provements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene Gas, especially suitable for Use in Portable Installations.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL DE BUIFICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas, especially suitable for Use in Portable Installations.
I, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY, of the Firm of Bayley and Beeching, of Dene House,
Poole Hill, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene
gas (H,C), and it consists in such an arrangement of parts as to render the apparatus
compact and portable while retaining the utmost efficiency, thus making it especially
suitable for use in portable installations.
A simple form of apparatus according to my invention consists of two vessels,
preferably cylindrical in shape and disposed side by side. The larger of these two
vessels has arranged inside it at its upper end a concentric cylinder serving as a
water tank of such a diameter that it is free to slide up and down while a sufficient
annular space is left between the two to allow of two helical springs being arranged
vertically in such space, which springs being attached at their upper ends to the
outer vessel, and at their lower ends to the water tank, serve to support the latter at
a height determined by the quantity of water in the tank. A pipe forming a flexible
connection passes from the bottom of the water tank to the lower portion of the
outer vessel, the two being thus placed in free communication with each other.
At a convenient distance from the bottom of the outer vessel is fixed an internal
diaphragm, and from this by means of a bellows, or "concertina" device, is
suspended a movable diaphragm which is free to slide in the outer vessel. This
movable diaphragm with the hellows device forms a gas holder for retaining the
gas produced between it and the fixed diaphragm.
The lesser of the two vessels forms a generator and includes an outer fixed casing,
with a removable-air-tight cover. Inside this is disposed a cylindrical vessel which
is open at bottom, and closed at top; and has placed within it, at its lower end, a
smaller cylindrical vessel which has a perforated upper end. Above this and inside
the cylindrical vessel is placed the calcium carbide which is used, and from the
upper end of this opens the pipe which convoys the gas to the gas holder as also to
the supply pipe. A pipe governed by a cock passes from the lower vessel to the
bottom of the generator, water being free to pass from one to the other when the
cock is opened.
The operation is as follows:-
Water being poured into the tank it passes through the flexible pipe to the bottom
of the outer vessel, and (when the cock is opened) into the lower end of the
generator; and passing upwards through the perforated top comes into contact
with the calcium carbide. Acetylene being generated, passes out by the pipe to the
gas bag or holder and distending the bellows continues to force the water up through
the flexible pipe to the water tank until a balance of pressure is established, the
tank being free to rise and fall for that purpose.
The gas produced is also free to pass off to the point of consumption when its tap
is opened.
The cock which controls the supply of water to the-generator can be turned off,
when it is desirable to discontinue the generation.
-

page_text: The generator may be disposed inside the outer vessel in such manner that the
case encloses the latter, and the water tank surrounds the generator, thus securing
the most compact arrangement possible. A float may be usel in the place of the
bellows gas holder.
The height of the water being shewn by a gauge glass enables the quantity of
gas contained in the holder to be ascertained by inspection.
Dated this 26th day of March 1896.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Hants, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas, especially suitable for Use in Portable Installations.
I, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY of the Firm of Bayley and Beeching, of Dene House,
Poole Hill, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, 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 :-
Acetylene gas (which is produced by the decomposition of calcic carbide in the
presence of water) has a strong affinity for water, and it is thus necessary to prevent
waste of gas by absorption, in order to obtain the most satisfactory results.
In all acetylene gas apparatus as at present constructed, the gas is stored in
contact with water, the action of the apparatus (which is automatic) being due to
the increasing pressure of the gas produced acting on the water, and forcing it out
of-the generator and storage vessel into a tank.
Now the object of this invention is to provide a simple and compact apparatus
for the production and storing of acetylene gas, and more particularly for use in
domestic installations in which the gas will not come into contact with the water, and
therefore the loss due to absorption is avoided.
A further object is to regulate the head of water, and keep it constant, so that the
pressure at the point of ignition shall be uniform.
In carrying out this invention, the gas, as it is produced, passes into a closed
expansible and collapsible chamber, which is contained in the storage cylinder or
vessel, and the cistern into which the water is forced is mounted so that it can be
raised and lowered as the water therein decreases or increases, and thus the head of
water is kept constant.
In some cases, the storage cylinder may be provided with a plain slab, which
floats on the top of the water, and, extending over practically the whole surface
of the water, largely prevents the gas coming into contact therewith.
The generator is provided with a double valve operated by a single handle, which
will admit and shut off water to and from, and empty, the generator, and provide
for the passage of the gas producer as and when required.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shews in side elevation an apparatus constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 being a sectional elevation of the same, shewing the expansible storage
chamber.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the float arrangement.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section of another arrangement of the
apparatus.
Figs. 5 shew, in sectional plan, the two plugs of the double valve, and Figs. 6
show the same in another position.
The same letters of reference will apply to corresponding parts in all the figures.

