Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
We, BRITISH PURE ACETYLENE GAS SYNDICATE, LIMITED, of 19, Castle Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, and CHARLES EDWARD
TALBOT, of 19, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
This invention relates to that class of acetylene generator in which the calcic
carbide is allowed to fall into an excess of water, such, for example, as the
generator described in the Specification to Letters Patent No. 18207, of 1896,
and granted to Raoul Pierre Pictet, and the object of the invention is to improve
this class of generator, by preventing the escape of the gas generated as the
carbide passes through the water in the shoot leading to the generating chamber;
by preventing the loss of gas due to solution in the main body of water; and by
certain modifications in the structure of the generator.
According to this invention, acetylene generators are constructed as follows:-
The main body of the generator consists of a cylindrical tank with a conical
bottom, the apex of which is closed by a sludge-cock; this tank is partially filled
with water, the level of which is maintained constant by a cistern and ball-tap,
or other convenient means.
The charging chamber is carried from the top or cover of the tank, the portion
above the cover having a double wall which forms a deep annulus, the lower
portion of the charging chamber, which passes gas-tight through the cover of the
tank, is of conical configuration and extends so that its apex is just below the
water level in the tank, and the opening at the apex is closed by a hinged and
counterweighted flap which normally closes the said opening.
The charging chamber is closed at the top by a bell-shaped cover whose deep
rim enters the annulus, which is filled with water, and so forms a water seal.
A central fixed spindle is carried by arms from the conical part of the charging
chamber, and on this spindle is supported a cylindrical carbide container which
is divided into four or more separate compartments by radial walls, suitable means
being provided to prevent the rotation of the container; this container has an
open top but the bottom of each compartment is provided with a separate hinged
door, each door being normally held closed by a catch, and the catches are
adapted to be released in succession as the bell shaped cover is rotated.
In the tank, and at a level slightly below the counterbalanced flap, a series
of transverse grids are supported; the uppermost grid has a coarse mesh, the
next grid a somewhat finer mesh, and so on to the lower most grid which has the
finest mesh; at the centre of the grids is a conical spreader which serves, as the
carbide falls through the flap, to spread it out circumferentially on to the upper
grid. The generator is, of course, provided with the usual outlet, vent-cock,
water gauge, etc.
The action of the generator is as follows:-
Assuming that the carbide container has been charged, it is placed in position
on the central spindle, and the bell-shaped cover is inserted in place, the vent-
moned to allow the air to escane. On giving the bell-shaped cover,

page_text: say, a quarter turn, the catch of one of the hinged doors is released by a pro-
jecting arm on the bell-shaped cover, this allows the carbide in one of the com-
partments to drop on to the hinged flap, which is thus opened, and so allows the
carbide to fall on to the uppermost grid on which it is spread by the spreader;
the hinged flap is then closed by its counterweight and prevents the escape of
gas. The larger pieces of carbide are supported by the upper grid, the other
pieces passing through on to the second grid, of these the larger pieces are inter-
cepted by the second grid, and so on.
The acetylene liberated from the carbide on the lower grids prevents any
caking of lime on the larger pieces on the upper grids, and causes the lime to
rapidly fall through into the large volume of water below, and as this water is
at rest the lime rapidly settles to the bottom of the cone and can be drawn off
by the sludge cock.
As soon as the carbide in the first compartment is exhausted, the cover is
rotated another quarter turn and the next compartment is emptied, and so on;
when they are all emptied, the compartments are, of course, refilled, and each
time this is done the lime is removed through the sludge cock.
Should a stoppage in the outflow of gas take place, the acetylene collects at the
top of the tank, and the pressure drives the water back to the supply cistern
from which it escapes by an overflow pipe.
The details may of course be modified, and other methods of charging may be
used in conjunction with the arrangement of grids described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1899.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Chartered Patent Agents, 34, Castle Street, Liverpool.
We, BRITISH PURE ACETYLENE GAS SYNDICATE, LIMITED, formerly of 19, Castle
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, but now of 24, North John Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, and CHARLES EDWARD
TALBOT, of 19, Castle Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, 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 that class of acetylene generator in which the calcic
carbide is allowed to fall into an excess of water, such, for example as the
generator described in the Specification to Letters Patent No. 18207 of 1896 and
granted to Raoul Pierre Pictet, and the object of the invention is to improve
this class of generator, by preventing the escape of the gas generated as the
carbide passes through the water in the shoot leading to the generating chamber;
by preventing the loss of gas due to solution in the main body of water; and
by certain minor modifications in the structure of the generator.
We have illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. I is an elevation in medial section, and Fig. II is a plan showing details
of the carbide container 10.
According to this invention, acetylene generators are constructed as follows:-
the main body of the generator consists of a cylindrical tank 1 with a conical
bottom, the apex of which is closed by a sludge-cock 2; this tank is partially filled
with water, the level of which is maintained constant by a cistern 3 and ball-tap,
or other convenient means.

