An Improved Form of Acetylene Generator and Lamp Combined.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Form of Acetylene Generator and Lamp Combined.
We, WYNDHAM WILLIAM LEWIS, of 113, Lightwood Road, Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Mechanical Engineer, SAMUEL JOHN DAVIS, of 90, Smallbrook
Street, in the City of Birmingham, Jeweller, and FREDERICK JOIN OSMOND, of
Perry Hall, Bromsgrove, in the County of Worcester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention consists of an improved form of acetylene generator and lamp of
the combined and automatic kind, intended more especially for cycles and carriages,
but adapted for domestic and other uses.
The objects aimed at in the construction and arrangement hereinafter generally
described are, among others, these: A generator and lamp of a convenient form
designed so that the water not only reaches the carbide gradually, but that when
the flow of water is stopped only a limited amount of the carbide is deteriorated
or decomposed by the filtration of the moisture already admitted; the greater
part of the remainder of the full charge of carbide, remaining in good condition
and capable of continuing the generation of gas upon the re-admission of the
water after a lengthy interval. Also, in the present forms of generators of this
class, the charging and removing of the residue being an unpleasant and more
or less objectionable process, one of the objects attained by this invention is the
removal of this disadvantage.
We will now generally describe our combined generator and lamp as we pro-
pose adapting it for attachment to a cycle.
To the underneath side of the horizontal base of a suitable chamber for contain-
ing water we affix vertically any convenient number of tubes (say six) each of
convenient & corresponding length and diameter (say 3" x 3/"), the lower ends
of the said tubes being screw threaded: the whole number of tubes being set
together as near each other as convenient. We provide_caps screw-threaded for
screwing into the ends of the vertical tubes aforesaid. To these caps are affixed
tubes of diameter suitable to telescope loosely into the vertical tubes when the
caps are screwed on and of length sufficient to rise inside the outer tubes to about
two thirds of the height of the outer tubes. At the base of the tubes attached to
the caps are provided small perforations. When the caps with tubes attached
are screwed into outer tubes they form each an independent air-tight chamber.
The top of each of these chambers, that is, the end near the base of the water
chamber, we now perforate and connect the top of each chamber by tubing of
small diameter to the base of the next chamber, that is at a point near the cap;
thus connecting up the whole number of chambers by a free-way.
The base of one of these chambers, which chamber shall be called the first, we
connect by small tubing with the water chamber, providing an intermediary
stop-cock or tap.
From the top of the last of the series of chambers we take a tube of small
Paine R71

page_text: diameter through the water chamber to the burner or ignition jet fixed at a point
that may be found convenient.
At a point near the base of the first chamber we provide a discharge tap or cock;
and the head of the water chamber is provided with a screw cap containing a
suitable valve.
The method of charging the generator is this: We propose that the carbide
shall be provided in cases of suitable length and diameter, composed of what is
commonly known as brown paper or any other suitable material. These small
cases of carbide are inserted in the tubes affixed to the screw caps; the latter
being then inserted into the vertical tubes and screwed up. The stop-cock being
turned on, the water flows to the foot of the first chamber and acts upon the base
of the case containing the carbide through the perforations in the base of the
inner tube, the water gradually mounting up till the carbide contained in the case
in the first chamber is nearly exhausted. The water then flows down the
small tube to the base of the second chamber and so on until the whole of the
charged chambers are exhausted. It will be seen that one or more chambers may
be replenished by removing the exhausted case and replacing it by a new one
without troubling to remove the cases in all of the chambers.
This arrangement may obviously be modified in various ways and also the
chambers may be cells and not necessarily tubular without departing from the
spirit of the invention herein generally set forth.
Dated this 25th day of Juno 1898
WYNDHAM WILLIAM LEWIS,
SAMUEL JOHN DAVIS.
FREDERICK JOHN OSMOND.
We, WYNDHAM WILLIAM LEWIS, of 113, Lightwood Road, Edge baston, Birming-
ham, Mechanical Engineer, and SAMUEL JOHN DAVIS, of 90, Smallbrook Street,
Birmingham, Diamond Merchant, and FREDERICK JOHN OSMOND, of Perry Hall,
Bromsgrove, Birmingham, Mechanical 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;-
-
This invention consists of an improved form of acetylene generator and lamp of
the combined and automatic kind intended more especially for cycles and carriages
but adapted for domestic and other uses.
The objects aimed at in the construction hereinafter generally described are
among others these A generator and lamp of a convenient form designed so that
when the flow of water is stopped only a limited amount of carbide is deteriorated
or decomposed by the filtration of the moisture already admitted the remaining
portion of the carbide remaining in good condition and capable of continuing the
generation of the gas upon the readmission of the water after a lengthy interval.
Also in the present form of generators of this class the charging and removing
of the residue being an unpleasant and objectionable process one of the objects
attained by this invention is the removal of this disadvantage.
We will now generally describe by the aid of the accompanying drawing our
combined generator and lamp as we propose adapting it for attachment to a cycle.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation with outer case and inner tubes shewn dotted.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a plan of the carbide container shewing by numerals the valve in
which the water is admitted to the generating chamber.
Fig. 4 is a section of chambers.
To the base of a suitable chamber a for containing water we affix vertically
any number of tubes, b, (say six) each of convenient length and diameter
(say 3" x 3") the lower ends c of the said tubes being screw threaded. We
provide caps d screw threaded for screwing into the ends of the vertical tubes
aforesaid to the caps are affixed tubes c of diameter suitable to telescope loosely
into the said vertical tubes when caps are screwed on and of length sufficient
to rise in outer tubes about 2/3rds of the height of outer tubes at the base of the
tubes attached to the caps are small perforations f. When the caps are screwed
into outer tubes they form each an independent air tight chamber. These vertical
chambers are attached to the base of the water chamber as close together as
convenient say in pairs. The top of each of these chambers that is the end near
the base of the water chamber we connect by tubing g of small diameter to the
base of the next chamber that is at a point near the cap. Thus connecting up the
whole number of chambers.
The base of one of these chambers which chamber may be called the first wo
connect by small diameter tubing to the water chamber providing an inter-
mediary tap or cock j. From the top of the last of the series of chambers we take
a tube through the water chamber to the burner or ignition jet.
At a point near the base of the first chamber we provide a discharge tap or
cock 7.
This arrangement may obviously be modified in various ways. Thus for
instance the chambers may be cells and not necessarily tubular in form and it
may in certain cases be found convenient to dispense with the inner tube c and
to insert the cases of carbide hereinafter referred to immediately into the outer
tubes employing plain caps to close these latter without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
The method of charging the generator is this We propose that the carbide shall
be provided in cases of suitable length and diameter composed of what is commonly
known as brown paper or any other suitable material may be used.
These small cases of carbide are inserted into the tubes affixed to the screw
caps the latter being then inserted into the vertical tubes and screwed up. The
stop cock being turned on the water flows to the foot of the first chamber and
acts upon the base of the case containing the carbide through the perforations in
the base of the inner tube.
When the carbide contained in the case in the first chamber is nearly exhausted
the water flows down the small tube to the base of the second chamber and so on
until the whole number of chambers are exhausted. It will be seen that one or
more of the chambers may be replenished by removing the exhausted case and
replacing it by a new one without troubling to remove the cases in all the chambers.
The action of the lamp is as follows. The cistern a being supplied with water
the cock is opened and the water flows through the supply pipe and enters the
first of the generating chambers. Here, acting upon the carbide, it liberates the
gas which escapes from the top of the first chamber through the tube and
passes into the bottom of the next generating chamber. From the top of this
second generating chamber it passes again through another connecting tube g
to the third generating chamber and so on through all the generating chambers
in succession until it at last arrives at the opening which connects the last
generating chamber with the gas supply pipe . In this way it is transmitted
to the burner or ignition jet where it is consumed. If the production of gas
beco.nes greater than the quantity of gas consumed at the ignition jet the
pressure rises and drives back the water and by this means an automatic adjust-
ment of the quantity of gas produced to the quantity consumed is obtained. As
water cannot enter the second or any subsequent chamber of the series until the
chambers earlier in the series are filled with water, and the carbide contained

page_text: therein is consequently exhausted, it follows that this system of automatic control
of the gas supply serves to regulate the quantity of gas produced at any time
during the operation of the lamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;
-
In a portable acetylene lamp the use in combination with a water cistern of a
series of generating chambers attached to the underside of the bottom of the said
cistern and connected to the cistern and to one another and to the ignition jet by
a system of pipes substantially as herein before described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the 26th day of Anni 1900
THEO. MCKENNA,
Agent, 17 and 18, Basinghall Street, London, E.C.