Improved Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas in a Pure State.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas in a Pure State.
I, HANS RICHARd Berger, of 15, Kaiserin Augusta Allee, Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
4
Existing apparatus for generating acetylene have the defect that the gas is not
pure when generated. The cause of this is an imperfect regulation of the water
supply to the calcium-carbide. In the systems where water is dropped on to the
carbide, for instance, or where the carbide is immersed in water, the proper
proportion of excess of water over the quantity of carbide to be decomposed is
seldom obtained; and in the case of overflow. systems, where the water supply in
the right quantity and at the right time is dependent upon the attention of an
attendant, it is very often the case that the water is used up before a fresh
supply is admitted. The result is that portions of the carbide receive too much
water whilst other portions are scarcely touched and this gives rise to an impure
gas owing to polymeric products.
The object of the present invention is to remedy these defects by providing an
apparatus which enables the water supply to be effected automatically to the
carbide in the right quantity and at the right time; and at the same time, by a
new arrangement of the carbide holders, much room is saved and less space left
for the collection of air within the generator.
The carbide holders are so arranged that it is made impossible for the contents
of one holder to splash over into those of another and thus generate gas before it
is required.
My apparatus consists essentially of the following parts: 1. A generator; 2. A
washing device; 3. A device for freeing the gas generated of injurious bodies
which it may contain, such as ammonia, phosphoretted hydrogen or sulphur,
vapor or linie particles; 4. A device for drying the gas; and 5. A device for
measuring and regulating the water supply.
The generator, of which I preferably use two so that one can be working whilst
the other is being charged, is divided by division walls into four or more com-
partments. Attached to these division walls or to the side of the generator are
the carbide holders. These carbide holders are so arranged that they have a
gradual rise in the generator in the form of a spiral, the position of each holder
being such that there can be no splashing over of the contents of one box into
another. The division walls effectually separate each box or holder from the
other with the exception of the one coming next in order in a vertical direction
and the bottom of this covers the holder underneath.
The washing device consists of a vessel filled to about two thirds of its height
with water and having the outlet for the gas conduit at the bottom so that the
gas must pass upwards through the water. This same water then prevents the
gas returning to the generator.
The device mentioned under No. 3, is a vessel charged with such substances
as will absorb the bodies which it is desired to remove from the gas.

page_text: The drying device is a metal cylinder charged with burnt lime, calcium-
chloride, pumice-stone and sulphuric acid or like drying body.
The device for measuring and regulating the water supply consists of a cistern
having two compartments which are in communication. Each compartment has
a valve which is opened or closed as the case may be by a rod or rods worked
from a small beam or swing lever placed over the cistern. The said lever is
weighted by a weight at one end, and at its other cud, is attached a chain. When
this chain is drawn downwards, the fulcrum of the lever is on the rod which
closes the compartment of the cistern communicating with the generator, whereas
when the lever follows the weight after the tension on the chain is relaxed, the
fulcrum is shifted on to another rod which closes the valve in the compartment
cominunicating with the generator and opens the valve of the other compart-
ment. This enables water first placed in the one compartment to pass into the
other compartment and thence into the generator.
The device is worked by means of a nose or projection on the cylinder which
engages with a spring catch the downward drawing of which draws the chain
and alters the position of the lever controlling the two valves above-mentioned.
The device can be provided with a meter to show how much water passes
through.
Dated this 28th day of Jul 1898
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas in a Pure State.
I, HANS RICHARD BERGER, of 15, Kaiserin Augusta Allee, Berlin, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Engineer, 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:—
The present invention relates to acetylene gas generators and consists in means
for supplying a certain pretermined quantity of water, which is regulated accord-
ing to the quantity of carbide, to the latter, automatically by means of the sinking
movement of the gasometer bell. The apparatus also comprises a peculiar
arrangement of the carbide receptacles in the generator by means of which only
one receptacle may be developed at a time and meaus are also provided to pre-
vent the water from splashing into the receptacles which it is not intended to
work.
In order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference is
had to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. I is a front elevation of the apparatus, Fig. 2 a plan of the same, Fig. 3 a 4
vertical section through the carbide receptacle or generator, Fig. 4 a horizontal
section through the same on line y of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a vertical
section through the water supply tank, Fig. 6 a detail elevation of the means
for operating the water supply and Fig. 6 a similar detail elevation showing
the parts in the opposite position.
Generally, the apparatus comprises the generator of particular construction as
herein after described and indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by A. From this generator,
the gas developed passes along a pipe 6 to a washer B of ordinary construction,
from the washer B it passes along the pipe or pipes 2 to a purifier & also of

