Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
We, AUGUST HERMAN DEIKE, residing at 20, Kirkland Street, in the City of
Guelph, in the County of Wellington, and Province of Ontario, Manufacturer,
ALEXANDER WATSON ALEXANDER, residing at 80, Paisley Street, in the said City
of Guelph, Gentleman, and JOHN MITCHELL, residing at 231, Dublin Street, in
the said City of Guelph, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention 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 certain new and useful improvements in acetylene
gas generators, and relates more particularly to the peculiar construction of the
carbide holder, which is so arranged as to automatically deposit a predetermined
quantity of calcium carbide in the water when the gasometer has descended below
a predetermined level. In the top of the generator is contained a carbide holder
provided with a bottom consisting of a series of independent sections, hinged at
one end to its body and temporarily held at the other by a series of movable
supports, actuated successively by the lowering of the gasometer to release the
bottom sections in regular succession, and permit them to swing into a
substantially perpendicular position, and allow of the falling of the calcium car-
bide into the lower part of the generator. The quantity of carbide held by each
bottom section is in proportion to the capacity of the gasometer, in order that
there will be no over-production of gas beyond the capacity of the gasometer:
and the invention consists essentially of the device hereinafter more fully set forth
and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the generator and a portion of the gas-tank taken
on the lines a-a Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the generator.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the carbide holders.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the shaft for operating the movable supports.
Fig. 5 is an end view of the shaft shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the movable supports.
Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and
drawings.
1 represents the generator, which is of any suitable size and shape, and con-
structed of any suitable material.
In the lower part of the generator 1 is an opening 2 closed by a cover 3, held
tightly in place by thumb-screws 4.
Fitted into the generator 1 below the opening 2 is a faucet 5 to draw off the water
and residue from the generator when cleaning the same.
[D
073

page_text: Contained in the upper part of the generator 1 are two carbide holders each
consisting of a body portion 6 and a bottom 7 hinged to the body portion 6 by
means of a hinge-bolt 8. The bottom 7 consists of a series of independent abutting
sections 9, each of which is provided at one end with an eye 10 through which
passes the bolt 8 to pivotally connect the sections to the body portion, the rod S
being connected to the body portion at each end and between the sections.
Each carbide holder is supported upon two rods 11 extending from end to end
of the generator, there being sufficient interval between the rods to allow of the
free movement of the sections 9.
One end of the generator 1 is provided with two openings 12, one opening being
opposed to each carbide holder to allow of the removal and replacement of the
carbide holders. Each opening 12 is surrounded by a metal ring 13, to which
is fitted a removable cover 14 held tightly in place by any suitable means.
Journaled in the ends of the generator below the carbide holders are two
shafts 15 and 15, upon each of which is oscillatingly mounted a series of supports 16,
one support being located below each section 9. The purpose of each support
is to temporarily hold its respective section in a substantially horizontal position,
to enable it to retain the carbide in the holder until it is required for the production
of gas.
Journaled in the ends of the generator 1 below each of the shafts 15 and 15"
are two rotatable shafts 17 and 17" respectively, each provided with a series of
pins 18 projecting from its perimeter sufficiently to engage the lower ends of the
supports 16, and arranged in a spiral manner so that the supports will be actuated
in regular succession.
Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 17 is a pinion 19 and meshing with
the pinion 19 is a pinion 19", mounted on the shaft 17". Rigidly connected to the side
face of the pinion 19" is a ratchet wheel 20, and pivotally mounted on the shaft 17"
is one end of a lever 21, the opposite end of which is connected to the lower end
of a pitman 22, whilst the upper end of the pitman 22 is connected to the arm 23
of a bell crank lever pivoted to the end of the generator 1, the opposite
arm 24 of the bell crank lever being connected to one end of a pitman 25, whilst
the other end of the pitman 25 is connected to the arm 26 of a bell crank lever
pivoted to the top of the generator, whilst the arm 27 of the bell crank lever is
connected to a draw-rod 28, the lower part of which is contained within the well
29 of the gas-tank, and the lower end 28" of which is hook-shaped to be engaged
by the gasometer 30 when in its lowered position.
Connected to the lever 21 is a dog 21 which engages the teeth of the ratchet
wheel 20, and causes the rotation of the ratchet wheel when the bell crank levers
and pitmans are being operated by the descent of the gasometer. The rotation
of the ratchet wheel causes the rotation of the pinions 19 and 19 and shafts 17
and 17 and brings the pins 18 successively into engagement with the lower ends
of the supports 16, moving the supports in succession from the under side of the
sections 9.
Leading from the top or upper part of the generator 1 to the lower part of
the well 29 is a gas conduit 31, by means of which the gas is conveyed from the
generator to the gasometer.
The carbide holders after being filled are placed on the rods 11 in the generator
and the openings 12 are tightly closed by the covers 14, each bottom section 9
being held in its closed position by its respective support 16. The partial rotation
of the shafts 17 and 17 (either by the lowering of the gasometer or by operating
the shaft by hand) causes the first pin 18 to be brought into engagement with
the first support 16, and move it a sufficient distance to free it from engagement
with the bottom of the section 9, which naturally swings into a substantially
perpendicular position as shown in dotted lines in the drawings, and allows that
portion of the contents of the carbide holder held by it to fall to the lower part
of the generator. The contact of the calcium carbide with the water generates
gas, which passes from the generator through the conduit 31 to the gasometer.30,

page_text: and causes the gasometer to rise. The gasometer lowers when the gas has been
exhausted and engages the hook-shaped end of the draw-rod 28, which by means
of the bell crank levers and pitmans operates the pinions to rotate the shafts
sufficiently to cause the second pin 18 to engage. the second support 16 and release
it from engagement with the second section 9 which swings into the same position
as did the first section, allowing its portion of the contents of the carbide holder
to fall to the lower part of the generator; this operation being repeated until the
supports have been successively moved to free their respective sections 9.
The shape and construction of the generator, including the operating mechanism
for the supports, can be varied or modified without departing from the nature of
the invention, and so also can the shape of the carbide holders.
A generator containing any number of carbide holders can be operated in the
same manner as the above construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, and a bottom
for the body portion consisting of a series of hinged sections, substantially as
specified.
2. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, and means for temporarily holding the opposite ends
of the sections, substantially as specified.
3. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, means for temporarily holding the opposite ends of the
sections, and means for releasing the sections successively, substantially as
specified.
4. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion, consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, a pivoted support for each section to temporarily hold
it in a closed position, and means for operating the pivoted supports to successively
release the sections, substantially as specified.
5. A. carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion, consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, a pivoted support for each section, to temporarily hold
it in a closed position, a shaft, a series of pins projecting from the perimeter of
the shaft, arranged spirally to engage successively the pivoted supports, sub-
stantially as specified.
6. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion, consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, a pivoted support for each section to temporarily hold it
it in a closed position, a shaft,, a series of pins projecting from the perimeter of
shaft, arranged spirally to engage successively the pivoted supports, and means
for rotating the shaft, substantially as specified.
7. A carbide holder embracing in its construction a body portion, a bottom
for the body portion consisting of a series of independent sections hinged at one
end to the body portion, a pivoted support for each section to temporarily hold
it in a closed position, a shaft, a series of pins projecting from the perimeter
of the shaft, arranged spirally to engage successively the pivoted supports, and
means for rotating the shafts actuated by the lowering of the gasometer, "sub-
stantially as specified.
8. The carbide holder herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
9. The generator for an acetylene gas machine hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 10. The shaft for operating the movable supports for the bottom of the carbide
holder herein before described and illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this o™ day di maу A.D. 10.
AUGUST HERMAN DEIKE.
ALEXANDER WATSON ALEXANDER.
JOHN MITCHELL.
George Barker,
Agent for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.