US836274A - Controller for use in connection with the ignition of gas-burners. - Google Patents

Description

R 6 E m m U 0 B 2 S A W G F N 0 m. N M m m m A G D... .T. HE H NE mm mm N0 H m vw G A P 7 R 2, m M L 8 0 m m N N 0 APPLICATION FILED 001. 30. 1905.

n1: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UITIIILD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR CHARLES JOHN NIGHTINGALL, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,

AUSTRALIA.

CONTROLLER FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE IGNITION OF GAS-BURNERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed October 30, 1905. Serial No. 285,032.

To all whom/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Vroron CHARLES J OHN N IGHTINGALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 265 Post Office Place, in the city of Melbourne, county of Bourke, State of Victoria, and Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Use in Connection with the Ignition of Gas-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means to cheaply and effectively control the ignition and extinction of a gas burner or burners of any description that are ignited by means of a pilot-flame, platinum, or like means.

My invention, which accomplishes its end by the means hereinafter described, is particularly adapted for igniting or extinguishing burners surrounded by incandescent mantles or hoods and may be operated from any point over any distance and so situated as to control any number ofv burners, either individually or simultaneously.

My invention can be fitted to existing gaslight fittings at but slight additional expense and is operated from any source of electric energy, which may consist of a battery in use for other purposes. If necessary, however, a special battery may be employed.

My invention is applicable, moreover, not only for controlling the illumination of household or other buildings, but also for street or train lighting and other purposes.

In the past various devices have been em ployed to automatically ignite gas-burners either individually or simultaneously, but they have been inefficient in operation and in addition have been costly of installation and maintenance. With my invention these difficulties are overcome, and no skill is required to operate it; but in order that my invention may be better understood I will now refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings, which are to be taken as'part of this specification and read herewith.

Figure 1 represents in section my inven tion complete as applied to an ordinary incandescent gasburner. The valve is resting upon its seating and the supply of gas thereby cut off. In this figure my platinum attachment is in place and can be clearly seen. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the various parts of a controller. For the convenience of illustration the insulated wire and outer casing are removed. A pilot-tube with branches leading to three burners is specially illus- I trated. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modification in which thepermanent magnet is dispensed with. The armature and valve are in the position they occupy when the supply of gas is free. to flow to the burner. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, on a reduced scale illustrating my invention as applied to streetlighting and showing the electric conductors or Wires passing through a gas-service main and also the connections to a lamp.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they occur in the several views.

My invention includes a cylindrical casing or tube, which is made of any suitable magnetic metal, but preferably of soft iron. Its length and diameter depend upon circumstances and the conditions surrounding its use. It is hereinafter referred to as the controller-magnet A. This controller-magnet A is open at its top A and has an extension B, which at its bottom is closed. Through the bottom of the said extension B, I form a perforation or hole B to accommodate and act'as a guide for a valve-spindle C, hereinafter mentioned. Between the said controller-magnet A and the extension B thereof is a flange B In the said extension B is a radial elongated holeor gas-inlet passage D. This communicates with the main gas passage-way D existing within the interior of the controller-magnet A. The top A of the controller-magnet'has portion of its interior removed and is provided with a thread, into which is screwed a valve-chamber E, hereinafter mentioned, or the said valve-chamber may be introduced into the top of the controller-magnet in any other suitable way, or it may be integral therewith. The valvechamber E referred to consists of a metallic tube, and if it is a separate one preferably has a male thread around its exterior, which. thread engages with a female thread within the'interior of the controller-magnet. Within the valve-chamber is a valveseating E and. a gas-inlet D Through the hole B" in the bottomextension B of the controllermagnet and passing upwardly through the same and extending past the valve-seating E in the valve-chamber is a vertical spindle, which is hereinafter called the valve-spindle C. At its lower end the said valve spindle is secured to a disk or other shaped piece of soft iron. This is hereinafter called the armature O. 'The controller-magnet,

the armature, and the valve-spindle may, if necessary, be nickeled or otherwise suitably prepared. At the top end of the spindle is attached the valve C This valve is coneshaped and has a flange around its periphery which when it rests upon the seating E within the valve-chamber effectually prevents the gas passing upward to the burner. The said spindle C is of such a length that when the valve C is resting upon its seating the air-gap A existing between the controllermagnet and. the armature is less than the airspace F existing between the armature C and the permanent magnet F at the bottom of the gas-chamber G, both hereinafter mentioned.

The Bunsen or other burner may be connected to the valve-chamber E in any wellknown way but in some casessuch as for street lighting, &c.the controller is not situated in close proximity to the burner, but may be placed where most convenient to operate a number of burners simultaneously. At the top of the controller-magnet A is a ring or collar A of suitablenon-conducting material. This ring or collar A may be formed integral with the controller-magnet; but if it is separate it is preferably threaded upon the valve-chamber E and rests upon the top A of the said controller-magnet. Around the controller-magnet and between the ring or collar A and the flange B is wound a length or coil of insulated wire H of any suitable gage. The two ends of this insulated wire H are led away or connected to wires leading to the point of control, which is connected to any suitable source of electric energy or battery. The extension B of the lower end of the controller-magnet has around its exterior a male thread. This engages with a female thread within a gaschamber G. This gas-chamber is of suitable metallic construction and is preferably in.

the form of a cup and of sufficient depth to accommodate the armature C and allow it to move freely up and down therein. The gaschamber G has an integral threaded extension or connecting-piece G, or the said con necting-piece may be separate and attached to the gas-chamber in any other suitable way. It may be at the bottom of the gaschamber, as shown, or at the side of the same. The said connecting-piece G" has a gas-inlet G which communicates at one end with the inlet-hole G in the gas-chamber and at its other with the supply-pipe. Protruding from the gas-chamber is a small tubular extension J (See Fig. 3.) This has a longitudinal hole J therein. This hole J communicates with the gas-chamber G and with a hole J in the top of the said extension and into which is inserted and secured therein in any well-known way the pilot-tube J An electro or permanent magnet, which is hereinafter called the permanent magnet F, is preferably looselymounted upon the connecting-piece G. This permanent magnet F may be of any suitable shape or size and may be either vertical or horizontal, or both but one end of it must be directly under the gas-chamber G. Preferably the magnet is made as shown in the drawings. The magnet may be retained in position in any wellknown way; but preferably I provide a union K, which not only serves to retain the said permanent magnet F in position, but also to connect my invention and the burner to the gas-supply pipe or fitting.

To protect the controller and insulatingwire, I may provide an outer casing L of any suitable material. This fits loosely around the flange B and collar A on the controllermagnet A and is removable. The pilot-tube J is preferably made as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings; but it may be placed in any other convenient position.

When my platinum igniter, as seen in Fig. 1 and hereinafter described, is employed, I protect the chimney from damage by attaching a shield J to the burner-fittings In some cases a pilot-flame may be usedto ignite the burner but, if necessary, I may employ a platinum igniter of special construction.

When the platinum igniter is used, the supply of gas through the pilot-tube is blocked by means of a plug or regulating-screw, as at J in Fig. 1. Should the platinum igniter become deranged, the plug maybe regulated to 1permit the gas reaching the tube J which wi 1 then be used as an ordinary pilot-light.

This platinum igniter, as seen in Fig. 1, consists of a small piece of platinumw ire M, arranged, preferably, as shown. Insulated wire M is spirally wound around the pilottube J and connected to the platinum wire, or the said insulated wire may be conveyed to the platinum in any other suitable way. When the current of electricity is operated from the point of control hereinafter mentioned and the supply of gas is free to pass to the burner, a small quantity of the said gas is caused to pass over the said platinum wire M. This raises the temperature of the platinum by combining with the oxygen condensed on the surface of the platinum. Owing to its position in the gas, the platinum by itself is not of sufficient temperature to ignite the gas, but portion of the electric current mentioned passes through the insuvide a creeping pilot, as at M in Fig. 1. To prevent the platinum wire from burning out by an excess of current, I attach a small piece of resistance-wire m in the circuit of the platinum igniter.

When my invention is to be used in connection with street-lighting or similar extensive purposes, the wires conveying the electric current and leading from the point of control are entered into the service-mains and made secure and air-tight therein in any suitable or well-known way. The said wires are preferably insulated and are passed through the said mains and may be loose therein. The wires in the mains mentioned are connected to and are in circuit with the wires leading to the various lamps to be ignited. The said wires leading to each lamp are entered through the mains and made airtight therein.

