Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 13th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1899-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
I, CARL WILHELM SÖDERBERG, of Nordstrand, near Christiania, Norway,
Mechanical 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:
-
This invention relates to that kind of acetylene gas generators in which the
carbide is delivered in measured quantities into the water container according
as the gas developed is used and in consequence of which the gasholder bell
sinks. The apparatus of this kind heretofore known cannot be said to be perfect,
because various defects shew themselves in their practical application: the
recharging with new carbide is thus difficult to effect without loss of gas, and the
gas in the generator acts upon the parts of the charging mechanism and destroys
them. In order to obtain an apparatus which in all respects and especially as
regards the above defects fulfils the requirements of automatic acetylene gas
generators, the carbide is placed in a series of receptacles fixed upon the lid
of the water container, the bottom opening of which receptacle is closed by an
easily movable bottom the opening and closing of same being effected by a
mechanism worked by the gasholder bell. These carbide receptacles are closed
to the outside by a tight lid and are all closed towards the inside during work
by the easily movable bottoms with exception of the short interval during
which the carbide is admitted. There is thus double closure between the gas
space and the outside, while fresh carbide can at any time be charged into the
empty receptacles. In order to still more prevent the gas from penetrating
through the said receptacles pipes are provided under them from the generator
lid to the water, the carbide falling into the water through these pipes.
I thus obtain a hydraulic seal, so that the gas outside the pipes cannot enter
them or rise into the carbide receptacles. In order that the mechanism for
moving the bottoms of the carbide receptacles shall not be destroyed by the gas,
it is placed quite outside of the generator, as will be more clearly understood
by the following description of one construction of my apparatus.
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 2 plan of the apparatus and
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.
The carbide is enclosed in a number of slightly conical receptacles A (9 in this

page_text: example). These are closed gas tight above and limited below by movable
flaps B. The contents of each corresponds to the amount of gas in the gasholder
and will because of the slightly conical shape, see Fig. 3, easily slide down into
the lower water containing part of the generator when the flap B is opened. The
carbide falls down the pipe L, which reaches into the water, so that gas from
the gas space of the generator cannot get up to the carbide receptacles fixed on
the top of said pipe.
The spindles C, C, fixed in the flaps B are on the side towards the centre of
the generator firmly connected to disc shaped levers D Fig. 3. These discs rest
with the corner d against a horizontal disc G movable round a vertical pivot E,
so that the flaps B are kept closed until the slot H in the disc G allows the same
to open by its own weight or by pressing on the arm fixed thereon. The same
arm also serves to move the small plates K which indicate whether the carbide
container is full or empty. These little plates are pivotted to each chamber.
When the chamber is full, the plate is upright, and when it empties itself, the
arm J catches against its lower part and turns the little plate into the horizontal
position. By a further rotation of the disc G the flap just opened is closed;
the disc G is prevented from turning in the opposite direction by coming against
the disc 1 (the flap open).
The vertical pipe L which terminates under the water level in the generator
prevents the gas from escaping when charging fresh carbide; this may thus be
carried on during work.
The transmission of the motion of the gas-holder bell to the generator may be
ly a tooth-rack M, tooth wheels N and O and the toothrim P.
When the store of gas is diminished and the bell sinks in consequence, the
toothrack M fixed thereto moves the toothwheel M, and the toothwheels N and O
and the toothrim P so that the disc G is caused to turn and the flaps B are opened
in succession as described. When the store of gas is again increased so that the
bell rises, the latter will exert no influence upon the mechanism of the generator,
as a pawl and pawl wheel are arranged within the toothwheel N, so that the
latter runs loose on its spindle in one direction.
c is a pipe which leads the gas evolved in the generator into the gasholder where
it terminates under the bell. f is a gallows for guiding the motion of the
bell. g is a pipe with cock for letting out the slush from the generator, and ha
spout for charging the water.
It will be noticed that the whole of the described moving mechanism is outside
of the generator space the carbide containers having their bottoms so high above
the generator lid on the top of the prolonged pipe L that the hinge spindles of
the flaps B come above the generator lid. The small amount of gas that may
collect in the pipe L thus only comes in contact with the flaps B and their
spindles but the bulk of the mechanism is protected against such contact. The
conical bottom of the generator will however cause most of the gas to rise in the
middle of the apparatus so that the pipes L are almost free of gas.
The regulating mechanism of this special construction makes the apparatus
very little sensitive to accidental shocks or shakings, as the turning of the disc (+
for admitting carbide to the water will only take place with some amount of
friction.
Furthermore the regulating mechanism effects the closing of the flaps, so that
one could not by forgetting this fact let the carbide into the water receptacle.
The apparatus may of course be worked by hand instead of being connected to
the gasholder bell.
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 where the carbide is delivered in measured
quantities into the water receptacle by means of a mechanism worked by the

page_text: gasholder bell or by hand each time the bell approaches its lowest position the
application of a number of carbide containers fixed upon the lid of the water
receptacle, said containers being closed towards the interior of the water
receptacle by a movable disc, substantially as described.
2. In combination with the carbide containers arranged as firstly claimed the
pipes L through which the carbide drops into the water, the lower ends of said
pipes being water sealed from the gas space in the water receptacle.
3. In an acetylene gas generator as firstly claimed the arranging of the
mechanism for moving the movable disc entirely outside the gas space of the
generator.
4. In an acetylene gas generator as firstly claimed a mechanism for moving
the movable flaps consisting of levers D on their hinge spindles, the ends of said
levers coming against a disc which is rotated by the gasholder bell and has an
opening H whereby when said opening comes under one of said levers such
lever will be lowered and thereby the carbide container bottom be opened.
5. The construction of acetylene gas apparatus shewn on the drawing.
OOOTING TO Per Sust
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.