Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
We, DR. OTTO ERNST, of Am Wed, and DR. ALFRED PHILIPS, of 1, Bruning-
strasse, both of Hochst-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, Chemists, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
Our invention consists in the construction of an acetylene gas producer,
regulated automatically, which permits within a few moments the consumed
gas-producing material to be replaced by a fresh supply without interrupting
the working and without any loss of gas for water.
The arrangement of the apparatus will be described in the following specifica-
tion with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In a water reservoir W of wider dimensions at the top, the generator E and
the gas collector G which is open below, are fixed in such a manner as to leave
an open space between said collector G and the reservoir W for the purpose
of introducing a movable gasometer B.
The generator E is below closed gastight by the lid D which can easily be
taken off, and communicates with the gas collector G by a tube R, which ter-
minates at the opening O. This tube R is provided with a valve V arranged
in such a manner as to open itself on the carbide box C being introduced into
the generator E and to close itself again on the box being taken out, which
is arrived at by the following contrivance:-
-
To the valve V a stem S is attached, by which the valve is raised whenever
the box C is introduced. This may be carried out, for instance, by providing
the stem S at its lower end with several lateral supports a a which rest loosely
on the edge of the carbide box which stands on the lid D. Consequently the
valve V is only open as long as the carbide box remains in the apparatus, and
if the box containing the consumed carbide residues be taken out, the valve
drops and closes the tube R, and consequently also the apparatus, against any
escape of gas or water, until a fresh box is introduced. The valve V and the
arrangement to open it may be of different constructions; the essential points,
however, are, firstly, that the tube to which the valve V is adapted, is the only
passage in common for the water and gas between the generator E and the
gas
collector G, secondly, that the valve is opened and kept open by introducing
the carbide box and closed again by the latter being taken out. This con-
trivance avoids the closing of any tap on a fresh supply of carbide being required,
as the simple manipulation of taking out the carbide box involves a simultaneous
closing of the japparatus against any escape of gas and water. Another advan-
tage is that a fresh supply may be introduced in a few moments without danger
or interruption of the working, even if only one generator be employed.
The regulation of the apparatus is automatic and is carried out according
to the principle of displacing water, the water being pushed down by the
developed gas so as to set free the opening 0 from water, until the gas stored
is let off.