page_text: A
The charging chamber 4 is carried from the top or cover 5 of the tank, the
portion above the cover having a double wall which forms a deep annulus, the
lower portion of the charging chamber, which passes gas-tight through the
cover 5 of the tank, is of conical configuration, and extends so that its apex is
just below the water level in the tank, and the opening at the apex is closed by
a hinged and counterweighted flap 6 which normally closes the said opening.
The charging chamber is closed at the top by a bell-shaped cover 7 whose deep
rim enters the annulus, which is filled with water, and so forms a water seal.
central fixed spindle 8 is carried by arms 9 from the conical part of the charging
chamber, and on this spindle is supported a cylindrical carbide container 10
which is divided into four or more separate compartments by four radial walls 11;
the spindle S is of square section and prevents the rotation of the container; the
container 10 has an open top but the bottom of each compartment is provided
with a separate hinged door 12, each door being normally held closed by a
catch 13 hinged to the sides of the carbide container 10, and the catches are
adapted to be released in succession by the arm 14 fixed to the bell shaped cover 7,
as the latter is rotated.
In this tank, and at a level below the counterbalanced flap, a series of trans-
verse grids 15, 16 and 17 are supported in a frame 18 carried by lugs 19 attached
to the casing; the uppermost grid 15 has a coarse mesh, the next grid 16 a
somewhat finer mesh, and so on to the lowermost grid 17 which has the finest
mesh at the centre of the grids is a conical spreader 20 which serves, as the
carbide falls through the flap, to spread it out circumferentially onto the upper
grid. The generator is, of course, provided with the usual gas outlet 21, vent cock
22, water gauge, etc.
The action of the generator is as follows:-
Assuming that the carbide container 10 has been charged, it is placed in
position on the central spindle S, and the bell-shaped cover 7 is inserted in place,
the vent cock being opened to allow the air to escape. On giving the bell-
shaped cover 7, say, a quarter turn, the catch 13 of one of the hinged doors 12
is released by a projecting arm 14 on the bell-shaped cover, this allows the
carbide in one of the compartments to drop on to the hinged flap 6, which is
thus opened, and so allows the carbide to fall on to the uppermost grid on which
it is spread by the spreader; the hinged flap is then closed by its counterweight
and prevents the escape of gas. The larger pieces of carbide are supported by
the upper grid, the other pieces passing through on to the second grid, of these
the larger pieces are intercepted by the second grid, and so on
The acetylene liberated from the carbide on the lower grids prevents any
caking of lime on the larger pieces on the upper grids, and causes the lime to
rapidly fall through into the large volume of water below, and as this water
is at rest, the lime rapidly settles to the bottom of the cone and can be drawn
off by the sludge cock.
As soon as the carbide in the first compartment is exhausted, the cover is
rotated another quarter turn and the next compartment is emptied, and so on;
when they are all emptied, the compartments are, of course, refilled, and each
time this is done the lime is removed through the sludge cock.
Should a stoppage in the outflow of gas take place, the acetylene collects at the
top of the tank, and the pressure drives the water back to the supply cistern from
which it escapes by an overflow pipe.
The details may, of course, be modified, and other methods of charging may
be used in conjunction with the arrangement of grids described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. The improved acetylene generator, comprising an outer casing containing

page_text: water into which the carbide falls, a fixed carbide container divided into com-
partments each of which has a separate door, a series of grids of graduated mesh
through which in succession the carbide passes, and a charging chamber in
which the container is placed, the lower end of said chamber being below the
water level and being adapted to be closed by a counterbalanced flap, and the
cover thereof being adapted to rotate in a water seal and to open the said doors
in succession; substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In an acetylene generator, the mode of liberating the carbide; substantially
as described and illustrated.
3. In an acetylene generator the use of a series of grids of graduated mesh,
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
4. The improved acetylene generator, substantially as described and illustrated
in the drawings.
Dated this 12th dov of Tune 1000
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Chartered Patent Agents, 34, Castle Street, Liverpool.