Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1900-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1900
Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1900-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
We, DAVID JOHN VAN PRAAG, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM HARKER,
Gentleman, both of 59 and 60, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to acetylene gas generators, in which water is fed to
act on carbide of calcium from below for the generation of acetylene gas. Our
invention relates more particularly to such generators as applied to portable
lamps, and has for its object to enable more complete and reliable control of the
water feed by the gas pressure.
We have found that where the water is fed to
carbide of calcium from below through any ordinary feeding device, and after
the lamp has burned for a short time, a cake or pad. of lime gradually forms
by the action of the water on the carbide of calcium, and this cake or pad inter-
feres with the control of the water feed by the pressure of gas burning in the
lamp. This we have found causes considerable unsteadiness of the light, and
makes the light very sensitive to any movements of the lamp itself. The
defective control is also the primary cause of over generation of gas as the
pressure of gas in the generating chamber cannot exert itself against the water
through the pad of lime.
Our invention consists in means for overcoming this difficulty, and in an
improved form of acetylene gas generator embodying the same.
in carrying our invention into effect according to one modification, we form
the lamp generator in two parts, an outer case containing water, within which
we place a carbide of calcium container to which is attached, by a gas-tight
joint at the top, a cover, provided with a suitable burner. At the bottom of
the carbide container we place a water supply valve, of suitable form, preferably
that in which a wire is used passing within a small hole, (such as is described
in our prior Patent No. 21691 of 14-10-98) water being supplied to the chamber
in which this valve is placed. The valve, on being screwed open, allows of the
water flowing in through the hole round the wire, on the valve being screwed
shut it seats itself, and closes completely the orifice into the carbide container.
Within the carbide container a tube passes from the valve across the bottom
of the container, and rises up the inside of the container to a point above the
level of the calcium carbide, when the lamp is newly charged. This tube is
suitably perforated in various parts, and the holes are protected by a piece of wire
gauze so that the bore of the tube does not become clogged with the carbide or
lime. The open top end of the tube we protect also by a covering of wire gauze.
A spring and presser plate are provided inside the carbide chamber, the presser
plate being below, and the spring above. These press down the calcium carbide
towards the water supply at the bottom, as the charge becomes exhausted. We
find that this device enables the gas to pass down and act on the feed valve
without requiring to pass through the moist pad or cake of lime formed by the
action of the water on the carbide of calcium. A very reliable and steady control
of the water feed is thus ensured. We find that this arrangement enables the

page_text: lamp to be rapidly and even violently moved, without affecting the steadiness of
the light. The carbide container with its water supply valve at the bottom is
placed within an outer casing containing the water, and this water passes into
the space above the valve through a hole in the valve chamber wall, so that when
the valve is open water passes in and acts on the calcium carbide.
In the above described type of lamp the carbide container is lifted out of the
water supply chamber to open the water supply valve. The carbide container
with its burner is then placed back into the water casing, when water feed will
take place in the ordinary way. When the lamp required to be put out, the
carbide container is lifted out of the water chamber, and the needle valve screwed
shut. We may, however, arrange this water valve at the bottom in any suitable
way adapted to be operated from above without the removal of the carbide
container from the water chamber.
11
101
1
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents.
We, DAVID JOHN VAN PRAAG, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM HARKER,
Gentleman, both of 59 and 60, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., 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:-
Our invention relates to acetylene gas generators, in which water is fed to act
on carbide of calcium from below for the generation of acetylene gas. Our
invention relates more particularly to such generators as applied to portable
lamps.
We have found that, where water is fed to carbide of calcium from below,
through any ordinary feeding device, and after the lamp has burned for a short
time, a cake or pad of lime gradually forms, by the action of the water on the
carbide of calcium; and this cake or pad interferes with the control of the water
feed by the pressure of gas at the burner. This we have found causes consider-
able unsteadiness of the light, and makes the light very sensitive to any move-
ments of the lamp itself. The defective control is also the primary cause of over
generation of gas, as the pressure of gas in the generating chamber cannot exert
itself against the water through the pad or cake of lime.
The object of our invention is to enable more complete and reliable control of
the water feed by the gas pressure.
Our invention consists in overcoming the herein before mentioned diffi-
culties, by providing a perforated water-feed pipe one of whose ends is open
and suitably placed, so that, gas may pass through the pipe and act on a water-
feed valve, without having to pass through the moist pad or cake of lime usually
formed by the action of water on carbide of calcium: it further consists in an
improved form of acetylene gas generator, enabling the first part of the invention
to be carried into effect.
Referring now to the accompanying sheet of drawings: Figure 1 is a part
central vertical section of an acetylene gas generator, of our improved pattern,
showing one application of our feed control pipe, and
Figure 2 is a full size section of the carbide container and feed control pipe.
In carrying our invention into effect, according to one modification, we provide

page_text: a thin metal casing a, Fig. 1, with an extended base b and having a water tight
bottom c soldered or otherwise secured to it; thus forming a water tank for the
generator. A carbide container d (Fig. 2) is constructed by soldering or other-
wise fastening a circular bottom e, having bent up edges f, to a cylindrical shell h,
the top of which has a ring of wire j soldered to it inside. Fixed to the
bottom e, by solder or other means, and carried up against the side of the carbide
container is a pipe k, having perforations at intervals throughout its entire
length, on its under side and on the side adjacent to the shell h. These perfora-
tions are covered with wire gauzer, r. The lower end m, of this pipe k, is passed
through a hole cut for it in the container d, while the other end o is carried nearly
to the top edge of the container d, and is protected by fine wire gauze n.
Inserted within the end m of the pipe k, is a screwed valve casing 13, provided
with a gland 14, and having a tapered valve seat 15, against which a tapered
valve p, having a needle 17 projecting from it may be screwed. The needle 17
passes through a small hole 18, which it nearly fills and which leads from the
valve seat 15 into the pipe k. On the valve p being screwed tightly against
the valve face 15 no water can enter the pipe k; but on screwing the valve
back, water is admitted into the casing 13, through a hole 19, whence it passes
into the pipe k.
We make the container d act as a reservoir for gas as it generates, by providing
a cover plates, a little larger in diameter than the casing a, having secured to
it a cylindrical shell t, whose internal diameter is a little greater than the outside
diameter of the container d, so that said container d may be inserted in the shell t.
The gas is led away from the reservoir so formed by a pipe u, having gas tight
joints, and provided with suitable burners v, v. Within the shell t, held
against the cover plate s by suitable means, is a rubber disc x. The circular
top edge of the container d, on being inserted in the shell t, is pressed home and
clamped against the rubber disc a, by a clamping device, which may take the
form of an eccentric roller. A tight joint is thus formed preventing the escape
of gas.
A ring of metal z is attached to the cover plates and shell t, and it carries
rigidly two flat bars 2, 2, whose bottom ends are bored with holes 8, 8, to act
as bearings for an eccentric roller y. An end view of this eccentric roller y and a
handle 4, with which it is provided, is shewn by dotted lines at 5. It has two
pins 6 and 7, one at each end, one of them being short, so that the roller may
easily be put into position between the two bars 2, 2.
Secured to the cover-plate s is an outside metal casing or shell 21, of suffi-
ciently large diameter to slip over the water tank a. It is provided, near the top,
with two or more suspending hooks 9, 9, and at its bottom with two or more
clips 11, 11, which pass over and engage with projecting pieces 12, 12, secured
to the tank casing a.
The method of working our improved lamp-generator is as follows: -Carbide of
calcium is placed within the carbide container d. A pressure plate 22 and
spring 23 are next put in (pressure plate downwards).
The container d is now inserted in the shell t, and the pins 6 and 7 of the
eccentric roller y are put in the holes 8, in the bars 2, and the handle 4 of the
roller
is brought up into position, so as to press and hold the container d
against the rubber disc as shewn in Figure 1.
y
The container d, thus secured to the cover-plate s is placed in the water tank a.
The tank a after screwing the valve p fully open should have sufficient water
in it, say about 5" from the bottom c when the container d is put in. The
clips 11, 11, are now engaged with the projections 12, 12, (see right hand clip,
Figure 1) thus attaching the tank a to the shell 21, secured to the cover plates,
so that the whole may be suspended intact by means of the hooks 9, 9.
Water passes through the hole 19, past the valve p, through the hole 18
around the wire 17, into the pipe k, whence it reaches the carbide of calcium
through the gauze covered perforations in the under side of the tube.

page_text: Acetylene gas thus generated passes through the pipe u to the burners v, v.
Gas will also pass down the tube k through its open end o. It is evident that
the gas pressure in this tube k is equal to the gas pressure in all parts of the
container d. We find that this device enables the gas to pass down the tube k
and act against the incoming water at the valve orifice 18, without requiring to
pass through the moist pad or cake of lime formed by the action of the water
on the carbide of calcium. Any increase of gas pressure at once acts on the
nozzle of the valve, and holds the water in check, until the gas pressure reduces,
when more water will flow into the pipe k.
In the event of a greater increase of pressure than the burners can pass,
(which very seldom occurs) the surplus gas then blows back through the valve,
and completely checks the water supply. We have only found this occur when
we have suddenly reduced the gas consumption from 50 litres to 30, and then
to 20. The blow off has only lasted a short time.
Regulation to the new rate of supply takes place very quickly; and we find
that this device gives a very perfect regulation of the gas generated to that
required for the burner in use, and thus ensures a steady light. We find more-
over that this arrangement enables the lamp to be rapidly, and even violently
moved, without affecting the steadiness of the light.
In the herein before described type of lamp, the carbide container d is lifted
out of the water supply chamber a, and the needle valve p opened full to admit
water for the generation of gas: the carbide container d is then placed back into
the water casing, when water feed will take place in the ordinary way. When
the lamp requires to be put out the container d is lifted out of the water
chamber a, and the needle valve p, screwed shut. We may, however, arrange
this water feed valve at the bottom, in any suitable way adapted to be operated
from above, without the removal of the carbide container from the water chamber.
The carbide container and generating and burner portion of the lamp can also
be constructed to stand in a bucket of water, or any suitable receptacle containing
water.
Instead of using the eccentric roller y we may adopt other suitable means for
clamping the container in position such as, for example, a clamping screw and
plate.
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. In acetylene gas generators, in which water feed takes place from below
the carbide, a water feed pipe carrying a water admission valve at one end, and
provided with suitable protected perforations, adapted to admit gas readily to
the valve for the purpose of ensuring steady regulation of the water feed, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In an acetylene gas generating lamp, the combination of a casing such
as s having a burner pipe and joint ring with a carbide container such as d, having
a spring pressed plate, and provided with a pipe such as k, and valve such
as p. the whole being adapted to fit on a water tank base, substantially as and
for the purpose described."
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents.