Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Gas Lamps for Cycles, Carriages and other like purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Gas Lamps for Cycles,
Carriages, and other like purposes.
I, ETTORE FRANCETTI-SCHIERONI, of 25, New Broad Street, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to acetylene-gas
lamps for cycles, carriages and other like purposes the object of the invention being
to conduct the moistening water or fluid in regulated manner to the chamber
wherein is contained the calcium-carbide and wherein the acetylene gas is given off
or evolved.
In carrying this invention into practical effect a cylindrical square or other formed
chamber is employed wherein is packed the calcium carbide; the upper part of this
cylinder is domed or covered over and is fitted with a discharge conduit and opening
and closing valve or discharge conduits and opening and closing valves for regulating
the discharge of the gas to jet or jets or burner or burners of desired or available
kind. The lower end of said container is open but is capable of being stoppered by
a cork or other stopper.
At the side of the said containing cylinder is provided a channel groove or it may
be a partial tube extending from the lower edge of the container to any desired
height and in this said channel groove or partial tube is laid a roll, twist or wick of
filainentous material, one end of said roll, twist or wick extending out below the said
container and the other end extending from the aforesaid channel groove or partial
tube to the upper stratum or strata, or through the strata of and side by side with
the calcium-carbide contained as aforesaid within the cylindrical container. When
so disposed the open lower end of the cylindrical container is to be stoppered with a
cork or other material stopper which is made with a vertical groove or the like so
as not to press upon or compress the filamentous roll, twist, cord or wick before
described.
The said cord, roll, twist or wick of fibre is in some cases to be enclosed in a
cover (tubular or cylindrical) of meshed wire or rolled or entwined wire to support
the fibre strands in their upwardly tending position.
The said cylindrical container is to be placed in an outer cylinder containing water
or fluid to be conducted to the calcium-carbide by capillary attraction from the
extending end of the filamentous roll, twist cord or wick which will be immersed in
the surrounding fluid, of the fluid container, upward through the said roll, twist, cord
or wick and to the upper portion of said roll, twist, cord or wick which extends into
the space occupied by the calcium-carbide whereby the moisture requisite will be
furnished in proper quantity of supply.
In some cases in combination with the channel or tube of the roll, cord, twist or

page_text: wick there will be fitted a screw button capable of being turned to apply pressure
upon the wick and restrain the flow of the liquid to regulate the supply of moisture.
Dated 8th August 1898.
Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Gas Lamps for Cycles,
Carriages, and other like purposes.
I, ETTORE FRANCETTI-SCHIERONI, of 25, New Broad Street, in the City of
London, Merchant, 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 has for object, certain improvements in and relating to acetylene
gas lamps for cycles, carriages, and other like vehicles, and in which the moist vapour
of water or fluid can be regulated to a chamber wherein is contained the calcium
carbide and the acetylene gas is given off or evolved.
In carrying this invention into practical effect, a cylindrical square, or other formed
chamber is employed wherein is placed the calcium carbide; the upper part of this
cylinder is doned or covered over and is fitted with a discharge conduit and valve
for regulating the discharge of the gas to jet or jets of desired or available kind.
The lower end of said container is open but is capable of being stoppered by a cork
or other stopper.
At the side of the said containing cylinder is provided a channel groove, or it
may be a partial tube extending from the lower edge of the container to any desired
height and in this said channel groove or partial tube is laid a wick of filamentous
material, one end of said wick extending out below the said container, and the
other end extending from the tube.
The wick may in some cases be enclosed in meshed or entwined wire to support
the fibre strands in their upwardly tending position.
The said cylindrical container is placed in an outer cylinder containing water or
fluid to be conducted to the calcium carbide by capillary attraction from the extending
end of the filamentous wick immersed in the fluid of the fluid container, whereby the
moisture requisite will be furnished in proper quantity of supply.
A screw button capable of being turned to apply pressure upon the wick will
restrain the flow of the liquid to regulate the supply of moisture.
My invention will be well understood by reference to the annexed drawing which
represents in section a cycle head lamp. A, outer casing as the water vessel and to
which by the parallel back frame B and L iron socket C said lamp can be suspended
in the well known manner. D, inner vessel as the calcium carbide container formed
in a piece with the dome E and with overlap flange F to fit close to the outer
vessel A. G, gas supply pipe leading to the nipple H which is within the bell
reflector I, this having a back strip plate J for fitting it to the lamp by the
end of the plate J being pushed into a recess, or of being fastened to the
flange Fas shown. K, cork or other stopper fitting tightly within the lower
end of the calcium carbide container D. L, is the wick tube which the cork or
other stopper fits tightly against and having the wick M projecting from both
ends, one end in contact with the water in the outer vessel A, and the other falling
slightly over the top of the tube L to give by capillary attraction the necessary

page_text: supply of moisture to the inner vessel D for conduction to the calcium carbide for
gas generation without the water being in actual contact, the degree of moisture
being regulated by the pinch screw N pressed more or less against the wick M. P,
tap to the gas pipe G to shut off or to regulate the height of the flame from the
nipple H. The wick M is represented as of round formation, such as a braided roll,
but it may be simply twisted lamp cotton, or if the tube L. be of a flat shape the
wick can be corresponding thereto.
By this invention, the calcium carbide is not saturated with water, as in other
lamps, consequently the dampness of the calcium carbide is produced by absorption
of the watery vapour issuing from the wick M, an advantage in the gradual genera-
tion of acetylene gas, which vapour has to penetrate through the calcium carbide
from the top or upper level and draw off the gas therefrom before it can attack or
moisten the lower strata for maintaining the generation. This plan of supply of
moist vapour prevents the dome being overcharged with gas, and also obviates the
creation of internal pressure, so that by simply regulating the pinch screw N, the
degree of moisture can be regulated and also the height of the flame, whether
the tap P be operated or not.
By pinching the wick tightly by the button N, the supply of moisture can be
entirely stopped and no danger can accrue from the small quantity of gas left in the
lamp, even if the tap P be shut off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein before recited improvements in and relating to acetylene gas lamps,
consisting of the arrangement of outer vessel A with closed bottom inner vessel D
with stopper K in bottom and dome E at top and having a wick tube L at
the side capable of being pressed by pinch screw N, as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In an acetylene gas lamp, the supply of moist vapour to the calcium carbide for
absorption and the gradual generation of gas therein by the means and appliances, as
described with reference to the annexed drawing, whether said lamp be adapted for
cycles, carriages, or other vehicles, as set forth.
101
1
1000
The 10th day of May 1898.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Ettore Francetti-Schieroni.