Improvements in or relating to the Generation of Gas having Acety. lene as a Base, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct.,
1899
Improvements in or relating to the Generation of Gas having Acety.
lene as a Base, and Apparatus therefor.
We, CLAUDIUS BENJAMIN RICHARD and FERDINAND CAHEN, of 8, Avenue de la
Republique, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same 18 to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
-
This invention relates to the generation of gas having acetylene as a base,
and apparatus therefor. The gas is specially suitable for purposes of illumination
or heating, and is obtained by the decomposition of carbide of calcium, the
electrolysis of water, and the decomposition of air or other gas.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a bi-metallic calcium carbide
cartridge.
Figures 2 and 3 represent in elevation and plan respectively, the gas generat-
ing apparatus.
Figure 4 18 a vertical section
Figure 5 18 a view of the apparatus as seen from the side of the air pump,
and,
Figures 6 to 15 are detail views
The essential part of the generator consists of a cylindrical cartridge A
(Figure 1) comprising several sleeves each of which is made up of a zinc
cover a closely fitting on a copper tube a¹ arranged in the interior The bottom
of each sleeve 18 formed by a bi-metallic cup a, the outer cover of which is made
of copper and fits in the interior of the tube a', while the interior part is of
zine and closely fits on to the copper portion The bottom or cup of each of
the sleeves projects so as to fit into the next sleeve, and they are all traversed
in the centre by a central perforated tube 6 of copper which 18 screwed into
the solid bottom a of the lowest sleeve and ends below in a cylindrical
chamber a mounted on the bottom sleeve and provided with lateral perfora-
tions a communicating with the outside.
The upper end of the tube is closed by a stopper made partly of ebonite
or other insulating substance The stopper is provided with a hole and presses
against a cover which closes the upper sleeve, the latter being also provided
with perforations through which it communicates with the outside
The cartridges thus constituted are arranged, in convenient numbers, say four
for example, in a reservoir c The opening of the reservoir through which the
cartridges are introduced is formed by a screw clamped lid o', Figures 2, 3 and 4,
provided towards the inside with a hook for the purpose of hooking it on to
the stopper and thus supporting the cartridge The apparatus comprises
several such reservoirs c, say three, in the present example, and each of them
communicates with a water tight upper reservoir provided with a level
indicator d³, by means of a syphon d¹, provided with a cock d³, the syphon
de cending to near the bottom of the reservoir c Each reservoir communicates
ly means of a vertical tube with an automatic valve chamber E represented in
077

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 This valve chamber consists of a central tube e on the upper
edge of which rests the interior portion el, made of caoutchouc, of a valve e³ This
valve e canes a sciew 1od sciewing into another 1ode which 18 actuated by a
spring et
Between the lower seat of the rod e³ and the body e of the valve a
daphragm of caoutchouc 18 scoured, the border of the diaphragm is held
between the inner edge of the valve chamber E and the lower circular rim of
the valve cap E' screwed on the latter. In the valve cap E¹ 18 screwed a
sleeve e containing within it a sping e pressing against the upper interior
end of the sleeve and traversed by the rod e³. The top of this sleeve is pro-
vided with a radial groove in which is arranged a slide e actuated by a spring e
uxed on the sleeve e, this spring tending to push back the slide towards the
centre of the sleeve for the purpose of keeping its end in one of the grooves e e
constructed for that purpose on the rod e³ A knob eis fixed to the end of the
1od e³, and a screw el passing through the cap E¹ secures the sleeve and pie-
vents it from turning
By screwing the sleeve e in one duection or the other the tension of the
spring 18 increased or decreased and by raising the knob to a greater r
less extent the valve e¹ is lifted in proportion and the slide e will enter into
one of the grooves e eº. By this means the section of the passage at the end of
the tube e 18 regulated In order to return the valve e to its seat, ie to the
end of the tube e, the end of the slide e 18 withdrawn from the groove by
actuating with the finger a projection arranged for that purpose on the slide;
this being done the spring et will instantly drive down the valve e¹ The tube e
communicates with all the reservoirs by means of the vertical tube mentioned
above, and the valve chamber E has been cast with two lateral necks ell ell,
diametrically opposite to each other by means of which the valve chambers E
can be connected by a conduit E (Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5) either amongst them-
selves or with other parts, as will be hereinafter described
At one end the conduit E communicates through three cocks F, F¹, F³, the
handles of which are connected with each other by jointing rods f in such a
manner that when the central cock F 18 closed the cocks F¹ and F are opened,
and vice versa.
The cock F communicates by a tube f¹ with a purifier G (Figure 8) This
purifier consists of a cylindrical vessel G provided in the upper part with a
double-walled vessel 9 communicating with the tube f. This double-walled
vessel g communicates with the vessel G by a series of holes gl On an interior
ledge of the vessel G rests the outer ledge of a cylindrical partition g³, and on
this ledge is a perforated disc g³ provided with a central device for handling it.
On an interior ledge of the partition g is arranged another perforated disc g+
similar to the last disc, and the bottom of the partition as well as the
bottom of the vessel G are perforated in a similar manner The vessel G
rests, by means of an interposed tight joint on a socket g with a plain bottom g³
forming a lower compartment which communicates by means of a cock g with
a tube go leading to the cock F (Figures 2 and 3). The vessel G 18 provided
with a lid g fixed by means of a screw.
On each of the perforated discs 93, 94, 95, 18 placed a layer of some purifying
substance and the gas which arrives by the tube f¹ and passes through the
holes g¹ g¹ is forced through the various layers of purifying material leaving
on them all the impurities and finally arrives at the cock F'
The end of the conduit E 18 connected with the conduit H passing under the
reservoir d above the bell I of the gasometer and entering the vessel I' through
the bottom of the latter in which it finally rises to the level of the water con-
tained in it
In the conduit H 18 interposed a safety contrivance J (Figures 9 and 10) con-
Bisting of a chamber J filled with mercury to the required level adjustable by
means of a sciew and into which plunges an inverted bell j The conduit H
communicates with the chamber J by means of a tube h ending in a vertical

page_text: tube and passing out into the bell . The conduit E also communicates
with the chamber by means of a tube 7 ending in another vertical tube j³
placed in the centre of the chamber and passing out in the bell a little above
the tube. The top of the bell is provided in its centre, in a recess made for
that purpose, with a caoutchouc device held by a 1od guided in the top *
of the recipient J, carrying weights and piessing with its upper portion
against a caoutchouc cushion fixed to the bottom of the cap ³ The bottom
of the chamber J contains a cylinder arranged for the purpose of reducing the
effective volume of mercury The conduit H is provided at a point corresponding
to the centre of the bell I of the gasometer, with an automatic valve cock K,
(Figure 11) consisting of a case K provided in casting with an inlet tube K and
an outlet tube K¹ The inlet tube K forms in the centre a right-angled passage,
the end of which serves as a seat for an indiaiubber valve K³ solidly connected
with the diaphragm K³ made of the same material, and the 1od K of the valve
is guided within the bottom K³ screwed on the case K. This rod is actuated
by a spiral spring K6 acting on an abutment K provided for that purpose at
the end of this rod, and is raised on the 100f of the bell I of the gasometer against
the action of the spring
One
The conduit H 18 continued by a gas pipe L on which 18 arranged a gas cock L'
and a desiccator L. This desiccator, Figures 12 and 13, consists of two hemi-
spheres screwed to one another with an interposing tightening joint
of the hemispheres is provided with a flat partition on which are screwed
a number of amall tubes arranged in one or several concentric rows, the bottom
of each tube being provided with a capillary hole. The gas charged with small
particles of water arrives by the orifice, passes through the small tubes and,
striking against the bottoms of the latter, is deprived of its liquid particles and
passes out through the perforations of these tubes, to the outlet 15 of the desiccator.
