An Improved Acetylene Gas Lamp.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
An Improved Acetylene Gas Lamp.
I, FRANZ JOSEF BERGMANN, of Neheim on the Ruhr, in the German Empire,
Engineer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thercou, that is to say:-
This invention relates to an improved acetylene gas lamp in which is arranged
a calcium carbide holder or acetylene generator, while in the space formed between
it and the body of the lamp is contained the water necessary for decomposing the
carbide. By incans of a suitable arrangement, hereinafter described, the generator
is automatically closed whenever the pressure of the gas becomes too strong, so
that only a minimum generation of gas, resulting from the moist carbido, can
take place. The gas so generated is, for greater security, collected below the
water level.
In this lamp the generation of the gas is automatically regulated, the dangerous
after-gasification prevented, and the small quantity of gas, which may still form,
collected below the water level.
In the annexed drawing wherein the improved lamp is shewn in vertical section,
A is the lamp body, K the carbide holder or generator, and F the bell or protective
cover of said holder. The lamp body is divided into two compartments A¹ and A³
by means of a plate 13 from which a dip-tube C extends to nearly the bottom of
the lamp. The lamp is filled with water through an orifice closed by a stopper D
which may, if desired, be provided with a safety valve. The cleaning of the lamp
from deposit, and the charging with carbide, are effected through an opening
closed by a screw cap E. The carbide holder K terminates at bottom in a cone
having a circular opening adapted to be closed by a rubber ball M. This holder
is retained within the bell or protective cover F by means of rubber packing L.
Above said holder, and in communication therewith, is a drying and purifying
chamber G from which a pipe, 7 passing tight through the division plate B, leads
into the lower compartment A³. A handle J enables the holder to be easily
removed. N is a perforated cover-plate fitted on the base of the coue.
The working is as follows:-The screw cap E having been removed, the holder,
filled with calcium carbide, is introduced into the bell F, the rubber packing L
holding both vessels tightly together. The cap E is then screwed on and water
is poured into the lamp body through the orifice D and passes through the dip-
tube C leading from the upper compartment A' into the lower compartment A³.
The water rising in the lamp body causes that in the bell also
to rise until it reaches the rubber ball, which it then lifts and comes
into contact with the calcium carbide resting on the perforated plate N.
By reason of the contact of the water with the carbide, gas is
generated and enters the drying and purifying chamber G from which it flows
to the burner H. On closing the burner and arresting the consumption of the
gas this latter forces the water out of the carbide holder, through the cone, and
presses the ball valve on to its seat. As there is a tight joint between the holder K
and bell F the gas generated, after the closing of the valve, is compelled to pass
CD

page_text: through the tube Z and to collect below the division plate. The water in the
upper part A¹ of the lamp rises by reason of its being forced out of the holder K
and partly by its being also forced out of the lower compartment As, so that the
gas generated, after the lamp is extinguished, is confined below the water level.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An acetylene gas lamp, having a central calcium carbide holder, in which on
the closing of the burner, or on too strong a generation of gas the water is forced
out of the said holder and a ball-valve is pressed gas-tight against the conical
bottom of the latter, so that on any gas being generated afterwards, it is com-
pelled to pass through a pipe leading to the lower compartment of the lamp (form-
ing a water vessel) wherein it is collected, substantially as described.
2. My improved acetylene gas lamp, substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1897.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent, 78, Fleet Street, London, and
5A, Market Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.