Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
We, BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE, of 29, Great George Street, Westminster,
Civil Engineer, and HORACE ALLEN, of the same address, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in acetylene generating apparatus in
which the essential agent is calcic carbide.
The main objects of our invention are as follows:
(a) To preserve a certain definite water level in contact with a specific propor-
tion of calcic carbide.
(b) To make the degree of gaseous evolution depend upon the opening of the
acetylene gas outlet cock.
(e) To make the production of gas to balance the demand.
(d) To prevent the possibility of the production of dangerous pressures.
(e) To effect the cooling and washing of the gas in the most effective manner.
(f) To provide an easily renewable form of physical or mechanical purifier.
Referring to Sheet 1 of drawings which constitutes part of our specification,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus constructed according to our in-
vention.
A, is the water containing vessel covered with a top plate cover B, that may
or may not be perforated. This cover carries in suspension the tube C, which
has at its base a bottomless vessel D, the side of which has at its lower edge
bayonet joints E, which carry a wire framework F, that can be rapidly placed
in position shewn, by sliding the wire feet into the bayonet slides.
The upper part of the framework constitutes a wire basket or cage G,
strengthened and deepened by the side plate H.
To fill this cage with carbide (we prefer to employ this material after treat-
ment by Dr. Letang's retarding process for which a Patent No.
21572 and dated Sep. 29th 1896 has been granted), the top cover
plate B, is lifted and with it the internal tubular chambers.
The cage is removed and filled and returned to the position shewn in drawing
Fig. 1. Now we will describe the essential and most important feature and one
that constitutes our invention. We place over the carbide cage or basket a
cap J, whose side extends down to a point K, that is a little above the bottom
of the cage G, and which consequently exposes a portion of the carbide shewn at
M. The cap J, moreover is less in diameter than the vessel D, so that should gas
be evolved, it can escape through the annular space formed by the difference
between the diameters of the cap J, and the vessel D.
Now the action of this cap J, will be easily understood. Firstly, it constitutes
a kind of secondary diving bell that imprisons a certain volume of gas dependent
upon the hydraulic pressure of the water N, contained in the outer vessel A.
Secondly, the gas is compelled to come into contact with the water at N N,
before it can escape into the annular space 0, to the burner; in this contact the
gas is not only effectively cooled but is washed as well. Thirdly, if the gas

page_text: cock P is closed the gas pressure augments, until the water is forced below the
level and quite out of contact with the carbide M, and so the gas production is quite
arrested.
On opening the gas cock P, the stored gas first escapes and the water N,
again rises into contact with the carbide M, and gas continues to be produced.
The top of the cap J, can be made to carry fibrous asbestos cotton wool or any
suitable kind of purifier Q, as shewn in dotted lines, the purifying agent is
compressed when the cage framework is lifted into the bayonet joint fastening.
The perforated plate S, carried by the stem of the wire basket has for its object
the prevention of the falling of small particles of carbide into the bottom of
the vessel A.
Dated this 26th day of September 1899.
70.11
B. H. THWAITE,
HORACE ALLEN.
We, BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE and HORACE ALLEN, both of 29, Great
George Street, Westminster, Civil Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in acetylene generating apparatus, in
which the essential agent is calcic carbide.
The main objects of our invention are as follows:-
:―
a. To preserve a definite water level in contact with a specific proportion of
calcic carbide.
b. To make the degree of gaseous evolution depend upon the opening of the
acetylene gas outlet cock.
c. To make the production of gas to balance the demand.
d. To prevent the possibility of the production of dangerous pressures.
e. To effect the cooling and washing of the gas in the most effective manner.
f. To provide an easily renewable form of physical or mechanical purifier.
Referring to Sheet 1 of drawings which constitutes part of this specification.
It is a vertical section of the apparatus constructed according to our invention.
A, is the water containing vessel, covered with a top plate cover B that may or
may not be perforated.
This cover B carries in suspension the tube C, which has at its base a bottomless
vessel D), the sides of which have at its lower edge bayonet joints E, which carry
a wire framework F, that can be rapidly placed in position shewn, by sliding
the wire feet into the bayonet slides. The upper part of the framework con-
stitutes a wire basket or cage strengthened and deepened by the side plate H. To
fill this cage with carbide (we prefer to employ this material after treatment
by Dr. Letang's retarding process) Patent 21572/96 the top cover plate B is
lifted and with it the internal tubular chambers, and the cage is removed and
filled and returned to the position shewn in drawing.
Now we will describe the essential and most important feature and one that
constitutes our invention.
We place over the carbide cage or basket G, a cap of metal or porous earthen-
ware J, whose side extends down to a point K, that is a little above the bottom of
the cage and which consequently exposes a portion of the carbide, shown at M.
The cap J, moreover is less in diameter than the vessel D, so that should gas

page_text: be evolved it can escape through the annular space formed by the difference
between the diameters of the cap J and the vessel D.
Now the action of this cap J, will be easily understood.
Firstly, it constitutes a kind of secondary diving bell that imprisons a
certain volume of gas dependent upon the hydraulic pressure of the water N
contained in the outer vessel A.
Secondly, the gas is compelled to come into contact with the water at N N,
before it can escape into the annular space 0, to the burner-in this contact the
gas is not only cooled effectively but it is washed as well.
Thirdly, if the gas cock P, is closed the gas pressure augments until the
water is forced below the level and quite out of contact with the carbide M,
and so the gas production is quite arrested.
On opening the gas cock F, the excess gas first escapes and the water again
rises into contact with the carbide M and gas continues to be produced. The
space at the top of the cap J, can be filled with fibrous asbestos, cotton wool or
any suitable Kind of purifier, as shown by the dotted lines. The purifying
agent is compressed when the cage framework is lifted into the bayonet joint
fastening.
The perforated plate S, carried by the stem of the wire basket has for its
object the prevention of the falling of small particles of carbide into the bottom
of the vessel A.
Another method we may adopt to effect the same object as cap J is shown. In
this case we dispense with the cap J altogether.
At a point in the bottomless vessel D at about the position shown at Q
we make a perforation to admit of a small pipe R being inserted and carried
up on the outside of such bottomless vessel to the top and through the cover B.
This pipe allows the air contained in the vessel D to escape at the orifice T,
until the water rises to Q and comes in contact with the calcic carbide; when
the orifice must be closed by a cap, or valve. The water cannot afterwards rise
and flood the carbide cage G owing to the remaining enclosed air in vessel D
above point Q. The generation of the gas commencing on the expulsion of the
air up to point Q gradually expels the remaining air at the burner, on opening
tap P and thus prevents the water attacking any more of the carbide than is
governed by the amount of the gas consumed at the burner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
The methods by which we prevent the water rising above any desired part of
the cage containing the carbide by the use independently of the cap J or tube R,
substantially as described.