Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for Lighting and Heating Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for Lighting and Heating
Purposes.
I, ALBERT WILLIAM SANDERSON, trading as A. W. Sanderson and Company, of
206, Barford Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to cycle, carriage, ship, hand, table and other
lamps, also to lamps, stoves or apparatus for heating purposes, hav-
ing combined with them, means for both generating and burning
acetylene gas, and my said invention has for its object, principally
to feed the water to the calcium carbide in the carbide chamber
through the medium of a porous or absorbent substance, such as canvas, cloth,
sponge, porous earthenware or the like, whereby the feed of water is regulated
and the generation of gas controlled accordingly.
In carrying out one form of my invention in connection with a cycle lamp, the
improved apparatus comprises a tubular generating chamber, closed at the top
and having a pipe proceeding downward therefrom and terminating at
the bottom of a glazed cone or bell, which has ધી reflector at the
back of it and
constitutes
SO
the body of the lamp, through
burner directed
a
a
hole in the bottom of which,
from the afore-
said pine, passes. The lamp part is attached to the generator by a slide of the one
part taking over a plate carried by the other part, whilst the top of the said bell
has a hole enclosed or surmounted by a chimney, cowl and bell, which may be of
the usual construction. Fitted within the open bottom of the generator chamber
and extending upwards therein nearly to the crown, is an inverted sack or bag,
made of canvas or some other absorbent material wherein the carbide is placed
and having the edges of the mouth end turned backwards so as to overlap and lie
around the outside lower edge of the generator, over which lower edge, a cap fits,
with the turned back parts of the absorbent material extending beyond the flanged
edge of the cap and coming between it and the lower edge of the generator, so
that when the said lower end comes into contact with water, the same percolates
through the absorbent material and enters the carbide chamber thereby and comes
into contact with the carbide, which is decomposed and gas generated sub-rata
with the amount of water admitted.
The generator chamber fits telescopically within a similar tubular water chamber
having perforations around its bottom end, leading into a surrounding water jacket
provided with a water supply inlet.
The generator is capable of a sliding movement within the generator, either by
screwing or telescoping or otherwise, in order to bring the absorbent material more
or less into contact with the water for increasing or decreasing the feed of water
to the carbide chamber through the absorbent sack or its equivalent, whilst the
amount of gas admitted from the generator to the burner is regulated by the tap.
In a further form of my improvements, the open mouth of the canvas bag,

page_text: whose turned back edges come upon the outside of the bottom edge of the chamber,
may be closed by a plug, whilst the said lower end has fitted to it, a drip chamber
with a turned back edge of the canvas or fabric sack lying within a small annular
chamber coming between the opposed fitted parts, an entrance to which is made by
a hole from the outside, which is surrounded by water contained within a chamber
or jacket, which is fitted to the outside of the upper part of the generating cham-
ber. Directed above the water entrance hole is a valve, which may consist of a
needle point, rubber block or other device carried by a rod capable of being raised
or lowered by a sliding screw or other action, so that by uncovering the hole more
or less a corresponding amount of water is admitted to the absorbent material, up
which it rises by capillary attraction to the carbide.
As another form of my invention, instead of employing a sack of absorbent
material, I may employ a cap of the same, with the diaphragm closing the mouth
to the generating chamber and with the edges extending beyond or over the lower
edges of a fitted on cap. The carbide to be decomposed rests upon the diaphragm
and the water-feed regulator may be a spring controlled one.
The lamp may be provided with a spring band clip, surrounded by the body of
the lamp, and with the free ends formed into gripping parts for embracing a lamp
bracket or a part of the framing of a cycle or vehicle.
A modification of the means for regulating the quantity of gas generated and
also for admitting the escape of an excess of gas in the event of such being
generated, consists of a tubular chamber, with the upper end connected with the
burner and the lower end fitted with a piston. The piston rod carries at its lower
end, a valve, adapted to take into a conical seating in communication with the
water supply. Between the piston and the top of the cylinder located therein, is
a coiled spring whilst between the underside of the valve and an enlarged end of
the stalk is a supplementary spring, and leading from the side of the cylinder is
a relief post. The action is as follows:-On gas being generated in excess of that
required for consumption, the piston rises and forces back the first-named spring
to a short distance and closes the water valve and in the event that an abnormal
pressure is exerted, both the principal and supplementary springs are compressed
owing to the said water valve being loose upon its stem, thus allowing the piston
to rise above the relief post, when any superabundant volume of gas is released.
The application of my invention to other lamps and apparatus for heating and
lighting purposes differs in no essential respect from its application to a cycle
lamp as herein described.
