Improvements in Acetylene Generators for Lighting or Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Generators for Lighting or Heating
Apparatus.
We, FRIEDRICH BERNHARD POERSCHMANN and HENRY SCHNEIDER, both of
Löbtau, Dresden, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers, 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 illustrated in Figs. 1-8 of the annexed drawing relates to a
generating apparatus for small quantities of acetylene and is applicable to light-
ing or heating purposes.
The apparatus is especially distinguished by the peculiarity that the production
of acetylene can be interrupted as required without causing any harmful effect
by after development.
For this purpose the apparatus is constructed as follows: It is formed essen-
tially of two principal parts, the water reservoir a b c and the generator d.
The water reservoir is divided into two compartments a and b being in con-
nection with one another by a valve e.
.
The compartment b forms within the compartment a the annular space c..
The compartment is provided with a feed opening by means of which the
reservoir is filled with water.
The feed opening is closed by a piece 7.
This piece is formed of a tube which is screwed with its upper end into the
feed opening and is open at both ends and extends downwards nearly to the
bottom of the compartment of the reservoir.
As the compartment is closed by the above described piece it works similarly
to the so called Mariott receivers so that the liquid contained therein passes
through the valve e to the compartment a with such a velocity and pressure
according to the distance between the lower end of the tube and the bottom
of the compartment b.
The valve e arranged principally in the compartment is such that the contents
of the compartment flow down into the compartment a whilst nothing can pass
from the latter into compartiment b.
The compartment a is provided with a float valve m in order to close the air
introduction openings n n of the compartment a when the latter is filled
completely with water.
The generator d is formed by a tube open at the lower end the other end can
be closed by a cock f or any other suitable valve.
The generator d forms at the same time the receiver for the calcium carbidė
and for this purpose it is provided with a removable perforated concave basket i
which divides the generator d into two compartments the upper one of which
receives the calcium carbide..
A further perforated plate k can be arranged under the cock f in order to
protect the passage of the cock for other suitable valve against stoppage.
Above the cock f the generator d can be arranged as a purifying chamber g
and the same can be provided with a burner socket h and a suitable support for

page_text: a lamp shade or globe. The removable basket i is preferably supported by two
shoulders o serving also as guides for the basket i when the same is being inserted
into the generator d.
The generator d is screwed vertically into the water reservoir a b c tightly
closing the same and the two bodies thus principally form together the complete
apparatus.
In the drawing the acetylene generating apparatus is illustrated in two different
forms as examples but the principle of the invention can be applied to further
forms.
Figs. 1-4 represent the apparatus in the form most suitable for a table or
hanging lamp and of which Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line A B of Fig. 3 and
shows the water levels in the reservoir a b c during the generation of the gas.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line C D of Fig. 3 and shows the water levels in
the reservoir a b c after an interruption of the generation. Fig. 3 shows the plan
view. Fig. 4 a section on the line E F of Fig. 2 showing the perforated basket i
in plan view. Fig. 5 shows an elevation of a table lamp. Figs. 6-7, and.
Fig. 8 show an arrangement of the apparatus in the form most suitable for use
in connection with a radiator for chimney heating purposes; and of which Fig.
is a vertical section on the line G H of Fig. 7 and shows the water level in the
reservoir a b c after filling, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6.
The manipulation and action of the apparatus is as follows:
The generator d its upper end being closed by means of the cock f is screwed
out of the reservoir a bc. Then the basket i is removed out of the generator d which
is then filled with a certain quantity of calcium carbide and the basket i is
replaced.
The generator d is then tightly screwed into the reservoir a b c as shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 6; the piece of the opening is removed land water is poured
through the opening 7.
The water flows from compartment to the compartment a and the latter
extending to the bottom of the former, the compartment a and annular space c
becomes filled as much as is shown in Fig. 6.
The filling being finished the opening is closed by the piece the tube of
which extends nearly to the bottom of the compartment b.
If the cock f of the generator d is now opened the enclosed air can escape and
the water in the compartment a penetrates and rises in the generator d.
The compartment a is emptied hereby partially so that the space c becomes
empty.
The water coming moreover from the compartment a to the generator d is
supplied in the compartment a from the compartment 6 and in consequence of
the formation of the latter as a Mariott receiver, water passes to compartment a
until the pressures in the compartments are equal. Consequently the water
level in the compartment a is during the generation of the gas always at the
same height as shown in Fig. 1.
When the water in the generator d reaches the calcium carbide the generation
of the acetylene commences.
The acetylene passes through the cock f (or other valve) to the place of com-
The con-
bustion and can be previously purified in the purifying chamber g.
struction of the generator d is such that a water pressure of 80-100 mm. in the
water reservoir always opposes the gas produced.
If the production of acetylene is so great that its pressure surpasses (that of)
the water pressure the water from the generator d is forced back into the com-
partment of the water reservoir which interrupts the further development of
acetylene until the pressures of the acetylene and the water are equal.
fresh
The water from compartment a being used by the generation of the gas
water is continually supplied by compartment through the valve e so as not
to change the water level of compartment a during the production of the gas the
same having always the level, as shown in Fig. 1. If the combustion or con-
sumption is suddenly interrupted by closing the cock f the pressure in the

page_text: generator forces the water out of the same into the reservoir compartment a
stopping hereby the production of acetylene. The water forced back from the
generator d into the compartment a not being able to pass into compartment b
in consequence of the construction of the valve which closes, mounts into the
annular space c.
Hereby the water lifts the float valve m which is arranged so that it closes the air
openings n n to the compartment a if the space c is entirely filled by water.
The capacity of the annular space c is such that it can hold a quantity of water
about equal to all the water forced back from the generator d so as to form a
level of water in the generator as shown in Fig. 2. The further generation of
acetylene is thus stopped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claims is:-
-
In acetylene generators.
1. A water reservoir formed by two compartments a and b connected together by
means of a valve e the above compartment 6 being formed as a Mariott vessel in
order to supply the lower compartment a with the water used for developing
acetylene whilst compartment a with its water contents produces the develop-
mont of acetylene and also serves for holding and cooling the developed acetylene
enclosed during interruption in the generator d.
2. The generator d forming a tube open at one end and closed at the other,
joined detachably with one of its ends downwards in vertical position in the water
reservoir abc and serving at the same time as a receptacle for calcium carbide
being divided in two spaces by a perforated bottom i which can be removed and
having the closed end capable of being opened by means of a cock for a valve
in order to produce and utilize the acetylene developed.
The acetylene which may be further generated by the moisture still in the
generator d is enclosed in the latter and cannot escape 'to the water reservoir, as
its compartment a is entirely filled by water. Although a certain pressure is
produced in the generator d by the enclosed acetylene this pressure is so small
that it cannot cause any damage. Also a pernicious heating of the enclosed
acetylene is prevented, the generator being surrounded by a sufficiently cool
mantle, of water in compartment a and the space c.
By opening the cock f the generation commences again and can be continued.
If the apparatus herein described is to be applied for heating purposes, its water
reservoir a b c can be provided below with a securely closing port p so that the
reservoir can be easily emptied.
Dated this 28th day of Santam lan 1900
ated this 28th day
and
1900
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.