An Improved Apparatus for Generating, Storing, and Purifying " Acetylene" Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Generating, Storing, and Purifying
"
Acetylene" Gas.
I, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY of the Firm of Bayley & Beeching, of "Dene
House," Poole Hill, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for generating, storing, purifying, and
controlling the consumption of the gas known as "acetylene"; and it consists in
simple and compact apparatus by the use of which a uniform pressure in the
apparatus is maintained which prevents flickering and unsteadiness, air being
preferably excluded from the interior of the vessel and the condition of the said
interior can be ascertained by inspection.
The apparatus in its simplest form consists of a vessel inside which a cylindrical
or other shaped float is inserted through an opening in the top which can be
closed so as to be airtight. This float is composed of two concentric cylinders,
the inner of which has an end which closes it; the outer cylinder extends some
distance above the top of the inner float so as to form a receptacle for calcium
carbide, and between the two concentric cylinders a small annular space is left
which is filled in with a ring of fibrous or porous material, woollen textile material
being especially suitable for this purpose. The whole of this float consisting of
two concentric cylinders having between them the ring of fibrous material, and
the superposed load of calcium carbide is free to rise and fall between vertical
guides, and it is borue by the weight of the water.
Upon one side of the top of the vessel is placed a water tank which is so arranged
with a ball cock, and an overflow pipe that a uniform level is maintained. Upon
the other side of the top of the vessel is placed a container for lime or other
purifying agent.
The water entering the tank passes through a pipe to the bottom of the vessel,
and partially filling the same causes the float to rise and remain floating upon
the surface with the inner cylinder immersed. The water percolating through
the interstices of the fibrous or porous material comes into contact with the
calcium carbide, and the usual somewhat violent reaction takes place, the H2C2
generated fills the upper part of the airtight vessel, and forces back the water
until a balance of pressure is obtained. The acetylene produced occupies the whole
of the upper part of the vessel and is conducted thence by pipes to the upper part
of the container entering the same at a level higher than can possibly be reached
by the water and being then forced downwards through the lime or other purifying
agent is conducted to the point of consumption.
A frame or grating is arranged inside the vessel underneath the float, and by
means of a rod which passes out of the vessel the Hoat can be lifted to the top of
the vessel.
A gauge glass, or other means of ascertaining the level of the water is attached
to the vessel, and the cover by means of which the calcium carbide is reached, is
connected by an air-tight joint. A tap or other suitable means is provided for
emptying the water from and cleansing the vessel when required.
Dated this Fourth day of January 1896.
,
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Generating, Storing, and Purifying
66
Acetylene" Gas.
I, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY, of the Firm of Bayley and Beeching, of Dene
House, Poole Hill, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, 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 apparatus for generating, storing, purifying and
controlling the consumption of the gas known as "acetylene," and it consists in
simple and compact apparatus by the use of which a uniform pressure in the
apparatus is maintained which prevents flickering and unsteadiness, air being
preferably excluded from the interior of the vessel and the condition of the said
interior can be ascertained by inspection.
A simple form of apparatus according to my invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1. is a vertical section through the centre, and
Fig. 2. is a plan of the same.
"A"
designates a rectangular vessel, projecting from the upper surface of
which is a cylindrical part a, this being terminated and closed by a cover a'. The
cylinder a is rigidly attached to the top of the vessel "A" and inside the latter
depending from its top is a cylinder the walls of which separate the contents of
the cylinder from that of the vessel "A," but the cylinder "B" is not continued
downwards far enough to touch the bottom of the vessel "A" but stops just short
of it leaving a space under its end through which a communication is established
between the vessel and the cylinder.
Inside the cylinder "B" is placed a cylindrical float "C" of slightly less
diameter than the part a so as to enable it to be lifted out and replaced when the
cover a is removed.
The float "C" being of less diameter than the cylinder "B," a guide bar or
rail is carried out on one side thereof and serves to guide the float "C," the
bar being connected to one side of the cylinder "B" by brackets 3.
Fixed to the sides of the top of the vessel "A" is a rectangular tank "D" the
supply of water to which is controlled by a ball d and valve d while an overflow
pipe limits the height to which the water can rise. From the bottom of this
water tank depends a pipe d3 which is carried down uearly to the bottom of the
vessel "A."
Fixed to the other side of the top of the vessel "A" is a closed cylindrical
vessel E," the upper part of which is filled with lime or other purifying or drying
agent shewn at e. From the cylinder a a pipe a communicates with the vessel "E'
entering it at a point above the lime. The body of lime e is supported by a
perforated grating e and from the space below this opens the pipe which carries
the gas produced to the point or points of consumption; this supply being
controllable by a cock e.
The float "C" is composed of an inner cylinder closed at both onds, and an
outer cylinder open at both ends. The interior diameter of c' is slightly
greater than the exterior diameter of c so that a small annular space is left
between the two, this being filled in with a ring or band c of fibrous or porous
substance, woollen textile material being especially suitable for this purpose. The
inner cylinder occupies only the lower part of the cylinder c', the upper part
of which forms the receptacle for calcium carbide which is used in the manufacture
of the gas.
For the purpose of lifting the float "C" to the top of the vessel "A"
a

page_text: grating "H" is used which by means of a rod h, cord h' and weight can be
either balanced or lifted up together with the float "C" and contents. For the
purpose of enabling a person to see what the quantity of water is in the interior
of the vessel, a gauge glass "G" of ordinary construction is employed, and for the
purpose of emptying the vessel "A" a tap a³ is used.
The operation is as follows:-The float "C" being charged with calcium
carbide is placed inside the vessel "A" and the cover a' fastened down. The
tank "D" is now supplied with water froin d', which water flows dwa the pipe d
and partially fills the vessel "A" and the cylinder B." The float "C" rises
with the water, and on the latter coming into contact with the lower end of the
fibrous or porous band c it percolates through the interstices of the same and
comes into contact with the calcium carbide. The usual somewhat violent reaction
takes place, acetylene (HC) gas is generated and fills the cylinder and the upper
part of cylinder "B" and passes into the upper part of the vessel "A," openings
being provided at the top of cylinder "B" for that purpose. The pressure of
gas produced increases until it is sufficient to balance the weight of water in
the tank "D" the gas passing off all the time through the pipe a to the purifying
or drying vessel "E," entering at the top of which it passes down through the
lime or other drying agent e and out of the pipe e to the point of consumption.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 hereby declare that what
I claim is :-
(1.) An apparatus for generating, storing, and purifying "acetylene" gas,
consisting essentially of a vessel for containing water upon which floats a cylinder
charged with calcium carbide, and having a ring or band of fibrous or porous
material through which the water percolates until it comes into contact with the
calcium carbide, and causes the generation of "acetylene" (HC) gas, a tank for
supplying water to the vessel, and a vessel for containing lime or other purifying
or drying agent through which the gas passes before being consumed, substantially
as shown and described.
(2.) An apparatus for generating, storing, and purifying "acetylene" gas
constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose shewn and described.
(3.) In an apparatus for generating, storing, and purifying "acetylene" gas,
the combination of a vessel for containing water, a cyliuder for containing calcium
carbide which floats upon the water in the vessel and which has an annular band
of porous or fibrous material through which the water must pass before coming
into contact with the "calcium carbide," a tank for supplying water to the vessel,.
and a vessel for containing lime or other purifying or drying agent through which
the gas passes before being consumed, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this Twelfth day of March 1896.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicant.