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

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
We, JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of 48 Derwent Road, Stoneycroft, Miller,
and JONATHAN MARRINER LABOUCHERE, of 71 Grove Street, Commercial
Agent, both of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention has reference to apparatus for the manufacture of
acetylene gas from calcium carbide, or other substance capable of yielding gas on
the addition of water.
In carrying out our invention in the case of apparatus for producing the gas in
considerable quantities, we provide one or more generators (say two), cach being
provided with a suitable loose perforated container for the carbide, adapted to be
readily placed within or withdrawn from the generator, through a door fitted
thereon and adapted to be easily opened and closed gas-tight.
Each generator is connected at its lowest point to a water supply cistern at a
higher level, by a pipe controlled by a cock or valve, and fitted also with a non-
return valve opening towards the generator, and the lowest part of each generator
is further connected by a suitable pipe to an air vessel. In the vicinity of the
generators, and preferably above them, we provide a gasometer, and each
generator communicates at its top with the said gasometer either by a common
pipe with branches or by individual pipes.
The generators being charged with calcium carbide, water is admitted to one of
them by opening the appropriate cock in the supply pipe. As soon as the gas
attains a pressure sufficient to balance the head of water, the further inflow of
water ceases, and if the pressure should still continue to rise, in virtue of the supply
of gas exceeding the quantity withdrawn from the gasometer, the rise of pressure
will drive some of the water in the generator out into the air vessel, and so check
the further evolution of gas. As a precaution against undue pressure in the
generator, we fit in the water supply pipe thereof, a loaded non-return escape or
safety valve, through which water or gas can be forced back to the supply cistern.
This escape valve may conveniently be seated on the non-return valve previously
mentioned, as it may be of considerably smaller diameter.
The action goes on until all the carbide in the first generator is exhausted, and
the generator filled with water, when a float valve rises and closes the gas outlet
pipe so as to prevent the water from rising therein and entering the gasometer.
In order to automatically bring the second generator into action upon the
exhaustion of the charge in the first, we provide a chain attached to the gasometer
bell, or some equivalent device, whereby the water supply cock to the second
generator is automatically opened by the gasometer bell when it fails to its lowest
position, consequent upon the failure in the gas supply from the first generator.
In order to ensure continuous action, the water supply cistern is supplied through
a ball tap or any of the well known devices for maintaining a constant level; the
generators are fitted with gauge glasses to indicate the quantity of water therein,
and they are re-charged alternately, the chain from the gasometer being always
attached to the supply cock belonging to the generator last charged.

page_text: In some cases, and especially in smaller installations, we prefer to place the
vessel containing the carbide within the gasometer, either resting on the bottom
thereof, or attached to the bell thereof, so as to rise and fall with the latter.
The water in the gasometer is fed through a ball tap so as to keep the water
outside the bell up to a certain level; the water level within the bell will always
be somewhat lower when the apparatus is at work, owing to the gas pressure
within the bell causing a hydrostatic head between the inside and outside of the
bell, and it is clear that this inner level will rise with a fall of gas pressure and
fall with a rise of gas pressure.
This rise and fall of the said water level within the gasometer bell is utilized to
regulate the supply of water to the carbide in any of the following ways.
1. The top of the carbide container may be made domed or conical and be
pierced with a number of holes graduated in diameter and pitch, so as to give an
increased opening as the water rises.
2. A wick or other capillary device may be hung over the edge of the container,
with its lower end, which may be of graduated cross-section, dipping into the
water; or (3) a pump may be used, the ram being actuated by the rise and fall of
the gasometer bell, and the delivery pipe being led to a sprinkler over the carbide
container.
The bell of the gasometer may be made with a rim possessing considerable
displacement, so that for a given rise or fall of the bell, there will be a fall or rise
in the water level within the gasometer, due to the variable displacement,
independently of that due to variations of gas pressure.
Where the carbide container is attached to the bell of the gasometer, so as to
rise and fall with it, the admission of water to the carbide is regulated by the
relative motion of the container and the water level, an increased quantity of gas
within the bell causing both a rise of the latter and a fall in the water level due
to the rise of pressure.
Any of the devices previously mentioned may be used for admitting the water
to the carbide, but where perforations are used these are made in the sides
instead of, or in addition to, the top of the container.
In order that the container may be emptied and recharged without emptying
the gasometer of gas or interfering with the discharge thereof, we make the top
of the bell deeply dished, and fit a door at the central and lowest part thereof;
this door is adapted to be readily opened and closed gas-tight, and is large enough
to allow the carbide container to be introduced into or removed from the interior
of the bell. A water-tight chamber is fixed to the bottom of the gasometer, into
which the carbide container sinks when the bell is ir: its lowest position, and this
chamber is higher than the said container and has round its upper rim a water
seal or other device adapted to make joint with a depending rim on the top of
the bell.
When the charge is exhausted and the bell has sunk to its lowest position, the
door on the top of the bell is opened, the water drained from the chamber and the
container removed, recharged and replaced, or a freshly charged container sub-
stituted, and the door once more closed. In the meantime, there is a sufficient
supply of gas in the annular space under the top of the bell cover due to its dished
form, to supply the ordinary demand for gas during recharging.
In some cases we may find it more convenient to fit the door for introducing and
removing the carbide container, in the bottoin of the beforementioned chamber,
instead of in the top of the bell of the gasometer.
In a smaller form of the apparatus which may be portable, we provide an outer
vessel adapted to contain water and a bell to be placed therein. This bell is not
intended to rise and fall, but stands with its open mouth on the bottom of the outer
vessel, being held down by its weight or otherwise. The carbide container is
placed within the bell, and a gas discharge pipe is led from the top of the bell
through a suitable water trap and pressure regulator if desired to the burner or
burners.

