Improvements in Apparatus for the Production and Combustion on Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production and Combustion on
Acetylene Gas.
I, RAOUL TURR of 31 Boulevard Henri IV, Paris in the Republic of France
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:-
The lamp hereinafter described and shown in vertical section in Fig. 1 of the
annexed drawing may have any other than a cylindrical form given to it. It is
composed (Fig. 1) of two tubes or vessels A and B of which the one is closed at
one of its extremities. These two tubes, are placed the one in the other in such a
manner that the open extremities are at the same end and situated above. They
communicate by means of holes V V in the tube A. The cover for B is fixed by
means of screw threads on the upper extremity of the vessel A; it covers the two
vessels and closes hermetically the interior vessel A but lets the vessel B
communicate with the atmosphere by means of the holes T. In the cover H is
the tap R, which carries instead of holes a cylinder serving to roll up a chain or
cord f, so that this tap R operates as a winch.
The chain or cord f supports a basket G cantaining carbide. The tendency of
the tap R to turn in one direction by the weight of the basket G is met by a
toothed wheel D and a click L or in any other manner.
Above the tap R is arranged the burner carrier provided with a tap r serving to
close the lamp when the basket G is completely out of the water, above this tap is
the burner (see Fig. 1).
CHARGING AND OPERATION.
(1) Take off the cover H which will draw out the basket attached by its string
to the tap R.
(2) Put water in the vessel A until it reaches the level N marked on the inner
wall of the vessel B.
(3) Pour toluol into the interior of the cylinder A until the water reaches
in the vessel B the level N¹ equally marked upon the wall.
(4) Replace the cover H after having drawn up the basket G filled with carbide
as high as possible.
Before placing carbide in the basket G it is useful to dip it into toluol, the
latter having not only the effect of preventing the disengagement of the gas on the
Price T

page_text: contact of the water and of the carbide but also of preventing any such disengage-
ment on the contact of the latter with the air.
(5) Close the tap r so that no smell escapes through the burner.
Unroll the chain or string f the length of which is calculated so that the under
part of the basket enters the water after previously passing through the toluol
layer a a¹b b'.
At this moment open the tap r light the lamp after the air has been driven out
and acetylene issues at the orifice of the burner.
The residue falling to the bottom of the vessel A will replace the decomposed
water, so that the level of the latter will only vary under the influence of a pressure
over the toluol layer effected by an overplus of gas production. In this case the
pressure causes the toluol to sink stopping momentarily the action of the water upon
the carbide.
In order to extinguish the lamp it is sufficient to draw up the basket by means
of a few turns of the key of the tap R in order to bring the bottom of the basket
into the toluol. The tap r may then be closed, or if desired the remaining gas
is consumed so that the lamp goes out by itself. If for any reason, there is over
production of gas causing a pressure which presses the liquids contained in the
vessel A into the vessel B, so that the water will rise along the walls, the air
escapes through the holes T, and if the over production were to continue the water
contained in the vessels could escape through the same holes.
In order to prevent the lamp causing fire from falling and breaking the vessel B
can be of thin glass which will break on contact with the ground allowing the
outflow of all the water which in a horizontal or reversed position might have
caused a considerable disengagement of gas and consequently rupture of the
lamp.
When the lamp is extinguished the basket G is drawn up as high as possible so
that the carbide is not left immersed in the toluol.
Basing on the same principle of the equilibrium between the gas production and
the consumption, obtained by means of the toluol, I have invented a gas-
generator the constituent parts of which are substantially a reproduction of my
lamp.
In Fig. 2 I have shown this gas generator which is as follows:-
O is a vessel ending below in a cone.
E is a bell fixed on the conical part of the vessel and communicating with this
latter by means of holes t.
In the interior of the bell, is fixed by means of the rods a hopper K intended
to receive the carbide of calcium; it ends at its under part in a basket U the
meshes of which are narrow enough so that the fragments of carbide of calcium
cannot escape, the bottom being of metallic wire gauze with large meshes so that
the line can pass.
At the upper part of the bell E is a cover C held by the screws and provided
with handles d d and tap M serving for outlet of the air contained in the bell and
of the residue of acetylene gas before recharging the hopper. Beside the cover C
there enters the tube for carrying away the gas with the tap m.
The bell E carries exterior upon one of its sides, a glass tube Q upon which
are marked the levels n' and n, this tube is divided between and above the levels n'
and n in centimeters or inches.
Exteriorly also a pipe A is fitted on the overflow I and receives the tap serving
to empty the vessel down to the level n¹.
Interiorly the vessel carries at its upper edge the water tap 3 operated by the
float F to maintain the water level at the level n; near this tap is a plate P upon
which the float F must be placed when its action upon the tap S is to be
suppressed.
At the end of the cone forming the bottom of the vessel is the tap 9 for the
evacuation of the solid residue. The vessel is supported by a frame open at the
sides in order to operate the tap q

page_text: The horizontal lines e e' c c¹ indicate the thickness of a toluol layer floating
n the water contained in the bell, the layer having the purpose to stop the
lisengagement of the acetylene gas when it is in contact with the carbide of
alcium.
(4) Press upon the lever of the tap S until the water rises on the bottom of the
bell to about 0-10 m. over the basket U.
(5) Pour upon the water in the interior of the bell a quantity of toluol in order to
form a layer of 0.02 to 0-10 m. according to the dimensions of the apparatus.
(6) Fill the hopper K with carbide of calcium.
(7) Replace and screw down cover C tightly upon its caoutchouc packing.
(8) Open the tap M.
(9) Replace the float F in the vessel to keep the tap S open until the water
reaches the level n in the vessel and the level c c in the interior of the bell
(for there will be a little difference caused by the weight of the toluol
layer).
When the water has reached the basket U the disengagement of acetylene will be
produced traversing the toluol layer, for this layer will be now above the basket U;
the tap M being open and nothing opposing the re-establishment of equilibrium
between the interior and the exterior of the bell.
(10) Close the tap M as soon as the acetylene gas escapes.
The disengagement then continuing and the gas having no longer an escape will
accumulate in the interior of the bell effecting a pressure upon the surface of the
toluol e, e¹; consequently the toluol will indicate its level upon the graduation in
centimetres of the level tube, and the gas pressure in the interior of the bell, but
the toluol layer by sinking will moisten therewith the fragments of carbide of
calcium which were in contact with the water. The pressure in the interior of the
bell will produce a kind of sinking tide which will carry with it the solid residue
produced by the process which will fall into the conical bottom of the vessel and can
be emptied from time to time by means of the tap 9. The passage of the toluo
upon the carbide will stop the disengagement of acetylene by covering the carbide
with a toluol layer.
On opening the gas tube m and consuming gas, when the pressure diminishes
in the bell, the toluol, will rise until the basket U enters the water and a
further disengagement of gas is produced and, if it is greater than the quantity
of gas consumed, it causes again a sinking of the toluol and a stopping of the
disengagement.
The float F will operate upon its tap which by the tube p will replace the water
consumed.
It will be understood that one can multiply the overflow holes.
In order to charge the apparatus again after operation;
(1) Draw off the solid residue.
(2) Place the float F on the plate P.
(3) See on the water level if there remains a pressure gas in the bell.
(4) Ascertain if the tap m is closed.
(5) Open the tap m and leave it open in order that the gas may escape and that
the air may enter again; when this is so, the water will reach the level n or will
approach it if there remains carbide of calcium.
(6) Open the tap k and leave it open until the water reaches the level n¹; then
close it.
(7) Take off the cover C.

page_text: (8) Ascertain the presence of the toluol layer above the water contained in the
vessel and its thickness and in case it is deficient replenish it.
(9) Fill the hopper K with carbide of calcium.
(10) Put the cover C in its place leaving the tap M open.
(11) Put the float F in the interior of the vessel.
(12) Wait until the level of the water in the tube has reached the division n.
(13) Close the tap M as soon as the acetylene escapes.
The apparatus is again ready to operate.
To produce a predetermined pressure the chain of the float must be shortened
for so many centimeters as correspond to the pressure to be produced.
It is understood that my gas generator can be constructed in all dimensions
and if desired reduce to such proportions that it is readily transportable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I desire to say that I
am aware of the Letters Patent No. 12788 of 1896 granted to Robert Renton Gibbs
and I do not lay claim to anything covered thereby; but what I claim is:-
The combination of a toluol layer floating upon the water with a regulator of the
supply of water determining by the excess of the pressure itself a temporary stopping
of production of acetylene gas, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of October 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Bucknigham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.