A New or Improved Apparatus for Generating and Utilizing Gas, such as Acetylene.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Generating and Utilizing Gas,
such as Acetylene.
JULIAN BOSS, 45, Lupus Street, Pimlico, S.W., Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention comprises an operating apparatus for the generation and
utilization of gas such as acetylene and is essentially characterized by reason
that the generating chamber can be charged and discharged and the gas generated
without air admixing with the gas generated and by the heat evolved in the
process of generation being reduced to a minimum.
an
The invention is illustrated by drawings which serve, however, merely as
example of the apparatus, the proportions and details of construction as well
as the more general arrangements being capable of variation to suit circum-
stances.
The whole apparatus is simple to manage and safe to work, requiring no
skilled training.
Shortly referred to the form of the apparatus may, practically, be cylindrical,
and has besides other arrangements, a gasholder A suitably counter-balanced and
free to rise and fall in a water-seal jacketing a, a; a generating-chamber B;
and a water-chamber C; whilst suitably arranged in connection with the
generating-chamber, B, is the neck-shaped adjustment or charging-chamber, D,
which is fixed in an air-tight manner round an opening in the side of the said
generating chamber. Short piping with a valve or suitable stop-cock arrange-
ment 6 completes a connection from the water-jacket a, a, with the charging-
chamber D allowing at will the free passage of water or gas from one chamber
to the other, whilst at d, d, is set a water-guage to shew the quantity of water
in the jacketing a, a.
At the top of the gas-holder A is set a valve (or other suitable contrivance) S,
for the purpose of allowing air or gas to escape from the gas-holder.
The generating chamber B consists in having a ball-valve (or other suitable
contrivance) but preferably a ball-valve Ba, set in the bottom of the water-
jacket (of the gasometer) and so arranged that it is self-acting and free to rise
and fall automatically, permitting a free passage for either gas or water from
the upper (gasometer) chamber to the generating chamber and vice versa the
rising and falling movements of such valve being governed by unequal pressures
from above or below such valve arrangement, whilst at E and Ea there are
provided adjustable air-tight covers which, by any suitable contrivance, can be
made removeable at will for the purposes of charging and discharging the
DQ11

page_text: generating chamber. In the bottom part of the chamber C is also provided an
adjustable air-tight cover Ca, removeable at will; whilst at the highest part
of the inclined floor of the generating chamber is fixed (in an air-tight manner)
a short open piece of piping J, freely permitting the passage of water from one
chamber to the other.
At H is set a valve of rather larger dimensions with a pipe connection to an
orifice in the side of the water-chamber C for the purpose of emptying at will
the said chamber C, the smaller valve arrangement and piping at F being
the water-service supply-pipe which receives its supply of water from a separate
apparatus (such as a water-tank or other similar plant) placed at a sufficient
height so that the water may gravitate to the apparatus herein described.
In the body of the gas-holder A there is a spiral-condenser and flow pipe
through which the gas in the holder enters at A a passing to the terminal end
at P at which is attached the controlling valve or stop-cock M.
The piping J, and the short pipe in connection with 6 (this latter joining the
jacketing a, a, with D), and the piping of the spiral condenser through which
the gas is drawn, is made effectually air-tight at the appertures in the plates or
portions of the apparatus through which it passes.
To generate gas I operate the apparatus as follows:-I first fill the several
chambers with water until the dotted line (see drawing) is reached at W, and
this is effected by closing all openings and outlets excepting b and S. (The
valve Ba being automatic will not require attention.)
I now admit water from the over-head tank, or from any other source by
turning on the valve at F.
Chamber C filling first will drive the air through the pipe J to chamber B.
The water filling this chamber in turn drives the air on through the valve Ba
as well as through the piping in connection with bup into the gasholder and
gasometer jacketing. Rising still higher the water flows through to the
jacket a, a, of the gasometer as well as the gasholder, when the valve F is closed,
so that the water, by the glass-guage d, d, barely reaches say, W
Now closing I undo cover E, through the mouth of the opening of which
on the removal of the said cover, I put a necessary proportion (preferably pre-
viously ascertained) of the material for producing the gas, so that it may pass
down through the neck-shaped adjustment D on to the floor of the generating
chamber B. Directly this has been performed I quickly close down cover E
securely.
Gas being immediately evolved on its (the said material) contact with the
large body of water in the generating chamber will pass up through the passages
of the valve B a into A where it collects in a condition ready for use.
Owing to the great body of water in the generator in comparison to material
the heat evolved in the generation of the gas is greatly reduced whilst the
water-chamber further helps in the same respect.
As soon as sufficient time, about one minute or so, has elapsed for the com-
plete exhaustion from the gasholder A of any air there might be left present in
such holder, close valve S.
The accumulation of gas continuing will cause the gasholder to rise, whilst
the gas is prevented from escaping by the water in the jacketing a, a, acting
as a water-seal.
The gas thus accumulated is ready for consumption.
Should however an apparatus not be of sufficient dimensions and capacity
for the purposes required, a separate gasometer could be employed in connection
therewith, the supply being directed from one apparatus to the other by a con-
nection with M.
The apparatus is suitably provided with a counter-balancing attachment to
the gas-holder and gasometer.
The material employed in the production of the gas having done its work

page_text: and accumulated in a spent condition upon the floor of the generator B, remove
the cover Ea and allow the water to escape in a bodily rush and thus cleanse
the chamber of the residum. (It should here be mentioned that the water and
gas in the gasholder A and jacketing a, a, will be prevented from flowing into
the generator on the removal of cover E a by the automatic closing of the
valve Ba by the excess of pressure above such valve.) -
After cleansing out the generator, replace cover E a again securely, and
remove cover E. Now turn on valve F admitting a fresh supply of water to
and again fill chamber B. Insert the desired proportion of gas producing
material as before through D, and replace cover E immediately, when the
process of generation proceeds over again.
H can be opened on occasions when it is desired to empty chambers B and C,
whilst the cover Ca can be removed periodically for cleansing purposes if found
necessary.
I do not limit my invention in the ways so described.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Generating and Utilizing Gas,
such as Acetylene,
JULIAN BOSS, 45, Lupus Street, Pimlico, S.W., 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 comprises an operating apparatus for the generation and utili-
zation of gas such as acetylene and is essentially characterized by reason that
the generating chamber can be charged and discharged and the gas generated
without air admixing with the gas generated, and by the heat evolved in the
process of generation being reduced to a minimum.
The invention is illustrated by drawings filed with my Provisional Specification
which serve, however, merely as an example of the apparatus, the proportions
and details of construction as well as the more general arrangements being
capable of variation to suit circumstances.
The whole apparatus is simple to manage and safe to work, requiring no
skilled training.
The form of the apparatus may practically be cylindrical, and have besides
other arrangements, a gasholder A suitably counter-balanced and free to rise
and fall in a water-seal jacketting aa; a generating chamber B; and a water-
chamber C; whilst suitably arranged in connection with the generating-
chamber B is the neck-shaped adjustment or charging-chamber D, which is
fixed in an air-tight manner round an opening in the side of the said generating
chamber.
Short piping with a valve or suitable stop-cock arrangement b.completes a
connection from the water-jacket a a with the charging-chamber D, allowing
at will the free passage of water or gas from one chamber to the other, whilst
at d d is set a water-gauge to shew the quantity of water in the jacketting aa.
At the top of the gasholder A is set an operating valve (or other suitable
contrivance) S, for the purpose of allowing air or gas to escape from the gas-
holder.

page_text: water
The generating chamber B consists in having a ball-valve (or other suitable
contrivance, but preferably a ball-valve) Ba, set in the bottom of the water-
jacket (of the gasometer) and so arranged that it is self-acting and free to rise
and fall automatically, permitting a free passage for either gas or
from the upper (gasometer) chamber to the generating-chamber and vice versa
the rising and falling movements of such valve being governed by unequal
pressures from above or below such valve arrangement, whilst at E and Ea
there are provided adjustable air-tight covers which, by any suitable contrivance,
can be made removeable at will for the purposes of charging and discharging
the generating-chamber. In the bottom part of the chamber C is also provided
an adjustable air-tight cover Ca, removeable at will; whilst at the highest part
of the inclined floor of the generating-chamber is fixed (in an air-tight manner)
a short open piece of piping J freely permitting the passage of water from one
chamber to the other.
At H is set a valve of rather larger dimensions with a pipe connection to an
orifice in the side of the water-chamber C for the purpose of emptying, at will,
the said chamber C; the smaller valve arrangement and piping at F being the
water-service supply-pipe which receives its supply of water from a separate
apparatus (such as a water-tank or other similar plant) placed at a sufficient
height so that the water may gravitate to the apparatus herein described.
In the body of the gasholder A there is a spiral-condenser and flow pipe
through which the gas in the holder enters at A a passing to the terminal end
at P at which is attached the controlling valve or stop-cock. M.
The piping J, and the short pipe in connection with b (this latter joining the
jacketting aa with D), and the piping of the spiral-condenser through which
the gas is drawn, is made effectually air-tight at the apertures in the plates or
portion of the apparatus through which it passes.
To generate gas I operate the apparatus as follows:-I first fill the several
chambers with water until the dotted line (see drawing) is reached at W, and
this is effected by closing all openings and outlets excepting 6 and S. (The
valve Ba being automatic will not require attention.)
I now admit water from the over-head tank (or from any other source), by
turning on the valve at F.
Chamber C filling first will drive the air through the pipe J to chamber B.
The water filling this chamber in turn, drives the air on through the valve Ba,
as well as through the piping in connection with b, up into the gasholder and
gasometer jacketting.
Rising still higher the water flows through to the jacket aa of the gasometer
as well as the gasholder, when the valve F is closed, so that the water by the
glass-gauge dd barely reaches, say, W.
i
Now closing 6 I undo cover E, through the mouth of the opening of which
on the removal of the said cover, I put a necessary proportion (preferably pre-
viously ascertained) of the material for producing the gas, so that it may pass
down through the neck-shaped adjustment D on to the floor of the generating-
chamber B.
Directly this has been performed I quickly close down cover E securely.
Gas being immediately evolved on its (the said material) contact with the
large body of water in the generating-chamber will pass up through the passages
of the valve Ba into A where it collects in a condition ready for use.
Owing to the great body of water in the generator, in comparison to material,
the heat evolved in the generation of the gas is greatly reduced, whilst the water-
chamber further helps in the same respect
As soon as sufficient time, about one minute or so, has elapsed for the com-
plete exhaustion from the gasholder A of any air there might be left present
in such holder, close valve S.
The accumulation of gas continuing will cause the gas-holder to rise, whilst

page_text: the gas is prevented from escaping by the water in the jacketing aa acting as
a water-seal.
The gas thus accumulated is ready for consumption.
Should however an apparatus not be of sufficient dimensions and capacity for
the purposes required, a separate gasometer could be employed in connection
therewith, the supply being directed from one apparatus to the other by a
connection with M.
.
The apparatus is suitably provided with a counter-balancing attachment to
the gasholder and gasometer.
The material employed in the production of the gas having done its work
and accumulated in a spent condition upon the floor of the generator B, remove
the cover Ea and allow the water to escape in a bodily rush and thus cleanse
the chamber of the residuum. (It should here be mentioned that the water and
gas in the gasholder A and jacketing aa will be prevented from flowing into
the generator on the removal of cover Ea by the automatic closing of the
valve Ba by the excess of pressure above such valve).
After cleansing out the generator replace cover Ea again securely, and remove
cover E.
Now turn on valve F admitting a fresh supply of water to again fill chamber B.
Insert the desired proportion of gas producing material as before through D,
and replace cover E immediately, when the process of generation proceeds over
again.
H may be opened on occasions where it is desired to empty chambers B and C,
whilst the cover Ca can be removed periodically for cleansing purposes if found
necessary.
I do not limit my invention in the ways so described for the performance of
same, but the manner in which the apparatus may be performed is to all intents
and purposes, particularly described.
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. A new or improved apparatus substantially as set forth herein, for generat-
ing and utilizing gas such as acteylene and comprised in a form substantially as
shewn in the drawings, having the charging-chamber in juxtaposition with the
generating chamber and the generating chamber in conjunction with the gaso-
meter, with a water-chamber at the base of the apparatus, the bottom part of
the gasometer having a suitable automatic arrangement or ball valve placed
centrally and intermediately. between such gasometer and the generating-
chamber, self-acting and free to rise and fall by the force of an unequal pressure
from above or below, and thereby allowing a free passage for either gas or
water from one chamber to the other; the charging-chamber and the jacket of
the gasometer being connected by means of a short pipe allowing for the free
passage of water or gas, controlled by means of an operating-valve, whilst at the
mouth of the charging chamber is a removeable device for covering the opening
(mouth) in a secure and air-tight manner, with a similar device in the opposite
side of the generating-chamber for cleansing purposes.
2. The adoption of an inclined floor for the bottom part of the generating-
chamber through which to the water-chamber is fixed a piece of piping passing
through the highest part of such inclined floor, and permitting the free passage
of water from the said water-chamber to the generating-chamber, the water-
chamber aforesaid having in the sides of same two openings with operating-
valves attached thereto by means of connections for the ingress and egress of a
liquid such as water, and in the bottom part of such water-chamber the adoption
of an operating device such as a man-hole cover removeable and re-adjustable at
will.

page_text: 3. The adoption in the general arrangements connected with the apparatus
for the more satisfactory and effectual performance of its working capabilities
of a spiral flow pipe for the combined object of assisting in the condensation
and flow of the accumulated gas in the holder of the apparatus.
4. The arrangement, and combination of parts and accessories substantially as
set forth with reference to Fig. 1 and substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 15th day of September 1898.