Improvements in and relating to the Production of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Production of Acetylene Gas.
We, RAPHAËL QUATANNENS-MOENS, of Dixmude, Belgium, Inventor, and EMILE
CARREER-DILGER, of 57, Rue des Bouchers, Bruges, Belgium, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
The subject of the present invention consists of an apparatus designed to pro-
duce acetylene gas for private illumination and for public illumination and in
which the production is regulated automatically according to the consumption by
means of parts that automatically distribute the carbide, the re-charging of the
apparatus with water and carbide being capable of being effected at all times
without any loss of gas, whilst the gas leaves the apparatus completely purified on
its way to the burners. The accompanying drawing illustrates by way of ex-
ample, apparatus for carrying this invention into practice. In this drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the complete apparatus in a plane passing
through the axis of the gas-holder and shewing in elevation the carbide-distribut-
ing drum and the parts which serve to impart movement to the same.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the bubbling up device and the purifier, which
may be attached to the apparatus.
Figure 3 shews on a larger scale a partial vertical section of the distributor in
a plane perpendicular to its axis.
Figure 4 represents a view in partial elevation of the same part, shewing the
operation of the ratchet wheel.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The apparatus is essentially composed of a gas generator surrounded by a wash-
ing receptacle, a device for automatically distributing the carbide and surmount-
ing the gas generator, a gas holder and a chemical gas purifying device.
The washing receptacle surrounding the gas generator consists of a trough G.
Concentrically with the walls of said trough and within the same, there is
rivetted with a tight joint a cylinder N which constitutes the gas generator. This
cylinder and the outer trough are covered at their upper parts by a cover which is
fixed thereto in a tight manner. About one third of the height of the gas gene-*
rator there is arranged inside the same a metallic sieve or net 0, 0. The washing
receptacle G is provided with a level-indicating tube T. The gas generator N is
also provided with a level-indicating tube K. The trough G is provided with a
discharge cock r¹. The gas generator is also provided with a discharge cock r,
and it is further provided with a cleaning hole R closed when in normal opera-
C
.

page_text: tion by means of a manhole cover. At the upper part of the gas generator there
is an aperture which is also closed by means of a manhole cover for introducing
the water and a tube J which rises up to a certain height above the gas gene-
rator and is bent downwards so as to be immersed down to the bottom of the
washer G where it is bent and curved in a horizontal plane. It extends along
and close to the outer walls of the gas generator inside the water which is con-
tained in the washer, and is pierced at the upper part of its cylindrical surface
with a large number of upwardly directed small holes. A tube S leading from
the cover of the washer is intended to convey the gas generated in the generator
to the bell of the gas holder. Above the gas generator there is arranged the car-
bide distributor. This distributor consists of a box A having the shape of a
parallelopipedon (Figures 1 and 3) or charging device terminating at its lower
part in a longitudinal square box serving as a hopper. The vertical longitudinal
sides of the said box are curved about the middle of their height in such a
manner as to constitute two portions of a cylinder I (Figure 3) between which
there is arranged to rotate a drum mounted on a longitudinal shaft resting at one
end in a bearing formed in one of the two end walls of the box and extending at
its other end in a stuffing box F provided on the opposite wall. This cylinder
is divided transversely to its axis into five portions by means of circular partitions
extending at right angles to said axis, and each of these portions is divided into
ten compartments a (Figure 3) by means of rectangular partitions which extend
The latter is
from the axis and end at the cylindrical surface of the drum.
formed by hinged shutters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. which serve as covers to the fifty com-
partments constituted as above described. Each of these compartments contains a
charge of carbide which is determined by the quantity of gas to be produced.
They are arranged relatively to one another in the form of a lozenge, that is to
say along ten helicoidal lines and they discharge their contents, into the hopper
successively one after the other in accordance with the requirements of production
as hereinafter described.
