Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene from Calcium Carbide and Water.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene from
Calcium Carbide and Water.
I, THOMAS THORP, of Moss Bank, Whitefield, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements chiefly in apparatus such as is described
in the Specification of Letters Patent, No. 19823, A.D. and the improvements
have for their objects the more efficient working of the apparatus and the filtering
or washing of the gas.
My improvements have reference first to means for more perfectly regulating
the admission of carbide from the lower hopper into the generator and for facilitat-
ing access to the admission valve without first emptying the gas holder and
generator of gas, and secondly to the construction and arrangement of the filter-
ing apparatus or washer.
In connection with the means for regulating the admission of the carbide
described in the aforesaid specification, I employ the device hereinafter described
for preventing the arching of the carbide in, or choking of the neck of the hopper
immediately above the admission valve to the generator.
In the neck aforesaid I suitably mount a shaft, preferably horizontally disposed
capable of rotation, upon which shaft is fixed a flexible disc, or more than one,
preferably of indiarubber and having a serrated edge round the periphery. It is
co disposed that it presses with its edge upon the inside face of the valve and when
the valve is moved it is rotated thereby, this movement being sufficient to prevent
the carbide remaining stationary in the neck above the valve when the latter is
opened.
And in order to prevent the admission valve from being rendered more or less
inoperative through the lumps of carbide becoming jammed between the front
edge of the valve and the flexible wall of the valve seating, I employ a locking
catch whose function is to lock the valve in position when closed and prevent its
being opened independently of the movement of the holder, as by a piece of
carbide which, becoming jammed between the front edge of the valve and the
flexible wall of the valve seating when the valve is closed has a tendency to force
the valve open. The locking catch consists preferably of a pivoted device having
a horizontally disposed finger which acts as a strut against the back edge of the
valve when the latter is closed, a counter-balance weight or its equivalent to bring
the finger into and retain it in touch with the valve, and a depending arm which
is engaged by a fork or other catch carried by the coupling rod connecting the
valve with the bell crank through which the vertically moving holder or bell
communicates its motion to the valve.
Instead of forming the coupling rod in one rigid piece, one end is made to slide
upon the other for a limited distance so that the bell through the bell crank
gives motion first to one part of the coupling rod which is suitably formed to

page_text: engage the locking catch and to release it from the valve, and then to the other
part of the coupling rod which opens the valve. The locking catch cannot fall
into position until the valve is closed when its counter balance weight brings
it into position.
In order to admit of easy access to the admission valve and at the same time
prevent the escape of gas from the gas generating chamber or from the holder,
a compartment is formed beneath the admission valve, and in the bottom of the
compartment is an opening opposite the admission valve provided with a gas tight
cover preferably hinged upon a shaft passing through a stuffing box in the casing
of the generator chamber and provided with a handle and means for keeping
it closed. The coupling rod from the bell crank to the admission valve passes
through the casing of this compartment, the passage way being rendered gas
tight by a stuffing box or preferably by a sleeve of indiarubber fixed at one end
to the coupling rod and at the other end to the casing. A manhole provided with
a gastight door is formed in the casing of the generator by which access is gained
to the interior of the compartment.
My improvements have reference secondly to the construction and arrangement
of a filtering apparatus or washer for the purpose of entrapping particles of dust
and any solid matter carried by the gas as it is generated. To this end near the
outlet of the apparatus the gas is directed first through a perforated screen, or more
than one placed slightly below the surface of some water in a suitable container;
and along the under surface of a second screen lying immediately upon
or below the surface of the water, and is then allowed to bubble up into the
outlet of the apparatus. The perforated screen is preferably formed of fine wire
gauze of close mesh, and the second screen is formed of any suitable material,
but has its under surface preferably covered with felt or pile fabric or similar
suitable material. Or underneath the second screen some suitable fibrous material
such as horsehair may be disposed in place of the felt or pile fabric.
I prefer at present to make the filtering arrangement in the form of a cylindrical
chamber in which are two or more diaphragms of fine wire gauze of close mesh
and between which is disposed a filling of horsehair. The filling may be first
soaked in glycerine or other suitable viscid substance.
The filtering chamber is preferably so constructed that the filling of horsehair
or other fibrous material can be readily removed and replaced.
Further, I now find that the bristles of the flexible seating of the admission
valve are more durable if made of indiarubber or of one of its compounds. Some-
times instead of using a number of such bristles closely arranged
use a few of
elongated form in cross section or pieces of sheet material set on edge.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Acetylene from
Calcium Carbide and Water.
I, THOMAS THORP, of Moss Bank, Whitefield, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 relates to, improvements chiefly in apparatus such as is described

page_text: in the Specification of Letters Patent, No. 19823, A. D. 1897, and the improvements
have for their objects the more efficient working of the apparatus and the filtering
or washing of the gas.
My improvements have reference first to means for more perfectly regulating
the admission of carbide from the lower hopper into the generator and for facilitat-
ing access to the admission valve without first emptying the gas holder and
generator of gas, and secondly to the construction and arrangement of the filter-
ing apparatus or washer.
In order that my said invention may be readily ascertained, I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings on which-
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the acetylene generator with my improve-
ments applied thereto.
Figs. 2 and 3 enlarged sections of details.
In connection with the means for regulating the admission of the carbide
described in the aforesaid specification, I employ the device hereinafter described
for preventing the arching of the carbide in, or choking of the neck of the hopper
immediately above the admission valve to the generator.
In the neck aforesaid I suitably mount a shaft a preferably horizontally disposed,
capable of rotation, upon which shaft is fixed a flexible disc a¹ or more than
one, preferably of indiarubber and having a serrated edge round the periphery,
It is so disposed that it presses with its edge upon the inside face of the valve b
and when the valve is moved it is rotated thereby, this movement being sufficient
to prevent the carbide remaining stationary in the neck above the valve when
the latter is opened.
And in order to prevent the admission valve from being rendered more or less
inoperative through the lumps of carbide becoming jammed between the front edge
of the valve and the flexible wall b¹ of the valve seating, I employ a locking catch
whose function is to lock the valve in position when closed and prevent its being
opened independently of the movement of the holder as might be done by a piece
of carbide which, becoming jammed between the front edge of the valve and the
flexible wall of the valve seating when the valve is closed, has a tendency to force
the valve open. The locking catch consists preferably of a pivoted bell crank
lever having a horizontally finger c which acts as a strut against the back edge
of the valve 6 when the latter is closed, a counter balance weight or its equivalent
to bring the finger into and retain it in touch with the valve, and a depending
arm which is engaged by a forked or other catch carried by the coupling rod
connecting the valve with the bell crank through which the vertically moving
holder or bell communicates its motion to the valve.
In the arrangement shown on the drawing the balance weight is dispensed with
and the depending arm c¹ operated directly by the coupling rod in the manner
hereinafter described.
Instead of forming the coupling rod in one rigid piece as described in the
Specification No. 19823 A.D. 1897, one end is made to slide upon the other for a
limited distance so that the bell through the rod d¹ and bell crank d² gives
motion first to one part of the coupling rod which is suitably formed to engage the
locking catch and to release it from the valve, and then to the other part of the
coupling rod. which opens the valve. The locking catch cannot fall into position
until the valve is closed when the counter balance weight or other device brings
it into position.
The arrangement of successively disengaging the catch and then opening the
valve, and effecting the closing and locking of the valve in the reverse order,
is shewn on the drawing carried out in the following manner;
To the longer limb of the bell crank lever da link e, Figs. 1 and 3, is connected
to which a cylindical tube f is screwed. The other end of the tube is closed by
the boss of a depending arm fl. A rod g formed with a piston gl passes through
the boss and is connected by a link g² to the valve b. A spring f is inserted into
the tube between the piston g¹ and the front end. The arm fl carried a stud 4

page_text: screwed to it which passes through an opening or forked end of the lever c¹ and has
a nut with lock nut screwed upon it. When the bell crank d2 is moved to the
right by the descent of the rod and bell d in the manner described in the said
Specification No. 19823, the tube f is pulled to the right, but as the valve 6 is
locked by the finger c, the rod.g cannot. follow this movement, and the spring f
is compressed, until by the further movement of the tube and arm f fixed to
it, the nut h¹ comes against the lever c¹ and by pulling it to the right, depresses
the finger c and liberates the valve, when the expansion of the spring will push
the piston g to the right and thereby suddenly start the opening of the valve b,
the sudden movement assisting to shake the carbide above the valve and preventing
its sticking. When the gas generated by this charge of carbide into the generator i
raises the bell and the bell crank is moved to the left in the manner described in
the said specification, the link e pushes the piston gl and valve b to the left till it
reaches its closed position, the arm f¹ towards the end of this movement pushing the
lever, c' so that the finger returns to its locking position, an india rubber or other
spring being preferably inserted between the arm and lever to effect the
required last small movement of the finger.
In order to admit of easy access to the admission valve b and at the same
time prevent the escape of gas from the gas generating chamber & or from the
holder d, a compartment is formed beneath the admission valve, and in the
bottom of the compartment is an opening opposite the admission valve provided
with a gas tight cover preferably hinged upon a shaft 3 passing through a
stuffing box in the casing of the generator chamber and provided with a handle
and means for keeping it closed. The coupling rod or tube f from the bell crank d²
to the admission valve b passes through the casing of this compartment, the passage
way being rendered gas tight by a stuffing box or preferably by a sleeve g³ of
india rubber fixed at one end to the coupling rod or tube f and at the other end
to the casing or a gland f3 on the same. A manhole provided with a gas
tight door is formed in the casing k by which access is gained to the interior of
the compartment and to the valve b.
My improvements have reference secondly to the construction and arrangement
of a filtering apparatus or washer for the purpose of entrapping particles of dust
and any solid matter carried by the gas as it is generated. To this end near the
outlet of the apparatus the gas is directed first through a perforated screen, or more
than one placed slightly below the surface of some water in a suitable container;
and, in some cases along the under surface of a second screen lying immediately
upon or below the surface of the water, and is then allowed to bubble up into the
outlet of the apparatus. The perforated screen is preferably formed of fine wire
gauze of close mesh, and the second screen is formed of any suitable material.
but has its under surface preferably covered with felt or pile fabric or similar
suitable material. Or underneath the second screen some suitable fibrous material
such as horsehair may be disposed in place of the felt or pile fabric.
Preferably I employ the arrangement of screen shown in the drawing. The
generator is formed with an inlet tube / descending below the water level in
the same, through which the carbide drops into the water. To the bottom end
of the tube is fixed a circular perforated screen, the top of which consists preferably
of sheet metal with small holes, from which descends a cylindrical rim 12.
Inside the annular chamber are fixed two other screens 13 14 of wire gauze; and
between the top and middle screen horsehair or similar material is placed. The
filling may be first soaked in glycerine or other viscid substance. The gas bubbles
up through the first screen 14 and then passes through the others and the water
above, thereby becoming freed of its solid impurities. The filtering chamber is
so constructed that the filling of horsehair or other fibrous material can be readily
removed by unfastening the central joint.
Further I now find that the bristles of the flexible seating b¹ of the admission
valve bare more durable if made of india rubber or of one of its compounds.

page_text: Sometimes instead of using a number of such bristles closely arranged I use a
few of elongated form in cross section or pieces of sheet material set on edge.
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:
In acetylene generators, in which the carbide is dropped into the water,
1. The combination with a sliding valve regulating the outlet of the carbide
from the carbide hopper, of one or more india rubber discs rotated by contact with
the valve substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The arrangement of mechanism for locking the valve in its closed position
and releasing the same before it is opened, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The arrangement of a closed chamber with gas tight doors surrounding the
valve and valve operating mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings and for the purpose set forth.
4. The arrangement of washing and filtering screens or chambers substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The formation of the flexible valve seating of india rubber bristles or their
equivalent.
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ليوم
1
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent..