Improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
Improvements in Acetylene Lamps.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BAYLEY, of No. 300 and 301, McDougal Street, Brooklyn,
New York City, United States of America, Lamp Manufacturer, &c., 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 to an improvement in acetylene lamps, of that class in
which an excess of carbide is used and the generation of the gas is regulated by
controlling the supply of water.
My invention comprises the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of my lamp:
Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a removable cartridge to be used with my
lamp when desired.
My devices comprises an inner and an outer case, the inner of which contains the
carbide and the outer the water. Between the two is placed a valve which is
controlled by the pressure of the gas so as to admit water to the carbide when the
pressure falls below a fixed point and to close the valve as soon as the pressure
rises above the fixed point.
The outer case A is made of any convenient or desired shape, but preferably
circular. This case is made with a removable cap or covering by which the
inner case containing the carbide may be removed or inserted as desired. The
cap A¹ is secured at its lower edge to a ring B' which is exteriorly threaded, and
screws within an interiorly threaded ring B which is secured to the upper edge of
the body A of the outer case. Between the two rings B and B is inserted a
packing ring B3 of rubber, leather or similar material. The lower ring B which
is secured to the upper part of the base or body of the outer case A, is provided
with a recess adapted to receive a flange C¹ upon the inner case C. The inner
case C is made as a cup having an open top which is covered by a cap C, said
The
top having perforations C3 therein, permitting the escape of the gas.
flange C¹ fills the recess in the ring B, and supports the inner case C at a proper
elevation. The inner case C is the carbide holder or generator, and projecting
upward centrally from its bottom is a cylinder E, which contains the valve
mechanism by which the water is admitted to the carbide holder or cut off, as
desired. The cylinder E has a cap E¹, screwed or otherwise secured to the
upper end thereof. It is also provided with a number of holes e in its side adapted
to admit water to the carbide holder. Within this cylinder is placed a valve F.
which valve as herein shown, consists of two pistons spaced a short distance
apart and provided with packing rings F3 in their periphery. These packing rings
may be omitted if the fit of the piston within the cylinder is carefully regulated.

page_text: The stem F of the valve is hollow with perforations f in its side and its
lower end passes through on opening in the bottom of the cylinder E. The valve
is normally held down so as to close the openings e in the cylinder by a spring F,
which is placed between the upper end of the valve and the cap E. The lower
end of the stem F1 engages a flexible diaphragm D) which closes an opening in
the bottom of the outer case A. This diaphragm is held by its edges between
the bottom of the outer case and a ring 1 which is secured thereto. This ring
is threaded, as is also a cap 12, which is screwed thereon and forms a support
for a spring D³, which bears against the under side of the diaphragm D. The
spring D is stronger than the spring F3 and will, if permitted, hold the valve
elevated so that the water is freely admitted from the outer case into the carbide
holder.
The water for generation of gas is placed within an annular water reservoir G,
which is placed in the upper portion of the outer case and surrounds the inner case
or carbide holder. This water reservoir is formed by an inner wall G3 and a
bottom G, which are secured to the outer wall of the casing so as to make a
water tight chamber. This chamber is filled through a cap G', which may be
unscrewed from the outside. In the reservoir is placed a valve by which the water
may be permitted to flow into the lower portion of the outer case and then be
admitted to the valve F.
Until it is desired to use the lamp, the water is retained in the reservoir G,
where it cannot by any possibility come in contact with the carbide. When it is
desired to light the lamp, the valve in the bottom of the water reservoir is opened
thus permitting the water to run into the space between the inner and outer cases.
The valve as herein shown, consists of a cylinder perforated longitudinally to
form a tube, and inserted through the water reservoir. The lower end of this tube
projects into the space beneath the water reservoir. Above the bottom of the
water reservoir a lateral hole g is formed, communicating with the interior of
the water reservoir. Within the tube g is inserted a valve stem g², which is
threaded therein and is pointed at its lower end so as to close the lower end of the
tube. The upper end of this stem g² extends above the tube and is provided
with a knob by which it may be readily turned.
Within the inner case or carbide holder is placed a tube K, designed to form
a connection between the spaces above and below the packing ring B³, so as to
secure an equalization of pressure. This tube at its upper end is connected
with a hole formed through the side of the inner case above the packing ring B²,
and at its lower end with a hole which is preferably below the lower edge of the
water reservoir G. The lower end of the tube may, however, be connected with
the outside of the inner case at any point below the packing ring B², provided
such connection is at a point that is not stopped by intimate contact with the
inner wall of the water reservoir.
A vent is supplied for the water reservoir, so that gas may be admitted thereto
when the water runs out. As herein shown this vent consists of a tube G² extend-
ing from the bottom of the water reservoir to near its upper end. This tube is
open at top and bottom, forming a free connection between the space beneath the
water reservoir and the inside of the water reservoir. Gas flows into the water
reservoir through this tube when the water flows out.
A blow-off valve by which excessive pressure in the lamp is obviated, is
provided. This blow-off valve is located in the bottom of the outer case and
consists of a valve I, which is held against the lower side of the bottom by a
spring I, said spring being retained in position by a cap 13. From this valve a
tube I extends upwardly to a point where it is in constant communication with
the interior of the lamp. As herein shown this tube extends within the water
reservoir and terminates just short of the upper end of the reservoir.
The interior of the reservoir is in constant communication with the gas chambers
of the lamp through the tube G². The blow-off tube I is located close alongside
the vent tube G2 and is in constant communication with the gas chambers of the
lamp. If by reason of any leakage of the valve For by reason of water which

