Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for use on Bicycles and otherwise.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for use on Bicycles and otherwise.
We, GEORGE LEAN, of 15, Park Terrace, in the County of Glasgow, North
Britain, and JAMES ROBERTS, Junior, of 43, Great Western Road, in the same
County, Research Chemists, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, that is to say:-
: -
Our said invention comprises various improved constructive details combined
to produce a self-generating acetylene lamp suitable for bicycles and for other
uses, and of an efficient, economical, reliable, safe and otherwise satisfactory
kind.
A lamp made according to our invention has an ordinary shroud or casing
with a lens and reflector, or any casing or lantern suitable for the particular
purpose for which the lamp is intended. At the back of the shroud or lantern
there is a reservoir of a size to contain approximately the quantity of water
required for the full quantity of calcium carbide the apparatus is constructed
to carry. The reservoir is provided with a filling hole and screw plug; and the
water descends from it by a bottom pipe, in the entrance to which there is a
valve capable of extremely fine adjustment. This valve is adjusted by means
of a spindle extending through the top of the reservoir; and the part of it in
the valve seat is made with a wedge-shaped slit and with a screw thread working
in an internal screw thread in the valve seat. The wedge-shaped slit is uncovered
to a very small extent for a turn or part turn of the spindle; and the con-
struction allows of the water supply to the carbide being very nicely adjusted to
the precise requirement, and of a too rapid evolution of acetylene being avoided.
Below the water reservoir are arranged two or more separate cases for carbide,
three such cases forming a convenient set for ordinary purposes. The carbide
cases consist of tubes or cylindrical shells fitted to upper sockets or ends forming
a fixed part of the apparatus; and each tube has adapted to its bottom end a
cover to which is fixed externally a tubular nozzle to which can be applied the
end of a rubber tube connected to the outlet pipe of the water reservoir. At the
centre of the bottom cover there is a cavity with which the nozzle communi-
cates, and which communicates through very small holes with the interior of
the carbide case. There is also connected to the central cavity a small tube
extending axially nearly to the top of the case. In the bottom cover and in
the top socket of each case there are rubber washers to make the joints tight
when the case is in position and closed. The cases may be fixed in position in
any suitable way; but according to a convenient arrangement each case is
secured by means of a wire bridle hinged to the upper fixed part, and turned
under the bottom covers, bearing on inclines on those covers whereby tightness
is secured.
The top sockets of the carbide cases communicate by separate small pipes
with a plural-way stopcock, the plug or valve piece of which can be set to make
communication with any one of the two or more carbide cases. The stopcock does

page_text: not connect directly with the burner, tubing being interposed for the condensa-
tion or separation of moisture passing over with the acetylene. At the bottom
of the condenser tubing there is an orifice having in it a plug of fibrous material
which allows accumulated water to exude without any escape of acetylene.
case
The
case
The calcium carbide is put into the cases in small pieces or powder, with
allowance of space for swelling when moistened. When the lamp is to be used
one of the charged cases is connected by the rubber tube to the water supply
pipe, and the stopcock is set to allow the acetylene from that
to pass from that
case through the condenser to the burner.
water first acts on the bottom portions of the carbide in the
and gradually works upwards. Should any obstruction occur preventing
the acetylene from rising freely through the carbide the gas will
find its way to the bottom of and up through the central tube; and towards
the end of a charge the water may pass up the central tube to act on the upper
parts of the carbide. If from any cause a considerable excess of pressure
becomes generated in the apparatus the rubber tube will be blown off and act as
safety valve.
Dated this wantinth
تعمال
J
1000
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps for use on Bicycles and otherwise.
We, GEORGE LEAN, of 15, Park Terrace, in the County of Glasgow, North
Britain, and JAMES ROBERTS, Junior, of 43, Great Western Road, in the same
County, Research Chemists, 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, that is to say:
Our said invention comprises various improved constructive details combined
to produce a self-generating acetylene lamp suitable for bicycles and for other
uses, and of an efficient, economical, reliable, safe and otherwise satisfactory
kind.
A lamp made according to our invention has an ordinary shroud or casing
with a lens and reflector, or any casing or lantern suitable for the particular
purpose for which the lamp is intended.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory draw-
ings to be hereinafter referred to and showing, by way of example, a lamp,
made with our improvements, for use on a bicycle."
Figure 1, on the accompanying drawings is a plan of a bicycle lamp as made
according to our invention. Figure 2, is a side elevation of same with the lens
and reflector in section; and Figures 3, and 4, are,, respectively, horizontal and
vertical sections with certain parts removed. In these drawings the same reference
letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
1epeated.
As shown in the drawings there is a lens, A, reflector, A. 1, and part, A2, for
attachment to a bicycle all of an ordinary construction. At the back of the
reflector, A 1, there is a reservoir, B, to which the reflector is detachably con-
nected by a catch on its back being inserted in a socket, B1, on the reservoir or
the connection may be in any other usual manner. The reservoir, B, is of
a size to contain approximately the quantity of water required for the full

page_text: quantity of calcium carbide the apparatus is constructed to carry. The reservoir, B,
is provided with a filling hole and screw plug, B2; and the water descends from
it by a bottom pipe, B3, in the entrance to which there is a valve, C, capable
of extremely fine adjustment. This valve, C, is on the end of, and is adjusted
by, a spindle, C1, extending through the top of the reservoir, B, the upper end
of the spindle having on it an index finger, C2, which works over a scale marked
on the upper side of the reservoir, B. The upper part of the valve is faced
with rubber or other suitable material to insure tightness when the valve is
closed. The part of the valve, C, within the seat is made with a wedge-shaped
slit, C3, and with a screw thread working in an internal screw thread in the
valve seat. The wedge-shaped slit, C3, is uncovered to a very small extent for
a part turn of the spindle, C1, and the construction allows of the water supply
to the carbide being nicely adjusted to the precise requirement, and of a too
rapid evolution of acetylene being avoided.
Below the water reservoir are arranged two or more separate cases, for
carbide, three such cases, as shown in the drawings, forming a convenient set
for ordinary purposes.
The carbide cases consist of tubes or cylindrical shells, D,
fitted to upper sockets or ends, 1) 1, fixed to the under side of the reservoir, B;
and each tube, 1), has adapted to its bottom end by a bayonet joint, D2, a
cover, D3, to which is fixed externally a tubular nozzle, D4, to which can be
applied the end of a rubber tube, D5, connected to the outlet pipe, B3, of the
water reservoir, B. The tubular nozzle, D4, communicates through very small
holes, E, with the interior of the tube or carbide case, D, and it is extended in
the form of a small tube, E1, to nearly the top of the case. In the bottom
cover, D3, and in the top socket, D1, of each case, D, there are rubber
washers, E2, to make the joints tight when the case is in position and closed.
The cases, D, may be fixed in position in any suitable way; but according to a
convenient arrangement shown in the drawings each case, D, is secured by means
of a wire bridle, E 3, hinged to the upper fixed part, D1, and turned under the
bottom covers, D3, bearing on inclines, F, on those covers whereby tightness is
secured.
The top sockets, D 1, of the carbide cases, D, communicate by separate small
pipes, F 1, with a plural-way stopcock, F2, the plug or valve piece of which can
be set to make communication with any one of the pipes, F1, leading from
the cases, 1), the spindle of the plug for this purpose extending up through an
opening in the underside of the reflector, A 1, and having on it a pointer, F3,
by which it can be turned and which by being directed to certain positions which
may be marked on the reflector indicates when the carbide case required is in
communication with the burner. The stopcock, F2, does not connect directly
with the burner, G, tubing. G1, being interposed for the condensation or
separation of moisture passing over with the acetylene. At the bottom of the
condenser tubing; G1, there is an orifice having in it a plug, G2, of fibrous
material which allows accumulated water to exude without any escape of acety-
lene. The end of the condenser tubing is connected to the burner, G, by a
pipe, G 3.
On the bridles, E3, being disengaged from the inclines, F, the cases, D,
can be removed from the sockets, D1, and the bottom covers, D3, removed
by unfastening the bayonet catches, D2. Suitable circular pieces of blotting
paper, E4, perforated for the tubes, E1, are placed on the inner faces of the
On
covers, D3, thereby preventing passage of the carbide through the holes E.
replacing the covers, D3, the cases are filled with calcium carbide in small
pieces or powder, with allowance of space for swelling when moistened, then the
cases, D, are put back in the sockets, D) 1, and the bridles, E3, reengaged with
the inclines, F. When the lamp is to be used one of the charged cases is
connected by the rubber tube, D5, to the water supply pipe, B3, and the stop-
cock, F2, is set to allow the acetylene from that case to pass to and through the
condenser, G1, and pipe, G3, to the burner, G. The water enters the case, I),
°

page_text: through the small holes, E, and first acts on the bottom portions of the carbido
in the case and gradually works upwards. Should any obstruction occur pre-
venting the acetylene from rising freely through the carbide the gas will find
its way to the bottom of and up through the central tube, E1, passing into this
tube through the small holes, E, and towards the end of a charge the water may
pass up the central tube, E1, to act on the upper parts of the carbide. If from
any cause a considerable excess of pressure becomes generated in the apparatus
the rubber tube, D5, will be blown off and act as a safety valve. When the
carbide in one case, D, becomes exhausted the rubber tube, 15, can be easily
removed from the nozzle, D4, of that case and applied to the corresponding
Bozzle of a second case so that the water can then act on the carbide in that
case. If it should happen that the carbide in one or two of the cases should
suffice for the time which the lamp happens to have been used the carbide in the
other case or cases will not be spoiled by water getting access to it, economy in
working the lamp being thus obtained."
To clean the spent carbide from the cases; D, the bridles are disengaged from
the inclines, F, and the cases removed from the sockets, D1, then the
bayonet, D2, is disengaged and the bottom cover catch, D3, removed and the
spent carbide will fall out.
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. In an acetylene lamp for use on bicycles and otherwise a water reservoir
having a discharge pipe fitted with an adjustable valve and a rubber tube for
connection in turn to nozzles communicating with the interior of two or more
carbide cases detachably held on the underside of the water reservoir, separate
pipes leading from each carbide case to a plural-way stopcock communicating
with condenser tubing and a burner, the parts being combined, arranged, and
operating, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In an acetylene lamp for use on bicycles and otherwise, two or more carbide
cases each consisting of a tube or shell fitted to an upper fixed socket and having
a bottom cover to which is fixed a nozzle communicating through small holes
with the interior of the case and extending upwards in the form of a small tube
to near the top of the case substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore.
described.
3. In an acetylene lamp for use on bicycles and otherwise, a carbide case
having a nozzle on its bottom end communicating through small holes with
the interior of the case and extending upwards in the form of a small tube to near
the top of the case substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
4. In an acetylene lamp for use on bicycles and otherwise, a water reservoir
having a discharge pipe in which is a valve on a spindle extending through the
reservoir, the part of the valve in the seat being made with a wedge-shaped
slit and with a screw thread working in an internal screw thread in the valve
seat, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
5. In an acetylene lamp for use on bicycles and otherwise, the construction of
condenser tubing with an orifice in which is a plug of fibrous material sub-
stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of June 1900.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.