Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 12th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
OMPL
CATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas.
I, EZRA FARNSWORTH, of 406 Boston Block, Minneapolis, in the County of
Hennepin, State of Minnesota, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for generating, receiving and storing illuminating
gas, and is designed for the purpose of producing and holding gas generated by
immersing a solid in a liquid, (as, for instance, by immersing carbide of calcium in
water for the production of acetylene-gas,) the gas being produced while the solid
is so immersed, and the production of gas automatically ceasing when the solid is
lifted from the liquid by the rising of the movable cover of the tank which receives
and holds the gas; and the objects of my invention are to provide convenient means
to insert the said solid into the apparatus for the production of gas without permitting
any escape of gas during the operation, to seal the opening through which such
solid is introduced, to provide improved means for holding such solid within the
liquid during the production of gas, and to provide a movable stop against which
the said cover will strike before rising sufficiently high to allow the escape of gas
from the tank, but which stop may be swung out of the way when the cover is to
be removed for the purpose of cleaning out the tank. I attain these objects by the
mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which―
Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the entire apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tube and basket or receptacle which holds
the solid for the production of gas.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the frame through the
line z z, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detail showing the lid covering the opening which leads through the
piston into the basket or receptacle that holds the carbide used in making
the gas.
Fig. 5 is a detail showing a plan view of the piston with the lid removed.
Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the tube through the line 6 6, Fig. 1, when the piston
and basket are in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a detail showing an elevation of the piston to which the basket is
attached.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The frame of the gas receiver or holder is designated by 1, while 2 refers to
the tank having double walls. The annular space inclosed by such walls is filled
with water, as usual. Into this annular space fits the movable cover 3, said water

page_text: forming a sealing. The cover is suspended from above by chains or cords 4 which
pass over pulleys 5 at the top of the frame 1. The movable cover is counter-
balanced in the usual way by weights 6, the cover 3 being heavier than the
weights, thus forming an ordinary telescoping gasoneter. The water or other
fluid 7 to be used in the manufacture of gas is within the circular space inclosed
by the double walls. For the purpose of keeping up this supply of water or other
liquid I provide inlet-pipe 8, into which the water may be poured from the outside.
A tube 9 is secured to the top of the cover 3 and projects downward within the
space which holds the liquid 7. An exterior opening leads through the said top
cover 3 to the interior of the tube 9, which opening is closed by means of the
screw-cap 10, so as to form an air-tight covering. Closely fitting within the tube 9
is a piston 11. About the central portion of the piston 11 and between the walls
of the piston and the tube 9 is an annular space filled with any suitable packing 12
so as to make a close joint against the inner side of the tube 9.
A basket 13 is attached to the inuer end of the piston 11 and is placed concentric
therewith. The basket or receptacle 13 is perforated so as to permit the free
passage of water or other liquid through the same to come in contact with the
carbide 14 or other solid used for the production of the gas. An opening leads through
the piston 11 into the basket 13, which opening is closed with an air-tight joint by
means of the lid 15. A handle 16 upon the outer end of a shank 17 is secured to
the central portion of the lid 15 for purposes that will be hereinafter stated. In
order to secure the lid upon the said opening in the piston, ears 18 upon the lid
will fit beneath lugs 19, secured to the piston. By removing the screw-cap 10,
Figs. 1 and 2, and grasping the handle 16 the piston 11 may be drawn upward and
outward through the tube 9 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To
retain the piston in this position I provide springs 26 attached to the piston, which
engage upon projection 27 at the outer end of the tube. A slight turn of the
handle 16 to the left will remove the lid 15 which.covers the opening leading into
the basket.
In order to prevent the piston 11 from turning in the operation of unscrewing or
loosening the lid 15 I have provided pins or projections 20 which project inward
from the inner surface of the tube 9, between which one of the lugs 19 will be
brought when the piston and basket are lifted into the position before stated. By
the removal of the lid 15 free access is had to the basket 13 to replenish the
carbide. When this is done the lid 15 will be replaced and screwed into position
with its ears beneath the lugs, and the piston and basket can be pushed down to
the lower end of the tube 9. A flange 21 will prevent the piston from passing
beyond the lower end of the tube. The screw-cap 10 being now replaced and the
basket 13 being in the water 7, the production of gas proceeds until it has raised
the movable cover 3 of the gas-holder to such an extent as to lift the basket 13 out
of the water. The gas is drawn off in the usual manner through a supply-pipe 22
to be used in illuminating or other purposes as may be desired. When a sufficient
quantity has been used to allow the movable cover 3 to fall so as to bring the
basket again within the water the production of gas will again proceed as before,
the same being thereby automatically regulated. Since the piston 11 with its
lid 15 will prevent any gas from rising into the tube 9 from the basket, and the
water 7 will seal the tube 9 at its lower end when the piston and basket are raised
to the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, gas will not be allowed to escape
and offensive odours will be prevented during the necessary operation of
replenishing the carbide er other solid.
In an automatic gasometer or gas receiver and generator to be used in private
houses this is of great importance, for no apparatus would be practicable for
furnishing gas for gas-light in such a place which would allow even a moderate
amount of gas to escape in this operation.
It is essential to reach the inner portion of the tank 2 occasionally for the purpose
of removing deposit from the bottom. This will ordinarily be done when the gas
in the holder is nearly consumed, and such amount of gas as may be still in the

page_text: holder may be drawn off through the gas-jet 23 and burned to prevent its escape
through the building. The movable cover 3 will be lifted until its lower edge rises
above the top of the tank 2, when free access will be had within the tank 2 for the
purpose of removing the deposit.
To provide against the possibility of lifting the movable cover 3 above the top of
the water sealing between the double walls of tank 2 in the production of gas,
and thus permit the escape of gas, 1 provide a stop-frame 21 hinged to the frame 1,
as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, over the movable cover 3. It will be so placed that
the cover 3 will strike against the said frame, and its further upward motion
prevented before the movable cover can rise entirely above said water sealing.
Buttons 25 will hold the stop-frame 24 in a vertical position; but when it is desired
to lift the movable cover of the gas-holder above the tank for the purpose of cleaning
out the deposit before referred to the stop-frame 24 will be swung upward and
ontward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.
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
1. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube extending within
the gasometer, provided with an exterior opening, means for closing said exterior
opening, a piston within the tube, provided with an opening, means for closing said
last named opening, and a receptacle suspended below the piston, substantially as
shown and described.
2. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within
the gasometer, said tube having an exterior opening, means for closing said exterior
opening, a piston fitted to said tube, provided with a central opening, means for
closing said central opening, and a receptacle suspended from the piston, substan-
tially as shown and described.
3. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer having a bell adapted to
rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube within the gasometer
suspended from said bell, said tube having an exterior opening, means for closing
said exterior opening, a piston fitted to said tube, and a receptacle suspended below
the piston, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer having a bell adapted to
rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube suspended from said bell
and provided with an exterior opening, a piston fitted to said tube and having an
opening through the same, means for closing said last named opening, and a
receptacle suspended below said opening, substantially as set forth.
5. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within
the gasometer, a piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading from the exterior
through said tube and piston to the interior of the gasometer, an open receptacle
into which and opening leads, said means for closing said opening, substantially as
set forth.
6. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube suspended within
the gasometer, a movable piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading from the
exterior through said tube and piston to the interior of the gasometer, means
for closing said opening, an open receptacle suspended from the inner end of said
piston, and means for drawing said basket and piston through said tube, substantially
as herein set forth.
7. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, having a bell adapted to
rise as the production of gas fills the gasometer, a tube open at both ends, suspended
from said bell, a movable piston fitted to said tube and provided with a central
opening, a receptacle suspended from the inner end of said piston, means for closing
said openings, and means for drawing the piston and receptacle through the tube,
substantially as shown and described.
8. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a tube open at both ends,
suspended within the gasometer, one of said ends opening outside of the gasometer,

page_text: a piston fitted to said tube, an opening leading through said piston to a receptacle
suspended from the inner end of said piston, means for moving the piston and
receptacle through the tube, means for closing the opening leading into said
receptacle, and means for holding and retaining the piston and basket at the end of
the tube, substantially as shown and described.
9. In a gas apparatus, the combination of a gasometer, a receptacle within the
gasometer adapted to hold a solid within a liquid for the production of gas, a tube
leading from the exterior to said receptacle, and means adapted to prevent the
escape of gas from the gasometer in replenishing the solid in said receptacle,
consisting of a piston fitted to said. tube, said piston having an annular space
between its walls and the walls of the tube, aud suitable packing within said
annular space, substantially as set forth.
10. In an automatic apparatus for the production of gas, the combination of a
telescoping gasometer, a tube suspended from the movable cover of the gasometer,
a piston fitted to said tube, an open receptacle suspended by the piston, and so
held as to be alternately immersed in water and lifted above it as the production
of gas proceeds or ceases, and a movable stop frame located above said movable
cover, adapted to limit the upward motion of the cover, substantially as set forth.
11. The improvements in apparatus for the manufacture of gas, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set forth and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of March 1906
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.