Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
We,, BRITISH PURE ACETYLENE GAS SYNDICATE, LIMITED, of 19, Castle
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and TREVOR KEENE, of 9, Elgin
Drive, Liscard, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to acetylene generators of that type in which the carbide
is added to the water in the generator in such manner that as it descends through
the water it passes under a bell or receiver into which the acetylene, as it is
generated, rises on its way to the gasometer.
In such generators any air which may be entangled in the carbide is, during
the passage of the latter through the water, freed and escapes by the charging
opening.
It is found, however, in practice that the finer particles of the carbide are apt
to float on the top of the water near the charging opening, in which case the
acetylene generated escapes into the atmosphere and is wasted, and the object of
this invention is to overcome this difficulty."
According to our invention we provide a generator comprising an outer vessel
containing water and an inner inverted vessel which forms the bell into which the
acetylene rises as it is generated. A charging opening is provided which may be
of any suitable shape, and a spout or shoot may be led downwards in an inclined
direction from the charging opening into or under the bell. The charging open-
ing may, in some cases, be provided with a charging hopper.
We also provide a perforated receptacle, having a suitable handle and adapted
to be inserted into and pushed down the spout or shoot until it is under the bell.
We place the charge of carbide in this receptacle and in this way introduce it
under the bell, the freed air leaving the receptacle as it descends through the
water, and as the water gains access to the carbide through the perforations, the
generated acetylene rises into the bell through the said perforations. When the
charge is exhausted the receptacle is withdrawn and as it contains the residual
products of decomposition these latter are thus conveniently withdrawn from the
generator at each re-charging. When the receptacle is freed from the residuals
it is again charged with carbide and inserted into the generator as before.
The details of the generator may, of course, be modified:-for instance instead
of actually forming a charging opening and distinct shoot, a portion of the genera-
tor may have an open top, the "bell" being formed by a division plate extending
nearly to the bottom of the vessel but so arranged that the receptacle can be
inserted under this plate into the bell.
In some cases it is desirable to check the generation of gas in the receptacle, in
which cases the construction of the latter may be modified as follows:-
The receptacle may be made in the form of a cylinder with a loosely fitting lid
whose rim is almost as deep as the body of the receptacle and sufficiently larger
than the latter in diameter to admit a rubber ring of circular cross-section being
inserted between the two, which ring whilst permitting the lid to slide on the
body makes a comparatively tight joint. The receptacle is carried in a stirrup

page_text: provided with a handle, and an adjustable spring is fitted which presses on the lid.
The lid of the receptacle is provided with one or more holes through which the
water enters and the generated gas escapes, and by means of which also the air
escapes as the receptacle, charged with carbide, is immersed in the water.
The action is as follows:-The receptacle being duly charged is immersed in
the water and, when below the level of the bell, is pushed laterally until it comes
under the bell; or, where a spout or shoot is provided, the receptacle is thereby
guided under the bell; in either case the air escapes through the opening or open-
ings in the top of the receptacle.
As soon as the water acts on the carbide acetylene is, of course, generated and
escapes into the bell and passes through a suitable outlet to the gasometer. Should
the gas
be generated too rapidly the loosely fitting lid of the receptacle is raised
by the pressure of the contained gas and the hole or holes in the top thereby raised
above the water level in the bell, and the production of acetylene is consequently
checked until the lid falls again when the pressure is reduced.
Dated thin 941 Ja of 1900
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, BRITISH PURE ACETYLENE GAS SYNDICATE, LIMITED, of 19, Castle
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and TREVOR KEENE, of 9, Elgin
Drive, Liscard, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to acetylene generators of that type in which the carbide
is added to the water in the generator in such manner that as it descends through
the water it passes under a bell or receiver into which the acetylene, as it is
generated, rises on its way to the gasometer.
In such generators any air which may be entangled in the carbide is, during
the passage of the latter through the water, freed and escapes by the charging
opening.
It is found, however, in practice, that the finer particles of the carbide are apt
to float on the top of the water near the charging opening, in which case the
acetylene generated escapes into the atmosphere and is wasted, and the object of
this invention is to overcome this difficulty.
According to our invention we provide a generator comprising an outer vessel
containing water and an inner inverted vessel which forms the bell into which the.
acetylene rises as it is generated. A charging opening is provided which may be
of any suitable shape.
We also provide a receptacle having a suitable handle and adapted to be inserted
into and pushed across the generator until it is under the bell, We place the
charge of carbide in this receptacle and in this way introduce it under the
bell, the freed air leaving the receptacle as it descends through the water, and as
the water gains access to the carbide through one or more perforations in the top
of the receptacle, the generated acetylene rises into the bell through the perforation
or perforations. When the charge is exhausted the receptacle is withdrawn, and
as it contains the residual products of decomposition these latter are thus con-
veniently withdrawn from the generator at each re-charging. When the receptacle

page_text: is freed from the residuals it is again charged with carbide and inserted into the
generator as before.
The details of the generator may, of course, be modified: -for instance instead
of actually forming a charging opening a portion of the generator may have an
open top, the "bell" being formed by a division plate extending nearly to the
bottom of the vessel but so arranged that the receptacle can be inserted under
this plate into the bell.
We have illustrated the form of our apparatus which we have found most con
venient in practice, in the accompanying drawing which shows the generator in
medial section.
The generator consists of a main vessel 1 which may be of any suitable shape;
a division plate 2 extends across the vessel but does not reach to the bottom thereof,
the lower edge being sufficiently above the bottom to permit of the receptacle 3
clearing it as it is pushed into the position shown by the full lines in the drawing.
On one side of the division plate the top of the vessel is closed in by a cover 4
through which the pipe 5 leading to the gasometer may pass; this portion of the
generator thus forms the bell into which the acetylene escapes as it is generated.
The receptacle 3 which holds the charge of carbide consists of a suitable vessel,
preferably cylindrical, having a cover 6 which is adapted to be easily secured
in position by any convenient means and which is perforated by one or more holes.
The receptacle is provided with a pair of trunnions 7 from which a forked
lever 8 is carried. The lever serves as a convenient means for inserting or with-
drawing the receptacle, as shown by the dotted lines in the drawing.
We find that this form of receptacle, with one or more perforations in the top,
is admirably adapted, in conjunction with the form of generator illustrated, for
the uniform production of the acetylene.
We find it advisable generally to have but few perforations in the top of the
receptacle, in which case there is no tendency to produce the acetylene suddenly
in large quantities since after the admission of a certain quantity of water the
issuing acetylene prevents the access of more water till the rate of generation is
diminished. We find that this action is sufficient, in combination with a
gasometer, to regulate the generation within the necessary limits, and as it is most
desirable to make acetylene generators as simple as possible we find it expedient
to rely upon this action for the regulation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for generating acetylene, in combination with a generator
having an open charging space and a closed bell communicating with a gasometer,
a receptacle adapted to hold the carbide, to be introduced by its handle under the
bell and to be withdrawn with the residual products, its top being so perforated
than when the acetylene is being generated at a sufficient rate the admission of
water is prevented by the issuing gas; substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved apparatus
for generating acetylene; substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 25th day of February 1800
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Chartered Patent Agents, 34, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.