Improvements in and relating to Generators for Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Generators for Acetylene Gas.
I, ARTHUR HENRY BARKER, of 62 Alderney Street, Eccleston Square, London,
S.W., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
generators for the production of acetylene gas and has for its object to provide a
constant and continuous supply of gas and to obviate explosions within the
generator on the introduction of the carbide into contact with the water, due to
the generation of phosphorated hydrogen and the admixture of this with air
usually admitted to the interior of the generator during the process of charging.
My invention consists in the provision of a generator preferably in a cylindrical
form in which is provided at the upper part thereof a receiver or holder for the
reception of the calcium carbide. I provide communication from the generator
with a tank or cistern disposed at a higher level from which water passes and fills
the generator.
In connection with my generator I provide a gas holder or receiver into which
the acetylene gas on generation is passed. This gas holder is provided as a bell
mounted or provided in a container in which water is supplied.
The gas on
generation passes up into the gas holder bell and effects the raising thereof and
the depression of water therefrom. The upward movement of the bell is deter-
mined by a suitable contact piece arranged thereon which effects the closure of the
valve admitting gas to the bell. The supply is taken from within the bell and on
reaching its topmost limit the passage of acetylene is stopped while generation still
proceeds and a pressure is accumulated in the generator which gradually effects
the depression of the water contained in the generator to such an extent as to lower
the level of the water out of contact with the calcium carbide. On the consump-
tion of the supply accumulated in the gas holder the bell falls and the communica-
ting cock from the generator is opened and the gas under the accumulated pressure
in the generator passes through to the gas holder and the level of the, water in
the generator is consequently raised and the generation of gas resumed.
In order to obviate the possibility of spontaneous ignition on the introduction of
the carbide holder within the generator and likewise to prevent the egress of water
should there be no supply of gas therein, I mount within the generator from the
upper surface a receiver designed to receive the carbide holder. I make this
receiver of such design and form that upon the introduction of the carbide holder
therein projections or contact pieces provided thereon in determined positions on
a slight rotation or other movement of such holder, effect the opening of valves
or orifices provided on the receiver whereupon the water in the receiver falls into
the generator.

page_text: I preferably provide two sets or series of valves, one at the lower extremity of
the receiver more especially for the admission of water and another series at the
upper extremity of the receiver more especially for the egress of gas generated
within the holder. I provide valves of any suitable form with rubber seatings by
which a tight hearing is obtained and which can be readily operated by the slight
rotation or other movement of the carbide holder on its introduction in situ. I
sometimes prefer to arrange the valves upon the receiver, as a series of orifices
which are closed during charging by a continuous band of india-rubber extending
around the exterior of the receiver frame and of sufficient width to cover the
orifices. The operating projections upon the holder extend the band at each orifice,
and the required communication is thereby made. A rubber bearing surface is
provided upon the outer flanges of the receiver upon which its cover may tightly
fit.
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
IS, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
I, ARTHUR HENRY BARKER, of 62 Alderney Street, Eccleston Square, London,
S.W., 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
génerators for the production of acetylene gas and has for its object to provide a
constant and continuous supply of gas and to obviate entirely the admixture of
acetylene, with the air admitted to the interior of the generator during the process
of charging on the introduction of the carbide into contact with the water, which
mixture if by any means it became ignited might cause an explosion.
The mode of carrying my invention into effect is illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawing which shows a vertical section through the complete generator.
My invention consists in the provision of a generator preferably in a cylin-
drical form in which is provided at the upper part thereof a carbide holder A for
the reception of the calcium carbide. I provide communication from the gener-
ator B with a tank or cistern O disposed at a higher level from which water passes
by way of the tube D and fills the generator.
"In connection with my generator I provide a gas holder or receiver E into which
the acetylene gas on generation is passed. This gas holder is provided as a bell
niounted or provided in a container in which water is supplied. The gas on
generation passes up into the gas holder bell F by way of the pipe I and mutually
through the perforations a in that pipe and effects the raising thereof and the
depression of water therefrom. The upward movement of the bell F is determined
by a suitable contact piece G arranged thereon which effects the closure of the
valve H admitting gas to the bell F by way of the pipe I. The supply is taken
from within the bell F by way of the down cast pipe P and branch pipe b and on
the bell reaching its topmost limit the passage of acetylene is stopped, while
generation still proceeds and a pressure is accumulated in the generator B which
gradually effects the depression of the water contained in the generator B from the
normal level indicated on the drawings at c up into the tank C to such an extent

