Improved Lamp for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Lamp for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas.
I, LEWIS JAMES KECK, of 65, Victoria Street, Liverpool, Salesman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1
My invention relates to an improved acetylene gas lamp for bicycles and other
vehicles and the invention has for its object to provide a lamp which is capable of
generating acetylene gas from carbide in the lump or in powder and in which the
generation of the gas is automatically regulated so as to be commensurate only with
the rate of consumption so that, over-generation being impossible, the lamp is
absolutely safe against explosion under any conditions.
The chamber containing the carbide and in which the gas is generated forms the
base of the lamp body and is supplied with water from the water reservoir mounted
at the back of the lamp body through a tube filled with a wick of woollen thread
and controlled by a stop-cook the wick tube leading down nearly to the bottom of
a perforated tube which rises centrally from the bottom of the generating chamber
and is surrounded with a sheath of muslin or other light material acting as a
strainer to permit the passage of gas but prevent the fine particles of carbide enter-
ing the central rising tube. In the annular space around this tube the carbido is
contained and is pressed upon by a light spring plunger of annular form so as to
keep the carbide packed tightly and prevent it being disturbed by jolting. The
water reservoir being closed the water is supplied by the capillary action of the
wick to the space within the contral perforated tube, at such a rate as to be only
commensurate with the requirements of the consumption, and is arrested as soon
as any measurable pressure of gas is attained in the generator. The water passes
through the muslin strainer into contact with the lowermost particles of carbide
the decomposition of which progresses from below upwards, the resulting gas
passing through the strainer and up the central tube to the burner fitted on a
conioal dome opening directly over the central tube. As the supply of carbide
becomes exhausted the strainer inay also act, to a certain extent, as a wick to convey
the water upwards and bring it into contact with the upper portions of the carbide.
Dated this 30th day of November 1897.
Improved Lamp for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas.
I, LEWIS JAMES KECK, of 65, Victoria Street, Liverpool, Salesman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
Price 8d.1

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to an improved acetylene gus lamp for bicycles and other
vehicles; and it has for its object to provide a lamp which is capable of generating
acetylene gas from carbide and in which the generation of the gas is automatically
regulated so as to be commensurate only with the rate of consumption so that,
over-generation of gas being impossible, the lamp is absolutely safe against
explosion.
According to my invention the chamber containing the carbide and in which the
gas is generated forms the base of the lamp body and is supplied with water from
the water reservoir mounted at the back of the lamp body through a tube contain-
ing a wick of woollen thread or other appropriate material and controlled by a
stop-cock, the wick tube leading down nearly to the bottom of a perforated tube
which rises centrally from the bottom of the generating chamber and is surrounded
with a sheath of muslin or other light material acting as a strainer to permit the
passage of gus but prevent the fine particles of carbide entering the central rising
or perforated tube. In the annular space around this tube the carbide is contained
and is pressed upon by a light spring plunger of annular form so as to keep the
carbide packed tightly and prevent it being disturbed by jolting. The water
reservoir being closed the water is supplied by the capillary action of the wick to
the space within the central perforated tube, at such a rate as to be only com-
mensurate with the requirements of the consumption, and is arrested as soon as
any measurable pressure of gas is attained in the generator. The water passes
through the muslin strainer into contact with the lowermost particles of carbide
the decomposition of which progresses from below upwards, the resulting gas
passing through the strainer and up the central tube to the burner fitted on a
conical dome opening directly over the central tube. As the supply of carbide
becomes exhausted the strainer may also act, to a certain extent, as a wick to convey
the water upwards and bring it into contact with the upper portions of the carbide.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accom-
panying drawing which illustrates by way of example a portable lamp constructed
according to my invention and more particularly designed for use as a vehicle lamp.
In the drawing 7 represents the lantern or flame chamber, provided with a suit-
able burner 8, that is in communication with the generating chamber. In the
form of construction shown, the burner 8 is mounted upon a conical body 9 forming
within the main body of the lamp, in conjunction with the diaphragm 10, a gas
filtering chamber containing a filtering medium 11, such as cotton. This diaphragm
is loosely mounted upon the wall of the generating chamber 12, and surrounds the
top of the perforated tube 13, mounted within said chamber. The perforated tube
is covered with a fabric, such as muslin, 14. The water reservoir is marked 15 and
communicates through the supply pipe 16, with the interior of the perforated
tube 13, passing through a central aperture in the diaphragm 10. A stop-cock or
valve 17 controls the flow of water from the reservoir 15. Within the supply tube 16
is placed a suitable porous material through which the water may percolate. This
porous material may be ordinary wicking, such as indicated at 18, or other material
capable of restraining the free flow of the water while permitting it to percolate or
force its way therethrough so as to be delivered in drops at the open end of the tube. I
have found the wicking serviceable, and in order to conveniently insert and remove
it, such wicking may be provided with an eyelet or piece of metal as 19, to which
a cord or wire may be connected for drawing the wicking into the tube 16. The
outer end of the tube may be closed with a screw plug 20.
It will be noticed that the reservoir is elevated above the generating chamber and
that the water is fed by gravity, its pressure being sufficient to cause it to pene-
trate through the wicking, or other retarding material enclosed within the water
supply tube. The water will thus be discharged in drops at the end of the tube
and, striking the bottom of the generating chamber within the perforated tubo 13,

page_text: will pass through the perforations thereof and be absorbed by the fabric surround-
ing said perforated tube and thereby conducted to its top. The carbide, being in
contact with this wet fabric, will take up sufficient moisture therefrom to generate
the gas. In a portable lamp and generator, such as that shown, the movement will
be sufficient to constantly bring the unconsumed carbide into contact with the wet
envelope, and the mass will be sufficiently penetrated by the water to generate
the gas in quantities sufficient for the needs of the lump. It may be observed
further that the gas having free access to the lower end of the water supply tube
will, when an excessive pressure is produced, operate to retard the flow of the water,
and thereby the generator becomes not only automatic in the supply of the water
for the generation of the gas, but also said supply is automatically regulated or
controlled, being decreased as the volume of gas increases, and increased as the
volume of gas is reduced by consumption, and thus the generator is automatic and
self-controlled or self-regulated.
While I have described and shown one embodiment of the structural features of
the lamp, it will be understood that the form shown is illustrative merely, and that
the principle of my invention may be embodied in apparatus of widely varying
form and structure. The structural details, so far as they pertain to the main
feature of my improvement, may also be varied.
Obviously, in my invention the valve shown is simply used to cut off the flow of
water when it is not desired to generate gas, and such valve need not be made with
particular accuracy, as reliance is not placed thereon for any absolutely water tight
or gas tight joint, and no nicety of adjustment of the valve need be made when
the water supply is turned on, the only consideration being to open a free passage
from the head or supply of water to the porous material, which serves as a feeding
and regulating medium. I profer, however, to locate the controlling valve 17 at
the discharge end of the supply pipe, and in the construction shown this valve is an
ordinary conical valve mounted on the end of a stem 21, which is threaded through
a suitable aperture 22 in the base of the generating chamber, and is provided with a
stuffing box 23 to prevent leakage, and with a milled head 24, by means of which
the valve may be rotated. The lower end of the supply pipe is formed into a suit-
able seat to receive the valve.
I have found, in practice, that in lamps of this description, where the valve is
located at the upper end or in the upper portion of the supply tube, when said
valve is closed, the water remaining in that portion of the pipe or tube below the
said valve may still continue to flow, at least to some extent, to the carbide in the
generating chamber, so that the water supply to the carbide does not cease at once
upon the closing of the valve, and gas is generated to some extent after said valve
is closed. I have also found that after the valve has been closed for some time
and it is desired to again generato gas, when the valve is first opened the supply of
water to the carbide is not immediate, as the water must first percolate through
the porous material in the tubo or pipe and fill the same before the water issues
from the discharge end of the said tube or pipe and has access to the carbide. I
have overcome these difficulties by locating the controlling valve at the discharge
end of the supply pipe, so that, as soon as said valve is closed, the flow of water
to the carbide is at once arrested and the volume of water remains in the supply
pipe, keeping the porous material therein saturated, so that as soon as said valve
is again opened, the flow of water to the carbide begins at once, and no time is
lost in again saturating the porous material.
As the carbide swells when moistened, the generating chamber is only partially
filled with the carbide when charging the same, and in order to hold the carbide
in proper position, and at the same time permit of its swelling, I employ a ver-
tically yielding spring controlled annular plunger or diaphragm 25, which sur-
rounds but is freely movable relative to the tube 13, and which is supported and
controlled by a spiral spring 26 secured to the said diaphragm 25 at one end and
to the diaphragm 10 at its other end, so as to be removable along with this latter
diaphragm during the operation of charging the generating chainber,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, is:-
1. The combination of a generating chamber, a water reservoir elevated above
the generating chamber, a supply pipe connecting the reservoir and the chamber,
and a porous material through which the water is passed and whereby it is
delivered in minute quantities substantially as described.
2. The combination of a generating chamber to contain a carbide, an elevated
water reservoir, a water supply pipe or passage connecting the reservoir and
chamber, and a porous material enclosed within or forming a part of the supply
pipe or passage, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a generating chamber to contain a carbide such as calcium
carbide, an elevated reservoir to contain water, a valve controlled supply pipe, and
a porous material enclosed within said pipe, substantially as described.
4. The combination of an elevated water reservoir to maintain a head of water,
a supply pipe leading from the lower portion thereof, a generating chamber to
which the water pipe delivers, and a porous material interposed in the water
passage, said material being adapted to permit the water. to percolate therethrough,
and the lower end of the passage heing exposed to the gas pressure, whereby an
excess pressure of gas will check the flow of the water, substantially as described.
5. A water supply pipe having a porous material in the form of a wick therein,
and one end of said wick being provided with an eyelet, or equivalent metallic
fastening, whereby the same may be drawn into and removed from the tube,
substantially as described.
6. The combination with a gas generator, of a water supply tube or passage
having a fabric envelope, substantially as and for the purpose described.
7. The combination of a generating chamber, a water chamber elevated above
the generating chamber, and a water supply pipe or passage having therein, or as
a part thereof, a porous material to restrain the flow of the water, the latter being
fed by gravity or pressure through said obstructing material, substantially as
described.
.8. The combination of .a generating chamber to contain a carbide, such as
calcium carbide, an elevated reservoir to contain water, a supply pipe or passage
connecting the reservoir and chamber and containing a porous material, and a
controlling valve located at the discharge end of the supply pipe or passage, sub-
stantially as described.
9. The combination of a generating chamber to contain a carbide such as calcium
carbide, an elevated reservoir to contain water, a supply pipe or passage connecting
the reservoir and chamber and having a porous material enclosed therein, a valve
seat formed at the discharge end of the supply pipe or passage, and a valve provided
with a threaded stem passing through a correspondingly threaded opening in the
wall of the generating chamber and adapted to control the flow of water through
the supply pipe or passage, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of Rohmidine 1908
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.