Electric Gas Lighting: How to Install Electric Gas Ignition Apparatus — Reading Companion

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Introduction; means of producing sparks; Induction--Simple induction coils--Ruhmkorff Coils 1

MULTIPLE GAS LIGHTING.

Application of induction coils to gas-lighting--Forms of burners used--Pendant Burners--Ratchet Burners--Stem Burners--Welsbach Burners--Burners for Acetylene Gas--Burners for Gasolene--Automatic Burners 7

CONNECTIONS AND WIRING.

How to connect up apparatus--Wiring a house--Locating breaks or short-circuits--Wiring in finished houses--General remarks 26

PRIMARY COILS AND SAFETY DEVICES.

How to make a simple induction coil--Automatic Cut-outs--The Syracuse Cut-out--Boston Cut-out--Edwards’ Cut-out 46

LIGHTING OF LARGE BUILDINGS.

Series or Jump Spark System--Burners used--How to Wire--Edwards’ Condenser System--Switches for series lighting--How to make a 2-inch spark, Ruhmkorff Coil 55

HOW TO SELECT BATTERIES FOR GAS LIGHTING.

Electrical Rules--Electromotive force--Amperes--Resistance--Selecting a battery--Arrangement of battery--Series--Multiple--How to get high voltage or large current--The Leclanche Cell--The Samson Cell--The Dry Cell and how to make one--The Edison-Lalande Cell--The Fuller Cell--Care and maintenance of batteries 78

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FRONTISPIECE--COMPLETE WIRING PLAN FOR A HOUSE. 1 DIAGRAM OF SIMPLE CIRCUIT 2 2 DIAGRAM OF SIMPLE CIRCUIT WITH SPIRAL 2 3 DIAGRAM OF SIMPLE CIRCUIT WITH SPIRAL AND GALVANOMETER 2 4 DIAGRAM OF CIRCUIT WITH IRON CORE 4 5 DIAGRAM OF RUHMKORFF COIL 4 6 ELEVATION OF RUHMKORFF COIL 6 7 PENDANT BURNER 7 8 BURNER CIRCUIT 8 9 PLAIN BURNER 10 10 RATCHET BURNER 11 11 STIFF-PULL PENDANT 12 12 STEM BURNER 14 13 ARGAND BURNER 15 14 WELSBACH BURNER 16 15 ACETYLENE BURNER 17 16 PUSH BUTTON 19 17 BARTHOLDI BURNER 21 18 BOSTON AUTOMATIC 22 19 CONCEALED AUTOMATIC 24 20 DIAGRAM WIRING ONE “AUTOMATIC” FROM TWO PUSHES 27 21 DIAGRAM WIRING ONE “AUTOMATIC” AND TWO PENDANT BURNERS 28 22 SIMPLE SWITCH CONNECTIONS 33 23 DETAILS OF AUTOMATIC CONNECTIONS 35 24 DETAILS OF CELLAR AUTOMATIC CIRCUITS 35 25 NUT WRENCH 40 26 AUTOMATIC OPERATED BY DOOR-TRIP 44 27 PRIMARY COIL 46 28 SYRACUSE CUT-OUT 50 29 BOSTON CUT-OUT 51 30 DETAILS CUT-OUT ROD--NORMAL 52 31 DETAILS CUT-OUT ROD--OPERATING 53 32 BULB CUT-OUT 54 33 JUMP SPARK BURNER 56 34 WELSBACH BURNER FOR SERIES LIGHTING 56 35 PILLAR BURNER 56 36 CIRCUIT FOR JUMP SPARK GAS LIGHTING 57 37 INSULATOR 59 38 EDWARDS’ CONDENSER 60 39 EDWARDS’ BURNER 61 40 EDWARDS’ BURNER 61 41 DIAGRAM OF EDWARDS’ CONDENSER CIRCUIT 62 42 CIRCUIT FOR JUMP SPARK SWITCH 64 43 ELECTROMAGNETIC TRAILER 66 44 DIAGRAM OF RUHMKORFF COIL CIRCUIT 68 45 WINDINGS OF SECTIONS 73 46 SECTIONAL DIAGRAM 74 47 CONTACT BREAKER 75 48 CONTACT KEY 76 49 FALL OF POTENTIAL DIAGRAM 79 50 SERIES ARRANGEMENT 81 51 MULTIPLE ARRANGEMENT 82 52 LECLANCHE CELL 84 53 SAMSON CELL 87 54 NEW STANDARD CELL 90 55 EDISON-LALANDE CELL 92 56 FULLER CELL 94 57 GRENET CELL 95

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

The enormous number of fires arising from the use of matches, and the great convenience and freedom from danger of the electric method of gas lighting, are alone sufficient reasons for the issue of these pages.

The veriest tyro in electrical operations knows that electricity will cause a spark, and most persons are aware that the spark possesses considerable deflagratory powers, varying with the character of the spark. In electric gas lighting a spark of the proper character is passed across a jet of gas and ignites it. Sparks can be produced by various means: friction, battery current, induction either galvanic or electro-magnetic, by a Wimshurst or Toepler Holtz machine, or an induction coil operated by a battery. For our purposes we will consider only the latter; the former are rarely used, being uncertain and unwieldy.

Of batteries there are many kinds, and although all will produce sparks, yet for electric gas lighting those made for intermittent work and classed as open circuit cells are to be preferred. Open circuit batteries, which will be fully described in a subsequent chapter, include the Leclanche, and most of the so-called “dry” cells.

If two wires be attached to a cell of battery _B_, one to the carbon or positive pole and the other to the zinc or negative pole, and their free ends be tapped together, minute sparks at _C_ will be observed each time the wires _separate_ (Fig. 1). If now a coil of insulated wire _S_ be included in the circuit, Fig. 2, upon repeating the make and break of contact, the sparks will be much increased. This arises from _induction_, each adjacent turn of wire acting upon its neighbor. To better understand the action of induction, we will consider the following examples: Fig. 3. _A_ is a circuit in which is the battery cell _B_. _C_ is a second circuit lying close to but well insulated from circuit _A_. _G_ is a galvanometer in which a magnetized needle swings right or left each time a current is passed through a coil of wire encircling it. Now, although there is no battery cell in circuit _C_, yet the needle will swing each time the circuit _A_ is closed or opened; that is, each time the wire ends are touched together or separated. This swing of course indicates that a current is passing through circuit _C_, but as there is no battery or other source of electrical energy included in it, it is clear that it arises from the action of the current in circuit _A_. In point of fact, the needle swings one way when the circuit is closed and the reverse way when it is opened; but the greater swing on opening the circuit indicates the greater strength of the _induced_ current at the moment the current ceases to flow in circuit _A_. Note that these current impulses are only momentary. In the case of our single coil, Fig. 2, each turn of wire acted upon itself in a similar manner to the circuit _A_ upon circuit _C_.

An iron rod or bundle of iron wires, _P_, inserted in the coil, Fig. 4, but carefully insulated from it, will immensely increase the inductive effects and consequently the spark. This arrangement constitutes the simple primary coil used in pull-down or pendant and automatic burners. This spark is often a source of inconvenience; it appears wherever a circuit including similar coils is made and broken. In telegraph apparatus at key and relay contacts it is noticeable; in fact, the writer has used temporarily a pair of electro-magnets from a telegraph sounder and obtained spark enough to operate a gas lighting burner.

To produce a long spark which will jump across an air gap, a more complicated form of coil is needed, one which more closely corresponds to the experiment noted in Fig. 3. The simple primary coil has here another coil of finer wire, _S_, wound on it but carefully insulated from it (Fig. 5). This second coil, or “secondary,” has a vast number of turns of fine wire as compared with the primary, which has only comparatively few turns of coarse wire. A primary coil of 40 feet of No. 14 B. & S. copper wire would be inserted in a secondary coil of perhaps 16,000 feet of No. 36 B. & S. This secondary coil, in fact all the apparatus constituting the induction coil, must be most highly insulated, as the electromotive force of the spark is tremendous, and it would be liable to pierce its way through and into the internal winding and so destroy the apparatus. The circuit in the primary is made and broken either by a hand key or by an automatic contact-breaker at _C_. With a large coil, the intensity of the spark at _G_ is such that it will jump an air-gap of from one-eighth of an inch to over three feet.[1]

[1] See Norrie, _Induction Coils and Coil-Making_.

This combination of coils and contact-breaker is generally known as a Ruhmkorff or intensity coil, and is shown in elevation in Fig. 6.

MULTIPLE GAS LIGHTING.

As we have already seen how a spark is exhibited at an interrupted contact, the means of its application to gas lighting will be considered. Fig. 7 represents the most generally used kind of electric gas burner or “pendant burner.” Its application is shown in Fig. 8. The wire _W_ from the coil _C_ is attached to the brass insulated collar carrying the contact _S_. The other wire from coil _C_ and battery _B_ is attached to the gas pipe _G_. As the burner is also screwed into the gas pipe itself, the circuit would be closed were it not for the gap at _A_ on the burner, caused by the collar carrying the contact _C_ and wire _W_, being insulated from the burner pillar _P_. When, however, a pull is given to the burner arm chain so as to cause the end of the spring _R_ to strike contact _C_ in passing, contact is made and broken, and a spark passes which ignites the gas issuing from the burner tip, the gas having previously been turned on. A piece of chain with a metal ball is attached to the burner arm in order to pull it down. In this class of burner there are many different makes differing only in minor details.

Fig. 9 shows a form of pendant burner which has no platinum contact, but has a broad lug on the insulated collar which is scraped against by the spiral spring when the arm is pulled down. It will be seen that the lug is not held by an insulated collar on the burner top, but is on the extension of an arm attached to the burner pillar by a large screw and insulating washers. The circuit wire goes under the smaller screw seen on the lower part of the contact arm, this forming a strong and neat form of attachment.

Now it has heretofore been necessary to turn on the gas before pulling the chain of a pendant burner, but as this is not always desirable the ratchet burner is made. Fig. 10 shows burner carrying a toothed wheel, which is partly rotated when the arm is pulled down. This wheel is mounted on the stem of a valve which opens or shuts according to the point of rotation, and thus shuts off or admits the gas to flow up to the burner. One pull of the arm turns the gas on; at the same time the wipe spring touches the contact on burner collar, and the gas lights. A second pull and the wheel, rotating, turns off the gas. In all burners of this class a spring is provided to carry the arm up and back into its original position ready for another pull. Some burners do not make contact when the arm flies back, thus saving battery current.

Fig. 11 is an improved form of burner wherein the movable electrode does not pass through the gas flame, neither do the electrodes come in contact with each other when the gas is being turned off. Reference to the cut will show a pin protruding from the base of the coiled spring electrodes, which pin is so arranged as to come in contact with the short end of the pull-arm. When this pull-arm is pulled down it pushes up this pin, elongating the spiral spring electrode sufficiently to make and break contact at the fixed electrode on the burner collar. This burner can be fitted with a porcelain candle slip if desired to match the imitation candle burners.

Objection is sometimes made to the ordinary chain pulls from the fact that they jar the fixtures, and also are liable to bend the fixture branches from the strain used in operating the arm. To overcome these objections the stem style of burner is manufactured (see Fig. 12). This stem, it will be seen, carries a convenient key at the end, which is turned either right or left as in an ordinary gas-cock. The moving contact only makes contact when the gas is being turned on and lighted. When turning it off, the arm is retracted so as not to touch the fixed electrode, thus saving battery current.

Fig. 13 is a simple lighting attachment for an Argand burner. The moving lever which carries the pull has a German silver spiral spring on its top end. This strikes against the lug projecting from the circuit-wire arm and makes a spark. The lower part of the circuit-wire arm has a screw and washers for ready attachment, and is strongly and substantially made.

A means of igniting the gas from a Welsbach burner is shown in Fig. 14, and is so simple as to need no further explanation.

Owing to the deposits of carbon, it is necessary to construct burners for acetylene gas in a different and more substantial manner than those designed for coal gas.

The best arrangement is depicted in Fig. 15, which has a pilot-tube burner as well as the two main tips. On turning the key, gas is admitted to both main and pilot burners, but the electrode in breaking contact only ignites the gas at pilot burner, which, in its turn, acts as a lighter for the main burner. Turning the main burner out, the pilot light can be left burning if desired, giving a small light, it being not feasible to turn _down_ the main burner owing to the before-mentioned carbonization.

The orifice of an acetylene burner is much smaller than that of a coal gas burner, the former burning about one-half foot per hour, against six or seven feet of the latter.

BURNERS FOR GASOLENE.

The flame from this gas is hotter than that of coal gas, and deposits so much more carbon that a slight modification is necessary in the construction of burners for it. The details can be readily seen on observation of a burner, being simply in the adjustment of the contacts and their operation. It is better, however, to use a larger coil and a stronger battery for gasolene gas lighting than would be needed for coal gas--say, 6 cells of Samson, or large-size New Standard dry battery and a 10-inch coil having about 4 pounds or more of wire on it.

There are several forms of these burners, but the principle of all is the same. A gas burner protrudes from the top of a brass case which encloses the actuating mechanism. This mechanism consists generally of two electro-magnets, the armature of one opening the valve and allowing the gas to flow, at the same time vibrating a platinum-tipped rod against an electrode upon the burner collar. This produces a series of sparks at the burner tip which ignites the gas. A second magnet is provided which shuts the valve and extinguishes the gas. Some devices use one electro-magnet to both open and close the valve, but the majority have double electro-magnets. The circuit is worked from a push button, Fig. 16, situated wherever desired; pressure on a white button lights the gas and on a black one shuts it off.

BARTHOLDI AUTOMATIC BURNER.

Instead of a rotating stop-cock, as in other automatics, a gravity valve is employed in the Bartholdi, which is held to its seat by the weight of the armature and connecting stem, as shown in figure 17. When the gas is turned off the valve rests upon its seat, as indicated in the cut. By a closure of the electric circuit at the turn-on button, two of the helices _M P_ are energized, causing the armature _J_ to be lifted, thus, by means of the stem _H_, raising the valve _G_ from its seat into the dotted position, and opening the gas way so that the gas may issue to the tip, as shown by the arrows. At the same time, the top of the valve strikes against the end of the lever _W_, causing the circuit to be broken at the spark points _T U_, resulting in a continuous sparking as long as the finger presses the button. The magnet when raising the armature has also twisted or partially revolved it, so as to bring the notch _d_ in the armature over the end of the hook _e_, as shown in the dotted lines. When the circuit is broken by lifting the finger from the button, the notch falls into the hook and the valve is locked open.

To extinguish the flame, the turn-off button is pressed, when a second magnet (not shown in cut) lifts the armature and twists it in the opposite direction, so that when the circuit is broken the armature falls free to its normal position, closing the valve.

THE ADVANCE AUTOMATIC.

This automatic burner, Fig. 18, is typical of the class having two magnets, one to open valve and light gas, and another to close valve and extinguish the light. It embodies an improvement over the older types of burners in that the binding posts are mounted on a rubber strip held by two screws, thus preventing the twisting and loosening so common heretofore. It also allows of the valve being opened and gas lighted by means of a match should the battery fail.

This is an automatic burner which has no valve mechanism, but ignites the gas only. It is generally placed in a cluster or ring where the burners are close enough to light by contagion. It is much smaller in diameter than the regular automatic burners, being but one and three-quarter inches in diameter.

ARGAND AUTOMATIC BURNERS.

Automatic burners are also made for Argand, but present no radical difference in construction over the regular type.

THE CONCEALED AUTOMATIC BURNER.

This automatic, Fig. 19, consists of two iron-clad magnets, placed one above the other, between which is located a gas valve. Through an extension of the latter a pin is driven, one end acted upon by the upper armature to open the valve and ignite the gas, the other by the lower armature which serves to close the valve and extinguish the flame. Around the burner is placed a porcelain candle slip of 3/4-inch diameter and from 4-3/4 inches in length upwards.

CONNECTIONS AND WIRING.

Fig. 20 shows how to connect up an automatic burner with two pushes; thus one can be downstairs in the hall and the other upstairs, allowing one to either extinguish or light the gas from either place. The value of this arrangement is obvious; it allows one to light up the hall before descending at night, or to put out the gas after one is safely upstairs. Again, an automatic burner can be put in the cellar and lighted and extinguished from the head of the cellar-stairs, saving matches and danger of fire.

Fig. 21 shows the connections of one automatic burner and two pendant or rachet burners. _P P_ are the pendent burners, _A_ the automatic burner, _C_ the primary coil, _S_ the buttons which control the automatic burner, _M M M_ the cells of battery, of which there should be at least four, if not six. A low-resistance cell must be used here, as before mentioned, one that gives not _less_ than 5 amperes on short circuit. It will be seen here that one side of the battery is connected to ground (or gas pipe), the circuit being completed owing to the burners being themselves screwed into the gas pipe. Care must be taken, however, to first see that no insulating bushings have been used at the gas fixtures, as is done in wiring for electric light. In this case a double circuit will have to be run.

In wiring up an automatic burner with two electro-magnets, two wires are run, one from the black button and one from the white button on push-plate. Most burners have binding posts inside the case, the wires running through a rubber-bushed hole in the base. One of the greatest defects in the old style automatics arose from the two binding posts being fixed on a hard rubber block, which was held by one screw to the burner top. This screw got loose at times and the block used to twist, making it hard to tighten the wires. But improvements have been made in this direction, the later burners having a block with a projection which engages in a hole in the cover, and is held by two screws.

If the push has been set in place, and all wiring done, connect up the burner, first ascertaining to which binding post the two wires run. This is done by having one button pressed, the lighting (white) one, for example, and then touching the binding post with either wire. The lighting armature will buzz violently when touched, whereas the extinguishing one only strikes once when contact is made. When only one person is working, a pin can be wedged in the push so as to keep the circuit closed.

In setting up these burners care must be taken not to bend contacts or alter adjustments, and absolute precaution is necessary that no wires touch where uninsulated. A cause of trouble is a dirty burner which does not allow the gas to strike the contact spark. The collar carrying the second contact may shift, or perhaps become short-circuited in a pendant or ratchet burner; a strip of asbestos will remedy this.

In fitting a house with electric lighting burners, the question of selection is best solved as follows: For the main hall and foot of the cellar-stairs, use the automatic burner. For other hallways, dining-room, drawing-room, and bathroom use ratchet burners which turn on and light gas when chain is pulled. For bedrooms use plain pendant burners; automatics and ratchets add an element of danger, in that they may not turn off gas, or may leak. Most of this type on the market are as reliable as it is possible to make them, but still accidents will happen.