page_text: known construction and from G along the pipe 3 to the gasometer H. A pipe 4
leads from the gasometer to a drier also of known construction and from this
latter the gas may be conducted off to the points of consumption.
So far the construction of the apparatuses, with the exception of the generator
is or may be of the known construction and the said apparatuses form no part
of the present invention, with the exception of the said generator and the water
supply tank.
The generator A is provided with partition walls a a¹ aª a³ which extend nearly
to the bottom of the same, and to these walls are attached a series of carbide recep-
tacles e ele e... e3 which are staggered, i.e. the holder in one of the chambers a
is mounted at a slightly higher level than that of at, and that of a slightly higher
again than that of a and so on continuously up to the top holder or receptacle.
The holders of all the chambers at to a' may also be attached to the inner walls
of the generator A instead of to the partition plates as shown. Water from
the water supply tank CD enters the generator through the pipe 1, sufficient
water being allowed to enter the same to cover one of the carbide holders at
each operation, and advantageously exactly five times as much water as carbide
being allowed to enter each time. The means for automatically conducting the
proper quantity of water to the generator will now be described.
The water tank is divided into two parts or chambers C and D of which C is in
connection with the water supply permanently as at 7. A pipe Q opening into
the lower chamber D passes upwardly through the upper chamber C and within
the same is a rod Q¹ having a valve 0 at its lower end adapted to close the
outlet pipe K of the water supply. A bracket R is provided to guide the lower
end of the valve rod Q. An opening L establishes communication between the
upper and lower chambers said opening being closed by a valve 0³ guided by
means of a valve rod 0 in brackets S. The valve rods Q¹ and 0³ are both
pivoted to a lover M at O and N, one end of the said lever being connected to an
operating lever h, herein after described by means of a chain k and the other
end carrying a counterpoise P. This device operates in the following manner: If
a pull is exercised on the chain or cord k, the rod 03 acts as a fulcrum until the
valve O' has been forced down on to its seat, at which moment the rod Q¹ will
act as fulcrum for the continued pull and will consequently allow the valve La
to be opened, so that water will flow from C into D until the latter is filled. As
soon as the chain is released, the weight P will act by gravity to first close the
valve LO on the fulcrum formed by Q and thereafter to open the valve O¹ on
the fulcrum formed by the rod 03 as soon as the valve 03 is down on its seat so
that the exact contents of the chamber D and no more will be able to pass out
along the pipe 1 to the generator and supply water to the carbide, thus generating
a certain quantity of gas which again raises the gasometer bell.
The means for automatically operating the valves of the water tank are shown
at Figs. 6 and 6 and designated generally by F. They consist of a pivoted
lever supported on a stationary pivot d and retained in its normal position by
means of a spring f, the end of said lever being connected by a chain or cord k
to the end of the lever M afore mentioned. The gasometer bell H¹ is provided
with a lug or projection n adapted, when the bell falls below a certain point to
contact with the lever hand turn the same round its pivot from the position
shown at Fig. 6 to that of Figure 6. This movement of the lever operates the
lever M in the manner previously described to first fill the chamber D from C
and then empty the same into the generator. Gus is now generated and the bell
on rising again will brush pass the end of the lever which will yield under
the spring and allow it to pass.
From the above description it will be seen that the apparatus will operate
automatically until all the receptacles have been developed. As shown at
Figure 2 it is advantageous to have two generators, so that one may be recharged
whilst the other is generating, suitable cocks being provided (not shown).

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1: In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of partition walls extond-
ing nearly to the bottom of the generator and dividing the same into a series of
chambers, and a series of carbide holders in each chamber, the said holders being
staggered .e. the holder in each chamber being mounted at a slightly higher
level than the holder of the preceding chamber, which immediately precedes it,
and means for periodically supplying sufficient liquid to the generator to develop
one chamber substantially as described.
3: The combination of an acetylene gas generator having chambers as
specified, and having a series of carbide holders arranged in said chambers as
specified, said holders being staggered, micans for supplying a
certain pre-
determined quantity of water to the said generator from a supply tank, a lever in
combination with the valve operating mechanism of said tank, a lug on the
gasometer bell to contact with said lever when the bell sinks below a certain level,
and operate the tank valves, said operating lever being capable of yielding when
the bell rises to allow the lug to pass substantially as described.
3: The combination with an apparatus of the description covered by Claims 1
and 2 of means for periodically supplying a predetermined quantity of water to
the generator substantially as described.
Dated thin orth dow of Mosch 1900
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.