provements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, ALFRED JAVAL, of 58, Avenue du Roule, Neuilly (Seine), in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for producing acetylene gas and it is
designed to provide a generator which works continuously and which it is not
necessary to stop either for supplying water, introducing charges or carbide, or
removing the residues.
My improved apparatus is of that kind or class in which the calcium carbide
falls into an excess of water; but from this point of view it has the peculiarity
that the successive charges of carbide are introduced automatically in proportion
as the gas produced is consumed. Condensation, and evaporation of the gas, are
likewise automatic. Furthermore, there is always absolute protection of the
charges of carbide carried by the distributor of the apparatus, until the moment
that these charges are introduced into the generator. Finally, the number of
unused charges of carbide which remain in the apparatus at any time can be
readily ascertained.
My improved apparatus consists of a cylindrical chamber or vat, open at the
top, and slightly conical at the bottom. In the upper half of this chamber is an
inner wall, which is rivetted at its lower edge to the walls of the said chamber in
such a way as to form an annular space for receiving water, which space is made
as narrow as possible. Into the water in this space dips the wall of a bell cover,
or rather a cylindrical outer wall which forms part of an inverted cover inserted in
the chamber. This inverted bell cover is open at its upper part, and its lower part
has in its centre a small dome in which accumulates a part of the gas produced by
the reaction of the water on the calcium carbide.
With this arrangement there is at the moment of starting only a very narrow
empty space between the bottom of the bell cover and the level of the water. The
large surface presented by the bottom of the bell cover, which is in contact with
the outside air, insures the condensation of the water which may be carried off
by the gas.
At the lower part of the outer wall of the cover are arranged rollers the axles
of which are secured to the said wall: these rollers (for which projections might
be substituted) serve a double purpose: they guide the said wall in the annular
water space, and furthermore they prevent the lower edge thereof from resting
on the bottom of such space and thus stopping the communication of the water
from one side to the other of this wall when the bell cover is in its lowest position.
This communication of the water in the annular space from one side to the
other of the outer wall is in fact necessary when the bell-cover is lowered (that is
to sav. when no gas is enclosed in the apparatus). for feeding water into said
apparatus. A tap for the supply water is arranged over a funnel which termi-
This water descends in said space
nates in the unner part of the annular space.
outside said wall, flows around its base, rises inside said wall, flows over the top

page_text: of the inner wall of the chamber, and finally descends between this latter wall and
the cover into the lower part of the chamber.
The bell cover, which works in the chamber in the manner of a plunger piston,
is suitably weighted so as to be balanced for the pressure which I desire to give
the gas, say, for example, from 50 to 120 mm. of water.
At the upper part of the bell cover is fixed a cross piece to which is attached a
small chain, passing over return rollers carried on a suitable frame, and termi-
nating in a counterweight.
The mouth of the outlet tube for the gas is arranged in or below the small dome,
in which part of the acetylene gas collects in proportion as it is formed. This
outlet tube terminates outside the apparatus in a vertical tube provided with two
cocks of which one serves to cut off the distribution of the gas, and the other to
clear the apparatus of the air enclosed therein before it is put into action and, in
addition, to provide for the outflow of any condensed water which may have been
carried into said tube by the gas.
The mouth of this gas outlet tube is arranged in the centre of a perforated guard
or cage, which encloses the substance intended to purify the acetylene. The upper
part of this guard is of solid metal and forms an additional means of securing
condensation.
The introduction of the carbide of calcium into the apparatus is effected in
small successive charges in the following manner; These charges are placed in
removable metal buckets which are filled outside the apparatus and are arranged
in an inverted position on an annular distributing table or wheel of sheet metal,
to which table is given, at the requisite moment an angular movement through
the space of two buckets for the purpose of effecting the introduction into the
apparatus of a charge of carbide. The distributing table has approximately semi-
circular notches cut in it to receive the buckets; and each of these buckets has
a semi-circular projection provided with a hook adapted to enter a small hole in
the distributing table. The buckets are thus securely held in their notches in the
distributor.
Each bucket is hermetically closed, being provided, for this purpose, with a
lid hinged and resting on a strip of indiarubber fixed in a circular recess at the
edge of the bucket. The lid is provided with a finger the end of which enters
a hinged flap. It will be understood that, the bucket being inverted, it will suffice,
in order to cause the charge of carbide which it contains to fall, to turn the flap
so that the finger is liberated, whereupon the lid swings over and allows the car-
bide to fall. The flap is struck when the distributing table moves, by a lever
which resists its movement, and, the movement of the table continuing, said flap
is caused to turn on its pivot and to liberate the finger, which produces the effect
explained above. The lever itself is mounted on an axle, and it occupies a raised
position (that is in the path of the flap) only when its short arm is depressed by
a tappet carried by a sliding cover for which an external protective grating which
surrounds the distributing mechanism is provided; the arrangement being such
that when the cover is open or raised the lever is lowered and the buckets cannot
drop their contents into the apparatus. I thus ensure that, even in the event
of careless manipulation, two or more charges of carbide cannot be emptied one
after another, because the distributor would have to be turned by hand.
It may happen that it is required to introduce into the apparatus a charge of
carbide when the cover is open in which case, the lever being then lowered, the
bucket will have gone by without opening. This may be remedied by arranging
a warning apparatus which works when the bell cover is at the end of its down-
ward course. The bucket, which is above the feeding apparatus, is then opened
by hand.
The distributing table is supported by rollers and is guided and maintained in
a concentric position by other rollers: Both these sets of rollers are mounted on
one piece, common to both of them, which is suitably secured on the outside of
the chamber.

page_text: The advance of the distributing table is intermittent, it takes place when, the
production of gas ceasing, the bell cover approaches its lower position. The above
mentioned counterweight on the small chain then comes in contact with a socket
through which said chain freely passes. To this socket is hinged the end of a
double lever the other arm of which is vertical and acts on one or other of a series
of fingers or pins arranged below the table. The end of the vertical arm has a
small roller the axle of which is carried by two small cheeks secured on the said
A small heavy piece which unites the two cheeks returns these into line
with said arm when this arm is moved back; when the arm advances it forms an
abutment which keeps the cheeks and the arm in line so as to act on one of the
said fingers.
arm.
The carbide issuing from the bucket, which is opened when the bell cover has
descended, falls into a hopper situated over the feeding apparatus proper. This
hopper is closed by a valve arranged at the upper part of a sluice chamber, the
bottom of which is likewise furnished with a valve. Both the valves have a
falling disc or bottom which bears against an indiarubber ring.
The upper valve disc is held at its centre by a stem hinged to an arm carried
on an axle on which is keyed, outside the sluice chamber, a counterweight lever
one arm of which is provided with a pin or finger. Furthermore the said axle
has freely suspended upon it another lever, on which is a weight, forming a
pendulum.
The lower valve is supported in the same manner.
Each arrangement of valve, arm and counterweight lever is balanced; when the
valve disc commences to tilt under the weight of charge of carbide, just fallen
into the hopper, the centre of gravity of the arrangement, which is above the
horizontal plane passing through the axle, inclines towards the vertical and would
finally tend to pass it and to open wide the valves, which would not automatically
close again. But at this moment the pin or finger meets the pendulum, which
until then remained vertical, and raises it, thereby keeping the centre of gravity
of the system on one side of the vertical line, and moderating, without shock,
the speed of the opening. The carbide falls, and the valve, being no longer loaded,
is closed by the counterweights. At the side of the sluice chamber is arranged
an arm or rod which is adapted to lock the axle of the lower valve if the upper
one is not closed, the said arm or rod carrying a projection which prevents it from
passing the vertical position, and a tooth intended to enter a notch in a small dise
fixed on the axle of the lower valve. The said arm or rod is operated at its upper
end by the finger of the counterweight lever. When the upper valve is open, this
finger is removed from the arm or rod and the latter, compelled by its weight,
engages the said notch by means of its tooth. The lower valve is then fixed and
cannot open. When the upper valve is closed, the finger turns the arm or rod,
the tooth of which liberates the axle of the lower valve which can then open.
The carbide after having passed through the upper valve and, after the same has
closed, through the lower valve, descends through a conduit into the water con-
tained in the apparatus; it is received on a grating of galvanised iron wire, the
edge of which is bent up so as to retain the carbide. There is of course a small
quantity of acetylene gas above the level of the water in the conduit; there is
likewise some in the sluice chamber after the lower valve has been opened. This
small quantity of gas might suffice to exercise a slight excess of pressure below
the valves, which would hinder their opening. To avoid this inconvenience, I
() make the stuffing box of the two axles imperfectly air tight, for the purpose of
rendering the internal pressure under the valves equal to an atmospheric pressure
by means of the following arrangement; Each axle has a conical metal collar or
ring, not polished, and furthermore preferably covered with leather, so as not to
close hermetically against its recess or opening in the gland. The inner end of
5 the axle is pressed by a spring, the tension of which is regulated by a screw.
The apparatus is provided at its lower part with a special overflow, consisting of
a vertical tube, the lower end of which opens into the chamber at the height

page_text: where the lime is produced by the decomposing carbide is situated; this tube is
open at its upper end and communicates with another tube, likewise open at its
upper end, and the lower part of which opens above the emptying or waste trough
or channel. The point of communication of the two tubes at their upper ends
determines the height of the level of the water in the chamber in that part in
which it is highest, as, for example, the conduit.
As stated above, when the water is introduced through the funnel, it enters
the lower part of the chamber, and when its level has reached the height of the
point of communication of the aforesaid two tubes the water charged with lime
which is at the bottom of the chamber rises through the first tube, overflows into
the second tube, and then flows away outside in the form of a milk of lime.
this manner there is an automatic rising of the residue produced by the decom-
position of the carbide. The result is that it is only at rare intervals that it is
necessary to open the lower discharging or cleaning valve, which, however, pre-
sents no special features.
In
When the production of gas is taking place and when the level of the water
falls within the chamber, to rise in the conduit and the first overflow tube, the
surplus water again flows away through the overflow tubes, it being the pressure
of gas which determines the difference of level of the water in the chamber and
in the contiguous conduit and tube. Furthermore, this overflow prevents there
being at any moment an excess of water in the apparatus.
1
1500
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, ALFRED JAVAL, of 58, Avenue du Roule, Neuilly (Seine), in the Republic of
France, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for producing acetylene gas; and it is
designed to provide a generator which works continuously, and which it is not
necessary to stop, either for supplying water, introducing charges of carbide, or
removing the residues.
My improved apparatus is of that kind or class in which the calcium carbide
falls into an excess of water; but from this point of view it has the peculiarity
that the successive charges of carbide are introduced automatically in proportion
as the gas produced is consumed. Condensation, and the evaporation of the gas, are
likewise automatic. Furthermore, there is always absolute protection of the
charges of carbide carried by the distributor of the apparatus, until the moment
that these charges are introduced into the gas generator. Finally, the number of
unused charges of carbide which remain in the apparatus at any time can be
readily ascertained.
The various advantages of my improved apparatus will be readily understood
from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which;
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my apparatus taken on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same and
Figures 3 to 16 show various details of the apparatus drawn to a larger scale.

page_text: My improved apparatus consists of a cylindrical chamber or vat A, open at the
top, and slightly conical at the bottom a. In the upper half of this chamber is
an inner wall A which is rivetted at its lower edge at bio the walls of the said
chamber A, in such a manner as to form an annular space for receiving water,
which space is made as narrow as possible. Into the water in this space dips the
wall of a bell cover B, or rather cylindrical outer wall B which forms part of
an inverted cover Cinserted in the chamber A A. This inverted bell cover C
is open at its upper end, and its lower end ee has in its centre a small dome D
in which accumulates a part of the gas produced by the reaction of the water on
the calcium carbide.
The
With this arrangement there is at the moment of starting, only a very narrow
empty space between the bottom of the bell cover and the level of the water.
large surface presented by the bottom of the bell cover, which is in contact with
the outside air, insures the condensation of the water which may be carried off
by the gas.
At the lower part of the outer wall B of the cover are arranged rollers d, the
axles of which are secured to the said wall B; these rollers d, (for which pro-
jections might be substituted) serve a double purpose: they guide the said wall B
in the annular water space A A', and furthermore they prevent the lower edge thereof
from resting on the bottom of such space and thus stopping the communication
of the water from one side to the other of this wall B when the bell-cover C is in
its lowest position.
This communication of the water in the annular space from one side to the
other of the outer wall B is in fact necessary when the bell-cover is lowered, (that
is to say when no gas is enclosed in the apparatus), for feeding water into said
apparatus. A tap or cock E for supplying water is arranged over a funnel c which
terminates in the upper part of the annular space A B. This water descends, as
shown by the arrow f, flows around the base of 13 rises between B and A' flows
over the top of the inner wall A' of the chamber and finally descends between
this latter wall and the cover C into the lower part of the chamber A.
The bell cover C, which as shown, works in the chamber A in the manner of
a plunger piston, is suitably weighted so as to be balanced for the pressure which
it is desired to give the gas, say, for example, from 50 to 120 mm. of water.
At the upper part of the bell cover C is fixed a cross piece to which is attached
a small chain h, passing over return rollers i carried on a suitable frame F, and
terminating in a counterweight y.
The mouth of the outlet tube G for the gas is arranged in or below the small
dome 1), in which part of the acetylene gas collects in proportion as it is formed.
This outlet tube terminates outside the apparatus in a vertical tube G¹, provided
with two cocks 1, 1, of which the first serves to cut off the distribution of the gas,
and the second to clear the apparatus of the air enclosed therein before it is put
into action, and, in addition to provide for the outflow of any water of condensation
which may have been carried into said tube by the gas.
The mouth of this gas outlet tube G is arranged in the centre of a perforated
guard or cage t¹ which encloses the substance intended to purify the acetylene.
The upper part of this guard is of solid metal, and forms an additional means of
securing condensation.
The introduction of the carbide of calcium into the apparatus is effected in
small successive charges in the following manner: These charges are placed in
removable metal buckets H one of which is shown separately in Figures 3,4
and 5 which show a section, side elevation and plan respectively. These buckets,
which are filled outside the apparatus, and are arranged in an inverted position
on an annular distributing table or wheel m of sheet metal, to which table is given,
at the requisite moment, an angular movement through a space equivalent to
that between two buckets for the purpose of effecting the introduction into the
apparatus of a charge of carbide. The distributing table m has approximately
semicircular notches cut in it to receive the buckets H; for this purpose each of

page_text: these buckets (Figures. 3, 4, and 5), has a semicircular projection a provided at o
with a hook adapted to enter a small hole in the distributing table m. The buckets
are thus securely held in their notches in the distributor m.
Each bucket is hermetically closed, being provided, for this purpose, with a
lid 2, hinged and resting on a strip of indiarubber y fixed in a circular recess in
the edge of the bucket H. The lid p is provided with a finger r, the end of which
enters a hinged flap s. It will be understood that, the bucket being inverted, as
seen in Figure 1, it will suffice in order to cause the charge of carbide which it
contains to fall, to turn the flap s in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 3
so that the finger r is freed, whereupon the lid p swings over and allows the car-
bide to fall. The flap s is struck, when the distributing table moves in the direc-
tion of the arrow f Figure 2, by a levert which resists its movement, and the
movement of the table continuing, said flap s is caused to turn on its pivot and to
liberate the finger r, which produces the effect explained above. The levert itself
is mounted on an axle u and only occupies a raised position (that is, only occupies
a position in the path of the flaps s, when its short arm (see Figures 6 and 7) is
depressed by a tappet carried by a sliding cover or circular door I, for which
an external protective grating J which surrounds the distributing mechanism is
provided; the arrangement being such that when the cover is open the lever t
is lowered and the buckets cannot drop their contents into the apparatus. I thus
ensure that even in the event of careless manipulation, two or more charges of
carbide cannot be emptied one after another, because the distributor m would
have to be turned by hand.
It may happen that it is required to introduce into the apparatus a charge of
carbide when the cover I is open in which case, the levert being then lowered, the
bucket will have gone by without opening. This may be remedied by arranging
a warning apparatus which works when the bell cover is at the end of its down-
ward course. The bucket, which is above the feeding apparatus, is then opened
by hand.
It will be readily understood from the foregoing description and the accom-
panying drawing that the distributing buckets are surrounded by a circular
grating J. In order that the empty buckets may be reached for the purpose of
filling them with carbide, this protecting grating J is divided from the double
hopper admission device KMV, for rather more than a quarter of the circum-
ference, by a circular door I, which may be slid on one side (by means of rollers
if necessary) from left to right, see Figure 2, when it is desired to manipulate the
buckets of the distributing crown. When the apparatus is operating, this door
is closed by moving it from right to left. It is not necessary that the buckets
should open when this door is open, because in this open position of the door,
the distributor or crown m, may be rotated in such a manner as to ensure the
filling of all the buckets. These buckets are not liable when the cover is open
to have their lower covers opened when they come above the hopper KM V because
the tappet or finger v, which is intended to act upon the lever t is rigidly attached
to the door J, and under these conditions, removed from t, seeing that the door
is open.
The distributing table m is supported (see the detail Figures 8, 9 and 10) by
rollers ; and is guided and maintained in a concentric position by other rollers y.
Both these sets of rollers x and y are mounted on one piece common to both of
them which is suitably secured on the outside of the chamber A.
The advance of the distributing table is intermittent; it takes place when, the
production of gas ceasing, the bell cover C approaches its lower position. The
abovementioned counterweight on the small chain see Figures 1 and 11 then
comes in contact with a socket z through which said chain freely passes. To
this socket is hinged the end of a double lever a¹ the other arm of which is
vertical and acts on one or other of a series of fingers or pins c¹ arranged below
the table m. The end of the vertical arm 1 has (see Figure 12) a small roller a
the axle of which is carried by two small cheeks 62 secured at ¹ on the said

page_text: arm b. A small heavy piece y' which united the two cheeks 62 returns these
into line with said arm when this arm is moved back; when the arm advances
it forms an abutment which keeps the cheeks 62 and the arm b¹ in line so as to act
on one of the said fingers c¹.
The carbide issuing from the bucket, which is opened when the bell cover has
descended, falls into a hopper K situated over the feeding apparatus proper shown
separately in Figures 13, 14 and 15. This hopper K is closed by a valve L,
arranged at the upper part of a sluice chamber M, the bottom of which is likewise
furnished with a valve L. Both the valves LL' have a falling disc or bottom
which bears against an indiarubber ring el.
The upper valve disc is held at its centre by a stem hinged to an arm N carried
on an axle g on which is keyed, outside the sluice chamber M, a counterweight
lever h', one arm of which is provided with a pin or finger j. Furthermore
the said axle gl has freely suspended upon it another lever on which is a
weight m forming a pendulum.
The lower valve L is supported in the same manner;
Each arrangement of valve L, arm N and counter-weight lever h¹ is balanced;
when the valve disc commences to tilt under the weight of a charge of carbide
just fallen into the hopper, the centre of gravity of the arrangement which is above
the horizontal plane passing through the axis of g¹, inclines towards the vertical
and would finally tend to pass it and to open wide the valve, which would not
automatically close again. But at this moment the pin or finger j¹ meets the
pendulum, which until then remained vertical, and raises it, thereby keeping
the centre of gravity of the system on one side of the vertical line, and moderating,
without shock, the speed of the opening. The carbide falls, and the valve, being
no longer loaded, is closed by the counter weights. At the side of the sluice
chamber M is arranged an arm or rod n¹, which is adapted to fix the axle g² of
the lower valve L' if the upper one is not closed, the said arm or rod n' which is
pivoted at o¹, carrying a projection which prevents it from passing the vertical
position, towards the right (Figure 13) and a tooth q intended to enter a notch pl
in a small disc fixed on the axle of the lower valve g. The said arm or rod is
operated at its upper end by the finger of the counterweight lever . When
the upper valve L is open, this finger is removed from the arm or rod n³, and
the latter compelled by its weight, engages the said notch by means of its
tooth . The lower valve L' is then fixed and cannot open. When the upper
valve L is closed, the finger j turns the arm or rod n¹ the tooth of which g'
liberates the axle g of the lower valve which can then open.
The carbide after having passed through the upper valve L, and after the same
has closed, through the lower valve L₁ descends through a conduit V into the
water contained in the apparatus; it is received on a grating of galvanised iron
wire 0, the edge of which is bent up at s¹ so as to retain the carbide. There is
of course a small quantity of acetylene gas above the level of the water in the
conduit, there is likewise some in the sluice chamber M after the lower valve L'
has been opened. This small quantity of gas might suffice to exercise a slight
excess of pressure below the valves L and L', which would hinder their opening.
To avoid this inconvenience I make the stuffing box of the two axles g₁ and g
imperfectly air tight, for the purpose of rendering the internal pressure under
the valves equal to the atmospheric pressure by means of the following arrange-
ment shown separately in Figure 16. Each axle gl has a conical, metal collar or
ring, not polished, and furthermore preferably covered with leather, so as not to
close hermetically against its recess or opening in the gland. The inner end of the
axle gl is pressed by a spring u, the tension of which is regulated by a screw v¹..
The apparatus is provided at its lower part with a special overflow, consisting
of a vertical tube P, the lower end of which opens into the chamber A at the
height where the lime produced by the decomposing carbide is situated this
tube P is open at its upper end, and communicates with another tube P1 likewise
open at its upper end and the lower part of which opens above the emptying or

page_text: waste trough or channel. The point of communication of the two tubes P and P¹
at their upper ends determines the height of the level of the water in the chamber
or in that part in which it is highest, as, for example, the conduit V.
As stated above, when the water is introduced through the funnel e, it enters
the lower part of the chamber A and when its level has reached the height of the
point of communication of the aforesaid two tubes PP, the water charged with
lime which is at the bottom of the chamber rises through the lower orifice of P
into this tube P, overflows into the second tube P', and then flows away outside
in the form of a milk of lime. In this manner there is an automatic rising of the
residue produced by the decomposition of the carbide. The result is that it is
only at rare intervals that it is necessary to open the lower discharging or cleaning
valve Q, which, however, presents no special features.
When the production of gas is taking place and when the level of the water
falls within the chamber A to rise again in the conduit V and the overflow tube P,
the surplus water again flows away through the overflow tubes P and P¹, it being
the pressure of gas which determines the difference of level of the water in the
chamber and in the contiguous conduit or tube V and P. Furthermore this over-
flow prevents there being at any moment an excess of water in the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, having outside the gas
generating chamber A a movable distributor m, carrying inverted hermetically
closed buckets, each of which contains a charge of carbide, which falls at the
right moment into a distributing apparatus with double valves L, L', forming a
sluice, the chamber A in which the gas is generated being furnished with an
overflow PP through which flows outwardly the lime water produced by the
decomposition of the carbide of calcium when water is introduced into the
apparatus by the annular crown, in which is inserted the cylindrical bell B of
the bell-cover C, under which the gas accumulates in proportion as it is produced.
2. In the apparatus referred to in the first claim, the special arrangement of
the chamber A with an inner wall A¹, forming, in combination with the outer wall,
a narrow annular space, into which is introduced the cylindrical wall B of the bell-
cover C, this bell-cover working in the manner of a plunger piston, having a
large surface insuring condensation, and having a small dome at D in which is
placed, around the gas outlet tube, the material serving for the purification of
the gas, the wall B of the said bell-cover C being provided, at its lower part, with
rollers or projections d, serving as guides, and at the same time insuring the
formation of a free space, allowing the water which forms a water seal or hydraulic
joint to communicate from one side to the other of the wall B.
3. In the apparatus described in the first claim, the arrangement of the dis-
tributing table m, supported by the rollers and guided and centred by the
rollers y, this table having semi-circular notches cut in it, to receive in an inverted
position the buckets H containing the charges of carbide, the said table having
pins underneath by which a lever ab produces the intermittent forward motion,
the said lever ab being actuated by a chain with counterweight fastened to the
bell-cover C when this latter approaches its lowest position.
4. In the movable distributor specified in the third claim, the arrangement of
the buckets H with a lid p which closes hermetically against an indiarubber stripg
the lid being kept closed by a finger r which holds back a jointed flaps, this
latter being turned aside (which determines the opening of the bucket and the fall
of the carbide) when it encounters a lever & carried by the casing of the apparatus,
this levert being itself arranged so as to tip up, and being raised so as to be able
to open the bucket only when it is acted upon by the finger arranged on the
sliding cover I.
5. In the distributor described in Claims 3 and 4, the addition of an alarm

page_text: apparatus, indicating when a bucket is brought opposite the sluice feeding
apparatus without having been struck by the lever ton account of this having
been lowered in consequence of the lid I being open.
6. In the apparatus specified in the first claim, the feeding hopper with sluice
chamber M, comprises between two valves LL', the carbide falling from the
bucket on to the upper valve L, which then opens, without the lower one L' being
able to do so, the latter opening only when the upper valve L is closed, and then
pouring its charge of carbide into a conduit which ends in the chamber A con-
taining the water, where the carbide is received on a grating 0.
7. In the double valve feeding apparatus specified in Claim 6, mounting each of
the valves L on an arm carried by an axle gl, outside of which are fixed a counter-
weighted lever h¹ and an arm a furnished with a pin j', intended to carry with it,
at the time of lowering the valve, a lever with a counterweight m' suspended
freely on the axle g, and the purpose of which is to moderate the tipping of the
valve and then to insure its closing.
8. In the feeding apparatus specified in Claims 6 and 7, the connection of the
two valves LL' established by a lever n¹ having a tooth q intended to enter a
notch r¹ for the purpose of fixing the lower valve L' so long as the valve L is not
closed, the finger which is carried by the axle of the upper valve L turning
aside the connecting crank n¹ in the closing motion of the valve L.
9. In the feeding apparatus specified in Claims 6, 7 and 8, the arrangement
of the axles g' and 2 of the valves LL', with a non air-tight stuffing box per-
mitting the escape of the acetylene gas which might exercise too much pressure
under one or other of the said valves L L', and oppose their opening, the leakage
of the gas taking place between the seat of the leather covered collar or ring 2 and
the said valve, the rod of this latter being more or less acted upon by a spring u
the tension of which can be regulated.
Datod this 23rd day of January 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.