Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas,
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene
Gas,
I, FRANCIS ALFRED JACKSON, of Priory Lodge, Tonbridge, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for generating acetylene gas and the
apparatus belongs to the class in which a definite quantity of carbide of calcium is
dropped automatically into a large excess of water every time the gas holder is
exhausted to a certain point
The gas-holder should have an available capacity for storing gas somewhat in
excess of the largest possible quantity of gas the aforesaid definite quantity of
carbide can generate
The object of the present invention is to provide a convenient arrangement of
apparatus whereby the operations of charging and cleaning out may be performed
in an easy, safe, rapid and cleanly manner.
The improved apparatus comprises a tank, preferably four-aided, supported on
legs and having a bottom in the shape of an inverted pyramid or cone with a large
cock at the apex for emptying the sludge
At the aide of the tank, joining it
preferably about half way down, is an inclined metal shoot of considerable section
terminating at the top in a hopper. Inside the tank, resting on supports just
below the junction with the shoot, is an inclined basket of woven wire or per-
forated metal attached to a long rod by means of which it can be easily with-
drawn and replaced through the shoot when required The tank is also provided
with a water supply cock and water level gauge.
Immediately over the tank is a gas-holder preferably of the same general
contour as the tank This gas-holder is connected with the tank by a pipe passing
through the dividing plate which forms the top of the water tank and bottom of
gas-holder sealing tank This pipe mounts to the surface of the sealing tank
in a series of coils, so that the gas is thoroughly cooled as it passes up, and any
condensed water runs back into the lower tank.
Above the hopper on the inclined metal shoot, a revolving disc 18 mounted in
suitable bearings and carries near its periphery a number of holes Small tins
or containers with hinged lids fastened by spring catches can be set up round the
disc by means of pegs fitting in the holes in the latter These tine are all of such
a size as to contain equal and definite quantities of carbide, and after charging,
they are placed in position round the disc with lids away from the centre.
The disc may be revolved by a weight which can be wound up from time to time
or in any other suitable way. The motion of the disc is controlled by a ratchet
and pawl escanement motion, the ratchet having preferably the same number of
teeth as there are tins mounted on the disc The ratchet and pawl motion 18 80
connected with the bell of the gas holder that every time the bell descends to a
certain point the ratchet wheel is allowed to move round the space of one tooth
and one of the tins, which is at the lowest part of the disc, has its spring catch

page_text: knocked aside by a fixed projection on the hopper. This releases the lid which
falls open and the change of carbide in this tin at once falls into the hopper
and down the shoot into the basket in the tank Or the contents of the containers
may be discharged automatically in any other convenient way.
The level of the water in the tank should be kept above the junction of the
shoot so that the water rises in the shoot, sealing the opening
A layer of oil is preferably poured on the surface of the water in the shoot and
the carbide thus becomes coated with a film of oil which retards the reaction of
the carbide with the water until the carbide has passed into the body of the
tank. Action then commences, and the gas which will not pass back up the
inclined spout on account of its construction, rises vertically and passes up the
spiral pipe into the holder.
The resultant lime drops through the perforations of the basket and can be
removed through the sludge cock Other insoluble matter is arrested by the
basket and can be withdrawn through the shoot
Dated this 10th day of June 1898
JC MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene
Gas.
I, FRANCIS ALFRED JACKSON, of Priory Lodge, Tonbridge, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same 18
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for generating acetylene gas and the
apparatus belongs to the class in which a definite quantity of carbide of calcium is
dropped automatically into a large excess of water every time the gas holder 18
exhausted to a certain point
The gas-holder should have an available capacity for storing gas somewhat in
excess of the largest possible quantity of gas the aforesaid definite quantity of
carbide can generate
The object of the present invention is to provide a convenient arrangement of
apparatus whereby the operations of charging and cleaning out may be performed
in an easy, safe, rapid and cleanly manner
The improved apparatus comprises a gas generating water tank, preferably
four-sided, supported on legs and having a bottom in the shape of an inverted
pyramid or cone with a large cock at the apex, for emptying the sludge At the
side of the tank joining it preferably about half way down, is an inclined metal
shoot of considerable section terminating at the top in a hopper Inside the tank,
resting on supports just below the junction with the shoot, is an inclined basket
of woven wire or perforated metal attached to a long rod by means of which it
can be easily withdrawn and replaced through the shoot when required. The tank
19 also provided with a water supply cock and a water level gauge
Immediately over the gas generating tank is a gas-holder preferably of the same
general contour in cross section as the tank This gas-holder is connected with
the gas generating tank by a pipe passing through the dividing plate or plates
which forms or form the top of the gas generating water tank and the bottom
of the gas-holder sealing tank This pipe mounts to the surface of the sealing tank

page_text: in a series of coils, so that the gas is thoroughly cooled as it passes up, and any
condensed water runs back into the lower tank
In some cases this cooling pipe can be dispensed with as the gas will be suffi-
ciently cooled by passing through the water in the gas generating tank In such
cases tho gas holder bell may be provided with an annular seal and the top of the
generating tank can be left open to the inside of the gas-holder bell
Above the hopper on the inclined metal shoot, a revolving disc is mounted in
suitable beaungs This disc is provided with spring clips or other suitable
appliances by means of which a number of small tans or containers fitted with
hinged lids fastened by spring catches, can be easily and rapidly mounted, removed,
charged and replaced round the disc, with their lids near the periphery and away
from the centre of the disc, these tins are of such a size as to contain equal and
definite quantities of carbide.
The disc may be revolved by a weight which can be wound up from time to
time or in any other suitable way The motion of the disc 18 controlled by a
ratchet and pawl escapement motion, the ratchet having preferably the same
number of teeth as there are tins mounted on the disc Or the disc may be con-
trolled by a ratchet and double oscillating pawl similar to an ordinary clock
escapement, or by any other suitable escapement which will allow of the release
of one tin of carbide at a time The ratchet and pawl motion is 60 connected with
the bell of the gas-holder that every time the bell descends to a certain point
the ratchet wheel is allowed to move round the space of one tooth and one of the
tins, which is at the lowest part of the disc, has its spring catch knocked aside
by a fixed projection on the hopper This releases the lid which falls open and
the charge of the carbide in this tin at once falls into the hopper and down the
shoot into the basket in the tank. On the contents of the containers may be
discharged automatically in any other convenient way
The level of the water in the tank should be kept above the junction of the shoot
so that the water rises in the shoot, sealing the opening
A layer of oil is preferably poured on the surface of the water in the shoot and the
carbide thus becomes coated with a film of oil which retards the reaction of the
carbide with the water until the carbide has passed into the body of the tank
Action then commences, and the gas which will not pass back up the inclined
shoot on account of its construction rises vertically and passes up the spiral pipe
into the holder
The resultant lime drops through the perforations of the basket and can be
removed through the sludge cock. Other insoluble matter is arrested by the
basket and can be withdrawn through the shoot.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an end elevation of an apparatus con-
structed in accordance with this invention
Figure 2 18 a plan of Figure 1, and
•
Figure 3 18 a vertical central section of the apparatus on the line A-B of
Figures 1 and 2.
fn these figures, A 18 a four-sided gas generating water tank supported on
legs B B and having a bottom 3 in the shape of an inverted pyramid with a large
cock 4 at the apex for emptying the sludge At the side of the tank 1, joining
it about halfway down. is an inclined metal shoot 5 of large cross sectional area
terminating at the top in a hopper 6. Inside the tank 1, resting on an inclined
perforated plate 7 fixed to the sides of the tank 1, just below the junction with
the shoot 5, is an inclined basket 8 of woven wire or perforated metal attached
to a long rod 9 by means of which the basket can be readily withdrawn and
replaced through the shoot when required The tank 1 is provided with a water
supply pipe 10 (fitted with a valve cock, not shown), and with a water level
gauge 11
Immediately over the gas generating tank 1 1s a gas-holder 12 of the same
general rectangular form in cross-section as the tank 1 The gas-holder_12_18
connected with the gas generating tank 1 by a pipe 13 passing through the

page_text: plates 14, 14 which form the top of the generating tank 1 and the bottom of the
gas-holder 12 respectively. This pipe 13 mounts to the top of the gas-holder
sealing tank 12 in a series of coils as shown so that the gas is thoroughly cooled
as it passes up the pipe 13, and any condensed water runs back into the tank 1.
Above the hopper 6 on the inclined metal shoot 5, is arranged a revolving disc 15
(preferably of hard wood) which is fixed on an axle 16 carried in a bearing 17
formed in a supporting bracket 17, 17 fixed to the guide framing 18 of the gas-
holder. This disc 15 is provided on one flat face with a number of spring clips 19
which are spaced equally around its circumference and which are adapted to
receive and hold firmly a number of tins or containers 20 with their lids 20° away
from the centre of the disc 15.
