An Improved Acetylene Lamp especially adapted for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Acetylene Lamp especially adapted for Cycles.
I, HARRY MILLWARD, Metal Spinner, trading as H. Millward & Co., of Mary
Street, St. Paul's, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
_
This invention relates to lamps for generating and burning acetylene gas, and
is especially of importance as applied to a cycle lamp. In order to assure acety-
lene being used successfully as an illuminant in a cycle lamp, it is necessary that
the generating means should be constructed and fitted within and upon the lamp
so as to enable a lamp of small dimensions to be the ultimate result, and it is
further necessary that only the amount of gas necessary for use is allowed at any
time to be generated in view of safety and avoiding the disagreeable smell if
the gas is allowed to blow off at a certain pressure through a relief valve.
According to this invention the actual body of the lamp, which may be either
circular, square, or other shaped, is built up of an inner and an outer metallic
shell, connected and distanced so as to leave a space between them for the purpose
of constituting a chamber or holder for the storing of the water or other liquid;
the said chamber being formed by a hollow or double wall construction of the
lamp body. This chamber preferably surrounds the burner, and is provided with
a water inlet for the purpose of filling, and a regulating valve or cock for the pur-
pose of withdrawing the water therefrom. This water-jacketted lamp body is
fitted with a lens upon its front, a reflector and attachment means upon its back,
and a cowl or breaker at its summit, all constructed and fitted upon well known
lines and principles other than a sealed piercing is made through the water-
jacketted body at its crown part for the passage into the cowl of the combustion
products.
Upon the lower part of the lamp body is provided a screwed collar or shank,
or its equivalent, for the purpose of connecting the base of the lamp, which will
be hereinafter described, to the said body, and through this collar or shank is
centrally directed and fixed a vertical tube of small diameter, the one end of which
depends from the screwed collar for a short distance and the other end of which is
connected to another tube emanating from the outlet valve or cock; the last
named tube being disposed, preferably, at right angles to the first named tube
and the valve or cock upon the side of the outer walls of the lamp body.
The lower base of the lamp is fashioned to form a carbide holder, and in one
form is built up of two parts, the one an exterior casing, which is attached to the
screwed shank, as aforesaid, by having an internally wormed part upon it, and
the other a cup or box, having connected at its lower part a screwed disc or its
equivalent for the purpose of attaching the said cup to the exterior casing from
the underside. This cup or box has a perforated bottom standing some distance
away from its screwed disc, and its body shape is similar to that of the casing
enclosing it preferably circular and coned with the lower part the largest in
order to allow the residue from the carbide, which is contained within the said
cup, to be riddled somewhat and sorted, and also to allow the said cup to be taken
D 077

page_text: from out of the enclosing casing-from the underside-for emptying its contents
and recharging with carbide.
The connection between the vertical water supply tube, which depends as before
described from the screwed shank of the lamp body, and the carbide is a device
consisting for the most part of a small sleeve, tube, or sheath, having perforated
walls and a closed lower end, which is adapted to fit onto the end of the vertically
depending tube and cover up its outlet end; the said fit being only water-tight at
the sleeves mouth. The exterior walls are wrapped with cotton, wool, fibre, sponge
or other material which will soak up and become saturated with water, and this
wrapped part constitutes the medium for conveying the actual contact of the
water with the carbide, as it extends the full depth of the cup or box wherein
the latter is placed.
A gas way consisting of a tube or its equivalent depends from the underside
of the screwed shank of the lamp body into the carbide cup, and leads therefrom
to the burner in the inside of the lamp body. The mouth of this gas supply tube
may be stuffed with a gas drying material if necessary.
The lower base of the lamp according to another form of this invention is built
up of a horizontally disposed barrel or cylinder, of either a circular or angular
cross sectional figure, the same having a hollow boss or socket centrally disposed
upon its top for the purpose of affixing the said barrel to the screwed shank of
the lamp body, and removable end caps or a removable cap, for the purpose of
obtaining access to the interior of the barrel for placing therein carbide and for
withdrawing the residue. The hollow boss or socket is formed into a gas drying
chamber, it having a suitable drying material placed therein through which the gas
generated in the barrel must pass on its way to the burner tube, the said gas
finding its way from the said barrel to the said chamber through a small hole
or holes formed in the walls of the socket's bottom. The connection between the
water supply tube from the lamp body and the barrel or carbide holder is a small
tube of an inverted T-shape, whose shank is fixed water-tight within the bottom
of the socket so that the inverted head portion lies centrally the full length, or
nearly so, of the barrel or carbide holder, the said head portion of the tube having
perforated walls and being wrapped with cotton, wool, fibre, sponge or other suit-
able material. In this form of base or carbide holder the vertically depending
water supply tube, from the lamp body, fits into the end of the tubular shank of
the inverted T-piece when the socket of the barrel or carbide holder is screwed
upon the shank of the lamp body, and flexible washers are provided upon the
said shank and depending tube which come together in the screwing up and
make the joint of the parts water-tight. In this form of base a perforated con-
tainer, preferably of a crescent-shaped section, is carried by one of the end
caps of the barrel and is disposed within the latter underneath the inverted
-shaped tube, so that the spent carbide passes into it and the untouched carbide
is riddled and kept in active contact with the covering of the T-shaped tube.
