Improvements in or relating to Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Acetylene Gas Generators.
We, KARL KÜPPERS, Electrical Engineer, of Stefanstrasse 27/29, and HEIN-
RICH SCHROEDER, Tinsmith, of Jacobstrasse 6, both of Aix la Chapelle, in the
Empire of Germany, 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 an improved acetylene gas generator which can be
made in very small sizes and in which the supply of carbide is automatically
regulated, the gas pressure remains constant and calcining on the parts of the
apparatus as well as an after development of gas are prevented. The generator
automatically produces only so much gas as may be required for maintaining
the light and the generation ceases immediately the gas is not used. In the
annexed drawing the improved generator is represented in vertical section. The
apparatus consists of a funnel shaped receiver a hermetically closed on the top
and whose lower opening can be opened or closed automatically by a valve e
operated by an annular float g by means of a lever f. The funnel receiver a
is provided with a flange o which is screwed on to the flange of the pipe ca
washer being interposed. The pipe c passes down into an open vessel d arranged
in a receiver m filled with water. The valve e is suitably connected with the
lever which is perpendicular and is secured at the lower end at u to a bridge
of the annular float y. Below the valve e is a conically formed shield h pre-
venting the scattering of the falling carbide. Upon the inner vessel d the gas
pipe is arranged provided with a gas cock 1 passing to the purifier. From
pipe another pipe n rises and is connected to the top part of funnel receiver a.
This pipe serves to equalize the pressures in the generator and the funnel receiver.
If this tube n were not provided, in proportion as the carbide falls out of the
funnel, the acetylene saturated with water would ascend and possibly become
calcined on the funnel opening. The closure 6 of the funnel serves at the same
time as a carbide gauge, being provided with a glass pipe carrying inside a
metal bar widened at its lower end to a flat plain or having its lower end ball
shaped. This metal bar is under lateral pressure from a device r. As shown in
Fig. 2 an outwardly curved elastic membrane situated at r carries inside the
device a wire ending in a hook. The latter embraces the metal bar and draws
it by the natural tension of the curved membrane towards the wall of the tube.
If the membrane is then pressed inwards at the hook releases the metal bar,
the flattened or hall shaped lower end of the same comes upon the surface of
the carbide whilst the upper end shows by its height in the glass pipe the quantity
of carbide in the receiver.
The manner of working of the apparatus is as follows:
The funnel receiver a is filled with carbide reduced to small pieces or for very
small constructions with a mixture of pulverised carbide and sand. The vessel m
is filled with water. If the cock is then opened, the water rises in the inner
receiver reaches the float g lifts the same and by means of lever f actuates
the valve e which opens the lower opening of the funnel receiver. Consequently

page_text: some carbide from the latter drops through the pipe h onto the water level in d
and here develops acetylene which at once lowers the water level in the receiver d.
Thereby also the float g sinks and so the valve e closes. This opening and
closing of the valve is continued as long as gas is consumed. If the cock is
closed, the gas contained in the vessel d immediately produces pressure upon the
water surface, the float consequently sinks the valve is closed and the supply of
carbide being stopped the gas development ceases. The cocks arranged on
funnel a leads to a pressure gauge. The lime originated during the working of
the apparatus sinks to the funnel shaped bottom of the receiver m from whence
it can flow out through a cock or pipe. Finally a safety pipe t reaches with its
lower end into the vessel, in case the gas development is too strong which would
not happen under normal conditions then the gas would escape through this
pipe into the open air. This generator always produces only so much gas as is
used at the time and any after development of gas is absolutely excluded. The
paris of the generator can be disconnected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
An improved acetylene generator in which a funnel shaped receiver whose
lower end is closed by a valve automatically actuated by an annular float by
means of a lever contains carbide in small pieces which drops down at short
intervals of time as long as gas is being consumed into a generating chamber
open at its lower end wherein the said annular float is arranged and into which
water contained in a vessel surrounding the same can rise and by which if the
gas produced is not consumed or drawn off the pressure of the gas in said
generating chamber forces the water downwards whereupon the float sinks and
closes the carbide valve; means being provided whereby the quantity of carbide
standing in the receiver can be gauged consisting of a glass pipe arranged on
the cover of the receiver containing a metal bar carrying at its lower end a
plate or hollow ball, said bar being held in place by an elastic device arranged
in the side of the pipe and set free by pressure upon this elastic device so that
it can sink until its plate or ball shaped lower end rests upon the surfaces of the
carbide contained in the funnel receiver.
Dated this 20th day of April 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
18, Buckingham Street, W.C.