Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sep., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
I, RAIMUND TROST of Künten, Canton Aargau in the Republic of Switzerland, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The lamp forming the object of the present invention comprises an apparatus
which develops acetylene gas, maintains the same under approximately constant
pressure, and simultaneously has one or more burners. The lamp which consumes
the acetylene gas simultaneously produces this gas. The apparatus serves
both for household purposes and also for use in manufactories and for outdoor
illumination. The present apparatus contains, in addition to the gas developing
arrangement with carbide container and the burner, also a water vessel for the supply
of water for the purpose of producing the gas, and, further, a device which
maintains the gas pressure at an approximately constant degree.
This arrangement is based on the circumstance that a water column of a given
pressure, such, for instance, as about 6 centimetres in height, acts against the
pressure of the acetylene gas, under which pressure the acetylene gas yields
favourable conditions of discharge and combustion. The maintenance of the column
in question, that is to say, at about 6 centimetres, is effected by means of an outlet
pipe which projects from the water reservoir into the gas holder or gasometer and
allows of the inclusion of a water column which forms a counterpoise to the
pressure of the gas.
Such an improved acetylene gas lamp is shown in two forms of construction in
the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being a vertical section of the one form of construction, and Figure 3 a
vertical section of the other form of construction, whilst Figure 2 is a view of a
part of the apparatus, namely, the float in the first form of construction in its lowest
position. Figure 4 shows a modification.
The acetylene gas collects in a vessel a in the form of construction shown
in Figure 1, and is formed by water coming in contact with calcium carbide.
A vessel a¹ serves for receiving the calcium carbide which develops acetylene gas by
the action of water. A water reservoir b is arranged over the gasometer or gas
accumulator a, and a siphon pipe c extends from this reservoir into the chamber a.
This pipe consists of a fixed part c¹ and an indiarubber hose-pipe c² which partly
projects into a receiver a² of the calcium carbide vessel a¹. The indiarubber pipe c2
is closed by means of a plug d which has passages for allowing the water to pass
through the pipe c in such a way that the water discharged from the latter falls
on to the carbide.
A float e is arranged in the water reservoir b, which float is mounted on a pipe f
for the discharge of the gas, but may, of course, be arranged in any other suitable
manner. The float e is firmly connected by means of a bent wire e', as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 with the water supply tap d, so that the outward plug always
remains at an equal vertical distance from the float. In order that the wire may

page_text: descend, the pipe c² is flexible, that is to say, is made of indiarubber, and whilst
Figure 1 shows the float in its upper position and also the tap d and the indiarubber
pipe c², Figure 2, shows these parts in their lowest position."
The pipe f serves for the passage of the acetylene gas to the burner g, and is
provided with a suitable shutting off device, such, for instance, as a tap g¹. A
funnel h serves for supplying water to the reservoir b.
The mode of working of the form of construction shown in Figure 1 is as
follows:-
Acetylene gas is developed immediately by the successive discharge of water
through the pipes c¹ c² and the passages of the plug d, until the gas pressure has
reached, for instance, six centimetres. As soon as this gas pressure has reached
the water-column-pressure of about six centimetres (which is indicated in Figure 1
by the water column H) the escape of water ceases until the gas pressure has again
Jallen to below six centimetres. In this latter case water again flows from the
reservoir until the pressure has again become greater than six centimetres, and the
operation repeats itself continuously. In order that the water pressure, and there-
with the gas pressure, shall always amount approximately to six centimetres, the
precaution is adopted of having the distance between the exit opening and the level
of the water lying above the same in the reservoir b always approximately standing
at six centimetres. This is obtained by the arrangement of firmly connecting the
float and the outlet opening with one another by means of a wire e¹, and the firm
connection of the latter with the plug d containing the outlet opening.
In the form of construction shown in Figure 3, the siphon-shaped bent discharge
pipe c is fixed along its whole extent, and a float is not here provided, but instead
thereof a second water reservoir bwhich is hermetically closed and communicates
with the reservoir b by means of an opening, whilst the outer water reservoir b is
exposed to atmospheric pressure. Whilst in the form of construction shown in
Figure 1, in consequence of the lowering of the water level, the position of the out-
flow of the water must also be lowered correspondingly, in Figure 3 the position of
the outflow always remains the same, and therefore a means must be provided in
order to maintain the level of the feed-water equally constant in the reservoir b.
