An Improvement in Acetylene Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
An Improvement in Acetylene Lamps.
I, CHARLES HENRY WORSNOP, of 6, Carlton Place, Halifax, in the County of
York, Lamp Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a new acetylene gas lamp, in which a specially prepared
carbide is used.
In order to give a more simple description of my invention, I refer to the
drawings on the accompanying sheet. [The same letters represent the same
parts in each drawing.]
Figure 1 represents a vessel A made of any material (preferably some metal)
which is to be half-filled with water when the lamp is prepared for use.
Figure 2 represents the following combination. K is a cover which fits loosely
into the neck of the vessel A: L is a tap for turning the gas on and off: E is a
bell, and is connected with the cover K by a tube B; this tube B is divided into
two chambers, designated C and D respectively; the chamber C is a perforated
box, and the chamber D has a perforated floor F, which is removable. The
tube B is fastened to the cover K by means of a screw, and the joint is made gas-
tight by means of a packing box.
Figure 3 represents a wire basket P, having a perforated disc N below it,
and a cross wire W to fix it into the bell E.
Figure 4 shews the outline of the lamp as prepared for use; it shows also each
component part in its relative position: this figure represents a complete vertical
section through the component parts of my invention.
I am quite aware that a bell and basket placed within a vessel form one of the
earlier methods of making an acetylene gas generator; but in the early apparatus
wherein ordinary carbide of calcium was used, one required either an outlet
connected with a receiver for the gas, or a movable bell.
To work the lamp. I advise the following method;-
In the first place, half-fill the vessel A with water; then prepare the filter B
by filling the part of the tube marked D with calcium carbide, and the upper
chamber C with any substance which will abstract the phosphate of hydrogen from
the gas, and by placing some cotton wool in the part marked K. Then fill the
basket P with the substance we call acetyloid, which is a combination of calcium
carbide with other substances which make it impervious to moisture. This
compound also gives a larger amount of gas per lb, and at the same time evolves
a gas not quite so white as, but more penetrating than pure acetylene gas.
When all is ready as above-described, the basket P is put into the bell E, and
fixed with catch W. The bell E is then placed into the vessel A: the lamp
is now ready for use, and when the tap L is turned, the air escapes, the water
approaches the bottom of the basket P, and gas is then generated. When the
tap is turned off, the water is forced away from the basket P by the pressure of
gas generated, and the action ceases. When the gas passes through the carbide

page_text: in the tube D, it is dried; in passing through the chemicals in the chamber C it
is purified, and the cotton wool abstracts the dust.
The novelty I claim consists for the one part in the tube which connects the
bell with the burner, this being used as a purifier by dividing it into two chambers,
so that both drying and purifying agents may be inserted; and, for the other
part, in using the top part or cover of the vessel for a filter, by inserting any
suitable filtering material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) The general construction of the lamp which is made in such a way that,
by turning off the tap, generation of gas is practically stopped.
(2) The tube connecting the bell with the cover of the lamp, the said cover
forming a box to hold cotton wool or any other suitable substance for filtering
purposes.
(3) The division of the connection tube into two chambers for drying and
purifying the gas.
Dated this Twenty-Seventh day of May, One thousand eight hundred and