Improvements in Acetylene Gas Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Lamps.
We, HUGH KERR SPENCE, Manager, and THE BRITISH ACETYLENE GAS
GENERATOR Co., LD., Acetylene Gas Generator Manufacturers, both of Church
Street, Kirkcaldy, North Britain, 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 improvements in acetylene gas lamps for cycles, the
principle of operation of which may be applied to table lamps and lamps for
railway carriages and vehicles of all kinds, and for other purposes.
In accordance with our improvements the calcium carbide is contained in a
casing, having a perforated bottom, which can be raised or lowered so that the
bottom can be advanced towards or retired from a wick passing through a division
separating the gas and water chambers, through which wick the water passes by
capillary attraction.
Thus by raising the casing out of contact with the wick the supply of water is
stopped to the carbide and the generation of gas ceases.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood we will
proceed to describe the same with reference to the appended explanatory drawing
which illustrates a section of a cycle lamp as constructed in accordance with our
improvements.
In the said drawing A represents the outer casing of the lamp which may be
circular or of any other convenient shape, B is the gas containing chamber and
C the chamber for containing the water to be supplied to the carbide.
D is the casing containing the carbide which is provided with a perforated,
gauze or cloth bottom d and with apertures d¹ for the escape of the generated gas.
The gauze bottom of the casing is shewn resting upon the top of the wick D¹
this being the position occupied whilst the gas is being generated. When however
it is desired to stop this generation the carbide case is raised, such as by the
spindle E, secured to the top thereof, which passes through the stuffing box e
formed in the top of the outer casing, the said spindle being operated by the knob c¹
or other convenient means.
The generated gas escapes by the pipe F to the burner f which may be of any
ordinary construction and surrounded by a reflector f¹.
A space a is left between the outer casing and the gas chamber, forming a
portion of the water chamber, so that should the lamp be upset, the water can
flow therein and thus be kept out of contact with the wick.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. In acetylene gas lamps for cycles and other purposes, the carbide containing
case D with perforated bottom d to which water is supplied from the water chamber

page_text: by the wick D¹, all constructed and arranged substantially in the manner as
hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
2. Mounting the carbide containing case so that the perforated bottom thereof
can be advanced towards or retired from the water supplying wick, substantially
in the manner as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawing.
3. The arrangement and construction of the water chamber, substantially as
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dotal this 10th day of August 1898
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents. 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.