Improvements relating to the Production of Acetylene Gas, and to the Utilization of the same for Lighting Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Production of Acetylene Gas, and to
the Utilization of the same for Lighting Purposes.
I, GASTON RAGOT, of 163 Avenue Van Volxem, Forest-lez-Bruxelles, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, 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 object the practical production of acetylene gas resulting
from the hydration of calcium carburet for lighting, the whole of the system
consisting in the mode of and apparatus for producing the said gas in combination
with the means employed for burning it so as to secure the maximum of lighting
power therefrom.
The invention therefore consists in apparatus wherein the acetylene gas is produced,
and a special burner designed for forming the lighting flame.
In order that this gas may be produced in the simplest manner, and may be
brought within reach of every one, so as to be available for private use, it is
necessary to employ such apparatus as will facilitate this production of gas without
the trouble and inconvenience experienced in manufacturing on a large scale, the
gas being produced by the said apparatus in the proportion in which it is required.
The production of acetylene gas according to my invention is effected with the
aid of simple apparatus operating automatically.
Having set forth the nature of my invention I will now describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 represents an apparatus for automatically producing gas, surmounted
by a gas holder or reservoir acting automatically, the pipe being provided with two
burners.
Figure 2 is a front view of a burner.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of burner but operating like that
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the tube for introducing water into the apparatus
for producing gas.
Figure 5 shows an arrangement of an apparatus for producing gas, which is not
automatic.
Figure 6 shows a second arrangement of a similar apparatus, and
Figure 7 another mode of introducing calcium carburet into the apparatus shown
in Figure 1.
A A' (Figure 1) are two cylindrical reservoirs provided with openings having
tight-fitting covers B B' above and openings with covers C C¹ at the bottom. These
two reservoirs are connected with each other by a pipe D in which are arranged two
cocks d d designed to open or close the passage for the gas leaving one of the
reservoirs A or A' at will. E is a pipe connected to the pipe D, for conducting the
gas to the gas holder F arranged in the cylinder G.
H is a tube for conducting water, which it receives from a reservoir O, into one
or the other of the reservoirs A A'.
After the two reservoirs A A' have been filled with a charge of calcium carburet,
the latter being introduced therein through the openings or passages at B B', water
is introduced into the reservoir by means of a tube H which divided into two
branches at its extremity, these two branches terminating each in one of the
reservoirs A A¹

page_text: The bifurcating.point of this tube H is furnished with a cock I designed to allow
the water to pass either into the reservoir A or into the reservoir A' according as
the said cock is turned to the right or to the left. To this cock is secured at right
angles thereto a counter-weight J which with the said cock is actuated by a rod K
having a pawl and sliding along the gas holder. This rod carries at its upper part
a spring-arm against which butts the tappet L which forms a projection on the
crown of the gas holder F.
The pawl of the rod is composed of an arm presenting a resistant spring when
the bell descends and being without effect when it moves upwards. This kind of
mechanism is too well known to need description.
The admission of water into the pipe H takes place automatically. The upper
part of the gas holder carries a bracket M, at the end of which is fixed the
extremity of a flexible tube N connected with a water reservoir O. When the bell
descends it carries with it the flexible pipe so that when the latter is below the level
of the water in the reservoir O, the said water will flow into the funnel & through the
tube H into the reservoir A or A¹. When the gas holder moves upward the flow
of water will be interrupted.
Figure 4 shows the pipe H and funnel to a larger scale; it is furnished with a
bulb and with a bend h"; this bend contains a small quantity of mercury up to
the level. When the pressure due to the height of the column of water in the
pipe H is greater than the resistance of the mercury, the said water will flow
through the bulb ' until equilibrium is established between the pressure of water
and that of the mercury.
This arrangement is very important, because owing to the great hygroscopic
property of the calcium carburet any water which is present even at some distance
from this body will give rise to a considerable disengagement of gas which, if not
utilized, would escape through the hydraulic joint of the gas holder.
In order that the mode of operation of the apparatus shown in Figure I and
herein before described may be clearly understood we will follow its movement, the
gas holder being in its lowest position.
The gas holder being in this position the flexible tube N allows water to escape
into the tunnel hand tube H from which it passes into one of the cylinders A or A',
containing the calcium carburet which it decomposes into acetylene; the pressure
of the gas formed raises the gas-holder F which by lifting the flexible tube N by
reason of its connection with the same at M, interrupts the intermixing of the water
and thus also the production of the gas.
Of course, if a certain quantity of gas is allowed to escape from the gas holder F
the tube N will be moved downwards and permit of the outflow of a fresh quantity
of water into the reservoir A or A¹.
Accordingly the production will be regulated automatically in direct proportion.
to the amount used. When nearly the whole of the gas has been withdrawn from
the gas holder and the latter, owing to the exhaustion of the calcium carburet in
one of the reservoirs, has moved down the tappet L will butt against the pawl of
the rod K which will actuate the two-way cock I, and cause the water to be
distributed into the other reservoir thus giving rise to the production of gas without
any stoppage.
The apparatus represented in Figures 5 and 6 consists each of a reservoir P,
which being charged with calcium carburet receives the water necessary for the
formation of the gas by a hand or other pump Q, Figure 5 the gas formed passing
through a pressure reducer T similar to those employed for utilizing rich gases in
railway carriages, enabling the pressure to be automatically lowered to a definite
amount.
As the acetylene is liquefied at +1° at a pressure of 43 atmospheres, and at
86 atmospheres at a temperature of +18°, the receptacle or reservoir P is made of
steel or other very strong material; it is provided with an opening R surmounted by a
distributing cock for the calcium carburet; this carburet being introduced into the
reservoir the latter is carefully closed and water from the vessel Q' is introduced.

page_text: into the said reservoir by means of the pump Q. In the presence of this water the
acetylene is disengaged, and the gas finding no outlet finally reaches the pressure
necessary for the liquefaction. The liquefied gas will pass to the surface of the
water, the reducer T enabling the pressure to be automatically lowered to a definite
amount.
The apparatus shown in Figure 6 is based upon the same principle as that above
described, only in this case the pump is dispensed with, being replaced by a
receptacle S of equal strength placed in a suitable position for use, containing
water, it is sufficient to operate the cocks U and U in order that the water may
flow from the receptacle S into the reservoir P¹; the same chemical reactions take
place the mixing is effected and the water is decomposed as before.
Referring to the devices and mechanism herein before described with reference to
Figure 1, I may, as shown in Figure 7, effect the charging in an inverse manner to
that above set forth, that is to say in lieu of passing water into the calcium
carburet I distribute the latter automatically and in proportion to the requirements
into the cylinders A A' previously filled with water to a certain height.
For this purpose I have devised the apparatus represented in Figure 7 designed
to take the place of the receptacle O. This apparatus comprises a receptacle O¹
furnished with an escape pipe N¹ which is flexible like the pipe N of the apparatus
shown in Figure 1. This receptacle contains calcium carburet divided into small
pieces which as the gas holder is lowered causes the flexible pipe by its connection
at M to incline so as to enable the calcium carburet to escape into the pipe H
provided with a mercury bend like the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
The acetylene gas passing through the pipe from the gas holder is conducted
directly to the burners, types of which latter are represented in Figures 2 and 3.
This burner consists of two parts V V converging towards each other at
a suitable angle. As the gas jets encounter each other they become mingled and
being united produce a flame burning vertically at the point W. By their
discharge under pressure they carry away the air necessary for the production of
the lighting flame which burns with a very strong light having a greater lighting
power than any light heretofore produced by gas.
Looking at the improved burner, in a superficial manner it may be erroneously
concluded that it is the same as the well-known Bray burner, termed "Manchester
burner," this would be a serious mistake, for the effects which I achieve by the
arrangement of my new burner are quite different from those obtained by the said
Manchester burner.
In fact the latter consists of a burner tube presenting exteriorly, the same
arrangement as an ordinary butterfly burner, but the slit for the escape of the gas
is replaced therein by two small convergent orifices approaching each other at their
top to a distance of about 1 millimetre."
In my burner the space left between the two outlet orifices of the convergent
tubes is from 2 to 3 centimetres so that the flame of each of them traverses a con-
siderable air space, and combining therewith cause by their contact a butterfly
flame suspended as it were in the air which consequently surrounds it on.every side,
that is to say as regards combustion it is in the best condition which it is possible
to obtain.
In my burner there is a double displacement of air, and if ordinary lighting gas
is caused to pass through the same it burns with a blue flame exactly as is the case
with Bunsen burners, which proves that the displacement of air is very great
(I may even add that it reaches its maximum effect) at the same time that
an intimate mixing of air and gas takes place at the junction of the two jets.
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 what I
claim is :-
First. The construction and combination of an apparatus designed for the
production of gas by utilizing calcium, potassium or other carburet, which apparatus

page_text: consists of two or more reservoirs wherein by turns and in proportion to the quantity
used the gas is produced owing to the automatic mechanism feeding the said
reservoirs either with water or with calcium carburet, as hereinbefore described and
shown in the accompanying drawing.
Second. In combination with the reservoirs wherein the gas is formed, a gas-
holder connected by means of a tube with the said reservoirs and designed to store
up and supply the gas in proportion to its production, the said holder by its
downward movement effecting the automatic admission of water into the receptacles
containing carburet, as above described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Third. In an apparatus designed for producing gas the combination of the gas
holder surmounting the said apparatus with a device for changing the direction of
the distribution of water, which device consists of a vertical rod connected to a
two-way cock placed at the junction of the water admission pipe, this rod serving
to impart a turning movement to the said cock when the gas holder descends after
baving rendered its supply of gas, which movement is caused by a pawl device
actuated by the engagement of a projection placed on the crown of the gas holder,
-as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Fourth. In an apparatus for producing and storing up gas, and in combination
with the gas holder, the device for actuating a tube for the supply of water or
granules of carburet, which device consists of a flexible tube connected to a
reservoir containing the water or the carburet, the said tube being raised or lowered
by the upward or downward movement of the gas holder by reason of the fact that
the said tube is connected with the latter and will present its orifice either above
the level of the material to be supplied or below the said level, as hercin before
described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Fifth. In combination with a reservoir wherein acetylene gas is produced, a
reducer enabling the pressure of the said gas to be lowered automatically to
a definite amount, as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
.drawing.
Sixth. In combination with a system for producing acetylene gas with a view to
the consumption of the gas in proportion to its production, a burner consisting of
two parts formed each of a tube having a small opening the outlets from these parts
taking place at a suitable angle for throwing jets of gas one against the other for
the purpose of causing them to intermingle as they impinge against each other in
order to effect the intimate mixing of the gas and air and also to produce a very
powerful lighting flame utilizing the entire or almost the entire lighting power of
the acetylene gas, as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 9th day of March 1906
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.