Improvements in and Appertaining to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 18th Apr., 1898-Accepted. 4th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Appertaining to Apparatus for the
Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
I, THOMAS ROW FOWLER, of 6, Woodville Terrace, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its main object an improved apparatus for the generation
of acetylene gas from calcium carbide. It also relates to the arrangement of one
or more generators in combination with a gas holder of improved construction.
My improved generator consists of an upright and preferably cylindrical vessel
having double walls. The inner cylinder is provided with a gas tight lid and is
adapted to contain the carbide which may be supported within it in a suitable
basket, cage, or otherwise in such manner as to leave a small clear space at bottom.
A feed pipe or tube passes through the inner wall into this space and outside is
turned in an upward direction; its outside portion lying between the two walls
of the apparatus.
The mode of action is as follows. The carbide is placed in the inner cylinder
and the lid placed in position. Water is fed into the space between the walls
and rises therein until its level reaches the top of the tube aforesaid and at this
point a portion of the water will flow down said tube into the space beneath the
carbide, and rising therein will cause the generation of gas as soon as it touches
the bottom layer of the charge. This water inside the inner cylinder will lie above
the entrance of the tube and will thus seal it and prevent leakage. The water
inlet to the main cylinder is preferably controlled by a spring or lever cock or
valve opened automatically when the supply of gas is so far used that a further
feed of water is desirable. The gas exit pipe is near the top of the inner cylinder.
Each succeeding increment of water serves to raise the level in the inner cylinder
and to thus attack the carbide in an upward direction. The height of water in
the inner cylinder and consequently the amount of carbide already attacked may
This acts as
be readily ascertained by observing the level in the annular space.
a sure gauge after the top of the feed pipe has been covered. A drain cock is
arranged near the generator bottom and may be used when it is desired to draw
off the water and sediment. I prefer to have two pipes leading from near the
top of the inner cylinder: one acts as the gas exit already mentioned and the
other as an air vent or safety opening when the exit is closed (for recharging,
for instance) and I prefer that the various cocks or valves shall be interlocking
or synchronously operated by a common lever or handle connected with them,
and this handle may be so located with respect to the generator lid that the latter
cannot be removed unless the gas exit pipe is closed.
I prefer to use two generators working alternately and each connected to a
common gas holder which preferably embodies a purifying and condensing device.
My holder consists of an upright vessel divided by a partition into upper and
lower portions. In the upper portion which is double walled, floats the bell, as

page_text: in an ordinary gasometer. The lower one contains the purifying chamber, a
small cylinder depending from the partition, and adapted to hold the purifying
material. The lower chamber is supplied with water, and this, surrounding the
purifying chamber serves to keep it cool and also supplies the generator.
The gas from the generator passes into the holder through a tortuous or spiral
tube and in passing therethrough is cooled by the surrounding water. A second
tube leads from above the water level to the purifying chamber from which
chamber the gas is withdrawn for use.
The spring or lever cocks for the generators are opened by rods attached to the
bell, when it sinks below a certain limit. Either one or both rods may be un-
shipped or disconnected when desired.
Dated this 16th day of June 1897
CHAS.
COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in and Appertaining to Apparatus for the
Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
I, THOMAS Row FOWLER, formerly of 6, Woodville Terrace, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, but now of 19, Harcourt Avenue, Seacombe, in the County
of Chester, Engineer, 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 has for its main object an improved apparatus for the manu-
facture of acetylene gas from calcium carbide. It also relates to the arrange-
ment of two or more generators in combination with a gas holder of improved
construction.
The drawing shows an elevation of my apparatus including two generators and
a gas container, parts being in section, and parts broken away for the sake of
clearness. The dotted lines at the left hand side show the lever 17 and its claw 18
as at right angles to the main figure.
My apparatus comprises two generators connected to a common container, and
adapted to be used alternately. The generator at the right hand of the drawing
is shown in. section, that at the left hand being in elevation.
Each generator comprises an outer cylindrical casing having an inner wall 2.
