Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas, chiefly designed for use on Velocipedes, Auto-cars, Boats, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Burning Acetylene
Gas, chiefly designed for use on Velocipedes, Auto-cars, Boats, and
the like.
I, LEON CHAMBAULT, of 34, Rue St. Marthe, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention relates to a lamp which I term "La Merveilleuse" burning
acetylene gas, the said gas being produced automatically as required and without
danger of explosion.
This lamp which is capable of burning for from four to fifteen hours according
to its capacity and the number of burners to be supplied, may vary in form and
dimensions and may be thus adapted for use with velocipedes, autocars or boats,
whilst it is also suitable for indoor illumination.
In the accompanying drawings, I have represented by way of example how my
said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, the
various figures of these drawings being hereinafter referred to.
Figures 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 shew a lamp of trapezoidal shape, comprising a reservoir
or casing A divided into two parts A A¹ the part A forming the water reservoir and
the part A containing the carbide receptacle or basket B, which latter part forms
the generator. Upon one side of the basket B is arranged a stopping or obturating
box C having an internal baffle plate C¹. This box, which likewise acts as a
regulator, receives the water from the upper reservoir through a pipe provided
with a stop-cock D. The partition which divides the two compartments A and A¹
is traversed by a tube F through which the gas is supplied, all splashing of liquid
being prevented by a washer G.
Finally the casing is provided with two screw-stoppers H H¹. The stopper H
permitting examination of the nipple I through which the water drops upon the
basket, and the stopper H¹ serving for charging and cleaning the carbide basket.
The method of action is as follows:-
-
The carbide being in the basket and the cock D open, water falls drop by drop
upon the carbide which decomposes and liberates gas which passes to the lamp
through a tube fixed to the frame of the machine the two extremities of this tube
being joined by india-rubber tubes.
Should too large a quantity of gas be generated, the gas will force back the
water in the siphon CC until the supply of water through the nipple I is cut off,
and the carbide being no longer supplied with water, the generation of gas will
be stopped. In order to extinguish the lamp, all that is necessary is to close the
cock D, which produces the same result as that above described.
As shewn in Figure 4 the stopping or obturating box may be replaced by a coil,
or, as shewn in Figure 5 the baffle plate in the box may be omitted in which case
the water is supplied from below.
On the same principle, the lamp above described may be of the cylindrical form
illustrated in Figures 6 to 12, in which case the lamp is formed in two parts

page_text: screwing one against the other, the upper part A forming the water reservoir and
the lower part A' serving as the generator. Figures 6 and 7 shew in full lines, a
lamp in which the water is supplied directly above the carbide basket. The broken
lines shewn the water supply pipe in the form of a coil passing to the bottom, of
the carbide basket B and then rising vertically and terminating in the dropping
nipple.
Figure 8 shews in full lines a water supply pipe which passes a little below the.
lower portion A¹ of the lamp and then rises towards the bottom of the reservoir.
The broken lines represent a water supply pipe going to the bottom of the lamp
and then rising directly to the same point as the last.
Still employing the same principle, I may, as shewn in Figure 9, cause the water
to act upon the carbide from below (as represented by the full lines) or I may
cause the water supply-pipe to pass to the bottom and back again, as shewn in
dotted lines.
Figure 10 shews a method of dispensing with a pipe of any kind, there being
substituted for such pipe an upper reservoir having a conical bottom A³ pierced
with a small aperture at its apex; with this method of regulating the supply, the
dropping of the water is dependent upon the greater or less quantity of water
admitted into the reservoir, such admission taking place by the thread of the
screw J. A cock K arrests completely or controls as desired this admission of
water.
Referring again to the device illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, I may arrange,
at the bottom of the lamp, an obturating box L (Figure 11).
With these devices the most perfect safety is assured by the use of the two
india-rubber connecting tubes, which would burst before any of the parts com-
posing the lamp, and the admission of air takes place through a small hole formed
in the upper stopper serving for the introduction of the water.
As shown in Figures 12 and 15, the float valve O which may be of any suitable
form such for example as shown in Figure 13 allows the gas to escape from the
receptacle A through the valve O when the pressure, above the mass of water,
becomes too great and compresses the spring C by forcing up the piston D.
In rising the said piston causes the float valve 0 to leave the water and as the
float is no longer supported it falls owing to its own weight carrying with it the
valve O thus allowing the gas to pass from the receptacle A through the valve O
into the open air.
The surplus gas escapes in this manner until the float comes into contact with
the water and again applies the valve O to its seat.
The piston and its subsidiary parts may be brought back by means of the
chain P.
The object of the spring is to obtain in certain cases very great pressure.
Figure 13 shows a lamp based upon the same principle; it is capable of burning
for ten hours with six ten-litre burners. It may be made larger or smaller, in all
shapes, according to the form of boat.
It may be placed in the boat, under the boat, in front, at the sides, behind or
outside the boat. With this form of lamp the reservoir may be dispensed with,
water being allowed to enter through the bottom of the apparatus.
The apparatus being charged, it may be lowered say twenty centimeters under
water and one or more burners of ten or twenty litres per burner protected by
glass may be lighted.
+
This lamp is formed of a receptacle A having suspension rings d and guide
rings e. Independently of these latter, two rings f serve for the attachment of
weights L, provided for the purpose of keeping the lamp immersed. The recep-
tacle is closed, after the introduction of the basket B containing the carbide by
means of a screw-stopper C.
The safety valve D₁ operates in the same manner, that is to say:
The water entering by way of the opening H rises, in order to effect the supply,
through the pipe F which terminates in nipples I; the lower chamber K is

page_text: normally full of water and the float raised, that is to say the valve is closed. If
an excess of gas is produced, the gas issues through the opening H forces back the
water which leaves the float F which opens a larger passage for the gas.
When the pressure in the apparatus is reduced the water rises, the float again
closes the valve and the water again' passes through the opening H.
Between the upper wall of the receptacle and a partition J is arranged the gas
supply pipe K.
To sum up we may say: the safety float valves are arranged in such a manner
that the water raising the float applies the valve upon its seat, on the contrary
when the gas by its great pressure forces back the piston (Figures 12 and 15) or
the water (Figure 13) the float being no longer supported falls in the empty space
and opens the valve which then allows the gas to escape into the open air.
Figure 14 shews a portable lamp which is also based upon the same principle
but of which the carbide basket B is inverted in à box C which is in turn arranged
in a box D) for water of annular form this latter being placed in communication
with the upper reservoir A by means of a tube A¹.
The gas passes out through a cooling coil E which conducts it to the burner.
The lamp illustrated in Figure 15 differs from the form last described in that.
1. The water or obturating box is replaced by a coil D', and
2. By the arrangement above the coil E of a tight piston M similar to that
described with reference to Figure 12.
Figure 16 shews a lamp intended for use with auto-cars; like the boat lamp it
is open at one end and closed by a tightly fitting stopper C. The opposite end
forms the water or obturating box. The gas passes through a coil E immersed in
the water of the upper reservoir. All these lamps are provided with a safety
valve.
Finally in concluding the description of the different forms which may be given
to my improved lamp, I may make it in the shape of a walking-stick as shewn in
Figure 17.
In this walking stick, the handle or knob is removable and may be replaced by
a square shaped lamp as shown in Figure 18, or by a lamp of cylin-
drical form as in Figure 19. This latter may be of such a diameter
that it may be lodged in the top of the stick. The reservoir A', which
is formed in the upper portion A of the stick, allows the water which it contains
to pass into the lower portion A² through an aperture which is closed to a greater
or less extent by means of a valve C which is actuated by a screw-threaded rod D.
The water runs through a tube and a nipple I into the lower portion A2 which is
screwed at X to the upper portion. In this portion A2 is arranged a vertical
partition B surmounted by a kind of carbide basket B¹, both partitions and basket
being perforated. The lower extremity of the stick screws on and off so as to
facilitate internal cleansing.
All the forms of lamp described may be turned in the reverse direction without
danger or extinction of the light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
An acetylene lamp termed "La Merveilleuse" which may assume or be con-
structed in any form and of any desired dimensions and be applied to any desired
purpose such as lamps for velocipedes, boats, motor-cars or for indoor illumination,
or which may even be made in the form of a walking stick; this lamp being
characterized by;
1. The combination of a water reservoir with a generator provided with a recep-
tacle for carbide substantially as described.
2. The combination of a water reservoir with a generator provided with a
supply
and delivery tube for water having a stop cock and terminating in a nipple
arranged above the carbide receptacle, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The combination of a lamp such as above described with an obturating box
and a coil.
4. The combination of a lamp such as above described with a tight piston, a
pressure spring, and a float valve.
5. The combination of a lamp as above described having the form of a walking
stick with a suitable lantern which may either be adapted to be lodged within the
stick or not.
6. An acetylene lamp constructed substantially as described with reference to
either of the modifications shown in the accompanying drawing.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.