Improvements in or connected with Lamps for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Lamps for Generating and
Burning Acetylene Gas.
I, ANDERS PETER ANDERSEN, of 11, Frederiks berggade, Copenhagen, Denmark,
Merchant, 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 that type of lamp in which acetylene gas is generated
from calcium carbide, and burned, and has for its object to provide a simple,
and inexpensive portable lamp suitable for cycles, and other vehicles, and as
a table, and hanging lamp.
The invention is illustrated as a cycle lamp in the accompanying drawings in
which,
Figure 1, shows a vertical section of the lamp, and,
Figure 2, a sectional plan taken at the line A, B, Figure 1.
With reference to the drawings the apparatus consists of a cylindrical
chamber on the top of which is screwed a cover b, having a packing at 1 to
make a tight joint; below the cylinder a there is a water reservoir c also screwed
to the cylinder a, and provided with a packing to make a tight joint; within
the cylinder a carried by supports d there is a wire rack, or grating e, and a
water guard f which consists of a conical funnel h having an opening h', and
a dash cone i kept in place by bars from the funnel h, and a bar having a
hook which catches on one of the bars of the rack e.
As before stated the cover bis screwed on the top of the cylinder a, and a
tight joint is made by a packing ring b¹, inside the cover b there is provided a
flange to which is attached a bell be of india rubber or other expandable material,
and the cover b is provided with openings 63 to allow of the escape of air on the
expansion of the bell 62 as shown in dotted lines.
C
The water reservoir is screwed to the bottom of the cylinder «, and a tight
joint is made by the packing ring c. The bottom of the reservoir c is of
india rubber or other expandable material, and under the reservoir c there is
provided a guard provided with holes 3 to allow for the escape of air when the
bottom expands as shown in dotted lines, the guard is of size to allow the
bottom c¹ to expand freely.
On the front of the cylinder a there is provided a pipe & communicating by a
branch pipe with the cylinder a, this pipe k serves as a drying pipe, and is
filled with suitable filtering medium, on the top of the pipe & there is provided
a safety valve, which is formed by an india rubber ring, which passes round the
pipe k, and covers an escape hole 1, 2 designates the communicating pipe through
which the gas passes from the drying pipe & through the tap to the gas burner
which is of the ordinary type, and shown placed in a reflector.
The apparatus is worked in the following manner:-
On the cover being removed the reservoir c is filled with water until it reaches
the rack e, a piece of calcium carbide is then placed on the rack e, and then the
cover is screwed tight on to the cylinder a; as the acetylene gas generates it

page_text: Hows to the burner through the pipe k as soon as the tap 3 is opened; if the
tap remains closed, the gas as generated fills the cylinder a, and as the pressure
rises, the rubber bottom of the reservoir c is pressed down into the guard c
and the water sinks away from the carbide, and the generation of the gas dis-
continues, should the generation continue through there being moisture, or vapour
in the cylinder the rubber bell 2 is expanded by being pressed upwards thus
making room for the generated gas, should the generation of gas still continue
the safety valve comes into action, and the gas escapes through the hole "
in the pipe k
If the lamp is lighted the consumption of gas allows the water
to be raised by the reaction of the rubber bottom until the water touches the
carbide and the full generation of gas continues; by the use of the water
guard an unnecessary generation of gas is prevented which otherwise would
arise from violent movement of the apparatus causing the water to splash on-the
carbide..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An acetylene gas generator, and lamp constructed, and operating substan-
tially as herein described, that is to say, a lamp consisting of a cylindrical gas
chamber, and calcium carbide holder having an extendible top, and a water
reservoir provided with an extendible bottom whereby on an excess or rise of
pressure in the generator caused by the too free generation of gas, or due to
the light being put out, the water through the expansion of the reservoir sinks
below, and from contact with the calcium carbide, thereby automatically arresting
the generation of gas, the expandable top of the cylinder providing room for any
gas generated after the removal of the water from the calcium carbide, as set
forth..
2. In an acetylene gas generator and lamp, as claimed in Claim 1, the employ-
ment of a drying or filtering pipe such as k filled with filtering medium and
arranged as described, and provided with a safety valve constructed, and operating
as described.
3. In an acetylene gas generator and lamp as claimed in Claim 1 the employ-
ment of a water guard such as f constructed, arranged, and operating as
described.
4. In an acetylene gas generator and lamp the combination and construction
of parts, substantially as set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings,
consisting of a cylindrical gas holder a, calcium carbide holder or rack c, water
guard f, extendible top ², cover b, extendible water reservoir e, guard ², drying
or filtering pipe k, safety valve device and burner; operating as described."
Dated this Sixth day of Auril 1899
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH, Fel.Chart. Inst.P.A.,
Grant and Maddison's Bank Buildings, Canute Road, Southampton,
Applicant's Agent.