US1665088A - Automatic lighter for gas water heaters - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1928; 1,665,088

' H. A. L. FOWLER I AUTOMATIC LIGHTER, FOR GAS WATER HEATERS Filed June 24, 192'? I 4 SheetsSheet 1 16 T 1 .zz 14 M r 8 24 K 1&1 15

.12 Zz I k 11 I INVENTOR ATTOR N EY April 3, 1928. 1,665,088

H. A. L. FOWLER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER FOR GAS WATER HEATERS Fileune 24, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllilll I 3 W I-I 4 j INVENTOR 1 W BY 1% 0 WITZSIS(/\ESJ% ATTORNEY April 3, 1928.

H. A. L. FOWLER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER FOR GAS WATER HEATERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 24 1927 INVENTOR a 7 I I ATTO R N EY April 3, 1928. v 1,665,088

H. A. L. FOWLER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER FOR GKS WATER HEATERS Filed June. 1927 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E U T I i INVENTOR Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

NI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

HARVEY A. I. FOWLER, F VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER FOR GAS WATER HEATERS.' I

Application filed June 24, 1927. Serial No. 201,254.

lhis invention relates to automatic lighters for gaswater heaters.

The primary object ofthed'nvention re sides in the provision of a device for attach ment to'thei present gas water heater by which the burner ot the heater may be lighted from a remote part of the house wlthout-necessitating a trip to the cellar or.

kitchen Where most of such heaters are located. I

Anotherobject 1s to provide an automatic device for gas appliances wherein a pilot light is disposed adjacent the burner of the from a distant point and in which asignal is set off to assure an operator that the device is in operative conditionto prevent any possibility of the gas being turned on without proper working of the spark, which might result in the escape of gas and loss of life by asphyxiation and damage to property by explosion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic lighter which may be ton switch from any room of a house which lights a pilot light. for a period of time necessary to li ht theburner of a gas appliance, after whlch the pilot is automatically extinguished, thus saving the expense of having a pilot light continuously lighted as is the present practice in automatic gas water heaters and by which switch the burner when lighted may be extinguished. A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic lighter for gas water heaters positive and safe in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construction and combinatio and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the'appended' claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 5 my improved automatic lighter in position with respect to a gas water heater.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view appliance and lighted by an electric spark matic stopnmechanism in a operated by actuating a'push and pull butcasing is a ll'and pilot' burner 22. Figure 1 is an elevational view showing through the lighting device with the 1 gas control valves in a shut off position; if

Figure 3 isan end elevation of the same with the casing in section. Figure 4 is avertical sectional View on the line H of Figure 3.- g Y Figure 5 isa vertical transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6- is a horizontal the line 66 of Figure-2. I

Figure 7 isa detail sectional view showing the position of theburner controlvalve when the pilot control valve .isin a. fully open position.

Figure 8 is a similar viewbut showing the osition of the pilot control valve when the urner controlvalve is in a fully open position. L t

"Figure 9 is a detail view showing theauto- "position responsive to the control magnets.

Figure 10 is a diagrammaticview ofrthe electric circuits.

Referring more particularly to the draw.- ing, the reference numeral 10 designates my improved automatic lighter in its entirety which is shown in the drawing, as applied to the gas burner 11 of agas'water heater 12, used for heating water in a boiler or tank 13.

The device 10 comprises a box li ke casing or housing 14 having a removable front cover,15,-which-when removed as in Figure 2 of the drawing, reveals the inner working parts of the device.

Extending through the topwall of the gas supply pipe 16"to which a burner supp y pipe 17 and a pilot burner pipe 18 are connected through a T-couplin 19. A burner control valve 20 is arrang -in the pipe 17 while a pilot control valve 21 is arranged within the pipe 18, both'of said sectional view on 23 along thetop thereof and by which the curved tip 24 of the pilot burner is lighted.- The tip 24 extends within thegas heater 12 to a point above the burner 11 for effectively lighting the burner when the pilot is lighted.

The valve is of the rotary type and includes a rotatable plug having a straight passage or duct 26 therein which is normally disposed in a horizontal or closed position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, but

which is moved to a vertical position to register with the passage in the pipe line 17. The rotary plug 25 is fixedly connected to a shaft 27 journalled in a frame structure 28 supported within the casing 14. Fixed to the shaft 27'rearward of the valve 20 is a gear 29, for constant meshing engagement with an idler gear 30, journalled in the frame structure, and which idler gear also meshes with a gear 31 fixed to a shaft 32, to which the plug 33 of the pilotvalve 21 is connected. The gear31 is twice the size of the ear 29 so as to rotate at one-half the spec of the gear 29 during the operation of the device. 7 1

The plug 33 of the pilot control valve 21 is provided with right angularly disposed straight passages 34 and 35 for successively establish ng counication between the gas supply pipe 16 and pilot gas pipe 18. Normalty the passages 34 and are in a position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, whereon. the gas supply to the pilot is shut it y For transmittingrotary movement to the plugs of the control valves, T provide an electric motor 36 mounted upon the supporting frame 28, driven shaft 37 of which carries a relatively small gear 38 for constant 7 meshing engagement with a larger gear 39 mounted on a counter-shaft 40 journalled .in theframe structure. The shaft 40 also carries; a smaller gear 41 for constant meshing engagement with a larger gear 42, which also carries a smaller gear 44 for meshing engagement -with a gear 45 fixed to a counter-shaft 46 arranged in vertical align ment with the axis of the shaft 40. The

shaft 46 also carries a smaller gear 47 for meshing engagement with a relatively large gear 48 fixed to the-shaft 27 to which the plug 25 of the burner control valve is connected to rotate the shaft at a relatively slow rate of speed. A similar motion is transmittedto the plug 33 of the pilot control valve 21 through the gears 29, 30 and 31, and shaft 32. The gears above referred to constitute a gear train and turn in the direction of the arrows in Figure '4 of the drawings, and for controlling the speed of the same, I provide a. centrifugal governor 48 driven by the gear 39 through a gear 49 and shaft/50. 1 V

For the purpose of electrically controlling nets 51 mounted upon the frame structure for actuating one end of a pivoted arm 52,

the other end of which isprovided with an angularly disposed lip 53. A stop 54 normally supports the lever which drops thereon under its own weight.

Mounted alcove the arm 52 is a rocker shaft 55 having a rocker arm 56 extending from oppositesides thereof. Une end of the rocker arm is connected to one end of a contractile spring 57 which has its other end secured to the frame structure, which spring normally holds the angular finger 58 of the rocker arm seated in one of a pair of diametrically opposed cam notches 59 provided in the periphery of a brake dish 66 fixed to the countershaft 44 forwardof the gear 42. The angular lip 53 of the arm 52 is disposed in the path of the rocker arm till about to be described to lift the finger 58 out of the engaging notch 59 upon energia inc" of the solenoids 51 upon starting of the device.

Extending from the rocker shaft 55 atan angle with respect to the roclrer arm 56 is is seated in the notch 64 as the valves and parts are in normal position, but the same successively seats in the other of the notches during operation of the device. On each operation, to open and close the gas burner valve the disk 67 rotates one-half revolution.

A motor control switch 68 is disposed in thepath of upward movement of the block 62 and which comprises a pair of normally spaced flat spring contacts 69 and 70. A wire 71 leads from the contacts 69 to a terminal 7 3 on the frame structure 28 while a wire 72 leads from the contact 70 to a terminal on the-motor 36. It will be obvious that when the block moves upward to lift the member 63 out'of the slots 64 and 65, the

contact strip 70 will be moved into engagef ment with the contact 69 and the motor circuit 74 will automatically close. A battery 75 is arranged in the circuit 74 with the switch 68 and motor 36.

