In operation, the nozzles of the gas valves stand directly in front of the opening G, in Fig. 180. The stream of gas in passing into the burner induces a flow of air through the opening A. The mixture of gas and air is such as will burn with the characteristic Bunsen flame without smoke.
The oven burners are different in form but the individual flames are the same as those of the top burners. They extend across the oven as shown in Fig. 182. In this the top of the oven is removed and burners as seen are viewed from above.
The top burners are lighted by direct application of a burning match but the oven burners must be lighted by first igniting a special torch or “pilot lighter.” The middle gas valve of Fig. 182 is turned and the torch lighted, then the other valves are opened and the jets are instantly ignited. As soon as they are burning the pilot lighter is extinguished by turning its valve.
The reason for this special lighter is because of the possibility of explosion at the time of lighting. The gas from the jets is mixed with air at the proper proportion to be violently explosive and if by chance the gas should be turned on a sufficient time to fill the oven with this explosive mixture and then lighted, an explosion would be certain, with every possibility of disastrous consequences. All gas ovens should be lighted in a manner similar to that described.
Lighting and Heating with Gasoline.
—The remarkable growth of modern cities, the building of small towns in the west, and the improvement in suburban and rural homes has created a demand for efficient means of illumination in the form of small household lighting plants. The development and improvement in electric lighting has induced an equal, if not greater, improvement in gas lighting. Up to the year 1875, the open-flame gas jet represented the most improved form of city lighting. Then came electricity, which for a time bade fair to supplant all other forms of illumination; but the relative high cost of electric lighting, even with the advantages it afforded, was a stimulus to improvement in less expensive forms of illuminants.
The invention of the incandescent-mantle gas burner enormously increased the opportunities for gas lighting and opened an inviting field of endeavor. In a relatively short time, three distinct types of gasoline lighting plants for household illumination came into common use, with a great number of different systems in each type. As a means of economical illumination the only rival of any consequence to the small gasoline-gas plant of today is acetylene. The dangers attending the use of these agents of illumination have been rapidly eliminated, until today—when intelligently managed—they are fully as safe as any other means of artificial lighting. Gasoline plants are now in common use in cities where competition with all other forms of illumination require excellence in service to hold an established place.
In order that any mechanical appliance may be used with the best results, its principle of operation and mechanism must be thoroughly understood. In the case of gasoline plants, not only familiarity with the mechanism should be acquired but an intimate knowledge of gasoline and its characteristic properties should be gained, that the peculiarities of the plant may be more fully comprehended.