Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Dale of Application, 4th July, 1891-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
We, RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND, of 55, Bull Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Clothier, FREDERICK SUNDERLAND, of 80, Lionel Street, Birmingham,
aforesaid, Manufacturer, and GEORGE MARSHALL, of 21, Byron Road, Small
Heath, near Birmingham, aforesaid, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas and is
an improvement upon or an amplification of the invention described in the
Specification of our Application for Letters Patent bearing date the 23rd day of
March 1899 No. 6274.
The objects of our present invention are to improve and simplify the con-
struction of the apparatus in such a manner that the escape of gas is prevented,
the apparatus may be re-charged with carbide whilst in operation, the liability
to explosions is minimised and the generated gas is cooled and purified before
it is conveyed to the gas-holder.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a complete vertical section
of an apparatus for generating acetylene gas, pro-rata with the consumption
constructed and provided with the improvements according to one form of our
present invention.
Figure 2 is a topside plan of the same.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures
of the drawings.
In a generator constructed according to this form of our invention the gene-
rating chamber
is located within a base or body part al, and has a conical
bottom a, and also a conical or sloping roof or sides, which are thus formed
both in order to decrease the surface area of the water contained therein,
whereby the gas generated is not so liable to become humidified by contact with
a considerable water surface, and also to prevent the accumulation of large
quantities of air in the generator, thus minimising the liability of explosions
occurring especially on the apparatus being first started. The conical bottom
is fitted with an outlet b, through which the lime residues and other waste pro-
ducts are removed and the water contained within the said chamber emptied
when required, the said outlet being closed by a plug or like valve 61, supported
by a bar 62, hinged to the framing 6, and held up to keep the plug in its closed
position by a suitable catch.
The upper part of the generator is extended into a cylindrical compartment a¹,
within which a removable carbide holder c, is supported and held in a constant
position by an annular shoulder e, resting upon the top edge of the said com-
partment, which is surrounded by a sealing bell or outer sleeve e', whose closed
upper end, encloses both the top of the carbide holder and the open end of
the said cylindrical extension a as represented in Figure 1, whilst the lower
end, of the said sleeve is open but is water sealed, as hereinafter described, to
prevent the escape of any gas that may pass upwards between the holder c, and
the walls of the chamber at. The bottom ct, of the carbide holder is coned or
formed hopper-wise and is provided with a central opening or outlet e³, the edges

page_text: of which constitute a seating for a conical closing valve d, carried and worked
by an upright stem, passing upward through the inside of the said holder
and provided at intermediate points along its length with projections or
teazers, adapted to keep the carbide e, contained within the holder, loose or
preventing it from clogging. The said stem passes out through a hole c", in
the roof or upper end, and has at its termination, a head or button d³, whilst
surrounding the part of the stem coming between the headed termination and
the roof of the holder, is a spring f, to raise the valve and keep it up to its
seating during such times that the gas holder g, which is located around the
said carbide container and works within a water seal h, contained in an upper
tank or open-topped chamber i, supported by the base or body part a', is raised
by the internal pressure of the generated gas, but when the gas is consumed
and the holder g falls, then the inside of the closed end, of the bell or sealing
sleeve e, which is connected by catches such as c³, to, and moves up and down
with, the said gas holder, comes against the top of the valve rod, compresses
the spring and opens the valve, which allows a quantity of carbide to fall through
the opening into the water contained within the generating chamber, thus
generating a fresh supply of gas for raising the gas holder and the bell con-
nected thereto and relieving the valve rod of the weight, whereon the spring
re-acts to draw the valve into its closing position. The top of the bell may be
provided with a cock cº, which is opened when necessary to form an air vent.
Around the opening in the conical bottom of the carbide holder is a shield
or guard, to prevent the valve being clogged by the impurities, and residual
matters resulting from the decomposition of the carbide and which are apt to
accumulate upon surfaces exposed to the generated gas, whilst to provide for
the re-charging of the carbide container, an opening, is made in the top and
fitted with a screw plug or closure ell, to which access is gained by. releasing the
catches c, and raising the sealing bell c. The carbide holder may thus be re-
charged without stopping or interfering with the generation of gas. The car-
bide container is also provided interiorly with a series of downwardly sloping
partitions to prevent the weight of the carbide at the top compressing or
clogging that at the bottom.
The rising and falling gas holder g, is provided with a central open-ended
shaft g, thus forming an outer annular compartment into which the generated
gas is delivered and a cylindrical inner chamber surrounding the sealing bell,
both the inner and outer chambers, together with the said sleeve c', being sealed
by the water contained in the upper tank i, wherein the said gas holder works.
This said tank also has disposed within it a coil or worm m through which the
generated gas is passed in being conveyed from the generator to the gas holder
for the purpose of cooling it, after the same has been treated if necessary, in a
purifier such as marked n, and shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, attained to
one side of the 'apparatus.
Thus the generated gas rises to the upper part of the chamber a, and passes
thence through a pipe o, provided with a stop cock o¹, into the purifying cham-
ber containing sulphate of iron or other suitable substance adapted to remove
any impurities which may be present in the gas, which then passes through the
pipe m, to and through the cooling worm m, to the top of the gas holder and
from it is delivered through a service pipe p, whose lower end, which passes
through the walls of the tank i, is fitted with a main cock p, for controlling
the gas supply.
The cock o, provides a means whereby communication between the generator
and the gas holder may be cut off whilst the carbide-container is being re-
charged, thus preventing the escape of gas, whilst 7 is a passage or pipe, with a
funnel-shaped inlet end q', by which the generator chamber is filled with water.
Figure 3 represents a complete vertical section of another form of our
improved apparatus for generating acetylene gas, in which the sealing bell to
make a gas tight joint between the fitted carbide holder and the generating

page_text: chamber is carried by the said carbide holder, and is therefore stationary,
instead of being detachably secured' to and moving with the rising and falling
gas holder as in the previous arrangement.
Figure 4 is a view of the body part of the said apparatus, with the gas con-
tainer and the carbide holder removed.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the carbide holder and its sealing bell,
separately.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the gas holder, separately.
Figure 7 is a separate view of the valve, with its stem and the spring or
elastic attachment by which the escape of gas through the carbide holder is
prevented and the valve normally kept up to its seating or returned thereto
after opening.
Figure 8 is a view of the said attachment separately and upon an enlarged
scale.
In the generator shown in the said Figures 3 to 8, the generating chamber a,
is located within a base or body part a, and has a conical bottom a, and also
a conical or sloping roof or sides a, as in the first form. The conical bottom is
fitted with a waste outlet b, closed by a valve b', supported by a bar 62, hinged
to the framing and held up by a catch.
The upper part of the generator is extended into a cylindrical compartment at,
within which the carbide holder c, is supported and held in a constant position
by means of an outer sleeve c', surrounding the said holder and depending from
the closed upper end, thereof thus forming a sealing bell which telescopes over
the said cylindrical extension a, as represented in Figure 3, with its lower open
end, being water scaled to prevent the escape of gas passing upwards between
the holder c, and the walls of the chamber a The bottom of the carbide
holder is provided with a central outlet e, whose edges constitute a seating for
the valve, carried by an upright stem passing upwardly through the appa-
ratus and out through a hole c, in the roof or upper end, and having at its
termination, a head or button, whilst located between the said headed end
and the said roof, and enclosing the gland is an elastic attachment f, which
both prevents the escape of any gas which may leak into and through the car-
bide holder when the valve is opened and also acts as a spring to raise the valve
and keep it up to its seating during such times that the gas holder g, which is
located around the said carbide container and works within a water seal h,
contained in an upper tank or open-topped chamber, supported by the base or
body part a, is raised by the internal pressure of the generated gas, but when
the gas is consumed and the holder falls, then a striking plate, carried by a
support, hinged to the top of, and moving up and down with, the said holder,
comes against the top of the valve rod, compresses the spring attachment and
opens the valve, which allows a quantity of carbide to fall through the opening
into the water contained within the generating chamber, thus generating a
fresh supply of gas for raising the gas holder and relieving the valve rod of the
weight, whereon the spring attachment re-acts to draw the valve into its closing
position.
