Improvements in and in connection with Acetylene Lamps or Apparatus for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and in connection with Acetylene Lamps or
Apparatus for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, Managing Director of R. F. Hall Limited, of
Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be, as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to improvements in and for use in connection with
cycle and analogous lamps and apparatus for lighting and heating purposes,
particularly to lamps or apparatus for lighting and heating purposes in which
acetylene gas is consumed for giving light or heat.
My said invention consists in the hereinafter described methods of carrying the
calcium carbide and water, my object being to do away with all cumbersome
appliances as used at present.
I propose to enclose a specified and agreed upon portion of calcium carbide in a
small case, made of brass or other metal or suitable material, which said case may
be in the form of a porous holder enclosed in a metal covering, preferably of car-
tridge form. This enclosure is normally sealed by a metallic or other outer
covering thereby rendering it moisture proof. Sufficient calcium carbide is con-
tained in one of these cartridges to last for a given time, whilst the body of the
lamp is made in the form of a reservoir. When it is desired to make use of the
calcium carbide contained in such a cartridge the metallic cover is removed and
then the case is inserted in the body of the lamp which is of a suitable construction
for generating the gas from the carbide by the action of water. Suitable means are
provided to retain the cartridge in the lamp and to prevent the escape of the
gas. The water is then supplied to generate the gas; and when the calcium
carbide is entirely reduced the metal case is withdrawn and may be thrown away,
when a fresh one can be inserted.
It is well known that a certain amount of carbide and a certain amount of
water will generate a certain amount of gas. Therefore as a further form of my
invention, I so arrange a part of this cartridge, that it shall have a small receptacle,
which when filled with water will contain just the accurate amount for the genera-
tion a predetermined measure of the gas and I make the reservoir of this lamp
sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure that may be brought upon it and
also provide in the usual way for a safety valve so that in the event of a bursting
strain, proper provision is given for safety.
Under these circumstances it will be seen that such cartridges of calcium carbide
may be carried by the cyclist or other person in his pocket or tool bag and be
applied by him at any time without the slighest trouble.
This part of my improvements is applicable to all lamps and apparatus for heating
and lighting purposes generally as well as to cycle lamps as herein described.

page_text: My invention also consists in the manufacture of an acetylene cycle lamp, in
which the lamp is attached to an oblong cylinder or retort which I preferably make
in the usual gas bottle form from drawn steel.
The cartridge or carbide holder is formed in two pieces which are held together
by an outside ferrule which can be made perfectly air tight, by either soft solder
or varnish or other means.
Half the length of the cartridge contains carbide and the other half has an open
end which is filled with water before being inserted in the bottle or reservoir.
The cartridge on being inserted comes into connection with a screw portion and on
being screwed some distance into the bottle meets with a diameter which is smaller
than the ferrule before mentioned and upon further tightening up the screw the
ferrule is forcibly removed from the centre of the other portion of the cartridge
thereby causing the carbide to be released, and the water which is contained in
the upper portion will also mix with the carbide, and generate the gas under
pressure.
I also propose to fix four or five safety valves instead of one so that a full margin
of safety should be allowed in the case of the one or more of the valves failing to
act. From this bottle a small pipe leads to the burner. A bracket is fixed on
one portion of same and the whole serves as a self contained reservoir lamp
complete.
1..
This calcium carbide is contained in damp proof cases so arranged that the
connecting portions may be removed upon their being inserted in the lamp.
The material in cartridge or similar form may be used in connection with other
than pressure lamps.
In case I introduce the water and the carbide in two distinct and separate
cartridges and arrange for feeding apparatus whereby the quantity of water used
is regulated by a valve or tap so that the generation of the gas may he stopped
or started at the will of the operator..
Dated this 14th day of November 1897.
:
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent.
Improvements in and in connection with Acetylene Lamps or
Apparatus for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, Managing Director of R. F. Hall Limited, of
Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to means to be employed in connection with 4
acetylene cycle lamps and other apparatus for lighting and heating purposes in
which acetylene gas is burnt and has for its object, to provide convenient and
portable holders or receptacles for containing and carrying the calcium carbide
for charging the generators of such lamps, and for enabling quantities of carbide
to be safely carried in the pocket or tool bag and applied without trouble to the
generator of a lamp whenever it may require charging or re-charging.
According to my invention, I propose to enclose a specified and pre-determined
quantity of calcium carbide in a small case or receptacle, preferably in cartridge
form, convenient for carrying in the pocket or in a tool bag, and which, when

