8061 '12 Nvp - lw 
 
 A 'K ' 
 
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 REPORT ON USE OF ACETYLENE 
 GAS BY THE CANADIAN GOVERN- 
 MENT AS AN ILLUMINANT FOR 
 AIDS TO NAVIGATION 
 
 BY 
 
 ALBERT ROSS 
 
 Captam, U. S. N., Member of the Light-House Board 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 1907 
 
Property of the United States Government. 
 
 REPORT ON USE OF ACETYLENE 
 GAS BY THE CANADIAN GOVERN- 
 MENT AS AN ILLUMINANT FOR 
 AIDS TO NAVIGATION 
 
 BY 
 ALBERT ROSS 
 
 Captain, U. S. N., Member of the Light-House Board 
 
 WASHINGTON 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 1907 
 
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR, 
 
 LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, 
 Washington, October 3, 1906. ' 
 
 SIRS: I have the honor to report that in obedience to the Board's 
 orders of September 21/1906, I proceeded to Ottawa, Canada, and 
 conferred with the Canadian light-house officials on light-house mat- 
 ters, and especially in regard to acetylene lighting. My report is 
 appended hereto. 
 
 The trip was made successful and its value very much enhanced by 
 the interest shown by the prime minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier; the 
 consul-general of the United States at Ottawa, Mr. John G. Foster; 
 the deputy minister of marine and fisheries, Col. F. Gourdeau, and 
 Mr. James F. Fraser, commissioner of lights Therefore especial 
 acknowledgment is made of their courtesy. 
 
 Respectfully, A. Ross, 
 
 Captain, U. S. Navy. 
 The LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, 
 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 3 
 
 598349 
 
ACETYLENE GAS AS AN ILLUMINANT FOR AIDS TO 
 
 NAVIGATION. 
 
 STATUS OF LIGHTING IN CANADA. 
 
 The greater number of light-houses in Canada still use oil, most of 
 which is purchased in the United States, of the standard required by 
 the United States Light-House Board for the use of stations having 
 dioptric lights. Oil for other lights is purchased from a Canadian com- 
 pany. 
 
 Buoys of the Pintsch gas type are operated under a pressure of 8 
 atmospheres. Buoys of the Willson automatic low-pressure acety- 
 lene gas type have been adopted, and will eventually take the place 
 of all other lighted buoys in the Canadian light-house service. Some 
 shore stations use acetylene gas under pressure of from 10 to 14 
 atmospheres and others use the Willson automatic low-pressure 
 acetylene-gas beacon. The most important stations, however, are 
 fitted with petroleum vapor lamps. 
 
 
 ACETYLENE-PRESSURE LIGHTS. 
 
 Acetylene gas was first used in the Canadian light-house service in 
 1901, when acetylene generators were installed in several small river 
 lights. Experiments were made with several gas-generating machines, 
 but none proved entirely satisfactory. Great difficulty was experi- 
 enced from carbonization of lava tips, as well as in the construction 
 of the tips themselves. The most satisfactory tip discovered is that 
 at present in use. It is made in the United States. 
 
 In 1903 all the gas buoys were fitted with " Economic" burners, 
 that burned acetylene with single one-fourth foot burners. The 
 standard Pintsch gas lanterns of 200 mm. lenses were used. 
 
 A pressure plant was installed on the light-house tender Scout, and 
 its use was continued until the spring of 1905, when an explosion 
 occurred while the tender was engaged in filling three gas buoys at 
 the government dry dock at Kingston, Ontario. Two had been filled 
 to 12 atmospheres and a third was being filled. A pressure of at 
 least 6 atmospheres had been obtained, when, without warning, the 
 first buoy, which had been filled for about an hour and a hah 5 , exploded. 
 The shock ruptured and exploded the second buoy alongside and blew 
 the third buoy on its side, breaking the hose and lighting the gas. As 
 
 5 
 
\ 
 6 ACETYLENE GAS FOK AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 a result 4 ,ine^, -mcl.ij&ing the captain, were killed and the steamer's 
 .upper lyocka. were burned. The buoys which failed were two of 39 
 iliailow'-ife'aft :gas ibiioy^' which had been handed over in 1902 by the 
 department of railways and canals when the marine department took 
 over the buoyage of the upper St. Lawrence between Lachine and 
 Fresco tt. They were defective in construction. The vessel was 
 rebuilt, and the generating plant was installed at the Prescott Buoy 
 Station. 
 
 Since the explosion the method pursued has been to reduce the 
 pressure in the gas receptacles to about one-half or two-thirds, with 
 the consequent expense of more frequent refilling or recharging. 
 
 Another difficulty found in the acetylene buoys was that the cop- 
 per hood of the gas lantern was affected by the gases of combustion, 
 which caused a slimy deposit to fall on the lantern and burner. This 
 was obviated by substituting sheet nickel for sheet copper in the central 
 tube and by heavily nickel plating the surfaces exposed to the gases 
 of combustion. At the same time an effort was made to purify the 
 gas, and this has been accomplished in such manner that little diffi- 
 culty is now experienced from carbonization of tips. 
 
 Up to this time endeavor had been made to keep the consumption 
 of gas at about the same as the Pintsch gas on the score of economy. 
 The Canadian government officials now feel that the best light that 
 can be obtained should be burned hi order to give to navigators the most 
 efficient aid that can be supplied. This standard was shown in 
 everything offered for inspection. In 1904 the burner was increased 
 to 2 half -foot main flames and in addition occulting burners were fitted 
 with 2 one-eighth foot pilot flames. Since the adoption of the Will- 
 son buoy it has been the policy of the Canadian government to remove 
 all pressure buoys at a distance from the compressing plants and to use 
 them as permanent beacons on shore. 
 
 In the shore stations between Montreal and Kingston 'two cylinders 
 42 inches in diameter and 20 feet long were installed in the lower 
 story of each light-house, and acetylene was substituted for the oil. 
 This change was readily made, as the tender can approach within 300 
 or 400 feet of each light and supply acetylene gas through hose. 
 These welded-steel gas holders contain 265 cubic feet per atmosphere 
 and were filled to a pressure of from 10 to 12 atmospheres, since 
 reduced to 10. A reducing valve is used, and keepers are found unnec- 
 essary. 
 
 In many cases where the tower was old and built of wood it was 
 torn down, and a steel gas holder was up-ended on a concrete base, 
 the gas lantern being placed on a square steel box 20 inches on a side 
 containing the reducing valve, which was bolted to the manhole 
 cover. This made a permanent structure which required only 
 painting. The question of protection from cold weather was not 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOB AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 7 
 
 considered, as shown in the picture of the Dock Island, British Colum- 
 bia, beacon. 
 
 By this system of installation numerous keepers were dispensed with, 
 allowing the establishment of other lights. In some cases a series 
 of from 4 to 7 lights in close proximity was placed in charge of one 
 caretaker. After a trial of two years the system has been found 
 economical and practical. It requires, however, that the stations 
 be in proximity to the gas-generating plant, and that a vessel be fur- 
 nished to attend them. 
 
 In the ship channel of the St. Lawrence River 45 compression gas 
 buoys are in service, requiring as a tender a gas and derrick scow 90 
 
 Dock Island, British Columbia, light, on the run between Victoria and 
 Vancouver, installed March 7, 1906. It contains a 200 mm. lantern, is 
 charged with 1,000 pounds of carbide, and runs four months with- 
 out recharging. As will be seen, no particular care is taken with 
 regard to temperature conditions. 
 
 feet long, 26 feet wide, and of 6 feet draft, with a steam derrick and 
 drum hoist engine of 10 tons capacity. The generating plant located 
 in the after end of the scow includes a "Scout-type generator" with 
 a capacity of 4,000 feet of gas per hour, and has the necessary scrub- 
 ber, low pressure (fore) drier, to dry the gas over calcium carbide, 
 twin three-stage gas compressors of the Ingersoll-Sergeant type, an 
 after cooler and after drier (high pressure) , and a purifying plant. 
 
 The compression system of acetylene is in use in other districts 
 both for buoys and for shore stations, and it was intended to establish 
 it in Halifax Harbor, but this will not now be done on account of the 
 adoption of the Willson low-pressure buoy. 
 
 2401507 2 
 
8 AQETYLENE GAS FOK AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 PETROLEUM VAPOR LAMPS. 
 
 In about eight-tenths of the lights under the Canadian government 
 oil is still used, and in about one-tenth of the most important petro- 
 leum vapor lamps are now being installed. The intention was to 
 install this lamp in all of the first-order lights with a mantle sufficient 
 for the requirements of that order. Difficulty, however, has been 
 experienced in the use of mantles of sufficient size to fulfill the 
 requirements of a first-order light. An 85 mm. mantle has been 
 tried, but it is not so reliable as desired. The smaller mantles up to 
 and including 55 mm. have been found entirely satisfactory, and, 
 in the light-houses so far equipped there has been a " consequent 
 increase of light of 500 per cent over the ordinary burner in propor- 
 tion to the oil consumed." 
 
 Experiments are also being made in the use of a mantle, with acety- 
 lene gas for lights of the first, second, and third orders. This, how- 
 ever, is only in the experimental stage, and the greater amount of 
 work is being done on the production of a larger mantle for use with 
 the petroleum vapor lamp. 
 
 It is the intention, as funds become available, to continue the 
 installation of these lamps in all of the important stations, and to 
 extend the Willson low-pressure automatic acetylene system to minor 
 stations and floating aids to navigation, thus obtaining much more 
 satisfactory results than have been obtained by the use of ordinary 
 oil, Pintsch gas, or acetylene gas under pressure. 
 
 WILLSON AUTOMATIC GAS BUOY. 
 
 The first automatic gas buoy was made by Mr. Thomas L. Willson. 
 It was given to the Canadian government for test in August, 1904, 
 and shortly thereafter was followed by three others, each of a special 
 type, including the combination gas and whistling buoy. The depart- 
 ment of marine at once recognized the utility of the invention and 
 gave Mr. Willson orders for additional buoys of various types to the 
 number of 48 for the year 1904-5. This was later supplemented by 
 an order for 12 shallow-draft buoys and an automatic beacon. 
 
 The International Marine Signal Company, of Ottawa, was incor- 
 porated August 24, 1906, to manufacture the Willson automatic buoy 
 and carry on a general marine-signal business. The plant at present 
 is composed of two buildings. The larger is a one-story shop, 575 
 feet long by 60 feet wide, and is now being extended, so that by 
 November, 1907, it will be 1;200 feet long. A railroad track extends 
 through the center of the building and connects with the Canadian 
 Pacific Railroad. This shop, as well as the other, was filled with 
 buoys in all stages of construction, the entire plant being used exclu- 
 sively for manufacture for the Canadian government. The present 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOB AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 9 
 
 daily capacity of both shops is one buoy. After November 1 it will 
 be two buoys, and by November, 1907, it is estimated the output will 
 be an average of four buoys daily. 
 
 TYPES OF BUOYS. 
 