page_text: The outer vessel is filled with water to, the proper height, some of which will
flow into the bell under the mouth of the latter and so seal it.
A reservoir is provided to maintain the water supply; this reservoir may be
arranged in any convenient position but we prefer to place it above the bell, so as
to surround the gas outlet pipe and cool the issuing gas, and so that its weight will
hold the bell in position.
As before, variations in the gas pressure within the bell will cause variations in
the water level both within and without the bell, and any of the beforementioned
methods, which are suitable, may be utilized for regulating the water supply to
the carbide; we prefer, however, to lead a pipe from the water reservoir to a
sprinkler above the carbide, and to control the supply of water by a ball tap in
this pipe, the ball being actuated by the water in the outer vessel or within
the bell.
Dated this 13th day of June 1896.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26 Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
We. JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON, of 48 Derwent Road, Stoneycroft, Miller.
and JONATHAN MARRINER LABOUCHERE, of 71 Grove Street, Commercial
Agent,, both of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
Our present invention has reference to apparatus for the manufacture of
acetylene gas from calcium carbide, or other substance capable of yielding gas on.
the addition of water.
We have illustrated our invention in the accompanying drawings in which
Figs. I, II, and III illustrate the form of apparatus in which there are two
generators, and Figs. 1V, V, and VI illustrate modifications.
Referring in the first instance to Figs. I, II and III, which represent an
apparatus capable of producing the gas in considerable quantities, we provide say
two generators 1, each of which is provided with a loose perforated container 2
for the carbide which container is adapted to be readily placed within or with-
drawn from the generator through a door 3 fitted thereon and adapted to be easily
opened and closed gas-tight.
Each generator is connected at its lowest point to a water supply cistern 4 at a
higher level, by a pipe 5 controlled by a cock or valve 6, and fitted also with
a non-return valve 7 opening towards the generator, and the lowest part of each
generator is further connected by a suitable pipe to an air vessel 8; or the air
vessel may be connected, as shown in the drawings, to the pipe 5 between the
generator and the non-return valve 7. In the vicinity of the generators, and
preferably above them, we provide a gasometer 9, and each generator communicates
at its top with the said gasometer either by a cominon pipe 10 with branches 10'
or by individual pipes.
The generators being charged with calcium carbide, water is admitted to one of
them by opening the appropriate cock in the supply pipe. As soon as the gas
attains a pressure sufficient to balance the head of water, the further inflow of
water ceases, and if the pressure should still continue to rise, in virtue of the
supply of gas exceeding the quantity withdrawn from the gasometer, the rise of

page_text: pressure will drive some of the water in the generator out into the air vessel, and
so check the further evolution of gas. As a precaution against undue pressure in
the generator, we fit in the water supply pipe thereof, a loaded non-return escape
or safety valve 11, through which water or gas can be forced back to the supply
cistern. This escape valve 11 may conveniently be seated as shown in Fig. If on
the non-return valve 7 previously mentioned, as it may be of considerably smaller
diameter.
The action goes on until all the carbide in the first generator is exhausted, and
the generator filled with water, when a float valve, not shown in the drawings,
rises and closes the gas outlet pipe so as to prevent the water from rising therein
and entering the gasometer.
In order to automatically bring the second generator into action upon the
exhaustion of the charge in the first, we provide a chain 12 (Fig. 1) attached to
the gasometer bell, or some equivalent device, whereby the water supply cock 6'
to the second generator is automatically opened by the gasometer bell when
it falls to its lowest position, consequent upon the failure in the gas supply from
the first generator.
In order to ensure continuous action, the water supply cistern is supplied
through a ball tap or any of the well known devices for maintaining a
constant level; the generators are fitted with gauge glasses to indicate the quantity
of water therein, and they are re-charged alternately, the chain from the
gasometer being always attached to the supply cock belonging to the generator
last charged.
There is of course an air vessel and non-return: valve for each generator and a
discharge cock 13 is fitted to each generator.
In some cases, and especially in smaller installations, we prefer to place a
vessel 15 (Figs. IV, V and VI) containing the carbide within the gasometer,
either resting on the bottom thereof, or attached to the bell thereof, so as to rise
and fall with the latter.
The water in the gasometer is fed through a ball tap so as to keep the water
outside the bell up to a certain level; the water level within the bell will always
be somewhat lower when the apparatus is at work, owing to the gas pressure within
the bell causing a hydrostatic head between the inside and outside of the bell, and
it is clear that this inner level will rise with a fall of gas pressure and fall with a
rise of gas pressure.
The rise and fall of the said water level within the gasometer bell is utilized
to regulate the supply of water to the carbide in any of the following ways.
1. The top of the carbide container may be made domed or conical and be
pierced with a number of holes graduated in diameter and pitch, so as to give an
increased opening as the water rises; this is shown in Figs. IV and V.
2. A wick or other capillary device may be hung over the edge of the container,
with its lower end, which may be of graduated cross-section, dipping into the
water; or (3) a pump may be used, the ram being actuated by the rise and fall of
the gasometer bell, and the delivery pipe being led to a sprinkler over the carbide
container.
The bell 16 of the gasometer may be made with a rim possessing considerable
displacement, as shown in Fig. IV, so that for a given rise or fall of the bell, there
will be a fall or rise in the water level within the gasometer, due to the variable
displacement, independently of that due to variations of gas pressure.
Where the carbide container is attached to the bell of the gasometer, so as to
rise and fall with it, the admission of water to the carbide is regulated by the
relative motion of the container and the water level, au increased quantity of
gas within the bell causing both a rise of the latter and a fall in the water
level due to the rise of pressure. Any of the devices previously mentioned may
be used for admitting the water to the carbide, but where perforations are used
these are made in the sides instead of, or in addition to, the top of the container.
In order that the container may be emptied and recharged without emptying the

page_text: gasometer of gas or interfering with the discharge thereof, we make the top of
the bell deeply dished as shown in Fig. V, and fit a door 17 at the contral and
lowest part thereof; this door is adapted to be readily opened and closed gas-tight,
and is large enough to allow the carbide container 15 to be introduced into or
removed from the interior of the bell. A water-tight chamber 18 is fixed to the
bottom of the gasometer, into which the carbide container sinks when the bell is in
its lowest position, and this chamber is higher than the said container an1 has
round its upper rim a water seal 19 or other device adapted to make joint with a
depending rim 20 on the top of the bell.
When the charge is exhausted and the bell has sunk to its lowest position, the
door on the top of the bell is opened, the water drained from the chamber and
the container removed, recharged and replaced, or a freshly charged container
substituted, and the door once more closed. In the meantime, there is a sufficient
supply of gas in the annular space under the top of the bell cover due to
its dished form, to supply the ordinary demand for gas during recharging.
In some cases we may find it more convenient to fit the door for introducing and
removing the carbide container, in the bottom of the beforementioned chamber,
instead of in the top of the bell of the gasometer.
In a smaller form of the apparatus which may be portable, (see Fig. VI) we
provide an outer vessel 21 adapted to contain water and a bell 22 to be placed
therein. This bell is not intended to rise and fall, but stands with its open mouth
on the bottom of the outer vessel 21, being held down by its weight or otherwise.
The carbide container 15 is placed within the bell, and a gas discharge pipe is led
from the top of the bell through a suitable water trap 23 and pressure regulator if
desired to the burner 24.
The outer vessel is filled with water to the proper height, some of which will
flow into the bell under the mouth of the latter and so seal it.
A reservoir 25 is provided to maintain the water supply; this reservoir may be
arranged in any convenient position but we prefer to place it above the bell, so as
to surround the gas outlet pipe and cool the issuing gas, and so that its weight
will hold the bell in position.
As before, variations in the gas pressure within the bell will cause variations in
the water level both within and without the bell, and any of the beforementioned
methods, which are suitable, may be utilized for regulating the water supply to
the carbide; we prefer, however, to lead a pipe 26 from the water reservoir to a
sprinkler 27 above the carbide, and to control the supply of water through this
pipe by a ball tap 28 and float 29, the float being actuated by the water in the
outer vessel, as shown, or by the water within the bell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
In automatic apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas ;-
1. In combination, the gasometer, the water supply tank, and a generator adapted
to hold the carbide and connected to the supply tank through an air vessel and a
non-return valve, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In combination, the gasometer, the water supply tank, the generators adapted
to hold the carbide and separately connected to the supply tank through an air
vessel and a non-return valve, and the automatic means for ensuring the successive
operation of the generators; substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In combination with a gasometer, a generator placed therein, adapted to hold
the carbide and provided with a perforated conical top through which the water
passes, the quantity being regulated in virtue of the rise and fall of the water in
the bell due to variations of pressure and variations of displacement by the specially
shaped bell; substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The combination with a gasometer having a bell with a dished top, of a
generator placed therein having a sealing device adapted, as the bell of the

page_text: gasometer descends, to seal a depending rim on the bell and permit of the with-
drawal of the carbide container through a door in the top of the bell without
interrupting the gas supply; substantially as described and illustrated.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. I, II and III.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. IV.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. V.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts substantially as described and
illustrated in Fig. VI.
Dated this 13th day of March 1897.
JOSEPH EDWARD ATKINSON.
JONATHAN MARRINER LABOUCHERE.