The size and number of tins will vary according to the desired output of the
apparatus In the figures, provision is made on the disc 15 for sixteen clips
adapted to hold sixteen tins but only one tin, .e the lowermost tin is shown in
the figures, for the sake of clearness. The form of construction of the clips 19
will depend on the form of the tins 20. As shown the tins 20 are of square-shape
in cross section, and they have a slight taper towards the base for convenience in
inserting the same in the clips The lids 20 are hinged to the bodies of the
tins and are adapted to be fastened by spring cutches 20b The arrangement of
the various parta is such that when the tins are in position on the disc, the tin
which is lowermost for the time being will be situated with its lid end approxi-
mately over the centre of the mouth of the hopper 6
The disc 15 has a constant tendency to revolve due to the action of a weight 21
which is attached to a cord or chain 22 that passes round a pulley 23 mounted loose
on the axle 16 of the disc The weight 21 can be wound up from time to time by
hand by means of the handle 23" The pulley 23 carries a pawl 24 adapted to
rotate a ratchet wheel 25 fixed on the disc axle 16, and thereby to rotate alao
the disc 15.
The motion of the disc 15 is controlled by a ratchet and pawl motion of any
suitable kind, but preferably consisting as shown of a notch escapement wheel 26
fixed on the disc axle 16 and having preferably the same number of notches as
there are tins 20 mounted on the disc 15, and of two pawls 27, 27 which are
adapted to engage with one end in the notches of the escapement wheel 26 and
which are pivoted at 28 to a projecting part 28 of the gas-holder guide framing 18
At their other ends the pawls 27, 27 are formed with inclined surfaces 29, 29*
30 is the gas-holder bell arranged to rise and fall with the pressure of the gas in
the gas-holder. It is provided at top and bottom with guide tollers 31 which
work against the uprights of the framing 18. It also carries towards one side of
its top a pivoted lever 32 which is weighted at its inner end 32° so as to have a
constant tendency to project with its outer end 32 in the vertical plane of the
inclined ends 29, 29" of the escapement pawls 27, 27. Every time the escapement
wheel 26 is allowed to move round one notch, one of the tins 20 which 18 at the
lowest part of the diso 15 has its spring catch 20' knocked aside by a fixed pro-
jection 33 on the hopper 6. This releases the lid 20% which falls open by its own
weight (as shown in Figure 3) and the charge of carbide in this tin at once falls
into the hopper 6 and down the shoot 5 into the wire basket 8 in the tank 1.
At this moment one of the pawls 27, 27 drops into a notch in the escapement
wheel 26 and thus brings the latter and also the carbide tin carrying disc 15 to rest
On the rise of the gas-holder bell 30 in consequence of the generation of gas in
the tank 1, the weighted lever 32 slips idly past the ends 29, 29 of the escapement
pawls 27, 27* As the consumption of the gas proceeds, the bell 30 falls and in its
descent the lever 32 striking against the inclined ends 29, 29 thereby disengages
the other ends of the pawls 27, 27" from the notches of the escapement wheel 26,
whereupon the latter is moved round another notch by the rotation of the ratchet
wheel 25 actuated by the pawl 24 of the pulley 28 driven by the weight 21, so as
o bring the next following full tin of calcium carbide over the hopper 6 where
it is caused to discharge its contents in the manner hereinbefore described.

page_text: The level of the water in the tank 1 should be kept above the junction of the
shoot 5 so that the water rises in the shoot, sealing the opening.
The gas generated in the tank 1 passes up by the pipe 13 into the dome-shaped
extension 30* of the gas-holder bell 30, whence it is drawn off for consumption by
the pipe 34.
A pipe 35 leading from the gas space in the tank 1 and dipping into a water-
seal vessel 36, acts as a safety valve; it may also serve for the purpose of indicating
the pressure of the gas in the tank 1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim
broadly the dropping of a definite quantity of calcium carbide into a large excess
of water, but what I claim is;-
1 Apparatus for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbide and water,
constructed, arranged and operating, substantially as herein described
2. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbide and water,
the combination of a gas generating water tank, an inclined strainer or basket
situated below the normal water level in said water tank, and an inclined shoot
with a hopper-mouth, delivering on to the said strainer or basket, arranged and
operating substantially as described.
3 In apparatus for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbide and water,
the combination of a step by step revolving disc situated over a shoot, carbide
containers carried by said disc and having lids fastened by catches, and a projecting
fixed part arranged to knock open the fastening catch of the lid of each carbide
container as it is brought over the mouth of the shoot in the rotation of the disc,
arranged and operating substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
4 The combination of parts substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings, constituting an improved apparatus for
generating acetylene gas.
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents.