Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
I, CHARLES FRANÇOIS JEAN BAPTISTE BECHEREL, Gentleman, of 6, Boulevard des
Italiens, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas con-
stituting improvements upon the apparatus forming the subject of my Patent
No. 23289 dated June 27th, 1896, which apparatus consists 1st of a generator proper
or gazogene containing the carbide of calcium the decomposition of which by water
produces the gas which it is desired to obtain, 2nd of a receiver or vessel designed
to contain the water required for decomposition, 3rd of an expanding gas reservoir
such as a gas holder with bell and water seal or it may be in the form of bellows or
collapsible vessel of rubber or other suitable material; and in that Patent I said
that the apparatus might comprise a number of generators arranged in such a
manner that they may be brought into operation and exhausted in succession.
According to this invention I employ two or more carbide receptacles hereinafter
called generators arranged at different heights or in steps or stages, and when the
bell or other collapsible part of the gas holder descends it draws down the float in
the reservoir by means of the connecting rod or chain and causes the level of the
water in the reservoir to rise and flow away by the supply pipe to the generators and
exhaust first the upper generator, and then as soon as it has reached in the latter
a predetermined level any further supply from the reservoir passes through a tube
or syphon into the second generator which it exhausts in turn and so on until all
the generators are exhausted.
The acetylene gas evolved in the generators passes by suitably arranged pipes
to a larger pipe or collector which conveys it to the gas holder. From the latter
the gas passes by a discharge pipe to where it is to be consumed, for example a row
of gas burners.
The pipes from the generators to the collecting pipe or vessel are provided with
suitable taps, and the syphon tubes connecting the carbide receptacles or generators
are provided with union joints or other suitable connections so that any one of the
generators may be readily removed for the purpose of being recharged, even whilst
in full working, and the escape of gas is prevented by means of a stopper or plug,
a shut-off cock, or other suitable means, or connecting tubes may be provided
with a check valve or other suitable device adapted to automatically close and
prevent the escape of gas or water when two adjacent receptacles are detached from
one another.
The generators may be arranged in a straight line, in a circle around a gas-

page_text: holder, or otherwise suitably. Obviously their number and their dimensions may
be varied as desired. It is advantageous for proper working to prevent the level
of the water from falling below a predetermined level in the reservoir. This may
be effected by providing the reservoir with a small auxiliary float designed to open
and close at the required times the tap of a supply pipe. With this arrangement,
when the apparatus is being charged, if the chain or rod actuating the bell and the
float be separated by unhooking or detaching it from the bell, the float will rise
freely in the water of the reservoir and cause the water level therein to fall and
the auxiliary float to act allowing the necessary quantity of water for working to
flow into the reservoir. This auxiliary float also acts automatically to re-establish
the working during operation should it fall be low the predetermined limit.
Instead of arranging the generators in stages or cascade fashion as above
stated, I may employ for the same purpose independent generators each fed with
water from a corresponding water reservoir provided with a float.
All these floats would then be connected to the bell or collapsible part of the
gasholder in such a manner as to act successively.
In such an arrangement one or more water reservoirs are arranged one above the
other, the upper one first feeding water into its corresponding generator, and when
the latter is exhausted the bell of the gas-holder falls sufficiently to carry down with
it the rod or chain connected to the floats low enough to allow a tappet with which
it is provided to bear upon the float of the next higher reservoir, so that it may
act in its turn to deliver water into the corresponding generator.
The arrangement might be inverted, that is to say, the connecting chain or rod
might be fixed to the lower float in such a manner as to cause it to act first, and
will be connected to the upper one by means of a chain or linked rod slack enough
to allow the latter float to begin to be drawn down only when the bell of the gas
holder moves to a lower level which only takes place when the first generator is
exhausted.
Instead of superposing or arranging the reservoirs one above the other they may
be arranged side by side, and a reservoir of water divided into compartments each
provided with floats connected to the bell of the gas holder by means of chains or
rods of different lengths and in such manner as to act in succession.
This arrangement may be combined with that of the superposed generators in
cases where the apparatus is provided with a large number of generating receptacles.
By another arrangement the water reservoir may be arranged to surround the
gas reservoir, for instance the apparatus may take the form of a portable lamp,
the carbide receptacle or generator being arranged below the gas reservoir which is
of the bellows type. The cover of the bellows is adapted to carry the float which
will be of annular form. The gas passes from the generator through a pipe into
a drying device consisting of a box containing a suitable quantity of carbide of
calcium.
The generator supply pipe is provided with a stop-cock, and the water reservoir
may be filled by means of a pipe leading thereto from the exterior of the apparatus
which is ordinarily closed by a screw plug or otherwise suitably.
For facilitating the charging of the apparatus the carbide receptacle may be
simply screwed into or otherwise detachably secured to the foot or base of the lamp
or apparatus.
In all the above described arrangements to provide against the gas-holder
becoming filled to an excessive degree the bell or other collapsible part is adapted
when at the end of its ascending inovement or extended position to operate a tap
or safety valve allowing the excess of gas to escape into the atmosphere, and in all
cases a supplementary float may be employed to prevent the water level in the
reservoir from falling below a predetermined limit.
Dated this 20th day of October 1896.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
Agent.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
:
I, CHARLES FRANÇOIS JEAN BAPTISTE BÉCHEREL, of 6, Boulevard des Italiens,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, 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 certain improvements in apparatus for the manufacturing
of acetylene gas such as is set forth in my prior Patent No. 23289 of A.D. 1896
and my improvements consist 1st of a generator proper or gazogene containing the
carbide of calcium the decomposition of which by water produces the gas which
it is desired to obtain, or of a number of such generators arranged in such manner
as to be automatically brought into operation and exhausted in succession. 2nd of
a receiver or vessel designed to contain the water required for decomposition which
is displaced as required by a float or floats. 3rd of an extensible gas reservoir or
holder with bell and water seal, or this may be in the form of a bellows or of a
collapsible vessel of caontchouc or other suitable material.
In order that my present improvements may be fully understood I will describe
same in reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation
partly in section of one form of an apparatus constructed in accordance therewith.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a modified form of water supplying device.
Fig. 3 is a plan of another modification for a like purpose and Fig. 4 is a vertical
section of a compact form of the apparatus adapted for use as a portable lamp.
According to my improvements I employ two or more carbide receptacles herein-
after called generators. Four are shown at G1, G2,G, G, Fig. 1 and they are arranged
at different heights or insteps or stages G. A is the bell or other collapsible part of
the gasholder and when it descends owing to reduction of pressure it draws down
the float C in the reservoir B by means of the connecting rod or chain D and so
causes the level of the water in the reservoir to rise and some of the water to flow
through the supply pipe to the generators and to exhaust first the upper
generator G and then as soon as it has reached in the latter a predetermined level
any further supply from the reservoir passes through a tube or syphon f into the
second generator G2 which it exhausts in turn and so on until all the generators
are exhausted.
The acetylene gas evolved in the generators passes by suitably arranged pipes
such as II', H2, H3, H to a larger pipe or collector If which conveys it to the gas
holder A. From the latter the gas passes by a discharge-pipe I to where it is to
be consumed, for example to a row of gas burners such as shown at T.
The pipes. H, H2, H3, H from the generators G, G3, G3, G4 to the collecting
pipe Hare provided with suitable cocks h', h2, h3, and the syphon tubes f. f³, f³
connecting the carbide receptacles or generators, are provided with union joints or
other suitable connections so that any one of the generators may be readily removed
for the purpose of being recharged, even whilst the apparatus is in full work, and
the escape of gas from the siphon tubes is prevented by means of a stopper or plug,
a shut-off cock, or other suitable means; or the said siphon tubes may be each pro-
vided with a check valve or other suitable device adapted to automatically close and
prevent the escape of gas or water when iwo adjacent receptacles are disconnected
from one another. In place of the stepped arrangement illustrated, the generators
may be arranged in a straight line, in a circle around a gasholder, or otherwise
suitably and obviously their number and their dimensions may be varied as desired.
It is advantageous for proper working of the apparatus to prevent the level

page_text: of the water from falling below a predetermined point in the reservoir B. This
may be effected by providing the reservoir with a small auxiliary float adapted to
automatically open and close at the required times the cock of the supply pipe.
With this arrangement, when the apparatus is being charged, if the chain or
rod D actuating the float C be separated by unhooking or detaching it from the
bell, the float will rise freely in the water of the reservoir B and cause the water
level therein to fall and the auxiliary float to act, allowing the necessary quantity
of water for working to flow into the reservoir. This auxiliary float will also act
automatically to re-establish the working level during operation should same fall
below the predetermined limit.
Instead of arranging the generators in stages or cascade fashion as above stated,
I may employ for the same purpose independent generators each fed with water
for a separate and corresponding water reservoir provided with a float.