The combined sealing and spring attachment consists of an elastic ball or
sphere of rubber f, surrounding the upper end of the valve stem, with a neck f₂
at the upper end made fast to the said rod by binding the former to or around
a serrated collar ; on the latter, or in any other convenient manner, whilst
another neck, at the lower end is similarly secured to a serrated glaud or
neck e, on the roof e", of the carbide holder, through which the valve stem
slides, whilst the whole arrangement may be enclosed within a cover f, having
a clearance fi, for the valve stem to work through. The said elastic medium
is compressed when the valve stem is moved downwards by the weight of the
gas holder and again expands and lifts the stem to its normal closing position
when the said weight is relieved as hereinbefore described.
As a modification, we niay enclose the gland or opening in the top end of the

page_text: carbide holder within an elastic sleeve which acts as a seal only, whilst the
return movement may be imparted to the valve stem by a separate spring..
To provide for the re-charging of the carbide container, an opening, is made
in the top and fitted with a screw plug or closure c³.
The rising and falling gas holder g, is provided with a central open-ended
chamber or shaft g', which surrounds and takes over the carbide container, thus
forming an annular compartment or double bell, both chambers of which are
sealed by the water contained in the upper tank i, wherein the said gas holder
works. This said tank also has disposed within it a coil or worm m, through
which the generated gas is passing in being conveyed from the gonerator to the
gas holder for the purpose of cooling it, after the same has been treated in a
purifier n, attached to one side of the apparatus.
and
passes
thence
The generated gas rises to the upper part of the chamber
through a pipe o, provided with a stop cock o, into the purifying chamber a',
from which tho said gas then passes through the pipe m, to and through the
cooling worin m, to the top of the gas holder and from it is delivered through
a service pipo p, whose lower end, which passes through the walls of the tank i,
is fitted with a main cock p¹, for controlling the gas supply.
The cock o¹, provides a means for cutting off all communication if necessary,
between the generator and the gas holder whilst the carbide container is being
re-charged as an additional precaution against the escape of gas, whilst is a
passage or pipe, with a funnel-shaped inlet end, by which the generator
chamber is filled with water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
First: In acetylene generators in which a carbide holder is fitted within an
open-ended shaft extending from the generating chamber; the employment of
a scaling bell or close-topped sleeve, enclosing and telescoping over the said
shaft, and detachably connected to, and moving up and down with, the gas
holder, and with its lower end dipping into a water seal, thereby making a gas
tight-joint between the generating chamber and its fitted carbide holder, sub-
etantially as described and set forth in Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly In acetylene generators in which a stationary carbide holder is
located within an open-ended shaft extending from the generating chamber the
employment of a scaling sleeve, carried by the carbide holder, but separated
from the walls thereof by an annular space, with the said sleeve fitting over the
upper end of the shaft and dipping at its open end into a water seal, thereby
making a gas tight joint between the said generator and its fitted carbide holder,
substantially as herein described and set forth in Figures 3 to 8.
Thirdly: In acetylene generators in which the supply of carbide is con-
trolled by a valve operated by a rising and falling gas holder, providing in
connection with the opening or gland through which the valve stem passes, a
flexible or rubber sleeve or joint for preventing the escape of gas and arranged
substantially as herein described and set forth in Figures 3 to 8.
11. 1000
RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND,
FREDERICK SUNDERLAND,
GEORGE MARSHALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicants.
RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND,
FREDERICK SUNDERLAND,
GEORGE MARSHALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicants.