An Improved Apparatus for the Production, Drying, Purifying, and Storage of Acetylene Gas
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Production, Drying, Purifying,
and Storage of Acetylene Gas,
WILLIAM HENRY DARGUE, 72 Grey Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Acetylene gas is produced by bringing into combination carbide of calcium and
water.
In my apparatus the carbide of calcium is put in a cylinder, this cylinder may be
either placed in a drawer in the gasometer water tank, or may be placed in a second
cylinder kept separate from the tank, the drawer or second cylinder to be rather larger
than the cylinder containing the carbide of calcium, so as to allow of water circulating
around the saine for cooling purposes, as great heat is evolved during the generation
of the gas, the drawer or second cylinder must be closed by means of a gas tight door
or lid.
The supply of water to the carbide cylinder is conducted from the water tank (which
may be either the gasometer tank or an independant tank) by means of a pipe which
may be either outside or inside the tank, the regulation of the supply of water is
effected either by the back pressure of the gas preventing too great a flow of water, or
by a valve opened and closed by the falling and rising of the gasholder, or by a ball
valve in the tank, opened by the falling of the gasholder and closed by the water in
the tank when pressure has been removed.
The drying and purifying of the gas is effected by forcing it by pressure through a
portion of the water or other suitable liquid in the gasoneter tank, or through a coil
of pipe in the gasometer tank, or through sulphate of ammonia or other suitable
liquid contained in a special tank.
The stored gas is contained in a gasholder of the usual design, floating in a water
tank, being conducted from the carbide chamber by a pipe.
To prevent the gas from going out when the carbide of calcium in the carbide
cylinder is exhausted, there will be two or more carbide cylinders, each one arranged
to come automatically into operation when the other is exhausted. The manner in
which this is effected is by having a pipe between the highest points of each drawer
or outer cylinder through which water will flow from the full to the empty cylinder.
A cock will be placed in this pipe to break the connection when necessary, as for
instance when the discharged cylinder is being recharged.
In order to indicate when the cylinders are discharged a pet cock will be placed on
each cylinder at its highest point, when the pet cock is turned on and water flows it
will indicate that the particular cylinder is discharged.
In order to keep the water in tank up to its proper level an air tight water container
will be placed above the level of the tank, having a pipe leading from the same into
the tank, this will keep the water level with the bottom of the pipe, the air-

page_text: tight water container will have an opening on the top into which to pour the water
and an air tight lid to close the same, also a stop cock in the pipe leading into the
tank to turn off when it is being filled with water.
An Improved Apparatus for the Production, Drying, Purifying,
and Storage of Acetylene Gas.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DARGUE, Electrical Engineer of 72 Grey Street in the City and
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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 the production, drying, purifying, and storage
of Acetylene gas, which gas is produced by bringing into combination carbide of
calcium and water.
In my apparatus the carbide of calcium is put in a cylinder or generator, this
cylinder may be either placed in a drawer in the gasometer water tank or it may be
placed in a second cylinder kept separate from the tank, the drawer or second cylinder
to be rather larger than the cylinder containing the carbide of calcium so as to allow
of water circulating around the same for cooling purposes, as great heat is evolved
during the generation of the gas, the drawer or second cylinder must be closed by
means of a gas tight door or lid.
The supply of water to the carbide cylinder is conducted from the water tank which
may be either the gasometer tank or an independent tank, by means of a pipe
which may be either outside or inside the tank, the regulation of the supply of water
is effected either by the back pressure of the gas preventing too great a flow of water,
or by a valve opened and closed by the falling and rising of the gas holder or by a ball
valve in the tank opened by the falling of the gas holder and closed by the water in
the tank when pressure has been removed.
The drying and purifying of the gas is effected by forcing it by pressure through a
portion of the water or other suitable liquid such as for instance, chloride of calcium
or diluted sulphuric acid, contained in a vessel within the gasometer tank, or through
a coil of pipe in the tank.
The stored gas is contained in a gas holder of the usual design floating in a water
tank being conducted froin the carbide chamber by a pipe.
I will describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus and Figure 2 shows an arrangement
of interchangeable carbide cylinders or containers.
A is the gas holder bell of the usual construction floating in a tank T the water in
which forms a seal for the gas holder A and a reservoir for supplying water for the
decomposition of the carbide of calcium contained in a cylinder or generator C which
is provided with an air and gas tight cover c having adjusting screw c', the said
generator is encased in a water jacket J and arranged adjacent to the tank T although
I may in some cases arrange the generator C in the form of a drawer adapted to be
inserted in the tank T the water in which then serves the same purpose as the water
jacket that is to say, it provides a means for absorbing the heat generated during the
decomposition of the carbide of calcium.
The container C is provided with a number of shelves 8. 8. 8. preferably horizontal
although they may be inclined slightly if desired; these shelves serve to support the
remaining carbide as the lower portion decomposes and by their use the presence of

page_text: any indifferent pieces of carbide is not likely to prevent the access of water to the
good carbide.
For supplying water at the proper time to the carbide container a pipe P is led
from the tank T to the container Centering at its upper part and passing down to
its base as at r; upon this pipe in suitable position is a self closing valve such as at v
arranged and adapted to be operated by a stop K carried by a chain, rod or the
like Lattached to a bracket mounted upon and moving with the gas-holder A. The
gas generated is led from the container C by a pipe G passing into the tank T and up
into the gas holder A, a bent portion providing a water sen! as at g to prevent return
of the gas, a draining trap and tap may he provided as at g'. The gas for consumption
is drawn from the holder A by the pipe F and a cock c' is provided for removing the
residue of the decomposed carbide of calcium from the generator C.
In operation when the gas-holder falls on consumption of the gas the stop K comes
against the lever v of valve V and opens the valve, it being assisted by the weight of
the gas-holder A, or a weight W may be provided if desired; water then passes by
pipe P to the container Ca corresponding quantity of the carbide of calcium is
decomposed and the gas generated passes by pipe G to the gas holder A the latter
then rises under increased buoyancy and allows the valve V to shut off the water
supply until the gas holder again falls.
In Figure 2 I have shown an arrangement of carbide containers for obtaining a
continuous supply of gas. In this arrangement the cylinders C Care both in connection
with the water supply pipes. P and the upper part of each container is shown connected
by a pipe D with the other so that when one container is exhausted and becomes full
of water the water will flow to the next, and so on when a number are so connected,
suitable cocks pl p2 and d are provided for disconnecting each container. A separate
pipe such as G is provided for each container so as to avoid the use of cocks between
the generator and the gas-holder. A pet cock, water gauge or other indicator is
placed in the upper part of each container to indicate when the cylinders are
exhausted and full of water.
For recharging any container say C its connecting cocks d and p are closed and
the cock pl to the next container from water supply is opened. The container can then
be opened and recharged for use on exhaustion of the remaining cylinder or cylinders.
In order to keep the water in tank or reservoir T at its proper level, an airtight
water container may be placed above the level of the tank and so arranged as to keep
the water, level with the bottom of a pipe leading therefrom. into the tank in the
well known manner. The said container is provided with an opening and an airtight
cover or cap into which water may be poured and a stop cock leading from it into the
tank so that the container may be cut off from the tank whilst it is being refilled
with water or I may in some cases arrange a ball cock to keep the water at its
proper level in tank T, or in some cases water may be poured direct into the tank T
as required..
It will be seen that by the above described construction and arrangement of
apparatus no cocks or valves liable to be left shut exist between the generator and
the gas holder so that in the event of a large quantity of gas being generated the
pressure in the apparatus will be relieved by the rising of the gas-holder which, in
extreme cases would rise to such a height as to allow the gas to escape from the seal
to the atmosphere, bursting of the apparatus being therefore impossible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of the various parts constituting a complète apparatus for the
production, drying, parifying and storage of Acetylene gas all arranged and adapted
to operate substantially in the manner herein described, and as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a gas-holder such as described of a generator or generators
having a water jacket, removable shelves, and pipes, cocks and connections and means

page_text: for automatically controlling the water supply, with the modification shown in
Figure 2. substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 27th day of September 1897.
For the Applicant,
PRYOR & HARVEY,
3 St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Agents.