Improvements in and connected with Acetylene-lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Acetylene-lamps.
I, ISIDOR SCHWARZ, of 154A, Linien Strasse, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia,
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
scertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-lamps and has for its
object various improvements in the construction of the same.
In view of the present advancing importance of the acetylene-industry it has
been continually attempted to render acetylene-gas serviceable for lamps, more
especially for cycle-lamps and a number of constructions have been devised which
however cannot be regarded as fulfilling all requirements necessary in a good
lamp.
One great difficulty has been found to exist in the connection of the gas-
generator or the carbide receptacle with the lantern body, these parts having
been hitherto usually screwed together or attached by means of a flange and nut.
Such constructions must however be regarded as not having attained the
desired object for the reason that the chief properties which a good cycle-lamp
should possess, viz., light-weight, & easy manipulation in use, are in these
above-mentioned constructions not present, as the thread-joint unnecessarily
increases the weight and furthermore causes the connection of the several parts
to occupy too much time.
Lastly the use of parts thus tightly connected together is, in the case of a
possible excessive pressure of the acetylene-gas, also connected with a risk
of explosion.
The acetylene-lamp forming the subject of this invention is designed with a
view to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks by the construction hereinafter
described.
My improvements relate not only to the connection of the carbide receptacle
with the lamp body, but also to an improved water-inlet device, which also very
largely differs from known devices.
I am aware that acetylene-cycle-lanterns have been provided with inlet valves
upon which an indicating device has been attached for the purpose of showing
the position of the cone when the valve is closed and the position of the same
also for a normal burning flame.
Such indicating devices as hitherto known consist however mostly of simple
projections so that the pointer usually only shows when the valve is quite closed,
or, fully open, for a normal flame, whilst any wider or fuller opening of the
valve is usually not possible with these known constructions. It will be clear,
that such constructions have the further drawback, that when the valve is open,
as far as the indicating device permits (which as beforesaid is only to the extent
of the normal flame), the said flame cannot at once be ignited, as the generation
of the gas occupies several minutes and only after the elapse of this time, can
usually a sufficient quantity of gas be obtained to render the burning of the
flame possible.
My improved lamp is provided however with a water inlet having an indicat-

page_text: ing device, connected to the same, said indicating device so regulating the inlet
of the water, that when the valve is fully open, a sufficient quantity of water is
admitted to the carbide receptacle to allow of the gas generation taking place
almost immediately, whereupon the valve (and consequently the water inlet) can
be adjusted for the normal burning of the flame.
In order to make my invention more clear I refer to the accompanying drawing
in which similar letters denote similar parts, and in which-
Figure 1 is a front view of an acetylene-cycle-lamp, partly in section, showing
my improvements, whilst
Figures 2-5 show modified forms of the connection of the carbide receptacle
with the lantern body,
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through my improved water inlet valve,
Figure 7 is a front view of the indicating device of the inlet valve, whilst
Figure 8 is a modification of the latter.
As shown in Fig. 1, the carbide receptacle a is provided with a rounded edge b,
which connects the lantern body c, so as to allow of the possibility of expansion
as hereinafter more fully described.
The lower part of the lantern body is also provided near its extreme edge with
a hollow rounded extension or kind of collar d, whilst the extreme edge of the
lamp-body is bent so as to form a hollow ring, into which a rubber-disc which is
employed to make a tight joint, is sprung, so that the edges of the said rubber-
dise cannot project outside the said lamp-body. This rubber-disc f, provided with
longitudinal or suitable perforations is held within the carbide-receptacle by two
nuts, which are arranged upon the tube of the water inlet. A connection
between the carbide receptacle and the lantern-body, is so effected that the
former is simply pressed into the latter, whereby the rounded edge of the car-
bide receptacle a forces the rubber disc near its edge into the recess or rounded
extension, in consequence of which the carbide receptacle a is securely held,
and an even and tight joint attained, the edge of the rubber disc f entering the
hollow ring e of the lantern body as above stated.
Figure 2 shows a modification of this method of attachment in that in this
figure the rubber disc f rests loosely upon the edge of the carbide receptacle,
said edge terminating in a kind of rounded projection or knob, the edge el of
the lantern body c being rounded in a similar manner, in consequence of which,
when the rubber disc is snapped between the said rounded edges, the rubber
disc is securely held and also a tight joint obtained as before. In this case the
rounded extension d, shown in Figure 1 is not necessary.
A slightly modified construction is shown in Figure 3, which in general is an
inversion of Figure 2, as the rubber disc f, here passes over the rounded edge e¹
of the lantern body c, whereas in Figure 2 the said rubber disc passes over or
rests upon the rounded edge of the carbide receptacle.
Figure 4 is a similar construction to that shown in Figure 1, only that instead
of a rubber disc, a packing ring f¹ of rubber or the like is employed, which is
pressed into the recess of the rounded extension of the lantern body c, thus
also effecting a secure connection of these parts and at a same time a tight joint.
Figure 5 shows a small deviation from the above described constructions in that
here, not only the lantern body has a rounded or semi-circular hollow ex-
tension b, but also the carbide receptacle a has a similar semi-circular exten-
sion and in the recesses or circular space formed by these parts 12, a packing
ring fis sprung, by the pressing together of the carbide receptacle and the
lantern body.
The advantages of these constructions or of my improvements are, decrease in
weight of the lamp, easy manipulation and the removal of a risk of explosion, as,
in the case of too rapidly developed gas, the carbide receptacle would be simply
blown off and caught by any suitable device, which may for instance, be short
chains on each side of the carbide receptacle, this device however not being
claimed, is not shown in the drawing.