This means is afforded, in the simplest manner, by the hermetically closed water
vessel 6. A valve cone i is formed with an opening which serves for the escape
of the air when the pipe c is first filled with water. The width of the opening at
the bottom of the vessel b which leads to the pipe c may be regulated by means of
a suitable mechanism, and preferably by means of the cone i which forms one piece
with a screwed spindle . The opening may thus be made larger or smaller, but
is not closed during the working of the lamp.
When the pressure in the gasometer, in consequence of the inflow of water, has
exceeded, for instance, six centimetres, the pressure of the water column H will
counteract it, and no more water will be allowed to escape. When, owing to the
consumption of the gas, the pressure has again sunk below six centimetres, water
is again admitted. The level of the water in the reservoir b will, however,
simultaneously descend so far that the opening 6° will be somewhat uncovered, air
then flows from above the water level into the reservoir b, through the opening 6°
into the vessel b¹ until the water level in b again extends above the opening b°,
which takes place more quickly according as less water is discharged through the
pipe c, that is to say, the pressure in the gasometer has again risen above
six centimetres. As long as air does not pass from the reservoir b through the
opening 6° into the vessel b¹, that is to say, above the level of the water therein
contained, no water will pass from b¹ into b, that is to say, so long as a discharge of
water from the reservoirb into the pipe c does not take place, in consequence of the
hermetic closing of the vessel 6', water will not flow to the vessel b. The screw
serves for regulating the width of the outflow opening from the reservoir b into the
pipe c.
It may further be mentioned that the vessel a¹ may be pressed on the bottom u

page_text: of the pedestal ° by means of a screw t socketted or supported in a bar s, and the
joint may be rendered hermetic by means of washer rings.
Figure 4 shows a form of construction of the lamp, which has for its object to
prevent any forcible destruction of the same on any somewhat disproportionately
great increase of pressure being attained by the lamp which consists of two parts
capable of being separated but adjustable in one another, which parts are so put
together that the apparatus when at work, that is to say, under normal circum-
stances, is closed in such a way as to be gas tight, whilst on the other hand on a
great increase of pressure the parts may be so adjusted relatively to one another
that the gas chamber is increased, or an outlet for the gas is created. In this form
of construction, which is shown as an example, those parts which are indicated by
the letters A and A' respectively are formed in the manner of a gasometer, or are
composed after the manner of the stationary arrangements of gasometers. In the
upper part A there is the water reservoir, composed, as before, of chambers bb₁,
the latter of which is hermetically closed as in the last form of construction herein-
before described, whilst the former b is connected with the same by means of an air
pipe and the discharge opening 6, and is connected with the outside air by means
of a pipe 63. The maintenance at a constant height of the water column equipoising
the gas pressure is effected in a suitable manner by the lowering of the water level
in the reservoir (which, as shown, ordinarily stands at an equal height so that the
water hermetically closes the lower opening of the pipe 6 which projects into the
reservoir b), whereby air is allowed to flow through the pipe & into the reservoir b¹,
and consequently water can then flow out of the opening & until the original level is
again re-established, or rather until the water again stands so bigh that the opening
of the pipe 62 is closed. The hollow cylinder a is firmly connected with the part A
and is intended to serve as a gas holder or gasometer, and for this object, projects
into the lower part A¹ containing the gas developing vessel a¹ or rather into the
chamber of the part A¹ between the vessel a¹ and the outer wall a³ in such a way
that it surrounds the chamber a¹ at a certain distance and extends almost to the
bottom a. The gas tight closing is effected by means of liquid, such, for instance,
as water contained in the chamber a, in which water the hollow cylinder is
immersed like a gasometer bell to a certain extent. The part a is maintained in the
part A' by a flange a formed at a suitable place on the part A resting on a flange a
serving as a shoulder on the part A¹. On the inner side of the wall a³ of the
part A, rollers d' are arranged bearing against the outer wall of the hollow
cylinder a and on any adjustment or movement of the part A in the part A¹ taking
place, these rollers support the same in all directions and form a vertical guide
therefor.