It is to be understood that there is no gas connection between the lamp body
and the carbide holder other than through the drying chamber and the gas pas-
sage, and this is important in view of preventing the carbonization of the burner.
Further, all the parts of the water supply tube are fitted one into the other water-
tight, and that the construction is such as to allow the water to be fed onto the
carbide in a downward and gravitating direction, but only through the wrapped
material.
The details of this invention can be modified without departing from its actual
scope, and it will be obvious that, although it is only described in connection
with a cycle lamp, it can be applied to carriage lamps, table lamps, and similar
illuminating devices without departing therefrom.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1898
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An improved Acetylene Lamp especially adapted for Cycles.
I, HARRY MILLWARD, Metal Spinner, trading as H. Millward & Co., of Mary
Street, St. Paul's, in the City of Birmingham, 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 is an improved lamp for generating and burning acetylene gas,
and is of special importance in connection with a cycle lamp. The said improved
lamp is designed upon that system of generation in which the water drops upon
the carbide, and is constructed so that its dimensions are small, its appearance
neat, and its working effective and sure. Its general construction is such as to
generate only the amount of gas requisite, and to thoroughly dry the same before
being burned; this latter in order to prevent the carbonization of the burner.
The said invention will be described herein in connection with the annexed
sheet of drawings in which is shown a lamp suitable for use on a cycle. In the
said sheet a longitudinal vertical section of a complete lamp is shown in Fig. 1;
a horizontal section in Fig. 2 through the lamp's body-part, but with a portion
of the forepart of the lamp broken away; in Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section
of Fig. 1 on the dotted line F; and in Figs. 4 and 5 parts of the lamp, as shown
in Fig. 1, separated or detached.
In the said figs. the body part a of the lamp, which may be of any suitable
horizontal section giving a hollowed-out middle, but which is preferably crescent-
shaped as shown by Fig. 3, is built up of an inner and outer metallic shell a², a³,
connected and distanced at top and bottom by walls a, a, so as to leave a space
between them to constitute a chamber or holder c for the storage of the water or
other liquid used in the generation of the gas, the said chamber being formed
by a hollow construction of the lamp's body. This water chamber is formed with
an inlet for filling and with a regulating valve or cock c³ for the purpose of
withdrawing water therefrom, the last named taking the form of a screw pin d
having a coned end, and a small outlet hole d³ within the bottom of the
chamber c, and which said hole is open to the interior; the said coned end d²
acting in conjunction with the outlet hole d³ for the turning on and shutting off
of the supply of water to the carbide. The lamp body a is of such a shape as to
form a recess, hollowing, or set back part central to the water chamber for the
purpose of allowing a part of the bell e to locate itself therein and nestle within
the lamp's body as close as possible. The said bell is fitted with a glazed front e³,
a cowl e, and a reflector e, and is hinged to the forepart of the base of the lamp's
body at e so that it can be thrown forward clear of the burner by unscrewing
connection e. The said burner, marked f, is arranged to project from the base
of the lamp's body into the interior of the bell e, and is in communication with
the gas generating chamber which will be hereinafter fully described. A suitable
connection means 2 is fitted to the base of the lamp's body for the lamp's connec-
tion to the head of a cycle.
a
Formed upon the underside of the base of the lamp's body a is a central boss
or cylindrical part g and a ring recess 2, the last named surrounding the former.
This boss has a small hole h within its end, which is in communication with the
burner of the lamp, and a water supply tube m leading from the regulating
valve or cock c³ is disposed horizontally and vertically through it to ultimately
depend centrally and outwardly from its said end, the horizontal part of the said
tube being inclined so as to drop towards the vertical part. The said boss
preferably of a hollow construction as shown. The recess g³ has within its bottom
a flexible ring n, for making good the joint of the lamp's body with the gas
generating chamber.
9 is

page_text: The last named forms the actual base of the lamp and takes the form of a barrel
or cylinder o in which the carbide for making the gas is placed. The crown of
this generating chamber is formed with a bosa 02 and a shallow socket o³, the
first named surrounding the latter, the said shalle socket to form a gas drying
chamber and to fit over the boss y on the lamp body, and the boss o² to engage
in the recess g and to rest upon the flexible material n; therefore making good the
joint between the lamp body and the generating chamber. Centrally within the
shallow socket 03, and projecting through its nearly closed bottom, (which has a
hole o within it for the passage of the gas from the generating chamber to the
said socket) is arranged an inverted T-shaped tubes, which is fixed to and within
the said generating chamber by a screwed collar 2 or by soldering. The shank s¹
of this inverted T-shaped tube is adapted, when the base proper is connected to
the lamp body, to fit sheath-like over the depending end of the tube m, and the
head part of the said tube to extend longitudinally within the generating
chamber for the greater part of the chamber's length. This head
has
part 3
number
a
of perforations * within it, and is entirely
covered with a material such as cotton wool, fibre, or sponge, it being
only through this latter that the contact of the water with the carbide is made.
The one end of the generating chamber o is closed by a removable cap u, whilst
the other end u² is a fixture.
◊
The shallow socket o³ is filled with a gas drying material o, and all gas leaving
the generating chamber by the small hole o must, before passing to the burner f
by way of the hole h, pass therethrough. The gas-tight connection which is
made between the generating chamber and the lamp body by the parts g, g³, 0, 0²,
and n is by reason of the parts being pulled together with the part n between them,
this being accomplished preferably by an inclined bayonet slot connection (not
shown in the drawings), but the connection may be done by the one part screwing
into the other. A water-tight joint is made between the tubes and the tube m
through a yielding washer w, which prevents any water from the chamber a
getting to the gas drying material o if the lamp is at any time inverted.
The water from the chamber e reaches the carbide in the generating chamber
by way of the regulating valve c³, the tube m, the inverted T-shaped tube s.
the holes s, and the wrapping the slight pitching of the horizontal part of
the first named tube ensuring all the water passed through the valve instantly
finding its way into the tubes, so that when the cork is shut there is no surplus
of water left in the tubes m or 5.
The gas generated leaves the chamber o and passes to the burner f by way of the
hole o, the drying material o³, and the hole h, the said holes being arranged on
opposite sides of the lamp's centre, which ensures the gas taking a circuitous
course through the drying material.
If necessary the hollow interior of the boss may contain gas drying material,
as a dry gas is very important to prevent the burner carbonizing.
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:
First. In an acetyl: ne lamp, the combination of a suitable lamp body-part fitted
with a burner and a gas way leading there to from its lower extremity, and an
attachable gas generating chamber whose outer surface is formed with a socket
or receptacle to hold suitable material and constitute a gas drying chamber
through which all gas must pass as it leaves the generating chamber and finds its
way to the burner, substantially as described.
Second. In an acetylene lamp, the combination of a lamp body part carrying a
burner and whose base or lower extremity is fitted with a ring recess 2 and a
cylindrical part g having a gas way h through it, an attachable generating
chamber o whose outer surface is formed with a socket o³ and a boss o² to engage
the parts, the said socket o³ having a hole o' within it which communicates

page_text: with the generating chamber and the gas way, and a flexible ring n which comes
between the parts g, g² and 02, 03, when they engage, to make gas & water tight
the joint between the body part of the lamp and the generating chamber, sub-
stantially as described.
Third. In an acetylene lamp, the combination of a lamp body-part carrying a
burner and whose base or lower extremity is fitted with parts gg, h and », and
an attachable generating chamber o whose outer surface is formed with a chamber
containing gas drying material which is in communication with the generating
chamber, and whose outer surface is formed with parts 2, 0', for engagement with
the parts gg, on the base of the body, substantially as described.
Fourth. In an acetylene lamp, the combination of a lamp body-part forming
a water chamber c, and fitted with a regulating valve or cock cand a burner f,
a water tube m fitted to the base of the body-part a so as to lead from the valve
or cock to the lamp's body base, and an attachable horizontally extending
generating chamber o fitted with an inverted T-shaped tubes and a gas outlet
hole of which is in communication with the burner f, substantially as described.
Fifth. In an acetylene lamp, the combination with the body-part a constituting
a water chamber, and being fitted with a burner and a regulating valve, of a ring
recess, a cylindrical part g, a flexible ring n, a gas way h, a water tub. m, and
a washer fitted to and carried by the lower extremity of the lamp's body, and
an attachable horizontally extending generating chamber o fitted with an inverted
T-shaped perforated but wrapped tube s, and having parts of, o, and formed
upon its exterior, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of Vavamshor
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.