Improvements in Acetylene Producers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene Producers.
I, GEORGES MATTHYSSENS, Architect, of 9, Rue St. Joseph, Antwerp, Belgium,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention, at least two, or two sets each consisting of several,
generators are arranged in communication with a gasometer, so that while the
one, or the one set is being discharged and charged with fresh calcium carbide,
the other or other set continues to produce acetylene.
Each generator has in it a receptacle for the calcium carbide to which water
enters through small perforations in the sides of the receptacle, generating
acetylene gas which collects within a bell covering the receptacle, this bell being
made with double walls forming a space containing water for refrigeration, and
being itself immersed in water forming a hydraulic seal. From the top of the
bell, the gas descends an internal vertical pipe to a sloping pipe below by which
it is led to the gasometer. All the generators are contained in compartments of
one main vessel separated by partitions over which water supplied to one compart-
ment of a set flows to the other compartments of the same set.
In each com-
partment water can pass through perforations near the lower edge of the bell into
the space within the bell so as to supply the receptacles of calcium carbide.
The bell of the gasometer, when it rises above a certain point, raises a flexible
tube forming an outlet from a water supply cistern and thus cuts off supply to the
generators causing production of gas to cease, until the bell, again descending,
lowers the outlet tube and re-establishes the supply of water and production of gas.
The gasometer bell also when it attains a certain height opens a safety cock
allowing escape of acetylene.
Dated this 27th day of August 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, GEORGES MATTHYSSENS, Architect, of 9, Rue St. Joseph, Antwerp, Belgium,
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 combined apparatus, consisting of one or more auto-
matic generators of acetylene gas and a gasometer.

page_text: ine combined apparatus are shewn in the accompanying drawings, Fig.
being an elevation partly in section and Fig. 2 a plan; while Fig. 3 shews a
purifying and drying appliance. A is the generator and B the gasometer.
A. GENERATOR.
This apparatus, as shewn, consists of 4 separately acting generators 1, 2, 3
and 4, supplied with water which overflows the separating partitions from each
to the next in order. The middle partition between the generator 2 and 3 is
higher than the other two, so that water can be supplied to the 3rd and thence to
the 4th generator without passing through the first and second; thus residues
can be removed from the generators 1 and 2 and fresh charges of calcium carbide
can be supplied to them without interfering with the action of the generators 3
and 4. It may therefore be said that the generator is in two divisions each con-
sisting of two. Obviously the number in each division may be varied without
affecting the principles on which the construction and action of the apparatus
are based.
As shewn in the drawings the generator consists of a main vessel a divided by
partitions into 4 compartments, of 4 receptacles c for calcium carbide, and of
4 bells 6 which cover them, and which may be held in position while gas is
evolved by rods sliding through eyes at the top of the vessel a or otherwise
arranged as mentioned hereafter.
While in action each of the receptacles e is covered with fabric to retain the
first impurities and prevent the residue from being thrown out. Each compart-
ment of the vessel a is provided with a cock for running out water. Besides
the principal parts mentioned the generator has various accessories, the chief of
which are mentioned hereafter.
The gas collected under the bell b of each generating compartment in succession
is led by a pipe d placed vertically in each and then bent so as to pass horizontally
under the vessel a to a conduite common to all the generators, but separated
from each by a cock f. The pipes being surrounded by water act as refri-
gerators and also condensers. The conduite has at one end a cock g for clearing
it of air and thence it slightly inclines downwards to its other end which com-
municates with the gasometer B, so that liquid condensed in the conduit flows
down to a cock by which it can be discharged. Each bell is provided with a
cock at the top for discharge of air.
Each bell has at its base perforations for passage of the water necessary for
producing the gas. Four cocks placed immediately above the bottom of the
vessel a, one in each generator, facilitate renewal of the water which forms the
hydraulic seal of each bell b.
Each bell b has a double wall beginning a little above its lower edge and ex-
tending a little above its top, so as to form a space all round and over the bell to
hold refrigerating water. As this water considerably loads the bell, it does not
in most cases require to be held down by rods. The distance of the point where
the double wall commences above the lower edge is limited by the position of the
lower holes of the receptacles c for calcium carbide, so that when the water acts
on the carbide, the lower part of the bell b which is a single wall is quite immersed
in the water, and thus the chemical reaction producing the gas goes on in a
space entirely surrounded by water.
The vessel a has an overflow pipe at such a level that water cannot enter the
pipes d.
The receptacles for calcium carbide are perforated near the bottom to a
height depending on the pressure of the gas service, with a number of small holes
for admitting water but these holes must not be too numerous. The water is
supplied from a special reservoir C in which it is kept at constant level by a
float cock supplying it from any suitable source; the water passes by pipe h to
the generators, this pipe opening into the first of the first set of generators or the

page_text: first of the second set, as may suit the working conditions, this being determined
by cocks i and j.
The bell of the gasometer B as it descends acts on a lever p to which is
attached a caoutchouc tube h¹ and slowly lowers this so as to effect supply of water
to the generators. But when the bell rises a counterweight is allowed to descend,
raising the pipe p and so cutting off the water supply.
The moment at which the bell has to act on the pipe p has to be determined
in each case, and depends on the diameter of the pipe h and the maximum rate
at which the gas is consumed.
This should be so calculated that the time required for the water to overflow
from one generator to another to the level of the holes in the receptacles of
calcium carbide should be less than that required for the consumption at the
maximum rate to empty the gasometer.
It is essential that the production of gas in each generator or in all those
simultaneously in action should exceed the maximum. consumption, so that always
the bell should be raised above the point M2 where it acts on the reservoir
pipe 2, and should be kept in this position until the generators are exhausted.
The volume of gas generated in the one or more generators at maximum rate
should be in relation to the capacity of that part of the gasometer bell above
the level for the water supply; that is to say, this part of the bell should hold
all the gas produced, this arrangement avoiding escape of gas by the safety valve,
even when the consumption suddenly stops.
B. GASOMETER WITH HYDRAULIC SEAL.
The gas passes from the generators by the pipes d, e, e¹ into the gasometer
bell, which has no chain or counterpoise, and slides along guides with antifric-
tion rollers The bell is loaded to the service pressure, and by its movement acts,
as described, on the pipe p, for giving and cutting off the supply of water to the
generators. The gas issuing from the gasometer by the pipe m passes on its
way to the service through a purifier F (Fig. 3) which consists essentially of two
compartments R¹ R² charged with suitable material for purifying and drying
the gas.
This apparatus is provided with a double wire gauze bottom Q1 Q2 to retain
the impurities of the gas and to prevent flame from passing to the gasometer.
The gas enters at the bottom and passes through the purifying material in R
which rests on the gauze Q, then descends through the material in R2, which is
adapted for drying and rests on the gauze Q2 above the outlet. The cover of the
purifier is provided with a cock for outlet of air and has a hydraulic seal.
The gasometer B has two clearing cocks and for outlet of condensed liquid
and air, and a cock g for outlet of water.
The gasometer bell 7, at a little above its normal height M³ comes to act on the
lever of a safety cock s allowing escape of gas which might, owing to accident,
exceed the quantity provided for.
The reservoir C acts as follows:-Its outlet is a caoutchouc tube ¹ fixed on a
lever p which is acted on by a cord passing over pulleys by the ascent and descent
of the gasometer bell 7. When the bell rises to a point where it no longer tends
to lower p, a counterweight on 2 raises the outlet of the reservoir above the level
of the water which it contains, and consequently stops the supply from it. When
the bell descends it again raises the counterweight, lowering the outlet from the
reservoir and re-establishing the supply from it. The reservoir C which is
supplied by a float valve R has an overflow P a little below the highest position
of h¹ so that, in case the float valve should fail to close, the water can pass away
to a drain without going to the generators.
The apparatus is completed by a washer L, through which the gas passes on its
way to the gasometer. A small pipe T with a cock can establish direct communi-
cation between the generators and the gasometer so that gas in the gasometer

page_text: bell can be employed to discharge the air from the generators, when their bells
are raised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. Apparatus for automatic production of acetylene gas comprising two inde-
pendent generators or sets each consisting of any number of generators so that a
portion of the generators may have their charges of calcium carbide removed
while the others are in action, substantially as described.
2. In acetylene producing apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1, a con-
stant service pressure and a calculated relation between the quantity of gas pro-
duced, and the capacity of the gasometer bell above the level which determines
the supply of water to the generators, so that the pressure in the apparatus can
never exceed the service pressure, substantially as described.
3. In acetylene producing apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1, regu-
lating the supply of water to the generators by the ascent and descent of the
gasometer bell acting on a counter weighted lever which raises and lowers the
outlet pipe from the water reservoir, substantially as described.
4. In acetylene producing apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1, a
safety escape, cock acted on by the gasometer bell, at its extreme height, substan-
tially as described.
5. In acetylene producing apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1,
apparatus for purifying and drying the gas issuing from the gasometer, sub-
stantially as described.
6. In acetylene producing apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 1, a
washing apparatus L arranged between the generators and the gasometer, and
provided with a pipe T for direct communication, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.