Upon the visible face of the ratchet wheel there are marked 50 divisions corre-
sponding to the fifty compartments, said divisions serving to indicate at any
moment how many compartments are empty and how many compartments there
are still to be emptied, so as to allow of recharging the empty compartments when
.desired. At the lower part of the hopper W" which terminates the distributing
box, entering in the upper part of the gas generator and being tightly fixed to
the cover of the latter, there are arranged valves C connected by means of hinges c
fixed to the wall of the said hopper. These valves are fitted with rods t carrying
a counter weight g which serves to return the valves instantaneously into contact
with their seats each time that the fall of the contents of one carbide compart-
ment has caused the valves to tip to allow of the passage of the carbide. Between
the gas generator and the carbide-charging device there is arranged a device which
prevents the produced gases in the gas generator from entering the charging
device. This device consists of a funnel B fixed to the lower part of the charg-
ing device and of a cone arranged under said funnel. The diameter of the base
of the cone is considerably larger than that of the lower orifice of the funnel.
The result is that the gas produced by the reaction in the gas generator which
arises in bubbles upwards cannot enter the said funnel, but is compelled to pass
directly into the upper part of the gas generator. The shaft, of the drum carries
keyed on its end, a ratchet wheel X (Figures 1 and 4) which serves to impart to
the drum a rotary movement in such a manner as to cause the contents of the
Compartments of the drum to be discharged successively and gradually according
to requirement. This ratchet wheel is actuated by means of a pin Z mounted
between two rods a¹ a¹¹ fixed to each other; said pin being held in the teeth of
the ratchet wheel by the construction of the apparatus the rods a¹ all are jointed
at their upper part at Q to a crank 11 belonging to a rod pp which is capable,

page_text: of turning through a certain angle in two supports or bearings p³ p¹ arranged on a
cross piece p forming part of the framing of the gas holder.
The rod p is provided at its other end with a crank to the crank pin of which
there is attached a chain E which is fastened at its other end to the top of the
bell U of the gas holder. The descent of the bell determines the action of the pin
upon the ratchet wheel of the distributing drum. The descent of the
rods a¹a¹¹ is regulated by means of a small stop fixed to the rod p. When the
compartments on the right hand side of the distributing drum are emptied, the
whole of the charge of carbide remaining in the said drum weighs down the left
hand side. In apparatus with small charges this want of equilibrium between
the two parts of the drum is inappreciable, but in apparatus with large charges,
say from 30 to 150 kgs. of carbide, it might produce an untimely discharge of the
compartments. For the purpose of re-establishing equilibrium between the two
aforesaid parts of the drum, a counter-weight Q attached to a chain and rest-
ing at the starting of the working upon any suitable support is pulled up by said
chain at the proper time when several compartments have been emptied. The
chain is hooked to a pin m¹ fixed on the outer side of the ratchet wheel and
passes over pins ₁₁ (Figure 4) arranged on a certain portion of said wheel. The
charging device has a tightly fitting cover I) for charging the carbide distributing
drum. The distributing drum is constructed as follows:-Each of the compart-
ments of the distributing drum is provided with a closing pawl B capable of rock-
ing on a small axis m (Figure 3). This pawl, formed as shewn in the accom-
panying drawings has a notch n in which there engages a small part of the edge of
the cover.
A spring C bearing on the inner tail of the pawl B keeps the latter
in its upright position and insures by that fact that a compartment shall be
closed by its cover, the edge of which remains in engagement with the notch. The
spring C and that portion of the pawl B which is situated in the carbide com-
partment are protected from coming into contact with the carbide, by means of a
small casing of suitable shape G in the walls of which are fixed the pivots of the
spring and of the pawl. At the lower part of the cylindrical portion of the
charging device, there is arranged a rod D₁ carrying a connecting rod J¹ which
projects towards the drum in the manner indicated in the figure. The rod Di
is arranged longitudinally of the drum over the whole length of the box of the
charging device. It passes out of the same through a stuffing box and is pro-
vided at its end outside with a small crank F which actuates it. On raising said
crank against the box as indicated in dotted lines in the drawing, the connecting
rod J will move down for the purpose hereinafter mentioned in this specification.
By the successive rotary movements of the drum effected by its ratchet wheel as
above described, the outer branch of the pawl B which insures the closing of a
cover of a compartiment filled with carbide, strikes against the connecting rod J.
As the movement of the drum continues, this tail piece of the pawl B remains
behind; the edge of the cover becomes disengaged from the notch n exactly at
the desired moment for the fall of the carbide, then the pawl B passes over the
connecting rod J at the next movement of the drum and rises again by the
action of its spring. The covers of the empty compartments do not close again;
they continue their movement without interfering with the movement of the
drum. When it is desired to recharge the drum, the upper cover D of the charg
ing device is opened; then the crank key F is raised, and the connecting rod J¹
being depressed, will allow of the free passage of the pawl B. Then the ratchet
wheel operating the drum is turned. The empty compartments which present
themselves successively are charged, and their doors are closed accordingly as
they are charged, by introducing the edge of said doors into the notch of the
corresponding pawl B. Then the upper cover of the charging device is closed,
and the key F is pushed down. When there is gas in the bell, the apparatus
will start automatically in operation as soon as there is the least consumption.
If there is no gas in the bell, the ratchet wheel is pushed a litle, and a fall of

page_text: carbide being thereby produced, the apparatus will continue in operation accord-
ing to the requirements of the consumption. The gas holder is constructed like
the usual gas holders; it consists of a water basin' in which the bell plunges.
The latter is guided in its vertical movement by means of rollers rotating in small
supports fixed to the roof of the bell and adapted to roll along guides hh on the
basin P. The gas supply pipe S coming from the gas generator discharges under
the bell. A tube Y is also arranged under the bell; it serves to convey the gas
to the purifier and thence to the place of consumption. The tubes S and Y are
provided with two discharge cocks H and H"; a cock is provided
on the top of the bell; it serves to expel the air when the gas holder.
is first filled. From the tube Y there branches off a small tube y which passes
down close to the bottom of a hermetically closed vessel L. To the cover of this
Vessel there is fitted a small pipe 'y' which allows of communication between the
said vessel and the conduit Y, and between the two pipe unions which were just
mentioned, there is provided on the conduit Y a cock K". This vessel consti-
tutes a bubbling up device which indicates any leakage; it is provided with a
level-indicating tube. The upper part of the pipe Y enters the lower part of a
hermetically closed casing V₁ which constitutes the chemical purifier. It contains
in its lower part a layer of sulphate of iron, and upon the latter a layer of
wadding, and upon this there is placed a cup containing chloride of calcium. A
pipe leads from the purifier to the place of consumption.
OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS.
Assuming the distributing drum to be charged, the cover of the charging
device to be in place, the gas generator, the annular washer G and the gas holder
basin to be almost full of water, then, if a certain rotary motion be imparted to
the ratchet wheel, the first compartment will remain closed, until the moment
when its pawl B, (Figure 3) moves against the connecting rod where the cylin-
drical portion of the casing of the charging device terminates. This cover is then
disengaged by the weight of the charge of carbide contained in said compart-
ment. This charge of carbide falls upon the valves C which open, and then it falls
into the water in the gas generator. There is then an immediate production of
gas. As the valves C are immediately closed, the gas produced has only one issue,
namely, through the rising tube J through which it passes and descends down to
the bottom of the washer where it escapes through the numerous holes in the
horizontal portion of the pipe J. It passes up through the water contained in
the washer, and passes through the tube S under the bell of the gas holder where
it is stored, lifting the bell. Figure 1 shews the distributing drum in a position
in which the compartment 5 has discharged its carbide. In consequence of the
rise of the bell, the rod poscillates, being drawn by the rod a¹ a" which descends
by its own weight, and the pin Z comes in engagement with the wheel with
several teeth lower down. The amount of the descent of the rod a¹al and conse-
quently the amount of engagement of the pawl for one descent of the rod a¹ an
is regulated by the position of the stop or the rod p. If the pipe and the
burners at the place of consumption are in operation the gas will escape under a
certain pressure through the pipe Y. The bell will descend, dragging down with
it the chain E and the crank all of the rod p; the rod a¹ a will rise and the
pin Z will cause the ratchet wheel and the drum to rotate. At the moment when
the gas holder is almost empty, the amount of the movement executed by the
drum will be sufficient to allow the stop or catch of the cover of the compart-
ment 2 to reach the connecting rod D. The compartment 2 will then discharge
its contents into the gas generator, so as to provoke a fresh production of gas
which passes into the pipe J, is washed in the water of the annular washer and
passes under the bell, and so forth.
1770
When the draw-off cock V is opened, the gas escapes under certain pressure
depending on the weight of the bell, through the pipe Y. On closing the

page_text: a
COCK A", the gas is compelled to pass into the leak-indicating bubbling up device L
whereby any leakage in the pipes is indicated by a violent bubbling up in the
indicator. In the normal course of consumption the cock K" is open, the gas
then follows directly the path Y in order to pass into the purifier V. In the
latter it first passes through the layer of sulphate of iron, then through the plug
of wadding where it leaves behind any solid impurities which it may have carried
along with it. Then the gas passes over a cup filled with chloride of calcium which
effects its desiccation, and then the gas passes on to the burners. The arrange-
ments of the valves C having instantaneous closure, and of the cover D having
rapid closure, allows of re-charging the distributing drum during the operation
of the apparatus.. In order to prevent during this recharging, all loss of gas, and
all forcing back of the gas, the pipe J is arranged at a suitable height to counter-
balance the pressure produced by the weight of the bell of the gas holder.
Furthermore no particle of carbide can fall during the recharging operation, by
reason of the connecting rod 1) which has been previously lowered, and which
allows all the pawls B to pass by without touching it. The particles of carbide
which have served for the reactions in the gas generator pass through the
strainer 00 and fall to the bottom of the gas generator whence this mud is
removed from time to time through the cleaning hole R. The acetylene gas
apparatus which we have described may be made of all dimensions, and the com-
partments of the distributing drum may receive a greater or less quantity of
carbide, and be formed with a greater or less number of compartments, according
to the dimensions of the drum and the amount of gas to be produced.
apparatus is equally suitable for a public lighting plant of the largest size, and
for private illuminating purposes.
This
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) An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas for private illumination,
and for public illumination, in which the production of the gas is automatically
regulated according to the consumption, and characterised by a gas generator
surrounded by a trough for washing the gas, provided with discharge cocks, with
rapidly closing valves for closing the inlet aperture for the carbide at each ad-
mission of a charge of carbide, and with a device for preventing the gas produced
in the gas generator from entering the distributor; by a carbide-distributing
drum arranged above the gas generator, and enclosed in a casing, and divided in
fifty or more compartments which discharge successively into the gas generator
and are automatically operated by the bell of the gas holder by means of a ratchet
wheel keyed upon the shaft of the distributing drum and by cranks, rods, and a
transmission chain, by hinged shutters which close the aforesaid fifty or more com-
partments and which are kept closed by pawls or catches which are disengaged
successively on arriving at the lower part of the charging device for successively
discharging the compartments; by a gas holder the bell of which controls the
distributing drum: and finally by a leak-indicating bubbling device and by its
gas purifier, as set forth.
(2) In the apparatus for producing acetylene gas, specified in Claim 1, a trough
constituting the gas generator, a trough surrounding the first trough and serving
for washing the gas, a sieve or strainer upon which rests the carbide during the
re-actions and through which passes the milk of lime that constitutes the residue
and falls to the bottom of the gas generator, discharge cocks fitted to the washer
and to the gas generator, a cleaning hole in the bottom of the gas generator
having a manhole cover and an opening also fitted with a manhole cover provided
in the cover of the gas generator and serving for the supply of water, as set
(3) In the acetylene gas apparatus specified in Claim 1, a carbide-distributing
forth.

page_text: drum arranged in a casing above the gas generator, and divided into fifty or more
compartments arranged along 10 or more helicoidal lines, hinged covers for
closing said compartments each of which contains a charge of carbide, each of said
covers being kept closed by means of a spring catch pivotted on the drum and
being disengaged when the corresponding compartment arrives at the lower part
of the charging device by means of a connecting rod fixed upon a rod extending
the whole length of the charging device, said connecting rods being capable of
being displaced during the charging of the drum so as to allow the several com-
partments to pass without disengaging their covers, and so as to avoid during said
charging, any untimely discharges of carbide into the gas generator, as set forth.
(4) In the acetylene gas apparatus claimed in Claim 1, an intermediate device
between the distributing device and the gas generator, consisting of a funnel
fitted to the lower part of the casing or charging device and whose lower orifice
is smaller in diameter than that of a cone arranged under said funnel, in such
a manner that the gas produced in the gas generator and rising vertically, shall
not be able to enter the charging device, as set forth.
(5) In an apparatus for acetylene gas specified in Claim 1, a ratchet wheel
keyed upon the shaft of the distributing drum, controlling the movement of the
latter and receiving its movement from the bell of the gas holder through the
medium of a chain attached at one end to the top of said bell, and at the other
end to the pin of a crank mounted on the end of a horizontal rod that is capable
of turning through a certain angle in two bearings carried by one of the cross
pieces connecting the uprights of the gas holder, the other end of the said rod
being provided with a crank jointed to two flat rods rigidly fixed to one another
and between which is fixed a pin which is adapted to engage with one of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel and which causes the latter to move forward through
a certain angle when the bell descends in consequence of the consumption, thereby
producing the discharge of a charge of carbide into the gas generator, the ratchet
wheel being marked on its outer face with divisions corresponding to the number
of compartments and thus allowing of observing the number of emptied compart-
ments, a chain being attached to the ratchet wheel so as to pull up a counter
weight which in the case of large charges keeps the drum in equilibrium when all
the compartments on one side have been discharged whilst the other compart-
ments are still full, as set forth.
(6) In the acetylene gas apparatus specified in Claim 1, valves arranged at the
base of the charging device and each provided with a counter weight which insures
its instant closure every time that it will have been caused to tip by the passage
of a charge of carbide, as set forth.
(7) In the ascetylene gas apparatus specified in Claim 1, a pipe J mounted on
the cover of the gas generator and leading the gas produced in the latter down
to the bottom of the washer, a horizontal curved part of said tube J being
arranged externally along and close to the gas generator inside the water of the
washer, and orifices pierced in the upper part of said curved tube to allow of the
escape of the gas, the pipe J rising to a certain height before descending into the
washer and said height being calculated so as to counter-balance the pressure
exerted upon the gas in the gas holder, by the weight of the bell, and so to
obviate in all cases the forcing back of said gas through the orifice of the charg-
ing device when the cover of the latter is removed for the purpose of recharging,
as set forth.
(8) In the acetylene gas apparatus specified in Claim 1, a pipe for consumption
leading from the gas holder, a pipe union or pipe branching off from
said pipe and extending down to the bottom of a closed vessel which
constitutes a bubbling-up device or indicator of any leakage which may be pro-
duced in the pipes, and which also serves to indicate whether any cock has been
left open when the apparatus has been stopped, as set forth.
(9) In the acetylenė gas apparatus specified in Claim 1, a purifying apparatus

page_text: in which the gas passes through a layer of sulphate of iron, a plug of wadding and
a laver of calcium chloride, as set forth.
(10) The improved apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, constructed,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 30th day of August 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.