Dated this 9th 1
I
1000
ALBERT WILLIAM SANDERSON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for Lighting and Heating
Purposes.
I, ALBERT WILLIAM SANDERSON, trading as A. W. Sanderson and Company, of
206, Barford Street, in the City of Birmingham, 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 :-
This invention relates to cycle, carriage, ship, hand, table and other
4

page_text: to
hav-
lamps, also to lamps, stoves or apparatus for heating purposes,
ing combined with them, means for both generating and burning
acetylene gas, and my said invention has for its object, principally
feed
to
the water
the calcium carbide in the carbide chamber
through the medium of a compressed porous or absorbent substance, such as canvas,
cloth, or the like, whereby the feed of water is regulated and the generation of gas
controlled accordingly to a rate corresponding to the consumption.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation-with a part
of the combined base and water reservoir in section-of an acetylene-burning cycle
lamp constructed and provided with a porous medium for conveying moisture to
the carbide in the generating chamber in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a complete transverse vertical section of the improved lamp, showing
the lamp in operation, whilst
Figure 3 is a similar section but showing the carbide chamber lifted and retained
clear of the water, to stop the action of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a section of the generating or carbide holder part of the lamp
separately and Figure 5 is an elevation thereof.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the porous container and water conducting medium,
separately and Figure 7 is an elevation of a reticulated metal lining which I pro-
pose to place within the said textile container for facilitating the removal of the
lime formed by the decomposition of the carbide.
Figure 8 is a cross section of Figure 1 upon the dotted line x.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In carrying out this form of my invention in connection with a cycle lamp, the
improved apparatus comprises a tubular generating chamber a, closed at the top
and having a pipe b, proceeding downwards therefrom and terminating at the
bottom of a glazed cone or bell c, which has a reflector back c', and so constitutes
the body of the lamp, through a hole in the bottom of which e, a burner b¹,
directed from the aforesaid pipe, passes. The lamp part is attached to the genera-
tor by a slide of the one part taking over a plate carried by the other part, whilst
the top of the said bell has a hole c³, enclosed or surmounted by a chimney, cow!
and breaker c, which may be of the usual construction. Fitted within the open.
bottom of the generator chamber and extending upwards therein nearly to the
crown is an inverted sack or bag d, made of canvas or some other absorbent material
wherein the carbide e, to be decomposed is placed and having the edges d, of
the mouth end turned backwards so as to overlap and lie around the outside lower
edge, of the generator, over which lower edge 63, and the turned back part d¹,
of the absorbent material, a closure and compression cap f, preferably made of
rubber, fits, with a portion of the said turned back parts extending beyond the
flanged edge f', of the cap left naked or exposed so that when the said lower end
comes into contact with water, moisture is drawn or sucked through the absorbent
material and up the sides thereof into contact with the carbide, which is decomposed
and gas generated, sub-rata with the amount of water or moisture admitted which
is governed or regulated and determined by the compressed action of the elastic
cap f, around the lower end of the said absorbent conducting medium.
to such
an
extent as
The generator chamber fits telescopically within a similar or corresponding
tubular upper part gl, of a water chamber g, having a vent at 92, and is capable of
a sliding movement therein in order to bring the absorbent material into contact
with the water for starting the operation, or for raising the said generator chamber
to take the naked or exposed parts of the
absorbent conducting medium altogether away from or out of range
of the water contained in the reservoir 9: and SO stopping the
The said tubular
generative action.
upper part of the lamp body
is split vertically at g³, with ears g, g, on the opposite sides of the split,
adapted to be drawn together by means of a screw g, thus furnishing means for

page_text: clamping or retaining the generator part of the apparatus in any position in which
it may have been set by hand.
Further, the diaphragm of the rubber closure cap is fitted with a valve h, which,
whilst preventing the escape of gas, admits of a small quantity of water entering
the generator chamber and gaining access to the carbide for starting the decomposi-
tion of carbide and generation of gas, as hereinafter described.
To facilitate the knocking out or removal of the lime formed by the de-
composition of the carbide, the inside of the absorbent envelope or container is
provided with a metallic lining i, open at bottom and provided with piercings or
holes over the whole surface of the side walls and top through which moisture
rising up the material of the said envelope inwardly passes for gaining access to
the carbide, which is retained within the said enclosure by the diaphragm of the
rubber end cap.
OPERATION.
Assuming that the parts of the apparatus are in the position represented in
gure 3, with a quantity of carbide enclosed within the porous envelope and with
water lying in the reservoir at the base, and that it is required to start generation,
the screw 96, is first slacked back, leaving the generator free to be slid within the
tubular upper part of the water reservoir, the vent g², is closed by the application
of the finger to the open end and then the generator is depressed to bring its lower
part into the water, a small quantity of which is forced by the increase of internal
air pressure up the bore the starting valve h, past the sealing sleeve h¹, thereof and
coming in contact with the carbide, decomposes a portion of the same and generates
sufficient gas to start the apparatus. The parts are now in the positions repre-
sented in Figure 2, and are secured there by tightening up the screw go, with the
naked or exposed part 1, of the envelope coming within the water which is sucked
or drawn at a regulated rate, by the action of the decomposing carbide through
the circumferentially compressed entrance parts of the absorbent or conducting
medium, and on passing to the unconfined parts, it rises by capillary attraction
to the carbide, which is slowly decomposed and the gas generated passes away
from the upper part of the combined generator and gas holder chamber by means
of the pipe b. to the burner of the lamp. It is understood that the water is pre-
vented from rising too freely and generating gas in excess of the actual require-
ments by the closure cap f, compressing a part of the turned back edges d', of
the envelope between itself and the outer lower end of the chamber a, and thus
offering an obstruction to the free and unrestrained passage of water.
To stop the action of the lamp, the generator and carbide envelope are bodily
lifted until the exposed parts of the absorbent medium are clear of the water, when
generation forthwith ceases.
The apparatus is attached, in the case of a cycle lamp, to the lamp-bracket of
a bicycle by means of a clip such as k.
Figure 9 represents an elevation and Figure 10 a vertical section of a modifica-
tion, in which the open mouth of the canvas bag or absorbent envelope d, whose
turned back edge d', comes upon the outside of the bottom edge of the chamber,
is closed by a plug such as f, which compresses the lower end of the material at 12,
between itself and the inside of the lower end of the chamber a.
fitted with a starting valve as before.
This plug is also
Figure 11 represents a vertical section of the lower part of the generator cham-
ber according to another modification, in which instead of employing a sack of
absorbent material, I employ a cap m, made of canvas, cloth or the like with the
diaphragm m, closing the mouth to the generating chamber a, and with the
edges m², extending beyond or over the lower edges f¹, of a fitted on closure, and
water-regulating cap f. The carbide to be decomposed, in this arrangement, is
placed loosely within the chamber and rests upon and is retained by, the absorbent
diaphragm m'.
Instead of the absorbent medium dipping at its lower end into water, which is

page_text: lifted by capillary attraction the water reservoir may be at the top of the
apparatus, and be allowed to fall or drip onto exposed parts of the said absorbent
envelope.
Figure 12 represents a still further modification of the generator part, consisting
of an outer casing a, having fitted within it a coned support i, for the absorbent
water-conducting medium d, whose lower edge parts d, are turned back over the
outside of the lower end of the casing a, and compressed as before, by the elastic
cap f, for regulating the rate of passage of moisture from the naked parts d, of
the said material inward to the enclosed parts of the conductor d, and thence to the
carbide e, which is placed between the support i, and the inside of the casing a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First: In acetylene generators, conveying or feeding water or moisture to the
calcium carbide through the medium of the material of a porous or absorbent
envelope container or conductor, within or around which the calcium carbide is
located; the said conductor being arranged within, or in connection with, a gas
holder or chamber and having a part or the lower part thereof, when in operation,
communicating with water, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: In acetylene generators as referred to in the preceding claim, regu-
lating the passage of water or moisture through the porous or absorbent conducting
medium by means of a compression cap or plug, arranged and operating substan-
tially as described and set forth.
Thirdly In acetylene generators, as referred to in the preceding claim,
returning the mouth end of the said conductor onto the outer walls of a generator
or gas holder chamber, and closing the lower and open ends of both conductor and
chamber by a water-regulating compression cap or plug so arranged as to leave a
part of the turned-back absorbent material naked or exposed for coming in direct
contact with water, whilst compressing other parts of the said material between
itself and the walls of the chamber for regulating the water flows, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fourthly: In acetylene generators having porous or absorbent carbide con-
tainers as referred to in the preceding claims, telescoping one part, or the upper
part of the generator carrying the said container, within the other or lower part,
which contains water, the arrangement being such as to admit of the upper part
being raised by hand so as to take the absorbent material out of the range of the
liquid when the operation of the apparatus is to be stopped, substantially as
described and set forth.
:
Fifthly In acetylene generators, conveying moisture to the calcium carbide
through the medium of the material of a porous or absorbent cap placed over the
open mouth end of a generator or carbide chamber and retained in position and
compressed at parts by a regulating compression cap, which leaves portions of
the sides of the absorbent material naked or exposed, substantially as described
and set forth in Figure 11.
Dated 11 011
1000