Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene.
I, JOSÉ LLORENS, 19, Ronda de la Universidad, of Barcelona, in the Kingdom
of Spain, 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 in apparatus for generating acetylene
gas, the gas being obtained by the falling of carbide into a reservoir of water.
These improvements are for the purpose of automatically regulating the intro-
duction of the carbide by the descent of the gasometer bell.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the improved apparatus in which,
Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section; Fig. 2 a side view and Figs. 3
and 4 show details.
The generator a is composed of a reservoir which is filled with water to a con-
venient height the top of which is provided with a pipe j conducting the gas
to the gasometer b. The generator is provided moreover with a shoot or intro-
duction pipe the lower end of which is inclined and receives at its upper end
the calcium carbide which it conducts and lets fall to the bottom of the reser-
voir a throwing it therein sideways in order to avoid the generating gas escaping
through the pipe t. The lower mouth of the latter is sealed by the water of the
reservoir a itself.
The carbide distributing apparatus is composed of a carriage formed by a
bottomless box c travelling on rails f. The box c is divided by vertical parti-
tions into several compartments 1, 2, 3-7, each of which is divided in two by
a movable horizontal partition d. By these means the number of compartments
are doubled and consequently also the number of carbide charges. The bottom
of the distributing carriage is constituted by a band or strap e, the one end of
which is fastened to the vertical back wall of the carriage, the strap embraces
the guiding rollers g and g¹ and ends in a weight which gives it the con-
venient tension and also causes the carriage e to advance.
The carriage c is mounted on little wheels o travelling upon rails f arranged.
on both sides.
By the action of the weight p the carriage c tends to move in the direction
indicated by the arrow but it is stopped by the action of the locking mechanism
the details of which are indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.
This mechanism comprises a stationary frame = arranged on the external wall
of the carriage c. The frame carries two rods 2¹¹ on one of which a double
pawl turns, the other rod serves as a support to the pawl in order to fix
its working position.
The double pawl & has two teeth r¹ and ¹¹ situated on the side, but one in
front of the other.
Underneath the teeth and of the double pawl is a bar h supported
by the pillars soldered to a lower bar which can oscillate in supports i
fastened to the cover of the generator a. The rod is provided with two
springs m which tend to maintain it in its normal position. On the other side
DO71

page_text: this rod carries a cord, chain or the like passing over the pulley and fastened
on the lower end of a bar g carried by the bell 61 of the gasometer b. The bar g
is fastened to the bell 61 at the desired height by means of the clamping iron r
and pressure screw s.
When the bell 61 of the gasometer descends it draws the cord 7 by its lower
end and this latter draws the rod h, displacing also one of the bolts or pins k
which was in front of the tooth r¹ and the same takes a place behind the tooth
At this moment the distributing carriage c, actuated by the weight is advanced
till the tooth 11 leans against the following bolt . This has the effect that the
compartment 2 takes its place over the funnel whereinto it discharges the
whole of the carbide it contains. The carbide falling into the water of the
reservoir a generates a quantity of gas which lifts the bell 31 of the gasometer;
the latter in rising, slackens the cord or string 7, the springs m re-act and draw
the rod h back into its original position, that is to say, with a wedge. & before
the tooth which prevents an advance movement of the car till the bell re-
descends to a certain pre-determined point.
This operation is repeated in an automatic manner until the carriage has un-
loaded its last compartment after which it has only to be returned to its original
position and loaded again.
When the compartments 1, 2, 3-7 of the carriage are divided horizontally
ns illustrated in the drawing, as soon as the lower compartments have been
emptied, the carriage is brought back into its original position, and the parti.
tion which formed the bottom of the upper compartments removed, the carbide
descending by its own weight, fills the lower compartments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for generating acetylene by means of carbide falling into
water, the arrangement of a movable carbide distributor divided into several
compartments whose bottom is formed by a band or strap guided by rollers and
fastened at one end to the back wall of the distributor and at the other end to a
weight which causes the advancement of the distributor, the different com-
partments of the latter conforming with the upper opening of the funnel or
inlet tube for the introduction of the carbide into the generator substantially
as described and illustrated in the annexed drawing.
2. In the improved acetylene gas generating apparatus as in Claim 1. the
arrangement of a freeing and locking mechanism for the movable distributor
consisting of a double pawl gearing with the bolt or bolts of an oscillating rod
actuated by the bell of the gasometer so that this bell in descending displaces
one of the teeth of the pawl before a tooth of the distributor in order that the
latter can advance until the other tooth leans against the bolt and when the bell
rises again, the oscillating rod is guided back to its original position by the
action of springs or otherwise, substantially, as described and illustrated in the
annexed drawing.
Dated thin 10th
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18. Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C.