Improvements in Acetylene Generators suitable for Cycle and other Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene Generators suitable for Cycle
and other Lamps.
GEORGE HENRY HARRISON, 10, Daisy Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Carriage
Axle Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a lamp for cycle and other lamps,
which will in a safe and simple manner generate and burn acetylene gas. I
carry out my purpose by making the outer shell of the lamp or generator any
suitable shape and built up with parts pressed or cast in brass or other suitable
metal and soldered together in the ordinary way. The inside of the shell I
divide into two parts the upper part rather smaller than the lower part, the
upper part to hold water which is filled through a small hole in top which is
then stopped with a screwed plug, the lower part contains the calcium carbide
which is introduced therein by the bottom being screwed off. The dividing
plate of the two chambers I form with a hole through the centre into which I
securely fix a short tube of suitable size, allowing all the projection to be on the
under side. The short tube mentioned I make the top end with but a small hole
in comparison to the lower end of the tube. In the bottom end of the tube which
projects into the lower chamber a suitable distance I securely fix a piece of cane
of suitable thickness and length for my purpose. On the lower end of the said
cane I fasten in any suitable manner, a piece of any suitable material, such as
felt, flannel &c. that is capable of holding moisture, the water entering at the
top of the short tube in the centre dividing plate is thus allowed to very slowly
percolate down the the cane to its lower end onto which the material is fixed to
hold the moisture as afore mentioned. The water percolating so slowly is only
just sufficient for my purpose in in keeping the pad damp. In the top of the shell
I fix a small bush which is threaded inside, into this I pass a screwed pin of
suitable length as to allow of its lower end covering or entering the small hole
at top end of tube in the centre dividing plate. The pin named above is pro-
vided with some suitable head so as to be screwed up or down by the thumb and
finger when screwed down, the hole in centre of the dividing plate is closed
so that water cannot pass down the cane, thereby keeping the pad of material at
lower end of cane dry. This is for when the generator is not in use. When in
use the screw afore mentioned is regulated as to only allow sufficient water to pass
down the cane to meet the requirements. In the event of the water or moisture
flowing too freely, the gas generated, would on reaching a certain pressure pre-
vent any more water or moisture passing down the cane & pad, and in the event
of an excessive pressure being generated the pressure of gas would blow all the
water out of the pad & up the cane into the upper chamber where it can escape
through a very small hole provided for the purpose. By this means the generator
is automatic and manufactures only sufficient gas for the requirements of the
burner or burners.

page_text: The generator when at work, having the "calcium carbide" in the lower
chamber absorbs the moisture from the pad at bottom of the cane which is so
arranged in length as to lie in the centre or thereabouts of the "calcium carbide'
thus generating the gas by the moisture coming in contact with the calcium
carbide.
"
Improvements in Acetylene Generators suitable for Cycle
and other Lamps.
GEORGE HENRY HARRISON, 10, Daisy Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Carriage
Axle Finisher, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a generator for cycles and other
lamps, which will in a safe and simple manner generate and burn acetylene gas.
I carry out my purpose by making the outer shell of the lamp or generator
any suitable shape and built up with parts pressed or cast in brass or other suit-
able metal and soldered together in the ordinary way. The inside of the shell
I divide into two parts, the upper part A to hold the water which is filled through
a small hole in top which is then stopped with a screwed plug D, the lower
part B contains the calcium carbide which is introduced therein by the bottom H
being screwed off. The dividing plate of the two chambers I form with a hole
through the centre into which I securely fix a short tube F of suitable size,
allowing all the projection to be on the under side. In the short tube F men-
tioned I make the top end with but a small hole in comparison to the lower end
of the tube F. In the bottom end of the tube F which projects into the lower
chamber B a suitable distance, I securely fix a piece of cane C of suitable thick-
ness and length for my purpose. On the lower end of the said cane C I fasten
in any suitable manner a piece of any suitable material G, such as felt, flannel
or the like that is capable of holding moisture, the water entering at the top
of the short tube F in the centre dividing plate is thus allowed to very slowly
percolate down the cane C to its lower end onto which the material G is fixed
to hold the moisture as afore mentioned. The water percolating so slowly is
only just sufficient for my purpose in keeping the pad G just damp. In the
top of the shell A I fix a small bush which is threaded inside, into this I pass
a screwed pin E of suitable length to allow of its lower end covering or entering
the small hole at top end of tube F in the centre dividing plate, the pin E
named above is provided with some suitable head so as to be screwed up or down
by the thumb and finger. When screwed down, the hole in the centre of the
dividing plate is closed so that the water cannot pass down the cane C thereby
keeping the pad of material G at lower end the cane C dry-this is for when the
generator is not in use. When in use the screw E aforesaid is regulated to only
allow sufficient water to pass down the cane C to meet the requirements. In
the event of the water or moisture flowing too freely, the gas generated would
on reaching a certain pressure prevent any more water or moisture passing down
the cane C and pad G and in the event of an excessive pressure being generated
the pressure of gas would blow all the water out of the pad G & up the cane C
into the upper chamber A where it can escape through a very small hole pro-

page_text: vided for the purpose-by this means the generator is automatic and manu-
factures only sufficient gas for the requirements of the burner or burners.
The generator when at work having the calcium carbide in the lower chamber B
absorbs the moisture from the pad G at bottom of the cane C which is so arranged
in length as to lie in the centre, or thereabouts, of the calcium carbide, thus.
generating the gas by the moisture coming in contact with the calcium carbide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The cane C as the medium for conducting the water from the water chamber A
to the carbide chamber B in just sufficient quantity to generate only as much
gas as required or can be consumed by the burner or burners.
Dated this 12th day of November 1898.
GEORGE HENRY HARRISON.