Improvements in or relating to Acetylene or like Generators and Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1898-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Acetylene or like Generators and
Lamps.
I, LEROY SUNDERLAND BUFFINGTON, Architect, of 336, Boston Block, Minnea-
Hotel
polis, Minnesota, United States of America, at present residing at the
Royal," Blackfriars, in the County of Surrey, 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 relates to acetylene or like generators, that is apparatus in
which gas is generated by the action of a liquid on a solid and lamps for burn-
ing gas so produced, its object being to provide an improved means of regulating
the generation of the gas in the generator whereby a more uniform production
of gas is attained than in generators of the constructions hitherto usually
employed and an improved construction of lamp, such that it may readily be
applied to the framework or casing of lamps intended for other illuminants in
many instances without any alteration to the existing forms of such casings.
According to this invention the generation of gas is regulated by the change in
volume due to the action of the liquid which occurs in the calcium carbide or
other solid employed during the production of gas therefrom, this change being
preferably employed to actuate mechanism whereby the supply of liquid to the
said solid is regulated.
One construction of combined generator and lamp according to this invention
is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being there shown as applied to
a railway carriage or similar hanging lamp,
Figure 1 being a central vertical section,
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 a part elevation part central section of the generator and lamp, in
a plane at right angles to that of Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the application of lamp and generator to the lantern
of a lamp post as commonly constructed.
With reference to Figure 1, the generating portion of the lamp is contained
within a substantially cylindrical vessel A. Within this is contained a second
vessel also cylindrical in the example illustrated and lettered A', it being sup-
ported upon the bottom of the vessel A by any suitable means such as is indi-
cated by the stand A2. This inner vessel A¹ contains the calcium carbide cart-
ridge 1, it being preferably of the form described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 23802, dated October 15th 1897, granted to me.
The supply of water to act upon the calcium carbide is contained within a
vessel B, so constructed as to be a sliding fit within the vessel A thus forming

page_text: a cover to the latter. A cylinder BI depends flange-like from the under surface
of the vessel B, and encloses the vessel A¹ between whose walls and the depending
cylinder B' an annular space of small cross sectional area is left, there being a
similar space but of considerable larger cross sectional area formed between the
walls of the vessel A and the said cylindrical flange B. A shorter flange 132
forming substantially a continuation of the circumferential wall of the vessel B
also projects downwardly into the vessel A, it forming an additional safeguard
against the water, contained in the two annular spaces just referred to, being
splashed up between the circumferential walls of the vessel B and of the vessel A.
Within the vessel B is a pipe C passing through the bottom of the vessel B to
and communicating with a drip valve C¹ the other end of the pipe opening
upon the interior of the vessel B and being provided with an ordinary stop
cock C. The stem C³ of this stop cock is extended upwards and out through
the top of the vessel B and is there provided with a handle C. An opening B³
in the top of the vessel B is provided with a hollow screw cap B in which are
three perforated diaphragms B5. The calcium carbide D is as before stated,
preferably contained in a cartridge, but may if convenient be placed loose in
the bottom of the vessel A', in which case a disc must be provided which will
rest upon the surface of the carbide and which will be raised by the expansion
thereof. A ring C³ rests upon the top of the telescopic cartridge and is
connected by pivotted links C6 C7 to the drip valve C¹ which is controlled thereby.
Springs E are placed in compression between the bottom of the vessel B and the
ring C and serve to retain the latter in its position upon the top of the cart-
ridge 1. Exit for the gas generated within the vessel A' is afforded by two
pipes F, which pass through the bottom of the vessel A and communicate with
the burner G. These pipes are firmly secured to the vessel A where they pass
through its walls. The heated products of combustion are received in an elon-
gated receptacle H in the bottom of which there is preferably an oval opening H¹,
the two ends of the receptacle terminating in upwardly extending pipes H³ to
lead off the products of combustion. The top surface of the receptacle is pre-
ferably provided with a guard plate H³. The generator and lamp are shown
contained within a casing of the kind commonly employed in railway carriages
for the roof lamps; this casing is indicated at K it being provided with a lid K¹
hinged at K and a supporting ring K. The glass L is supported by and hangs
from the bottom of this casing K.
The generator and lamp are supported upon the upper edge of the glass L,
an ornamental discoidal metal support shown at N being attached to the recep-
tacle H at the orifice. H. This supporting disc is flanged at N2 for rigidity and
perforated. at frequent intervals as indicated at N3; it supports from its upper
surface a cylindrical wall O, the upper edge of which is turned outward, and by
resting against the casing K renders the arrangement steady. This wall als
serves to separate the incoming air which enters by perforations M¹ just within
the flanged ring K3 from the outgoing, the products of combustion passing up
the tubes. H. The heated products of combustion finally escape by the path
indicated by the arrows H', a space being left over the top of the lid K' between
its upper edge and a supplementary lid P hinged at P¹.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
Water is placed within the vessel A to such a depth that when the vessel A¹
containing the calcium carbide D, is placed in position, the level will rise to
about that indicated in the drawings. The vessel 13, from the under side of
which the ring C is hanging by the links C6 and C7 is filled with water, the
valve C being closed. The lid P being opened, the vessel B is then slipped into
the vessel A, the cylindrical flange B dipping into the water and dividing the
upper portion of it into two annular columns as hereinbefore described. The
ring C comes into contact with the top of the cartridge D1 upon which it rests,
the springs E being slightly compressed by the act of placing the vessel B in
position. When it is desired to light the lamp or to start the generator, the lid P

page_text: is turned back and the valve C opened to its full extent thus affording an out-
let for the water in the vessel B from the drip valve C¹. The water falling upon
the carbide 1) in the cartridge D₁ sets up generation of the gas which escapes
to the burner G by means of the pipes F. The gas issuing at the jet G may be
lighted by throwing back the lid K' about its hinge K2 and lifting the entire
apparatus out of the casing K when a light may be applied to the jet. The
apparatus is then replaced within the casing and the lid K' shut.
Continued consumption of the carbide causes the latter to expand as lime etc.
is formed the result being that the upper surface of the telescopic cartridge rises
forcing the ring (upwards & thus causing the drip valve C₁ to become more
fully opened by means of the links C C. The increased supply of water pro-
duced in this manner affords a steady production of gas the formation of the
residual products from the combination of the carbide and water necessitating an
increased supply. Should any slight irregularity in the production occur by
reason of impurity or other irregularity in the carbide, the level of water in
the annular space between the walls B and A¹ will be depressed and that of
the column between the walls B and A will be slightly raised, this difference in
level compensating for the increased production.
When it is desired to stop the generator, all that is necessary is to throw back
the lid P and close the valve C
If an over production of gas should occur sufficient to depress the level of
the small column of water above referred to, to such an extent that the difference
between its level and that of the larger column is sufficient to overcome the
head of water in the vessel B, the supply of water through the drip valve will
be automatically stopped until the pressure of gas in the vessel A¹ again
falls.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the generator is there shown applied to
the lantern of a lamp post. The generator is substantially the same as that
herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, except that the outlet
pipe Q for the gas is made taper, that is to say, of larger cross sectional area at
its lower than at its upper end.
The object of so constructing this outlet pipe is to prevent the coalescence
of the globules of liquid condensed or otherwise found present therein and which
by their coalescence block the passage of the gas and cause a flicker in the light.
This device has been found to entirely obviate the occurrence of this defect.
Although this invention has been described as applied to an acetylene genera-
tor, it may obviously be applied to other generators in which gas is produced by
the action of a liquid on a solid; nor is it confined to generators in which the
solid increases in volume under the action of the liquid but may be employed
where the former decreases; it may also, in some cases be expedient or advisable
to diminish instead of increasing the flow of liquid as consumption of the solid
proceeds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
-
1. A gas generator for producing gas from the action of a liquid on a solid in
which the supply of liquid or the production of gas is regulated by means of the
change in volume of the solid due to the action of the liquid thereon.
2. In a gas generator for producing gas from the action of a liquid on a solid
the combination with the solid of mechanism operated by the change in volume
thereof under the action of the liquid to regulate the flow of liquid to the solid.
3. In a gas generator for producing gas from the action of a liquid on a solid
or in a lamp the combination with the gas chamber of an outlet pipe of larger
cross sectional area at its lower than at its upper end substantially as and for the
purpose described.

page_text: 4. The complete acetylene generator lamp and casing substantially as described
or illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 or in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
L. S. BUFFINGTON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.