Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
I, FRANCIS GINNASI, Physician, of 118, Macdougal Street, New York City,
U.S.A., 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators; and the
object thereof is to provide a simple inexpensive means for automatically regu-
lating the generation of gas from the carbid of calcium.
The invention consists in the features, . combinations, and details of con-
struction, and will be bereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the
annexed claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of the
device, and Figure 2 is a central elevation illustrating a modification of detail.
In applying my invention, I employ a gasometer A, of the usual type embody-
ing the outer cylinder a, preferably mounted on legs a¹, and being open at the
top, and an inner cylinder a², closed at the top and open at the bottom and adapted
to telescope within the outer cylinder. Stand-pipes b, b', fixed in suitable
apertures in the base of the outer cylinder, are adapted to convey gas to and
from, respectively, the interior of the gasometer. The escape of gas is prevented
by a body of water contained within the outer cylinder in the usual manner.
Fixed to the top of the interior cylinder are the blocks a³, a³, which support the
arm at, projecting beyond the outer wall of the gasometer.
cylindrical receptacle C, adapted to contain the carbid of calcium or other
analogous gas-producing material, is placed, preferably, in close proximity to
the gasometer and has open ends adapted to be closed by means of the gas-tight
stoppers c, which are retained in position by frictional contact with the interior
of the receptacle until a dangerous pressure is generated within the receptacle,
when they will be blown out.
This receptacle is contained within a cylindrical water jacket C₁, to maintain
the receptacle C in cool condition.
Into an aperture c¹ of the upper stopper a flexible tube B is tightly fitted, and
the free end of this tube is connected with the stand-pipe b in any approved
manner.
Stop-cocks 62, 63, are fitted to the stand-pipes b, b, respectively, preferably close
to the sides of the gasometer, outside the elbows.
A central hole in the stopper is adapted to receive the nozzle d of a flexible
water-reservoir D. This nozzle is provided with the stop-cock d', adapted to
regulate the size of the aperture communicating between the water-reservoir and
the carbid-receptacle. Obviously the flow of water may be cut off entirely, if
desired.
The upper portion of the water-reservoir is adapted for intermittent contact
with the arm at, carried by the gasometer.
The nozzle, engages a flexible collar 1, which acts as a stopper for the upper
end of a transparent tube 2. which passes through the upper plug or stopper c,
of the receptacle C, for inlet of water to said receptacle; the transparent tube 2
being employed for the purpose of observing the quantity of water flowing
from the nozzle d. The water as it flows from the said tube 2, drops upon a
077

page_text: concave hopper 3, and descends within a grooved channel forming part of the
said hopper, the lower end of said channel resting upon a convex plate 5, which
is employed to protect the lower stopper c, from direct contact with the carbid
of calcium which rests directly on said plate.
In the modification illustrated by Figure 2 of the drawings, I have shown an
auxiliary water reservoir 6, which communicates with the reservoir D, by means
of a flexible tube 7. In this construction, a valve 8, is suspended from the
nozzle d, by means of a tube 8ª, and a valve 9 is connected to the supply or lower
end of the tube 7. In operation, pressure on the flexible reservoir D, opens the
valve S to allow of discharge of water into the receptacle C, and closes the valve 9.
When pressure is released the valve S will close, by suction, and the valve 9,
will open to allow a fresh supply of water to flow into the reservoir D.
In operation the carbid of calcium is placed in the receptacle C, the stopper
carrying the tube B placed in position, and the water reservoir filled and its
nozzle inserted in the hole c². The stop-cock is adjusted so that when there is
no pressure upon the water-reservoir no water drops into the carbid chamber;
but as soon as the arm a contacts with the reservoir drops of water are forced
through the nozzle into the carbid-receptacle, where it frees the gas, which passes
through the tube B and stand-pipe 6 into the gasometer. The inner cylinder
then rises, carrying with it the arm at, and relieving the pressure on the water-
reservoir. Generation of gas ceases. As soon, however, as the stop-cock b³ is
opened and the gas passes out from the gasometer to the burner the cylinder
falls by gravity and the arm at again comes in contact with the water-reservoir D
and gas generation again commences. This action will be continued automati-
cally until the supply of water or carbid of calcium is exhausted.
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. An automatic gas-generator, embodying a receptacle for the gas-producing
material, a flexible water-reservoir mounted thereon, a gasometer, and means
actuated by the gasometer for automatically regulating the production of gas,
substantially as shown and described.
2. In an automatic gas-generator, the combination of a receptacle for the gas-
producing material, a flexible water-reservoir mounted thereon and means for
preventing abnormal pressure in the receptacle, substantially as shown and
described.
3. An automatic gas generator, embodying a gasometer, an
arm carried
thereby, a flexible water-reservoir adapted for intermittent contact with said arm,
means for regulating the discharge of water from said reservoir, a receptacle for
the gas-producing material and means for conveying the gas from the generator
to the gasometer, substantially as shown and described.
4. An automatic gas-generator, embodying a receptacle for the gas-producing
material, stoppers therefor, a valve-controlled flexible water-reservoir mounted
thereon, an auxilliary reservoir communicating therewith, a gasometer, an arın
mounted thereon and adapted for intermittent contact with the water-reservoir,
and a flexible pipe communicating between said receptacle and said gasometer,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 9th day of October 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.