Improvements in Acetylene Generating and Storing Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Generating and Storing Apparatus.
I, ERNEST GEARING, of Penshurst, Clarence Drive, Harrogate, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My improved apparatus comprises a generator for generating acetylene from a
suitable metallic carbide such as carbide of calcium, a holder, an intermediate
chamber connected to the generator and to the holder, and means whereby the
movement of the holder is caused to control the supply of water to the generator.
The generator which may be constructed of metal plates, porcelain, or
earthenware, comprises an outer or main part resembling a gas holder, movable by
means of handles and at its bottom sealed by water, and, within this outer part, a
perforated vessel or basket open at its top, into which the carbide and water are
fed, handles being provided whereby the basket can be lifted and moved from the
outer part of the generator to facilitate the charging of the materials, and the
discharging of the lime residne as required. Water is supplied to the basket
through a rose or sprayer of sufficient size to cause the water to be discharged
practically over the whole of the top of the materials in the basket, the water supply
to the roze being effected by means of a pipe whose upper or outer end terminates
in a funnel mouth located below an automatically controlled water cock and there
being a water trap in the pipe to prevent escape of gas from the generator.
The intermediate chamber, which is partly filled with water, is connected by
means of a pipe to the upper part of the generator, the said pipe being at its free
end able to work in a water sealed pipe so that it will conduct acetylene into the
intermediate chamber and through the water and that the return of the gas to
the generator will be prevented. Another pipe connects the upper part of
the intermediate chamber with the holder, and conducts the gas thereto.
The holder may be of similar construction to an ordinary gas-holder. One end
of a chain or wire rope that passes over a grooved pulley carried by brackets secured
to the framework of the holder is connected to the movable portion of the holder
and to the other end of the chain or wire rope is attached a weight, having a laterally
projecting portion notched or recessed on its underside; suitable guides are provided
to ensure the weight moving vertically upon the rise or fall of the movable portion
of the holder. To the spindle of the automatically controlled water cock above
mentioned is connected a lever one arm of which is weighted and the other is
suitably formed with a notched or projecting portion. The relative arrangement of
the parts is such that, when the holder has been raised by the gas within it nearly
to its highest position, the projecting portion of the weight connected to it by the
chain or wire rope will engage the weighted lever upon the spindle of the water
cock thereby turning the same and cutting off the supply of water to the generator,
thus stopping the generation of gas.
As the gas is drawn off from the holder and the pressure reduced the holder
descends thereby raising the weight connected to it, and allowing the water cock
to be opened by the action of the weighted lever attached to its spindle; the
supply of water to the generator is thus renewed and the generation of gas will
naain commence

page_text: In charging the generator, the outer or main part with its pipe connections is
lifted off by means of the handles, the basket filled with carbide of calcium or the
like and said outer or main part replaced, the gas being prevented from escaping
from the intermediate tank during this operation by means of the water which
seals the open end of the pipe in which the gas outlet pipe from the generator
works.
In some cases the intermediate chamber and water seal are dispensed with, the
pipe connecting the generator and holder being closed by means of a cock or
valve when the outer part of the generator is removed to enable the basket to be
re-charged.
Improvements in Acetylene Generating and Storing Apparatus.
I, ERNEST GEARING, of Penshurst, Clarence Drive, Harrogate, in the
County of York, 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 :-
My improved apparatus comprises a generator for generating acetylene from a
suitable metallic carbide such as carbide of calcium, a holder, an intermediate
chamber connected to the generator and to the holder, and means whereby the
movement of the holder is caused to control the supply of water to the generator.
In some cases, however, the intermediate chamber is dispensed with.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing diagrammatically an apparatus of the kind
referred to provided with an intermediate chamber.
The generator, which may be constructed of metal plates, porcelain, or
earthenware-metal is shown--comprises an outer or main part 1 resembling a
gas-holder, movable by means of handles 2 (of which one is shown) and sealed at
its bottom by water 3 contained within an annular receptacle 3" and the surface
of which is preferably covered with oil to prevent it from evaporating. Within
the outer part 1 and receptacle 3ª is a perforated vessel or basket 4 open at its top,
into which the carbide 4" and water are fed, handles 5 (of which one is shown)
being provided whereby the basket can be lifted and removed from within the
receptacle 3-after the outer part 1 of the geuerator has been removed-to
facilitate the charging of the materials and the discharging of the lime residue
as required. Water is supplied to the basket 4 through a rose or sprayer 6 of
sufficient size to cause the water to be discharged practically over the whole of the
top of the materials in the basket, the water supply to the rose 6 being effected
by means of a pipe 7 whose upper or outer end terminates in a funnel-mouth 8
located below an automatically controlled water-cock 9 that may be connected
with the bottom of a water supply tank 9ª, or other suitable source of water supply.
In the pipe is a water trap 7 to prevent escape of gas from the generator
through the said pipe. 10 is the intermediate chamber. It is partly filled with
water and is connected by means of a pipe 11 to the upper part 1 of the generator,
the said pipe being at its free end arranged to slide freely in a vertical water-sealed
pipe 12 so that it will conduct acetylene from the generator into the intermediate

page_text: chamber 10 and through the water therein, and that the return of the gas from the
intermediate chaiuber to the generator will be prevented. 13 is a pipe that
connects the upper part of the intermediate chamber 10 with the interior of the
gas holder and conducts the gas thereto.
The holder may be of similar construction to an ordinary gas-holder and
comprises a movable bell 14 scaled at its lower end by water which may be
contained within a stationary annular receptacle 15. One end of a wire rope 16.
(or it may be a chain) that passes over a grooved pulley 17 carried by brackets 18.
secured to the framework 19 of the holder, is connected to the movable portion 14
of the holder, and to the other end of the wire rope 16 is attached a weight 20,
having a laterally projecting portion 20 which may be provided with projections 20°
as shown. Suitable guides 20° are provided to ensure that the weight 20 shall
move vertically during the rise or fall of the movable portion 14 of the holder.
To the spindle of the aforesaid automatically controlled water-cock 9, is connected
a lever of which one arm 21 is weighted and the other 22 formed with a notch 22ª,.
as for example by making the arm of a bifurcated form as shown, in which the
projecting portion 20" can work. As will be seen, the relative arrangement of the
parts is such that, when the bell or movable portion 14 of the holder has been.
raised by the gas within it nearly to its highest position, the projecting portion 20ª
of the weight 20 will act upon the lower part of the notched or bifurcated arm
and thereby turn the spindle of the water cock 9 to which it is fixed, and cut off
the supply of water to the generator, thus stopping the generation of gas.
As the gas is drawn off from the holder by an outlet pipe 23, and the pressure.
consequently reduced, the bell or movable portion 14 of the holder descends,.
thereby raising the weight 20 with projecting portion 200 which then acts upon the-
upper part of the arm 22 and moves the weighted lever 21-22 in the reverse
direction so as to open the water cock 9 and cause the supply of water to the-
generator to be renewed and the generation of gas to again commence.
In charging the generator, the outer or main part 1 with its pipe connections 7
and 11 is lifted off by means of the handles 2, and the basket 4 charged with
carbide of calcium or the like, and the outer movable part 1. replaced, the gas.
being prevented from escaping from the intermediate tank 10 during this operation.
by means of the water 10 therein which seals the lower open end of the pipe 12.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 representing an apparatus in which the
intermediate chamber 10 and its water-seal, shown in Fig. 1, are dispensed with..
In this case a pipe 11ª connects the gas generator and the holder and is provided
with a cock or valve 11° for closing it when the outer part 1 of the generator is
removed to enable the basket 4 to be re-charged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for generating and storing acetylene comprising in combination a
generator, apparatus for supplying water thereto, a holder for receiving gas
generated from the generator and storing it, and means whereby the movement of
the holder is caused to control the supply of water to the generator in such a
manner that when there is sufficient gas in the holder the supply of water to the
generator will be arrested and as gas is withdrawn from the holder, the water.
supply to the generator will be more or less opened.
2. In apparatus for generating and storing acetylene controlling the water supply
to the gas generators by the movement of the gas holder substantially in the
manner described and illustrated.
3. An acetylene generating and storing apparatus of the kind referred to in
Claim 1 in which an intermediate chamber is placed between the generator and
holder and connected to both, the connection between the said chamber and the:
generator being effected through a water seal, substantially as herein described.

page_text: 4. Apparatus for generating and storing acetylene constructed arranged and
operating as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in
Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1896.
For the Applicant
for the Applicant
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.