Improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
We, AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL DAVISON, Engineer, and HARRY LUCAS, Managing
Director, both of the firm of Joseph Lucas Limited, of "Tom Bowling Lamp
Works," Little King Street, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to accetylene lamps, our object
being to construct a lamp with its complete gas generating apparatus in a simple,
compact, and convenient form suitable for attachment to cycles and for other
services.
In the construction of an acetylene lamp in accordance with our invention we
arrange the generator at the lower part of the lamp, the water supply tank at the
upper part, and the burner with reflector, lens, and other usual fittings between
the generator and the tank. The generator consists of outer and inner parts, the
latter being detachable and made to telescope within the former, and we preferably
secure the two parts together by a cap on the lower or closed end of the inner part
which screws upon or within the lower or open end of the outer part. The said
inner part of the generator forms the receptacle for the calcium carbide; the ease
of its complete detachment and subsequent attachment to the outer part or casing
permitting of very ready and convenient charging.
The necessary supply of water is conveyed from the tank at the upper part of
the lamp by a suitable pipe through which we pass the stem of the valve, preferably
of a screw type, by which the rate of admission of the water to the generator can
be regulated. The valve is operated by a terminal or finger piece on the upper
side of the tank; by a suitable stop arranged in combination with some part of the
valve stem the maximum opening of the valve is limited to prevent such an
admission of water as would result in a too rapid generation of the gas.
The gaseous products of combustion arising from the burner are speedily con-
veyed to the exterior of the lamp by a flue tube passing through the water tank,
preferably in a direct vertical line with the burner beneath it. The top of the flue
or chimney is provided with a protecting hood or cover. The water admission
aperture on the upper side of the tank is closed, when the lamp is in use, by a
screw plug, but we form a free passage or aperture through the plug to serve as
a vent for the admission of air, and also to serve as a relief or escape outlet in the
event of an undue rise of pressure in the generator.
The lamp can be fitted with the ordinary cone and lens, whilst at the back of
the lamp we arrange a suitable spring handle or attachment for mounting it upon
cycle when required for such service.
Dated thin 1911. 1
L
1000
4
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., &
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
We, AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL DAVISON, Engineer, and HARRY LUCAS, Managing
Director, both of the firm of Joseph Lucas Limited, of Tom Bowling Lamp Works,
Little King Street, in the City of Birmingham, 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 consists of improvements relating to acetylene lamps, our object
being to construct a safe and efficient lamp with its complete gas generating
apparatus in a simple, compact, and convenient form suitable for attachment to
cycles and for other services.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter 1
referred to.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cycle lamp constructed in accordance with our
invention, and Figure 2 a front elevation of the same with the central or body
part open.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line ab Figure 1, and Figure 4 a plan of the i
lamp with the body part open as in Figure 2.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In the construction of an acetylene lamp in accordance with our invention, we
arrange the generator A at the lower part of the lamp, the water supply tank or
vessel B at the upper part, and the burner with reflector, lens, and other usual
fittings within and upon the body part between the generator and the tank. The
portion C of the body part is in rigid and permanent attachment with the upper
and lower parts of the lamp, but the portion C₁ of the body part is hinged to the
said fixed portion C and can be opened out as shown at Figures 2 and 4 to permit
of access to the interior of the lamp.
The generator or generator case A is detachably connected with the base A¹ of
the lamp preferably by means of a screw thread which we cut around the upper
end of the periphery of the generator to engage with a corresponding thread in the
interior of the base A'. The said generator case A forms the receptacle for the
calcium carbide, the ease of its complete detachment and subsequent attachment to
the base A permitting of very ready and convenient charging.
The necessary supply of water is conveyed from the tank B at the upper part of
the lamp by a suitable pipe D through which we pass the screwed stem valve E,
by which the rate of admission of the water to the generator can be regulated.
The valve is operated by a terminal or finger piece E¹ on the upper side of the tank,
and an indicator or pointer E2 is provided to indicate on a division plate such as E³
on the tank B the amount of opening to be given to the valve E. The valve seat E+
(Figure 2) is formed or arranged upon the conical plate F fixed to the interior of
the base A¹
Within the carbide holder or generator case A we place a loosely fitting cap G
consisting of a conical or dome shaped plate having its apex directed towards the
burner H. By means of the spiral spring J arranged between the fixed plate F
and the cap G the latter is kept down upon the carbide K. The water which passes
through the valve seat will drop on to the conical or dome like surface of the
cap G and flowing down the same will pass to the carbide K through the slight
annular space between the periphery of the cap and the interior surface of the
holder or generator case A. The heat produced by the chemical action in the
generator will evaporate water in excess of the quantity required for the production
of the acetylene gas, and this will subsequently become condensed upon the cap G
or upon the fixed plate F. But owing to the conical or dome like configuration

page_text: of the cap the condensed steam or vapour, as with the water passing through the
valve seat E, will be prevented from dropping directly on to the carbide and will
be caused to descend to the periphery of the cap and to pass gradually through
the annular space hereinbefore described, and we thus prevent a sudden and
intermittent generation of gas in excess of the amount required for burning.
The gaseous products of combustion arising from the burner are speedily con-
veyed to the exterior of the lamp by a flue tube L passing through the water
tank B in a direct vertical line with the burner H beneath it. The top of the flue
or chimney is provided with a detachable protecting hood or cover M. The water
admission aperture on the upper side of the tank is closed when the lamp is in use,
by a screw plug N, but we form a free passage or aperture through the plug to
serve as a vent for the admission of air, and also to serve as a relief or escape outlet
in the event of an undue rise of pressure in the generator.
The lamp is fitted with the ordinary front cone O, having a glass lens in the
hinged frame or door O', and with a reflector P in the interior of the body, whilst
at the back of the lamp we arrange an ordinary spring handle or attachment Q
for mounting it upon a cycle. The cone O is formed with the hinged part C
of the body and in such part also we fit the side glasses R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, we 'declare that what
we claim is:-
。
1. An acetylene lamp for cycles and for other services having the water supply
vessel at the upper part and the gas generator at the lower part of the lamp body
and in a vertical line therewith, substantially as described.
2. In an acetylene lamp the combination with the water supply vessel of a flue
tube passing through such vessel, substantially as described.
3. The general construction and arrangement of parts constituting the improved
acetylene lamp for cycles and for like purposes, substantially as described and as
illustrated.
Dated Od dov of Jul. 1808
MARKS & CLERK,
8, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., &
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicants.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., &
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicants.