US1657638A - Electrical gas-igniting device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,638

EL ROY L. PAYNE VELE CTRICAL GAS IGNITING DEVICE Filed April 6. 1925' INVENTOR. 7 ficy L. Pay/74 aw 7 1%;

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EL BOY I. PAYNE, OE'LOS ANGEI'ES, CAiLIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO PAYNE FURNACE AND SUPPLY COMPANY, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OI CALI- FOBNIA.

Application filed April 8, 1925. Serial No. 21,609.

This invention relates to electrical ignition means for gas burners whereby the operation of opening the gas valve causes an electric spark to be produced adjacent the point at which the gas issues from the burner so as to ignite the same. An important object of the invention is to provide means whereby any and all operation of the gas valve from closed position toward open position will cause an electric spark to be produced adjacent the burner during the entire time the valve is being operated so as to ensure ignition of the gas. A particular object. of the invention is to provide means whereby a partial opening of the valve will produce a spark as above described, in other words to provide a device whereby the production of the electric spark is not dependent upon complete opening of the valve. In

90 certain types of electrical gas ignition devices the production of an electric spark does not take place until the completion of the opening of the valve and with such devices it is possible to partially open the valve and permit escape of gas from the burner without operation of the igniting means so that the gas is allowed to escape without being burned, thus resulting in danger of explosion and injurious efiects due to possible to inhalation of the gas. This disadvantage is overcome according to my invention by providing means whereby any movement of the valve toward open position produces an electricspark throughout the time of such movement and ensures consequent ignition of the gas.

The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of my invention and referring thereto:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in section of an electrical gas i iting device according to m invention, s o ing the electrical circuit or use with alternating current. a

5 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the circuit closing means.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the circuit closing means and the connection between said means and the gas valve.

Fi 4 is a partial diagram of the electrica circuit for use with direct current.

Referring to the drawings the gas burner indicated at 1, which may be of any suitable shape or design, is shown as provided with loosely within a fuel inlet or supply means 2 having a valve 3 therein adapted to control the assa ge of gas through said supply means. Slaid valve maybe of any suitable type but is preferably of such construction that a relatively small turning movement is re uired to open the same, and for use on smal gas heaters or furnaces may advantageously comprise a plug valve which is adapted to move from closed to open position in a quarter of a revolution. For the operation of said valve I prefer to provide an operating member or collar 5 which is preferably of insulating material such as hard rubber, the stem 4. of said valve fitting within a recess in said operating member and being secured thereto 1n any suitable manner for example by means of screws 6. An operating rod 7 fits recess 8 in the operating member 5 and valve stem 4 so as to be freely rotatable within said recess. Said operatmg rod may be held within said recess by engagement of screw 6' with an annular groove 9 near the end of said rod. Rod 7 may he provided with a projecting arm 10 adapted upon rotation of said rod in one dlrectionor the other to engagepins 11 or 12 respectively and thereby rotate the operatmg member 5 and move the valve toward open or closed position. For the purpose of establishing electrical connection during openmg movement of the valve as hereinafter described I prefer to provide a. contact member 13 mounted at the side of said arm 10 and adapted to engage a contact member such as pin 11 in the movement ofvsaid arm in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 so as to effect opening of the valve, while said arm may be adapted to directly engage pin 12 during movement thereof in the reverse direction to effect closin of the valve. Contact member 13 is norma ly held out of contact with pin 11 by engagement of leaf spring 35 with adjustable stop means such as screw 40 mounted on pin 36. Any suitable means may be provided for manual operation of rod 7 for example a handle 'l may be provided at the upper end of said r0 A The ignition means proper com rises a spark gap 15 formed for example tween two metallic points 16. and 17 spaced a suitable distance a art, point 17 being for ex ample connecte directly to a metallic tube ,furnace or other device with which the burneris used. The other spark point 16 is mounted, for example. in an insulating plug 20 of porcelain or similar material at the end of tube 18. The electrical circuit as shown in Fig. 1 includes a transformer 22 whose primary winding 23 is connected to a suitable source of alternating electric current, the wires leading to said source of current being indicated at 24. The ratio between the primary winding 23 and the secondary winding 25 may be such as to give any desired secondary voltage for example four to ten volts. A spark coil or induction coil -of any suitable, type is indicated diagrammatically at 26 and is shown as comprising a low tension or primary coil 27, and a high tension or secondary coil 28. An iron wire core 31 is also preferably provided within said coils. The electrical connections include wire 29 leading from the secondary 'winding of the transformer to the primary winding of the spark coil, wire 30 leading from the secondary winding of the transformer to a connection 32 on in 11 and a heavier high tension wire 33 eading from the high tension coil 28 to the spark point 16. The other ends of both the low tension and high tension coils 27 and 28 are grounded as at 37, the furnace casin and the gas supply pipe being also groun ed as indicated at 38 and 39 respectively.

