Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
I, EDWARD JAMES DOLAN, of No. 3615, Warren Street, in the City of Philadel-
phia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Superintendent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention comprehends certain improvements in lamp structures adapted
for burning acetylene gas, and while especially adapted for bicycle lamps, com-
prehends lamps of all descriptions, whether stationary or portable.
It is my object to provide a more uniform and steady manner of supplying
water to the carbide of calcium than has heretofore been employed, and further-
more to provide suitable means for removing the refuse or lime product from the
undecomposed carbide.
In carrying out my invention I employ a lamp structure having substantially
three compartments of which the upper is adapted to contain water, the middle
compartment to contain the carbide of calcium and act as the immediate generator
of the acetylene, and the lower compartment to receive the refuse or lime product.
The burner opens from the intermediate chamber or that in which the carbide is
placed. Between the middle and lower chambers is arranged a rotatable grate
adapted to be operated by a spindle extending to the outside, preferably through
the bottom of the lower compartment. This grate supports the carbide, and may
be turned to scrape off and remove the lime product from the lower portion of the
body of carbide. It also acts to distribute the carbide and present new portions
to the water.
The water is supplied from the upper compartment by a suitable valve, but
instead of being allowed to fall directly upon the top of the body of the carbide
it is conveyed downward by means of a flexible conductor, preferably in the form
of one or more small chains, and by this means it is caused to flow uniformly and
in a steady minute stream upon the carbide and to be distributed thereon.
The central chamber which contains the carbide is provided with a removable
gas light cap. Arranged above this central chamber and connected with its cap
is the water chamber which connects with the central chamber and has in the
communicating passageway a valve seat upon which an adjustable valve rod
extending through the top of the water chamber seats itself. By the adjustment
of this valve rod the flow of the water into the generating chamber may be con-
trolled. The water chamber is provided with a removable plug fitting an aperture
through which the water may be supplied, and this plug is provided with a small
aperture for the escape of any gas that may find its way into the water chamber.
The lower part of the generating chamber terminates in a cap which screws into
the top of the lower chamber by a gas tight joint. Fitted in the base of the
generating chamber with provision for rotary movement is a grate having a
central hub which receives a spindle extending through a stuffing box in the
bottom of the lower chamber and provided with a hand-wheel by which it may be
turned. This hand-wheel may be made of large diameter substantially equal to
the diameter of the lower chamber, and may thus constitute a stand or support
for the lamp.
The interior of the generating chamber is provided with an inwardly extending

page_text: finger, the lower end of which approaches the rotatable grate and acts to retard
the movement of the carbide when the grate is rotated, in order that the proper
cleansing action may be secured as well as the rearrangement of the pieces of
carbide within the generating chamber.
Within the generating chamber is a flexible metallic conductor having its
upper end connected below the water inlet. This conductor preferably consists
of one or more small flexible chains so arranged that the water passing through
the inlet is conducted by the chains in a steady small stream. In this manner
the generation of gas is very uniform which is most important with an acetylene
lamp having a generating chamber of small capacity. Without a uniform
generation of gas the burner is apt to splutter or flare and to be very irregular
in the intensity of light emitted. By employing the chains or metallic conductor
of flexible construction a steady flow of water is secured, and the conductors are
not liable to rot or become defective by clogging. The flow of water tends to
dislodge any lime that may become attached to the chains, and the chains may be
readily cleansed upon opening the lamp and removing them. Such metallic con-
ductors are also indestructible and uniform in their operation.
A gas pipe leads from the generating chamber to the burner which is provided
with a horizontal pin to receive a sleeve carried by the reflector and outer lens.
A set screw clamps the reflector and lens in position relatively to the burner.
When employed as a bicycle lamp the lamp is provided with means for attach-
ment to the bicycle. When the invention is employed for stationary lamps it
may be modified or changed to bring the burner in the upper part of the lamp.
The lower compartment while specially designed for receiving the lime and
holding it out of contact with the undecomposed carbide, also acts as a gas reser-
voir to increase the capacity of the lamp for holding acetylene which may be
generated, since such gas will fill the lower compartment as well as the generating
compartment and thereby a more steady flame is insured.
EDWARD JAMES DOLAN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, EDWARD JAMES DOLAN, of 3615, Warren Street, in the City and County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Superintendent,
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 comprehends certain improvements in lamp structures especially
adapted for bicycles, though they may be employed in lamps of all descriptions.
My object is to provide a more uniform and satisfactory manner of supplying
water to the carbid of calcium than has heretofore been employed, and further-
more, to provide suitable means whereby the refuse or lime product may be
removed or eliminated from the undecomposed carbid of calcium.
In carrying out my invention I provide a lamp structure with substantially
three compartments, the upper of which is adapted to contain the supply of
water, the middle compartment to contain the carbid of calcium and act as
the immediate generator of the acetylene, and the lowermost being the chamber
for receiving the refuse or lime product. The burner opens from the intermediate

