Improvements in Acetylene-lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene-lamps.
I, CORNELIS VERWER, of Krommenie, Noorderkerkbuurt 63, (Provinz Nord-
Holland), in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-lamps.
The acetylene-lamps heretofore known all have the disadvantage that, by
reason of the complicated construction, the cost of manufacture is high, the
proper action and regulation is uncertain and the manipulation difficult.
The object of this invention is to produce a lamp which not only excels all
known forms in simplicity but is moreover perfectly free from danger and can
be manipulated in the simplest conceivable manner.
The water receptacle and the gas-holder of the improved lamp are arranged
near each other in the body of the lamp, and the diaphragm or partition-wall
between them is formed by a plate or sheet of india-rubber or other suitable
material.
From the water-receptacle, the water passes in drops through a narrow tube
into the carbide-receptacle.
This carbide-receptacle is made in cartridge-form and consists of a closed
sheet-metal cylinder with a central open tube.
Around this tube is the cartridge filled with carbide. The central tube is not
water-tight, but is made in such a manner that the water can penetrate on all
sides and can come into contact with the carbide.
This object can be attained in various ways. A simple solution, which 'I
employ in my improved acetylene-lamp consists in forming the tube of a
spirally-coiled strip of sheet-metal, wound so as to leave sufficient space between
the several convolutions to permit the passage of water between them.
The gas formed enters the gas-holder through a connecting tube or passage of
small bore and from thence passes through the burner to the flame.
If the supply of gas is too great, that is to say, if more gas is generated than
is required for feeding the flame, the pressure will rise in the gas-holder. This
increased pressure, will cause the india-rubber diaphragm to be bulged out or
distended, and this distension will cause the supply of water to be arrested.
For this purpose, a thin sheet-metal plate is arranged to rest against the india-
rubber diaphragm, which plate follows the motion of the said diaphragm and is
situated at the end of the long arm of a bell-crank lever. The short arm of this
lever bears at its end an india-rubber block or plate arranged directly above
the opening or mouth of the water-tube. If the pressure rises in the gas-holder,
the said india-rubber block or plate will be pressed on to the mouth of the water-
tube by reason of the motion of the above-mentioned metal plate due to such
increase of pressure, and thus the supply of water will be arrested until the

page_text: pressure has been reduced to such an extent that the india-rubber diaphragm
and consequently also the metal plate resting against it, have again taken up
their normal position.
In carrying my said invention into practice I find it advantageous to make the
water-chamber and the gas-chamber of hemispherical form and to separate them
by an india-rubber diaphragm the edge of which is secured between the flanged
edges of the two hemispheres. In this manner a hermetically-tight partition is
obtained between the water and gas chambers.
The rear hemisphere is provided with an eye for suspending or securing the
lamp, and is made with a tubular extension at the bottom so as to form à joint-
piece which is provided with an internal screw-thread and a flange.
The tube or shell for receiving the carbide-cartridge is screwed into this
joint-piece and a hermetically-tight joint made with the flange thereon by
means of an india-rubber ring.
In the front hemisphere is mounted the reflector and into this opens the
burner. A part of the said reflector forms the front wall of the gas-chamber.
In the middle of the cartridge is arranged a tube coiled up from a strip of
metal. In this tube is placed a fine water-tube secured to the water-receptacle,
which tube extends into the cartridge nearly to the bottom. Above the mouth
of the said water-tube lies the india-rubber valve by means of which the mouth
of the said water-tube can be closed.
The motion of this valve is effected by means of a wire bent in the form of a
bell-crank-lever and capable of oscillating about a fixed point.
On the horizontal short arm of this lever is secured the india-rubber valve.
The vertical long arm bears the metal plate which is continually pressed by a
feeble spring against the india-rubber diaphragm.
The connection between the aforesaid joint-piece and the gas-chamber is
formed by means of a screw-pin having a central hole, which pin simultaneously
fastens together the two hemispheres and draws up the joint around the india-
rubber diaphragm between them.
By screwing up a nut on a link or stem which is connected with the longer
arm of the bell-crank-lever, the valve can be forcibly closed from the exterior
and the water-supply stopped.
A stop on the said link serves for preventing the plate from being drawn
back unnecessarily far and the spring weakened. The water-receptacle is pro-
vided with an aperture closed by a screw-plug which can be removed to permit
filling of the said receptacle.
The water from the water-receptacle drops through the very fine water-tube
into the central coil-tube of the cartridge and there comes into contact with
the carbide. The acetylene-gas generated rises between the two tubes and
passes into the gas-holder.
When it is desired to extinguish the light, the valve is closed by simply
screwing up the said nut.
The arrangement is thus extremely simple, the action perfectly certain and
free from danger, and the manipulation easy.
The carbide-cartridges, which are delivered closed, can be conveniently
carried and can be thrown away as soon as they are exhausted, so that one has
nothing to do with the unpleasantly-smelling residue.
When it is desired to insert a fresh cartridge, the valve is closed, the outer
tube unscrewed, the old cartridge replaced by a fresh one, the said tube screwed
in again and finally the valve opened.
The several parts are so arranged that they can be easily taken apart for
carefully cleaning the lamp.
The form and ornamentation of the lamp can be varied as desired. My
improvements are more particularly suitable for velocipede-lamps but can also
be applied to carriage-lamps or chamber-lamps. Danger of explosion is pre-
cluded, and the action is quite automatic.

