An Improved Acetylene Gas Lamp for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Acetylene Gas Lamp for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, HERMANN RHENSIUS, of 11, Long Lane, Aldersgate Street, London, E.C.,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved acetylene lamp for
cycles and other vehicles the light from which can be extinguished at will and
the further generation of gas prevented while at the sametime a steady and
uniform flame is given owing to the more efficient generation of gas and a
cleaner and more convenient lamp is provided.
According to this invention the body or bracket of the lamp carrying the
burner and reflector is in the form of a cylinder closed at the lower end. Into
this cylinder is placed another short cylinder or chamber which is fitted with
carbide of calcium in lumps or otherwise, a loosely fitting cover resting upon
the carbide inside the chamber for keeping the said carbide compact, the whole
forming a kind of cartridge.
Two or more vertical grooves are formed in the sides of this chamber, each of
which groove contains several small perforations for feeding water to the carbide.
A small quantity of water is placed in the outer cylinder, which water is
drawn up to the said perforations by capillary action caused by fitting the
cartridge or chamber somewhat loosely within another cylinder or tube closed
at the top, the water being drawn up in the small space between the two.
This outer tube enclosing the cartridge is provided at the top with a small
outlet pipe connected by an india-rubber tube another small pipe fitted to the
bottom of a chamber formed in the removable top of the outer cylinder or body
cover. This chamber is fitted with an outside tap which is connected by an
india-rubber tube to the burner. The gas formed in the cartridge or inner
chamber thus passes into the chamber in the cover from whence it is led to the
burner through the said tap and cut off from the latter by the action of the same
as may be desired.
If the pressure of the gas should be too great, or should the gas be cut off from
the burner it will pass downwards from the chamber in the cover and force the
water down below the perforations in the cartridge and thus stop the generating
action, the lamp thus acting automatically.
A small hole is also formed in the top of the cover to act as an escape for gas
of extra pressure, thereby preventing explosions.
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant,
5. Hatton Garden. Holborn Circus, London. E.C.

page_text: I, HERMAN RHENSIUS, of 11, Long Lane, Aldersgate Street, London, E.C.,
Merchant, 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:
outer
The object of this invention is to provide an improved acetylene lamp for cycles
and other vehicles, the light from which can be 'extinguished at will and the
further generation of gas prevented while at the same time a steady and uniform
flame is given owing to the more efficient generation of gas, and a cleaner and more
convenient lamp is provided. According to this invention the body or bracket of
the lamp carrying the burner and reflector is in the form of a cylinder closed at
the lower end. Into this cylinder is placed another short cylinder or chamber
which is filled with carbide of calcium in lumps or otherwise, and is closed at
the bottom a loosely fitting cover resting upon the carbide therein for keeping
the same compact, and the whole forming a kind of cartridge. The said
chamber containing the carbide is supported within the body or
cylinder by another cylinder or tube, open at the bottom and closed at the top,
and within which its fits with sufficient tightness to hold it in place, a pivoted
ring or handle being fitted to its bottom for drawing it out for the purpose of
filling it with fresh carbide. Vertical grooves or channels are formed in the sides
of the carbide chamber each of which is provided with several small perforations
for feeding water to the carbide. The water is held in the lower part of the
outer cylinder and is drawn up by capillary action to the said perforations
through the small space between the carbide chamber and its enclosing tube.
The said outer tube or cylinder enclosing the cartridge is provided at the top
with a small outlet pipe connected by an india-rubber tube with another small
pipe fitted to the bottom of a chamber formed in the top of the cap or cover of
the outer cylinder or body. This chamber is fitted with an outside tap which is
connected by an india-rubber tube to the burner. The gas 'formed in the cartridge
or inner chamber thus passes into the chamber in the cover of the outer cylinder
from whence it is led to the burner through the said tap or cut-off therefrom by
the action of the same as may be desired.
If the pressure of the gas should be too great, or should the gas be cut-off from
the burner, it will pass downwards from the chamber in the cover and force the
water down below the perforations in the cartridge, the generating action being
thus stopped and the lamp acting automatically so as to prevent any waste of
carbide. A small hole in the top of the cover or gas chamber permits the escape
of gas of extra pressure and thus prevents explosions.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved
lamp. Fig. 2 is a similar view in section and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section
through the outer cylinder and cartridge. a is the outer cylinder or body fitted
with the pivoted support 6 in the usual manner. c is the cylinder or chamber
containing the carbide and d is the tube or cylinder into which the chamber c
fits for supporting the latter in the cylinder a, e is the loose cover, resting upon
the top of the carbide in the chamber c, and c¹ are the grooves formed in the sides
of chamber c and extending from the top to near the lower end of the same,
being the perforations in said grooves. f is the ring or handle pivoted to the
lower closed end of the chamber c by means of which the latter is drawn out of
the tube d for re-filling it with carbide or for other purposes.
is the outlet.
pipe fitted to the closed top of the cylinder d, and the india-rubber tube con-
necting the pipe with a similar pipe g fitted to the bottom of the chamber g

page_text: formed in the top of the cap or cover h which is removed for the purpose of
refilling the chamber . is the tap fitted to the outside of the chamber g and k is
the india-rubber tube connecting the said tap with the burner 7. m is a piece
of fine wire gauze fixed beneath the outlet pipe in the tube d, and n is the
small hole in the top of the cap or cover h for permitting. the escape of gas of
extra pressure.
The cartridge is filled to about three fourths with carbide preferably in small
lumps and a small quantity of water is poured into the body or cylinder a
around the tube d. A small quantity of the water is then drawn up by capillary
action through the small space between the cylinders c and d which upon reach-
ing the grooves c¹ passes through the perforations and comes into contact with
the carbide. The gas thus generated passes through the tube into the
chamber g from whence it passes by the tap and tube k to the burner 7. When
the light is not required the tap i is turned off and the gas passes downwards
from the chamber and by its pressure forces the water below the perforations c³
thus stopping the generation of gas.
I prefer to fix the front glass o of the lamp to the reflector
spring clamps or catches q engaging with the rim of said glass, it
necessary to press down the lower catch q¹ to release the glass.
by means of
being simply
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) The improved acetylené gas lamp comprising means for shutting off the
supply of gas to the burner and stopping the generation of gas during the time
the light is not required substantially as described.
(2) In acetylene gas lamps the combination with the body or cylinder con-
taining water, of a short cylinder or chamber holding carbide of calcium and
formed with perforated grooves for feeding the water to the carbide, a loose
cover resting upon the carbide therein, a cylinder or tube within which the
carbide chamber is placed and held, a gas chamber formed in the cover of the
water cylinder or body and connected by an india-rubber tube with the cylinder
or tube enclosing the carbide chamber, a tap fitted to the gas chamber and
connected by an india-rubber tube with the lamp burner, all arranged and
operating substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 25th day of April 1900.
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.