Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
[A communication by PAUL PHILIPPE HONORE MACÉ, of 14, Rue de la Victoire, and
LOUIS LEON HECTOR GERARD of 16 Rue des Grandes Carrières, both of Paris, in the
Republic of France, Gentleman and Engineer, respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County
of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick and 322 High
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the unture of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production of acetylene
gns and has for its object to ensure perfect regularity of working and to render the
construction simpler and more practical. It consists on the one hand in a novel
arrangement for regulating the feed of the calcium carbide and on the other hand in a
special arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus.
In this improved apparatus calcium carbide finely crushed is contained in a
receptacle arranged on the upper part of a bell or gasometer, the diameter of which
is sufficiently great not to allow of the consumption of carbide during a given
period of time sensibly modifying the pressure of the gas produced. A tap placed on
the gas discharge pipe allows of this pressure being exactly regulated according as
may be thought desirable.
This bell is strongly weighted or ballasted in its lower part by means of a metal
ring in order to ensure its being maintained perfectly vertical, and it is partially
counterbalanced by means of two counterweights placed symmetrically at each side
of the apparatus, the suspension chains of which weights, after being passed over
pulleys arranged on suitable supports, are fixed to the top of the bell, which avoids
the use of guide rollers.
The bell, provided as usual with a safety tube, is immersed in a reservoir of
sufficient dimensions to contain a sufficiently large volume of water, and having an
inclined bottom to facilitate the discharge of the mud or waste substances through
the discharge opening.
The apparatus being preferably arranged in the manner hereinbefore described, the
automatic feed arrangement will now be described.
This consists essentially in the use of two cones mounted on a weighted and
guided rod, and acting the one above, the other below, the discharge opening of
the carbide container. For this object a rod is employed guided by a crossbar
and having at its upper end a cone forming a valve, which serves for regulating
the discharge of the crushed carbide contained in the container herein before
mentioned, the bottom of said container in the form of a hopper being terminated
by an opening having a doubly tapering form. At a short distance below this
opening a second cone of larger dimensions is arranged on the rod, the distance of

page_text: which cone from the opening may be regulated by means of a pin. Finally the
rod carrying these two cones is weighted by a weight fixed at its lower end,
which terminates at a suitable distance above a stop arranged at the bottom of the
water reservoir.
The working of this arrangement takes place as follows:-
When the cone or upper valve is lowered, it prevents any discharge of pulverulent
carbide into the water of the reservoir, but when, in consequence of the discharge
of gas by the discharge pipe, the bell descends, the rod bearing the two cones
encounters the lower stop, and is raised, and the upper cone being also raised
causes the fall of a certain quantity of carbide and consequently the production of a
corresponding quantity of gas. As soon as the bell rises this cone or valve closes
under the action of the weight fixed at the bottom of the rod, and interrupts the
feed, until another lowering of the bell produces the same action.
In order to allow of the free flow of the carbide the moment the upper cone rises,
a tube establishes free communication between the upper part of the carbide reservoir
and the bell, which ensures equality of pressure of the gas above and below the
discharge opening.
The action of the lower coue movable at a short distance below the opening of the
carbide container will now be examined.
As soon as the bell has descended to a certain extent, the second cone closes the
lower part of the opening and interrupts the supply of carbide. As soon however
as the bell rises it again allows a certain quantity of carbide to pass through up
to the moment when the upper cone again closes. In this manner the fall of carbide
is divided into two successive periods, which renders regular the production of gas,
and avoids any sudden variation of pressure in the apparatus.
This lower cone, the diameter of which is of considerable size, has also the effect of
distributing over a larger surface of the liquid the pulverulent carbide, the fall of
which at a single point would cause a sudden effervescence of the water and a
deleterious release of vapour.
The lower cone, by reason of its large metallic surface, serves also for condensing
the steam which may be contained in the gas enclosed in the bell, and it has further
the advantage of keeping closed the orifice of the carbide reservoir when, in
consequence of any accident, the cone or upper valve ceases to close itself
automatically.
Another improvement consists in the arrangement of catches serving to maintain
the bell fixed during the charging of carbide into the container arranged at its
upper
part. For this purpose the bell is provided at each side with catches or spurs, which
when it is raised to a certain extent engage in rings pivotally arranged on the supports
of the counterweights.