By means of a screw the contrivance is freed from water
At the side of the vessel I¹ is arranged an air pump M worked by hand by
means of the level m (Fig 5). The suction valve of this pump communicates
with a tube n provided with a two-way cock nt, placed at the end of a conduit o
and leading by branches o¹ o¹ o¹ to the three reservoirs ccc. The compression
valve of the pump M communicates by means of a cock p¹ with a conduit p
oonnected with the conduit o and provided with a valve cock q, the iod of this
valve being controlled by a spring which keeps it constantly applied against a
lever The end of this lever presses against the ledge of a slide t made
to slide along the vessel I¹ and provided at its upper end with a band at right
angles to it by means of which it may come in contact with the projection t¹
fixed on the bell I. The cock 7 18 constructed in a similar way to the cock K
(Fig 11)
On each of the reservoirs ceo 18 mounted a conical valve R (Figs 14 and 15)
which communicates with one of the branches o by means of a tube r The
conical rod r of the valve is provided with a handle, moving over a graduated
dial When the cock is open the conduit o¹ communicates by means of a
bye-pass with a tube which descends to the bottom of the reservoir c
One of the outside reservoirs c 18 connected with the intermediate reservon
by means of a cock placed at the upper part of the reservons and the inter-
mediate reservoir is connected with the other outside reservoir by means of a
syphon tube provided with a cock of The bell I of the gasometer is provided at
its inner edge with an annular float which surrounds an air reservoir S to
contain compressed air This reservoir is united by means of a conduit & to
the conduit p.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows
The apparatus and its component parts being ready for the process, the lever m
of the pump M is actuated after having opened the cocks n¹p-the cock n¹
establishing a communication between the conduits n and and closed the
cock g by setting by hand its lever *. The conical cock R of the first reservoir c,
1

page_text: 18
on the left, (Figs. 2 and 3) is then opened. The au contained in the resei voile
16 Bucked through the cock, and the tubes oo, and is driven though the
cock p³, the tube 2, and the conduits into the reservon S. The cock
then so turned as to establish a communication between the tube n and the
outer all,
and by continuing the work with the pump M atmospheric all is
sucked in through the cocks and 16 diven into the iese von S until the
manometer m¹ indicates that a pressure of one atmosphere has been obtained.
The vacuum which has been produced by the hist part of the operation has had
the eflect of starting the syphon d' of the first reservou C, the cock of which
had previously been turned so as to admit the liquid contained in the resel you d
and allow it to descend into the resei von The level indicator d' will indicate
when sufficient liquid has entered into the reservou c, z.e when the cock d³ of
the syphon of d' is closed, as well as the cocks R and P, and by actuating the
button of the cock E the latter is opened according to requirements as has been
explained in the above.
The water which enters the reservoir penetrates through the perforations a³
of the cartridges, 11ses by means of the perforated tube b and attacks the carbide
of calcium enclosed in the sockets a' of each cartidge. The gas is now steadily
evolved, 11ses by way of the tube and passes out of the cartridge by way of
the perforations through the corresponding cock of the reservon c, and
passing on along the tube Es aves at the cock The cock F being closed,
the cocks F and F are opened The gas is thus allowed to outer the purifiei G,
passing through the orifices gl g₁, it traverses the various layers of purifying
material placed on the perforated discs g' g' g³ and passes out purified through
the cock 9. Thence it passes through the conduit go, the cock F and along
the conduit H, enteuing the gasometer, where there is but little contact with the
water contained in the vessel I¹, owing to the arrangement of the float and the
all-reservoir S This arrangement is of importance because the gaseous product
18 very soluble in water, hence, the surface of contact should be reduced to a
minimum. For this reason the an reser von S 18 placed inside the vessel I', for
without such considerations it might have been arranged anywhere outside
Before opening the gas cock L it is necessary to partly fill the gasometer
bell I; the cock 18 then opened as well as the cock R of the left-hand
reservo, at work at this stage, and the compressed an of the reservon S
passing through the conduits, the pipe p, the cock 7 and the conduits 0 0¹,
ieaches the said reservon c, where this an as well as the water contained already
in the reservoir suffers an electrolytic decomposition calculated to modify the
nature of the acetylene gas produced This process will be explained herein-
under-
At this stage the cocks n¹ pl are opened and the pump M so worked that the
pressure in the reservoir S 11ses until it reaches two atmospheres, after which
the cock p 18 closed and the gas is allowed to follow its normal course
By opening the cock L¹ the gas passes through the desiccator L³ in which it
leaves behind the liquid particles with which it is charged, as explained in the
above description, and then reaches the burners by means of the conduit pipe L
The desiccator also serves to prevent the flame stinking back and reaching the
gasometei in case it should show a tendency to do so in the pipe L.
When the store of calcium carbide in the first leseivon is exhausted, the
cock 18 opened, and owing to the pressure present in this resei voir the water
passes from this reservoir into the next one with a portion of the gas contained
in the first The conical valve R of the first reservoir c is closed, and that of the
second reservoir opened The au in the reservoir S 18 again compressed
so as to keep up the required amount of pressure, after which the correspond-
ing cock E is opened while the one corresponding to the first reservoir is closed
When the carbide in the second reservoir c is exhausted, the cock et
18 opened and part of the water contained in the second reservoir passes
into the third, owing to the pressure in the interior of the second reservoir,

page_text: and the syphon d' of the latter-care being taken to open its cock d³-
becomes active, after which the corresponding cock E is opened, while that of the
second reservou 18 closed, as also the cooks. Then the conical valves of the
first two reservous ce are successively opened to dive the water which they con-
tain back into the reservoir d by way of the syphons d', the cocks a having been
opened for that purpose, and the cartridges contained in the exhausted reservoirs
are refilled, the last reservoir c being recharged in a similar manner during the
next work of the first reservoir. if desired, the three reservoirs cor can be
worked simultaneously. For a new cycle of operations the quantity of water
which has entered into combination with the carbide during the previous opera-
tion, will be restored by an equal volume being added to the reservoir d, the
difference being easily ascertained by means of the level indicator d³.
If owing to the extinction of a number of burners or from any other cause,
the production of gas should exceed the quantity consumed, the bell I will rise
and come in contact with the abutments K7 of the cock K (Figure 11), and lift
the rod K which will actuate the valve K on its seat in such a manner as to
close the cock. The gas will thus not pass any longer into the gasometer, the
pressure in the reservoir which is in actual operation will increase and will
drive back water from that reservoir into the reservoir d lowering the level
in the reservoir c and in the tube of the cartridges. The effect of this action
will be a reduction of the quantity of gas produced, while the consumption 18
continued. During the normal operation the cock 9 remains open so that the air
can enter the reservoir c when in operation, it is therefore necessary that that
cock should be closed when the production is to be stopped, so that the outside
air should not mix with the gas in the bell I and for this purpose when the
bell 11ses the projection with which it is provided lifts the slide t which
actuates the lever g of the cock q, for the purpose of shutting the valve of the
latter, and of closing the air conduit o. The bell I will soon begin to sink thereby
opening the valve K³ owing to the action of the sping K and the pressure in
the tube K of the valve, the slide t will also descend, so as to allow of the open-
ing of the valve q The operation of the apparatus will again enter the normal
stage without the slightest disturbance in the consumption having been caused
by the stoppage.
Supposing that it should have been forgotten to open the valve E of the reser-
voir c when in operation, and that at the same time the corresponding syphon ď
should be closed by the cock d, the pressure will rise in the reservoir c, and
re-act at a certain moment on the valve el of the cock E (Figures 6 and 7) This
valve will then 118e with the rod and the slide e' under the action of spring e
and enter one of the grooves e so as to hold the raised valve e¹, and the gas will
be able to enter the gasometer in the manner described above.
It may also happen that the purifier G becomes choked, and that the cocks F,
F, F have not been so placed as to cut it out of operation, .e. by opening cock Fi
to shut cocks F, and F, so as to open a direct passage between the conduit E³
and the conduit H through which the gas would arrive at the gasometer without
having to pass through the purifier G. In this case the gas finding no outlet,
the pressure in the reservoir c, working at the time, will increase, and as has
just been explained the valve e¹ of the cock E will be lifted up, and the gas
will enter by way of the conduit E3 and the safety apparatus J, the valve of
which rests on the end of the tube through which the gas entering. If the
pressure continues to rise the valve will be lifted up together with the bell ¹
and weights, until the rod strikes against the cushion, the shook being
deadened by the cushion. The gas will expand within the bell and pass out
through the tubes and hand each the conduit H and finally the gasometer
and the outlet pipe L thus avoiding every risk of accident
It has been stated at the beginning that the gas produced was not ordinary
acetylene gas, and it is necessary now to describe the nature of the gas.
By this construction, the cartridge represented in Figure 1 and consisting of

page_text: Owing
sleeves a made of zinc and copper respectively, forms a voltaic battery, in which
the sleeves a a¹ and the central tube b form the electiodes The water contained
in the reservoir d contains a small quantity of hydrochloric acid, which on
coming in contact with the walls of the cartridge generates an electric current,
the temperature being raised at the same time owing to the decomposition of the
calcium carbide. This increase of temperature aids the electrical action
to the electric action the water contained in the reservoir c in operation at the
time, is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen The hydrogen becomes united
to the generated acetylene gas and thus increases its caloric power, while the
oxygen becomes united with the calcium resulting from the decomposition of the
CBI bide
The oxygen of the compressed an which constantly alives from the
reservoir S is also taken up by the carbon of the carbide to form carbonic acid,
which becomes mixed with the gas, while the nitrogen of the an 18 combined in a
certain proportion with the hydrogen evolved from the water The following
generic formula illustrates the process
+
kCH*n + m CO3 +pNH3 +rN
The presence of inert gases united with the acetylene and especially the presence
of carbonic acid, renders the gas inexplosive Experience also has proved that
the gas is inodourous. Moreover the gas burns without any smoke whatever the
height of the flame and owing to the quantity of hydrogen which it receives
without expense from the water, it produces a hotter flame than that of acetylene.
For a given quantity of carbide, therefore, the apparatus produces gas of higher
caloric power and superior flame thus resulting in great economy, whether used
for purposes of lighting on of heating
Instead of air some other gas may be supplied to the generator ccc, according
to the object in view
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim 18:-
1 A generating apparatus for gas used for lighting or heating purposes such
gas having acetylene as a base, characterised by the arrangement of convenient
numbers of bi-metallic cartridges containing carbide of calcium and forming
a voltaic battery for decomposing by means of an electric curent, the acidulated
water and compressed air passed into that reservou and serving to finally
modify the nature of the gas produced, which gas enters into the gasometer after
having passed through a purifier, when normally working, or in case of the
purifier being choked, through a safety apparatus, finally passing out from the
gasometer through a gas tube provided with a desiccato, in which it 18 deprived
of humidity, an air pump being so arranged as to suck up either the outside
atmospheric air or that contained in the generating reservoir for the purpose of
compressing it in a special reservoir, specially and preferably arranged in the
interior of the gasometer vessel, from which it may be conducted, as required
to any of the generating reservoirs by means of a conduit arranged for that
purpose.
2. In a gas generating apparatus as specified in Claim 1, the arrangement in
one or more reservous, of cartiidges made of a certain number of sleeves
arranged one on another, for the purpose of receiving a charge of carbide of
calcium, and mounted on a cential perforated tube of copper, the water serving
for the decomposition of the carbide entering at the lower part of the cartridge
while the gas produced rises into the upper sleeves composing the cartridge,
passing out of it through holes provided for that purpose in the upper sleeve;
the bi-metallic sleeves thus forming a voltaic battery, the current of which
decomposes the water, air, or other gas that may be used for the purpose of
modifying the nature of the acetylene gas produced by the carbide and water.
3 A method of producing gas for lighting and heating purposes consisting in
the employment in an appropriate reservoir of acetylene gas resulting from the

page_text: decomposition of carbide of calcium, water and air or any other gas, and of
submitting these substances to the action of an electric current for the purpose
of decomposing them, so as to form gases which then combine with the acetylene
gas and thus modify its nature
4. The complete apparatus for the production of gas substantially as described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
nt. I-.. 911 1
1000
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.