Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas and the like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: L
21.
.
Date of Application, 24th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar, 1898- Accepted; 20th May,
1898
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas and the
like purposes.
-
I, JOHN WILLIAM SCARTH, of Chapeltown, Pudsey, in the County of York,
Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas
from carbide of lime, and the like purposes, and which automatically regulates
in an extremely sensitive manner the generation to the consumption of gas.
An-
n-apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention consists of a gas
holder, i.e. a vessel closed at the side and top but, open at the bottom and enclosed
in a longer water, cylinder, or vessel. In the top of the holler is or may be pro-
vided a hollow cap, open at the bottom to the interior of the gas holder, and
extending to a height slightly above the level of the water in the water cylinder.
Close to the water cylinder and outside the same is provided the generator. This
consists of a cylinder or vessel, preferably water jacketed; which contains the
carbide holder, formed as a cylinder or vessel of wire or preferably perforated
sheet metal. The upper and lower ends of the water jacket are placed in communi-
cation with the water cylinder, conveniently by means of two short pipes. From
the lower end of the carbide holder a pipe, hereinafter called the water pipe,, passes
th the upper end of the gas holder; and a second pipe herein after called the gas
pipe, passes from the upper end of the generator to the upper part of the before
mentioned cap piece. The gas pipe immediately on passing from the generator,
is first bent upwards to a short distance above the level of the water in the water
cylinder, and is provided in the descending branch with a stop cock. Or in place
of the stop cock, the descending branch of the gas pipe may be made in two separ-
ate portions, the lower end of the upper portion dipping below the level of the
water in a small closed vessel, and the upper end of the lower portion terminating
in and close to the top of the said closed vessel. This device is herein after
referred to as the water lock.
From the upper end of the before mentioned cap piece, a second pipe preferably
formed as a coil, and herein after referred to as the condenser pipe, passes down
through the water in the gas holder to the upper part of a closed vessel, con-
veniently attached to the underside of the bottom of the water cylinder, and herein
after called the collector box. The gas supply pipe to the burners is taken from the
upper part of the collector box.
The upper part of the gas holder is formed with a false conical or tapering side,
or lined with wood or other packing to form a displacer of an upward gradually
increasing size; so that the displacement of the water by the downward movement
of the holder increases at a much greater ratio than the increase of depth or move-
ment of the holder.
The upper end of the generator is closed by a lid which can be tightly secured
in position by a bridge and screw and other convenient means. A funnel shaped
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page_text: water supply inlet and overflow are provided in the side of the water cylinder,
and a discharge cock is fitted to the bottom of the generator.
A stop cock is fitted to the water pipe close to its junction with the lower part
of the generator.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: The water cylinder is filled with
water up to the water level, and the level of the water in the gas holder reaches
close to the top of the water pipe. On opening the supply pipe to the burners;
the gas in the upper part of the holder passes down through the condenser pipe,
allowing the holder to descend. In doing so the displacer causes the water to rise
in the holder and overflow down the water pipe to the lower part of the generator,
and on coming in contact with the calcium carbide, the water is decomposed, and
acetylene gas generated. The gas generated passes off from the upper end of the
generator through the gas pipe to the upper part of the gas holder, and if the
production is more rapid than the consumption, the 'holder is raised and the water
level falls below the mouth of the water pipe, stopping the water supply and
the generation of gas. The generation of gas however does not cease immediately
if there is a considerable quantity of water in the pipe and this suffices to reach
the level of undecomposed carbide. By closing the before mentioned atop cock
or by the water lock, the gas generated' may be prevented from passing direct
to the gas holder; and exercising a back pressure on the water in the generator,
it forces the water back below the undecomposed carbide, into the water pipe.
"The cock or the water lock also serve the purpose of preventing a back flow of
gas from the holder to the generator, which provision is necessary to prevent the
gas escaping back from the gas holder, when the generator is being recharged.
Dated this 23ed dov of June 1907
Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas and the
like purposes:
I, JOHN WILLIAM SCARTH, of Chapeltown, Pudsey, in the County of York,
Plumber, 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 means or apparatus employed for
generating acetylene gas from calcium carbide or the like.
The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for the production of
acetylene gas from carbide of calcium, and the like purposes, and which auto-
matically regulates, in an extremely sensitive manner, the generation to the con-
sumption of gas.
I attain the above object by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the entire apparatus.
Fig. 2 an elevation drawn at a right angle to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a reduced part plan of water cylinder with a generator arranged within
an external recess.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A is the gas holder, which is closed at the side and top, but is open at the
bottom. The gas holder A is enclosed within a longer water cylinder B, provided

page_text: with or without a top or removable cover B. The gas holder and water cylinder
may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, and of any convenient shape,
such as round, square, hexagonal, or other contour. In the top of the gas holder
is provided a recess, hereafter termed the hollow cap C, which extends to a height,
say, for example, slightly above the level of the water (shown at Fig. 1 by dotted
line D) in the water cylinder.
E is the generator which is arranged at any suitable distance from and on the
outside of the water cylinder. The generator is preferably arranged close to the
water cylinder, or it may be arranged within a recess B³, as shown at Fig. 3. The
generator E consists of a cylinder or other shaped vessel closed at the bottom,
and provided with a removable lid or cover E' which is secured in position by a
hand screw F, passing through a nut formed in a bridge G, capable of being
moved in and out of position as circumstances require. The generator E is
preferably, though not necessarily so, water jacketed at H, and the upper and
lower ends of the water jacket are placed in conimunication, with the water
cylinder by means of the short pipes or tubes h h¹.
The generator E contains the carbide holder I, which is made to fit or pass
within the generator.
The carbide holder I may consist of a cylinder or other vessel, say, of wire,
or preferably perforated sheet metal.
From the lower end of the generator, below the carbide holder, a pipe, herein-
after called the water pipe J, passes through the bottom of the water cylinder
into the gas holder, and is carried up to within a suitable distance of its top but
below the water level D when the gas holder is in its normal position. The pipe J
is provided, say, near the generator E, with a stop cock or valve J¹ for cutting-
off the water supply from the cylinder to the generator.
A second pipe, hereinafter called the gas pipe K, passes from the upper end of
the generator E, as presently described, to the upper part of the before mentioned
hollow cap C. The gas pipe K immediately on passing from the generator E
is first led upwards for a short distance above the level of the water line D in the
water cylinder, and it may be provided in either the ascending or descending
branch thereof with a stop cock L of any ordinary and suitable construction. It
is shown at Fig. 1 on the ascending branch. Or in place of the stop cock, or in
addition thereto, the descending branch of the gas pipe K may be made in two
separate portions, k, k, as shown at Fig. 1, the lower end of the portion k dipping
below the level of the water in a small closed cylindrical or other shaped vessel,
hereinafter referred to and termed the water lock M. The upper end of the lower
portion of the gas pipe K is arranged to terminate in and near to the top of
the said closed vessel, forming the water lock M.
Provision is made in the top of the water lock M for the admission of water
to its interior. The water forming the water lock is arranged to cover the end
of pipe k, say about two inches, more or less according to the size of the vessel M.
When the lid E is removed, the pressure of the gas in the holder A forces the
water in the closed vessel M up the pipe k, and, by reason of the latter being
smaller in diameter, or of smaller area than the closed vessel M, the pressure of
the column of water in the pipe k is increased, and thereby forms a complete and
certain seal for preventing the gas escaping from the holder A and returning
to the generator E..
To prevent the condensation of the gas, or water carried by the gas, forming
a water lock in the horizontal portion of the pipe K it may be provided with a
syphon tap of ordinary construction, or a branch pipe K, armed with a stop
cock, may be, provided for connecting this portion of the pipe K with the collector
box O. By this means the water may be readily removed from the horizontal
portion of the pipe K.
From near the top of the interior of the before mentioned hollow cap C, a
second pipe, preferably formed as a coil, and hereinafter referred to as the con-

page_text: denser pipe N, passes down through the water in the. gas holder A to; the upper
part of a closed vessel, O, of any suitable size and shape, conveniently attached,
say, to the underside of the bottom of the water cylinder B, and hereinafter called
the collector box. The gas supply pipe P to the burners is taken from the upper
part of the collector box 0, and may be armed with a valve or stop cook of
any ordinary and suitable construction.
↓
The upper part of the gas holder is formed with false conical or tapering sides,
or is lined with a wood or other packing to form a displacer R. When a circular
gas 'holder is employed, the displacer may be made in one piece, and the orifice
at the top would be smaller than it is at the bottom. In cross section its sides
would then be cuniform, and they are arranged with their largest portions against
the top of the gas holder as shown at Fig. 1. As the gas holder and displacer
rise in the water cylinder there will be an upward gradually increasing size of the
space for the gas within the gas, holder. Consequently the displacement of the
water, by the downward movement of the gas holder, increases at a much greater
ratio than the increase of depth or movement of the gas holder.
A funnel shaped water supply inlet S at the side of the water cylinder, and an
opening or hole S, is provided in the side of the water cylinder for communication
therewith,
T is an overflow pipe attached to the funnel S.
A discharge cock U is fitted to the bottom of the generator.
When placing the calcium carbide (which is broken or powdered in or to any
suitable size) within the holder, care should be taken to avoid quite filling it-say
from one half to three fourths full will be found sufficient-so as to provide room
for the expansion of the calcium carbide during the generation of gas.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
upper
The charge is placed in the holder I of the generator E, and its lid E' secured
in position by the hand screw after the bridge G has been turned into position.
The water cylinder B is filled, through funnel S and opening s, with water up
to the water level 1), and the level of the water in the gas holder then reaches close
to the top of the water pipe J. On opening the supply" pipe P to the burners,
(not shown in the drawings), the gas previously generated and stored in the
part of the gas holder A passes down through the condenser pipe N, thereby allow-
ing the gas holder A to descond. In doing so, the displacer R causes the water
to rise in the gas holder and overflow down the water pipe J to the lower part of
the generator E; and, on coming in' contact with the charge of calcium carbide
therein, the water is decomposed and acetylene gas (CH2) generated. The gas
generated passes off from the upper end of the generator through the gas pipe K
to the hollow cap C in the upper part of the gas holder, and if the production is
more rapid than the consumption, the holder is raised and the water level falls
below the mouth of the water pipe stopping the water supply and the generation
of gas. The generation of gas however does not cease immediately if there is
a considerable quantity of water in the pipe, and this suffices to reach the level
of the undecomposed carbide.
By closing the before-mentioned stop cock L, or by the automatic closing of the
water lock M, the gas generated may be prevented from passing direct to the
gas holder, and exercising a back pressure on the water in the generator, it forces
the water back below the undecomposed carbide into the water pipe.
The cock L or the water lock M also serve the purpose of preventing a back
flow of gas from the holder to the generator, which provision is necessary to pre-
vent the gas escaping back from the gas holder when the generator is being re-
charged.
By the use of the herein described apparatus the following advantages are
secured, in addition to there being less heat than when coal gas is used, namely:--
1. There is an automatic supply of water to generator, ensuring constant and
regular supply of gas. 2.-The vapour is entirely condensed before entering the
main service pipe. 3.-The pressure of gas remains always the same under every

page_text: circumstance, and that without the addition of any costly and always unsatisfactory
regulator. 4.-The total exclusion of air, and therefore uniform and steady light.
5. The apparatus can be recharged with absolute safety without any alteration
of apparatus, and that when the gas is burning.
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. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus for
the manufacture and regular delivery of acetylone gas substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. In apparatus for the manufacture and delivery of acetylene gas the use of
the displacer R as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
Dated this Twenty-first day of March 1898.
JOHN WILLIAM SCARTH.