improvements in and relating to Generators for Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 5th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
improvements in and relating to Generators for Acetylene Gas.
I, CHARLES KELLY, of Passaic, in the County of Passaic and State of New
Jersey, one of the United States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: :-
The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements
in and relating to generators for acetylene gas, whereby the hydrate of lime
is removed automatically from the generator, to keep the flow of the water from
the tank to the generator unobstructed, and in case of any abnormal pressure of
gas, the latter is vented to the open air before the water seal in the tank is
broken.
The improved acetylene gas generator is provided with a holder, and a
diaphragm for dividing the holder into an upper compartment and a lower com-
partment. In the diaphragm is arranged a downwardly extending pipe,
terminating at its lower end a short distance from the bottom of the lower com-
partment, so that water can pass through said pipe up into the compartment in
case of abnormal pressure.
From the water compartment lead one or more main pipes to a chamber,
arranged on a gas generator, each main pipe being provided with a valve for
controlling the flow of the water from the compartment into the chamber, con-
nected with the interior of the generator, so that the water can rise in the
generator to the calcium carbide contained in the basket held in the generator.
The gas generated by the contact of the water with the calcium carbide passes
from the upper portion of the generator through a pipe having a valve, and
continuing in a coil, arranged in the upper portion of the compartment, the
upper end of the coil extending through the top of the holder to a governor, of
any approved construction, for controlling the amount of gas passing to the
service pipe.
The bottom of the generator is inclined downwardly to the chamber, and opens
into the latter at the lower end of said bottom, so that water can pass from the
chamber into the lower portion of the generator, said chamber also opening into
a settling chamber, formed below the bottom in the extreme lower portion of the
generator. Now it is evident that the hydrate of lime, that is, the residue left

page_text: by the process of generating the gas by the water contacting with the calcium
carbide, drops down on the bottom and slides from the same in a downward
direction into the chamber provided for the purpose, and from the latter to the
settling chamber in which it accumulates.
The top of the generator is normally closed by a removable cover, held on a
screw rod screwing in a yoke, pivotted to the outside of the generator, and pro-
vided with an arm, connected by a link with an arm secured to the stem of an.
outlet valve leading from the lower hopper bottomed end of the settling chamber
or in equivalent manner.
When the calcium carbide in the basket has been used up and it is desired to
replace the same, then the valve is closed to shut off the water from the com-
partment; the operator now screws the screw rod upward to lift the generator
cover off its seat, and then the yoke is swung over, so that the arm swings
upward and moves the link and the arm in a like direction to open the outlet
valve, so that the residue accumulated in the settling chamber passes through the
valve to the outside, together with the water in the generator. The basket is
now removed and refilled with calcium carbide and then replaced in the generator,
after which the yoke is swung back to its normal position, to bring the generator
cover over the top of the generator. Now by screwing the screw rod downward,
the cover is carried in a like direction, and is finally scated on its seat on the
top of the generator, to securely close the latter.
By the arrangement described, the hydrate of lime is discharged automatically
from the generator proper into a suitable chamber and allowed to flow out of the
latter, upon automatically opening the outlet valve on removing the generator
cover, as above explained.
•
By means of this automatic arrangement for opening the outlet valve at the
bottom of the residue chamber simultaneously with the opening or removal of
the cover from the said chamber whereby fresh carbide is introduced all danger
of any water being carelessly left therein is avoided and the danger of sucklen
generation of gas is prevented.
By the arrangement described, the flow of the water from the compartment
through the main pipe into the generator chamber is not interrupted by the
hydrate of lime, as the latter settles into the settling chamber and leaves the
passage for the water to the generator open. An air vent pipe extends into
the water compartment the lower end of said pipe being a short distance above the
lower end of the diaphragm pipe, so that in case excessive pressure of the gas
generated drives the water back through the main pipe into the water compart-
ment, and from the latter up the diaphragm pipe into the upper compartment,
then the lower end of the air vent pipe is uncovered before the lower end of the
diaphragm pipe is reached so that the gas or air can readily pass up through
the air vent pipe to the outer air before the water seal at the lower end of the
water pipe is broken.
The air vent pipe is provided within the upper compartment with a water
relief or branch pipe so that any water forced up the air vent pipe can readily
drain back through the relief or branch pipe into the upper compartment, to
leave the air vent pipe unobstructed for the ready passage of the air or gas through
the said pipe, as above described. The upper ends of the generators are also
provided with relief pipes having check valves.
