Improvements in Acetylene Gas Machines for House Lighting and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1899—Accepted, 2nd Aug.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Machines for House Lighting
and the like.
BENJAMIN HAIGH, 53, Milton Avenue, East Ham, London, E., Coppersmith,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a double inner and outer cylinder of any required size and material.
The inner cylinder to telescope freely in the outer one. With an airtight top.
The outer cylinder being filled with water to form a joint. On the external part
of the outer cylinder I fix a generator cylinder of required size in which I place
a perforated casket to contain carbide of calcium. On the top of which casket
I place a perforated cover to separate and disperse the water supply evenly on
to the carbide of calcium. In the bottom of the accumulator or generator I fix
a draw off cock and immediately over it I fix a check valve attached to one end
of the feed pipe to the cylinder which extends into the inner cylinder to stop
the return of gas and which is worked by pressure in the generator and which
pressure raises the inner cylinder the consumption of gas causing the cylinder
to fall or lower by the pressure through pipes for that purpose. Around the top
of the accumulator I fix a conical rim in the small end of which I fit a cover
with an india rubber packing on same to make an airtight joint which cover is
secured down by a wing bolt on a cross bar fitted in sockets at each end. Near
the top of the accumulator I fix a double cone and in the cone near or on the
accumulator I place a check valve. On the other end of the cone fix an internal
valve seating with a spindle valve to same the spindle projecting above the top
of the cylinder with a small tumbler lever attached to the top end the tumbler
falling inwards towards the cylinder and balanced on a pin so that when the inner
cylinder is falling it comes in contact with the tumbler lifting the spindle and
opening the water way into the accumulator which causes the gas to accumulate
and raise the cylinder allowing the valve to close automatically which makes
the whole machine automatic and reliable this machine being simple and safe
in action will not be likely to get out of order.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Machines for House Lighting
and the like.
I, BENJAMIN HAIGH, 53, Milton Avenue, East Ham, London, E., Coppersmith,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
Price 8d1

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement; reference being also had to the accompanying explanatory
drawings in which the same letters of reference denote like or corresponding
parts throughout; Figures 1 and 2 being sections and Figures 3 and 4 an eleva-
tion and plan respectively of machines constructed according to my invention,
the remaining views being details hereafter more fully referred to:-
My improvements relate to acetylene gas machines for house lighting and the
like whereby same are rendered automatic, reliable, cheap, and simple and safe
in action, and the apparatus not likely to readily get out of order; whilst the gas
produced is exceedingly dry.
The gas machines according to my invention are arranged in various forms and
sizes.
The principal construction consists of a double inner and outer cylinder A B
or other suitable receptacle for the gas of any required size, construction and
material, the inner cylinder A telescoping freely in the outer one B, with an air-
tight top D, the outer cylinder B being filled with water to form a joint. On the
external part of the outer cylinder B1 fix a generator cylinder E of required size
and construction in which I place a basket or container F for carbide of calcium,
on the top of which basket or container I place a perforated cover K to separate
and disperse the water supply evenly on to the carbide of calcium. In the bottom
of the generator E (sometimes referred to in my Provisional Specification as the
"Accumulator" but hereinafter referred to as the generator) I fix a draw off
cock L and immediately over it I fix a check valve M attached to one end N¹
of the feed pipe N to the cylinder A (which feed pipe N extends into the inner
cylinder A) to stop the return of gas, and which valve M is worked by pressure
in the generator 1, which pressure raises or expands the inner cylinder A, the
consumption of gas causing the cylinder A to fall or lower by the decreased pres-
sure through the service supply pipe N2 arranged for that purpose; the gas before
entering the supply pipes passing through a suitable purifier or drier. Around
the top of the generator E I fix a conical rim in the small end of which I fit a
cover with an india-rubber packing on same to make an air tight joint, which
cover His secured down by a wing bolt I on a cross bar J fitted in sockets at each
end, or other suitable means may be employed. Near the top of the generator E
I fix a double cone a and in this cone near or on the generator E I place a
suitable check valve b or equivalent. In the drawing, Figure 5 particularly,
this check valve is shewn as a spindle valve in disc form which is provided with
an internal valve seating c fixed on the other end of the cone «, the spindle d
projecting above the top of the cylinder A with a small tumbler lever e attached
to the top end, the tumbler f falling inwards towards the cylinder A and balanced
on a pin o, so that, when the inner cylinder A is falling, it comes in contact by
a projection such as with the tumbler f, operating the pino and spindle d, thus
opening the water or passage way of the check valve into the generator E, which
causes the gas to accumulate and raise the cylinder A, allowing the check valve
or equivalent to close automatically, which thus renders the whole machine or
apparatus entirely automatic and reliable.
The machine or apparatus herein before described with reference more parti-
cularly to Figure 1 is equally applicable for acetylene gas producing purposes
where the carbide is allowed to fall upon the water (as shewn Figures 2, 3, and 4)
instead of the water upon the carbide; the arrangement of supply, generator and
gas receptacle or holder being precisely the same; whilst the method and means
for regulating and controlling the supply of carbide to the water is also substan-
tially similar to that herein before more particularly described with reference to
Figures 1 and 5 in the automatic production of gas by the water falling upon the
carbide due to the consumption of the gas from and lowering or falling of the
inner cylinder or gas receptacle A; and, although I have described in detail and
in particular one special means Figure 5 as suitable for delivering the water
through the passage way to the gas generator E containing the carbide it is

page_text: obvious that this arrangement may be employed with equal advantage in con-
nection with the apparatus shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4 wherein the carbide falls
upon the water; and also, that the opening and closing of the check valve I
employ may be effected in a variety of ways and by other mechanical means
differing but slightly from the particular spindle valve and automatic arrange-
ment herein before more particularly described and shewn.
For instance, one alternative arrangement is shewn at Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6,
which may be employed either with apparatus for generating the gas by the falling
of the water upon the carbide of calcium, or vice versa. In the latter case also,
the granulated carbide employed would be supplied, regulated and controlled by
the check valve aforesaid or equivalent contrivance; which, in this instance,
consists of a suitable drum or cylinder either plain as at 6 Figures 2, 3, and 4,
or perforated 2, pocketted 63, grooved, corrugated or ribbed b as desired as seen
at Figure 6. The plain, pocketed or ribbed drum b¹, b³, b will act so long as it
rotates, whilst, the motion of the perforated drum is preferably intermittent
and governed by the size and arrangement of the apertures; and, the said drum
is caused to deliver the carbide or water as the case may be from the supply chamber
to the generator E by the action due to the falling or lowering of the inner
cylinder A, as previously described with reference to the preceding arrangement
before referred to and shewn Figures 1 and 5, the projection r on the cylinder A,
when the latter is falling, due to the consumption of gas, depressing the free end
of the weighted pivotted tumbler f and causing the check or supply valve, whether
in the form of a disc b, drum 61, 62, 63, 64, or other equivalent, employed for
delivering and controlling the supply of the carbide or water into the generator E
through the passage way aforesaid, to be operated through the intervention of
the wheels g, g and pawl h or equivalents, the relative ratio of the parts being
proportional to the gas required to be produced, and, its generation being capable
of regulation to any extent as may be desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The construction and combination of parts constituting the complete acetylene
gas generating apparatus for house lighting and the like hereinbefore described
arranged and operating all as substantially as herein fully set forth and shewn
in the accompaùving drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1899.
BENJ. T. KING, (A. Inst. Mech. E.),
Registered Patent Agent by Examination,
165, Queen Victoria Street, London, EC., Agent for Applicant.