 A description of the types of gas buoys and gas and whistling buoys 
 which have been placed in service follows: 
 
 Nos. 5 and 6 shallow-draft river and harbor gas buoy. This is a small 
 buoy in which a Pintsch gas lantern is used with two one-fourth foot 
 main flames and two one-eighth foot pilot flames. The flotation 
 chamber, 6 feet in diameter, is cylindrical and is formed of a body 
 plate and two shallow dished heads. The generating tube is 24 inches 
 in diameter. The light is exhibited 1\ feet above the water. 
 
 N". 7 buoy off light-house depot, Prescott, Ontario. 
 
 No. 7 standard gas buoy. This size of buoy has been adopted as the 
 standard for general requirements. It has a cylindrical flotation 
 chamber composed of a body plate and two shallow dished heads. 
 The diameter of the flotation chamber is 7 feet. A standard Pintsch 
 gas lantern is used with two one-fourth foot and two one-eighth foot 
 pilot flames, and the light is exhibited 1\ feet above the water. The 
 generating tube is 30 inches in diameter and the carbide charge is 
 2,500 pounds. 
 
 No. 9 combined gas and whistling buoy. This is the lighted whistling 
 buoy, the Courtenay principle being used to produce the sound. It 
 has a cylindrical flotation chamber 9 feet in diameter, is composed of 
 a body plate and two shallow dished heads, and draws about 19 J feet 
 of water. The generating tube is centrally located, and twin whistling 
 
10 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 tubes, 20 inches in diameter, are provided. It has a 10-inch whistle, 
 and was designed to have the same whistling power as the Courtenay 
 buoys now in the Canadian service. The light, exhibited from a stand- 
 ard gas lantern, is shown 16 feet above the surface of the water. The 
 generating tube is 30 inches in diameter, and the carbide charge is 
 3,000 pounds. 
 
 The types of buoys mentioned below are modifications of those 
 already described, the changes consisting only in shape and size. 
 Illustrations of these buoys and the method of their construction will 
 be found in the pamphlet entitled "Automatic Gas Buoys." a 
 
 No. 6% shallow-draft gas buoy. In future this will be used for the 
 same service as the No. 5 buoy. The notation chamber consists of 
 two symmetrical hemispheroidal heads with a collision rail of 65- 
 pound railroad steel riveted at the junction of the two pieces. 
 
 No. 8% automatic gas buoy (standard) . This buoy is shown in the 
 figure herewith. The float chamber is formed of two heavy steel plates 
 pressed to hemispheroidal shape, as shown. The abutting edges are 
 machined, and a heavy tee rail is closely riveted over the joint so as 
 to form both a butt strap and a collision rail. The float chamber is 
 8J feet in diameter, and it is 9 feet 4 inches in diameter over the col- 
 lision rail. The generator tube is a heavy welded steel tube, holding 
 a charge of 2,500 pounds of carbide. The lantern table is fitted to 
 take either the 200 mm., 300 mm., or the 375 mm. lantern. The 
 weight of this buoy is 5 tons without its charge and 6J tons when 
 charged. The operating parts of all automatic gas buoys are similar, 
 although the various types differ in size, shape, draft, and height of 
 focal plane. 
 
 The buoy consists essentially of a gas generator (1) supported by 
 a float chamber (2), a lantern support (3) attached to the deck of 
 the float chamber, a lantern (4), and a purifier chamber (5) located 
 in the top of the generator; there is also a counterweight (6) at- 
 tached to the bottom of the generator tube, to give the buoy suffi- 
 cient stability. The generator (1) has a diaphragm (7) near the 
 bottom; the center of the diaphragm is fitted with a conical-seated 
 A r alve (8), which is shown open; this valve is mounted on the valve 
 stem (9), which passes up through the center of the generator and 
 through the generator head (10) ; the upper end of the valve stem 
 has a thread cut upon it, and is fitted with a hexagon nut (11) just 
 above the generator head ; the part of the stem passing through the 
 generator head has a keyway cut in it, and a spline is fitted into the 
 generator head engaging the keyway, so that when nut (11) is turned 
 to open or close the valve, the stem can not turn, but can only move 
 up or down. To the extreme top end of the valve stem is attached a 
 
 On file in the Office of the Light-House Board, Department of Commerce and 
 Labor, Washington. 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOE AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 11 
 
 stop collar (12) to prevent the nut (11) being turned so far as to 
 drop the valve and valve stem. A cap (14) screws down onto the 
 generator head against a rubber packing, so as to prevent leakage of 
 gas when the buoy is 
 in operation; it also 
 serves to prevent the 
 valve stem (9) rising, 
 and so holds the valve 
 (8) securely open. 
 The valve stem (9) 
 is surrounded by a 
 guard pipe (13), 
 where it passes 
 through the carbide 
 charge; this pipe is 
 screwed firmly into a 
 hub on the under side 
 of the generator head. 
 The conical valve seat 
 in the center of the 
 diaphragm (7) is pro- 
 vided with a rubber 
 packing (15) which 
 is held in a groove in 
 the valve seat so as 
 to project enough to 
 make a good joint 
 with the valve (8) 
 when it is closed, even 
 if it is quite foul. 
 A steel grate (16) is 
 attached to the inside 
 of the generator a 
 short distance above 
 the diaphragm ; the 
 charge of calcium 
 carbide rests on this 
 grate. 
 
