Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation and Distribution of Acetylene and other Gases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Generation and Distribution of
Acetylene and other Gases.
I, ERNEST QUELLE, of 41, Rue Taitbout, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, 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 has for its object the automatic manufacture of acetylene
gas by allowing calcium carbide to fall into water proportionally to its use.
The main object of the present invention is to render the use of a stuffing
box free from danger and to allow of its being used with all gas apparatus
and in particular with acetylene generators without fear of any escape of gas.
In addition to gases always having a tendency to filter through an ordinary
stuffing box, the main causes of deterioration of the packing are
wear and
oxidation of the parts, as also insufficiency of lubrication, which gives rise to
excessive friction and rapidly renders the packing useless.
In order to remedy these defects 1 employ a very simple method which con-
sists in maintaining a bath of oil at the back of the stuffing box on which the
pressure of gas is exerted.
In the gas generator, to which I have applied this principle, the shaft which
passes through the stuffing box is employed to transmit the motion of a gaso-
meter bell from the exterior to the interior of the generator to actuate the
valve of the carbide distributor.
When the packing is not sufficiently compressed or is too, much worn, warn-
ing is given by drops of oil escaping from the stuffing box and it can be remedied
in time; the more so as the escape of oil takes place very slowly at the com-
mencement and in proportion to the state of the packing.
I likewise utilize the oil bath for immersing some of the parts, the wear on
which is consequently small:
The apparatus is represented in the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the oil box.
Figure 2 a horizontal section.
Figures 2 and 1 vertical coations

page_text: Figure 5 shows an application of the system to a vertical stuffing box.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of a gas gonerator combined' with its gasometer.
Figure 7 is a plan of the same.
Figure 8 shows sliding disengagement mechanism for stopping the action of
the gasometer.
OIL BOX.
The oil box is formed of a vertical cylinder a Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 provided
at its lower portion with a flange b for fixing the box to the gas generator.
Opening out from one side of the cylindrical body is a narrow cavity c of a
length sufficient to admit of a lever arm'd being lodged in it whose end is forked
and comes approximately to the middle of the cylindrical portion.
A stuffing box e is placed on one side of the cavity and through it passes tho
shaft upon which the lever d is fixed.
The portion of the shaft upon which the lever d is fitted is squared, and the
lever is held firmly against a shoulder g by the screw g.
Embedded into the end of the stuffing box is a ring ½ which keeps the shaft
in place.
In order to give greater suppleness to the packing and to render the pressure
automatic, I place a spring under each tightening nut i
The oil box is hermetically closed by means of a plate
which forms an upward prolongation of the cylindrical portion a.
carrying a dome k
The shaft receives motion from an outside lever and transmits it to the
inside lever d, which acts upon the vertical rod m of the distributor through
the connecting rods and . The rod m passes through the foot of the box
and carries at its lower ond tie valve o.
1
When the rod Figure 4 is drawn downwards the lever is lowered and the
lever d raised; this latter carries with it, the connecting, rods and which
pass into the domek and the rod m is raised and with it the valve o. A contrary
movement closes the valve.
i
In order that oil with which the box is filled may not escape through the
orifice through which the rod m passes a tube 7 is screwed and soldered upon
this orifice; its upper end slightly projects above the level of the oil, the height
of which is regulated by the screw stopper r
The level of the oil is of course higher than that of the stuffing box the rear
portion of which is entirely immersed.
In order to be able to introduce oil whilst the apparatus is in use, a cup sis
screwed on the dome and communicates with a tube which descends to the
bottom of the box a. This tube dips into the oil and consequently prevents
the escape of gas; a screw stopper not shown in the drawing allows the cup to
be hormetically closed.
In the same way in order to be able to regulate the level of the oil whilst
working a U tube might be employed.
For greater convenience the lever is so made as to be easily detached and
is fixed upon the shaft f by means of a key or by other known means.
In Figure 5 Ihave shown the application of an oil bath to a vertical stuffing
box. The oil cup a is fixed to the shaft f' directly below the stuffing box, e
In order that the oil may reach the packing, the stuffing box is prolonged by
a tube which surrounds the shaft, without touching it, and which descends
to the lower part of the cup.
זיי
The oil rises in the tube by the pressure exerted by the gas above the oil
level:
"
GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.
....
The gas generating apparatus Figures 6 and 7 to which I have applied 'my

page_text: They communicate with each other through the tube D serving for the passage
of the gas; this tube has a knee bend Figure 7 in order to facilitate its being
put into position.
The generator consists of a cylinder of galvanized sheet iron A, hermetically
closed and filled with water to a predetermined level by the gauge cooks E F.
It is provided with a discharge cock G fixed to the cover which is circular
and made tight with rubber washers; the connecting screws are not shown
in the drawings.
Above the generator A is placed the hopper I for containing the charge of
powdered carbide introduced through the cover J.
The lower portion of the hopper is conical and rivetted to a collar K of
malleable iron itself torminating in a small cone L.
This cone has, at its apex an orifice which is closed by the valve o and which
opens out into the cylinder A.
-
The collar K is provided with a flange which allows of its being fixed upon
a shoulder M bolted directly on to the cylinder A.
This shoulder facilitates the setting up of the apparatus and allows of the
generator on first starting being completely filled with water to expel all air,
without wetting the outlet orifice or the carbide.
The cone L might be cast separately and provided with a flange, this would
give greater facility for boring or for its being replaced when worn.
Above the hopper I is fixed the oil box previously described which puts the
valve o in communication with the exterior. The valve is centred and adjusted
by three stays such as attaching to a ring through which the rod mpasses
with little friction.
The tube y prevents the carbide from entering between the rod and the ring.
Upon the cylinder A is attached a lever N one arm of which is connected to
the lever through the vertical connecting rod p, the other arm carries a counter-
weight O for keeping the valve o closed."
It is upon this lever arm that the gasometer bell acts.
For this purpose a ring P is fixed to the counterweight 0. Through this
ring passes a rod Q suspended to the chain R which is attaclied to the bell C
of the gasometer.
.
The rod terminates, in a ball S of greater diameter than the ring P' and a
counterweight T attached below, keeps the chain in tension!
1.
WORKING OF THE APPARATUS.
1
When the bell C descends and comes nearly to the end of its travel, the
ball S rises and comes against the ring P; the movement continuing the long
arm of the lever N is raised and the movement is transmitted to the valve o by
the short arm of N, the rod p, the lever 1, the shaft f, the lever d, the connecting
rods and n¹ and the rod m.
The valve is consequently raised and a certain quantity of carbide falls into
the water in the cylinder A; acetylene gas is immediately generated, and passes
through the pipe D and causes the bell to rise.
The lever being left to itself; the counterwoight O brings the system of
levers back into their original positions and the valve is again shut.
This to and fro movement is continued without cessation as long as the gas
is utilized and carbide remains in the hopper.
The counterweight 0 may be replaced by a spring.
n
When the apparatus has been in operation for some time a deposit of lime
collects at the bottom of A which by surrounding the pieces of carbide retards
the giving off of gas; and the bell is therefore slower in releasing the lever N
which might cause the fall of an excess of carbide.
In order to obviate this the carbide is made to fall upon a perforated plate U
immersed in the water at a certain distance from the bottom; it is of less dia-
meter than the cylinder A in order that the lime may not accumulate upon it.