Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
We, CHARLES JOHN BAILEY and JOSEPH HENRY NICKLIN, of the Firm of
Bailey, Nicklin & Co., of 259a, Oxford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Acetylene Gas Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas for
household and other purposes the principal objects of the said invention being to
improve the arrangement of a series of generators in connection with one water
supply and gas receiver and to improve the calcium carbide container and the
means for supplying the water thereto in the generator.
We propose to connect the generator or generators by a suitable pipe or pipes
with a receiver in which the water is admitted by a pipe leading to a point near
the bottom thereof from a suitable supply or "head" of water above the same;
the connection or connections are made at such a distance below the level of the
top of the receiver as to leave a suitable space for the accumulation of the acety-
lene gas supplied from the generators through a convenient pipe opening into
the top of the receiver.
This pipe is, in the case of a single generator connected with the upper part
thereof, the water supply pipe being connected with the same opening, but as
the water only trickles in small quantity, it does not impede the passage or
escape of the gas as it is formed in the generator. The opening inside the
generator is provided with a suitable screen, guide or deflector to guide the
water towards the outer wall of the generator, which is preferably a vertical
cylinder provided with a removable top having a safety valve fitted thereto, and
with a bottom having an outlet for the water (to be opened when the generator
is spent) and supports for the "carbide" holder.
This holder consists of a series of drums or shallow cases fitted one above the
other upon a central removable spindle so as to leave a space between them and
the interior of the casing of the generator.
Each drum or box is open at the top and made with two or more (say four)
compartments formed by radial division plates, and each compartment is pro-
vided with an opening or openings in its outer wall at various heights; thus, for
example, one compartment would communicate with the interior of the generator
near the bottom, the next compartment rather higher, the next higher still, and
the fourth near the top of the drum or box; so that as the level of the water in
the generator rises, it communicates with fresh "carbide" in separate com-
partments in the holder, the gases escaping between the drums or boxes, or through
openings at the top of the wall of the compartments.
If two generators are used, the gas escape pipe slightly slopes up to a common
connection or junction with the pipe leading to the receiver. Each is provided
with a valve and with a water supply and tap or valve.
Another generator on a slightly lower level may be connected at its upper end

page_text: by a downwardly sloping pipe and valve with one or both of these last named
generators.
This series of generators is used as follows:-
All the generators having been charged with carbide all the connecting valves
are or may be opened excepting the water supply valve from the receiver to one
generator or set of generators, and the gas escape valve thereof. The water will
trickle from the receiver into the other generator or the first of the other set of
generators, and it will be understood that at first the receiver is full of water
but the first rush of gas formed on admission of water to the carbide forces back
a certain proportion of the water in the receiver and no more is supplied to the
generator until the water level rises to the water supply pipe again.
The second gas escape valve may and should then be opened.
When all the " carbide" in the first generator is spent, if more than one
generator is in a series or set, the level of the water will rise to the connection
with the second of the said set, and so this generator will come into action, the
gas formed therein escaping through the connecting pipe through the first
generator to the escape pipe.
When this second generator is spent, if there are no more generators in this
set, the level of the water will gradually rise in the escape pipe until it arrives at
the common junction and it will then flow down into the first generator of the
second set, the gas escape pipe of which has been put in communication with
the receiver as above,described.
When it has been ascertained by suitable test taps that such is the case, the
first water supply valve and the first gas escape valve may be closed and the
second water supply valve may be opened.
The water may then be drawn from the first set of generators, the tops thereof
may be removed, and the spindle and spent carbide holders may be taken out
and replaced by freshly filled holders, and this replenished set of generators may
be closed up and connected with the second set, as the second was connected
originally with it, and so on.
One generator or set of generators can thus always be ready for use while another
is being used; and in the case of two or more generators in a set the apparatus
may be left for a considerable time without attention, as the whole of both sets
can be in communication with either water supply pipe, as well as each set to its
own water supply.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
We, CHARLES JOHN BAILEY and JOSEPH HENRY NICKLIN, of the l'irm of
Bailey, Nicklin & Co., of 259A, Oxford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Acetylene Gas Engineers, 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 apparatus employed for the generation of acetylene
gas for household and other purposes, the primary objects of our said invention
are to provide an improved arrangement of a series of generators in connection
with one water supply or water container or tank and gas receiver, to improve

