suspended from any suitable stationary part, as indicated at 31. A piston 32 is disposed in said cylinder and is provided with a rod 33 connected with the member 2d. When a pull is exerted upon the ball 26, and the valve is opened the piston 32 will be moved toward the bottom of the cylinder 29 and the spring 27 will immediately act to return the member 2a and the valve, to a closing position. The air vent 30 will be so proportioned as to retard egress of the air and limit. closing movement of the valve 23 to the desired extent. is stop 23" limits movement of the member 2st toward a closed position. valve 34 controllable by a valve member 35, preferably in the form of a lever, provided on its end with a ball and chain 36 and 37, respectively. A stop 38 serves to limit movement of the valve member 35 toward a closing position, in which position said member is shown in Fig. 1.

The valves 23 and 34: are so arranged that when the ball 26 is pulled downwardly the valve 23 will be opened and when the ball 36 is pulled downwardly the valve Set will be closed. Said valves 23 and 3d are also operatively associated with each other in such The pipe 1 is provided with a manner that when the valve 23 is attaining a. closing position it will automatically open the valve 34 and such operative relation is so arranged that after the valve 34 has been opened, the said valves will be automatically disengaged with respect to each other so that the valve 34 can be subsequently closed without in any way altering the adjustment of the valve 23. The function of the valves and their operative connection with each other is to admit the ignition gas to effect initial ignition and generate a sufficient de gree of heat in the mixing tube 9, and to subsequently open the valve 34 automatically, preferably during closing movement of the valve 23, to effect admission of the illuminating gas.

Referring specifically to the construction shown, the valve member 24 is provided with an extension 39 having a cam face 40. The alve member 35 is provided with an extension 41 having a hollow or socketed terminal in which a stem 42 of a spring actuated lug 43 is disposed. A pin and slot connection 44 and 45, respectively, serves to limit outward movement of the lug 43 under the action of spring 42. When the extension 39 of the member 24 is raised, the cam face 40 will engage the lug 43 and cause the same to recede in its mounting to allow the extension 39 to freely pass into a full opening position, the stop 38 preventing movement of the member 35 in a clockwise direction. When the extension 39 travels downwardly, under the action of the spring 527, the lower portion 46 will engage the lug 43 and depress the same thereby swinging the right hand end of member 35 upwardly and opening the valve 34. This engagement between the extension 39 and the lug 43 will be released just prior to the attainment of the position shown in Fig. 1, by the member 24, thereby leaving the member 35 freely open as shown in dotted lines. During this operation the ignition gas will first have been admitted to the burner and will have become automatically ignited to heat the mixing tube 9 and during the slow closing of the valve 23 the valve 34 will have been opened, gradually, allowing the illuminat- .ing gas to enter the mixing tube 9 and ignite for the purpose of heating the burner 17 in the usual way.

It will thus be seen that by depressing the ball 26 the lamp will be lighted and that by depressing the ball 36 the lamp will be eX- tinguished and that by means of the construction shown the valve 23 canonly be opened for a limited period of time.

I claim 1. In a gas lamp, adjacent fuel pipes, a valve in one of said pipes adapted to control the flow of fuel, an independent valve in the other of said pipes adapted to control the flow of fuel, means permitting the opening of the first-mentioned valve without affecting the other valve, mechanical means tending to close the last-mentioned valve, and means whereby the closing of said last-men tioned valve opens the first-mentioned valve.

2. In a gas lamp, a pipe adapted to supply illuminating gas, an adjacent pipe adapted to supply ignition gas, independent valves adapted to control the flow of gas through said pipes, means whereby the valve controlling the flow of ignition gas may be opened without affecting the other valve, means for closing the ignition valve, and means whereby the closure of the ignition valve opens the illuminating valve.

3. In a gas lamp, a pipe adapted to supply an illuminating gas, an adj acent pipe adapted to supply ignition gas, valves located one in each of said pipes, means whereby the illuminating valve may be closed independently of the ignition valve, means whereby the ignition valve may be opened without affecting the illuminating valve, means adapted to close the ignition valve, means to retard the closing of such ignition valve, and means whereby the closure of the ignition valve automatically opens the illuminating valve.

4. In a gas lamp, a pipe adapted to supply an illuminating gas, an adjacent pipe adapted to supply an ignition gas, valves located one in each of said pipes, oppositely directed levers adapted to control the valves, means whereby the illuminating valve may be closed without affecting the ignition valve, means whereby the ignition valve may be opened without affecting the illuminating valve, means adapted to close the ignition valve, means to retard the closing of the ignition valve and means whereby the lever of the ignition valve in closing engages the lever of the illuminating valve and opens such illuminating valve.

In a gas lamp, a pipe adapted to supply an illuminating gas, an adjacent pipe adapted to supply an ignition gas, valves located in each of said pipes, oppositely directed levers adapted to control the alves, a yielding extremity formed upon the end of one of the levers, means at the end of the other lever adapted to pass by the yielding end of the first mentioned lever whereby the ignition valve may be opened without affecting the illuminating valve, means adapted to close the ignition valve, means to retard the closing of the ignition valve, and also arranged so that as the ignition valve closes under the impulse of the closing means the yielding end is engaged and the illuminating valve opened.

(5. In a gas lamp, a pipe adapted to supply an illuminating gas, an adjacent pipe adapted to supply ignition gas, valves 10- Without aiiecting the illuminating valve and whereby the closure of the ignition valve automatically opens the illuminating valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWVARD J. WVIGGINS.

cated one in each of said pipes, levers adapted to control the valves, one of said levers being provided With a member slidable longitudinally into the end thereof, and the 5 other lever being provided with a cam face adapted to pass by such yielding end in one direction, the said yielding end and cam end providing means whereby the illuminating valve may be closed independently of 0 the ignition valve, the ignition valve opened lVit-nesses:

THOMAS E. LANNEN, THEODORE H. SCHWIER.

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