page_text: it is, required to re-charge the lamp with carbide, is placed within the generator,
after first removing the lid or cover or perforating. the cover so as to expose the
contents of the cartridge-like receptacle to the action of water.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of a carbide
receptacle in accordance with one form of my invention and Figure 2 is a plan
of the same with a portion of the lid broken away.
In carrying out this form of my invention, I place such a quantity of calcium
carbide a, as will generate predetermined volume of gas within an enclosure
or envelope made of some porous or absorbent, material, such as unglazed paper
or textile fabric, and this envelope is itself enclosed within a small case c, made
of metal or other suitable material and in such a form as will admit of it being
readily placed within' the generating chamber of an 'acetylene lamp. The charging
cartridge is normally hermetically sealed or is provided with a removable lid
or covering c¹, and thereby rendered moisture-proof, but when it is desired to
make use of the calcium carbide charge within the cartridge, the cover is either
entirely removed by lifting or sliding off, or a portion or the whole of the lid or
top is cut away with a knife so as to expose the contents or admit water thereto
and then the said case or cartridge is placed in the generating chamber and there
retained during the time that water is acting upon the carbide and producing
acetylene for combustion and when the charge is exhausted the case, which
now contains the lime residue resulting from the decomposition or reduction
of the carbide, is removed from the lamp and a fresh cartridge inserted in its
place. The porous envelope not only forms a means for distributing the water
to the carbide but also serves for filtering or intercepting suspended particles
of lime from the generated gas.
Figure 3 represents a modification in which the outer casing c, has an hermeti-
crally sealed lid c¹, which, prior to being placed into a generating chamber, is
pierced with one or more holes 2, to admit moisture. bis the porous envelope for
the carbide a.
Instead of first enclosing the calcium within a porous or absorbent envelope
and locating the latter in a metallic moisture-proof case, a predetermined quantity
of the said carbide a, may be placed direct within a metallic or other damp proof
enclosure, c, such as represented in vertical section in Figure 4, the lid or cover c
of which is either totally removable or made of such a substance as may be wholly
or partially cut away prior to the placing of it within a lamp.
Further, I may arrange within the cartridge or enclosure a small receptacle
of such a capacity as will contain sufficient water to entirely decompose the
carbide placed within the other part of said cartridge, the carbide receptacle
and the water space being preferably separated from one another by a porous or
perforated division. Water is placed within the space provided just prior to
the introduction of the cartridge within the lamp, the generating chamber of.
which is made of sufficient strength to resist the pressure of the gas evolved and
is preferably also provided with safety valves.
Or the carbide may be contained in an hermetically sealed enclosure of thin
metal whilst the lid of the outer casing may be provided with a depending knife
or cutter, so that when the said lid is rotated, a circular hole is cut within the thin
metal envelope through which water may pass to the charge located therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. A carbide "cartridge" for use in connection with acetylene lamps, con-
sisting of a normally sealed and damp-proof shell or enclosure, adapted to contain
a predetermined quantity of calcium carbide.
Secondly. A carbide "cartridge" for use in connection with acetylene lamps,
consisting of an envelope or enclosure made of porous on absorbent material

page_text: and adapted to contain a pre-determined quantity of calcium carbide, located
within an outer metallic or other casing which is either hermetically sealed or
provided with a removable or other lid or cover, substantially as herein described
and set forth.
Dated this 14th doze of Contamaka 1000
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Cycle and Analogous Lamps.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, Managing Director of R. F. Hall Limited, of
Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to cycle and analogous lamps, and has for its object,
an improved construction of lamp.
It is generally accepted amongst cyclists that the ordinary cycle lamp lends
the greatest assistance to the rider when the light is comparatively small. In
other words, the cyclist usually regards the lamp as a means of carrying out
the dictates of the law, but would be able to ride better at night without it. This
I consider to be due to the construction of the lamp which throws the light too
much on the sides of the road, thereby dazzling and. attracting the attention
of the rider.
According to my invention I construct a lamp entirely devoid of side lights
and of a rectangular or oblong shape so that the lamp throws a long body of
light forward, striking the ground without coming at all upon the sides of the
road too near to the rider. I prefer to make the front opening or light aperture
about three times the width of its length.
The construction of such a lamp lends itself to cheap production and simplifi-
cation in the number of parts.
Dated the 1441
1000
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Cycle and Analogous Lamps.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, Managing Director of R. F. Hall Limited, of
Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to cycle and analogous lamps, and has for its object,
an improved construction of lamp.
It is generally accepted amongst cyclists that the ordinary cycle lamp lends
the greatest assistance to the rider when the light is comparatively small. In
other words, the cyclist usually regards the lamp as a means of carrying out
Price Rd1

page_text: the dictates of the law, but would be able to ride better at night without it. This
I consider to be due to the construction of the lamp which throws the light too
much on the sides of the road, thereby dazzling and attracting the attention
of the rider.
According to my invention I construct a lamp entirely devoid of side lights
and of a rectangular or oblong shape so that the lamp throws a long body of
light forward, striking the ground without coming at all upon the sides of the
road too near to the rider. I prefer to make the front opening or light aperture
about three times the width of its length.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents-in front elevation-one
form of cycle lamp constructed on this principle.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same and Figure 3 a topside plan.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the lamp upon the dotted line a, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, Figure 6 an edge view and Figure 7 a cross
section of the glazing of the lamp.
a is a tubular body of the lamp, and a¹ the base which is preferably detachable.
The said body is entirely closed on all sides except the front, and thus has no
side lights. The said front is provided with a long and narrow slit or aperture a³,
fitted with a cone or bell b, having a front glazing c, of corresponding shape and
of a length approximately about three times greater than its breadth. In this
arrangement the glazing is represented as being of an oval figure, but the same
may be of rectangular outline with rounded corners as represented in Figure 8,
or of any other similar elongated shape.
This construction of lamp lends itself to cheap production and to the simplifica-
tion in the number of parts.
The body part of the lamp may be of any known form or construction and be
adapted to burn either oil or gas and further instead of the long light aperture
being arranged vertically as in the form shown, it may be disposed horizontally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
A cycle lamp devoid of side lights and having a light aperture at the front
consisting of a long glazed slit or opening, substantially as and for the purpose
described and set forth.
Daved this on day or September 1890.
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.