page_text: as to lower the level of the water out of contact with the calcium carbide. On
the consumption of the supply accumulated in the gas holder the bell F falls and
the communicating cock if from the generator is opened and the gas ander the
accumulated pressure in the generator passes through to the gas holder E and the
level of the water in the generator B is consequently raised by the return of the
water from the tank C and the generation of gas resumed.
In order to obviate the possibility of admixture of air with the acetylene on the
introduction of the carbide holier A within the generator B I mount within the
generator B from the upper surface, a receiver J'designed to receive the carbide
holder A. I make this receiver J of such design and form that it can be com-
pletely shut off from the water in the generator by means of valves K K' operated
at will by a spindle passing through a stuffing box L.
I preferably provide the set of valves K K as shown, K' at the lower extremity
of the receiver J more especially for the passage of water and the other valve
at the upper extremity of the receiver more especially for the egress of gas
generated within the receiver. The valves K Kare made of any suitable formp
by which a tight bearing can be obtained and which can be readily operated by
the slight rotation or other movement of the hand wheel M.
In order to avoid the mixing of the acetylene with air within the generator in
charging, I fill the generator up to the level of its cover D leaving only a slight
layer of water within the receiver J, the valves K K being closed. Upon the
introduction of the carbide holder A which closely fits the receiver Ja sufficient
quantity of acetylene gas is generated (by the water attacking the carbide through
suitable perforations in the holder) to displace all the air in the spaces between the
lumps of carbide through an aperture in the lid provided with a cock N.
After shutting off the cock N, opening the valves K K' puts the generator into
action in the manner hereinbefore described, and by closing these valves the
carbide holder A may be removed and recharged at any time without interfering
with the gas supply.
If at any time it is desiresl to render the cock H and stop G inoperative a cock Q
is opened which allows gas to pass direct from the receiver J to the pipe R and so
into the gas holder. Again upon the hottom of the pipe l' is a small inlet hole d
which acts as a safety device so that if the water falls very low in the generator the
gas is sent up into the holder and not up the pipe D into the atmosphere.
The carbide basket A is a light perforated vessel of any suitable material.
On the drawing the dotted lines X X indicate a constructional modification
which I sometimes adopt, viz., I attach the receiver and carbide holder with all
its cocks to a cylinder which is placed within another cylinder indicated by the
lines XX, the outer annulus thus formed communicating with the overhead tank C
and forming a substitute for the pipe 1 while the gas pipes to the helder above.
are also connected to the annulus. By this means all the inner devices can be
easily removed for repair or renewal. A rubber bearing surface is provided upon
the outer flanges of the receiver upon which its cover may tightly fit.
To assist in cooling the heat generated by the disintegration of the carbide a
shallow layer of water normally lies in the tank C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas in combination, a gas gener
ator with an overhead water supply tank, a carbide holder placed at the bottom of
the water tank but communicating only with the generator, means for cutting off
the communication of the carbide holder with the generator, and an overhead gas
receiver with floating holder which cuts off the communication from the generator
at the top of the holders travel as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas the provision of an outer
receiver to enclose the carbide holder having cocks or their equivalent to cut off

page_text: communication from the receiver to the generator so that the carbide holder may
be recharged without interfering with the gas supply.
Dated this 30th day of June 1897.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.