The operation of the above described apparatus 1s as follows:

Assuming that with the parts inthe position shown, valve 3 is in closed position, the handle 14 may be manually operated so as to turn operating rod 7 and arm 10 in the direction indicated. by the arrow in Fig. 2 and thus turn valve 3 toward open position. Inasmuch as rod 7 is itself free to turn within the recess in valve stem 4 and operating member 5 it will first turn without operation of theivalve and against the resistance of spring 35 until the contact member 13 engages pin 11, whereupon the further turning movement of operating rod 7 will cause the valve 3 to move toward open osition. At the same time however the ow tension electrical circuit is completed as follows: From secondary winding 25 of the transformer through wire 30 to pin 11, hence through contact member 13 and operating rod 7 to the valve stem 4 which is in electrical connection with the grounded gas supply pipe, thence through the ground from 39 to 37 and through the low tension winding 27 of the spark coil and wire 29 back to the transformer. Since the current in this circuit is alternating, an intermittent high tension current will be induced in winding 28 of the spark coil and such current will pass through wire 33 to sparkpoint 16 and cause an intermittent spark to e set up across spark gap 15. the circuit being completed through spark point 17, tube 18, and the grounded casing 19. If de sired in order to increase the secondary voltage and give a more intense spark, the spark coil 26 may be provided with an interrupter similar to that described below for use with direct current. It will thus be seen that a practically continuous spark is produced adjacent burner 1 upon any and all motion of the valve 3 toward open position, and such spark will be maintained so long as such motion continues. .As soon as the handle 14 is released however spring 35 will operate to throw contact member 13 out of engagement with pin 11 so that the circuit is broken at that point and the s ark ceases. It will be observed that in the a ove operation it is not necessary that the valve 3 be moved to wide open position in order to cause the spark to be produced at the igniting means. but any motion of the valve in this direction is accompanied by production of a spark at the igniting means, so that even a partial opening of said valve to a sufficient extent to permit passage of gas therethrough will cause such gas to be ignited and thus prevent escape of unburned gas. As shown in Fig. 4 I may employ direct current instead of alternating current in which case wires 29 and 30 may for example be connected to a dry cell or battery 41, and the spark coil 26 may be of a type adapted for use with direct current. For example said coil may comprise in addition to primary winding 27 and-secondary windin 28, a pair of make-and-break contact mem rs 42 and 43 and a condenser 44 connected across the break between said members. Contact member 42 is rovided with armature means 45 ada te to be attracted by core 31 upon comp etion of the low tension circuit, thereupon breaking contact between members 42 and 43. The resulting sudden breaking of the low tension circuit induces a high tension current in the high tension circuit, as above described, and thus produces an intermittent but rapidly repeated spark at the igniting means. e remainder of the apparatus and manner of operation is substantially the same in this case as when using alternating current and the advantages of my invention are realized equally well with the use of either form of electric current.

What I claim is 1. In an electrical gas igniting device, in combination with a valve, an operatin member connected to said valve, manualy operated means adapted to engage said operating member to eflect operation of said valve, means for producing an electric spark, an electrical circuit adapted to control said 1.0mm N spark-producing means, normally open contact means in contact member secnrul to said operatmg member and movable therewith and also in cluding a contact member mounted on said manually operated means and movable there with, said manually 0 rated means being adapted upon any an all operations'in a direction to open said valve to also bring said contact members into twith one another during the entire time of such operation. a

2. An apparatus as set forth in 1'- and comprising in addition spring means adapted be normally hold said contact members out of engagement;

3. An electrical gas igniting'devicc comprisin in combination with a gas burner provi ed to said valve and provided with a contact member secured thereto, manually operated means provided with a second contact member adapted to engage said first-named contact member upon movement of said manually c said circuit and comprismg a v to direction to operate said with fuel supply meanshaving a. valve therein,' an operating member secured ated means in onedirection so as members and also enable-further movement of said manually operated means in the same valve toward open rmally tending position, spring means no old said contact members out of contact,

means for reducing an electric spark adjacent said urner, and an electrical circuit adapted to control said spark-producing means and 4:. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and compris' operating mem ada ted to be engaged by said manually opera means independently of said contact members upon movement of said manually operated means in the reverse direction so as to enable such movement to operate said valve toward closed position while leaving said contact members out of contact. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of March,

. BOY'L. PAYNE.

lish contact between said contact including said contact members.

in addition means on said

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