NEW HARBOR LIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 237, 30 September 1908, Page 3

NEW HARBOR LIGHT.

DhSSOLVED ACETYLENE. Dissolved acetylene, or acetylene gas, is the latest illuminant for harbour ant coastal lighting. It is used in conjunction with a patent. llasli-light apparatus of (iu-staf Dalen, a Swede. The dissolved acetylene is put into cylinders, which, tor safety's sake are tested, to withstand a pressure three or four times; that- exerted by the gas, and cylinders of sufficient size can be supplied to kc; |if a light Iburning night and day for three years. Dissolved acetylene is clean, dry, purified acetylene, ready for use in cylinders. The cylinders arc filled witli a porous material soaked in acetone, gas. is pumped into the cylinders, and is dissolved by the acetone. As the pressure is relieved the acetone gives off the gas as wanted until the cylinder is exhausted. A pressure gauge enables the quantity of gas in the cylinder to be esti-i mated at any time. The instrument may be fitted with a sun valve in conjunction with the flasher, and this will cut off the supply of gas during daylight, automatically turning it on again viien the sun goes down. The length of the flashes and the period of. eclipse may be regulated from one-tenth- of a second to thirty seconds. By this mcan s a saving of alwut 30 per cent, of the gas is made, and the lamps may be registered according to the number of flashes, enabling pilots and captains to know- where they are: The chief recommendation of the dissolved acetylene light i« the cheapness of upkeep, it being claimed that no attention whatever is required so long as the supp'y of gas is kept up. Some of the Northern harbour boards have adopted it, and negotiations are proceeding wiili otlinv. The actual apparatus wasshown to a number of shipping men ii.e other lvght, and all expressed approval of it. It is the intention of the agents' (Messrs. Hawkins and Home) to set up a plant in \upk-r for the manufacture of tlie gas. The light lias been in use in Sweden and on the west coast of Ireland lor some vears.