Year: 1898

page_text: JOHN HOWARD Ross, 35, Wills Street Aston, Birmingham, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is applicable to that form of generator in which granulated carbide
is allowed to drop on to water & has for its object the dispensing with the valves
as used in generators of this class made hitherto these valves being objectionable
owing to the fact that they are liable to get clogged & consequently do not work
properly & by a sudden impact are liable to discharge more carbide into the water
which consequently produces more gas than the usual size gas holder will contain.
To carry out my invention I employ a vessel preferably of a cylindrical shape
& having an inner cylinder concentric therewith.
Within the inner evlinder is contained the water with which the carbide comes
in contact when discharged from the carbide holder,-between the inner & outer
cylinder is contained pure water, between the walls of which fits a bell or gas
holder free to move up & down. To the outer wall of the cylinder is attached
(removable if preferred) an arm or bracket extending vertically or in suitable
direction, to hold or carry the carbide holder. The carbide holder preferably
make in the form of a double cone having pivets at the apexes which fit into slots
or holes in a fork on the end of vertical bracket from water vessel. At the joint
of the cones at the top is fixed a brass or other suitable cap to hermetically close
the carbide chamber when filled with carbide. In the bottom of this chamber
at the junction of the cones projects horizontally with the filling cap at top, or
nearly so, a conical spout, the larger end of the conical being fixed to the carbide
container & the smaller end being fitted into an enlargement with a pipe pro-
jecting downwards. On the top of gas bell or holder I fix a tap with a pipe pro-
jecting vertically--this pipe is connected to the downward spout of carbide
holder by means of a suitable flexible tube. From the side of the enlarged
chamber at the end of pipe of carbide holder projects a pivet & on the top of
gas holder is fixed a corresponding pivet in suitable manner-these two pivets are
connected together by a suitable wire or connecting rod. In cases where the
flexible tube is rigid enough this connecting rod may be dispensed with.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Water is first placed in the centre
chamber up to a suitable height. Water is then put in the outer chamber & the
gas bell or holder is fitted-into its place-the carbide holder being fixed by its
pivets into the bracket upon outside of water vessel, is connected up by its
spout to the tap on top of gas holder by means of a flexible or rubber tube as
described & the.connecting rod which preserves an equal distance between the
spout & top of gas holder if required, having been fixed in its place. The tap on
gas holder is first shut off, then granulated carbide is put into the carbide holder
-the tap is then opened & the tap on the usual supply pipe leading from the
inside of bell is opened thus allowing the gas holder to descend-when the gas
holder descends to a certain point the carbide runs down through the conical or

page_text: other shaped tube, through the flexible pipe & tap on top gas holder & drops
into the carbide water chamber-immediately gas is evolved, the bell or holder is
raised & the supply of carbide consequently stopped by the conical or other shaped
spout being raised towards the horizontal, until the descent of the bell or gas
holder by the withdrawal of gas, when the action is again repeated.
It will be seen that the action is dependant upon the gravity of the carbide
travelling down a suitable spout when it is placed at the proper angle for the
carbide to flow freely through it as the spout is elevated by the raising of the
bell approaching the horizontal the supply of carbide is shut off.
I may when necessary put 2 carbide holders on to one generator, in which case
by shutting off the tap connecting either carbide holder to the gas holder it is
possible to recharge it while the other holder is at work & generating the
necessary gas to keep the generator in action.
Instead of the pivets fixed in the carbide holder working in a fixed bracket,
they may work in a suspended bracket or in a vertical bracket jointed at the
bottom & may be attached to a vertical rod fixed to gas holder & working, in
suitable guides, by means of a connecting rod or rods pivoted at both ends, or
where no guide rods are used on gas holder I may mount the carbide holder upon
two segments of a wheel, one at either side--these segments to stand upon &
work in horizontal rods or guides which may or may not have teeth to engage
with teeth on the segments the radii of the segments are such that as the gas
holder ascends & consequently elevates the end of spout raising it towards the
horizontal position, the segments cause the carbide holder to travel back, so that
the end of spout is still in vertical line or nearly so with the pipe & tap on
gras holder.
