US2276751A - Lighting device - Google Patents

Description

\NVENTOR V. WEBER LIGHTING DEVICES Filed Sept. 21, 1940 March 17, 1942.

Vw-row. WEBER HT'roRNEjr Patented'Mar. 17, 1942 LIGHTING DEVICE Victor Weber, Greensburg, Pa.,v assignor to Robertshaw Thermostat Company, Youngwood, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 21, 1940, Serial No. 357,692

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting devices for gaseous fuel burners and more particularly to a combined electrical ignition switch and gas valve.

In devices of this character it is highly important from a safety standpoint that the electric circuit to the ignition device be completed whenever the gas valve is opened. However, where the arrangement is such that the opening movement of the gas valve is utilized to complete the circuit, it often happens that ignition does not occur until after a considerable quantity of unburned gas has escaped. Moreover, it is not improbable that the-gas valve may be rotated to an intermediate position and left there without the circuit to the lighter being made. In such event the igniter would, of course, remain inactive even though a continuous flow of gas occurred.

An object of this invention is to prevent opening of the gas valve without first completing the ignition circuit. 1

Another object of the invention is to make the sequence of operations entirely automatic.

Another object of the invention is to permit an ignition coil used as a lighting device to reach igniting temperature before the gas can flow.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the ignition circuit in constant operation all the time that the gas is flowing.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device of a minimum number of parts not liable to get out of order or become subject to excessive wear and deterioration in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a combined thermostat and gas valve showing the electrical ignition switch in place.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows but with the gas valve omitted.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 2 but taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a plan ofthe ignition switch shown in position in Fig. l but with the'exteriorparts broken away.

A preferred embodiment of the combined electrical ignition switch and gas valve of this invention is shown in Fig. 1 with a thermostatic structure with which it may be conveniently associated. The structure comprises a main casing ll! provided with an inlet 12 for gas or other fluid and having an end casing l4 secured thereto and provided with an outlet IS. The end casing I4 carries the thermostatic mechanism including the bulb l8 and capillary tube 20. The

casing I0 is provided with a tapered valve seat 22 within which a hollow valve member 24, having a tapered seating surface, is adapted to rotate. Communication between the inlet l2 and the interior of the hollow valve member is afforded by oppositely disposed ports 26 formed in the valve member and connected by an armate groove 28 in the tapered surface thereof.

A valve stem 30 extends from the valve mem- I her through an opening 32 in a cover 34, the wall of the opening being spaced from the valve stem.

The cover 34 is secured to the main casing Ill at the end opposite the end casingv I4 and is adapted to project through the front panel of a gas range indicated at 36, behind which the thermostat is located with the bulb subjected tqthe temperatures in the oven. It will be understood that the device may be used in connection with other types of gaseous fuel burners and that the thermostatic mechanism may be omitted without sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

Oppositely disposed lugs 38 on the cover receive screws 40 which engage the main casing Ill and serve .to secure the cover 34 in position. The rotating means for the valve member 24 includes'a dial 48 carrying a tubular projection 50 which slides within the opening 32 and terminates adjacent the inner end of the cover 34. A sleeve 52 is interposed between the projection 50 and the valve stem .30 and has sliding engagement with the former while being spaced from the latter. An upturned flange 54 on the inner end of the sleeve 52 extends into a slot 56 formed inthe end of the projection 50 and provides means by which rotation of the dial may be imparted to the sleeve.

The flange 54 extends radially beyond the sleeve into an annular recess 58 formed in the cover 34. The recess 58 is provided with a cam surface 60 and a limit stop 62 in the form of projections thereon and spaced one from the other to accommodate the flange 54 therebetween. .The crest 64 of the cam surface 60 is adjacent the space for the flange 54 whereby the latter may ride up and drop into the space when the dial 48 is rotated in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Preferably, the limit stop 62 ,is of such height as to extend from the recess 58 into sufliciently close proximity to the casing E to prevent the flange M from passing therebetween and continuing the clockwise rotation. When the flange 56 is within the space, its outor face lies flush with the crest of the cam surface 60.

