Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in the Production and Application of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in the Production and
Application of Acetylene Gas..
I THOMAS HOLLIDAY of Edgerton, Huddersfield in the County of York,
Manufacturing Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in the production, or
generation, in the storing and the application of acetylene gas, the apparatus
consisting of one, or more generators and a displacement holder, the generators
being placed on a level with or below the holder.
By generator I mean a vessel in which carbide of calcium or other carbide
(capable of giving off acetylene when treated with water) is treated with water
entering at a lower and the gas being withdrawn at a higher level than the level of
the carbide therein.
And by displacement holder I mean a gas holder in which the acetylene gas is
allowed to displace water which is thereby forced to a higher level and can re-enter
the holder as gas is withdrawn from it, arranged in such a manner that the gas
formed in the generator passes direct to service pipes or through a cooler and thence
into service pipes and if more gas is formed than is withdrawn from the service
pipes the first effect is to force the water from the carbide through a pipe or passage
from the lower level of the generator into the gas holding part of the holder at as
high a level as practical, so as to ensure that before the water returns to the
generator the gas will have returned to it through the same passage on its way to
the service pipe and after the water is forced from the carbide in this manner any
surplus gas enters the gas holder by the same passage and lowers the level of the
water therein this passage for the water and gas serves also to allow water to
re-enter the lower part of the generator after the surplus gas is withdrawn through
the generator and service pipes.
Dated the 16th day of March 1896.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Use in the Production and
Application of Acetylenė Gas.
I THOMAS HOLLIDAY, of Edgerton, Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Manufacturing Chemist 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 :-

page_text: generation, in the storing and the application of acetylene gas, the apparatus
consisting of one or more generators and a displacement holder the generators being
placed on a level with or below the holder.
By generator I mean a vessel in which carbide of calcium or other carbide
(capable of giving off acetylene when treated with water) is treated with water
entering at a lower and the gas being withdrawn at a higher level than the level of
the carbide therein.
And by displacement holder I mean a gas holder in which the acetylene gas is
allowed to displace water which is thereby forced to a higher level and can re-enter
the holder as gas is withdrawn from it, arranged in such a manner that the gas
formed in the generator passes direct to service pipes or through a cooler and
thence into service pipes and if more gas is formed than is withdrawn from the
service pipes the first effect is to force the water from the carbide through a pipe
or passage from the lower level of the generator into the gas holding part of the
holder at as high a level as practical so as to ensure that before the water returns
to the generator the gas will have returned to it through the same passage on its
way to the service pipe and after the water is forced from the carbide in this
manner any surplus gas enters the gas holder by the same passage and lowers the
level of the water therein this passage for the water and gas serves also to allow
water to re-enter the lower part of the generator after the surplus gas is withdrawn
through the generator and service pipes.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, represents a vertical section of such parts of an acetylene gas apparatus
fitted with one generator as are necessary to illustrate the application of my
improvements.
Figure 2, represents a plan view of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are views of detail on a larger scale hereinafter referred to.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 the cylindrical holder A has a
water cistern B above it but separated from it by the diaphragm or horizontal
partition C. A pipe D passing through the diaphragm and extending down
below the minimum level of the water in the holder connects the cistern B with
the holder. A drain cock A2 is fitted in the bottom A³ of the holder and the
bottom is preferably made conical so as to incline towards this cock.
The generator E is fitted with a lid E3 fixed in position by the screw E and
carbide of calcium is placed in a removable perforated cage contained in this
generator. The lower end of this generator is connected to approximately the
highest point of the holder by the pipes F and F2 and a three-way valve G is placed
between the two pipes.
Figures 3 and 4, represent sectional views of this valve showing the passage G³
through the plug G. The plug G³ may be turned to connect the pipes F and F
or to stop the passage between them as required and it may also be turned to the
position shown in Figure 3 so as to connect the pipe F with the waste pipe Fa when
it is required to empty the generator. A gas delivery pipe H is connected to the
top of the generator and is preferably coupled to the cooling coil H located in the
cistern B.
To put the apparatus into operation the holder A is filled with water and a little
water is also placed in the cistern B. The generator may be now charged with
calcic carbide, preferably placed in a basket cage that can be lifted in and out and
after the lid E3 is secured the valve G is turned so as to connect the pipes F and F,
then the water from the holder flows into the generator and the generation of gas
commences.
In case the gas is generated faster than it is required it first accumulates in the
generator and drives the water therefrom back into the holder. After that any
gas generated in excess of what is immediately required also passes by the pipes F
and F2 into the holder thus displacing the water therein and forces it up by the
pipe D into the cistern B. This gas remains in the holder until the consumption
of gas exceeds the speed of generation when such gas passes from the holder

page_text: through the generator to the pipe H. As the pipe F is coupled to the holder at
its highest point water is not again admitted to the generator until the gas
accumulated in the holder is practically exhausted.
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 :-
An improved apparatus for generating and storing acetylene gas consisting of a
generator and a displacement gas holder, the generator connected from its upper
part with a cooler or service pipe and from below the level of the carbide placed
therein with the upper part of a displacement holder, substantially as shown and
described.