page_text: If it be desired to employ a glass in front of the reflector, the burner should
be placed upright and the reflector provided with air-holes.
Since the regulation and extinguishing of the flame is effected by simply
turning the screw-nut above mentioned, the manipulation is very simple and can
take place from the saddle.
Dal th: OLL 1
T
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant
--
I, CORNELIS VERWER, of Krommenie, Noorderkerkbuurt 63, (Provinz Nord-
Holland), in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in acetylene lamps whereby a lamp is
provided which is simple in construction, and easily manipulated, and free from
danger in use.
The water receptacle and the gas-holder of the improved lamp are arranged
near each other in the body of the lamp, and the diaphragm or partition-wall
between them is formed by a plate or sheet of india-rubber or other suitable
material.
From the water-receptacle, the water passes in drops through a narrow lube
into the carbide-receptacle.
This carbide-receptacle is made in cartridge-form and consists of a closed
sheet-metal cylinder of white iron with a central open tube made of a coiled
strip of sheet metal. The cartridge after being filled with carbide is closed by
the top plate, leaving the centre, where the aforesaid tube ends, open.
The gas
produced in the cartridge passes through the space between the convolutions of
the open tube into this tube and leaves the cartridge by the aforesaid central
opening.
Around this tube is the cartridge filled with carbide. The central tube is not
water-tight, but is made in such a manner that the water can penetrate on all
sides and can come into contact with the carbide.
This object can be attained in various ways. A simple solution, which I have
adopted in my improved acetylene lamp consists in forming the tube of a
spirally-coiled strip of sheet metal, wound so as to leave sufficient space between
the several convolutions to permit the passage of water between them.
The gas formed enters the gas-holder through a connecting tube or passage of
small bore and from thence passes through the burner to the flame.
If the supply of gas is too great, that is to say, if more gas is generated than
is required for feeding the flame, the pressure will rise in the gas-holder. This
increased pressure will cause the india-rubber diaphragm to be bulged out or
distended, and this distension will cause the supply of water to be arrested.
For this purpose a thin sheet-metal plate is arranged to rest against the india-
rubber diaphragm, which plate follows the motion of the said diaphragm and is
situated at the end of the long arm of a bell-crank-lever. The short arm of this

page_text: lever bears at its end an india-rubber block or plate arranged directly above
the opening or mouth of the water-tube. If the pressure rises in the gas-holder,
the said india-rubber block or plate will be pressed on to the mouth of the water-
tube by reason of the motion of the above-mentioned metal plate due to such
increase of pressure, and thus the supply of water will be arrested until the
pressure has been reduced to such an extent that the india-rubber diaphragm
and consequently also the metal plate resting against it, have again taken up
their normal position.
Referring to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved lamp with the gas-chamber
and the india-rubber diaphragm removed,
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section with the valve opened,
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the body of the lamp, and
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section with the valve closed.
a is the water-chamber and 6 the gas-chamber which are made of hemispherical
form and are separated by an india-rubber diaphragm e the edge of which is
secured between the flanged edges y and d of the two hemispheres. In this
manner a hermetically-tight partition is obtained betwen the water and gas
chambers.
The rear hemisphere is provided with an eye for suspending or securing
the lamp and is made with a tubular extension at the bottom so as to form a
joint piece which is provided with an internal screw-thread and a flange i.
The tube or shell for receiving the carbide-cartridge is screwed into this
joint-piece and a hermetically-tight joint made with the flange i thereon by
means of an india-rubber ringk.
In the front hemisphere is mounted the reflector e and into this opens the
burner f. A part of the said reflector forms the front wall of the gas-chamber b.
In the middle of the cartridge is arranged a tube m coiled up from a strip of
sheet metal. In this tube is placed a fine water-tube secured to the water-
receptacle, which tube n extends into the cartridge nearly to the bottom
thereof. Above the mouth of the said water-tube n lies the india-rubber valve o
by means of which the mouth of the said water-tube » can be closed.
The motion of this valve is effected by means of a wire g bent in the form of
a bell-crank-lever and journalled at in a bracket s¹ at the bottom of the water
chamber close to the partition wall.
C.
S
On the horizontal short arm of this lever is secured the india-rubber valve o.
The vertical long arm has soldered thereto a metal plate which is continually
pressed by a feeble spring s against the india-rubber diaphragm
The spring
is coiled around a prolongation q' of the wire q as clearly shown at the left hand
side of the bracket in Figure 1, its long arm bearing against the plate p and
its short one upon the bottom of the water chamber.
The connection between the aforesaid joint-piece and the gas-chamber
is formed by means of a screw-pin t having a central hole, which pin simul-
taneously fastens together the two hemispheres a and b and draws up the joint
around the india-rubber diaphragm e between them.
By screwing up a nut which is threaded on a link or stem (of which the
end part is enlarged and provided as well with screw threads and which
passes freely through the opening in the case a and is hinged to the longer arm
of the bell-crank-lever, g) the valve o can be forcibly closed from the exterior and
the water-supply stopped.
A stop on the said link serves for preventing the plate p from being
drawn back unnecessarily far and the springs weakened, Figure 4. The water-
receptacle is provided with an aperture closed by a screw-plug n which can be
removed to permit filling of the said receptacle.
The method of operation of the lamp is as follows:-
The water from the water-receptacle a drops through the very fine water-
tuben into the central coil m of the cartridge and there comes into contact with

page_text: the carbide, Figure 2. The acetylene gas generated rises between the two
tubes n and m and passes through the tube t into the gas-holder b.
If more gas is generated than is necessary for feeding the flame, the pressure
rises in the gas-chamber and the india-rubber diaphragm c bulges outwards as
shown in Figure 4, towards the water-chamber a.
The plate follows this motion and transmits it by means of the lever arm q
to the valve o which is thus pressed on to the mouth of the water-tuben and
the water-supply arrested. Further generator of gas cannot then take place.
The pressure in the gas-holder then falls since the gas is gradually consumed
by the flame, thus the diaphragm c resumes its normal shape, shown in Figure 2,
the valve o opens under the action of the springs and water again flows "into
the cartridge so that generation of gas begins afresh.
When it is desired to extinguish the light, the valve o is closed by simply
screwing up the nut w.
•
The arrangement is thus extremely simple, the action perfectly certain and
free from danger, and the manipulation easy.
The carbide-cartridges, which are delivered closed, can be conveniently
carried and can be thrown away as soon as they are exhausted, so that one has
nothing to do with the unpleasantly smelling residue.
When it is desired to insert a fresh cartridge, the valve o is closed, the outer
tube unscrewed, the old cartridge replaced by a fresh one, the said tube
screwed in again and finally the valve o opened.
The several parts are so arranged that they can be easily taken apart for
carefully cleaning the lamp.
The form and ornamentation of the lamp can be varied as desired. My
improvements are more particularly suitable for velocipede lamps but can also
be applied to carriage-lamps or chamber-lamps. Danger of explosion is pre-
cluded, and the action is quite automatic.
If it be desired to employ a glass in front of the reflector, the burner should
be placed upright and the reflector provided with air-holes.
Since the regulation and extinguishing of the flame is effected by simply
turning the screw-nut w the manipulation is very simple and can take place
from the saddle.
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. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination, with a gas-chamber, of a water-
chamber adjacent thereto, an elastic diaphragm separating said gas and water-
chambers, a carbide-receptacle, a passage connecting said water-chamber with
said carbide receptacle, a valve controlling said passage, and a pivoted lever
engaging said diaphragm and said valve, substantially as, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore described.
2. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with a gas-chamber, of a water-
chamber adjacent thereto, a vertical elastic partition-wall or diaphragm be-
tween said gas-chamber and said water-chamber, a carbide-receptacle, a passage
connecting said water-chamber and said carbide-receptacle, a bell-crank-lever
in said water-chamber, a plate mounted on one arm of said lever and pressed by
spring pressure against said diaphragm and a valve mounted on the other arm
of said lever, and controlling said passage, substantially as, and for the pur-
poses, herein before described."
3. The combination with the apparatus claimed in the preceding claiming
clauses, of means for actuating the lever by hand, substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purpose specified.
4. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with a gas-chamber and a water-
chamber, of a carbide-receptacle, a carbide-cartridge in said receptacle. a tube
in said cartridge formed of a helically coiled strip of sheet-metal, and a pipe

page_text: extending from said water-receptacle into said tube in the cartridge substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
5. An acetylene lamp constructed substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Manch 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.