Acetylene Gas Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1900-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1900
Acetylene Gas Lamps.
I, JAMES HARDING LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, of 95, Liberty
Street, in the City of New York, County and State of New York, U.S.A.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an illuminating apparatus wherein acetylene gas is
generated from the union, or bringing together of calcium carbide and water
from separate vessels.
The main object of this invention is to produce an apparatus for generating
and controlling acetylene gas within one or more devices or apparatus suited to
all illuminating purposes.
This invention consists or comprises a water supply chamber located above and
connected with a carbide holder, and between these two receptacles is interposed
a suitable valve or cock.
It also consists in providing either the water chamber or the filling cap of the
water chamber, with an air check valve, for the purpose of admitting and then
retaining atmospheric air under pressure within the water chamber. The uniform
flow of the water is thereby effected, without requiring the usual air hole or
vent.
This invention also consists of an attachment for the chimney of the head-
light or flame chamber of the lamp, comprising a disc, slotted across its face;
the metal of said slot being turned up or hinged from one of its sides. Project-
ing lips are thereby formed which act as deflectors for collecting and admitting
air and for increasing the ventilation in the flame chamber, and also to serve as
shields for preventing the rays of light dazzling the eyes of the rider.
This invention also consists in using the carbide gas pressure instead of the
compressed atmospheric air above mentioned. This result is effected by connect-
ing the top of the said air-tight water chamber with the carbide gas generating
chamber by means of a tube or conduit pipe. The gas pressure is thereby exerted
on the surface of the water and effects the same result as the compressed air,
though not always with such uniformity and steadiness.
The carbide holder of this invention consists of an independent receptacle having
a removable lid pierced with a central hole and inserted in a shell or casing
This holder is held therein by a cup-shaped
forming the body of the lamp.
threaded cap which terminates and thereby forms the lower portion of the body
of the lamp.
A bottomless case or lining is made of corrugated metal and by preference is
finely perforated. Compartments are formed in this lining by separable walls
extending from the lid to and conforming with the shape of the bottom of the
carbide holder. These division walls are rigidly connected to the corrugated
lining and terminate at the top into a spout, extending up and through the open-
ing of the cover of the carbide holder to and encircling and shielding an auto-
matic trap, the latter regulating the flow of water and the consequent production

page_text: The burner in the combustion chamber is detachably connected to the gas
outlet pipe for permitting its ready removal, substitution and cleansing.
The bottom edges of the separable wall and also the corrugated lining or
bottomless case, forms an efficient scraper or cleaner for removing the spent
carbide adhering to the holder. This is effected by turning the scraper backward
and forward within the carbide holder and then withdrawing it for cleaning.
Although a cycle gas lamp is chiefly referred to, the invention, in a slightly
modified form is equally adapted to other types of acetylene gas lighting and
generating devices.
Dated this 31st day of October 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Acetylene Gas Lamps.
I, JAMES HARDING LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, of 95-97, Liberty
Street, in the City of New York, County and State of New York, U.S.A.,
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:-
The present improvements relate to acetylene lamps.
The principal objects are to secure efficiency of operation as well as simplicity
and durability of construction.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.
Fig. 1, is a sectional view of a bicycle lamp embodying my invention.
Fig. 1 is a top view of the cover of the carbide holder a portion being broken
away.
Fig. 2, is rear view of the upper part of the lamp shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2, is a detail view of the indicating device for showing the position of
the valve.
Figs. 3, 3, 3, and 3° are detail views of the burner and surrounding parts
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, is a detail view of the double ported water and gas valve or cock shown
in Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 4b are cross sections through the plug of the valve taken in the
planes of the water and gas ports respectively, Fig. 4.
Figs. 5 and 5 are a vertical section and horizontal sectional view respectively
through the valve plug and adjacent parts, illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, is a sectional plan through the corrugated lining and its central tube.
Fig. 6, is a similar view illustrating a modification.
Fig. 7, is a view of a table or reading lamp partly in section, embodying my
invention.
Fig. 7, is a vertical sectional detail of the burner and surrounding parts
shown in Fig. 7, the section being taken in a plane at right angles to that in
said figure.
Fig. 7b, is a horizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 8, is a detail view illustrating in plan a modification of the slotted disc
inserted in the top of the lamp.
The holder A has a bottomless and corrugated lining a³ provided with com-
partment walls a* and central perforated water and gas products a³, a6, the former
being in alignment with the central hole 20 in the cover of a³.

page_text: The lining and its division walls act both to keep the holder clean and more
readily carry off the gas. The contour of the lower edge of the walls conform
to that of the holder or pot, thus forming in connection with the bottom edges
of the lining proper, a scraper which will serve when the lining and walls are
rotated, to cleanse the interior of the holder.
In order to allow the generated gas to freely pass off, the lining may be
perforated but this feature can be omitted.
Over and above this carbide holder is fitted the shell of the lamp. This
shell terminates in a threaded extension 10 having an annular flange 616 by
means of which and the similar threads on a cup-shaped detachable base por-
tion a, the latter is connected to the upper portion of the lamp embodying the
burner, water reservoir etc. containing the generating provisions, the joint being
made watertight by the interposition of one or more rubber gaskets 61 between
the annular flange a and the annular flange 16 of the extension 610.
described arrangement of the parts presents an intermediate chamber a which
is to be utilized in a manner presently explained.
The
e is the combustion or flame chamber with the usual reflector f¹, lens and
chimney. Said reflector has centrally at its rear a spherical spring plug f³,
adapted to engage a socket f3, formed in the contiguous wall of the water com-
partment to rotatably support the reflector. Springs f on the compartment will
aforesaid supplement the supporting function of the plug.
The rotatable supporting arrangement will permit its reflector to be properly
held and yet capable of ready turning on its plug to shift portions becoming
tarnished and tending to impair the full effect of the light.
A disc 8 located in the chimney is slitted partially across its face and the
slitted portions upset to constitute projecting lips 9 which act as deflectors and
also collecting and admitting air to increase the ventilation of the flame chamber.
These lips also serve as shields for preventing the rays of light from dazzling
the eyes of the rider. I may employ a plurality of semi-circular lips instead of
straight ones as shown in Fig. 8.
The water compartment we which in case of the bicycle lamp may be placed in
the rear of the combustion chamber, contains a stationary tube w open at both
ends and extending from the chamber top or side down to a point near the bottom.
It is closed at its top by a removable gas and water-tight plug w³ for effectually
sealing the receptacle. At the lower side of the water chamber is located a
removable water-tight plug w³, closing an opening serving as a drain or per-
mitting filling, the inversion of the chamber being necessary for the latter purpose.
Thus both the pipe and the lower plugged opening will be water-sealed.
The water chamber communicates with the carbide holder by the pipe 5 and
besides by means of the pipe w extending from the intermediate chamber a to
the top of said receptacle. This pipe conveys gas from the generating chamber
to the water receptacle so that the pressure may be equalized to promote the
ready feed of the water.
Between the upper part of the lamp comprising the combustion chamber and
the water receptacle, and the lower part formed by the carbide holder, shell of
the lamp and base portion, there is a cock or valve. This consists of a casing
containing a plug r', the latter having two segmental grooves of unequal length,
the shorter of which constitutes the water port while the longer the gas port.
The casing has a hollow extension aligned with the water port and connect-
ing with this extension is the pipe leading from the water receptacle. At an
angle from this and directly above the duct a of the corrugated lining, the casing
has a passage from which depends the pipe a³ down into the duct a to avoid
slopping of the water.
From this it will be seen that the groove 2 controls the water supply while
the groove 3 permits the passage of gas to the burner. In a passage all forming
part of the gas controlled duct but at a lower point than where the valve con-
trolled gas flows into the same, is a safety valve which by means of a passage ra

page_text: serves in case of excessive pressure to lead the gas direct from the intermediate
chamber to the burner to be consumed there.
By turning the plug, the gas port opens first to permit all gas previously
generated and remaining within the lamps, to be consumed first, the continued
turning causing both the gas and water ports to be simultaneously opened and
the further turning closing the water port, but leaving the gas port opened to
supply the gas. When the generation of gas becomes too slow, the gas port is
finally closed and the subsequently generated gas is confined or stored within the
lamp for future use.
Gas escapes from the intermediate chamber a', to the top of the water com-
partment by way of pipe w to maintain a suitable pressure in the compartment.
The gas may pass through a suitable filtering compartment on its way to the
burner.
In the reading lamp shown in Fig. 7 the burner is on top of the water com-
partment and at the lower end of the burner pipe y is a plug y having three
passages, and y¼ all communicating with pipe y.
From the passage y²,
through the water compartment down to the gas passage of the valve extends a
pipe y³, which takes the place of the L-shaped passage 10 of the bicycle lamp.
Passage has a safety valve similar to 2 but the gas does not pass direct
from the generating chamber to the safety valve but through the pipe w5 to the
water compartment and thence to the safety valve.
Passage y has a hand valve y10 for conducting the gas on top of the water to
the burner for consumption, before re-charging the lamp, thus avoiding disagree-
able odors which would otherwise accompany such process. This passage y¹ and
hand operated valve may however be omitted since the same result can be accom-
plished by opening the gas port in the regular valve or cock in the neck of the
lamp.
Instead of utilizing the pressure of the carbide gas, I may introduce compressed
air on top of the surface of the water, this being accomplished simply by fitting
the water compartment with a check valve and by omitting the pipe 5. The
preferred construction however is the one in which the gas generated in the lamp
itself is used to facilitate the water feed.
It may also in some cases be desirable to furnish a means for draining off any
water which might condense in the pipe y³. To this end a pipe having a cock
may connect with said pipe y³.
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. In an acetylene gas lamp, an interposed horizontally double ported or grooved
valve or cock placed in the neck between the water chamber and the carbide
holder, substantially as described and shown.
2. In an acetylene gas lamp, the interposed valve or cock, with segmentally
grooved gas and water ports, said valve being placed between the water chamber
and carbide holder, substantially as described and shown.
3. In an acetylene gas lamp, the independent carbide holder, with lid having
a central hole placed within the shell of the lamp, and held therein by a cup-
shaped threaded cup, substantially as shown and described.
4. In an acetylene gas lamp, the corrugated lining placed within the carbide
holder, substantially as described and shown.
5. In an acetylene gas lamp, the corrugated and perforated lining placed within
the carbide holder, substantially as described and shown.
6. In an acetylene gas lamp, the corrugated lining placed within the carbide
holder, and divided into compartments by suitable walls, substantially as described
and shown.
7. In an acetylene gas lamp, the corrugated and perforated lining placed within
the carbide holder and divided into compartments by suitable walls, substantially
as described and shown.

page_text: 8. In an acetylene gas lamp, the chimney disc so constructed as to collect and
deflect the air and also for shielding the light, substantially as described and
shown.
9. In an acetylene gas lamp, the chimney disc provided with a plurality of
elongated lips, slanted upward and outward, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
10. In an acetylene gas lamp, the herein described scraper for cleansing the
carbide holder, substantially as described.
11. In an acetylene gas lamp, the herein described scraper formed by the division
walls and corrugated lining rotatable within the carbide holder, substantially as
described.
12. In an acetylene gas lamp, means of supplying the air-tight water chamber
with compressed air for the purpose set forth.
13. In an acetylene gas lamp, means for supplying the air-tight water chamber
with compressed air, consisting of an air check valve inserted in the body of the
water chamber as and for the purpose set forth.
14. An acetylene gas lamp utilizing its own gas pressure for increasing the
flow of water upon the carbide, substantially as set forth.
15. A gas generator, in which the ingredients are disposed in separate recep-
tacles, having a valve or cock interposed between said receptacles, and provided
with a short and narrow segmental surface-groove constituting a water port for
the passage of the water from one of the receptacles to the other, for the genera-
tion of the gas, and a similar surface groove made wider and longer than the
water port and constituting a gas port for the discharge of the gas so generated,
the water port being arranged to open after the gas port and to close in advance
of the gas port, substantially as described.
16. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, an automatic safety valve for the gas
discharging into the burner, substantially as described.
17. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, a hand-operated exhaust for the gas
discharging into the burner, substantially as described.
18. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, the combination with a burner, of a gas
duct, an automatic safety valve and a hand operated exhaust, all discharging
into the burner, substantially as described.
19. In combination with an acetylene gas generator and apparatus for utilizing
the gas generated, an automatic blow-off for the gas generator communicating
with the apparatus for utilizing the gas, but not communicating directly with
the atmosphere, substantially as described.
20. In combination with an acetylene gas generator and apparatus for utilizing
the gas generated, a hand-operated blow-off for the gas generator communicating
with the apparatus for utilizing the gas, but not communicating directly with
the atmosphere, substantially as described.
21. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, the combination of a generating chamber,
a water tank and an intermediate chamber formed between the water tank and
the generating chamber, a gas outlet from the said intermediate chamber lead-
ing to the burner, a second gas outlet from said intermediate chamber for con-
veying gas to the top of the surface of the water tank, and a gas outlet from said
water tank leading to the burner, substantially as described.
22. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, comprising a generating chamber, a water
tank and an intermediate chamber, means of communication between the inter-
mediate chamber and the water tank for conveying gas to the top of the surface of
the water, a gas outlet from said water tank having an automatic safety valve,
and a hand operated gas exhaust from said water tank to the burner, substan-
tially as described.
23. In a portable acetylene gas lamp, the combination of a generating chamber.
a water tank and an intermediate gas storing space formed between said
generating chamber and water tank, means of communication, comprising a bent
pipe leading from the intermediate gas storing space to the top of the water tank,

page_text: for automatically equalizing the pressure in the gas storing space and the water
tank, substantially as described.
24. In a portable gas lamp, comprising a generating chamber and a water tank
and means of communication between the generating chamber and the water
tank for equalizing the gas pressure, a hand operated gas exhaust from said water
tank discharging into the burner, substantially as described.
25. In an acetylene gas lamp in which the water and carbide are disposed in
separate receptacles, a carbide receptacle having a curved bottom, and an open-
bottomed, movable lining having division walls curved at their lower ends form-
ing scrapers, said movable lining being adapted to be readily rotated backward
and forward, substantially as described.
26. In an acetylene gas lamp in which the carbide and water are disposed in
separate receptacles, an air-tight water supply compartment and means for feed-
ing the water more readily to the carbide which consists in maintaining an air
or gas pressure on the top of the surface of the water, substantially as described.
27. In an acetylene gas lamp in which the carbide and water are disposed in
separate receptacles, an air-tight water supply compartment, and means for feed-
ing the water more readily to the carbide which consists in conveying a portion
of the gas produced in the carbide receptacle to the top of the surface of the
water, substantially as described.
28. In an acetylene gas lamp, a water supply compartment having gas intro-
ducing means, substantially as described.
29. In an acetylene gas lamp, a water supply compartment having a check
valve, substantially as described.
30. In a bicycle lamp having a combustion chamber with a detachable reflector,
means for attaching said reflector to the rear wall of the combustion chamber
whereby it is fastened at its centre and free at its periphery so that it may be
turned around its central fastening, substantially as described.
31. In a bicycle lamp having a combustion chamber with a detachable reflector,
a spring plug formed at the centre of the back of the reflector, a corresponding
socket formed in the rear of the combustion chamber for the reception of the
spring plug, substantially as described.
32. In an acetylene gas lamp, a water supply compartment having fluid intro-
ducing means, substantially as described.
33. In an acetylene gas generator in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, an interposed cock or valve comprising a valve casing
and a valve plug, said valve casing having a gas passage leading from the
generator to the burner and a water passage leading from the water chamber to
the generator, the flow of gas and water being both controlled by the rotating of
said valve plug within the casing, and said casing having further an additional
gas passage leading from the generator to the burner through which the flow of
gas is controlled only by the pressure in the generator, substantially as described.
34. In an acetylene gas generator in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, an interposed cock or valve comprising a valve casing
and a valve plug, said valve casing having a gas passage leading from the
generator to the burner and a water passage leading from the water chamber
to the generator, both the flow of gas and water being controlled by the rotation
of said valve plug, within casing, and said casing having further an additional
gas passage leading from the generator to the burner in which is interposed a
safety valve, substantially as described.
35. In an acetylene gas generator in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, an interposed cock or valve comprising a valve casing and
a valve plug, said valve casing having a gas passage leading from the generator
to the burner and a water passage leading from the water chamber to the generator,
both the flow of gas and water being controlled by the rotation of said valve
plug, within the casing and said casing having further an additional gas passage,

page_text: leading from the generator to the burner, through which the flow of gas is not
controlled by the valve plug, substantially as described.
36. In an acetylene gas generator in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, an inverse water sealed inlet for the water tank located in
the lower part of same, substantially as described.
37. In an acetylene gas generator, in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, a water inlet located in the lower part of the water tank
so as to be water-sealed when the generator is in its normal position substantially
as described.
38. In an acetylene gas generator, in which the water and carbide are disposed
in separate receptacles, a water inlet located in the lower part of the water tank
so that the said water tank may be filled when the generator is turned upside
down, substantially as described.
39. In an acetylene gas generator having a water supply chamber, a tube open
at both ends formed stationary with said supply chamber and extending from
the upper part of said chamber down to a point below the water level, in combina-
tion with a removable plug for closing the upper end of said tube, substantially
as described.
40. In an acetylene gas generator, a gas and water-tight water supply chamber,
having water sealed fluid introducing means, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of August 1900.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.