The siphon-like bent water outlet pipe c attached to the bottom of the reservoir b
is connected with a device for cooling the same, as in consequence of the intense
development of heat arising from the decomposition process of the carbide, the pipe
and the water contained in the same is heated, in fact said water in some cases may
be caused to evaporate. For this object in the present form of construction, the
pipe is surrounded mainly by a chamber insulated from the gas development
chamber by a hollow cylindrical protective body e" which encloses the pipe up to
approximately its exit and which stands in communication with the outer air by
means of a chamber e arranged underneath the reservoir and provided at the sides
with passages e for admitting air. The pipe c is of course carried through the wall
of the protective chamber in such a way that the latter is shut off from the gas
developing chamber, or in other words that no gas can penetrate into the same.
It is evident that on a disproportionately great increase of pressure in the gas
developer or in the gas accumulator, no destruction of the apparatus can take place,
but the excess pressure will merely have the effect of raising the part A. until the
equipoise is again established. Thus, similarly to the case of gasometers of
stationary gas works, in the ovent of the pressure exceeding the normal pressure,
an alteration of the volume of the gasometer takes place corresponding to the
pressure attained, or rather to the quantities of gas produced so that with a

page_text: corresponding counterbalancing or calculating of the weight of the part A in addition to
the indirect functional limitation of the water supply, a direct immediate regulation
of the gas pressure by increase of the volume takes place. In the worst case that
is to say with an extremely high pressure the part is raised so high that the
cylinder a is lifted out of water and the surplus gas can escape.
Dated this 14th day of September 1896.
I, RAIMUND T'ROST of Künten, Canton Aargau in the Republic of Switzerland, 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 :-
The lamp forming the object of the present invention comprises an apparatus
which develops acetylene gas, maintains the same under approximately constant
pressure, and simultaneously has one or more burners. The lamp which consumes
the acetylene gas simultaneously produces this gas. The apparatus serves both for
household purposes and also for use in manufactories and for outdoor illumination.
The present apparatus contains, in addition to the gas developing arrangement with
carbide container and the burner, also a water vessel for the supply of water for the
purpose of producing the gas, and, further, a device which maintains the gas
pressure at an approximately constant degree.
This arrangement is based on the circumstance that a water column of a given
pressure, such, for instance, as about 6 centimetres in height, acts against the pressure
of the acetylene gas, under which pressure the acetylene gas yields favourable con-
ditions of discharge and combustion. The maintenance of the column in question,
that is to say, at about 6 centimetres, is effected by means of an outlet pipe which
projects from the water reservoir into the gas holder or gasometer and allows of
the inclusion of a water column which forms a counterpoise to the pressure of
the gas.
Such an improved acetylene gas lamp is shown in two forms of construction, in
the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.
Figure 1 being a vertical section of the one form of construction, and Figure 3 a
vertical section of the other form of construction, whilst Figure 2 is a view of a part
of the apparatus, namely, the float in the first form of construction in its lowest
position. Figure 4 shows a modification.
The acetylene gas collects in a vessel a in the form of construction shown
in Figure 1, and is formed by water coming in contact with calcium carbide.
A vessel a serves for receiving the calcium carbide which develops acetylene gas by
the action of water. A water reservoir b is arranged over the gasometer or gas
accumulator a, and a siphon pipe c extends from this reservoir into the chamber a.
This pipe consists of a fixed part cl and an indiarubber hose-pipe c2 which partly
projects into a receiver a² of the calcium carbide vessel a¹. The indiarubber pipe c²
is closed by means of a plug d which has passages for allowing the water to pass
through the pipe c2 in such a way that the water discharged from the latter falls on
to the carbide.
A float e is arranged in the water reservoir b, which float is mounted on a pipe f
for the discharge of the gas, but may, of course, be arranged in any other suitable
manner. The float e is firmly connected by means of a bent wire el, as shown in

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, with the water supply tap d, so that the outlet plug always remains
at an equal vertical distance from the float. In order that the wire may descend,
the pipe c is flexible, that is to say, is made of indiarubber, and whilst Figure 1
shows the float in its upper position and also tho tap d and the indiarubber pipe ca,
Figure 2, shows these parts in their lowest position.
The pipe serves for the passage of the acetyleno gas to the burner g, and is
provided with a suitable shutting off device, such, for instance, as a tap g¹. A.
funnel h serves for supplying water to the reservoir b.