 The operation of 
 the gas apparatus 
 is as follows: The 
 
 "enerator ( 1 ) is filled Interior view of a Willson low-pressure automatic gas buoy. 
 
 with carbide as shown, and the buoy is placed in the water 
 with the valve (8) open and the valve cap (14) in place. Water 
 enters the bottom of the generator tube through the hole shown in 
 
12 
 
 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 the center of the counterweight (6) and then passes through the 
 valve (8) up toward the grate (16) and finally reaches the carbide 
 resting on the grate ; this at once produces gas, which passes through 
 the purifier (5), thence through the small valve (17) and pipe (18) 
 to the lantern (4), to which the pipe is connected by the coup- 
 ling (19). When gas is produced faster than it is burned in the lan- 
 tern, it accumulates in the generator and presses the water downward 
 away from the carbide, thus stopping the generation of gas (the 
 illustration shows the generator in this condition). When the sur- 
 plus gas is consumed the water reaches the carbide again and more 
 gas is produced. 
 
 No. 11 combined gas and whistling buoy. This is similar in general 
 design to the No. 9 buoy, but the flotation chamber is 11 feet in 
 diameter, the whistle 18 inches in diameter, and the two whistling 
 tubes 36 inches in diameter. The light will be exhibited 30 feet above 
 the water from a gas lantern carrying a lens either 375 or 500 mm. in 
 diameter. 
 
 No. 14 combined gas and whistling buoy. This is designed for posi- 
 tions of sufficient importance to call for a light-ship. The flotation 
 chamber is elliptical, with axes of 11 and 14 feet. The whistling 
 tubes are 48 inches, and the whistle 18 inches in diameter. The light 
 will be exhibited 30 feet above the water from a gas lantern carrying 
 a 500 mm. lens. 
 
 A comparative idea of the buoys will be gained from studying the 
 following table: 
 
 
 >> 
 
 
 * ' 
 
 s 
 
 fs*. 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 3-d 
 
 
 !? < .. 
 
 0)"^ 
 
 S'fe^ 
 
 - . 
 
 
 2r 
 
 Type num- 
 ber of buoy. 
 
 5| 
 
 Shape of flotation 
 chamber. 
 
 *"**, 
 
 +" i 
 
 hi 
 
 ee<pa 
 -H bo-^ 
 
 o -(J 3 
 
 11 
 
 0*0 
 
 111 
 
 MH o3 
 O 
 
 
 Q 
 
 
 Q 
 
 O 
 
 u 5 
 
 Q 
 
 Q 
 
 9 
 
 5... 
 
 Ft. In. 
 6 
 
 Cylindrical 
 
 Ft. In. 
 5 9 
 
 Inches. 
 24 
 
 Lbs. Inches. 
 1 000 
 
 Indies. 
 
 o 
 
 mm. 
 200 
 
 Ft. In. 
 
 7 4 
 
 6 . 
 
 6 
 
 do 
 
 6 
 
 24 
 
 1*000 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 9 4 
 
 . do 
 
 7 3 
 
 30 
 
 2*500 
 
 o 
 
 200 
 
 7 fi 
 
 84... 
 
 10 5 
 
 Spheroidal 
 
 8 6 
 
 30 
 
 2 500 
 
 o 
 
 orjA 
 
 
 9 . 
 
 19 4 
 
 Cylindrical 
 
 8 10 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 or 200 
 
 
 11 
 11X144. 
 
 26 8 
 26 8 
 
 do 
 Elliptical 
 
 11 
 
 30 
 30 
 
 3,000 36 
 3 000 48 
 
 18 
 18 
 
 375 
 500 
 
 30 
 
 on n 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 It will be noticed that with the increase in the size of the gas buoy, 
 the size of the lantern, the consumption of gas, and the power of the 
 light have increased. The lens of 500 mm. diameter corresponds to 
 the fourth order; 375 mm., fifth order; 300 mm., sixth order, 200 
 mm., to less than the seventh order, while the lens of 100 mm. can 
 not well be classified. The 375 mm. lanterns will be used on all 
 whistling buoys, and eventually 300 mm. lanterns on all standard 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 13 
 
 buoys, while the No. 11 gas and whistling buoys may carry 500 mm. 
 lanterns if the importance of the locality warrants it. 
 
 The great increase in the light power of the larger automatic 
 buoys, due to the use of acetylene and the size of gas lanterns 
 employed, makes them in reality floating light-houses of an order 
 superior to many of the light-houses in Canada. 
 
 
 No. 7 buoy on deck of Canadian light-house tender Scout. 
 BURNERS. 
 
 The principal difficulty experienced in the use of acetylene for 
 light-house work has been with the burners, but each season has 
 produced changes and improvements. It was not considered neces- 
 sary to purify the acetylene used until the middle of 1905, when 
 purifiers were added to the automatic buoys with excellent results. 
 
14 
 
 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 "Economic" burners are used in buoys and shore stations using 
 compression and low-pressure acetylene gas. They are of the type 
 shown in the samples and vary from the single one-fourth-foot 
 flame, one-eighth pilot burner, to the six-burner type, one-half-foot 
 flame with four and six one-eighth pilot burners. At present use is 
 made of the following sizes, tips for which are made in the United 
 States: 
 
 
 Main 
 
 Pilot 
 
 
 
 
 flames 
 
 flames 
 
 
 
 Size of buoy. 
 
 (one- 
 fourth of 
 
 (one- 
 eighth of 
 
 Lens. 
 
 Order. 
 
 
 a foot) . 
 
 a foot) . 
 
 
 
 No. 5... 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 mm. 
 100-200 
 
 7 
 
 No 6 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 200 
 
 7 
 
 No. 6i... 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 200 
 
 
 No. 7 
 
 2 4 
 
 9 4 
 
 200-300 
 
 6-7 
 
 No 8i 
 
 2-4 
 
 2 4 
 
 200-375 
 
 
 No. 9... 
 
 4 
 
 2-4 
 
 300-375 
 
 5-6 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 'Hi 1 , 
 
 46 
 
 375-500 
 
 4-5 
 
 Light-ship 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 500 
 
 4 
 
 Fixed for shore stations 
 
 2-6 
 
 
 500 and 
 
 
 
 
 
 up. 
 
 
 a One-haif foot. 
 CHARGING THE BUOY. 
 
 In the low-pressure acetylene buoy the carbide charge (from \ to 
 \\ tons) is carried in a central generating tube of welded steel, sup- 
 ported by a flotation chamber. The carbide rests on a cast-steel 
 grating, below which is a diaphragm of steel with an 8-inch opening 
 closed by a valve operated by a valve stem which passes through a 
 tube in the carbide chamber, then through the cast-steel head of the 
 same, and is operated from the deck of the buoy. The bottom of 
 the generating tube is open to the water, and the top is closed by a 
 steel casting containing the purifier and the door for filling the buoy. 
 The buoy, with valve closed, is filled with carbide before placing on 
 station. The valve is opened when the buoy is moored, admitting 
 water to the charge. The air is then blown out of the generating 
 tube through a small plug and out of the gas lantern in the usual 
 way, after which the lamp is lighted. At Quebec the officials, on 
 learning of our arrival, delayed the filling of two low-pressure auto- 
 matic Willson buoys with carbide until we were present. The 
 method of charging, etc., at this station was as follows: 
 
 The valves in the bottom diaphragm had been closed and the 
 manhole plates removed. Carbide in tin cans was emptied into coal 
 scuttles, passed up a ladder, and poured into a canvas chute, which 
 was long enough to extend to the grating in the charging chamber. 
 The chute was used to prevent the lumps of carbide from striking 
 
 o On file in the Office of the Light-House Board, Department of Commerce and Labor 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 15 
 
 the iron walls or grating, and, thus to avoid sparks and the ignition 
 of gas evolved from any moisture in the chamber. These were No. 9 
 buoys and had a capacity of 3,000 pounds of carbide. When the . 
 chamber was filled, the manhole plates w r ere put on, connections were 
 made, and the buoys were ready to put on station. The moorings 
 used for anchoring them were 1-inch to l^-inch chains of a length 
 not less than two to two and one-half times the depth of the water, 
 with cement sinkers, mushrooms, or stockless anchors, depending on 
 the character of the bottom and attendant circumstances. After 
 the buoy is in the water the bottom valve is opened, allowing the 
 water to attack the carbide and the small blow-offs, provided in the 
 head of the buoy and the lantern, are opened to permit the gas to 
 drive out the air in the buoy. The connections between the buoy 
 and the lantern are then tested with soapsuds and the lantern lighted. 
 The No. 11 and light-ship buoys require for handling a vessel having 
 a 25-ton derrick and large deck space. It has been the custom to fill 
 the buoys at the wharf and tow them to the station. They can be filled 
 on station by closing the bottom valve, pumping or blowing out by 
 ejector the water and lime deposit, then filling from a tender or other 
 vessel. The better method, however, is to lift the buoy clear of the 
 water, wash out the carbide chamber above and below the grating, 
 close the lower valve, and then charge with carbide, opening 
 the lower valve when the buoy is in the water and ready for service. 
 
 SIGNALS. 
 
 The Courtenay principle is used in the whistle signal. Instead of a 
 single central tube for compressing the air to sound the whistle, twin 
 tubes are used, the axes of these tubes and the axes of the generating 
 tube being in the same plane. Standard buoys may or may not be 
 fitted with a bell. Gas and signal buoys are fitted with a whistle and 
 may be fitted with a bell as service conditions require. Number 1 1 is 
 fitted with gas, 18-inch whistle, bell, and submarine bell. Light-ship 
 buoys are fitted with a fourth order light, 18-inch whistle, bell, and 
 submarine signal apparatus. Some idea of the increased power of the 
 w r histle blast of the automatic buoy compared with the Courtenay 
 is given by a comparison of the horizontal area of the compressing 
 tubes. The area hi the largest size Courtenay is 4J square feet; that 
 of the automatic gas and whistling buoy is 14 square feet. 
 
 The tubes for the striking balls in the bell mechanism of the buoys 
 now in use are on the outside of the framework. This has been 
 changed in the newer type, where these cylinders are inside of the 
 frame. The tubes used in the construction of these buoys vary from 
 1 foot, 8 inches, to 4 feet, and are made in New York. The heads and 
 bottoms are made in Coatesville, Pa. 
 
16 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 In the future the buoys will be elliptical in cross section, made of 
 but two pieces, formed by the head and the bottom, with a bulb iron 
 
 for 10 mid is inch whistle for buoys. 
 
 T-rail at the junction to strengthen, and also to act as a collision 
 fender. In order w to manufacture these buoys in this wav the 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOE AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 17 
 
 company supplying them is installing a press at a cost of $100,000. 
 Further details of these buoys \vill be shown in blue prints and let- 
 ters patent No. 791119, May 30, 1905. 
 
 The lights shown from gas buoys are occulting, unless for special 
 reasons a fixed white light is required. At the office of the inventor 
 tests were made of the various lanterns, varying from the Pintsch size 
 200jmillimeter, to the largest fourth order light size, or 500 millimeter. 
 The larger sizes were also tested with red shades or chimneys. Con- 
 siderable time was taken up in the inspection of plans, blue prints, etc., 
 copies of which are submitted. 
 
 ADVANTAGES OF LOW-PRESSURE BUOY. 
 
 A discussion of the advantages of low-pressure buoys over the com- 
 pression system may not be amiss, for my tour of inspection leads me 
 to believe that the compression system will eventually be replaced by 
 the automatic. 
 
 The desire of the Canadian government is to make use of the com- 
 pression system until it can be replaced by 'a low-pressure buoy of 
 the latest automatic type. The points of advantage of compressed 
 acetylene over compressed oil gas are as follows : 
 
 1. For an equal volume of gas burned, acetylene gives more than 
 five times the light. 
 
 2. Acetylene gas can be generated on the deck of a light-house ten- 
 der in a portable apparatus, whereas oil gas must be transported in 
 storeholders from a gas works on shore. 
 
 3. All over 10 atmospheres pressure, more acetylene than oil gas 
 can be compressed into a holder, as the latter begins to deposit liquid 
 hydrocarbons at or before this pressure, thereby reducing the illumi- 
 nating power of the gas. 
 
 The great advantage of low-pressure acetylene buoys over the com- 
 pression system is summarized in the following: 
 
 1 . In the compression type the gas is raised to a maximum pressure 
 of 225 pounds per square inch; in the automatic type the maximum 
 pressure does not exceed a few pounds per square inch. 
 
 2. Compression buoys require for their maintenance a gas generat- 
 ing plant. In the case of acetylene this can be placed on the deck of 
 a light-house tender or scow ; with oil gas it must be located on shore 
 and the gas transported in holders to the buoy. The automatic buoy 
 is charged with carbide and requires no gas generating plant except 
 that within itself. t 
 
 a On file in the Office of the Light-House Board, Department of Commerce and 
 Labor, Washington, D. C. 
 
18 ACETYLENE GAS FOB AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 3. The elimination of compression and the fact that automatic 
 buoys may be recharged from a boat, if necessary, permits the installa- 
 tion of gas buoys in isolated positions where their use was not practi- 
 cable before. 
 
 4. An automatic gas buoy, fully charged, can carry from 9,000 to 
 10,000 feet of gas in the form of carbide. The standard compression 
 buoy (170 cubic feet per atmosphere) at 15 atmospheres will hold 
 about one-fourth as much gas. An automatic buoy can be charged 
 on the opening of navigation and requires no attention, so far as gas 
 supply is concerned, until navigation closes. One charge is sufficient 
 for one year where the gas consumption is equal to that of the old type 
 buoys. 
 
 5. This principle more readily permits the lighting of other classes 
 of buoys, such as whistling and bell buoys. 
 
 TEST OF SERVICE. 
 
 On my tour of inspection I examined the Willson low-pressure 
 buoys which had been in position on the St. Lawrence since April. 
 All were found in most excellent condition. The tips were as clean 
 as when the buoys were put in position. Only one^change had been 
 made in any of them during the summer, and this a small alteration 
 in the occulting mechanism. In the examination I landed on a 
 buoy and the vessel backed off. The stability in a swift channel may 
 be judged from the photographs and by the fact that when the vessel 
 backed off and away from the buoy I was left with three other men on 
 the lantern platform. These buoys ride well in^ strong currents and 
 with the different changes that can be made to adapt them to all cir- 
 cumstances, the whistle, bell, large lens, occulting lights, and subma- 
 rine signal apparatus seem to fill perfectly all the requirements of the 
 most efficient aid to navigation that has been offered to mariners. 
 The advantages offered are greater than .those of any other system. 
 The duration of service depends only on the strength of light desired 
 and the carrying capacity of the carbide chamber. The season [re- 
 quiring lights being about eight months, selection^ of sizes is governed 
 accordingly. The most notable instance of long service is that of(an 
 acetylene buoy that burned for fifty- three weeks. The carbide charge 
 was not then exhausted. The buoy was taken up for painting. 
 
 A case of carbonization 4 'and smoking was shown in a low-pressure 
 Willson buoy exhibited at the Exposition Lake in Ottawa. On ex- 
 amination this was found to have been caused by a derangement 
 of the small occulting lever. This was quickly remedied and the 
 report made regarding it was: "Of the many hundreds of these lan- 
 terns which have been made, this is the only time we have known of 
 such a difficulty." 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 19 
 
 At TOMATIC BUOYS ON COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 A map of Nova Scotia is submitted showing the location of auto- 
 matic gas and whistling buoys, and the remarkable adaptability of 
 this admirable system for guarding that coast. It is the intention 
 of the Canadian government so to girdle the coast of Nova Scotia 
 with these buoys that it will be impossible for a vessel to reach it 
 without coming within the radius of visibility of one of these lights. 
 A report 'of the submarine bell attachment for the Willson buoy at 
 
 Upp< : 
 
 in 8-mile current. 
 
 the outer automatic station off Halifax Harbor is interesting in this 
 connection. The commissioner of lights in a letter says: 
 
 I note that you proceed to Boston on submarine signal duty and in this connection 
 I may mention that we recently took in the submarine bell attachment for the Willson 
 buoy, outer automatic station, off. Halifax Harbor, and owing to the light construction 
 of the apparatus it was practically wrecked. We have written the Submarine Signal 
 Company, pointing out the necessity of making their apparatus much stronger and 
 heavier. Experimenting in Boston Harbor they do not appear to appreciate the severe 
 conditions obtained on the Nova Scotia coast. I do not doubt that a strong and serv- 
 iceable bell attachment can be designed. 
 
 <* On file in the Office of the Light-House Board, Department of Commerce and 
 Labor, Washington, D. C. 
 
20 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 GOVERNMENT PURCHASES PRICES. 
 
 The appropriations made by the Canadian government in the past 
 three years for automatic low-pressure gas buoys, were 1904-5, 
 $192,000; 1905-6, $360,000; 1906-7, $350,000; total, $902,000. 
 
 It is estimated that it will probably require 300 buoys to light the 
 St. Lawrence River from Montreal to the sea in such a manner as to 
 light the channel perfectly and completely on both sides, using the 
 gas buoys carrying the large lanterns, namely, 300 mm. with white 
 light, and 375 mm. with red screen. The cost will be approximately 
 $1,000,000. For the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and British 
 Columbia, an appropriation of from $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 would 
 probably be required. 
 
 In reply to the question as to the cost of the buoys it was stated 
 that the price would be the same for all countries. The Canadian 
 government has paid the following prices: For type number 8J, and 
 lighting buoys of the same capacity, $3,000 without lanterns; for 
 type number 9?, which is the standard combination gas and whistling 
 buoy, $5,000 without lantern; for type number 11, which is the 
 small lightship buoy, $8,500; the large lightship buoy, not yet com- 
 pleted, subject to a price to be settled in the future, about $15,000. 
 
 In regard to these prices my informant stated that they are less 
 than one-half the average price paid by the Canadian government for 
 the compression type of buoy. This statement of relative cost is 
 based upon the actual gas contents or capacity of the buoy. By the 
 use of acetylene instead of the oil gas furnished by the Pintsch com- 
 pany a lighting value seven times as great is obtained. Taking into 
 consideration the increased quantity of gas which the automatic 
 buoys, of approximately the same weight as the compression buoys, 
 contain, a light is produced of from twenty to thirty times the candle- 
 power that it is possible to obtain by the use of the old system of 
 compression oil gas buoys, and at a much lower comparative cost. 
 
 Mr. Willson wished to place himself on record as desirous of lighting 
 the new Ambrose Channel with buoys of his construction at no cost 
 to the United States Government, the buoys to be removed if they 
 prove unsatisfactory. 
 
 PRESCOTT STATION PORTABLE GAS GENERATOR. 
 
 The Prescott Buoy Station was established in 1903 as the central 
 depot for the manufacture, storage, and distribution of stores and 
 light-house apparatus. The good water front is being improved with 
 docks, slips, and hauling-out ways. A basin is in contemplation. 
 The depot has carpenter and machine shops, gas testing and store- 
 houses, office buildings, and an acetylene gas manufacturing plant. 
 The station is well provided with efficient standpipes and pumps for 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 iparative -i/- <>f NM. 1 1 light -hip gas and whistling buoy, Conrtenay whistling buoy, and No. 11 
 light-ship gas and whistling buoy. 
 
22 ACETYLENE GAS FOE AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 fire purposes. The acetylene manufacturing plant is installed in a 
 wooden structure near the water front and is called the "Scout" type 
 generator, after the name of the tender Scout. 
 
 TYPE GENERATOR. 
 
 This generator is made of one-fourth inch boiler plate, is 9 by 
 4 feet 6 inches inside measurement, with circular end, and is 6 feet 
 high. It is divided into two equal compartments, "A" and "B," by 
 a transverse partition of boiler plate. One compartment is called 
 
 Portable acetylene gas plant operating on steamer's deck, as used on the barge and in the station at 
 
 Prescott. 
 
 the generating side and the other the expansion side. About 18 
 inches from the bottom of the transverse partition is a row of eight 
 3-inch holes. An agitator is provided for each compartment, oper- 
 ated by a vertical shaft and wheel from the deck of the generator. 
 
 On the generating side are two hoppers, each capable of containing 
 600 pounds of carbide. These are fitted with gas-tight covers, and 
 the carbide is fed into the generator by means of a feed screw. A 
 valve is provided which enables a hopper to be cut out if desired. 
 This permits of one hopper being filled while the other is in operation. 
 
 A scrubber, "C," is formed on the expansion side by means of a 
 large tube let into the deck of the generator. The top of this tube is 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 23 
 
 covered by a gas-tight cover, and the gas is led from the generating 
 side to the bottom of the scrubber, where it passes through a large 
 number of minute holes and is washed in the water with which the 
 scrubber is filled. It has not been found necessary to use any chem- 
 ical solution in scrubbing the gas, as water has been found sufficient. 
 
 To operate, the generator is filled about half full of water, the car- 
 bide hopper is filled, and when connection has been made with a buoy 
 or gas holder through the compressor and various other parts of the 
 apparatus the hopper feed screw is worked, which passes carbide into 
 the generating side. The carbide falls on a screen inclined at an 
 angle of 45 within the generator, and the acetylene is disengaged. 
 The gas passes through the scrubber and thence to the compressor and 
 the holder. 
 
 If more gas is made than the compressor can hold, the pressure on 
 the generating side increases, the water 'is driven through the holes 
 in the transverse partition and rises on the expansion side. If a 
 large volume of gas should be disengaged, and if at the same time the 
 feed pump is working and the blow-off cocks do not receive attention, 
 the water may rise in the expansion side and blow off through the 
 3-inch overflow provided for this purpose. As the compressor takes 
 gas from the generator the water returns to the genera ting side. 
 
 The feed water in the yard machine enters the generating side near 
 the bottom. In the latest type of generator the feed water enters 
 about half way up the generator. By means of a small gauge 
 attached to the top of the generating side it is possible for the attend- 
 ant to keep the water level practically constant, at the same time 
 blowing off the lime sludge from each side after it has been stirred by 
 the agitators. Sludge cocks have also been added on each side of the 
 generator, intended to replace the blow-off tube on the right of the 
 right-hand side of the generator. 
 
 Low-pressure gas drier. The low-pressure drier consists of an inclos- 
 ing cast-iron shell, inside of which revolves a steel squirrel cage full of 
 carbide. The cy Under of the squirrel cage is perforated with holes. 
 Through the axis of the cage a 4-inch gas pipe passes, which is also 
 perforated with one-half inch holes. Between the inclosing cast-iron 
 case and the gas outlet are sheets of hair felt which strain and filter 
 the gas, which is then compressed to eight atmospheres in the three- 
 stage compressor. 
 
 Three-stage gas compressor. This is of the Ingersoll-Sergeant straight 
 line class F C 3 type, with intercooler between low and intermediate 
 pressure cylinders and intercooler between intermediate and high 
 pressure cylinders. The intermediate and high pressure cylinders, 
 with their intercoolers, are inclosed in a water box. The dimensions 
 of the cylinders are: Steam cylinder, 10-inch diameter by 10-inch 
 stroke; low-pressure gas cylinder, 9-inch diameter by 10-inch stroke? 
 
24 
 
 ACETYLENE GAS FOR AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 double acting; intermediate gas cylinder, 6^-inch diameter by 10-inch 
 stroke, single acting; high-pressure gas cylinder, 3J-inch diameter by 
 10-inch stroke, single acting; 65 revolutions per minute. 
 
 The bedplate is an extra heavy casting of box girder pattern, con- 
 necting the steam and gas cylinders. The front part of the bedplate 
 carries main bearings, which are of the one-fourth box type, adjust- 
 
 Buoy No. 9, whistler, at strongest tidal current off Lurcher Shoal, Bay of Fundy. 
 
 able for wear. The gas inlet valves on the low-pressure cylinder are 
 of the poppet type, with brass springs, so that should a stem break 
 they can not be drawn into the cylinder. The gas inlet and discharge 
 valves on intermediate and high pressure cylinders are of improved 
 mushroom type working in bronze guides. A fly-ball governor is 
 placed in the main steam pipe. 
 
ACETYLENE GAS FOB AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 25 
 
 Cooler, drier, purifier. The after cooler consists simply of a coil 
 of pipes around which water is made to circulate in a suitable casing. 
 
 The general design of the high-pressure drier is similar to that of 
 the low-pressure drier, but it is tested to a working pressure of 300 
 pounds while the low-pressure drier is tested to 20 pounds. 
 
 The purifier is a box containing Kieselguhr saturated with chromic 
 acid through which the gas is passed, and thus successfully purified. 
 The same compound is used in the small purifying chamber on top of 
 the buoy and alongside of the manhole used for charging the buoy with 
 carbide. 
 
 The following blueprints, to accompany this description, will be 
 found in the files of the Light-House Board : ( 1) Acetylene-gas genera- 
 tor Scout type, one print; (2) low-pressure gas drier, two prints; (3) 
 high-pressure gas drier, four prints. 
 
 WINDMILL LIGHT. 
 
 The Windmill light-house carries in the ordinary lantern two chan- 
 nel lights with annular lenses and reflectors. In the lower portion 
 is an acetylene compression plant of two gas cylinders 42 inches by 
 20 feet. The gas is manufactured at the Prescott station and con- 
 veyed by the Scout to this and the other stations using this system. 
 Hose connections are made with the tanks in the bottom of the tower, 
 which are then filled from 8 to 10 atmospheres. The burners were 
 badly carbonized, a bridge having formed hi each case between the 
 tips. The cause given for this excessive carbonization was that the 
 purifying plant was evidently in bad order, and directions were given 
 to overhaul it. 
 
 ST. LAWRENCE RIVER LIGHTS BETWEEN MONTREAL AND 
 
 QUEBEC. 
 
 On the St. Lawrence River, between Platon and Montreal, there 
 are 45 gas buoys, principally of the Pintsch type, but using com- 
 pressed acetylene gas. $For the purpose of looking after the ship chan- 
 nel buoy service, the agent, Mr. Bonder, has under his direction the 
 C. G. S. SJiamroclc and the gas and derrick scow Acetylene. The buoy 
 service of the Dominion is done by contract or by departmental officers. 
 The trip for the purpose of delivering the yearly supplies is made by 
 contract, because the Dominion government has not a suitable avail- 
 able steamer for that purpose. Dredging operations to improve the 
 river channel are progressing favorably, and as they are completed 
 powerful range lights and gas buoys are established, thus making the 
 
 a Burner and accumulation of carbon on file]in the Office of the Light-House Board, 
 Department of Commerce and Labor, Washington, D. C. 
 
26 ACETYLENE GAS FOE AIDS TO NAVIGATION. 
 
 channel safe for night running. It is proposed to establish automatic 
 low-pressure acetylene gas buoys for this purpose at a cost of 
 $1,000,000. The present acetylene compression gas buoys will then 
 be removed and used on shore stations. The work completed was 
 very satisfactory. The range lights at Sorel were found in excellent 
 condition. 
 
 I also had the opportunity of seeing the lights near Quebec, using 
 the petroleum vapor lights; those at Craven Island, Belle Chase, St. 
 Juan, St. Laurent, and Petronella, fourth-order lights, using 25 mm. 
 mantles, Canadian burner, and occulting screen. 
 
 O 
 

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59SJJ49 
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY