improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by Süddeutsche Metallwerke, Schad, Herbst and Company, of 47, 49,
14, Quer-strasse, Mannheim, Germany,) 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 acetylene lamps and has for its object to enable the
recharging of the lamp when the supply of carbide has become exhausted, to be
effected with the least possible trouble; to reduce the temperature of the gas
generating chamber; and to obtain other advantages.
The invention consists, essentially, in the employment of a combined carbide
holder and generator which constitutes the body of the lamp and is adapted to
be secured removably in position between the fixed top portion of the lamp and a
removable plug attached to the base of the lamp, the said combined holder and
generator being in the form of a cartridge having solid walls, a bottom integral
with the walls, an open upper end capable of being closed against escape of gas
and connecting with a gas reservoir from which passages lead to the burner, and
a central perforated pipe or chamber which rises from the bottom of the holder
and serves to distribute the water supplied to it by a drip pipe.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings
forming part of this specification wherein Figure 1 is a central vertical section
and Figure 2 a horizontal section on line 2-2 Figure 1, of a bicycle lamp.
In these drawings is the carbide holder or cartridge having solid walls whose
length practically corresponds to the distance between the plug 6 which closes
the base e² of the lamp and the upper fixed part c. The base e is a hollow metal
ring united to the top of the lamp by three or more columns or pillars e, one
of which (preferably the one at the rear of the lamp) is hollow and communicates
with the gas reservoir c¹ at the top of the lamp and with the ring whilst a
lateral branch e' at the bottom extremity of that pillar which is situated near the
front of the lamp, communicates in the usual manner with the burner f by a
short length of indiarubber tubing g or other suitable means.
By this construction the gas as it comes from the generator must travel some
distance before it reaches the burner, being compelled to pass through the pillar
or column e and the hollow metal ring constituting the base of the lamp to
which the pillar is secured so that the heavy hydrocarbons, etc., are caused to
deposit.
The top of the carbide holder or cartridge is provided with perforations a¹ and
with a central aperture which corresponds to the tube or central chamber at which
extends from top to bottom of the holder and is perforated at its lower extremity.
Into this tube as the drip pipe c³ projects, said pipe being connected liquid-tight
with the water reservoir c² and provided with a valve h which may be opened and
closed from the outside by means of the stem which extends to the top of the
lamp and screws through a nut therein. The holder or generating chamber is
closed gas-tight at the upper part by means of an annular elastic cushion 7, which
is confined between the cover and the bottom of the chamber c¹ forming a part of
the top of the lamp. The foot of the lamp is a plug b which, as shewn in the
drawings, screws into the base 2 but this plug may be attached by a bayonet

page_text: connection if preferred, in which case an elastic cushion similar to I would be
provided at the bottom of the holder.
When the carbide holder is exhausted it may be readily removed by merely
detaching the plug b which permits of the holder containing the carbide residue
being dropped out and of another holder with a fresh supply being inserted
in its place.
The water drip pipe passes through the central aperture a in the top of
the holder or gas generator into the tube at which forms the water distributing
chamber, being perforated at its lower end to permit the water to escape to the
annular space surrounding the central pipe and containing the carbide. The
edges of the holder or gas generator are pressed against the underside of the cover
by the plug 6 which when the latter is forced home either by screwing or other-
wise, exerts sufficient pressure to cause the annular cushion / to yield and both
retain the holder a firmly in place and prevent leakage of gas.
When the valve h is open, water passes through the perforations 3 of the
chamber a into contact with the carbide, the acetylene gas which is thereupon
generated passing into the enlargement or gas reservoir c¹ through the perforations
in the cover and thence through the hollow pillar e to the ring & constituting
the base of the lamp and so to the burner.
It will be evident that the exhausted carbide holder may be withdrawn with the
residue and replaced by another one, with the utmost ease and morcover that as
the residue is removed intact with the holder no special cleaning of the lamp
is necessary.
Moreover it will be seen that by reason of the fact that the
atmospheric air comes into direct contact with practically the entire external
surface of the carbide generator, any excessive heating of the latter is checked and
high pressure of gas within the generator is avoided.
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:
1. In an acetylene lamp, the employment of an independent combined carbide
holder and gas generating chamber constructed as described and retained in
position between the fixed upper part of the lamp and a detachable base portion
so that the exhausted holder containing the carbide residue may be readily
removed and a fresh holder substituted substantially as described and shewn in
the drawings.
2. In an acetylene lamp provided with the independent combined carbide
holder and generator referred to, a chamber or gas reservoir in the head of the
lamp in communication with the holder and a hollow pillar or column in com-
munication with the chamber and with the hollow ring or base of the lamp
whereby the gas is caused to travel along an extended path before reaching the
burner as specified.
3. An acetylene lamp provided with an independent combined carbide holder
and generator corresponding in length to the distance between the base and head
of the lamp and having a central pipe or chamber perforated at its lower portion
to serve as a water distributor and closed by a perforated cover substantially as
specified.
4. In an acetylene lamp provided with the independent combined carbide holder
and generator, the employment of the cushions for preventing the escape of gas
from the holder when the latter is secured in place by the pressure of the plug
in the base of the lamp substantially as specified.
Dated this 24th day of August 1899
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.