Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Forming and Burning Acetylene and similar Gases.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Forming and
Burning Acetylene and similar Gases.
I, JOHN ZIMMERMAN, Manufacturer, of 1416 Masonic Temple, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
process of and apparatus for forming and burning acetylene or similar gases;
and the invention consists in the features, combinations and details of construction
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional elevation of one form of apparatus
embodying my improvements;
Fig. 2 a plan view, partly in section, taken on line 2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional detail of the dryer or purifier;
Fig. 4 an enlarged sectional detail of the pressure regulator; and
Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional detail of the escape or poppet valve.
In constructing an apparatus for carrying out my improvements, I make a
receptacle, A, having three chambers, A¹, A2 and A³. The chamber, A¹, is
adapted to contain and hold the carbide of calcium or other analogous gas-
producing material; the chamber, A2, the liquid or water; and the chamber, A³,
the gas that has heen generated. The chamber for holding the gas-producing
material is preferably located at the bottom of the receptacle, so that the water
or liquid may be fed in by the action of gravity as it is desired to use the
same.
In this particular apparatus, it is desirable that the water or vapor arising
from the same should be kept as far as possible from contacting the carbide
of calcium, hence the necessity arises for locating the carbide of calcium at the
bottom of the receptacle, the water or fluid at the top of the receptacle, and the
gas at a point intermediate or away from both.
In order to accomplish this result, a partition, a, is used to separate the two
chambers from each other. This partition is provided with a perforation or valve
seat, a', in which operates a movable valve, B. This movable valve is secured by
a valve rod, b, to a diaphragm, B', at the upper portion of the receptacle, so that
the movements of the diaphragm are communicated to the valve to operate the
same and act to close or open the opening of the dividing partition. A helically
coiled spring, C, is used intermediate with the vibrating diaphragm and the upper
portion, a², of the casing, while the continuation of the valve stem, b', is provided
with an adjustable nut, B2, that regulates the tension of the helically coiled
spring. I prefer to inclose the diaphragm in a separate operating chamber, d.
To automatically operate the feed valve at desired times and generate the gas,
a pipe, D, is provided that leads from the gas-forming chamber to a chamber, d,
below the operating diaphragm. This pipe at its upper end is provided with a
coil, d', which opens into the chamber d, so that the pressure from the gas-
generating chamber is furnished to this upper chamber and actuates the diaphragm
to close the valve after it reaches a predetermined pressure.
When the pressure
falls below the predetermined point, the tension of the coil spring and diaphragm
forces the feed valve open and permits water to enter and contact the carbide

page_text: of calcium and form a fresh supply of gas. By keeping the outlet of this pipe
in a separate chamber away from the water, and providing it with a coil at
the upper end, all danger of water entering the material chamber by its pipe
is minimized.
To convey the gas from the generating chamber to the retaining chamber, I
provide a pipe, E, and connect it with a purifier or dryer, F, so that it enters
at one side thereof. This purifier may be provided, if desired, with a drip pipe, f,
which connects with the producing chamber and permits any excess of moisture
to flow back into the same. This purifier or dryer is provided with an absorbent
material preferring fibrous cotton or charcoal for such material.
As the gas
passes through this material, all surplus moisture is dried or absorbed from the
same, so that when it passes through the outlet pipe, E', it enters the retaining
chamber, A3, in a comparatively dry state.
To regulate the pressure of the gas in the retaining chamber, I provide a
pressure regulator, consisting of a perforated casing, G, having located therein a
diaphragın, g, communicating directly with the retaining chamber on one side,
while its opposite side is engaged by the coil spring, g'. The inner side of the
casing, G, is provided with a valve seat, G', having a perforation, 92, connecting
with the pipe, E. The diaphragm is provided with a valve stem, 93, having a
valve, G2, at its inner end. The outer end of this valve is provided with an
adjustable nut, g, to regulate the tension of the coil spring and diaphragm.
When the pressure in the retaining chamber reaches a predetermined point, it acts
on the diaphragm, g, against its tension and the tension of the helical spring, so as
to force the same outwardly and close the valve against the valve seat, thus
shutting off a further supply of gas from entering such chamber. When the
pressure in the retaining chamber is reduced to or below the predetermined point,
the pressure on the diaphragm is diminished, and its tension, together with the
tension of the helical spring, forces the valve inwardly and permits a fresh supply
of gas to enter the retaining chamber-that is, providing-gas is being generated.
By this means it will be seen that a practically uniforin pressure of gas is kept up
in the retaining chamber, and can be led therefrom by means of a pipe, H, to a
burner, h, or other place of storage, as desired.
In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, I show the burner pipe as entering a case; I,
in and by which the burner is inclosed, and which is provided with a reflector, i,
and lens, i, so as to concentrate and focus the light in the desired manner. The
apparatus shown in the drawings-and which has been described above-is
particularly applicable to portable lamps of all descriptions; but it will be
understood of course that it may be applied on either a larger or smaller scale,
as desired, or for any commercial, industrial, or experimental purpose.
In order to allow the gas to escape from the retaining chamber when it reaches
an unsafe or dangerous pressure, I provide a safety or poppet valve, K, formed of
a thimble having a perforation, k, and a spring-actuated valve, kl.
When the
pressure reaches a dangerous point, the valve, k', is forced back and the gas escapes
through the perforations, k, k², out into the open air. The pipe, E', is led through
the liquid chamber, so that the gas may be cooled and contracted thereby.
OPERATION.
The material is furnished the chamber, A', either by unscrewing or having
a hand-hole through which the material may be inserted. Water is then
poured in through the opening, a', in the liquid chamber. The tension of the valve
diaphragm is regulated by means of the nut, B2, so that water enters the chamber
and gas is formed. Immediately on the formation of gas, it enters the diaphragm
chamber through the pipe, D, and at the same time passes through the pipe, E', in
which it is cooled and contracted, to the retaining chamber, until the pressure in
such chamber is sufficient to actuate the pressure regulator therein and close the
pipe. When this pressure regulator in the retaining chamber is closed, the

page_text: pressure continues to pass through the pipe, D, to the diaphragm chamber, until
it rises above a predetermined point and closes the valve, to prevent a further
supply of water entering the gas-producing chamber. As soon as the gas is drawn
off through the service pipe, H, to a burner or reservoir, the pressure in the retaining
chamber is reduced, and the pressure regulator in such chamber acts to open the
passage between the gas-producing chamber and the retaining chamber. This'
action reduces the pressure in the producing-chamber, and permits the gas to flow
back from the diaphragm chamber, thus reducing pressure in such chamber, and'
permitting the valve to open and allow a fresh supply of water to be furnished
the material chamber to generate a fresh supply of gas. It will thus be seen that
the pressure regulator in the retaining chamber governs and controls the forming
of the gas as well as the operation of the other parts, and confers a great advantage
on an apparatus constructed in this specific manner.
While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards
details, and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited
thereto unduly, any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary,
I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction and arrangement, the
omission of immaterial elements and substitution of equivalents, as circumstances
may suggest or render expedient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The process of forming acetylene or similar gas, which consists in normally
holding the material and liquid separate, and admitting the liquid in desired
quantities, substantially as described.
2. The process of forming acetylene or similar gas, which consists in normally
holding the liquid and gas-producing material separate from each other, and then
automatically admitting the water into contact with the material as desired to form
the gas, substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having
a liquid chamber and a material or producing chamber for normally holding the
liquid and gas-producing material separate from each other, and means for
admitting the liquid into the producing chamber as desired, substantially as
described.
4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle having
a liquid holding chamber at the upper portion thereof, a gas producing-chamber at
the lower portion thereof adapted to hold the gas-producing material, a gas-
retaining chamber intermediate the other two chambers, a diaphragm separating the
liquid and material chambers and provided with a perforation or valve seat, a valve
in such perforation or valve seat provided with an actuating diaphragm at the upper
end thereof arranged to be actuated by gas under pressure, a purifier or dryer in
the gas-retaining chamber connected with the producing chamber, a pipe leading
froin the purifier through the liquid-bolding chamber to cool and contract the gas
entering the retaining chamber, substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle provided
with a liquid-holding chamber and gas-producing chamber and gas-retaining
chamber, means for automatically admitting the liquid into the gas-producing
chamber in desired quantities, a pipe connected with the gas-producing chamber
and the gas-retaining chamber, an automatic pressure regulator on such pipe and
located in the retaining chamber comprising a perforated casing, a diaphragm to be
actuated by the pressure in the retaining chamber, a valve seat connected with the
pipe that leads from the gas-producing chamber, a valve connected with the
diaphragm to be operated thereby and close the perforation of the valve seat when
the pressure reaches a predetermined point and open the same when it falls below
such point, and mechanism for regulating the tension of the diaphragm to the desired
point, substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle provided
with a liquid-holding chamber in one portion thereof, a gas-producing or material
chamber in another portion thereof, a gas-retaining chamber, a valve intermediate
the gas-producing and liquid chambers provided with an actuating diaphragma in
a separate chamber, means for communicating the pressure of the gas-producing
chamber to the diaphragm actuating chamber, and an automatic pressure regulator
in the gas-retaining chamber to regulate the pressure in such chamber and connected
with the gas-producing chamber so as to control the actions of all of the parts,
substantially as described.
Dated this 5th dow of Lonu 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.