Improvements in Acetylene Gas Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Lamps.
I, ADOLF GERDES, of No. 12, Wilhelm Strasse, in the City of Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, and German Empire, 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:-
The present invention has reference to a lamp which itself generates the gas
necessary for feeding the flame. The construction is such, that the quantity of
gas generated can be regulated as required; and in the event of too much gas
collecting, further generation can be stopped, until the surplus gas is consumed,
when generation then begins again in the ordinary manner. All this is effected
absolutely automatically; the generation of gas can, however, also be regulated
or cut off by hand, if desired.
c is the
The new lamp is shown on the accompany drawing by a vertical sectional
view. It consists of an outer case a, provided with a hinged lid b.
burner, screwed to a pipe at the front of the lamp, and provided with a reflector d.
The bottom part of the casing a is formed as a reservoir for the fluid e (in this
case water) employed. The material fused to generate the gas (c.g. calcium
carbide) is contained in the upper division g of the casing a. Between this
upper chamber
and the water reservoir is the space i, in which netting and
filtering, material is arranged for the purpose of purifying the gas generated.
Between the water reservoir and space iis division h, serving to prevent the
water being thrown about. At the top of the case a, above the chamber 7, is
arranged a casing, containing a clock-work. The latter comprises a spring
driving the wheels and pinions 12, 13, 1, 1, 16, 17. is mounted on, and drives,
the main vertical shaft 7, rotating within the socket m. The lower extremity
of this shaft is formed as a conveyer n and its end is flanged to form a ring o.
The conveyer passes through and is surrounded by a socket 7, running vertically
downwards from the bottom of the chamber g. The central shaft 7 is tubular,
having a passage running through it from top to bottom. At the bottom, this
passage is open whilst at the top, it is closed by an air-tight-cap through
which passes a tube s. The connection is such, that whilst the shaft 7 is rotating
on its axis, a stream of gas can flow from 7 through s without there being "any
escape at r.
The pinion of the clock-work drives a fly t, the vertical shaft
of which also carries a brake cone a, mounted fast upon it. Fitting over the
cone is a conical cover, suspended by the double lever w, turning at the
point as fulcrum. The other extremity of the lever wis secured to a
diaphragm y stretched on the wooden shell into which passes one end of the
pipe s.
The method of operation is as follows:
The clock-work is first wound up and the shaft / thus set in motion. This
has the effect of causing the conveyer n to conduct carbide from the chamber g

page_text: into the water at e. Acetylene is thus generated, passes through the filtering
material arranged in the space i, and rushes up through the lateral pipe to the
burner c.
The socket m acts as a shield to prevent gas from obtaining access to
the clock-work. The gas can also ascend through the central shaft / to the shell z,
and consequently the pressure here is the same as in the space . If the gas
pressure becomes' unduly high, the diaphragm y will be distended, and pushes
one arm of the double lever w outwards, and whereby the other arm is depressed
bearing upon the conical cover a and pressing it tightly over the brake cone u,
whereby the clock-work is stopped, and the shaft stands at rest. The supply
of carbide to the water is therefore cut off.
From this it will be seen that the generation of gas is regulated perfectly
automatically, the speed of the clock-work, and therefore of the conveyer, being
diminished, according to the amount of distention of the diaphragm. When a
certain quantity of gas has been consumed, the distention of the diaphragm
diminishes, the cover a is raised from the brake cone u, the clock-work continues
to run, and gas is again generated in the ordinary manner. By this means all
danger of explosion is absolutely avoided.
In order that the generation of gas may also be regulated by hand, a winged
nutq is provided at the upper end of the central shaft 7, which has a screw thread
cut in it. By turning the nut the shaft is accordingly raised, whereby the
distance between the socket p and flange o can be adjusted. In this manner the
amount of carbide supplied to the water can be diminished, or entirely cut off,
notwithstanding the fact that the shaft 7 continues its rotation.
By means of this invention the unnecessary decomposition of carbide is
prevented:
1. Great saving of carbide.
2. Longer period of burning.
3. Period of burning may be securately determined in advance.
4. Size of flame may be adjusted as desired.
5.7 Flame is prevented from smoking.
6. All wasteful generation of acetylene prevented.
It will be obvious that the form of the apparatus need not be precisely that
shown on the drawing, since for instance the case a and chamber g may be of any
desired shape. Moreover the clock-work can be arranged at the side or below the
case, instead of above, without the essential feature of the invention being departed
from.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A gas lamp comprising compartments containing a gas generating material
and a fluid, and a device for supplying the one to the other, said device being
controlled by a brake mechanism, operated automatically by the pressure of the
gas generated in one of said compartments, which communicates with a burner,
all substantially as described.
2.7 A gas lamp comprising compartments containing a gas generating material
and a fluid, and a conveyer (n) for supplying the one to the other, formed or
mounted on a tubular shaft (7) passing through one compartment into the other
which communicates with a burner (e) said shaft being rotated about its axis by
clock-work, and closed at its outer end by an air-tight joint (r) through which a
tube (s) passes, leading to a chamber or vessel () provided with an elastic
diaphragm (y) which on distention operates a friction device (, ) which brakes
the clock-work driving the said shaft and conveyer, all substantially as described.
3. A gas lamp comprising compartments containing a gas generating material
and a fluid and a conveyer (n) for supplying the one to the other, formed or
mounted on a tubular shaft (7) passing through one compartment into the other
which communicates with a burner (c), said shaft being rotated about its axis

page_text: by clock-work, and closed at its outer end by an air tight joint (r) through which a
tube (s) passes, leading to a chamber or vessel (2) provided with an elastic
diaphragm (y) which on distention operates a friction device (, ) which brakes
the clock-work driving the said shaft and conveyer, said conveyer shaft having
a screw thread cut upon its outer end, provided with a nut (g), and having at
its other end a flange of ring (2), which, when the shaft is advanced or retreated
by turning of the nut, regulates the size of the delivery passage from the
conveyer all substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of July 1899
WALTER FOLKMAR,
Agent for Applicant.