page_text: chamber or that in which the carbid is placed. Interposed between the middle
and lower chambers I arrange a rotatable grate adapted to be operated by a
spindle extending to the outside and preferably through the bottom of the lower
compartment. This grate supports the carbid of calcium and at the same time
upon revolution scrapes off or removes the time product from the lower portion
of the said carbid. It furthermore distributes the carbid so as to present new
portions to be acted upon by the water. The water is permitted to drop from the
upper compartment by a suitable needle or other valve, and instead of being
allowed to fall directly upon the top of the carbid of calcium it is conveyed
downward by means of a flexible conductor, preferably in the form of one or more
chains. By this means the water is caused to flow uniformly and in a steady
minute stream upon the carbid and be distributed thereon.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, in which―
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an acetylene lamp embodying my improve-
ments, and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional plan of same on line —
A is the chamber containing the carbid of calcium and has a removable gas tight
cap A. Arranged above the chamber A is the water chamber B, connected at the
bottom with the said cap by a neck C, having at the lower end a valve-seat D,
upon which a valve-rod E seats itself. The valve-rod extends through the upper
part of the chamber B, being adjustable therein by a screw-thread and terminat-
ing in a small handle c, whereby it may be adjusted to control the rate of flow of
the water from the compartment B into the carbid-compartment of chamber A.
The water-chamber 13 is further provided with a removable plug F, fitting an
aperture, through which the chamber may be supplied with water, and this plug
is preferably provided with a small aperture f, through which any acetylene gas
finding its way into the chamber B may readily escape.
of
The lower part of the chamber A terminates in a cap H', which screws upon
the top of the lower compartment If by a gas-tight joint. Fitted at the base of
the chamber A and with provision for rotary movement is a grate I, having a
central hub i, formed with a square or other shaped aperture. A spindle K has
a square or otherwise-formed upper end adapted to the aperture of the hub
the grate, so that by rotating the spindle K the grate is correspondingly moved.
The lower part of the spindle K extends through a stuffing-box M in the bottom
of the chamber H and is provided with a large hand-wheel L, preferably of a
diameter equal to the diameter of the chamber 1, so that the spindle may be.
readily turned when desired. The hand-wheel L, being made large in diameter,
constitutes a stand or support for the lamp when set down.
The interior of the chamber A is provided with an inwardly extending finger W,
the lower end of which approaches the grate I, the object of said finger being to
retard the movement of the carbid when the grate is rotated, so that the proper
cleansing action may be secured, as well as the rearrangement of the pieces of
carbid placed in the chamber A.
Jis a metallic flexible conductor having its upper end connected below the
water-nozzle 1). In practice I prefer to form this conductor of one or more small
flexible chains so attached or supported relatively to the nozzle that the water
passing through the same is absorbed by the chains and caused to flow downward
in a very steady and small stream. In this manner the generation of gas is
very uniform, which is a most important requirement in a lamp for acetylene
gas having a chamber of small capacity. Without uniform generation of gas
the burner is apt to sputter or flare and be very irregular in the intensity of light
emitted. By employing the chains or metallic conductor of flexible construction
I secure a steady How of water and do not have any materials which rot or become
defective by clogging as a means for securing such flow. If lime should become
attached to the chains, the flow of the water tends to dislodge it, and in any
event said chains are readily cleansed on opening the lamp. Furthermore, such
metallic conductors are indestructible in their operation.

page_text: N is a gas-pipe leading from the chamber A and communicating with the
burner O. The burner is provided with a horizontal pin P to receive a sleeve R,
carrying the reflector Q and the outer lens. A set screw clamps the reflector
and lens in position relatively to the burner. The lamp may be provided with
any suitable means for attachment to a bicycle when employed for that purpose.
The invention is equally applicable for standing lamps; but in such cases it is
preferable to modify or change the general design so as to bring the burner to
the upper part of the lamp; but this is a mere matter of detail which does not
change or modify the invention herein described. I would point out that the
lower compartment H, while specially designed for receiving the lime and holding
it out of contact with the undecomposed carbid, also acts as a gas-reservoir to
increase the capacity of the lamp for holding acetylene which may be generated,
since such gas will fill the lower compartment, as well as the compartment A,
and will thereby insure a more steady flame.
While the use of metal in the flexible conductor J has many advantages over
organic or vegetable fibrous substances and I therefore prefer to employ it, never-
theless I do not confine myself to the use of metal. My improvement compre
hends the use of a flexible conductor arranged below the water nozzle or inlet
or so supported that it receives the water and distributes it to the carbid. By
making the conductor flexible it adapts itself to the carbid in the chamber and
at all times rests upon it. Furthermore, the flexibility of the conductor enables
the parts to be screwed together or removed without difficulty, since the con-
ductor forms no rigid interference with the carbid. This flexible conductor
may be held in position below the nozzle in any suitable manner.
I would point out that while the grate only acts upon the lower parts of the
carbid the rotation of said grate causes the carbid to readjust itself, and this
brings to the bottom pieces of carbid containing lime upon its surface. By
proper manipulation I am enabled to remove the objectionable portions or excess
of lime refuse from the carbid-chamber.
While I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to the minor
details, as these may be changed or modified without departing from the prin-
ciples of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is —
I. The acetylene lamp, constructed substantially as described and as shown
in the accompanying drawings.
II. In an acetylene lamp of the general character described:
() The rotary grate arranged as described between the compartments
in combination with the spindle and the means for rotating it.
(6) The inwardly extending projection (W) arranged above the rotary
grate for retarding the movement of the carbid when the grate is rotated.
(e) The grate rotating wheel L when formed of large diameter and arranged
below the refuse chamber and possessing the dual function of rotating the
grate and acting as a stand for the lamp.
(d) The means for feeding the water to the carbid, consisting of one or
more loose flexible unconfined metallic conductors, such as chain 4, leading
from immediately below the water supply inlet down into this carbid.
Dated this 12th day of October 1899.
RIWA DIA LA MU
S
LAT
EDWARD JAMES DOLAN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.