Acetylene Gas Producer.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Acetylene Gas Producer.
HENRI DE THIERSANT, of 187, Fulham Road, S.W., Clerk, and WILLIAM ALLEN
COULSON, of 105, Kyverdale Road, N., Freight Manager, both of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
An outer vessel containing water and receiving main portion of apparatus which
consists of a cylinder communicating by means of curved tubes, from the bottom, to
an upright tube which in its turn communicates with a receiver below into which
the receptacle for the carbide is placed. Outside this receiver and about two thirds
of its height is an outer gallery communicating with the receiver by means of small
holes in top and bottom. Covering the carbide receptacle and the receiver with its
outer gallery is a cone shaped vessel attached at top to upright tube and descending
at an angle until it reaches close to side of outer vessel, when it descends
perpendicularly to within about one third of an inch from bottom. A tube is
inserted near the top of this cone shaped covering for the purpose of carrying away
any surplus gas which may be produced. At top of cylinder first named is the tube
with tap permitting gas to proceed into supply pipes, and at a distance of about
eighteen inches from tap, and attached to supply pipe a small metal tube filter con-
taining amianthus and broken pumice stone is placed. After passing through this
filter the gas is ready for use.
The working is automatic, as the water only comes in contact with the carbide,
and produces the gas when sufficient has been burnt or allowed to escape, and the
pressure on the water thus being removed from underneath.
HENRI DE THIERSANT, 187, Fulham Road, S.W., Clerk, and WILLIAM ALLEN
COULSON, 105, Kyverdale Road, N., Freight Manager, both of London, 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:-
An outer vessel containing water and receiving main portion of apparatus which
consists of a cylinder communicating by means of curved tubes from the bottom to
an upright tube, which in its turn communicates with a receiver below, into which
the receptacle for the carbide is placed. Outside this receiver and about two thirds
of its height is an outer gallery communicating with the receiver by means of small
holes in top and bottom. Covering the carbide receptacle and the receiver with its
Price 8d.l

page_text: outer gallery is a cone-shaped vessel attached at top to upright tube and descending
at an angle until it reaches close to side of outer vessel, when it descends
perpendicularly to within about one third of an inch from bottom.. A tube is
inserted near the top of this cone shaped covering for the purpose of carrying away
any surplus gas which may be produced. At top of cylinder first named is the tube
with tap permitting gas to proceed into supply pipes and at a distance of about
eighteen inches from tap and attached to supply pipe a small tube fitter con-
taining amianthus and broken pumice stone is placed. After passing through this
fitter the gas is ready for use.
The working is automatic as the water only comes in contact with the carbide
and produces the gas when sufficient. has been burnt or allowed to escape and the
pressure on the water thus being removed' from underneath.
For purposes of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation shewing my apparatus.
Figure 2 sectional plan through line c-d in Figure 1.
Figure 3 sectional elevation of the receptacle for the carbide of calcium.
Figure 4 plan view through line ay in Figure 3.
Figure 5 elevation of filter for use with the apparatus. a is a cylinder which is
open at its lower end and is provided with the apertures w and w¹ and w². u is a
tube which communicates through the medium of the curved tubes m with the vessel f
and cylinder a, rl being a tap or outlet carried upon the cylinder f, a perforated
disc being employed when required for the purpose of regulating the escape of the
gas in the event of the tap being fully opened. Round this cylinder a and connected
to same is placed a gallery or casing z. Surrounding and connected to this is an
outer casing y, and is for the purpose of allowing any excess of gas formed to escape
and from which it may be conveyed to any suitable position. The carbide of calcium
is carried in the receptacle p which has the grated or perforated bottom s and is also
provided with the semicircular perforated plate which is attached to the two
supports g. When it is required to use the apparatus the receptacle p is charged
with carbide of calcium and is then placed within the cylinder a and secured in
position by means of the pin or rod a¹ which is passed through the apertures in the
cylinder a and the aperture in the supports g at or about the position 7. The whole
is then placed in the outer vessel h. It will be seen that the water will be allowed
to come into contact with the carbide: of calcium when the tap or cock r¹ is. opened
and thus the acetylene gas will be generated. n. are eyelets or catch pieces, which
are secured to the vessel f and through which pins or rods are passed through
apertures in the outer cylinder, thus securing the vessel in position. If the tap r¹ is
now closed the pressure of the gas generated will tend to force the water away from
contact with the carbide of calcium and any excess of gas after driving the water
from the space enclosed by the gallery or casing z will pass underneath the same and
escape through the pipe t. By this arrangement it will be seen that owing to the
employment of the bent or semicircular tubes m and cylinder f the gas will be cooled
thus condensing steam which might be mixed with it owing to the large area of
cooling surface to which the gas is subjected, so freeing the gas to a great extent
from impurities. When required I also employ a filter as shewn in Figure 5,
which consists of a tube containing suitable filtering material such as amianthus and
pumice stone in a suitable state of division, this tube being provided with the two
smaller tubes for the purpose of enabling the filter to be interposed between the
cock and the tube or pipe conveying the gas to the burner.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the production of the gas will be regulated
eccording to the pressure existing in the cylinder a, and as soon as this pressure rises
beyond a certain point the water will be more or less removed from the carbide of
calcium, and upon the pressure falling will be allowed to come into further contact
with the carbide of calcium. By this arrangement it will be seen that the produc-
tion of the gas is regulated by the pressure produced in the cylinder a and in case of
pressure will pass through the apertures w and so displace the water from the
casing z, thus removing the water from contact with the carbide of calcium, and if

page_text: the pressure generated is sufficient an escape will take place from the casing z into
the casing y and thence to the tube t from which it may be carried away to any
suitable place through the medium of a tube or pipe.
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 apparatus for producing acetylene gas: the combined construction and
arrangement of the various parts, substantially as described, and illustrated herein.
2. In apparatus for producing acetylene gas: a receiver which carries a holder or
receptacle for carbide of calcium said holder being secured in the aforesaid receiver;
an outer casing surrounding the receiver aforesaid so as to leave an auxiliary space
for the reception of an excess of gas between this outer casing and the receiver; said
receiver being provided with apertures at suitable parts thereof; a vessel or casing
surrounding said outer casing and provided with an escape tube for the escape of
surplus gas generated; a tube or tubes communicating with the receiver containing
a carbide holder and a vessel having an outlet valve from which the gas may be
conveyed to the point of consumption; said tube or tubes being bent or curved at a
suitable part for the purpose of facilitating the condensation of water vapour the
whole being contained in a vessel for containing water and being maintained in
position by means of suitable clips or holders; the dimensions of the various parts
being so arranged that upon a suitable quantity of water being placed in the vessel
containing the apparatus the pressure of the gas generated will tend to regulate the
supply according as the water is removed by such pressure from contact with the
carbide of calcium in the receptacle or holder, the surplus gas escaping through
the medium of the two surrounding casings.
Dated this 28th day of Febru 1898