page_text: the calcium carbide container, and the means for supplying the water thereto in
the generator, from the aforesaid container or tank.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings to which we hereinafter refer
Fig. 1 is a front view and Fig. 2 a vertical section on line A A of our improved
apparatus. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the
line B-B, on plan. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the generator, on line CC.
Fig. 6 represents the means whereby additional generators may be employed
when an increased supply of gas is required either at one time or continuously.
In these drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
According to this invention we connect the generator or generators a a¹ with
a receiver and water container or tank as into the lower division of which
water is admitted by a pipe C leading to a point near the bottom thereof from
a suitable supply or head of water above the same.
The connections and for the supply of water from the tank to the
generators are made at such a distance below the division 61 forming the top of
the gas receiver b as to leave a suitable space e for the accumulation of the acety-
lene gas supplied from the generators through a pipe g opening into and discharg-
ing the gas into the upper part of said receiver as shown, or carried down to a
lower level in the tank as represented by dotted lines, so that the gas may pass
up through the water and be purified before accumulating in the space e from
whence it is conveyed as required for use by a pipe g and regulated by a tap
In Figs. 1 and 3 the apparatus is shown constructed with two generators a al
which are connected by a pipe f inclined upwards from each near the upper ends
of said generators, and united to the centrally placed pipe g herein before described.
The pipes and for supply of water to generators from the tank 6 are united
to the pipe f but are of smaller diameter than said pipe so that the water passing
up from the pipes d d and flowing in small quantities into the generators a a
through the pipe f does not impede the passage of the gas which as it is produced
passes over the water in the pipe f and enters the receiver b; through the pipe g
a suitable screen, guide or deflector as Fig. 5" is fitted over the water inlet at
the top of the generator to direct the water towards the interior surface of the
outer casing of the generator which is preferably in the form of a vertical cylinder
as shown on the drawings, provided with a removable top having a small safety
valve ask fitted the reto, supports for the carbide holder at the bottom of the cyl'n ler
and a tap for the outlet of water when the carbide is spent. The carbide holder
consists of a series of drums or shallow cases as m m', m², m³, resting one on the
other and retained in position by a central spindle on which said cases are
threaded; these cases are somewhat smaller in diameter than the internal diameter
of the case of the generator so as to leave a space between the outside of the
carbide holders and the interior of the cylinder. Each drum or case is open at
the top and divided into two or more compartments as formed by radial
division plates and each compartment is provided with an opening or openings
at various heights in its outer wall as for example one compartment say ŕ would
have holes formed near the bottom, the next compartment a like number
of holes formed a little higher, and in the compartment holes would be formed
near the top of the outer wall of the drum or case so that as the water in the
generator rises, it communicates with fresh carbide in separate compartments in
the holder, the gas produced escaping between the drums or cases or through
openings at the top of the walls of the compartments.
The water inlet pipes to generators and the pipes for connecting the gas there-
from are each provided with suitable taps, and u³, 3. An additional generator
or generators 3, at may be connected at the upper end by a downwardly sloping
pipe f from the primary generator a or a¹ and near the bottom by a pipe f³ each
preferably fitted with taps ³, ut, and u*, as shown in Fig. 6.
In applying our invention the taps u u¹ on water inlet pipes to generators are
closed, water is let into the container or tank 6 and the generators are charged
with carbide.

page_text: g
The taps is opened and one of the taps on water inlet pipes, say u is also
opened. The water will then flow from the tank 6 into the generator a thereby
producing gas which passes up the pipe f and is conveyed into the receiver 6 by
the pipe the entrance of the gas forcing back up the pipe e a proportion of the
water in the receiver and accumulating in the space e until required to be utilized
when it is conveyed through the pipe g', the tap is then opened. When the
carbide in the aforesaid generator is spent and the cylinder full of water the
overflow will pass along the pipe f into the generator a which will thereby con-
tinue the supply of gas and in like manner additional generators as a will in
succession be brought into action. If an extra supply of gas is required to be
produced within a certain time any or all of the taps u, u, u and us may be
opened at the same time. When it is necessary to renew the supply of carbide in
the generators the gas and water supply pipes connected therewith are closed the
waste water is let off through the taps in the bottom of the generators the
covers a removed and the carbide holders lifted out. By these means one
generator or set of generators can always be ready for use while another is in
action.
When two or more generators are employed in combination the apparatus may
be left for a considerable time without attention as the whole can be in com
munication with either water supply pipe or each set to its own water supply pipe.
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. An apparatus that is employed for the generation of acetylene gas for house-
hold and other purposes the combination with one water supply tank, or container
and gas receiver of a series of generators that are preferably of a cylindrical form
enclosing carbide holders, one or all of which may be brought into action for
producing gas either separately or collectively in the manner substantially as
herein before described.
2. In apparatus that is employed for the generation of acetylene gas the com-
bination with one water supply lank, or container as and generators as a of an
inclined pipe as f connected to a vertical pipe as g forming an inverted A shapel
pipe for conveyance of water from tank to generators and gas from generators
to gas receivers, and overflow from one generator to another in the manner sub-
stantially as herein before described.
3. In apparatus that is employed for the generation of acetylene gas for house-
hold and other purposes the combination with one water supply tank or container
and gas receiver as 6 of one or a series of generators as a containing drums or cases
as m forming the carbide holder; water inlet pipes d d from the tank 6 to
generator, a deflector as ; over said inlet pipes, inclined or shaped pipes as f
and between generators for conveyance of water to generators and gas to
receiver and suitable taps for regulating supply all substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 21st day of Arroust 1800
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.