An Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 13th day of June 1898.
Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897- Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
An Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
I, ULRICH KESSELRING of Rue du Midi, St. Imier, Switzerland, Manufacturer, 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 apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention has for object the
manufacture of acetylene gas with automatic regulation of the charging of the gas
generator.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus in elevation.
Figures 2 and 3 show the two extreme positions of the charging valve of the
apparatus for automatically regulating the charging.
The apparatus consists substantially of a gas holder F G for storing the generated
gas, and of a gas generator comprising a distributing drum an intermediate chamber
with outlet controlled by a special valve; a water vessel and a purifying chamber.
The drum A is divided internally into eight to twelve sectors. These sectors have
each a movable bottom and are filled with carbide of calcium. They are brought
successively above a funnel C which leads each charge of carbide of calcium into the
water box B where the re-action is produced each time the bell G of the gas
holder rises, and the lever I fixed to said bell G pushes a fresh sector over the
funnel C. Each charge falls through said funnel on to a trap or valve which opens
at the proper time so as to allow the charge to fall into the water box B by means
of an arrangement of levers 2, 3, and 4, and closes as soon as the charge has fallen
down. Now the operation of this automatically opened and instantaneously closing
trap constitutes the subject of the present invention.
The charging valve is operated by means of a shaft D on which is keyed a plate 13
(Figure 1). To this plate there is fixed a lever 3 carrying a counterweight M.
Another lever 2, bent as shewn is capable of freely rotating on the shaft D, and has
also a counterweight N situated at some distance from the shaft. Finally a third
lever 4, which is doubly bent as shown is fixed to the lever 2 and slides on the
periphery of the plate 13 which is formed with a notch Q at a certain point of its
circumference. The lever 4 is terminated by a spur or projection P which engages
at the proper time in the notch Q.
In the position shown in Figure 1, the trap is closed, the consumption of the gas
causing the bell G of the gas holder to descend; a lever 12, attached to a rod 5
which is itself fixed to the bell G and is suitably guided by guiding devices (which
are not shown in the drawing for the sake of clearness) presses upon the left hand
portion of the lever 2. This portion descends whilst the counterweight N rises.
The lever 4 ascends and its projection or spur P falls by its weight into the notch Q.
The three levers form at this moment as it were one piece. The lever 12 when it
has arrived near the lower end of its downstroke, becomes disengaged from the
lever 2. The balance weight N which is then at its highest point, acts by means of
the levers 2 and 4 upon the plate, and the balance weight M rises, opening the inner
[Price RIT

page_text: trap and allowing the carbide of calcium resting upon the latter to fall into the
water box B. At this moment the bell of the gasometer is at the bottom and does
not hold any gas. The re-action now takes place in the gas generator, the gas is
evolved immediately, and the bell rises rapidly. The lever 4 being pushed upwards
by the lever 15 fixed to the rod 5, becomes disengaged from the notch Q. The
lever 3 descends under the action of its counterweight M and the internal valve
closes instantaneously.
gas
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the arrangement of automatic
closure in the closed position of the valve. Figure 3 shows the same apparatus in
the opened position of said valve. The rod 5 fixed to the bell of the holder
effects the whole of the operation. The generated gas passes through a pipe R into
a purifier 0. This apparatus is filled with moss and has a diaphragm d of sheet
metal which retains the solid particles of lime carried over by the gas, whereby the
drawbacks of said carrying over are obviated; the chief drawback consisting in the
stoppage of the burners. The pipe R extends to near the bottom of the purifier
and is provided with a cock 8 which should be closed when the apparatus is being
charged. The gas passes to the gasometer from the purifier by a pipe R¹. A
discharge cock 9 allows of discharging the water from the box. When it is desired
to expel at the same time the lime which remains at the bottom of B, the cocks 8
and 10 are closed; the pressure existing in the gas generator then drives out with
violence the water which carries away the lime. When it is desired to empty the
apparatus without pressure, the cock 10 is opened, and then when the gas has
escaped, the discharge is effected by means of the cock 9. 11 is a safety cock
serving to effect a rapid discharge of the bell of the gas holder.
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) An apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising the charging of the
gas generator by means of a distributing drum divided into sectors, and
characterised by the automatic closure of the charging valve, which latter for
the purpose of effecting this object, is operated by means of a plate 13 to which
it is fixed, said plate being formed with a notch in its circumference and with
a lever 3 having a counter weight M forming one therewith; the plate being
operated for the purpose of opening the valve, by means of a counterweighted
lever 2 actuated by another lever 12 fixed on the bell of the gasometer and following
the ascending or descending movement of the latter causing, by pressing upon the
lever 2, the counterweight N to rise and with it a lever 4 whose end formed with a
spur or projection comes at the proper moment into engagement with the notch Q,
and, the lever 12 becoming disengaged from the lever 2, the counterweight N causes
the whole system to turn, and the counterweight M rising, the lever 3 opens the
valve, the re-action taking place in the gas generator, the lever 15 in rising
disengages the lever 4 from the notch, and the counterweight M descending
automatically closed the valve, preventing any fresh admission of carbide of calcium
into the water trough until at the next descent of the bell; the rod 5 operating the
distributing device and all the movement or mechanism for opening and closing the
valve, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(2) An apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, constructed arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as herein before described and shown.
1
15th JA 1007
Bated this 15th day of April
1007
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.