It is understood that by the arrangement described, the gas generated in the
generator first passes up through the non-decomposed carbide, which dries the
gas, and then the latter passes through the coil, which cools the gas previous to
its passage to the service pipe. The amount of gas made is exactly in proportion
to the consumption, as it is evident that if more gas is made than consumed, the
surplus gas will drive the water in the generator downward from the carbide
and through the main pipe back into the water compartment, as previously
mentioned. The generator cover of each of the generators can now be removed by
automatically opening the outlet valve, so that the generator is drained of any

page_text: water which may have been carelessly left in it; and at the same time the
hydrate of lime is discharged from the settling chamber.
Dated the 5th day of April 1898
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Generators for Acetylene Gas.
I, CHARLES KELLY, of Passaic, in the County of Passaic and State of New
Jersey, one of the United States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements
in acetylene gas generators, whereby the hydrate of lime is removed automati-
cally from the generator, to keep the flow of the water from the tank to the
generator unobstructed, and in case of any abnormal pressure of gas, the latter
is vented to the open air before the water seal in the tank is broken.
The invention consists of novel features and parts, and combinations of the
same, as will be described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement with parts in section;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; and
Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section of part of the generator, on the
line 3-3 in Figure 1.
The improved acetylene gas generator is provided with a holder A and a
diaphragm B for dividing the holder into an upper compartment C and a lower
compartment D. In the diaphragm B is arranged a downwardly extending
pipe E, terminating at its lower end a short distance from the bottom of the
lower compartment D, so that water can pass through said pipe E up into the
compartment C in case of abnormal pressure.
From the water compartment 1) lead one or more main pipes F' to a chamber G¹,
arranged on a gas generator G, each pipe F being provided with a valve F, for
controlling the flow of the water from the compartment D into the chamber G¹,
connected with the interior of the generator, so that the water can rise in the
generator to the calcium carbide contained in the basket H held in the generator.
The gas generated by the contact of the water with the calcium carbide passes
from the upper portion of the generator through a pipe I having a valve I,
and continuing in a coil I², arranged in the upper portion of the compartment C,
the upper end of the coil I extending as at 13 through the top of the holder A
to a governor J, of any approved construction, for controlling the amount of gas
passing to the service pipe K.
The bottom G2 of the generator G is inclined downwardly to the chamber G¹,
and opens into the latter at the lower end of said bottom so that water can pass
from the chamber into the lower portion of the generator, said chamber also
opening into a settling chamber G³, formed below the bottom G2 in the extreme
lower portion of the generator. Now it is evident that the hydrate of lime, that
is, the residue left by the process of generating the gas by the water contacting with

page_text: the calcium carbide, drops down on the bottom G2 and slides from the same in
a downward direction into the chamber G¹ and from the latter to the settling
chamber G3 in which it accumulates.
The top of the generator G is normally closed by a removable cover G+, held on
a screw rod G screwing in a yoke G, pivoted at G7 to the outside of the gene-
rator, and provided with an arm G8 connected by a link L' with an arm L²
secured to the stem. L³ of an outlet valve L leading from the lower hopper-
bottomed end of the settling chamber G³, or in equivalent manner.
When the calcium carbide in the basket II has been used up and it is desired
to replace the same, then the valve F¹ is closed to shut off the water from the
compartment D; the operator now screws the screw rod G5 upward to lift the
cover G4 off its seat, and then the yoke G6 is swung over to the position indicated
in dotted lines at the left in Figure 1, so that the arm G8 swings upward and
moves the link L¹ and the arm L² in a like direction to open the valve L, so that
the residue accumulated in the settling chamber G³ passes through the valve L
to the outside, together with the water in the generator.
The basket H is now removed and refilled with calcium carbide and then
replaced in the generator, after which the yoke G6 is swung back to its normal
position, to bring the cover G over the top of the generator. Now by screwing
the screw rod G5 downward, the cover is carried in a like direction, and is finally
seated on its seat on the top of the generator to securely close the latter.
By the arrangement described, the hydrate of lime is discharged automatically
from the generator proper into a suitable chamber and allowed to flow out of the
latter, upon automatically opening the valve L on removing the cover G4 as
above explained. By means of this automatic arrangement for opening the outlet
valve at the bottom of the residue chamber simultaneously with the opening or
removal of the cover from the said chamber whereby fresh carbide is introduced
all danger of any water being carelessly left therein is avoided and the danger of
sudden generation of gas is prevented.
By the arrangement described the flow of the water from the compartment D,
through the pipe F into the chamber G¹, is not interrupted by the hydrate of lime,
as the latter settles into the chamber G³ and leaves the passage for the water to
the generator open.
