Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 17th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
I, MARTIN WAGNER, of No. 5, Avenue Kléber, Nogent-sur-Marne (Seine), in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer, 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:-
After numerous experiments, I have discovered that to economically and
practically utilise acetylene for heating laundry-irons, ovens, stoves and all similar
apparatus requiring a dry heat, it is necessary to consume this gas under a pressure,
varying according to the industrial requirements, of from twenty centimetres to one
metre and more; and I have constructed the apparatus hereinafter described which
fulfils these conditions.
This pressure is necessary, by reason of the high density of this gas, to produce
by the aid of a Bunsen-burner the necessary blue flame; I have worked under a
pressure of sixty centimetres, the flow of the acetylene being eighteen litres per hour
with four times its volume of air.
In its normal operation, the apparatus does not require a gasometer, it can feed
from one burner up to an indeterminate quantity according to the size of the
apparatus. The gas is produced proportionately to the consumption.
That quantity only is made in advance that is contained in the gazogene or
gas-generator and in the purifier; for a group of ten burners the said quantity is
not more than five litres.
The gasogene and the purifier are entirely covered with water in order to
minimise the dangers in case of fire or accident.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan showing one arrangement of my improved apparatus.
The carbide is contained in a series of cups enclosed within the gazogene or
gas-generator A. The water arriving by the tube G, situated in the lower part of
the gazogene, attacks the first cup; the water is kept back by the gas which is
instantaneously produced and only attacks the carbide afresh according to the
requirements of the consumption.
From the gazogene A the gas passes by the tube H into the expansion chamber D
where it is cooled and is purified by passing through a mixture E of sulphate of
copper, sulphate of iron and wood sawdust; it is then conducted through the
Sand ning

page_text: The expansion chamber and purifier
placed below the lower part of the
feed-cylinder F. This expansion chamber contains water almost to the level of the
overflow-valve S so as to exercise a uniform pressure on the gas. The height of this
level is variable. It is determined according to requirements, either for heating or
for lighting.
To maintain the level constant, the feed-water cylinder or reservoir is employed to
make up the water which is absorbed by the carbide of calcium.
A pressure-gauge is used to control the working of the apparatus.
The apparatus being in operation, can be stopped at any moment. The wetted
carbide may however continue to slowly evolve gas; to avoid the driving back of
this gas in the form of bubbles into the expansion chamber D, I have provided a
so-called safety-tube or over-production tube which is situated about one centimetre
above the water supply-valve. This tube allows this surplus gas, if it is present, to
escape into the atmosphere or for installations of certain sizes it will be received into
a small gasometer provided for that purpose.
A is a cylindrical sheet-metal gazogene surmounted by a ring and lid or cover of
cast iron having pivot bolts and winged nuts and caoutchouc packing let into an
annular groove for making the joint.
B indicates a series of sheet-metal cups with interior divisions formed by several
complete discs, in which is placed the carhide of calcium, the compartments are
pierced by two boles or mouths, one for the arrival of the water, in the bottom, the
other for the escape of the gas, by ranges of compartments the cups are only
successively attacked, the lower inouths or holes being pierced in each cup one above
the other.
C is a tank of sheet metal for storing the necessary water to avoid the production
of heat which is generated in the gazogene A each time the carbide is attacked by
the water; this tank is made higher than the gazogene, so that the joint of the said
gazogene will be entirely within the water. This piece, which forms the whole of the
gasogene and tank, is galvanised, the bottom binds the whole and is riveted,
this gazogene and tank are. welded or soldered together and form therefore a perfectly
fluid-tight vessel.
D is the expansion chamber constructed of sheet-metal and serving to
automatically feed the gazogene. In the interior of this chamber is a gas-receiving
purifier E.
The receiving purifier E is constructed of sheet metal and riveted in the bottom of
the expansion chamber D, in the upper part of the purifier is a ring and cover of cast
iron having pivoted bolts and winged nuts to close it and caoutchouc packing in an
annular groove to make the joint. In the interior of the purifier is a basket of sheet-
metal enclosing substances for the purification of the gas.
The whole of the purifier is immersed in the water contained in the expansion
chamber D, the level of which is constant and at least two centimetres higher than
the upper part of the purifier so as to condense the gas.
The chamber and the purifier form only a single piece, the whole being assembled,
riveted and welded or soldered after being galvanized.
F is the feed-water cylinder, which is also constructed of galvanized sheet metal,
and is hermetically sealed and furnished with a gauge-glass or cock to show the level
of the water.

page_text: For replenishing it there is a screw stopper or bung of brass, a pipe extends from
the lower part of this cylinder and is in communication with the tank of the
condenser D at a height determined by the pressure required either for lighting or
heating; this cylinder hermetically sealed, permits the maintenance of a constant
level and always the same pressure.

page_text: TO START THE APPARATUS.
The cocks L M O are opened so that the apparatus is ready to make gas, it will
then suffice for heating or lighting to open the valve N which is the general distribu
tion valve and can then be lighted immediately. To stop the operation, it is 'only
necessary to close the cocks of the lighting or heating apparatus, the production of
gas is immediately stopped. However in case there are leaks in the apparatus or in
the piping of the installation, it is more prudent to close the distribution valve N.
To charge the apparatus, the cocks L M O are closed and to start working they are
opened.
TO START THE APPARATUS.
The cocks L M O are opened so that the apparatus is ready to make gas, it will
then suffice for heating or lighting to open the valve N which is the general distribu-
tion valve and can then be lighted immediately. To stop the operation, it is 'only
necessary to close the cocks of the lighting or heating apparatus, the production of
gas is immediately stopped. However in case there are leaks in the apparatus or in
the piping of the installation, it is more prudent to close the distribution valve N.
To charge the apparatus, the cocks L M O are closed and to start working they are
opened.
SUPPLEMENTARY GASOMETER.
For large installations a supplementary gasometer is sometimes provided to receive
the surplus or over-production of gas.
1 is the tank of gasometer. I
2 the gasometer with running pulleys and overflow pipes.
3. Supply and draw off pipes serving also as guides.
4 the gas-admission valve.
5 the gas draw-off valve.
6 a pipe extending from the gasometer to the general distribution system.
7 a pipe extending from the surplus gas pipe to the gasometer.
8 a cock or vaive to empty the tank of the gasometer, and
9, 9 are blow-through valves.
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
In an apparatus for the automatic production of acetylene gas :-
First. The regulation of the pressure of the gas in the gazogene by means of
column of water extending from the tank (D) to the gazogene by a suitable pipe (G)
substantially as described.
Second. The tank (D) provided with the purifier permitting of the feed-water
being used as a refrigerating medium to cool the gas, substantially as described.
Third. The drying chamber and purifier (E) packed with wood fibre or saw dust
lime and carbide or other suitable substances, through which the gas is passed
before being conducted through the general distribution pipe I, substantially as
described.
Dated the 17th day of D
1007
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.