Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation, Condensation, and Storage of Acetylene and other Gases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1900-Accepted, 21st July, 1900
PROVIDIUAAL
Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation, Condensation, and
Storage of Acetylene and other Gases.
We, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB, of 37, Hyde Vale, Greenwich, in the County of
Kent Engineer and GEORGE BONE, of 14, Guildford Road, Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Iron Plate Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the automatic and continuous generation class of
apparatus and where the production of gas is effected by the application of a
liquid to another liquid or other substance and has for its objects the prevention
of such excessive heat in the generation of the gas as frequently results from
the chemical action set up by the combination of one substance with another;
the washing, condensing and drying of the generated gases and the arrangement
of safety valve for the escape of any excess of gas that may be generated.
In carrying out the invention as applied to the generation of acetylene gas
we advantageously make use of apparatus of the kind having
number of gene-
rating chambers depending from the head of a bell working in the usual cylin-
drical water container. Each chamber has communication with the bell at the
top by means of short pipes fitted with stop cocks, and is open at the bottom
but sealed with the water in the container; the top of each of the said chambers
is fitted with a cap, the joint of which may be conveniently made by means
of a rubber ring and secured by bolts and wing nuts; through the centre of
each cap passes a metal rod working in a stuffing box and gland; these rods are
adjustable at any position by merely tightening the gland on the rod. At the
end of each rod is suspended a carbide holder.
Now, according to our invention we construct the holders of a cylindrical
vessel having a stand pipe extending from the bottom to nearly the top thereof
and being securely fixed in the centre of the bottom through which is passes.
Over this pipe are passed or "threaded" a number of dished perforated discs of
such a size that they fit the cylinder easily and are provided with short per-
forated sleeves of such a diameter that they fit loosely over the stand pipe;
each sleeve rests or stands upon the sleeve of the one below it, except the bottom
one which rests on a collar on the stand pipe so that a space is formed between
the bottom and first disc to take the over-supply of water. These discs serve to
carry the charge of carbide in separated portions. The holder is fitted with a
deep sunk cover having a false bottom; the sides, or walls, of the cover being
perforated immediately below the false bottom; and a pipe passing through
the centre of the bottom and false bottom, the said pipe being securely fixed and
of such a diameter that it passes easily over the stand pipe of the holder br
means of a thread on the end of which and a wing nut and washer of leather.
or other suitable material, a joint is made and the cover secured to the holder.
Through the false bottom of the cover pases a small stand pipe reaching nearly
to the bottom and standing up in the sunk cover to a height slightly above the

page_text: To the
top of the stand pipe of the holder. The upper end of the stand pipe in the
sunk cover is bevelled so as to gradually regulate the supply of water.
flange of the sunk cover is fixed an outer return flange or curtain" reaching
nearly down to the bottom of the holder, and around the top of the sunk cover
is provided a deep ring forming an annular space, the said ring being of such
a diameter that it comes within the holder and reaches nearly up to the top of
the underside of the flange of the sunk cover and is secured at the bottom only,
by soldering or other suitable means, to the sides of the cover at a depth lower
than the level of the stand pipe of the holder, and at about which level the side
or wall of the cover is again perforated. On the top of the cover are fitted eyes
by means of which the holder is suspended to the rods as already described.
On the outside of the container at the top we provide a trough, lip or the like
of, sufficient size to receive the water displaced by the bell when at its lowest
level; the container communicating with the trough by means of a hole in its
side the trough is also fitted with an overflow pipe.
The outlet of the gas is by means of one or more stand pipes-which may be
connected to one common main supply pipe-passing up through the bottom of
the container and taking the gas from the inside and top of a like number of
driers and condensers, each one consisting of two tubes, one within the other,
the inner one being only slightly the smaller; they may be cylindrical, oval or
flattened to any desired shape, but will be connected to one common top which
will be perforated so as to give communication to the space between the tubes;
or the outer. tube may be perforated at the top. These tubes are of such. a
height that they reach to above the water level in the container, but at the lower
end, only the outer one reaches to the bottom to which it secured and soldered.
A condensation drainage pipe is fitted to the bottom. The whole of the gas
thus, before it can enter the outlet pipe, has to travel down between the space
formed by the two tubes and then into the outlet pipe after flowing up the
inside of the inner tube which may be partly filled with cotton wool, or other
drying material if desired, provision being made by means of a cap in the top
for removing and renewing the drying material.
These condensing, tubes, instead of being connected to the bottom, as
described, may be affixed to a false bottom, or chamber, constructed in the con-
tainer, from which a common outlet pipe would be taken. -
The safety valve consists of a pipe which stands above the water line within
the bell, and passes out through the bottom of the container and then is con-
nected to a tee piece to the bottom member of which is attached a U drainage
pipe for the escape of water, whilst the top member is open to the air and may
be connected to a pipe of any height for conveying away the escaping gas. The
top of the pipe within the bell is fitted with a deep cover which may be in shape
that of a truncated cone, or cylindrical, but of sufficient diameter to prevent a
syphoning action when lifted, the cover is of such a depth that it forms a seal
with the water to prevent the gas escaping when the bell is at any ordinary
working height, but is lifted when the latter rises above a normal level and
unseals the end of the safety pipe. This may be effected by means of a lug
or other fixing attached to the bell. The cover is made with a long central
spindle which passes loosely down the escape pipe and acts as a guide for the
cover.
space
To put the apparatus in work each carbide holder is charged so that the
formed by each disc is about half full of carbide, the holders are fixed in position
by being suspended to the rods which are then drawn up to the top and secured
by tightening the glands; the covers of the generating chambers are then screwed
down and the gas cocks communicating with the bell opened. One of the holders
is then slowly and gradually lowered until sufficient gas is generated to raise
the bell to its topmost working level: the other two rods are then fixed at posi-
tions such that the holders automatically come into work in succession. The
water gains access to the carbide by rising through the centre stand pipe until