An air vent pipe N extends into the water compartment D,
the lower end of said pipe being a short distance above the lower end of the
diaphragm pipe E, so that in case excessive pressure of the gas generated drives
the water back through the pipe F into the compartment D and from the latter
up the pipe E into the upper compartment C, then the lower end of the pipe N is
uncovered before the lower end of the pipe E is reached, so that the gas or air
can readily pass up through the pipe N to the outer air before the water seal at
the lower end of the water pipe is broken.
The pipe N is provided within the compartment C with a water relief or branch
pipe N, so that any water forced up the pipe N can readily drain back through
the pipe N¹ into the compartment C, to leave the pipe N unobstructed for the
ready passage of the air or gas through the pipe, as above described. The upper
ends of the generators G are also provided with relief pipes O having check
valves 01.
It is understood that by the arrangement described, the gas generated in the
generator first passes up through the non-decomposed carbide, which dries the
gas, and then the latter passes through the coil I2, which cools the gas previous
to its passage to the service pipe K. The amount of gas made is exactly in pro-
portion to the consumption, as it is evident that if more gas is made than consumed,
the surplus gas will drive the water in the generator downward from the carbide
and through the pipe F back into the compartment D, as previously mentioned.
The cover G of each of the generators G can now be removed by automatically
opening the outlet valve L, so that the generator is drained of any water which may
have been carelessly left in it; and at the same time the hydrate of lime is dis-
charged from the settling chamber.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator for containing calcium
carbide and having an inclined bottom, and a settling chamber for the hydrate of
lime and into which discharges said inclined bottom, substantially as shown and
described.
2. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator for containing the
calcium carbide and having an inclined bottom, a settling chamber below the
said generator, and a water inlet chamber connected with a water supply and
opening into the lower end of the said generator and into the said settling chamber,
substantially as shown and described.
3. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator for containing the
calcium carbide and having an inclined bottom, a settling chamber for the hydrate
of lime and into which discharges said inclined bottom, an outlet valve for the
said settling chamber, a removable cover for the said generator, and means for
connecting the said cover with the said outlet valve, to automatically open the
Latter upon opening the said cover to drain the water from the generator, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
4. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator for containing the
calcium carbide, an outlet valve for the hydrate of lime, and a cover for closing
the generator and connected with the said outlet valve for opening the latter
automatically upon removing the said cover, substantially as shown and described.
5. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator for containing the
calcium carbide, an outlet valve for the hydrate of lime, a cover for closing the
generator, and mounted on a pivoted yoke, and a connection between the said yoke
and the said outlet for opening the latter automatically upon swinging the yoke
over and removing the cover from the generator, substantially as shown and
described.
6. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a generator adapted to receive
the calcium carbide, a cover for the said generator, a screw rod carrying the said
cover, a pivoted yoke in which screws the said screw rod, an outlet valve for the
hydrate of lime for the said generator, and a connection between the said yoke
and the said valve for opening the latter upon swinging the yoke over and remov-
ing the cover, and for closing the valve upon closing the generator with the cover,
substantially as shown and described.
7. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a water tank having a diaphragm
for forming two compartments in the tank, a water pipe extending from the
diaphragm downward into the lower compartment, and a vent pipe extending
into the lower compartment, the lower end of said pipe being above the lower end
of said diaphragın pipe, substantially as shown and described.
8. An acetylene gas generator, provided with a water tank having a diaphragm
for forming two compartments in the tank, a water pipe extending from the
diaphragm downward into the lower compartment, a vent pipe extending into the
lower compartment, the lower end of said pipe being above the lower end of said
diaphragm pipe, and a water relief pipe leading from the said vent pipe into the
upper compartment, for discharging water contained in the vent pipe back into
the tank to free the vent pipe for the passage of air or gas, substantially as shown
and described.
9. The use in connection with generators for acetylene gas of means whereby
the hydrate of lime is removed automatically from the generator proper and
allowed to flow out of the latter upon the outlet valve being opened by the act of
removing the cover of generator, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
10. The use in connection with generators for acetylene gas of mechanism
whereby the opening or removal of the cover from the opening into the generator
chamber proper, through which opening fresh carbide of calcium or the like is

page_text: introduced automatically causes the opening. of, the outlet valve at the bottom
of the residue chamber, thereby obviating danger of water being carelessly left
therein and of sudden generation of gas, substantially as described.
That th1-11 1
Q
WM. BROOKES. & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London; Agents for the. Applicant.