, My invention is operated from a battery or other source of electric energy and is controlled by a switch and current-reverser of suitable construction. This switch and currentreverser I refer to as the point of control. The said switch and current-reverser are so made that the fiow of the electric current is cut off automatically after it hasv effected the purpose for which it is intendedthat is, either to supply. or cut off the gas. It will thus be seen that to operate it there is but a minimum fiow of electric energy, and consequently no waste of any description.

In a modification I may dispense with the use of the permanent magnet F, in which case the electric current when switched on is maintained in a constant flow through the coil of insulated wire. This causes the controller magnet A to remain -magnetized while the current is maintained, so that it not only at tracts the armature C to it, but also retains it in position, as seen in Fig. 3, where the valve is open and the gas free to flow to the burner or burners. When the current is switched off, the controller-magnet loses its attraction for the armature C, which latter in consequence falls by its own weight, and as it descends by means hereinbefore described automatically closes the valve.

In the modification the current-reverser is also dispensed with and an ordinary switch employed in its place. a

The cycle of operations with my invention is as follows: When it is desired to ignite a burner or burners, the switch is operated from the point of control in a certain direc-' tion. The electric current from the source of energy flows freely around and through the controller-magnet, which attracts the armature C upward to it. The relative action of the permanent and controller magnets when the current-reverser has been operated in the said direction is such thatthe armature C is retained against the controller-magnet A. The said armature C, when it is attracted upward, carries the valve-spindle C with it.- This in turn lifts the valve C from its seating E, and the gas passes freely from the passageway D into the valve-chamber E and from there to the burner or burners, which are then ignited either by means of a pilot-fiame or my platinum attachment, or other means.

When it is desired to shut off the supply of gas, the current is, from the point of control, reversed, and as it flows through the insulated wire and around the controller-magnet in a reverse direction causes the armature C to be attracted toward the permanent magnet F. As the armature descends it carries the spindle C with it, and the valve C thereon fits into its seating E in the valve-charm berE, and the supply of gas is thereby shut off.

In the modification the cycle of operations is similar, except that, as mentioned, the permanent magnet F and the current-reverser are both dispensed with, and when a flow, of gas is desired a continuous current is maintained through the controller-magnet A and causes the latter to attract the armature C and retain it in such position. When the supply of gas is to be cut off, the switch is operated and the current shut off. This causes armature C to be repelled from the controller-magnet A when it once falls, and by tlflfe means described the supply of gas is cut 0 Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. In improvements in and relating to controllers for use in connection with the ignition of gas-burners, a controller-magnet consisting of a metallic tube having within it a gas passage-way and having around its circumference a length or coil of insulated wire, an extension at the bottom of said tube, formed with an inlet gas passage-way in said extension, and a hole at the bottom of said extension, a valve-chamber situated at the top of said controller-magnet, said valve-chamber being connected to the burner or to a pipe leading to a burner or burners, a valve seating in said chamber, an armature consisting of a metal disk, a valve-spindle connected at its lower end to said armature, a valve connected to the upper end of said valve-spindle, said valve being situated in said valve-chamher, said valve-spindle being capable of a vertical movement within the interior of the permanent magnet, valve-chamber, and gaschamber, a gas-chamber at the bottomof the said controller-magnet and inclosing said armature, a flange on the extension of the controller-magnet and a ring or collar near the top of the same, said flange, ring or collar in closing the aforesaid length or coil of insulated wire, an outer casing or protector, a pilot-tube communicating with a hole in an extension of the gas-chamber, said extension ICO &

having a gas passage-way, a connectingplece protrudlng from the gas-chamber for attaching the burner to the fittings, all as and for the purposes hereinbeiore described and I as illustrated in the drawings.