I do not confine myself to any of these methods, as it is quite
apparent that mechanical equivalents may be used without in any way altering
my invention, the principal feature of which is the regulation of the flow of
carbide by means of the alteration of the angle of a spout or tube whether such
spout or tube is attached to a carbide holder as described or to a fixed carbide
holder by means of a flexible joint. The bottom of the carbide water chamber I
preferably make of a conical shape so as to draw off the lime & dirty water after
the carbide has been used & I prefer also to have a filling pipe for this chamber
running down the outside with the lower end attached to & passing through
the conical part of chamber & having an enlargement at its upper end for filling
so that when the dirty water is discharged fresh water may be put in by this
tube. I prefer also to make it that the bottom of the enlargement is the regulated
height to which the water should be filled. In cases where the generator as
described would be required for steam boat use or in use on trains & where there
was great vibration, for the purpose of additional security I fix on pivots a plate
inside the enlarged chamber at the end of spout, one of the pivots projecting
out through a suitable stuffing box in the side of chamber & having an arm or
lever suitably connected by a connecting rod to an arm, projecting from an
arm on side of water holder, in such a manner as that when the gas holder ascends
the plate will by means of this arm & connecting rod be forced against the mouth
of tube & thus effectually prevent any carbide whatever from falling down, until
it is lowered again. I prefer however to use the generator without this arrange-
ment except for places where there is great vibration; as the action is perfect &
the flow of carbide gradual & in exact proportion to the amount of gas required.
Of course it is quite understood that I do not limit myself to this particular
arrangement of gas holder as described working in water. I may employ a gas
holder working with flexible sides in bellows form, which will move up &
down as the volume of gas therein is increased or diminished & to this I connect
up the spout of carbide chamber in a similar manner to that described, to the bell.
It is obvious that if desired the carbide holder might be fixed inside the top of
gas holder & having the sloped arm projecting towards the centre of the water
chamber & operated by a connecting rod between it & the bottom of the water
chamber, as the gas moves it & the water chamber up & down; but I find by

page_text: experience it is better to keep the granulated carbide as far away as possible from
the water & therefore I prefer fixing it outside.
Dated this 91st day of li 1808
I, JOHN HOWARD Ross, of No. 35, Wills Street, Aston, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 has reference to that form of generator in which granulated or
crushed calcium carbide is allowed to drop on to water and has for its object to
dispense with the valves ordinarily employed in generators of the kind referred to,
the said valves being objectionable owing to the fact that they are liable to get
clogged consequently they do not work freely and by a sudden impact are liable
to discharge more than a normal quantity of carbide into the water whereby more
acetylene gas is produced than the gas holder is constructed to contain.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a vessel preferably of a cylindri-
cal shape and having an inner cylinder concentric therewith. Within the inner
cylinder is contained the water with which the carbide comes in contact when
discharged from the carbide holder. Water is contained between the inner and
outer cylinders and between the walls of the said inner and outer cylinders a bell
or gas holder free to move up and down works. To the outer wall of the con-
tainer is attached an arm or bracket preferably removable extending vertically
or in a suitable direction to hold or carry the carbide holder. The carbide holder
I preferably make in the form of a double cone having pivots at the apexes con-
stituting a horizontal axis on which the carbide holder is capable of turning the
said pivots taking into slots or holes in a fork on the end of the vertical bracket
on the water vessel. At the junction of the two cones of the double cone and at
the highest part thereof is an opening closed by a brass or other suitable cap.
By removing the said cap the carbide holder may be filled or charged from time
to time with fresh calcium carbide. At the lowest part of the junction of the two
cones of the double cone shaped carbide holder is a conical spout the larger end
of which is fixed to the carbide container, the smaller end being fitted into an
enlargement with a pipe projecting downwards. On the top of the bell or gas
holder I fix a tap with a pipe projecting vertically upwards. This pipe is con-
nected to the downwardly projecting pipe of the spout of the carbide holder by
means of a flexible tube. From the side of the enlargement at the end of the
spout of the carbide holder a pivot projects and on the top of the gas holder is
fixed a corresponding pivot in suitable manner. These two pivots are connected
together by a wire or connecting rod. In cases where the flexible tubing is
rigid enough this connecting rod may be dispensed with.
The action of the generator is as follows:-
Water is first supplied to the central chamber up to a suitable height. Water
is then poured into the outer chamber and the bell or gas holder is fitted into its
place. The carbide holder being fitted by means of its pivots into the bracket
upon the outside of the water vessel the spout is connected by means of the
flexible tube to the tap on the top of the gas holder. The tap on the top of the
gas holder being shut off granulated or crushed carbide is put into the carbide
holder. The tap on the top of the gas holder is opened and the tap on the usual

page_text: :
supply pipe leading from the inside of bell is opened thus allowing
the
holder to descend. When
descends to
gas
the gas holder
certain point
or other
down through the conical
the carbide
runs
iL
shaped tube through the flexible pipe and tap on the top of the gas holder and
drops into the water chamber. Immediately gas is evolved, the bell or gas holder
is raised and the supply of carbide consequently stopped by the conical or other
shaped spout being raised towards the horizontal until the descent of the bell
or gas holder by the withdrawal of gas, when the action is again repeated.
It will thus be seen that the action is dependent upon the gravity of the carbide
travelling down a suitable spout when it is placed at the proper angle for the
carbide to flow freely through it. As the spout is elevated, by the raising of the
bell, and approaches the horizontal the supply of carbide is shut off.
I may when necessary put two carbide holders on to one generator in which
case by shutting off the tap connecting one or other of the carbide holders to the
gas holder it is possible to recharge it while the other carbide holder is in operation.
Instead of the pivots fixed in the carbide holder working in a fixed bracket they
may work in a suspended bracket or in a vertical bracket jointed at the bottom and
may be attached to a vertical rod of the gas holder and work in suitable guides by
means of a connecting rod or rods pivoted at both ends. Or where no guide
rods are used on the gas holder I may mount the carbide holder upon two segments
of a wheel, one at either side, these segments to stand upon and work in hori-
zontal rods or guides which may or may not have teeth to engage with teeth on.
the segments. The radii of the segments are such that as the gas holder ascends
and consequently elevates the end of the spout raising it towards the horizontal
position the segments cause the carbide holder to travel back so that the end
of the spout is still in vertical line or nearly so with the pipe and tap on the gas
holder.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any of the methods
herein before referred to as it is quite apparent that mechanical equivalents may
be used without in any way altering my invention, the principal feature of which
is the regulation of the flow of carbide by means of the alteration of the angle of
a spout or tube whether such spout or tube is attached to a carbide holder as
described or to a fixed carbide holder by means of a flexible joint.
:
The bottom of the carbide water chamber I make preferably of a conical shape
so as to draw off the lime and dirty water after the carbide has been used and I
prefer also to have a filling pipe for this chamber running down the outside with
the lower end attached to and passing through the conical part of the chamber
and having an enlargement at its upper end for filling so that when the dirty
water is discharged fresh water may be put in by this tube. I prefer also to make
it so that the bottom of the enlargement is the regulated height to which the
water should be filled.
I do not limit myself to the particular arrangement of gas holder as described
working in water as I may employ a gas holder working with flexible sides in
bellows form which will move up and down as the volume of gas therein is
increased or diminished and to this I connect the spout of the carbide chamber
in a similar manner to that described with respect to the bell arrangement.
If desired the carbide holder may be fixed inside the top of the gas holder
with the sloped arm projecting towards the centre of the water chamber, and
operated by a connecting rod between it and the bottom of the water chamber as
the gas moves it and the water chamber up and down; I prefer however to keep
the granulated carbide as far away as possible from the water and I therefore
prefer fixing it outside.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section an
acetylene gas generator constructed according to my invention and Figure 2 is
a side elevation of a portion of the same.
Figures to 10 both inclusive represent modifications of my invention herein-
after particularly described.

page_text: I will first describe the apparatus Figures 1 and 2.
a,
123
The gas holder of the apparatus consists essentially of a double walled vessel
the inner vessel a containing the water into which the carbide is intermittently
delivered in the manner hereinafter described, the space between the two cylin-
drical walls a, a² of the said vessel containing water in which the inverted bell b
or gas holder proper rises and falls. In the top of the inverted bell or gas
holder is a conical opening or carbide inlet ; c is a pipe by which the
acetylene gas generated may pass from the gas holder b. Supported by means
of a bracket above the gas holder described is a carbide containing vessel c,
the ends e, e of which constitute pivots turning in the arms of the bracket d.
The carbide container e has a screw plug e¹ at top by the temporary removal
of which granulated carbide may be introduced into the said container e.
said containere has a movable pipe (preferably conical) e3 which is connected by
a flexible hollow or tubular connection f (preferably a piece of strong vulcanized
india rubber tubing) with the top 62 of the gas holder b.
The
The movable.pipe e and carbide inlet 62 are preferably provided with stop
cocks h, h.
is a tap by which the waste water and lime in the vessel a may be withdrawn,
when desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:
The vessel a being filled with water to about the level shown in the drawing
and the containing vessel e in the position represented being filled with carbide,
the taps h, h are opened when granulated carbide descends by gravity down the
movable pipe e and falls through the flexible pipe f and conical carbide inlet b²
into the water in the vessel a. By the action of the water on the carbide acetylene
gas is immediately generated and the gas holder b rises; the rising of the gas
holder b effects the raising of the delivery end of the movable pipe e³ as indicated
in dotted lines and the supply of carbide to the gas generating chamber ceases
until by the descent of the gas holder again the movable pipe is permitted to
assume such an inclination as to permit the carbide to descend therein.
C
As the gas passes out through the pipe c the gas holder b descends, the descent
of the said gas holder being accompanied by the descent of the delivery end of the
movable pipe e. From the description herein before given it will be understood
that the delivery of carbide is controlled by the angular position of the movable
pipe e which is regulated or changed by the rising and falling of the gas holder b.
In the modified arrangement Figures 3 and 4 the water vessel « consists of a
removable bucket, with handle a¹, which may be dropped in and removed from
the double walled vessel A, A2. The upper portion of the bucket a is occupied
by a hollow conical displacer i the inner or hollow conical surface of which pre-
vents scum or the like, which forms on the surface of the water in the vessel a,
bubbling or splashing up against the inverted bottom of the bell or gas holder b
and at the same time so fills the space that only a small volume of air has to be
displaced before the space is filled with gas. Two carbide holders or
tainers e, e are provided the said carbide containers e, e being supported by and
travelling on rails 1, on the raising and lowering of the gas holder. By this
arrangement one carbide container may be in use while the other is in the act
of being charged. Further, the flexible connections or pipes f f are contained in
and protected by a globular metallic case the ends of the movable pipes e³, e³
of the carbide containers e, e working in slots in the said case k on the rising
and falling of the gas holder.
con-
The action of this modified arrangement (Figures 3 and 4) is essentially the
same as that hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and
corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure represents half in elevation and half in vertical section a modified
acetylene gas generator and Figures 6 and 7 represent a portion of the same in
section drawn to a larger scale than Figure 5.
Figure 8 represents in plan the part represented in section in Figures 6 and 7.

page_text: The modified apparatus Figures 5 to 8 both inclusive consists of a vertical
cylinder A the bottom of which is conical and provided with a tap or stop-cock b
for emptying the same: from time to time of water and mud (calcium hydrate)
produced in the working of the apparatus.
At or about the middle of the cylinder A is a short concentric inner cylinder a
joined at its bottom edge to the outer cylinder A, the space between which inner
cylinder and outer cylinder A is filled with water for the reception of the outer
shell or wall c of a double walled valved diaphragm e, &, which divides the
cylinder A into two parts, a lower part constituting the water reservoir and an
upper part constituting the gas generating chamber and gas holder. The rod or
stem of the valve of the conical or dished diaphragm c, c², depends in the
water reservoir and rests on one end of a lever d to the other end of which is
connected a vertical rod e occupying the axis of a smaller side cylinder f by which
water is introduced into the large cylinder A. When the screw closing cap f2 of the
small cylinder fis in place the rod e is pressed down into the position represented'in
Figure 5 and through the lever d raises the valve 3 and establishes commúnica-
tion between the water in the dished diaphragm and the water reservoir.
When the water in the reservoir requires to be renewed it is only necessary to
unscrew the closing cap f2 of the smaller cylinder f when the weight of the
valve and its valve rod or stem causes the 'said valve to descend and thereby
isolate the gas generating chamber and gas holder from the water reservoir.
The water in the water reservoir can consequently be drawn off without loss of
gas and without disturbing the working of the apparatus. A small pipe or
passage is provided, by which air may escape from the cylinder A into the small
cylinder on the filling of the water cylinder reservoir.
At the top of the cylinder A is an outer concentric cylinder a the space between
which and the cylinder A is nearly filled with water which forms, when the
inverted cylinder a which closes the top of the apparatus is put in position, a
gas seal for the apparatus. The top of the inverted cylinder a carries a hollow
drum or displacer a³ which reduces the capacity of the gas generating chamber
and effects automatically the operation of the calcium carbide discharging tubes
or spouts in the manner hereinafter described.
The calcium carbide is stored in containers H, H (preferably two) situated at
opposite sides of the cylinder A and detachably connected thereto. Each con-
tainer H has a delivery spout h the part h² of which is of india rubber or other
flexible material. The extreme or delivery end of the spout his carried by a
forked weighted lever supported by a bracket which weighted lever in the
normal position of the parts, that is, when the gas generating chamber or holder
is full or partially filled with gas, preserves the delivery end of the spout h
in the horizontal position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5 and represented in
full lines in Figure 6, the stops of the weighted ends of the levers (see
Figure 6) engaging with the catches g¹ on the bracket plate 2. The delivery
end of the spout his preferably provided with a roller m for bearing on the
bottom of the displacer a when the said displacer is in its lowest or nearly its
lowest position. The delivery spout his provided with a stop-cock ht.
Gas passes from the gas generating chamber or holder by a pipe i indicated in
dotted lines in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
The working of the gas generating chamber of the apparatus is as follows:-
The spout being in the position Figures 5 and 7 calcium carbide descends, by
gravity, in the said spout and falls into the water in the dish shaped diaphragm c³.
By the action of the water on the calcium carbide acetylene gas is generated and
the cylindrical closing top a rises, the delivery spout being turned by the
weighted lever h¹ from its delivery position Figures 5 and 7 into its non-delivery
position Figure 6.
When by the withdrawal of the gas the rising and falling cylinder a has
descended to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5 and represented in
full lines in Figure 6, the bottom of the displacer comes in contact with the

page_text: roller m and the continued descent of the rising and falling cylinder a and
displacer 3 effect the depression of the delivery spout into the delivery position
represented in Figures 5 and 7.
Although I have represented and prefer to employ two carbide containers H, H
in connection, with the gas generating chamber yet I wish it to be understood that
one carbide container only may be employed or where thought necessary or
desirable more than two may be employed.
The ends of the spouts h may be provided with a hinged flap or cover (indicated
in dotted lines in Figures 6 and 7) to prevent access of moisture to the carbide
holders or containers when the spouts are in their horizontal or non-delivery
position.
I wish it to be understood that my invention is applicable to generators in
which the gas holder proper is separate from the gas generating chamber and
my invention is represented as applied to an apparatus of the kind referred to in
Figure 9.
In the said Figure 9, 6 is the gas holder and a is the gas generating chamber
the bottom of which opens into a large water reservoir 3, the opening between
the said large water reservoir and gas generating chamber being provided with a
weighted valve at to permit of the closing of the gas generating chamber when
the water reservoir a is being filled with water. The movable or flexible carbide
delivery pipe e occupies the upper part of the gas generating chamber and is
carried by a horizontal axis passing through the side of the gas generating
chamber to which axis an arm or lever 12, operated through the rising and
falling of the gas holder b, is connected.
Where the gas holder consists of a bellows like or collapsible chamber situated
over the gas generating chamber I prefer to modify the arrangement of the parts
as illustrated in Figure 10, that is to say, I connect the delivery end of the
movable or flexible pipe e³ to the top of the bellows like chamber b so that
as the said top rises and falls the delivery end of the movable or flexible pipe e³
rises and falls with it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as
my invention;-
First The improvements in acetylene gas generators hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings the said improvements consisting
in automatically and intermittently supplying the crushed or granulated calcium
carbide by the change of inclination of the carbide delivery spout which is
jointed or made flexible for that purpose substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly; An acetylene gas generating apparatus consisting essentially of a
gas holder, a granular carbide container or containers situated above a gas gene-
rating chamber and a flexible connection or connections between the carbide inlet
of the gas generating chamber and the delivery spout or pipe or pipes of the
carbide container or containers the said container or containers being so supported
that when the gas holder is in its lowest or approximately its lowest position the
delivery spout or pipe or pipes of the carbide container or containers are
inclined to the vertical that they deliver carbide into the gas generating chamber
and on the rising of the gas holder the said spout or pipe or pipes are inclined
towards the horizontal, that is, their inclination is so changed that the carbide
will not descend therein substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
SO
Thirdly; An acetylene gas generating apparatus consisting essentially of a
gas holder, a removable water vessel or bucket in the said gas holder, and a
displacer occupying the upper part of the said bucket, in combination with means
for intermittently delivering regulated quantities of calcium carbide into the
water in the said removable water vessel or bucket substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Fourthly-An apparatus for generating acetylene gas consisting essentially
of a vertical cylinder divided by a removable valved dish shaped diaphragm into
two parts, namely a water reservoir and a gas generating chamlier and the com-
bination therewith of means for the delivery of calcium carbide into the water
in the dish shaped diaphragm and also means for closing the valve of the valved
diaphragm and supplying water to the water reservoir substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fifthly In combination with an apparatus of the kind claimed in Claim
four, a carbide container or carbide containers detachably connected to the gas
generating chamber the delivery spout of each carbide container projecting into.
the gas generating chamber and being raised, when at liberty to move, into a
non-delivery position by a weighted lever, the said spout being depressed into its
delivery position on the exhaustion or emptying of the gas generating chamber
by the descent of a displacer or its equivalent carried by the top of the rising and
falling cylinder of the gas generating chamber the said displacer in its descent
acting on the weighted lever substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Fourteenth day of November 1898.
JOHN HOWARD ROSS.