page_text: Proceeding to describe the inlet valve shown in Figures 6-8 I remark
The casing of the water inlet valve constructed according to my improved design
consists of a tube h into which a tube is screwed.
From the tube a small tube k branches off to the water receptacle of the lamp
not shown.
The valve is formed at the termination of the tube i, which is closed in known
manner by a cone attached to a rod and actuated by an adjusting disc m.
This adjusting disc m is provided with a spring indicator or indicating pointer n,
which snaps into recesses o of an indicating or index plate p.
If desired, there may be arranged at the end of the index plate, a projection o
which limits by its height, the further movements of the pointer n (see Fig. 7),
so that the point at which the valve is fully open," may not be passed.
Proceeding to describe the action of this valve, I will assume that the valve is
to be opened for the generation of gas. In this case the disc m is turned so far,
until the pointer n comes against the projection o¹, as above indicated, at which
position the water inlet is the greatest, or in other words the valve is fully open.
The generation of gas will now take place immediately whereupon the valve
disc m and herewith the pointer n is turned back to a normal position which I
will assume is the middle position (or in other words, when the pointer is
central, as shown in Figure 7), in which position of the valve the flame should of
course normally and quietly burn.
Should however the flame burn too low, this may be remedied by turning the
disc m several degrees, or, over one or more recesses of the index plate p, whereby
the inlet of the water can be regulated.
My indicating device has the advantage, that one is also in the position in the
dark, to find the right position of the valve for a normal flame, in view of the fact
that by the snapping in of the spring pointer n into the various recesses, only the
number of recesses need be counted, which the adjusting disc is turned to the left
or right.
It is clear that the before mentioned projection o¹ indicating when the valve is
fully open, can also be omitted, in order to render the valve parts more accessible
or to entirely open the valve.
In conclusion I have shown in Figure a slight modification of the valve-indi-
cating-mechanism in which the indicating rod or spring-pointer is secured to the
index plate p, the corresponding recesses being arranged in this case, as shown
in the drawing upon the adjusting disc m. This would therefore be simply a
reverse of the previous construction.
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. An acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, characterised by the arrangement
of a rubber disc or the like between the carbide receptacle and the lamp body,
whereby, upon the bringing together of the carbide receptacle and the lamp body,
the said rubber disc becomes so compressed, that an even and tight joint, and at
the same time a joint capable of being released under excessive pressure is
attained, substantially as described.
2. The form of construction of the acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, as
characterised in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 1, in which a rubber disc or the
like is arranged between the carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the lamp
body, near its edge being so bent as to form a kind of hollow extension to receive
the rubber disc, the further edge of said lamp body being turned inwards so as
to form a kind of hollow ring to receive the edges of the rubber disc when com-
pressed the carbide receptacle being suitably rounded at its edge to force the
rubber disc f into the said hollow extension or the like d, whereby, upon the
bringing together of the said carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said
rubber disc becomes so compressed, that an even and tight joint and at the same

page_text: time a joint capable of being released under excessive pressure is attained, sub-
stantially as described.
3. modification of the acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, as characterised
in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 2, in which a rubber disc is arranged between the
carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the edge of both the lamp body and the
carbide receptacle being bent so as to form a kind of rounded projection, the said
rubber disc resting upon the disc of the carbide receptacle, whereby upon the
bringing together of the said carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said rubber
disc becomes so compressed, that an even and tight joint, and at the same time.
a joint capable of being released under excessive pressure is attained, substantially
as described.
4. A modification of the acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, as characterised
in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 3 in which a rubber disc is arranged between
the carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the edge of both the carbide receptacle
and the lamp body being bent so as to form a kind of rounded projection, the
said rubber disc resting against the edge el of the lamp body, whereby upon the
bringing together of the said carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said rubber
disc becomes so compressed, that an even and tight joint and at the same time a
joint capable of being released under excessive pressure is attained, substantially
as described.
5. A modification of the acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, as characterised
in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 4, in which a rubber ring or the like is arranged
between the carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the lamp body being bent near.
its edge to form a kind of hollow semi-circular extension or the like, in which
the packing ring is arranged, whereby upon the bringing together of the said
carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said rubber ring becomes so com-
pressed, that an even and tight joint and at the same time a joint capable of being
released under excessive pressure is attained, substantially as described.
6. A modification of the acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like, as characterised
in Claim 1 and shown in Figure 5, in which a rubber ring or the like is arranged
between the carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said lamp body being
bent so as to form a hollow rounded extension or the like 1, the carbide receptacle
being bent at or near its edge to form a hollow extension 2, the said parts bb
surrounding the said rubber ring, whereby, upon the bringing together of the
said carbide receptacle and the lamp body, the said rubber ring becomes so com-
pressed, that an even and tight joint and at the same time a joint capable of being
released under excessive pressure is attained, substantially as described.
7. In an acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like a water inlet valve provided
with an indicating device characterised by the valve seat of said inlet valve being.
formed by a small tube i, within the tube h, the water inlet to said valve being
regulated in known manner by a cone 7, and the movement of said cone indicated
by a spring pointer n attached to the adjusting disc m, said index pointer snapping
into recesses o of the index plate 2, substantially as described.
8. In an acetylene-lamp for cycles and the like a modification of the indicating.
device, characterised in Claim 7, in which the spring pointer n, is connected to
the index plate p and the recesses o provided upon the adjusting disc m, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this lovonib
1
TY
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.