page_text: it fills the sunk eover to such a depth that it overflows through the small stand
pipe into the space below the false bottom which in turn it fills until it trickles
out of the lower perforations in the sunk cover: the gas, in order to get out of.
the holder, must pass up between the sides of the sunk cover and the holder
over the top of the deep ring attached to the sides of the sunk cover, and through
the top perforations in the cover, then through the water contained in the sunk
cover and so into the head of the bell, from whence it passes down the condenser
to the outlet pipe.
As gas is generated the bell rises and when a certain height has been reached
the generation ceases owing to the stand pipe being raised above the level of the
water in the container.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation, Condensation, and
Storage of Acetylene and other Gases.
We, HARRY RICHMOND CHUBB, of 37, Hyde Vale, Greenwich, in the County of
Kent Engineer and GEORGE BONE, of 14, Guildford Road, Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Iron Plate Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 the automatic and continuous generation class of
apparatus and where the production of gas is effected by the application of a
liquid to another liquid or other substance and has for its objects the prevention
of such excessive heat in the generation of the gas as frequently results from
the chemical action set up by the combination of one substance with another:
the washing condensing and drying of the generated gases and the arranging of
a safety valve for the escape of any excess of gas that may be generated.
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate
the apparatus as applied to the generation of acetylene gas and in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and
Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is a vertical section also drawn to an enlarged scale illustrating
a modification of part of the apparatus.
In this application of our invention we advantageously make use of apparatus
of the kind having a number of generating chambers a depending from the head
of a bell working in the usual cylindrical water container c. Each chamber a
has communication with the bell at the top by means of short pipes fitted
with stop cocks e, and is open at the bottom but sealed with the water in the
container: the top of each of the chambers a is fitted with a cap f, the ioint
of which may be conveniently made by means of a rubber ring and secured by
bolts and wing nuts h; through the centre of each cap passes a metal rod i
working in a stuffing box and gland j; the rods are adjustable at any position
by merely tightening the gland j on
At the end of each rod i is
suspended a carbide holder.
the rod.

page_text: t
*
"
Now, according to our invention we construct the holders of a cylindrical
vessel having a stand pipe extending from the bottom to nearly the top
⚫ thereof and being securely fixed in the centre of the bottom m through which
it passes. Over the pipe 7 are passed or threaded a number of dished per-
forated discs n of such a size that they fit the cylinder k easily and are provided
with short perforated sleeves o of such a diameter that they fit loosely over the
stand pipe 7 each sleeve o rests or stands upon the sleeve of the one below it
except the bottom one which rests on a collar on the stand pipe 7 so that a
space is formed between the bottom m and the first disc n to take the over-
supply of water. These discs n serve to carry the charge of carbide in separated
portions. The holder is fitted with a deep sunk cover r having a closed
bottoms and a pipe passes through the centre of the bottom s and has fixed
thereto a dish or pan : the said pipe is securely fixed in the bottoms and is of
such a diameter that it passes easily over the stand pipe 1 of the holder; by
means of a thread on the upper end of the pipe and a nut and a washer of
leather, or other suitable material, a joint is made and the cover secured to
the holder. Through the bottoms of the cover passes a small stand pipe w
reaching nearly to the bottom of the dish or pan u and standing up in the sunk
cover r to a height slightly above the top of the stand pipe 7 both the upper and
lower ends of which are open as shewn in Figure 1. The upper end of the stand
pipe wis bevelled as shewn so as to gradually regulate the supply of water.
Beneath the flange of the sunk cover is located the flange of a cylinder or
" curtain y reaching nearly down to the bottom of the holder, and around the
inside of the sunk cover which is made with holes a¹ is provided a deep ring z
forming an annular space b, the said ring extending to a depth lower than the
level of the stand pipe 7 of the holder, and having its flange bent over to embrace
and thus secure the flanges of the sunk cover and curtain. Or the sunk_cover
can be made separately merely resting with its flange upon the upper edge of
the carbide holder, the flange of the ring being.only connected to the upper end
of the curtain. The nut is provided with an eye by means of which the
said nut is turned and the holder is suspended to the rods as already described.
On the outside of the container c at the top we provide a trough, lip or the
like of sufficient size to receive the water displaced by the bell when at
its lowest level, the container communicating with the trough by means of a
hole in its side; the trough is also fitted with an overflow pipe el.
"
The outlet of the gas takes place through a stand pipe for through a number
of stand pipes which may be connected to one common main supply pipe-pass-
ing up through the bottom of the container c and taking the gas from the inside
and top of a drier and condenser, consisting of two tubes g¹ and h¹, one within
the other, the inner one g¹ being only slightly the smaller; they may be cylin-
drical oval or flattened to any desired shape, and the inner tubes are connected
to a top the edge of which rests upon the outer tube which is perforated at
the upper end as shewn at j¹ so as to give communication to the space between
the tubes. These tubes are of such a height that they reach to above the water
level in the container c, but at the lower end, only the outer one reaches to
the bottom to which it is secured and soldered as shewn. A condensation drain-
age pipe is fitted to the bottom. The whole of the gas thus, before it can
enter the outlet pipe, has to travel down between the space formed by the two
tubes g, and then into the outlet pipe f¹ after flowing up the inside of the
inner tube g¹ which may be partly filled with cotton wool, or other drying
material if desired.
The condensing tubes g¹, h¹ instead of being connected to the bottom, as
described, may be affixed to a false bottom, or chamber, constructed in the con-
tainer, from which a common outlet pipe would be taken.
The safety valve consists of a pipe ml which stands above the water line within
the bell and passes out through the bottom of the container and then is
connected to a tee piece n' to the bottom member of which is attached a U

page_text: drainage pipe o¹ for the escape of water, whilst the top member is open to the
air and may be connected to a pipe of any height for conveying away the
escaping gas. The top of the pipe m within the bell is fitted with a deep
cover which may be in shape that of a truncated cone as shewn, or cylindrical,
but of sufficient diameter to prevent a syphoning action when lifted; this-
cover is of such a depth that it forms a seal with the water to prevent the
gas escaping when the bell b is at any ordinary working height, but is lifted
when the latter rises above a normal level and unseals the end of the safety
pipe m. This may be effected by means of a lug q' or other fixing attached to
the bell b. The cover p' is provided with a long central spindle which passes
loosely down the escape pipe m' and acts as a guide for the cover p¹.
To put the apparatus in work each carbide holder is charged so that the
space formed by each disc is about half full of carbide, and the holders are
fixed in position by being suspended to the rods i which are then drawn up to
the top and secured by tightening the glands j; the covers of the generating
chambers are then screwed down and the gas cocks & communicating with the
bell opened. One of the holders is then slowly and gradually lowered until
sufficient gas is generated to raise the bell to its topmost working level; the
other two rods.i are then fixed at positions such that the holders automatically
come into work in succession. The water gains access to the carbide by rising
through the centre stand pipe until it fills the sunk cover r to such a depth that
it overflows through the small stand pipe w into the dish or pan u which in turn
it fills until it trickles out over its rim; the gas, in order to get out of the holder,
must pass up between the sides of the sunk cover and holder k, through the
holes in the former and between the sides of the cover and ring, under-
neath the lower edge of the said ring and through the water contained in the
cover and through the pipe d into the head of the bell b, from whence it passes
down the condenser g', h to the outlet pipe f¹.
As gas is generated the bell rises and when a certain height has been reached
the generation ceases owing to the stand pipe being raised above the level of
the water in the container c.
Instead of providing the sunk cover with a deep ring or cylinder as herein-
before described and shewn in Figures 1 and 3, we can produce the required
effect by fitting hoods at intervals round the inner side of the sunk cover as
shewn in Figure 4, the holes a opening into the interior of the said hoods so
as to deflect the gas into the water in the sunk cover.
. 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. In apparatus of the kind described for the generation of acetylene and other
gases an automatically controlled carbide holder partially submerged in water
and having a central stand pipe for feeding the holder with water, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompany-
ing drawings.
2. In apparatus of the kind described for the generation of acetylene and other
gases an automatically controlled carbide holder partially submerged in water
and having a sunk cover and a deflecting cylinder or curtain" substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus of the kind described for the generation of acetylene and
other gases an automatically controlled carbide holder partially submerged in
water and having a stand pipe w the upper end of which is bevelled and which
is trapped by means such as those described, in combination with a device for
spreading the water over the carbide substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus of the kind described for the generation of acetylene and other

page_text: gases an automatically controlled carbide holder partially submerged in water
and having the dished dises a connected to perforated sleeves or pipes for separat-
ing the portions of carbide substantially as set forth.
5. In apparatus of the kind described in Claim 4 the collar fixed to the
bottom end of the stand pipe, and on which the bottom disc rests for pro-
viding a space to receive any surplus water substantially as set forth and illus-
trated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus for the generation, condensation and storage of acetylene and
other gases a condenser comprising two concentric tubes the space between which
is in communication with the exterior at the upper part thereof, and a central
stand pipe communicating with the interior of the inner tube, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
7. In apparatus for the generation, condensation and storage of acetylene and
other gases, the employment of a safety valve comprising a stand pipe carrying a
cover such as forming a seal with. the water to prevent the gas escaping and
adapted to be lifted by the bell when it rises above a normal level, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved apparatus
for the generation, condensation and storage of acetylene gas, herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
CITTO
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Сен аст
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.