New or Improved Acetylene Lamp for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Acetylene Lamp for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, LUDWIG SCHMITT, of No. 3, P, 3, Strasse, Mannheim, in the German Empire,
Engineer, 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 an acetylene lamp suitable for use on cycles and
other vehicles, and consists of the "arrangements shown in the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a lamp con-
structed in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 a sectional elevation
showing a slightly modified arrangement.
A is the receiver or holder containing the carbide, B the water reservoir, C the
lantern, D, DI, D¹¹ a connecting piece uniting A and B together. E is insulating
material interposed between C and D D D Water is conducted to the carbide
holder A through the valve F, and the gas to the burner through the pipe H
The spindle a of the valve F has an axial hole through which passes a wire
or needle b, which extends into the carbide holder A, and has at its upper end
a button head c by means of which it can be moved up and down from outside
the lamp in order to clear the outlet opening g of the water supply pipe below
the valve of lime or other obstruction. By this means the lamp can always be
kept in proper working order.
By reason of the elevation of the water reservoir B above the carbide holder A
a comparatively long water pipe between the said reservoir and the valve F
can be employed, and thereby a proportionate water column pressure main-
tained, even when the water in the reservoir B is nearly exhausted. While the
lamp is being used the pressure of gas is dependent upon the supply of water to
the carbide. That is to say when the pressure of gas in the carbide holder is
equal to the pressure of the column of water, the supply of water naturally
ceases; when the pressure of such gas is higher than that of the column of water
the gas escapes through the latter; and when the pressure of gas
is lower than that of the column of water the supply of water
takes place to the carbide holder in inverse proportion to the
pressure. Every gas burner requires a certain minimum pressure for the com-
plete development of its flame. This minimum pressure corresponds, in my
lamp, to the pressure of the column of water in the water supply pipe G.
If there is not a sufficient column of water a complete development of the
flame is impossible; because too little water is delivered to the carbide. In order
to prevent irregular combustion by reason of varying supply of water due to
shaking of the vehicle and so forth, the tube G may be wound into several
convolutions and thereby the direct pressure arising from the shaking and
jarring is broken up and a uniform flow through the valve is obtained.
This can also be effected, as shown in Figure 2, by filling the tube G with a
wick or plug i of suitable fibre or other fabric which breaks up the force of the
water produced by the shaking or jarring of the vehicle.

page_text: The insulating material E prevents the direct transmission of the heat of the
lantern to the generator A, B, D D', D", and thereby keeps the same as cool as
possible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. An acetylene lamp for cycles and other vehicles provided with a valve
for regulating the supply of water to the carbide, the said valve having a hole
through its stem provided with a wire, needle, or the like, which can be actuated
from outside the lamp for the purpose of clearing the water passage of lime or
other obstruction, substantially as described.
Second. In an acetylene lamp the arrangement of a pressure tube for the pur-
pose of producing uniform water pressure and means in connection with this
pressure tube, for preventing irregular pressure by the shaking and jarring of
the vehicle, which means consist in bending or winding the said tube into
convolutions, or in filling the same with fibrous or other suitable material,
substantially as described.
Third. The employment of insulating material between the lantern and the
generator for the purpose of preventing the heating of the latter, substantially
as described.
Dated this 18th day of July 1898.
L. SCHMITT,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.