Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Oxy-calcium Lights.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1802
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Forming Oxy-calcium Lights.
I, GEORGE ROGER PROWSE of No. 224 Saint James Street, in the City of
Montreal, and District of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada,
Metal Worker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FORMING OXY-CALCIUM LIGHTS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention has reference to an improved construction and arrangement of the
apparatus by which oxy-calcium lights are produced, and the objects of my
improvements are: First to arrange an apparatus that is capable of being packed
up within itself, that is to say: within the case forming the outer shell of the
apparatus when not in use, which case is the stand of the apparatus when in use.
Also to provide an apparatus that is self-contained and complete, being all that is
required for producing an oxy-calcium light, or not requiring other apparatus in
the preparation of the various parts of the apparatus to render it in a suitable
condition for use, and therefore the apparatus is rendered complete, portable and
self contained: Second, to furnish improvements in the construction of the oxy-
generator: Third, to furnish certain improvements in the purifier: Fourth, to
furnish certain improvements in the saturator: Fifth, to furnish certain improve-
ments in the gas-receiver: Sixth, to so construct the whole apparatus that it may
be used and cleaned, prepared and arranged ready for operation in a very short
time. The whole of the above is accomplished by the construction hereinafter
described.
I attain the above mentioned objects in the apparatus illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate like
parts, and :-
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the oxy-calcium light apparatus embodying my
invention.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken
at about the position of the line e, in Fig. 3, or line, in Fig. 5, with the parts of
the invention situated above the entablature 59, shown in elevation.
Fig. 4, is a horizontal section on line ¹, Fig. 1, showing a plan of the lower
part of the apparatus: the lamp d, being omitted.
Fig. 5, is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus taken about the position
of the line a, in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7, is a longitudinal vertical central section of the generator.
Fig. 8, is a longitudinal central horizontal section of the purifier.
Fig. 9, is a horizontal central section of the saturator.
Fig. 10, is a vertical central section of the automatic regulator.
Fig. 11, is a detail, being in part a section and in part an elevation of the
spindle 34, and valve 33, detached.
Fig. 12, is a section of the guide tube k, and escape valve in connection
therewith.
Fig. 13, is a plan of the underside of a portion of the cover b, showing the
manner of arranging the supports p, therewith.
Fig. 14, is a central vertical section of the valve chest 41, by which the inter-
mingling and proportioning of the gases are controlled.
Fig. 15, is a plan of a modified form of purifier and saturator, which are con-
sidered to be the equivalents of those shown in Figs. 8 and 9, but the form of them

page_text: shown in this figure may in certain cases be more convenient than those shown in
Figs. 8 and 9.
Fig. 16, is an end elevation of the purifier and saturator shown in Fig. 15.
Fig. 17, is a section on line a, a, Fig. 15.
Fig. 18, is a part elevation and part section of the saturator, the sectional parts,
are taken on lines a¹, ³, Fig. 15
Fig. 19, is a side elevation of the purifier detached.
Letter a, is any ordinary box preferably provided with a hinged cover b, having
also a portion c, of the top part of the front hinged to turn down to a horizontal
position forming a shelf to support a lamp d, shown only in Figs. 1, 5 and 6.
In the lower part of the box a, is situated and secured, a vessel e, being as nearly
as can conveniently be got, the full size of the inside lower portion of the space;
within this is a vessel To the top of the outer vessel e, and the bottom of the
vessel f, a flexible air-tight diaphragm 9, is attached extending all the way round,
having air-tight joints: within the vessel f, is a removable vessel h, nearly filling
it; this is adapted to hold water, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6,, so that the water
contained in the vessel may give to any gas contained in the gas-receiver formed
by the vessels e, and f, with diaphragm g, the required pressure by its gravity. As
gas from the generator (as will be hereinafter more particularly described) is forced
into the gas receiver with sufficient force to overcome the weight of the water in
the vessel h, the vessel f, rises, the flexible diaphragm y, accommodating itself to
the various positions and preventing the escape of the gas from the receiver thus
formed., (see Fig. 2,) is a hollow projection formed on the bottom of the vessel e,
to this is connected a vertical guide tube k, through which the gas is forced into
the receiver or space between the vessels e, and, and by forming a projection l,
(see Fig. 12,) on the vessel, to engage with the tube k, the tube is thereby
adapted to serve also as a guide to the vessel f, in its upward and downward
motions.
With the tubek, is connected a safety or relief valve n, so that before the
vesself, has reached the full extent of the upward travel allowed it by the
diaphragm g, aud coming to the position shown by dotted lines marked 1, in
Fig. 12, it reaches the bottom extremity of the valve n, and should it rise to the
height indicated by the line 2, it is evident that the valve will be raised and allow
the gas to escape through the passage o, and valve n, thus relieving the gas
receiver from any danger of being burst by the superfluity of the generation of gas,
beyond what is being used by the lamp when the receiver is full. The advantages
of using water as a weight, in the vessel , are: that it saves the expense of pro-
viding solid weights for the purpose, it also saves the trouble of having to transport
the solid weights about from place to place when the apparatus is used for itinerant
exhibitions, as water can always be obtained in any place where persons are living:
the water also adapts itself in the vessel h, to an equal pressure all over, whereas,
solid weights if not properly placed will not do so.
The cover b, of the box a, is provided with two sliding bar's p, guided by passing
through openings formed in the front cleat g, of the cover and by bearings r,
attached under the cover, see Figs. 5, 6 and 13; thus a means of supporting the
generators, about to be described, is provided, which occupies little or no room
when the apparatus is closed up for transportation or otherwise.
The generator s, consists of a tube 4, preferably made of the configuration shown in
Figs. 6 and 7, the tube proper 4, is made of a material having a much less heat
conducting power than the material of which the receptacles 5, are formed, these
as shown are eight in number, but may be in this respect as desired. I have
found that a very good effect is produced by making the tube 4, of iron and the
receptacles 5, of copper on account of the difference of heat conducting power of
the two metals, but other substances or materials may be used if desired. As
shown the tube 4, is permanently closed at one end and provided with a removable
cover 6, at the other, secured by a clamp 7, (see Fig. 1,) or other desired means of
holding the cover 6, firmly in place. The generator forms a retort: the vessels 5,

page_text: have placed in each of them a charge of chlorate of potash and black oxide of
manganese. The vessels so charged are alternately acted upon, as desired, by the
heat of the lamp d, (or any other desired heat generator) according to the size of
the receptacles, 5, and the amount of the charge contained in each, also the amount
of heat applied to them, each charge may be sufficient to generate the gas required
for about half an hour, and the receptacles being eight in number, the charges
contained in the generators, will be sufficient to keep the light in operation for
four hours, or more than is required for any ordinary performance or exhibition,
and in fact the generator may be made of any desired capacity.
The heat being applied to one of the receptacles 5, at first little or no gas is
formed but after a short time the generation of gas becomes greater than what is
required for the light, in which case the surplus is forced into the receiver; as the
charge becomes exhausted the generation of gas becomes less than the amount
required for the light, at which time the gas stored in the receiver is available to
supply and keep the light in full operation.
8, is an orifice in the tube 4, situated at any convenient place for the escape of
the gas from the generator; to this is connected a flexible tube 9.
By forming the receptacles 5, of greater heat conductive power than the tube 4,
the heat applied is in a measure confined to the receptacle upon which the lamp d,
is acting, and the gas is rapidly generated therefrom; whereas were the whole
generator formed of material of high conductive power the whole would have to
be heated up to the necessary temperature before any gas would be generated,
requiring considerable time and when so heated up, the gas would be too rapidly
generated therefrom.
Again by forming the receptacles 5, of copper or other material of high
conductive power, and forming the tube 4, of iron or other material of com-
paratively low conductive power the above mentioned effects will be satisfactorily
attained.
Notwithstanding what has been said above, a satisfactory result might be
attained by forming the generator s, entirely out of material having a low
conducive (of heat) power (such as iron) because the heat would thereby be
prevented, in a measure, from extending too rapidly from the receptacle 5, acted
upon, at the time, by the lamp d, but the action in such case would be much slower
for the amount of heat employed and would not on the whole be anything like as
satisfactory as if materials of different conductive powers were used in a manner
substantially as above described.
The gas generated passes by the tube 9, to the purifier 10; this as shown in
Fig. 8, consists of a tube 11, having one end 12, fixed and the other end provided
with a socket 13, screw-threaded to receive a correspondingly screw threaded
cap 14, the joint being made air-tight between the two by a flexible washer 15.
16, is a removable perforated tube arranged to slide in through the central opening
in the socket, being retained in place by a shoulder at 17, extending around its
end and engaging with a corresponding shoulder on the socket 13, as shown in
Fig. 8. Through the end 12, of the purifier and through the cap 14, a perforated
tube 18, passes, the openings being rendered air tight by elastic washers 19.
20, is an orifice in the tube 11, which connects with the tube 9, by which the
gas from the generator passes into the space 21, between the tubes 11, and 16, it
then passes through the perforations in the tube 16, and through the body of saw-
dust 22, with which the space between the tubes 16, and 18, is packed. This
sawdust is saturated with water, or an alkaline solution, the object being that as
the gas passes through, any chlorine contained in the gas will be neutralized:
care being taken to have all the perforations in the tube 18, well covered with the
Bawdust.
In the modification shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 19, of the purifier 10, sub-
stantially the same arrangement exists for purifying the gas; the gas entering by
the inlet a', is received in the space a, and from thence passes through the body of
saturated sawdust a', into the space a³, and by the outlet a³, passes to the regulator.

page_text: In fact the only difference between this and the purifier shown in Fig. 8, is that
this purifier is a portion, or section of a circular tube, and that shown in Fig. 8,
is a completely circular tube. The advantages in this case are: that there is less
chance for water to accumulate in the space as, than in the tube 18, and of its being
entrained and carried to the light in the lantern 40.
The saturator shown in Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18, is substantially the same as
that shown in Fig. 9, only the tube 56, is dispensed with the gas enters by the
inlet 67, passes through the body of sawdust 6, escapes by the outlet 68. The
tube 18, (see Fig. 8) is connected at one end by a flexible pipe 23, (see Figs. 1
and 3,) to an apparatus which I shall call the regulator, because it regulates the
pressure at which the gas is supplied for consumption to the oxy-calcium light.
The employment of sawdust in the purifier as above described, is looked upon as a
valuable improvement, on account of its cheapness, also for its absorbent qualities
which arise from its cellular construction.
The regulator consists, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, of a socket having a
branch 25, to connect with the tube 23; also having the vertical portion 26, of the
socket connected with a vertical pipe 27, this vertical pipe is provided with a
branch 28, which connects with a flexible tube 29. On the upper end of the
pipe 27, is attached a concave disc or dish 30, to the periphery of which is
attached a flexible diaphragm 31, of the same circular form.
At the lower end of the pipe 27, a valve-seat 32, is formed: having a valve 33,
provided with a hollow spindle 34, an opening being cut at a¹, to allow the gas to
pass from the purifier to enter the space within the spindle 34, which is provided
with perforations 35, as shown, so that the gas may pass when the valve 33, is
open, into the branch 28, and into the space 36: the upper end of the spindle
passes through the diaphragm 31, and is screwed to engage with the screwed
cap 37: over the cap is placed a weight 38, which causes the desired amount of
pressure to be developed in the gas passing from and in the generator before the
valve 33, closes so that when the diaphragm 31, is inflated, as shown in Fig. 10,
at 31, the valve 33, will be raised to the seat 32, and the passage of the gas from
the generator is prevented.
As soon as the valve 33, closes, the weight 38, causes the flexible diaphragm 31,
Lo collapse, and as soon as the flow of gas from the generator, through the purifier
to the regulator becomes too great to be passed through the regulator by reason of
the weight 38, being raised by the inflation of the diaphragm 31, the gas passes out
of the other end of the tube 18, which by the pipe 39, is connected with the pipe k,
passes to the receiver hereinabove described, situated in the lower portion of the
box a, so that the pressure of the gas supplied to the light in the lantern 40, is
completely controlled by the gravity of the weight 38, which should be so adjusted
as to give a less pressure than what will be caused by the water in the vessel h.
The gas passing by the tube 29, is conducted to a valve chest 41, by the
passage 42, see Figs. 2 and 14, with which the tube 29, is connected, and by
opening the valves 43, and 44, the gas is divided into two parts; one part escapes
by the orifice 45, and the other by the passage 46: that which escapes by the
orifice 45, passes by a flexible tube 47, to the burner of the lantern 40, conveying
thereto the oxygen gas: the other part of the gas escaping by the passage 46,
passes by the flexible pipe 48, to the saturator.
The saturator as shown in Fig. 9, consists of a tube 50, provided with a
chamber 51, formed by a wire gauze diaphragm 52, beyond which the body of the
saturator is filled with sawdust 53. At the extremity it is provided with another
chamber 55, formed by another wire gauze diaphragm 54. 56, is a tube connecting
with the chamber 55, and preferably placed within the tube 50, but may if desired
be placed externally thereto. The gas entering by the pipe 49, passes through
the sawdust into the chamber 55, and by the tube 56, and flexible tube 57, to the
burner of the lantern 40: the sawdust is saturated with a high grade of hydro-
carbon oil.
By the adjustment of the valves 43, and 44, the proportions of oxygen and

page_text: hydrocarbon vapour passing to the lamp or lantern 40, can be governed with great
accuracy.
From a consideration of the above described construction it will be seen that the
gas required for the burner of the lantern 40, passes from the purifier to the
regulator and any surplus gas generated passes to the gas receiver, and should
the generation of gas from the generator be at any time less than what is required
for the lamp or lantern 40, the amount of gas held by the receiver is available to
supply the deficiency.
The lantern 40, is of the ordinary construction; as it per se forms no part of
the present invention it need not be further illustrated in the drawings or herein
described.
Although in the above description I have mentioned a number of tubes or pipes
as "flexible tubes," it is not necessary that they should be so, but I find them
much more convenient to have them flexible.
The purifier and saturator are retained in place by means of frames 58, which
serve as supports to the entablature 59, upon which the lantern 40, is placed.
When the apparatus is not in use, the vessel A, being empty, the whole of the
parts generators; purifier 10; saturator 50, with frames 58, and entablature 59 ;
lantern 40, lamp d, can be packed in the box a.
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:-
1. The combination in an oxy-calcium light apparatus of the vessel e, with the
vesself, having projection 1, diaphragm g: with guiding tube k, passage o, relief-
valve n, and vessel h, adapted to be supplied with a weight the whole substantially
as described.
2. The combination in a generator for an oxy-calcium light apparatus of the
tube 4, composed of a lower grade of heat conducting material with the receptacles 5,
composed of a higher grade of heat conducting material the whole substantially as
described.
3. The combination in a purifier for an oxy-calcium light apparatus of the outer
tube 11, perforated tube 16, and inner perforated tube 18, with a saturated sawdust
filling 22, arranged to cause the gas to pass through the sawdust filling the whole
substantially as described.
4. The combination in a calcium light apparatus of the vessels adapted to form
a gas receiver and a pipe provided with an escape valve; also with a generator;
regulator for governing the pressure of the gas, a purifier and adjustable means for
dividing the gas into two streams the whole substantially as described.
5. The combination in an oxy-calcium light gas pressure regulator, of the
socket 26, having a valve seat pipe 27, disc 30, diaphragm 31, and weight 38,
with the valve 33, having hollow spindle 34, provided with perforations 35, the
whole substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of October 1901
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.