page_text: remains within the carbide chamber when the valve is closed, gas should be
generated after the light has been turned off, this excess of gas will be discharged
through the blow-off valve. This will prevent undue rise in pressure within the
lamp and injury which might occur to the lamp therefrom. The burner J is
connected to the cap A and has a valve stem J extending to a point where it
may be conveniently operated.
In Figure 3 is shown a cartridge intended for use in connection with this lamp.
As shown in Figure 1, the carbide is placed immediately in contact with the
inner case or carbide holder C. In some cases it may be desirable instead of
this construction to use a cartridge which, when removed, will remove the residue
left from the decomposition of the carbide. This cartridge is constructed as shown
in Figure 3. It consists of two telescopic cups H and H having their closed
ends outward. These cups are made annular, having cylinders H2 and H³ placed
concentric with the outer walls, and telescoping in the same manner as the
cups H and H.
The cylinder H³ which forms a portion of the lower
cup has a series of perforations in its sides through which the water is
admitted to the carbide within the cup. These cups are provided with a longi-
tudinal groove ' at one side, adapted to accommodate the pipe K which is within
the inner case C. These cups are made telescopic, partly because the lime result-
ing from the decomposition of the carbide is of greater bulk than the carbide.
The cartridge being telescopic may extend as its contents increase in volume.
Two or more of these cartridges may be supplied with each lamp, one cartridge
being filled and ready to insert as soon as the old cartridge is removed.
In charging the lamp with carbide and water, the valve g will be closed so
that the water cannot gain access to the carbide unless the use of the light is
desired at once. When it is desired to light the lamp the valve g is opened,
admitting the water to the carbide. This feature is of manifest advantage particu-
larly where the lamp is used upon bicycles, carriages or in locations where it is
subject to constant or occasional shocks and changes of position. It furnishes an
additional security against accidental admission of water to the carbide, and the
high pressures and waste of gas resulting therefrom.
Stated briefly the action of the lamp is as follows:-
On the valve g being opened water is admitted from the water reservoir G
through the hole g' to the lower part of chamber A.. The water as it rises in this
chamber flows through the aperture in the bottom of cylinder E, through the
holes in stem F and finally through the holes e in cylinder E where it comes
into contact with the carbide thus generating acetylene gas.
When the gas
pressure has reached the predetermined limit, it acts upon the flexible dia-
phragm 1) and compresses the spring D³ thus allowing the spring F2 to act upon
the valve until its piston comes opposite to and closes the holes e thereby
shutting off the water supply and so arresting the generation of gas.
As the gas
is used the pressure falls until the spring D is able to press up the flexible
diaphragm D and with it the valve rod F and piston until the latter uncovers the
holes e thus again admitting water to the carbide and so generating a further
supply of gas when the action is repeated as before described.
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 water inlet tube (FI) engaging the diaphragm (D) and controlling the
supply of water to the carbide, substantially as described.
2. The safety water reservoir (G) located above and separate from the operating
reservoir A, which again is separate from the carbide holder (C), substantially as
described.
3. The screw cap (D²) and spring (13) supported thereby and engaging the
lower side of the diaphragm, substantially as described.
4. The tubular valve (9) between upper and lower reservoirs (G and A) and

page_text: extending through the upper reservoir (G) and having a water inlet (9) through
its side near the bottom of the upper reservoir (G), substantially as described.
5. The pressure equalizing tube (K) connecting the lower water chamber A with
the gas chamber through the generator, substantially as described.
6. The annular telescopic cups (H and H¹) forming a carbide holding cartridge, 5
one of the cups being perforated, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of July 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.