The space enclosed by the inner wall is adapted to contain the carbide of calcium
which is placed in baskets 3 of wire or perforated metal. The bottom of these
cages (which form no part of my invention) when in position within said
generator, rest on a cross pipe 4, hereafter described, so as to allow a clear space
beneath in which sediment will collect and from which it may be withdrawn at
intervals and the water cleared from the generator by cock 5. A gas tight lid 6
is provided for each generator, and 7 shows a washer of rubber or other soft material.
To effect the generation of gas after the generators have been charged with
carbide, water is admitted into the annular space 8, and rising therein will run
down the upright portion 9 of the pipe 4, thence rising in the other upright
portion 10 which is curved over at 11, and passes through the inner wall 2. The
water, whose inflow is automatically controlled as hereafter described, will flow
down the inside of wall 2 and will then attack the lower layers of carbide, thus
starting the generation. It will be seen that the vertical branches 9 and 10 of
the pipe 4 will become full of water before the latter touches the carbide, and

page_text: will under ordinary circumstances remain full or nearly full, during the con-
tinuance of the generation, thus serving as an efficient water seal to the generator:
while at the same time, if by any chance the pressure of gas in the generator
should become excessive, it will, by depressing the level in said pipes find a vent
to the outer air and thus avoid bursting the generator.
It will be seen that after the level in the inner cylinder reaches the level of top
of pipes 9 and 10 that the level of the water in the said inner cylinder, and that in
the annular space 8 around it will rise together, and will practically coincide,
and this I consider one of the chief advantages of my apparatus, as affording a
ready means for ascertaining (by examining the level in said annular space) when
the charge of carbide has been nearly all reached by the water.
At one side of each generator provide three cocks.
One of these 12 is on the pipe 13 which serves to convey the gas from the
generator to the container. Another 14 controls a pipe 15 which leads from the
gas space at the top of the generator, whilst the third 5 communicates with near
the bottom of the inside of the generator and serves to withdraw water and
sediment therefrom when desired.
The pipe 15 joins the exit from cock 5, the object of this arrangement being
that when it is desired to empty or clear out the generator, any gas remaining
will be induced to flow down pipe 15 by the rush of water out of cock 5 when
opened. A small snifting or air inlet orifice is preferably made near the top of
pipe 15 but not between its cock 14 and the generator.
The levers of cocks 12, 14 and 5, are connected together by a rod 16 in such
manner that they are operated synchronously by handle 17, and they are so
arranged that when cock 12 is open cocks 14 and 5 are closed and vice versa.
Handle 17 carries a claw 18 which, when said handle is in its vertical position (as
shown in the drawing and in dotted lines) protrudes over the edge of lid 6, (cock 12
being then open) and thus prevents its removal. I wish to point out that the
use of this interlocking device prevents the danger of removing the generator
lid while the communication between said generator and the container is open.
When it is desired to recharge the generator after use, handle 17 is pulled down,
thus closing communication between the generator and container, and at the
same time opening cocks 14 and 5 which allow the small amount of gas remain-
ing, and the water, to run to waste through the passages described. The lid 6 is
then removed, the spent carbide withdrawn, and a fresh charge inserted. After
the lid is replaced and the handle placed vertical again, the generator is ready
for use.
My container consists of a cylindrical upright vessel 19 having an internal
wall 20, the use of the latter being partly to guide the bell hereinbelow described,
and partly, to support the coiled pipe 21. One or more holes 22 in wall 20 at
any desired point serve to establish free communication between the inner and
the annular spaces.
An inverted cylinder closed at top, and hereafter termed
the bell 23, floats in the annular space. 21 is a coiled pipe (preferably of lead)
supported on the inner wall 20, its object being to convey the gas from the
generator to the top of bell 23, and its sinuous shape being designed to give an
extended cooling surface. It is surrounded with water contained in inner wall 20.
aa shows the various water levels. Beneath the container proper is a tank 24
which is also kept nearly full of water supplied from a main or other source,
its level in said tank being regulated by ball cock 25. 26 are pipes which lead to
the generators and conduct water thereto from tank 24, the flow being controlled
by a lifting valve at each side. 27 shows one lifting valve connected by chain 28
with a lever 29 pivotted in outer wall 19 at some point above the water level in
tank 24. To the outer end of each lever 29 is pivotted a vertical rod 30 whose
top end is guided and supported by a vertical outer tube 31 affixed to outer wall 19,
as by brackets 32. A projecting rim 33 attached to or forming part of bell 23 lies
adjacent to rods 30, and each rod carries a milled nut 34 whose height thereon
may be varied by screwing up or down. Only one of these nuts is intended to be

page_text: in its upmost or operative position at a time, and when the bell 23 sinks to its lowest
position by reason of gas being withdrawn from within it, rim 33 presses on the
nut 34 which is in action (in the drawing the right hand nut) and this by depress-
ing rod 30 raises its valve 27 and allows water to feed into the generator. As
soon as the efflux of gas again raises the bell pressure on nut 34 is eased and
valve 27 closes, and so on.
The upright tubes 31 are used to shield the lower portions of rods 30. 35 is
an escape pipe normally covered and sealed by an outer pipe 36 whose lower end.
dips into the water. It will be seen that if the bell 23 should rise above a certain
predetermined limit that pipe 36 will uncover the top of pipe 35, or will rise
sufficiently to allow the gas to pass under its lower edge or through holes therein
and thus to enter pipe 35. The latter has a U bend at its lower end as clearly
shown in the drawing, and from this a drip pipe 37 leads to a well 38. The object
of this is that all condensed water in pipe 35 shall run off and leave a clear
passage for escape in case of need. A similar drip pipe 39 serves to keep pipe 21
free from condensed water. The gas service pipe 40 has also a drip pipe 41 for the
same purpose. When a purifying chamber is employed it will consist of a
cylindrical or other shaped vessel of sheet metal its top being formed by the top
of water tank 24 and its lower end projecting through the bottom of said tank
and provided with a gas tight lid underneath. The upright portion of service
pipe 40 will terminate within said purifying chamber, and an exit pipe for the
purified gas will be provided. The chamber may be fed with a mixture of lime
and dry charcoal.
My generators are intended to work alternately, that is to say, when the level
of water in one generator is observed to have nearly reached its highest point, it
is intended that that generator shall be thrown out of action by lowering its milled
nut so that it shall be beyond the reach of the rim 33 at its lowest point, whilst
the other generator is to be placed in operation by raising its nut 34. In case of
inattention, supposing the first generator to be nearly spent, the bell 23 when it
has reached its lowest position will remain there and wate will continue to flow
into the outer wall thereof. I provide a pipe 43 which connects the tops of the
outer cases 1 and 1 and which will convey the surplus water from the first to the
second and so on, and the apparatus will thus continue in action.
I may use more than two generators in combination with a common container.
I make no claim to the telescopic safety valve arrangement as I believe that
a similar device has been employed before this date, but,
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 :-
In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene,
1. A generator having double walls, means for feeding water into the space
between said walls, means such as pipe 4, 9, 10, for allowing water to pass to the
inner compartment, in such manner that as the water nears the top thereof, its
level therein may be readily estimated from without, by viewing the level in
the space aforesaid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A generator consisting of a vessel 1 having inner wall 2, with lid 6, in
combination with a water inlet passing through said inner wall, substantially as
described.
3. The combination of vessel 1, inner wall 2, lid 6, and transverse pipe 4,
adapted to support the carbide cages, and having upturned branches 9 and 10,
substantially as described.
4. Two or more generators such as described, in combination with a common
gas container, and pipe 43 connecting the annular spaces of said generators, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In combination with two or more generators, a container having a separate

page_text: water tank 24, and rods 30, nuts 34, rim 33, levers 29, chains 28, and valves 27,
substantially as described and shown.
6. The combination of drip pipes 37, 39, and 41, with well 38, substantially
as shown and described.
7. The combination of cocks 12, 14, and 5, rod 16, and handle 17, the latter
having claw 18 adapted to engage the lid of the generator, to which said cocks
are applied, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
8. The improved apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene, taken as a whole,
substantially as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.
Doted this 15th dor of Annil 1000
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Patent Expert,
Agent for the Applicant.