Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897
Complete Connifination Loft 13th Nov
1897-Accepted. 20th Aug. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
I, ETIENNE CHARLES CHARDIN, of 5, Rue de Chateaudun, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer and Machine Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The subject of this invention is a particularly serviceable apparatus for the
automatic production of acetylene gas intended for use in lighting various vehicles,
such as cycles, carriages, tram and motor cars and the like. When charged with
carburet of calcium and water, the apparatus may be used once or a number of
times whilst a full charge is being consumed, as no overproduction occurs during
the stoppages, and the operation remains unaffected by any falls or accidents, or
even by the upsetting of the vehicle whereon it is mounted.
My acetylene gas producer mainly comprises an outer tube which serves both as
a casing and a water-receiver, and is closed at the top by a screw plug carrying
the gas-outlet cock and the air-inlet valve.
Into the tube there is inserted a second tube, resting upon the bottom of the
outer tube or case the lower part receiving a metal plug having a central perfora-
tion, while its upper part is fitted with tube of small diameter, which leads to
the gas-outlet-controlling cock. Into the inner tube is introduced the carburet-
containing basket or cage, consisting simply of a zinc tube, in the longitudinal
direction of which there are made a series of perforations the number and size
of which may be varied. A cork attached to such carburet basket serves to
protect from obstruction the aperture formed in the metal plug; and it also serves
to check the access of water into the inner tube under any sudden or violent
impulse.
The air inlet valve screwed onto the lid or plug of the producer is normally
closed; but, when the vehicle is in motion, it is subjected to vibrations which
permit air to enter the producer and to regulate the pressure upon the feed water
column in the manner shall state when I come to describe the operation of the
improved producer.
Water is admitted into the apparatus through the valve aperture, upon unscrew-
ing the valve. The valve is then re-placed in position, and inasmuch as the
basket or cap has been previously filled with carburet, the producer is now ready
for use; its operation being as follows:-
The water contained in the outer tube passes through the aperture of the inner
tube and comes into contact with the carburet of calcium placed in the cage or
basket. The gas, as it is produced, acts by its pressure upon the water which has
entered the inner tube and forces it into the outer tube. If no gas be consumed,
production here ceases; but if the gas-outlet-cock be opened, the water will rise in
the inner tube act upon the carburet and generate a fresh supply of gas. Both
the interruption and the starting of the gas-producing process are thus perfectly
automatic.
The gas escapes under a practically constant pressure given by the water column
in operation. In proportion as the consumption proceeds, the vacuum which tends

page_text: to form on the surface of the liquid in the outer tube, is counterbalanced by the
external air entering through the valve.
The valve also enables any gas which may be present owing to a sudden over-
production to escape to the outside. This valve may be replaced by a cock.
Any falls of the vehicle, which might cause the acetylene gas producer to be
upset, do not in the least affect the operation of the producer as the equilibrium
of the water is maintained. Thus, in no case can there occur an excessive pro-
duction of gas. The production of gas may, indeed, be stopped altogether without
any danger, by entirely closing the valve.
The gas is allowed to flow out and continue to be burnt a little longer, and when
the supply is exhausted and the equilibrium has been restored in the apparatus,
as no more air is admitted, the water cannot come into contact with the carburet,
and gas production is interrupted. One charge of carburet may therefore be
consumed either in one or in several successive operations.
It will be understood that in applying my improved apparatus to the illumina-
tion of a bicycle it may be simply secured along the rear-tube of the cycle frame.
A flexible tube extending from the cock leads to the combined lamp and reflector
arranged in any convenient situation on the machine. In this particular form
the gas producer may, if desired, be located in one of the tubes that go to form
the bicycle frame.
Dated this 17th
Cantanha 1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
ppparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
I, ETIENNE CHARLES CHARDIN, of 5, Rue de Chateaudun, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer and Machine Builder, 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:.
-
The subject of this invention is a particularly serviceable apparatus for the
automatic production of acetylene gas intended for use in lighting vehicles,
such as cycles, carriages, tram and motor cars and the like. When charged with
carburet of calcium and water, the apparatus may be used once or a number of
times whilst a full charge is being consumed, as no overproduction occurs during
the stoppages, and the operation remains unaffected by falls or accidents, or
even by the upsetting of the vehicle whereon it is mounted..
In the accompanying drawing is represented, by way of example, one form of
the improved apparatus, it being supposed to be applied to the illumination of a
bicycle.
Figure 1 illustrates my improved apparatus as attached to a bicycle;
Figure 2 is an external elevation of an acetylene gas producer, constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section; and
Figure 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the air-inlet valve and gas
outlet tube..
The acetylene gas producer comprises an outer-tube a which serves both as a
casing and a water-receiver, and is closed at the top by a screw plug or cap b
carrying the gas-outlet cock c and the air-inlet valve d.

page_text: In the tube a is a second tube f, resting upon the bottom of the outer tube
or case a, its lower part receiving a metal plug or base g having a central perfora-
tion o, while its upper part is fitted with a tube h of small diameter, which leads
to the gas outlet controlling cock c. Into the inner tube f is introduced the
carburet-containing basket or cage j, consisting simply of a zinc tube, in the longi-
tudinal direction of which are made a series of perforations, the number and size
of which may be varied. A cork. attached to such carburet basket, serves to
protect from obstruction the aperture or perforation o formed in the metal plug g;
and it also serves to check the access of water into the inner tube f under any
sudden or violent impulse.
The air inlet valve d screwed on to the lid or plug 6 of the producer is partly
open in the normal state to admit air into the producer and to regulate the pressure
upon the feed water column.
Water is admitted into the apparatus through the valve aperture, upon un-
screwing the valve. The valve is then re-placed in position, and inasmuch as the
basket or cage has been previously filled with carburet, the producer is now ready
for use.
•
The water contained in the outer tube a passes through the aperture o of the
inner tube f and comes into contact with the carburet of calcium placed in the
cage or basket j. The gas, as it is produced, acts by its pressure upon the water
which has entered the inner, tube f and forces it into the outer tube. If no gas
be consumed, production here ceases; but if the gas-outlet-cock c be opened, the
water will rise in the inner tube f, act upon the carburet and generate a fresh
supply of gas. Both the interruption and the starting of the gas-producing
process are thus perfectly automatic.
с
The gas escapes under a practically constant pressure given by the water column
in operation. In proportion as consumption proceeds, the vacuum which tends to
form on the surface of the liquid in the outer tube a is counterbalanced by the
external air entering through the valve d.
The valve d also enables any gas which may accumulate owing to a sudden over-
production, to escape outside.
The valve d comprises a valve proper d, the seat of which is formed by the
walls of the valve chamber D.
The movements of this valve are regulated by means of the nut d³ which
screws on to the threaded rod d forming an extension of the valve proper d¹;
this nut, which may be of cylindrical shape externally simply rests upon
a screw threaded part of the valve chamber. To the said screw threaded part of
the chamber D is fitted a casing in which the rod d of the valve moves and the
chamber D communicates by means of the channels t with the outer tube or
water cylinder of the apparatus.
By screwing the nut on the rod d, the valve will be raised or drawn
nearer to its seat d the said valve being guided by a prolongation passing
through a central aperture t.
In the position of rest of the said valve, the external air does not pass through
the valve chamber D into the water cylinder, as the nut 3 by bearing on the
screw threaded portion of the valve chamber acts as a valve itself.
In consequence of the vibration of the vehicle to which the apparatus is
adapted, the valve d¹ and the nut d³ are raised so that air can enter the openings
provided for that purpose and in a quantity proportionate to the distance between
the valve and its seat. The valve may be entirely closed by screwing the
nut down to such an extent that the valve bears against its seat.
The upper
chamber provided with a button or the like is screwed on to the valve chamber D,
to protect the nut, The said chamber being provided with channels ee to allow
free passage of the air. When the pressure of the acetylene gas rises above that
of the atmosphere it gradually lifts the valve, which, before the said valve has
time to come in contact with its seat allows the excess of gas to escape.
Any falls of the vehicle, which might cause the acetylene gas producer to be

page_text: upset do not in the least affect the operation of the producer as the equilibrium
of the water is maintained. Thus, in no case can there suddenly occur an ex-
cessive production of gas. Gas production may, indeed, be stopped altogether
without any danger by entirely closing the valve d. The gas is allowed to flow
out and continues to be burnt a little longer, and when the supply is exhausted
and the equilibrium has been restored in the apparatus, as no more air is admitted,
the water cannot come into contact with the carburet, and gas production is
interrupted. One charge of carburet may therefore be consumed either in one
or in several successive operations.
It will be seen from Figure 1 that in applying my improved apparatus to the
illumination of a bicycle it may be simply secured along the rear-tube t¹ of the
cycle frame. A flexible tuber extending from the cock c leads to the combined
lamp and reflector / arranged in any convenient position on the machine. In this
particular form, the gas producer may, if desired, be located in one of the tubes
that go to form the bicycle frame. may observe in conclusion that a cock may
be substituted for the valve d.
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. An automatic acetylene gas producer for the illumination of vehicles, cycles,
ordinary and motor carriages, tram-cars, and the like, characterized by the special
arrangement of a water receiver surrounding another, tightly closed receiver, to
which the gas outlet is connected, and within which the basket containing the
carburet is placed; the lower part of such (outer) water receiver communicating
with the inner receiver, so that any excessive gas pressure will force the whole of
the water into the outer receiver, thereby placing it out of contact with the
carburet; while the upper part of the said outer receiver communicates with the
outside, through a valve which is left slightly open during the operation of the
gas producer, so as to admit air above the water column and regulate the pressure
on the gas in proportion as the water is consumed; while the said valve is com-
pletely closed, in stopping, for the purpose of interrupting gas-production
altogether; substantially as described.
2. In an automatic acetylene gas producer such as is referred to in the 1st
Claim, a tube a, forming a case and water-receiver and closed at the top by a screw
plug carrying gas-outlet cock c and the air-inlet valve d, substantially as des-
cribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
b
3. In an automatic acetylene gas producer, such as is referred to in the 1st
Claim, a tube f provided at its lower part with a metal plug g having a central
aperture o, and at its upper part, with a small diameter tube h carrying the
cock c which serves to control the escape of gas, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
4. In an automatic acetylene gas producer, such as is referred to in the 1st
Claim, a carburet basket formed by a zinc tube perforated from end to end, closed
at its lower part, and having, attached to its lower part, a cork plug K, substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing."
Dated this 13th day of November 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.