page_text: A is the generator, in which the calcic' carbide is placed in a basket, or on
perforated trays, or in any other convenient manner.
B is the storage vessel, which is connected at bottom with the generator A by
pipe B, and at top by the pipe B².
Inside the vessel B is the expansible and collapsible chamber C, into which the
gas passes by the pipe B. From this chamber the gas passes, by the pipe B
provided with a shut-off cock, to a purifier D of any suitable construction, and
intended to contain any suitable purifying material..
E is the water cistern, the bottom of which is connected with the lower part of
the vessel B by a flexible pipe of any suitable character.
This cistern is carried by a spring or springs E', or is mounted in any other
convenient manner, so that it will fall as the quantity of water increases therein,
due to the pressure of the gas in the storage vessel, as is now well understood, and
rise as the water decreases, and thus the head of water will remain constant.
The vessel B is connected with the water main, a cock operated by the rising.
cistern through the lever and tappet arrangement G, or other device, allowing
water to flow into the vessel B, when the quantity of water is so far decreased as to
allow the cistern or tank to rise above the proper highest level.
Referring now to Fig. 3, H is the float which takes the place of the expansible.
chamber.
In this arrangement, the tank E is fixed, and is provided with an overflow pipe,.
and a constant water service regulated by a ball cock.
Fig. 4 shews an arrangement in which the head of water will not excoed a
pressure, say, of 4 ounces to the square inch, the maximum pressure which the
insurance offices will allow at present.
In Figs. 5, X represents the gas cock of the double valve, and Z the water cock,
the plugs of which are connected together by a rod or stein provided with a handle Y
(see Figs. 1, 3, and 4), which may move over a dial plate.
The position of the cocks is that which they will assume when the apparatus is
turned off for the night.
The first thing to be done, to this end, is to draw off the water from the
generator by the exit passage W, and then to close the water cock, at the same
time turning the gas cock to such a position as to leave a small gasway to the
holder, so that any gas that is generated while the carbide remains wet, can pass
into the storage chamber for future use, and thus avoid any excess of pressure in.
the generator. Figs. 6 represent the gas and water cocks in the position necessary
for working.
The general working of the apparatus is the same as in other known apparatus
of like character, and therefore needs no further description.
The expansible storage chamber may be in any convenient form, and constructed
of any suitable material, so long as it is gas- and water-tight, and it is obviously
applicable for use in apparatus in which other gas, such as hydrogen, is produced in.
a similar manner.
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 apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene or other gas, the use
of an expansible storage chamber to prevent the gas coming into contact with the
water in the main storage vessel, as set forth.
2. In apparatus for the production of acetylene or other gas, the use of a float or
shield covering the surface of the water in the storage vessel, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene or other gas, the
combination with a gas storage vessel or reservoir, of means for preventing the gas
coming into contact with the water in the reservoir, as set forth.
4. In apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene or other gas, the use.

page_text: of a rising and falling water tank, to maintain a constant head of water, as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. Apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene or other gas, constructed,
arranged, and operating as herein shewn and described.
6. The combination with apparatus for the production and storage of acetylene
or other gas, of the kind above described, of a double valve arrangement operated
by a single handle, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th love of T
1007
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.