In order to effect the charging of the container with carbide, the bell is sufficiently
raised to allow tho pressure of gas which it contains to become equal to the pressure
of the atmosphere, and of its being held and maintained fixed at this height by means
of the catches herein before mentioned; the carbide reservoir may then without trouble
be opened and filled. When this operation is completed, it suffices to release the two
catches which maintain the bell raised in order to allow the apparatus again to
commence working in the manner hereinbefore described.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1897.

page_text: A communication by PAUL PHILIPPE HONORÉ MACE of 14 Rue de In Victoire, and
LOUIS LÉON HECTOR (Hérard, of 10 Rue des Grandes Carrières, both of Paris, in
the Republic of France, Gentleman and Engineer respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick
and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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:
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production of
acetylene gas and has for its object to ensure perfect regularity of working and to
render the construction simpler and more practical. It consists on the one hand in
a novel arrangement for regulating the feed of the calcium carbide and on the other
hand in a special arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus for the several
purposes hereinafter specified.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,,
in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus; and
Figure 2, a vertical section of the double feed valve.
In this improved apparatus calcium carbide finely crushed is contained in a
receptacle A arranged on the upper part of a bell or gasometer B, the diameter of
which is sufficiently great not to allow of the decrease of weight resulting from the
consumption of carbide during a given period of time sensibly modifying the
pressure of the gas produced. A tap placed on the gas discharge pipe allows of this
pressure being exactly regulated according as may be thought desirable.
This bell is strongly weighted or ballasted in its lower part by means of a metal
ring in order to ensure its being maintained perfectly vertical, and it is
partially counterbalanced by means of two counterweights C placed symmetrically at
each side of the apparatus, the suspension chains of which weights, after being
passed over pulleys d arranged on suitable supports D are fixed to the top of the
bell, which avoids the use of guide rollers,
The bell, provided as usual with a safety tube b', is immersed in a reservoir E of
sufficient dimensions to contain a sufficiently large volume of water, and having an
inclined bottom e to facilitate the discharge of the mud or waste substances through
the discharge opening e'.
The apparatus being preferably arranged in the manner herein before described, the
automatic feed arrangement will now be described.
This consists essentially in the nse of two cones mounted on a weighted and guided
rod, and acting the one above, the other below, the discharge opening of the carbide
container A. For this object a rod f is employed guided by a cross bar y ant having
at its upper end a cone forming a valve, which serves for regulating the discharge
of the crushed carbide contained in the coutainer herein before mentioned, the bottom
of said container in the form of a hopper being terminated by an opening i having a
doubly tapering form. At a short distance below this opening a seconil cone of
larger dimensions is arranged on the rod f, the distance of which cone from the
opening may be regulated by means of a pin k¹ (Figure 2). The rod ƒ which is

page_text: constantly depressed by the weight of the two cones hand and by the action of a
spiral spring, passes through an opening in the centre of a fixed horizontal lover
the use of which will be hereinafter described. Finally the rod is provided with an
adjustable stopf which comes in contact with the lever when the bell descends
sufficiently.
The working of this arrangement takes place as follows:-
When the cone or upper valve h is lowered, it prevents any discharge of pulverulent
carbide into the water of the reservoir E, but when, in consequence of the discharge
of gas by the discharge pipe T, the bell B descends, the stop encounters the
lever 1, and the rod is raised, and the upper cone being also raised causes the fall
of a certain quantity of carbide and consequently the production of a corresponding
quantity of gas. As soon as the bell B rises, this cone or valve closes under the
action of the spring and interrupts the feed, until another lowering of the bell
produces the same action. The same effect will obviously be obtained by an
additional weight arranged on the rod instead of the spring r.
In order to allow of the free flow of the carbide, the moment the upper cone h
rises, & tube q establishes free communication between the upper part of the carbide
reservoir and the bell, which ensures equality of pressure of the gas above and below
the discharge opening i.
The action of the lower cone & movable at a short distance below the opening i of
the carbide container will now be examined.
As soon as the bell B has descended to a certain extent, the second cone k closes
the lower part of the opening and interrupts the supply of carbide. As soon
however as the bell rises it again allows a certain quantity of carbide to pass through
up to the moment when the upper cone h again closes. In this manner the full of
carbide is divided into two successive periods, which renders regular the production
of gas, and avoids any sudden variation of pressure in the apparatus.
This lower cone k, the diameter of which is of considerable size, las also the effect
of distributing over a larger surface of the liquid the pulverulent carbide, the fall of
which at a single point would cause a sudden effervescence of the water and a
deleterious release of vapour.
The lower cone & by reason of its large metallic surface, serves also for condensing
the steam which may be contained in the gas enclosed in the bell, and it has further
the advantage of keeping closed the orifice of the carbide reservoir when, in
consequence of any accident, the cone h or upper valve ceases to close itself
automatically.
Another improvement consists in the arrangement of catches serving to maintain
the bell fixed when desired and particularly during the charging of carbide into the
container A arranged at its upper part, this object may be attained either by raising
or lowering the bell as follows-
When it is desired to operate by the rising of the bell it is provided at each side
with catches or spurs s which when it is raised to a certain extent engage in rings
pivotally arranged on the supports D of the counterweights C, as indicated at the
left of Figure 1.
In order to effect the charging of the container A with carbide, the bell
is sufficiently raised to allow the pressure of gas which it contains to become equal
to the pressure of the atmosphere, and of its being held and maintained fixed at this
height by means of the catches 8 hereinbefore mentioned; the carbide reservoir may
When this
then without trouble be opened and filled by means of the opening a.
operation is completed, it is sufficient to release the two catches 8 which maintain
the bell raised in order to allow the apparatus again to commence working in the
manner herein before described.
When is desired to operate by the lowering of the bell, the lever is utilised,
which, as may be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, is pivoted at one end on a
spindle fixed in the interior of the water reservoir E and at the other end to a
rod u which rises to a height above the said reservoir where when working normally
it is fixed to a fixed hook v placed at any desired height so that the lever / may

page_text: assume a horizontal position. When it is desired to render the bell B immovable,
the lever is lowered into the position shown in dotted lines, so that the stop fi
herein before mentioned can no longer be encountered by the lever at the moment
when the bell descends, and then a portion of the water contained in the reservoir E
is discharged by the opening e¹. The bell B desconds accordingly and its catches s
bear against the edge of the reservoir E, or, if preferred, projecting catches a' may be
fixed in this reservoir on which the bell will resi. By allowing a certain quantity of water
to be discharged, the pressure of gas will be lowered in the bell which has been rendered
iminovable. When it has become equal to the atmospheric pressure, the reservoir A
inay be opened without inconvenience and a fresh charge of carbide introduced
therein. In order to restart the apparatus it is sufficient to introduce into the
reservoir E a quantity of water equal to that which was withdrawn, and then to raise
the lever into its original position causing a fall of carbide which will re-establish
the pressure of gas to the desired extent in the bell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the gnid
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what. I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, comprising a water reservoir
and a bell or gasometer surmounted by a receptacle coutaining crushed carbide; the
method of feeding the carbide in two successive periods consisting of the use of two
cones or valves acting in opposite directions on the feed opening and mounted on a
rod caused to descend by means of a spring or weight, this rod being provided with
an adjustable stop, which on each lowering of the bell encounters a bar or lever
arranged in the water reservoir, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, comprising a water
reservoir, a bell or gasometer surmounted by a receptacle containing crushed carbide,
and a feed valve actuated by a rod, which, when the bell descends, is encountered by a
movable stop or lever; the method of rendering the bell immovable and facilitating
the introduction of carbide into the reservoir, and which consists first in displacing
this stop or lever in order to suspend its action on the said valve and secondly in
discharging a certain quantity of the water of the reservoir in order that the bell may
be lowered and may rest ou fixed catches, and thirdly in coutinuing the discharge of
the water nutil the pressure of gas contained in the hell which has been rendered
iminovable becomes equal to that of the atmosphere, substantially as herein before
described.
3. In an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, comprising a water reservoir
and a bell or gasometer surmounted by a receptacle containing crushed carbide; au
armngement serving for rendering the bell immovable when desired, consisting in the
use of projecting catches such as a fixed to the bell and which engage automatically
in rings pivoted or hinged on the framework when the said bell is raised sufficiently,
substantially as herein before described.
4. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, comprising a water
reservoir (E), a bell or gasometer (B) partially counterbalanced by means of a
counterweight (C), a receptacle (A) containing crushed carbide, two cones or feed
valves (h and k) arranged one above and the other below the opening (i) of the
receptacle (A), a rod carrying the two cones (h and A) and induced to descend by means
of a spring or an additional weight, and adjustable stop (f) fixed on the rod (f), n
lever () pivoted on a spindle arranged in the water reservoir and serving as stop for
for the rod (f), a rod (u) serving to regulate the position of the lever (l) and catches
serving to maintain the bell immovable, the whole in the manner and with the object
herein before set forth.