The mode of working of the form of construction shown in Figure 1 is as
follows:-
Acetylene gas is developed immediately by the successive discharge of water
through the pipes c1 c2 and the passages of the plug d, until the gas pressure has
reached, for instance, six centimetres. As soon as this gas pressure has reached the
wator-column-pressure of about six centimetres (which is indicated in Figure 1 by
the water column H) the escape of water ceases until the gas pressure has again
fallen to below six centimetres. In this latter case water again flows from the
reservoir until the pressure has again become greater than six centimetres, and the
operation repeats itself continuously. In order that the water pressure, and
therewith the gas pressure, shall always amount approximately to six centimetres, the
precaution is adopted of having the distance between the exit opening aud the level
of the water lying above the same in the reservoir b always approximately standing
at six centimetres. This is obtained by the arrangement of firmly connecting the
float and the outlet opening with one another by means of a wire el, and the firm
connection of the latter with the plug d containing the outlet opening.
In the form of construction shown in Figure 3, the siphon-shaped bent discharge
pipe c is fixed along its whole extent, and a float is not here provided, but instead
thereof a second water reservoir bl which is hermetically closed and communicates
with the reservoir b by means of an opening, whilst the outer water reservoir bis
exposed to atmospheric pressure. Whilst in the form of construction shown in
Figure 1, in consequence of the lowering of the water level, the position of the
outflow of the water must also be lowered correspondingly; in Figure 3, the position
of the outflow always remains the same, and therefore a means must be provided in
order to maintain the level of the feed-water equally constant in the reservoir b.
This means is afforded, in the simplest manner, by the hermetically closed water
vessel 61. A valve cone i is formed with an opening which serves for the escape
of the air when the pipe c is first filled with water. The width of the opening at
the bottom of the vessel b which leads to the pipe c may be regulated by means of
a suitable mechanism, and preferably by means of the cones which forms one piece
with a screwed spindle it. The opening may thus be made larger or smaller, but is
not closed during the working of the lamp.
When the pressure in the gasometer, in consequence of the inflow of water, has
exceeded, for instance, six centimetres, the pressure of the water column H will
counteract it, and no more water will be allowed to escape. When, owing to the
consumption of the gas, the pressure has again sunk below six centimetres, water
is again admitted. The level of the water in the reservoir b will, however,
simultaneously descend so far that the opening & will be somewhat uncovered, air
then flows from above the water level into the reservoir b, through the opening b°
into the vessel b1 until the water level in b again extends above the opening b
which takes place more quickly according as less water is discharged through the
pipe c, that is to say, the pressure in the gasometer has again risen above.
six centimetres. As long as air does not pass from the reservoir b through the
opening b° into the vessel b1, that is to say, above the level of the water therein
contained, no water will pass from 61 into b, that is to say, so long as a discharge of
water from the reservoir b into the pipe c does not take place, in consequence of the
hermetic closing of the vessel b¹, water will not flow to the vessel b. The screw li
serves for regulating the width of the outflow opening from the reservoir b into the

page_text: It may further be mentioned that the vessel at may be pressed on the bottom w
of the pedestal u by means of a screw t socketted or supported in a bar 8, and the
joint may be rendered herinetic by means of washer rings.
Figure 4 shows a form of construction of the lamp which has for its object to
prevent any forcible destruction of the same on any somewhat disproportionately
great increase of pressure being attained by the lamp which consists of two parts
capable of being separated but adjustable in one another, which parts are so put
together that the apparatus when at work, that is to say, under normal circum-
stances, is closed in such a way as to be gas tight, whilst on the other hand on a
great increase of pressure the parts may be so adjusted relatively to one another that
the gas chamber is increased, or an outlet for the gas is created. In this form of
construction, which is shown as an example, those parts which are indicated by the
letters A and A1 respectively are formed in the manner of a gasometer, or are
composed after the manner of the stationary arrangements of gasometers. In the
upper part A there is the water reservoir, composed, as before, of chambers bbl, the
latter of which is hermetically closed as in the last form of construction hereinbefore
described, whilst the former b is connected with the same by means of an air pipe 62
and the discharge opening , and is connected with the outside air by means of a
pipe b. The maintenance at a constant height of the water column equipoising the
gas pressure is effected in a suitable manner by the lowering of the water level in
the reservoir (which, as shown, ordinarily stands at an equal height so that the
water hermetically closes the lower opening of the pipe b which projects into the
reservoir b), whereby air is allowed to flow through the pipe 62 into the reservoir b
and consequently water can then flow out of the opening until the original level
is again re-established, or rather until the water again stands so high that the
opening of the pipe b is closed. The hollow cylinder a is firmly connected with the
part A and is intended to serve as gas holder or gasometer and, for this object,
projects into the lower part Al containing the gas developing vessel a¹, or rather
into the chamber 2 of the part A¹ between the vessel a¹ and the outer wall a³ in
such a way that it surrounds the chamber a² at a certain distance and extends
almost to the bottom a. The gas tight closing is effected by means of liquid, such,
for instance, as water contained in the chamber a2, in which water the hollow
cylinder is immersed like a gasometer bell to a certain extent. The part a is
maintained in the part A' by a flange at formed at a suitable place on the part A
resting on a flange as serving as a shoulder ou the part A1. On the inner side of
the wall a³ of the part A1, rollers d' are arranged bearing against the outer wall of
the hollow cylinder a and on any adjustinent or movement of the part A in the
part Al taking place, these rollers support the same in all directions and form a
vertical guide therefor.
The siphon-like bent water-outlet pipe c attached to the bottom of the reservoir b
is connected with a device for cooling the same, as in consequence of the intense
development of heat arising from the decomposition process of the carbide, the pipe
and the water contained in the same is heated, in fact said water in some cases may
be caused to evaporate. For this object in the present form of construction, the
pipe is surrounded mainly by a chamber insulated from the gas development chamber
by a hollow cylindrical protective body e which encloses the pipe up to
approximately its exit and which stands in communication with the outer air by
means of a chamber e2 arranged underneath the reservoir and provided at the sides
with passages for admitting air. The pipe c is of course carried through the wall
of the protective chamber in such a way that the latter is shut off from the gas
developing chamber, or in other words that no gas can penetrate into the same.
It is evident that on a disproportionately great increase of pressure in the gas
developer or in the gas accumulator, no destruction of the apparatus can take place,
but the excess pressure will merely have the effect of raising the part A until the
equipoise is again established. Thus similarly to the case of gasometers of stationary
gas works, in the event of the pressure exceeding the normal pressure, an alteration
of the volume of the gasometer takes place corresponding to the pressure attained,

page_text: or rather to the quantities of gas produced so that with a corresponding counter-
balancing or calculating of the weight of the part A in addition to the indirect
functional limitation of the water supply, a direct immediate regulation of the gas
pressure by increase of the volume takes place. In the worst case that is to say
with an extremely high pressure the part is raised so high that the cylinder a is
lifted out of water and the surplus gas can escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the said is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An acetylene gas lamp in which the gas pressure automatically regulates the
water supply, characterised by the water supply being so arranged that a water
column of a given pressure always counterpoises the gas pressure existing in the
producer so that thus, independently of the lowering of the level in the water
reservoir through the consumption of the water, the water column which acts against
the gas pressure is maintained constant, whilst the gas pressure during the whole
process must remain normal, uninfluenced by the diminution of the pressure height
of the water in the water reservoir, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. A form of construction of the herein described acetylene gas lamp, in which
the water-feed pipe is formed of a fixed pipe (c) bent like a siphon, which pipe
opens into a water reservoir (b) which is connected with the outside air and also
with the actual hermetically closed water reservoir (61) of the lamp, by means of a
suitable communication opening (6) so that when the said opening (6°) is exposed
by the lowering of the water level in the reservoir (b) through the discharge of water
through the pipe (c), air will flow into the second reservoir (61) through the
said opening and water will flow from the latter reservoir into the other reservoir, (b),
according to the amount of air until the equipoise is again established in both,
whereby the water column corresponding to the normal pressure is maintained
constant in the pipe (c), substantially as described.
3. A. form of construction of the herein described acetylene gas lamp, in which
the water supply pipe is formed of a fixed tubular part (cl) attached to the water
reservoir (b) and a hose-pipe (c2) of flexible material closed by a plug (d) provided
with outlet passages (e), said plug being connected with a float (e) arranged in the
water reservoir (b) by means of a wire (el) bent in the form of a U and passing
through the pipe (cl c2) in such a way that the plug (d) moves downwards, in
proportion as the level of the water in the reservoir lowers through the discharge of
the water through the passages (c), whereby the difference of level always remains
the same and the water column corresponding to the normal gas pressure is
maintained constant, substantially as described.
נית
3
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.