A New or Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 17th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 18th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene
Gas.
I, ADAM PRESTON, of 39, Market Street, Atherton, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for the manufacture of
acetylene gas and consists of a chamber or chambers containing carboyde, the said
chambers beiug provided with moveable lids; the latter being secured by crossbars
and screws. The gas from the carboyde chamber or chambers is conveyed by pipes
to the purifying chamber or chambers containing lime, water, wool, or other
material or substance by means of pipes or passages. Each carboyde chamber is
surrounded with an outer casing to form a water chamber to keep the same cool.
The gas generated in the aforesaid chamber or chambers is conveyed by means of
a pipe to the gas holder; the outlet pipe heing provided with an automatic valve
in the lower end of the gas holder. If desired the gas may be emptied into the
upper end of the gas holder, the delivery pipe being provided with a self-acting valve
to prevent the flowing back of gas from the holder to the purifying chamber
or chambers. Water is supplied from the gas holder case to the carboyde chamber
by means of an automatic valve or its equivalent. The gas holder is mounted in a
vessel containing water or liquid to prevent the escape of gas. The gas holder is
provided with a float and rod to operate the before mentioned automatic valve,
the upper end of the rod being provided with a spiral spring to determine the
amount of rise of the same. The gas holder is provided with a tap to emit air
when desired or necessary. A bye-way pipe and tap are provided to close the
opening or pipe connecting the holder with the purifying chamber. Gas from the
holder is conveyed to the house or other place by means of a pipe provided with a
tap to regulate the delivery of the same, which is also employed for shutting off the
The bottom end of the gas holder is provided with taps to allow of condensed
water being drawn off, and also for emptying the same.
gas.

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
_
This invention has for its object a new or improved apparatus for the manu-
facture of acetylene gas and consists of a ball and socket valve for automatically
supplying water to carbide when the gas in the holder gets nearly exhausted by
means of a stop cock which can be opened to allow water to be turned on to the
carbide at any time, also to a new arrangement of generating and purifying
chamber which can be opened to admit of being cleaned or refilled at any time
whether the holder is full or not as the gas cannot return to the purifier or generator
by reason of a ball valve being provided on the end of the pipe connecting the
purifier with the holder as shown in the drawings filed herewith.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 a plan. Fig. 3 is a front view of the
generating and purifying chambers and clamp fastening. Fig. 4 is a plan of the
carbide tray and Fig. 5 a plan of the purifying chamber.
I construct a holder B and one or more generators No. 1 and one or more
purifiers No. 2 the holder B is nearly filled with water and contains an inverted
cylinder in the usual manner. Two tubes marked C & I extend upwards and I
arrange a central rod or tube a with a float No. 6 and operating a valve No. 7
which is supported at the top by the crossbar No. 10 connected to C & I at the
top. The pipe passes from the valve No. 7 to the generator No. 1 by a pipe No. 8
which conveys water from the holder. At the top of the rod a connected to the
float No. 6 there is a spring marked K which will upon being pressed by the holder
in its descent open the valve No. 7 by pressing down the float No. 6 before the
holder is at the bottom, and gas will be immediately generated before the supply
is exhausted by allowing the water to pass to the carbide through the pipe No. 8
and cock No. 11 to the generator No. 1. Inside of this generator No. 1 there is
a metal tray or container G for holding the carbide, which is divided into say
three compartments and connected by perforations. When the cock No. 11 is
opened and the water passed to the carbide the gas generated will pass from the
generator No. 1 to the purifier No. 2 by the pipe L which is connected by a union
to a metal box H also divided into three compartments; the gas will pass into
No. 1 which contains liquid then it will pass on to No. 2ª then on to No. 3º com-
partment by pipe P, thence through pipe to the holder A B from which the gas
is taken by the pipe Cat the bottom of the outside casing B and regulated by a
cock D also acting as an outlet for water if any accumulates in the aforesaid pipe C.
The apparatus is made of sheet metal having feet No. 15 or other supports and
provided with side handles No. 16 for portability where required there is a funnel
to pour the water around B. At and around the bottom of the holder B is a convex
hoop to strengthen it serving to prevent it being forced out of the outer casing
by getting too full of gas. Four lugs are fastened to the side of the outer casing
and marked A1 which the convex ring presses against when the holder is full to
prevent it being forced out. When the holder A descends to K it will open the
valve No. 7 and the water will pass through the cock No. 11 into the generator
where calcium carbide is put in such quantities as may be required, and the
acetylene gas will pass through the pipe I into the holder A and will stop the
water from flowing through the pipe No. 8 on to the carbide. No. 5 is a ball
valve preventing the gas returning to the generator, so that the doors FF of the
purifying and generating chambers can be taken off at any time, for re-filling, or
cleaning, while the holder A B is still full of gas. If a supply of gas is wanted
when the valve No. 7 is closed it can be had by opening cock No. 12.
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 :-
5
First. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the employment of a
ball valve and float to which is connected a stem provided with a spring at its upper 5
end, said ball valve being operated by the gas holder at a suitable point in its

page_text: descent, for admitting water to the carbide and consequently regulating the supply
of gas from the generator into the holder substantially in the manner herein set
forth with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Second. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the employment of
a back pressure valve on the upper end of the pipe conveying gas into the holder,
to automatically prevent the return of gas on the removal of the covers during
re-charging of the generator substantially as herein set forth.
Third. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, conveying the same
through suitable divisions of a chamber containing suitable material or solution
for purifying the gas generated previous to admitting it into the holder in the
manner and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 16th dow of Wal
1000