Improvements in Vehicle Lamps for Generating and Burning Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 13th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Vehicle Lamps for Generating and Burning
Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN ZIMMERMAN, of 1416, Masonic Temple, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,
United States of America, Manufacturer, 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: —
My invention relates particularly to that class of lamps in which gas is formed
by bringing water into contact with calcium carbide or similar substance, and
especially that class of lamp that is adapted for use in connection with vehicles
of the class known as bicycles.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, safe, and efficient
lamp for forming and burning acetylene gas; and the invention consists in the
features, combinations and details of construction hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a
lamp constructed in accordance with my improvements, taken on line 1 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2 a similar view, taken on line 2 of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 a plan view of the
lamp sustaining bracket, looking at it from above.
In the art to which this invention relates, it is well known that there is consider-
able danger in generating acetylene or similar gases by the decomposition of
water by calcium carbide, or similar substances, owing to the fact that if the
burner be closed and other natural means of escape for the pressure of the gas be
closed at the time the water is shut off, there is sufficient liquid left in the generat-
ing chamber to form a quantity of gas, and as this gas is generated almost
instantaneously and forms high pressures thereby becoming dangerous from the
fact that the apparatus ordinarily employed is not strong enough to resist the
internal pressure, the result is often times an explosion. It is further well known
that the gas in most cases of this kind is formed under a high pressure, and that
ordinarily this high pressure is used to operate intermediate mechanism to govern
the inflow or control the feeding of the water to the carbide. This can only be
done at high pressures which, as above stated, are very dangerous in ordinary use,
for the reason that in this as in all other mechanism, the ignorant or careless user
is likely to be injured by not taking the necessary precautions.
My improvements are designed particularly to overcome these objections by
providing a lamp in which the burner through which the gas is collected and
consumed is constantly open, so that when the water or liquid is shut off the gas
will continue to escape so long as it is formed by the decomposition of the water,
vapor, or moisture in the generating chamber.
Further, the apparatus (or the elements which go to form the same) is so con-
structed and arranged that the gas is formed at a pressure slightly in excess of
that of the atmosphere, and, as a consequence there is no liability of explosion.
For this purpose the generating chamber is equipped with an automatically acting
safety valve independent of all other mechanism connected with the chamber.
In constructing a lamp in accordance with my improvements, I make a base
portion A, of the desired size and shape and provided with a generating chamber a

page_text: in which the carbide of calcium B, or similar material, is inserted in the shape of
a circular cake, and which is located and held in position by means of a vertical
perforated tube b. To provide a liquid-holding chamber and other elements, I
make an upper circular portion C, and secure it to the base portion by means of
screw-threads c, which upper portion preferably forms a closure for the upper
portion of the generating chamber. The upper liquid-holding portion is provided
with a conical shaped reflector C which forms the inner portion of the water
chamber and forms, in connection with the outer portion, an annular water
chamber c¹. To control the feed of the water into the generating chamber as
desired, I employ a plug cock E.
To provide a duct for conveying the gas after it has been generated and a burner
to burn the same, a tube G is provided which leads to the rear of the lamp and is
connected with the burner H. This tube and burner are always open, so that the
moment the gas is formed or generated, it may escape to the outer air and prevent
explosion. At the same time, when the feed cock is closed, what small portion
of gas is thereafter formed in the generating chamber is allowed to escape through
the burner or through the aforesaid safety valve; and, as will be seen from the
above description, it can be a small amount only, which will not tend to annoy or
be injurious, even in small apartments.
It is well known in this art that a burner is liable to become clogged by a
deposit of sediment or carbon in the outlet; and, in order to obviate this objection,
I provide the burner with a cleaning needle I, arranged in line with the burner
opening and in the cylindrical perforation which forms a portion of the duct. A
coiled spring i, inserted between the burner and the cleaning needle tends to keep
the needle in retracted position, while its outer extending portion i¹, may be raised
by the finger or otherwise whenever desired to force the point through the burner
opening and thoroughly clean the same. The burner is inserted in the rear
portion of the lamp in a perforated circular portion K having a perforated
chimney, the rear wall of the circular perforation forming a reflector K¹.
A funnel portion M is inserted in the generating chamber between the water-
holding chamber and the cake of carbide, so that the moisture, vapor or water
must enter the generating chamber at or near one point at all times; this funnel
provides what might be termed a secondary gas chamber m from which the gas is
withdrawn, and prevents particles of used carbide from being forced up into the
tube and burner.
In order to provide a simple, economical and efficient holding bracket which may
hold the lamp in any desired position or angle with relation to the frame of the
vehicle, I provide the lamp with a cylindrical hook portion L and a bracket formed of a
tubular sleeve portion, which may be secured to the hooked portion by means of
a set screw. This sleeve portion is again provided with a second sleeve por-
tion secured at right angles thereto, and which is secured to a bifurcated
portion L2 by means of an adjusting screw 12. This bifurcated bracket portion
is provided with what might be termed a cylindrical opening and an angular
opening formed by the free ends of the bracket, so that the bracket may be
adapted to encircle either the head or one of the members of the steering forks.
clamping screw is used to hold the bracket in position. By this bracket it will
be seen that a peculiar universal joint is provided for holding the lamp in any
desired position or angle, and each joint or portion of the joint is provided with a
separate clamping or set screw.
A
The principal advantages incident to a lamp constructed according to my im-
provements are, first, the lamp is kept cool by the peculiar location of the annular
water chamber which surrounds a portion of the reflector; second, the lamp is
what might be termed "fool-proof," in that no matter how ignorant or careless the
user may be, he cannot generate a pressure that will cause an explosion, for the
reason that water or moisture is fed to the generating chamber in limited quantities
just sufficient to provide for the desired consumption: third, the lamp is what
might be termed a low pressure lamp—that is, the only pressure necessary is just

page_text: sufficient to overcome the atmospheric pressure, and at no time can any higher
pressure be generated; and, finally, the lamp is simple and very economical to
construct and keep in repair.
In order to provide for the escape of gases-if at any time they should develope
at high pressure a safety valve R is as above stated provided and connected
with the exterior of the casing, as shown in Figure 2.
I do not confine myself to the form of valve E illustrated, which might be
changed from that shown to the ordinary needle form of valve, which gives more
accurate regulation of the quantity of liquid entering the generating chamber.
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. A lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, in which there is combined
a base portion provided with a generating chamber, an automatically acting
independent safety valve, an upper portion provided with a liquid-holding
chamber, a feed tube or pipe for conveying the liquid by force of gravity from the
liquid chamber to the generating chamber, a valve in the feed tube adapted to open
and close the same and be operated by manual force, and a burner connected with
the generating chamber and having a free and unobstructed conduit between the
generating chamber and the burner opening so that gas may be formed under low
pressure and consumed or passed to the atmosphere, and a movable needle in such
burner for cleaning the burner opening, substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a base portion
provided with a generating chamber, and a liquid-holding chamber, a burner con-
nected therewith, and a movable needle in such burner for cleaning the burner
opening, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a main portion
provided with a generating chamber and a liquid-holding chamber, with a burner
connected with the generating chamber having a needle located in the duct of
such burner, and spring mechanism to hold the needle in its retracted position,
substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a lamp or main
portion provided with a cylindrical hook and a bracket portion provided with a
tubular sleeve engaging with the cylindrical hook and having a set screw to hold it
in proper engagement, a second tubular portion connected with the first portion
and at right angles therewith, a set or clamping screw in such second tubular
portion, and means for connecting the second tubular portion with a frame of a
vehicle, substantially as described.
5. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene and similar gases, the com-
bination of a receptacle provided with a generating chamber in the lower portion
thereof and a liquid-holding chamber above the generating chamber, and a feed
pipe or passage connecting the liquid and generating chambers to permit the
passage of gas either way and permit the flow of water therethrough, substantially
as described.
G. In a lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas, the combination of a
receptacle provided with a generating chamber in the lower portion thereof, and a
chamber above the same provided with an annular liquid chamber-the inner
walls forming the reflectors of the lamp, substantially as described.
noted this 12th day of July 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.