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

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1897
Completa Ononisin
ocu
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, CHARLES GUY, of Ivry-la-Bataille, in the Department of Eure, in the Republic
of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus in which acetylene gas
is produced by allowing calcium carbide in the form of powder to drop in regulated
quantities into a receiver containing water.
In carrying out this invention a large tank to contain water is provided and on
the top is placed a container for the calcium carbide in a state of powder which
container may he hinged to the tank if desired.
This container is provided with a slide valve which will allow the material to
pass in small quantities and is operated in one direction by means of an expansible
vessel and in the other direction by a coiled spring."
The expansible vessel is suitably connected with the tank or reservoir so that
as the gas is produced by dropping the carbide into the water the pressure will
be conveyed to the expansible chamber and the slide valve will be opened or closed
as the case may be.
This vessel or chamber acts upon a lever suitably placed which in turn acts
upon the rod of the slide valve which also carries the spring by which it is returned
to its normal position.
The lever is also arranged to act on a safety valve so that in case the pressure
of the gas in the tank becomes too great, relief may be obtained.
The gas passes from the tank to a purifier and dryer before it passes to the
storage vessel or the burner and the calcium carbide container may be provided
with a sight hole.
1
L
BELL 1
1001
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, CHARLES GUY, of Ivry-la-Bataille, in the Department of Eure, in the Republic
of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
[Price 8d.]

page_text: -
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for producing acetylene gas, by causing a
suitable alkaline-earthy carburet, generally calcium carbide, to drop, in frag-
ments or in the condition of powder, into a volume of water; the amount of
carburet thus falling being proportionate to the rate at which the gas is con-
sumed.
The construction and operation of the improved arrangement will be best
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the complete apparatus;
Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, are detail views in connection with the delivering or
distributing device ;
Fig. 2 being a general plan or top view;
Fig. 3 a plan of the slide-valve or sliding door, detached;
Fig. 4 a plan of the plate arranged below such sliding door; and
Fig. 5 a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.
The apparatus mainly consists of a receiver or chamber containing a volume of
water, into which the carburet, in a pulverulent or granulated state, is adapted to
fall through the medium of distributing mechanism controlled automatically by
means of a flexible membrane, exposed to the pressure of the gas confined within
the apparatus.
The carburet, powdered or divided into small fragments or grains, is placed in
a receptacle A, into which it is admitted through an orifice a, closed by a lid or
plug. Part of the wall of this receptacle is glazed, as at a¹, to enable the amount
of carburet remaining behind in the apparatus to be ascertained.
In the lower part of the receptacle A, terminating in a cone or pyramid, or
assuming any similar shape, there is arranged the distributor through whose
agency the carburet is enabled to drop into the water through a channel C.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, show the details of, construction of such distributor as before
stated; its arrangement being as follows:
The lower part of the receptacle A is closed by a plate D, provided with a
rectangular aperture d, below which there is adapted to move a sliding door, or
distributing slide valve proper E, in which there is provided an opening.
Below the slide valve E, there is a stationary plate F, provided with an open-
ing f, similar to that of the slide E, so that the slide valve is comprised between
two plates D, F. The orifice f of the plate F opens into the pipe C, passing
through a wall c, and leading into the water reservoir B.
The slide E is connected by a junction piece e* with a rod e¹, held by a stuffing
box e, and which, under the action of a spring e³, presses with its other end upon
an arm G, pivotted at g, and extending perpendicularly. This arm, at a certain
point of its length, is guided by a slide H, its upper part being sustained by a
spring i, so that it is maintained in a practically perpendicular position, while
it is also jointed at 2¹ to a lever I, to the end of which there is secured per-
pendicularly a plate 3 The lever G may be retained at a certain point of its
movement along the slide, by means of a catch h. Upon this slide H, there is
furthermore arranged a lever J, fulcrummed at its centre at its centre or there-
abouts and projecting vertically on either side of the slide, it being provided at
the bottom part with a plug j, which closes the orifice of a tube K, communicating
with the reservoir B, while its upper end is subjected to the action of a spring j₁,
which ensures the perfect closing of the orifice of the pipe K by a plug j. The
lever J carries a stop 2 adapted to come into contact with another stop g₁ of the
lever G.
The reservoir B communicates by the pipes L, L', with an elastic and gas-tight
pouch M, made of india rubber, for example, mounted upon the pipe L', and
communicating with such pipe through the orifice 7. One of the faces of this
pouch is confined by a strap, band, or similar piece m, so that when it is inflated, it

page_text: should expand chiefly on the side of the plate 23. The pouch and pipe are
generally mounted on a piece N, held in the sleeve n, where it is retained by a
screw n¹, an arrangement which enables the apparatus to be controlled by moving
the position of the pouch in relation to the plate 3, and also consequently in
relation to the lever G. The tube L, by reason of this method of arrangement,
should be constructed in such a manner that its length may vary as required, or
it may simply be an india rubber tube.
The gas escapes from the reservoir. B through a tube O, provided with a cock o,
and enters the main after passing through a purifying chamber P, wherein, at p,
there is provided cotton or any similar substance, and also a layer of desiccating
matter, such as 21, which may be simply calcium carburet. These substances may
be maintained in position by gratings or perforated partitions p³ ³. The
chamber P is closed by means of a lid p³, and the gas issues therefrom through a
pipe 2, after having passed through the mass of cotton and the layer of carburet.
The reservoir B is provided with a passage, tap, or plug b, and with gauge
cocks b', b. Water may be admitted through an orifice arranged at the upper
part, and closed by a plug b³.
The upper part of the apparatus, comprising the carburet receptacle. A, the
distributor, and the pipe C, is secured upon the water reservoir by a hinged
action Q, which enables the interior of the apparatus to be readily inspected, while
the hermetical closing of the same is ensured by an indiarubber joint q. It will
be seen that owing to the provision of the partition c, the carburet is only exposed
to the action of the humid gas through the narrow orifice of the slide valve, that is
to say, in a perfectly insignificant proportion, whereby the carburet kept in store
is protected from the premature. action of moisture. When the action is inopera-
tive, the lever G is secured in position by means of the catch at h.
The operation of the arrangement is as follows: The parts should be so adjusted
that when the pouch or pocket is inflated to its maximum volume, the slide valve E
should be in such a position. (1) that the opening e does not coincide with the
orificef of the plate F, arranged below, so as consequently to prevent the carburet
from dropping into the water contained in the reservoir B, and that when such
pouch is disinflated, the plate remaining in contact therewith; owing to the
action of the spring e³, which presses the rod e¹ against the lever G of the slide
valve E, may approach the position (2) in which the orifices e, f, coincide,
thereby allowing the carburet to fall from the receptacle A into the water contained
in the tank B. When the slide valve is in position 3, the side of the orifices e, f,
do not coincide.
When the apparatus has been set in operation, and after a certain amount of
gas has been produced by manipulating the slide valve E by hand, so as to cause
a sufficient quantity of carburet to fall into the water, there is developed a certain
pressure within the apparatus, and the pouch M is inflated. When it is sufficiently
inflated for the orifices in the plate E and the plate F to coincide, the apparatus
will be in full operation, and may be left to itself.
As the production of gas continues, the pouch becomes further inflated, and
presently repels the plate 2, which carries the lever G and the slide E along with
it, the orifice of such slide E soon ceasing to concide with the orifice of the
plate F; the descent of the carburet into the water accordingly ceases, production
of gas is interrupted, and matters remain in this state until, as the pressure
begins to diminish in consequence of the consumption of gas, the pouch becomes
slightly disinflated, when the slide valve will move from the position 1 to the
position 2. The orifices now partially or completely coinciding, the descent of
Carburet into the water recommences, and with it the production of gas, which, in
its turn, stops the further fall of carburet, and so on." Thus it will be seen that
the apparatus exactly follows the fluctuations of consumption, and maintains
itself at a constant pressure.
Should, however, in case of accident, the pouch become punctured; the slide

page_text: valve subjected to the action of the spring e³, the force of which is no longer
counterbalanced by the pressure exercised upon the lever G, will move into the
position 3, thereby interrupting the descent of the carburet, and causing the
production of gas to cease entirely.
Again, in the event of there being excessive over-production of gas, the pouch
will expand until the stop g¹ of the lever G comes to press upon the stop of the
lever J, when the plug will leave the orifice of the tube K, and gas will escape
until, after the pressure is diminished, the arm G moves out of contact with the
lever J, which, under the action of the spring ¹, will close the orifice of the
tube K.
It will be seen that, by reason of the arrangement of the plate 23 there
adopted, this plate always remains in a practically vertical position, as it turns
on its pivot at 2, in proportion as the arm J becomes more inclined, the spring i
being strained in consequence, as the force of adhesion of the wall of the flexible
pouch, and of the plate, is greater than the power of such spring, which power
should be proportioned so as to fulfil this condition.
The gas, as it passes through the layers of cotton and carburet contained in
the chamber P, becomes purified and freed from the water, which is carried along
mechanically, and in the state of vapour or steam. The apparatus may be con-
trolled by varying the distance of the pouch M and the lever G by the joint dis-
placement of the pouch and pipe L¹, mounted upon the piece N. Thus, the
pressure under which the apparatus is to operate under normal conditions may be
regulated to any predetermined degree.
•
I reserve the option of altering my apparatus in any suitable manner, without
departing from its principle. Thus, for example, I could employ any other slide
valve mechanism different from that represented in the drawings. Or I may vary
the shape of the orifice, alter the purifying apparatus, and, generally, effect all
changes of detail, so long as the principle of the arrangement remains the same;
it being possible to construct apparatus of any size, and to impart to the whole,
or a portion of it, any convenient shape.
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:-
1. In acetylene gas producing apparatus, wherein a pulverulent or granulated
alkalino-earthy carburet is allowed to drop into water, 'an arrangement whereby
the supply of carburet to the water is regulated according to the consumption of
gas, such regulating arrangement comprising a distributing slide valve covering
or exposing the lower part of the carburet receptacle, and operated through suitable
intermediate parts by an elastic pouch connected with the interior of the apparatus.
and subjected to the pressure existing therein, substantially as described and
specified with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. An acetylene gas producing apparatus, mainly composed of a water reservoir
or tank surmounted by a receptacle wherein the pulverulent carburet is placed.
such carburet being enabled to drop into the water through a slide valve connected
with a rod pressing upon a lever controlled by the movement of the wall of a
flexible pouch communicating with the interior of the chamber wherein the gas is
evolved, such lever, moreover, in case of an abnormal over production of gas,
being adapted to act upon another lever, which operates a valve, and thereby allows
the gas to escape into the atmosphere, the apparatus further comprising drying and
purifying apparatus, and various devices for regulating and controlling it, sub-
stantially as described and specified with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In acetylene gas producing apparatus, the arrangement whereby the gas is
allowed to escape in case of over-production. comprising a flexible chamber or pouch,
with elastic walls communicating with the interior of the apparatus, its walls
being adapted to move under the influence of the pressure, and, in the event of
excessive pressure, to assume a position in which the wall of the pouch will effect

page_text: the uncovering of the orifice of a tube which communicates with the interior of
the apparatus, substantially as described and specified in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The apparatus above described, constructed, arranged, and operating sub-
5 stantially as set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8711
1
T.L 1000