Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gàs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1899.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene
Gàs.
We, THE READ-HOLLIDAY ACETYLENE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Turnbridge,
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Acetylene Gas Engineers, and WILLIAM
CARDNO, of the same place, Director of the said Company, and READ HOLLIDAY,
The Gables, Huddersfield, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
These improvements refer to apparatus for or relating to the generation, of
acetylene gas for use in lamps for vehicles, such as motor cars, carriages, waggons,
railway carriages, locomotives, tramcars; chceteru; although applicable for
stationary lighting or other uses. They consist in constructing of any suitable
material a vessel or vessels to serve as an acetylene gas generator or generators,
each (preferably) in two parts which can be joined together gas tight by a screw
or other means, the lower part being a container for the fresh carbide of calcium
and the residual lime and serving as the gas holder, the upper part being a
water holder having two or more valves, taps or controlling means adapted to
control the supply of water to the carbide of calcium, each valve or tap being
only large enough or so arranged as to permit the passage of water in quantity
not more than one drop at a time. The gas producing capacity of the generator
is in proportion to the number of valves, taps or controlling means, thus allowing
more or less water to pass to the carbide. The generation of the gas is increased
or decreased accordingly. Each valve is operated, that is opened or shut, indepen-
dently. We have found this method of varying the water supply to the carbide
of calcium more reliable than employing only one regulating valve or tap that is
capable of being regulated to permit more or less water to pass through it. The
apparatus herein described may be supported or carried in any suitable position
or situation such for instance as in or on a waggon, carriage, motor car, railway'
carriage, locomotive or other vehicle, or it may be otherwise used as a portable
or stationary gas generator. The gas may be conducted therefrom by any suit-
able exit conveyor, pipe or pipes to the place at which it is desired to be used,
for instance to burners fitted into ordinary carriage lamps, railway carriage lamps,
or the like.
11
1 1
1 1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene
Gas..
We, THE READ-HOLLIDAY ACETYLENE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Turnbridge,
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Acetylene Gas Engineers, and WILLIAM
CARDNO, of the same place,. Director of the said Company, and READ HOLLIDAY,
The Gables, Huddersfield, Chemist, 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:=
These improvements refer to apparatus for or relating to the generation of
acetylene gas for use in lamps for vehicles, such as motor cars, carriages, wagons,
railway carriages, locomotives, tram cars, etcetera älthough applicable for
stationary lighting and other uses. They consist in constructing of any suitable
material a vessel or vessels to serve as an acetylene gas generator or generators,
each (preferably) into two parts which can be joined together gas tight by a screw.
or other means, the lower part being a container for the fresh carbide of calcium
and the residual lime and serving as the gas holder, the upper part being a
water holder having two or more valves, taps or controlling means adapted to
control the supply of water to the carbide of calcium, each valve or tap being
only large enough or so arranged as to permit the passage of water in quantity
not more than one drop at a time.
The gas producing capacity of the generator is in proportion to the number of
valves, taps or controlling means, thus allowing more or less water to pass to the
carbide. The generation of the gas is increased or decreased accordingly...
Each valve is operated, that is opened or shut independently. We have found
this method of varying the water supply to the carbide of calciumi more reliable
than employing only one regulating valve or tap that is capable of being regulated
to permit more or less water to pass through it. The apparatus herein described
may be supported or carried in any suitable position or situation such for instance
as in or on a wagon, carriage, motor car, railway carriage, locomotive or other
vehicle or it may be otherwise used as a portable or stationary gas generator.
The gas may be conducted therefrom by any suitable exit conveyor, pipe or pipes
to the place at which it is desired to be used for instance to burners fitted into
ordinary carriage lamps, railway carriage lamps or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF TILE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section of an apparatus arranged according
to our invention, said apparatus being here shown as being provided with two
valves (but it will be understood that this number may be increased) taken at
about the line Y-Y of Fig. 4.
Fig. is an external view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the apparatus taken at about the line --
of Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the apparatus, and
Fig. 5 shows an underside view of the upper chamber or water, container and
the elastic packing ring.
Fig. 6 shows an upper side view of the lower chamber or carbide baskets holder.
Fig. 7 shows a detail view of one of the screw fastenings between the two
chambers in its loosened position.
As shown the apparatus is constructed of two main parts-the upper vessel 1
being supported upon and removably connected to the lower vessel 19, in a gas
tight manner by the interposition of an elastic packing ring 23 secured by suitable
4

page_text: cement in a correspondingly shaped recess 2, in the flange of the vessel I. This
vessel is divided by the plate or division 3, two openings 4, 5 being left in
downwardly recessed parts of such dividing plate said openings being fitted as
seats for two valves 6, 7, actuated by rods, 8, 8, which rods slide in bearings
formed by openings 9, 9, formed in the projecting parts 10 10 of the roof of the
upper chamber the said valves are kept constantly pressed to their seats by
springs 11 and they are raised therefrom by eccentric pieces 12.
In the drawing Fig. 1 the piece 12 to the left hand is shown in its upright
position with the valve 6 lifted whilst the right hand piece is shown laying in its
horizontal position on the top of the part 10, so that the valve 7 is pressed to
its seat and the opening 5 is closed against passage of the water the upper level
of which is indicated at 1-1.
24 is a screw stopper for filling or emptying the vessel 19 with water and
having a fine escape orifice for entry or escape of air or gas to or from the space
above the water in chamber 1 and this stopper is, as shown, screwed into the
screwed socket formed for it in the opening 13 in said roof.
26 is a safety valve or outlet formed in the pipe 25 externally of the roof and
passing down therethrough to the gas space below the division 3.
This opening 26 has a closing piece, here shown as an india rubber band 33
which tightly clasps the end of the pipe 25 and keeps the opening 26 closed
except the pressure exceeds a certain amount. 14 is a small projecting chamber
in the side of the vessel 1 and from this lead two pipes 27, 28 which serve to
conduct the gas produced to two lamps or burners or to other desired places.
20 is a diaphragm or roof to the lower vessel 19 having two openings in it to
admit the two baskets 29, 30.
r
The upper edges of these baskets are flanged and rest upon the diaphragm 20
and they serve to retain the carbide shown at 31 whilst the space below them
serves to hold the residual line.
The water escaping in limited quantities from the, chamber 1 past the valves 6
or 7 or both according as one or the other is or both are in use is conveyed to and
amongst the carbide 31 by the absorbent filaments 32, 32, threaded through
openings or eyes in the ends of the valves.
Referring more particularly to the detail view Fig. 7 the fastenings herein
shown as four in number and one of which is shown separately in said figure
for holding and tightening the respective edges of the two chambers upon the
opposite sides of the packing ring 23 to make the gas tight joint 15 are forked
ears projecting from the sides of the vessel 1 and on a pin 16 passing from side
to side through the prongs of each of said forks swings a screwed stem and upon
this stem is mounted a threaded button 18. On each side of the diaphragm 20
projects and is secured a forked ear 21 and on the underside of each fork are
noteles 22 formed by the underside thereof being cut away in an inclined
direction. To lock vessels 1 and 19 in position for use the stems 17 are each
swung between the prongs of the forks 15 whilst the buttons 18 are loosened and
then these buttons are tightened up until the shoulder above milled rim thereof
engages' said recess on the underside of the pronged car and by the tightening up
of the screwed button on the pendent hinged stem 17 the parts 1 and 19 are.
drawn together.
Although in the drawing we have only shown two pipes (27-28) for conducting
away the gas produced it will be readily understood that any convenient number
of such conduits may be provided, and again one or any other suitable number of
baskets (29-30) may be provided.
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

page_text: terised by the provision of a plurality of valve parts for the supply of water to
the calcium carbide, or equivalent material, each valve being adapted to constrict
the supply to a finely regulated drop by drop flow--and each valve being provided
with means for its separate operation so that one or more valves may be in use to
supply water or all may be shut off according to the requirements of the case,
substantially as set forth and shown by the drawings.
2. In an apparatus for use in generating and supplying gas produced by the
regulated addition of water to calcium carbide or the like-the use of a plurality
of water supply valve parts-the supply of water by each valve being restricted
to a drop by drop, or equivalently finely restricted or minute quantity at a time
and each valve being provided with means for its separate and independent
operation so that one, two, or even more separate, drop by drop, supplies of water
may be in use at one time or all may be shut off according to the requirements
of the case, substantially-as-herein before set forth.
3. In an apparatus such as described in Claim I, the construction and use of a
double separable vessel the upper part 1 of which is detachable at will from the
lower part 19 provided with an elastic packing ring 23 and means of connection
and separation by tightening and loosening attachments connected to the separable
Vessels, substantially as set forth and shown by the drawings.
4. The construction and use of apparatus for the generation and supply of gas
produced by the addition of water to calcium carbide or the like in one or more
successions of drops at will, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
shown by the drawings.
Noted the 1st day of Tannar 1000
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55/56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants..