Improvements in or connected with Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Acetylene Generators.
I, WILLIAM ELLEN, of 273, Moss Lane East, Moss Side, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to acetylene generators in which water flows by gravity
into a generator containing carbide and the gas is conducted from the generator
into a gas holder bell the rise and fall of which shuts off and opens the water
supply, and my invention consists in the hereinafter described improvements
in the arrangement of the generators and their accessories, the object of my
improvements being to reduce the cost of construction and to render the working
of the generator more uniform and reliable and to prevent accidents.
In carrying out my invention I fix one or more preferably cylindrical gene-
rators to the side of the gasholder tank in a slanting position so that the axis of
the cylinders makes an acute angle with the vertical axis of the gasholder tank.
The bottom of the generator is fitted with a cock for letting off the water and
sediment when the carbide is exhausted. The water is fed into the generator
near to the bottom end. Preferably I place the carbide into tins having slit
tops and place several of such tins into the generator with clearance spaces
between them, the diameter of the tins being less than that of the generator to
allow the gas to pass the tins. By this arrangement the water flows into the
several tins successively and the generation of acetylene proceeds gradually, while
the lime remains in the tins and can be readily removed.
The gas is let out of the generator near to the top and through a pipe fitted
with a cock, on the plug of which is fixed a handle connected by a link to the
cover of the generator. which is preferably hinged to the generator cylinder
and is made tight by the usual bow and screw. The cock is so arranged that
when the cover is opened by turning the handle, the cock is shut off, and opened
again when the cover is closed. By this arrangement the inconveniences
which occur with selfacting non-return valves are obviated, these being liable to
stick when the generation is restarted in consequence of the wet lime dust
carried away with the gas, which sticking causes the gas to be forced back into
the water feed pipes. The arrangement also prevents the cock being left open
when the cover of the generator is opened or being kept shut when the generator
is restarted, which would easily occur if the cover and cock were not connected
in the manner described.
The gas is led as usual into a stand pipe inside the gas holder tank which
preferably is covered by a hood causing the gas to escape below the water level
in the tank and being washed thereby, and the gas is taken out from under the

page_text: bell in the usual way.
Dated the 19th day of November 1898.
The rise and fall of the bell closes and opens the water
supply cocks or taps in any ordinarily used manner.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.
Improvements in or connected with Acetylene Generators.
I, WILLIAM ELLEN, of 273, Moss Lane East, Moss Side, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
ánd ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to acetylene generators in which water flows by gravity
into a generator containing carbide and the gas is conducted from the generator
into a gas holder bell the rise and fall of which shuts off and opens the water
supply and my invention consists in the hereinafter described improvements
in the arrangement of the generators and their accessories the object of my
improvements.being to reduce the cost of construction and to render. the working
of the generator more uniform and reliable and to prevent accidents.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more-easily carried
into practise I have, appended hereunto two sheets of drawings upon which I
have fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements together with, the
mode of carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1 is a side view of a gas holder and generator complete..
Figure 2 is a back view of the same.
P
Figure 3.is a vertical section through the generator in position and when
charged, with carbide.
F
...
Figure 4. is a view of the carbide receptacle when removed from the generator.
Figure 5. is a side elevation of the generators A shewn in Figures 1 & 2, with
cover in. position closed.
..
Figure 6 is a similar side elevation of the generators A with cover in position
when open.
г
Figure 7 is a section through the generator and receptacle before being con-
nected. to the gas holder and when not charged.
In carrying out my invention I fix one or more preferably cylindrical
generators A to the side of the gasholder tank D in a slanting position' so that
the axis of the evlinders make an acute angle with the vertical axis of the
gasholder tank. The bottom of the generator A is fitted with a cock a¹for letting
off the water and sediment when the carbide is exhausted, while the water is
fed into the generator near to the bottom end at a³. I préfer to place the car-
bide E in the tin receptacle B which is preferably made in one piece as 'shewn
by Figure 4 and may be provided with a series of divisions 61 with clearance
spaces-between them. These receptacles B-after being charged are placed in the
generator and the diameter of the tins being less than that of the generator
allow the gas to pass the same. By this arrangement the water flows into the
'several divisions-successively and the generation of acetylene proceeds gradually
while the lime remains in the- receptacles B and can be readily removed:
The gas passes from the generator at a³ near to the top and through the

page_text: pipe fitted with the cock fl on the plug of which is fixed the handle H con:
nected by the link h¹ to the cover K of the generator A which cover is prefer-
ably hinged at ¹ to the generator cylinder A and is made tight by the usual
bow M and screw m¹. The cock f¹ is so arranged that action of opening the
cover K turns the handle H and the cock is shut off, and opened again when the
cover is closed. By this arrangement the inconveniences which occur with self-
acting non-return valves are obviated, these being liable to stick when the genera-
tion is restarted in consequence of the wet lime dust carries away with the gas,
which sticking causes the gas to be forced back into the water feed pipes. The
arrangement also prevents the cock being left open when the cover of the
generator is opened, or being kept shut when the generator is restarted which
would easily occur if the cover and cock were not connected, in the manner
described.
The gas is led as usual into a stand pipe inside the gas holder tank which
preferably is covered by a hood causing the gas to escape below the water level
in the tank and being washed thereby and the gas in taken out from under the.
bell N in the usual way. The rise and fall of the bell N closes and opens the
water supply cock or tap P by means of the cord or chain R in any ordinarily
used manner.
The generator may be fixed at a greater or lesser inclination than that shewn
and even be fixed vertically although I prefer arranging it at or about the inclina-
tion shewn.
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:-
1st. The generator A set at an inclination and having the divided receptacle B
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
2nd. The generator A having the divided receptacle B substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
3rd. The generator A having the lid K connected with the handle or lever H
of the cock substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
4th. The improvement in or connected with acetylene generators substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated upon the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 11th dox of Avement 1000
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant, 5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.