The end of the sleeve 52 opposite the flange is provided with oppositely disposed tongues 60 which project therefrom into complemental slots 50 formed in the outer surface of a collar l0 secured to the end of the valve stem Bil. That portion of the valve stem Bil which lies within the sleeve 52 is preferably reduced in diameter, forming a shoulder i2 against which one end of a coil spring i l abuts. The other end of the spring abuts a plurality of introverted flanges "it formed on the end of the sleeve 52 between the tongues 66 and serves to maintain the parts in extended relation. It will be apparent that any desired number of flanges 16 may be used as is likewise the case with the tongues 66.

The electrical ignition switch structure which operates in connection with the valve structure so far described may be conveniently supported on the exterior of the cover 36 adjacent the space between the cam surface Bil and limit stop 62. In this instance a bracket I8 is secured to one of the lugs 38 on the cover 38 by means of the screws 80. The bracket 10 has an extension 82, the inner edge of which is of arcuate shape to fit neatly around that portion of the cover lying between the lugs 38. The outer edge of the extension is provided with a flange forming a U- shaped housing 84 extending toward the dial 48. A fixed contact 86 is carried on a switch arm 08 secured, as by the rivet 90, to an insulating strip 92 which, in turn, is secured by the rivet 94 to the extension 02. Additional security against displacement of the switch arm 80 is afforded by bending the inner end 95 thereof and embedding it in the insulating strip 92. In order to retain the extension 82 against lateral movement on the cover, the insulating strip 92 may project into engagement with a retaining lug 96 on one side of the cover while the bracket 82 likewise engages a retaining lug 98 on the opposite side of said cover, the arrangement being such that the extension and insulating strip are sandwiched between these retaining means.

A lead conductor I00 is secured to the switch arm 88, as by soldering it thereto, and may extend along the bracket 82 through a support I02 formed integral with the bracket. The support is in the form of a hook for clamping insulation I04 in engagement with the lead conductor I00. A second lead conductor (not shown) may be secured to the terminal I 06 which may take the form of a screw inserted into the end of the bracket 18 opposite the extension. A movablecontact I08 is adapted to be biased into engagement with the fixed contact 86 by means of a flexible switch arm IIO upon which the movable contact .I08 is carried. The flexible switch arm IIO extends from the contact I08 along the bracket and is secured thereto adjacent the terminal I06 by means of the rivets I I2.

Movement of the flexible switch arm H0 and 'its contact I08 away from fixed contact 85 is effected by a pin II4 loosely fitted within an aperture H6 in the cover 34. The pin II4 forms a slidable connection between flange 54 and the switch arm H0 and is of sufficient length to pro- Ject beyond the cover 34 when engaged by the flange 54. A head II8 on the pin II 4 is adapted to engage the flexible switch arm II and urge the contacts apart when the flange 54 is located within the space adjacent the stop 62.

The construction described makes it necessary to push the dial 48 inwardly toward the stove panel 36 before rotation of the valve member can occur. Such operation causes compression of the spring I4 and engagement of the end wall of slot 56 against the flange 5 1 to move it longitudinally out of the space between the cam surface 80 and the limit stop 62. Rotation of the dial can now occur in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, rotation in the opposite direction being prevented by the limit stop 62. Due to this inward movement of the dial, it will be apparent that the pressure of the flange 50 on the pin H4 has been removed and the flexible switch arm can now cause the movable contact Hi3 carried thereon to engage with the fixed contact 86. Thus, the electric circuit to the ignition device is completed before any rotation of the gas valve has occurred. The longitudinal movement of the flange 54 which releases the gas valve for rotation and the closing of the contacts is simultaneous.

It is thus impossible to obtain a flow of gas without first completing the ignition circuit, which insures maximum safety. It will further be observed that as long as the flange 54 is removed from the space between the cam surface 60 and the limit stop 62 the electrical circuit remains connected and that. the sequence of Operations comprising the completion of the ignition circuit and subsequent opening of the gas valve is entirely automatic in the combination described and shown.

I claim:

1. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignition switch, said means being adapted to be closed and opened, comprising means to lock said fuel control means closed, switch contacts movable to an open position by said locking means when said fuel control means is closed, and means for releasing said fuel control means for movement to open position and simultaneously closing said contacts.

2. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignition switch, said means being rotatable between closed and open positions,

' comprising means to lock said fuel control means against rotation from closed position, switch contacts movable to open position by said locking means when said fuel control means is closed, and longitudinally movable means for releasing said fuel control means for rotation to open position and simultaneously closing said contacts.

3. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignition switch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel control means between closed and open positions, means to lock said operating member against rotation from said closed position, switch contacts movable to open position by said locking means when said fuel control means is closed, and longitudinally movable means for releasing said operating member for rotation to said open position and simultaneously closing said contacts.

4. The combination of fuel control means and an electrical ignition switch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel control means between closed and open positions, means to lock said operating member against rotation from said closed position, switch contacts movable between closed and open positions, a connection between said locking means and contacts for moving the latter to open position when said fuel control means is in closed position, and longitudinally movable means for releasing said operating member for rotation to said open position and simultaneously disengaging said connection for closing said contacts.

5. The combination of fuel controls means and an electrical ignition switch, comprising an operating member for rotating said fuel control means between closed and open positions, a cover for said operating member, means carried by said member and co-operating with said cover to lock said operating member against rotation from said closed position, switch contacts carried on said cover and movable between closed and open positions, a slidable connection between said locking means and contacts for moving the latter to open position when said fuel control means is in closed position, and abutment means for said locking means movable longitudinally with respect to said operating member for releasing said member for rotation to said open position and simultaneously disengaging said connection for closing said contacts.

' 6. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignition switch, comprising a stem extending from said valve, a cover for said stem, a sleeve secured to said stem against relative rotation but being movable longitudinally with respect thereto, locking means associated with said sleeve and cover for restraining relative rotation therebetween, switch contacts carried on said cover and movable between closed and open positions, a slidable connection movable by said locking means for opening said contacts, a dialelement carried by said sleeve and rotatable therewith to open and close said valve, and abutment means on said element engageable with the locking means upon longitudinal movement of said dial and sleeve, thereby releasing said valve for rotation and simultaneously closing the contacts.

7. The combination of a iuel control valve and an electrical ignition switch, comprising a stem extending from said valve, a cover for said stem, a sleeve secured to said stem against relative rotation, yieldable means coacting with said sleeve and stem for permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween, means for locking said sleeve against rotation relative to said cover, fixed and movable contact elements carried by said cover, a connection between said locking means and movable contact adapted to hold said contact in open position, and manually operable means for moving said sleeve relative to said stem to release said valve for rotation andclose said contacts.

8. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignition switch, comprising an operating member for rotating said valve between closed and open positions, a cover for said operating member, means interposed between and coacting with said cover and operating member 'for locking said member in said closed position, a fixed contact carried on said cover, a movable contact carried on said cover and biased toward closed position with said fixed contact, said contacts being exterior of said cover opposite said locking means, and a slidable connection extending through said cover between the looking means and movable contact, said connection extending beyond the cover for holding said con tact in open position when the valve is locked in closed position.

9. The combination of a fuel control valve and an electrical ignition switch, comprising an operating member for rotating said valve between closed and open positions, a cover for said operating member, means interposed between and coacting with said cover and ope ating member for locking said member in close position, said means being yieldable to permit longitudinal movement relative to said cover, a fixed contact carried on said cover, a movable contact carried on said cover and biased toward closed position with said fixed contact, said contacts being exterior of said cover opposite said locking means, a slidable connection extending through said cover between the locking means and movable contact, said connection extending beyond the cover for holding said contact in open position when the valve is locked in closed position, and manually operable means for effecting said longitudinal movement of the locking means to release said valve for rotation and simultaneously close said contacts.

VICTOR WEBER.

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