Improvements in Generators and Lamps for Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Generators and Lamps for Acetylene Gas.
We, SAM THOMAS RICHARDSON, of 3A, Rea Street, in the City of Birmingham, Cycle
Manufacturer, and RICHARD PRICE, of 3A, Rea Street aforesaid, Cycle Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention consists of the hereindescribed improvements in generators and
lamps for acetylene gas. Our generator is principally designed to be made in
a portable form so as to be readily used with a bicycle lamp or the like or a
vehicle lamp, but can also be made in a larger form for stationary lamps.
An acetylene gas generator constructed according to this invention consists of
two cylindrical or other vessels arranged side by side one of which we call the
water vessel as it is to contain the water and the other we call the generating
vessel as it is to hold the carbide or other substance which has to be decomposed
by the water to give off the gas. The lower parts of these two vessels are con-
nected together by a pipe in which is a very small regulating tap to regulate or
cut off the supply of water from the water vessel to the generating vessel.
These two vessels are also connected together by a small tube at the top so that
as the gas is generated in the generating vessel it can flow into the water
vessel to equalize the gas pressure on the water. From this upper tube is a
branch pipe leading down to the burner which is by preference arranged about
midway between the two vessels. Each of the said vessels is by preference open
at the top and provided with a removable lid or cover. The said cover of the
water vessel is by preference made with a hole and a tube leading down below
the water level so as to admit air if required but prevent the gas from escaping.
The burner is by preference surrounded by a glass chimney at the back of
which is a reflector which can be supported by the said two vessels thus forming
a very compact combined acetylene gas generator and lamp.
Dated this 10th day of January 189S
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
We, SAM THOMAS RICHARDSON, of 3A, Rea Street, in the City of Birmingham, Cycle
Manufacturer, and RICHARD PRICE, of 3A, Rea Street aforesaid, Cycle Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
Price 8d.】

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention consists of the herein described improvements in generators
and lamps for acetylene gas. Our generator is principally designed to be made
in a portable form so as to be readily used with a bicycle lamp or the like or a
vehicle lamp, but can also be made in a larger form for stationary lamps.
We will describe this invention by referring to the accompanying drawing on
which Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation of a bicycle lamp with our invention
applied; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional
plan of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures of the drawing.
An acetylene gas generator constructed according to this invention consists of
two vessels A B preferably made of cylindrical form as shewn and arranged side
by side one of which namely that marked A is the water vessel as it is to
contain the water and the other namely that marked B we call the generating
vessel as it is to hold the carbide of calcium which is to be decomposed by the
water to give off the gas. The lower parts of these two vessels A B are con-
nected together by the short pipe C in which is a very small regulating tap D
to regulate or cut off the supply of water from the vessel A to the generating
vessel B. The two vessels A and B are also connected together by a small tube E
at or near the top so that as the gas is generated in the generating vessel Bit
can flow into the water vessel A to equalize the gas pressure on the water. In
this tube E there is a small tap F to open and close the tube and this tap is by
preference connected to the other tap D by the stem G so that both taps open
and close together for the purpose hereinafter described. On this upper tube E
between the tap F and the water vessel A there is a branch pipe M leading down
to the burner H which is of any suitable construction and is by preference
arranged about mid-way between and slightly in front of the two vessels A and B.
Each of the vessels A and B is by preference open at the top and provided with
a removable cover which covers are respectively marked a¹¹. The cover a¹
of the water vessel A is by preference made with a hole a² and a tube a³ leading
down to below the water level so as to admit air if required but prevent the gas
from escaping. At the back of the burner H there is provided a metal reflector I
and in front of this so as to enclose the burner H, there is a semi-circular glass J
secured to the bottom K of the lamp extending up to the top L of the same (or
the glass and reflector are otherwise arranged) this top being by preference hinged
at so as to turn up for cleaning the glass J or for other purposes when desired
We thus form a very compact combined acetylene gas generator
and lamp, the action of which is as follows: By turning the
the tap
F the cock D is simultaneously
opened (see Fig. 1) 80 that there is a small passage for the water
from the bottom of the water vessel A to the bottom of the generating vessel B
so as to decompose the carbide of calcium the gas from which as it is given off
passes through the pipe E and cock F along the pipe M to the burner H the gas
also passing through the pipe E into the water vessel A so that there is the
same pressure of gas on the top of the water as there is against the water issuing
through the tap and the pipe C into the generating vessel B. On turning the
handle to close the tap F and shut off the supply of gas to the burner H the
cock D is simultaneously closed so that the supply of water from the water
vessel A to the carbide in the generator B is shut off. The hole in the tap D
through which the water flows is really much smaller than shewn on our drawing
the size being arranged so as to give the proper flow of water from the water
vessel A to the generating vessel B and this is further regulated by turning the
tap D.
handle
SO
as
to
open
It will be evident that our improved acetylene gas generator above described

page_text: consisting of the parts A and B and their accessories may readily be applied to
stationary and other lamps similarly as above described with reference to a bicycle
lamp the pipe M which leads the gas to the burner being carried to any desired
distance from the generator according to the requirements of the lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In an acetylene gas generator or in a combined acetylene gas generator and
lamp, the combination of the water vessel A and the generating vessel B arranged
side by side and connected together at their lower parts by a pipe provided with
a stop cock and connected at their upper parts by another pipe provided with a
stop cock and having a gas outlet pipe therefrom to the burner, said parts being
so arranged that the act of closing the stop cocks simultaneously shuts off the
supply of water to the generating vessel and the supply of gas from the gene-
rating vessel to the burner, substantially as described.
2. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of the water vessel A pro-
vided with cap al and open pipe a³, the generating vessel B provided with cap
at the side of the vessel A, the pipe C connecting the lower parts of the vessels A
and B together and provided with the stop cock D, the pipe E connecting the
upper parts of the vessels A and B together and provided with the stop cock F
connected to the stop cock D so as to turn therewith, the gas outlet pipe M
leading from the pipe E to the burner, the whole forming an acetylene gas
generator, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a combined acetylene gas generator and lamp, the combination of the
water vessel A provided with cap a¹ and open pipe a² the generating
vessel B provided with cap 6' and arranged at the side of the vessel A,
the pipe C connecting the lower parts of the vessels A and B together and pro-
vided with a stop cock 1, the pipe E connecting the upper parts of the vessels A 13
together and provided with a stop cock I connected to the stop cock D so as to
turn therewith, the gas outlet pipe M. leading from the pipe E to the burner
enclosed by a glass and provided with a reflector at the back the whole forming
a combined acetylene gas generator and lamp substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of November 1898.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.