' For energizing the electro-magnets 51 which control the actuation of the motor switch 68 through the arm-- 52, and arm 61, I provide an el'ect-ro-magnet circuit 79 within which a push and pull button switch 80 is arranged. A wire 81 leads from one of the terminals of the switch 80 to a terminal 82 on the frame structure and which terminal is electrically connected to the magnets through a conductor 83. The electro-magnets are grounded togetherwith the battery Q 75 to form a complete circuit. From the description of'the electro-magnet circuit, it the switch '68 in a, closed positionuntil such will be seen that when the switch 80 is time as the next slot'65 comes into 'registramoved to a position to close the circuit 79, tion with the member 63 whereupon it drops the magnets 51 will beenergized to release therein and accordingly breaks the motor the member 63 from its engaging-notch 64- circuit. During the interval of a one-quaror 65, and the arm 52 will kick or lift the ter revolution, the pilot valve plug 33 is finger 58 out of its engaging cam slot 59 moved to a position to cause 'theport 34 to in the disk 60. register with the gas supply and to permit For igniting thepilot light 22 on each' a free flow of as to thepilot burner, while a half revolutionof the disk 67 for a predethe plug 25 o the burner control valve 20 termined interval of time, I provide a has moved to a partially open position as I lation to the flame openings of the pilot passage'o switch arm 84 on the shaft 27, which extends shown in Figure-7 of the drawings. When an equal distance from opposite sides therethe valves are in the position as shown in of. A flexible contact strip 85 extends into Figure 7, the disk 67 has moved approxithe path of the ends of the switch arm 84 'mately one-eighth of a revolution but upon to be engaged thereby fora brief period" of the further rotation of the same to bring time twice, on each full revolution of the the notch 65 into alignment with theflexible member 63, the valves will move to the position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings,

- The contact 85 is arranged in a circuit 86 with a, spark plug [87 spark coil 88, through whereupon the pilot control valve plug is the battery 75 and ground to the arm '84, moved to a full shut-off position while the The spark plug 87 is of the usual construcburner control plug is in vertical alignment tion and is supported in suitable spaced rewith the gas supply pipe to allow the free 1? gas 'therethrough. During a peburner 22 by a bracket 89 which has a clamp I'iOd Of 4 this one-quarter revolution, the

90 thereon b which the spark plug may be switch arm 84 has engaged thecontact 85 respect to an electrode 91 to to close the spark circuit to produce a spark over the flame opening of'the pilot burner sufficient to light the same, as it will be adjusted wit produce a jump spark above the flame openings. v p

Also arranged in the spark plug circuit ibly indicate whetherthe spark circuit is opmitted to flowto the burner 11 and which crating as the same 1i hts up during the burner 11 is lighted by'the end of the pilot sparking of the s ark p 11g. burner 24, which extends into the gas heater In operation, t 0 device is normallyin the to a point directly above the burner. It is position h wn i Fig re 2, 3, 4, 5 a d 6 presumed that the disk 67 has made aquarof the drawings, that is,.the valves 29 and 21 ter revolution whereupon the flexible memare shut off so that gas is prevented from j 63 has PP d iiltb the x no ch flowing from the supply pipe 16 to the wh-ile'the finger 58 of the rocker arm 56 burners 11 and 22. To start the device in as engaged one of the notches 59 in the opera ion to light the 'burnerl1, the oper- (Tlsk e pp a is now Shut Off as appreciated that gas has been admitted 'to 86 is an electric tell-tale light 92 which may h pllot burner. In the lighting of the be positioned adjacent the switch to vispllot burner, a limited amount of gas isperator closes the switch 80 which may be 10- h p k circuit has been broken y the cated in a room of a house remote .from the m vement of th'switch arm 84 past the conlocation' of the water heater which closes tact I IS 0 deslred to t 05 the How the electro-magnetic circuit 79 and energizes f g to emain burner 11, whereu on the the electro-magnets 51. The swit h 80 i switch 80 is again actuated to close t e electurned on and immediately ofi' 'as it is only tro-magnet circuit 79, after,which it is imnecessary to energize the electro-magnets for J med 1ate1y shut off but during which interval a fraction of a second or enough to cause of tlme, the electro-magnets 51 have again them to pull down upon one end of the arm been energized to lift 'the flexible member 52, which lifts the opposite end to lift the 63 from its engaging notch'6 5, which closes f arm 61 to close the motor circuit 69- cand the motor circuit through the switch.- 68

"lift the rocker arm 56 out of the notch in whichimparts rotation tothe shafts 27 and.

the disk 60. As the switch 68 closes by" 32 to move the plugs of thev'alves'to origireason of the upward movement of the block 'nal position ShOWIl'lIl Figure 2 0f h a 62 during the liftin I motor circuit isclose and starts the motor spark circuit is not closed as the switch arm into operation? which in turn imparts rota- 84 does not engage the contact 85.

tion to the shafts 27 and 32 through the A baffle plate or reflector92 is supported operation of the train of gears hereinbefore above the spark plug and thepilot burner mentioned. As the disk 67 starts to rotate, to spread tlie flame along the flame open% the flexible member 63 will ride the periph ings in the pilot burner 22.

ery' thereof after having been lifted out of While I have describedwhat I-deemto be the notch'64 and which serves to maintain the most desirable embod ment of my 'inven off-the armf 61, the ings. During this quarter revolution, thetion, it is obvious that many-of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 2- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a gas supply pipe having branch pipes leading therefrom to a gas burner an 'pilotslight burner therefor, a

burner control valve arranged in the branch valves have been moved to predetermined positions. i

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a gas supply pipe having branch pipes leading to a gas burner and a pilot light burner therefor, a burner control valve in the branch pipe leading to said gas burner, a pilot control valve in the "branch pipe'leading to the pilot light burner, each of said control valves having rotatable plugs munication between the gas supply pipe and. the gas burner and pilot light burner, mo-

opening of'the gas burner control valve by 7 with passages therein for establishing communication between the gas supply pipe and the gas burner and pilot light burner, motor driven means for imparting simultaneous rotation to the plugs of both of said valves to cause the establishing of communication between the gas supply pipe and the, pilot branch pipe throughthe passage in the plug of said pilot control Valve prior to the full opening of the gas burner'control valve by establishing communication through the passage in the palug thereof with the gas supply pipe and t e branch leading to the gas burner. L

In a device of the class described, the combination with a gas supply pipe having branch pipes leading to a gas burner and a pilot light burner therefor, a burner control valve in the branch pipe leading to said gas burner, a pilot control valve in the branch Pipe leading to the pilot light burner, each of said control valves having rotatable plugs withpassages therein for establishing comtor drivenmeans for imparting simultaneous rotation to the plugs of bothof said valves to cause the estabhshing of communication "betwe the gas supply pipe and the -pi10t branc pipe through the passage in the plug of said pilot control valve prior to the full with a source of electricener a establishing communication through the passage in the plug thereof with the gas supply pipe and the branch leading to the gas burner, control means remotely operated for starting said motor driven means, and auto matic'means for stopping said motor driven means when the plugs (if said valves reach a predetermined point during their rotation.

4. In a lighter for gas appliances, a gas control valve having a rotatable plug, a shaft extending from said plug, 'a disk mounted onsaid shaft and having notches in its peripheral edge, a movable member seated in one of said notches, an electric motor operatively connected to said shaft by a gear train, said motor being arranged in an electric circuit with a source of electric energy, a motor control switch normally open and disposed in the path of movement of said movable member,

and manually operated means for lifting eral edge, a movable member seated in one 'of said notches, an electric motor operatlvely connected to said shaft by a gear train, said motor being arranged in an electric circuit with a source of electric energy, a motor control switch normally open and disposed in the path of movement of said movable memher, and manually operated means for lifting said member outlof its engaging notch to actuate said switch to close said motor circuit whereby said motor will impart rotation to said plug to ,move the same to open and closed position, said member automatically dropping into the next notch in said disk during partial rotation thereof to disengage said swltch, said manually operated means including electro-magnet arranged in an electriccircuit with a source of electrical energy and a control. switch, and meansresponsive ,to the action of said electro-magnets upon energizing of'the same for lifting said movable member out of its engaging notch.

6. In a lighter for gas a pliances, a gas control valve having a rotata e plug, a shaft extendin from-said plug, a disk mounted on said sha t and having notches in its peripheral edge, a movable member seated in one of said-notches, an electric motor operatively connected to said shaft by a gear train, said motor being arranged ,in an electric circuit a motor con-.- trol switch normally open an disposed in the path of movement ofsaid movable memberand manually operated means for lifting said path of rotation of said contact, said switch member outflof its engaging notch to actuate arm, contact and spark device being arranged said switch to close said motor circuit where in an electric circuit with a source of electric by said motor will impart rotation to said energy whereby said arm may engage said 5 p ugto move the same to open and closed pocontact to close said circuit to actuate said 15 sition, said member automatically dropping spark device during rotation of said shaft. into the next notch in said disk during par- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my tial rotation thereof to disengage said switch, signature. an electric spark device, a switch arm mount- 10 ed on said shaft, a contact disposed in the HARVEY A. L. FO WLER.

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