2. In improvements in and relating to controllers for use in connection with the ignition of gas-burners, a controller-magnet con sisting of a metal tube having within it a gas passage-way and having around its circumference a length or coil or insulated wire, an extension at the bottom of said tube, an inlet gas passage-way in said extension, formed with a hole in the bottom of said extension, a valve-chamber situated at the top of said controller-magnet, said valve-chamber being connected to the burner or to the pipe leading to a burner or burners, a valve seating in said chamber, an armature consisting of a metal disk, a valve-spindle connected at its lower end to said armature, avalve connected to theupper end of said valve-spindle, said valve being situated in said valve-chamber, said valve-spindle being capable of a vertical movement within the interior of the permanent magnet, valve-chamber and gas-chamber, a gas-chamber at the bottom of the said controller-magnet and inclosing said armature, a flange on the extension of the controller-magnet and a ring or collar near the top of the same, said flange, ring or collar inclosing the aforesaid length or coil of insulated wire, an outer casing or protector, a pilottube communicating with a hole in an extension of the gas-chamber, said extension having a gas passage-way, a connectingpiece protruding from the gas-chamber for attaching the burner to the fittings, in combination with a permanent magnet placed underneath the gas-chamber and means for permitting an electric current to pass in a certain direction from the point of control or source of energy through the aforesaid coil of insulated wire, the aforesaid armature being attracted to and retained against the controller-magnet and so arranged that when the current is reversed the said controllermagnet will lose its attraction for the armature which will fall by its own weight, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

3. In improvements in and relating to controllers for use in connection with the ignition of gas-burners, a controller-magnet consisting of a metal tube having within it a gas passage-way and having around its circumference a length or coil of insulated wire, an extension at the bottom of said tube, formed with a hole in the bottom thereof and an inlet gas passageway in said extension, a valvechamber situated at the top of said controller-magnet, said valve-chamber being con nected to the burner or to the pipe leading to a burner or burners, a valve seating in said chamber, an armature consisting of a metal disk, a valve-spindle connected at its lower end to said armature, a valve connected to the upper end of said valve-spindle, said valve being situated in said valve-chamber, said valve-spindle being capable of a vertical movement within the interior of the permanent magnet, valve-chamber andgas-chamber, a gas-chamber at the bottom of the said controller-magnet and inclosing said arma-- ture, a flange on the extension of the controller-magnet and a ring or collar near the top of the same, said flange, ring or collar inclosing the aforesaid length or coil of insulated wire, an outer casing or protector, a pilottube communicating with a hole in an extension of the gas-chamber, said extension having a gas passage-way, a connecting-piece protruding from the gas-chamber for attaching the burner to the fittings, in combination with a switch for permitting a continuous flow of electric current in one direction from a suitable source through the aforesaid coil of insulated wire to magnetize the controller-magnet and cause it to attract and retain the armature-to it until the said switch is operated in the reverse direction which causes the current to be cut oil, all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings.

4. In improvements in and relating to controllers for use in connection with the ignition of gas-burners, a platinum igniter con sisting of a platinum wire mounted upon or near the top of a metallic tube and connected to an insulated wire supported by a metallic tube, said. platinum wire being in close proximity to a creeping-pilot on the burner, said insulated wire having a resistance-wire within its circuit, said insulated wire also being connected to a coil of insulated wire deriving its energy from any suitable source, and a pilot-tube in communication with an extension of a gas-chamber, said extension havin a plug or regulating-screw therein.

5. In improvements in and relating to controllers for use in connection with theig nition of gas-burners, a controller-magnet consisting of a metallic tube having within it a gas passage-way and having around itscircumf'erence a length or co'il of insulated wire, an extension at the bottom of said tube, an

inlet gas passage-way in said. extension, a,

hole in the bottom of said extension, a valvechamber situated at the top of said controllermagnet, said valve-chamber being connected to the burner or to the pipe leading to a burner or burners, a valve seating in said chamber, an armature consisting of a metal disk, a valve-spindle connected at its lower end to said armature, a valve connected to the upper end of said valve-spindle, said valve being situated in said valve-chamber, said valve-spindle being capable of a'vertical movement within the interior of the permanent magnet, valve-chamber, and gas-chamber, a gas-chamber at the bottom of the said controller-magnet and inclosing said armature, a flange on the extenslon of the controller-magnet and a ring or collar near the top of the same, said flange, ring or collar inclosing the aforesaid length or coil of insulated Wire, an outer casing or protector, a pilottube communicating with a hole in an extension of the gas-chamber, said extension having a gas passage-Way, and a connectingto piece protruding from the gas-chamber for attaching. the burner to the fittings.

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VICTOR CHARLES JOHN NIGHTINGALL. Witnesses:

CECIL M. SLASTRIER, GEORGE A. UREN.

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