All these floats are then connected to the bell or collapsible part A of the gas-
holder and adjusted in such a manner as to act successively.
In such an arrangement two or more water reservoirs B, B1 Fig. 2, are arranged
one above the other, the upper one first feeding water into its corresponding
generator, and when the latter is exhausted the bell of the gas-holder falls
sufficiently to carry down with it the rod or chain D connected to the floats, and so
to cause a tappet d¹ with which the said rod or chain is provided to bear upon the
float C of the next lower reservoir B' so that it may in turn be caused to deliver
its water into the corresponding generator.
The arrangement may be inverted, that is to say, the connecting chain or rod
may be fixed to the lower float in such a manner as to cause it to act first, and be
connected to the upper float by means of a chain or linked rod, slack enough to
allow the latter float to begin its descent only when the bell of the gasholder
descends to a lower level which movement takes place only when the first generator
is exhausted.
Instead of superposing or arranging the reservoirs one above the other
they may be arranged side by side, or a reservoir of water divided into compart-
ments B, B1, B2, B3, Fig. 3, each provided with floats C C1, C2 C connected to the
bell of the gasholder by means of chains or rods of different lengths and in such
manner as to act in succession.
This arrangement may be combined with that of the superposed generators in
cases where the apparatus is provided with a large number of generating
receptacles.
By another arrangement the water reservoir may be arranged to
surround the gas reservoir, for instance the apparatus may take the
form of a portable lamp, Fig. 4 the carbide receptacle or generator G being
arranged below the gas reservoir A which is of the bellows type. The cover D of the
bellows is adapted to carry the annular float C. The gas passes from the generator
through a pipe I into a drying device K consisting of a box containing a suitable
quantity of carbide of calcium.
The generator supply pipe F is provided with a stop-cock f and the water reser-
voir B may be filled by means of a pipe 6 leading thereto from the exterior of the
apparatus, the said pipe 6 being ordinarily closed by a screw plug or otherwise
suitable.
For facilitating the charging of the apparatus the carbide receptacle G may be
simply screwed into, or otherwise detachably secured to the foot or base of the lamp
or apparatus.
In all the above described arrangements to provide against the gasholder be-
coming filled to an excessive degree the bell or other collapsible part A is adapted
when at the end of its ascending movement or in extended position to operate a tap
or safety valve thus allowing the excess of gas to escape into the atmosphere or
otherwise, and in all cases a supplementary float may be employed to prevent the
water level in the reservoir from falling below a predetermined level.

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 apparatus for the manufacture of ace.vlene gas comprising in combination,
a multiple gas generator composed of a plurality of carbide receptacles arranged
in steps or cascade fashion and coupled together by disconnectable syphon tubes;
an extensible gas holder, a water reservoir and a float contained therein attached
to the movable part of the gas holder in such a manner that when the said float
descends with the said movable part, the level of the water in the reservoir is
caused to rise to the open end of a tube which conducts a portion of the said
water into the said multiple gas generator, the whole being adapted to operate
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. An apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas comprising in combination,
a multiple gas generator composed of a plurality of carbide receptacles, an
extensible gas holder, a plurality of water reservoirs equal in number to the carbide
receptacles to which they are attached by tubes, and a float in each water
reservoir, all such floats being attached to the movable part of the gasholder and
adjusted in such a manner as to be successively drawn downward during its
descent in order to cause the level of the water to rise in the corresponding reser-
voir to the orifice of a tube which conducts a portion of the said water to one of the
carbide receptacles, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. An apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, comprising in combina-
tion, a gas generator, an extensible gasholder, a water reservoir surrounding the
said gasholder and an annular float contained in said reservoir and fixed to the
movable part of the said gasholder in such manner that when the float descends
with the gasholder the water level is raised and some of the water in the reservoir
is caused to flow to the gas generator, substantially as and for the purposes described
in reference to and shown in Fig. 4.
4. The combination with an apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas in
which the delivery of water to the carbide is determined by the movements of one
or more floats actuated by the gas holder, of one or more auxiliary floats placed in
the float reservoir or reservoirs and governing the water feed cocks, for the pur-
pose of preventing the lowering of the water level further than a given limit in the
said water reservoir or reservoirs, substantially as described.
5. The general construction combination and arrangement of parts embodying
my improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas substantially
as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of July 1897.
Dated this 8th day of July 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.