Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
We, RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND, of 55, Bull Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Clothier, FREDERICK SUNDERLAND, of 80, Lionel Street, Birmingham, afore-
said, Manufacturer, and GEORGE MARSILALL, of 21, Byron Road, Small Heath, near
Birmingham, aforesaid, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas, and has
for its object, to provide a generator which is simple in its construction, efficient
in action and not liable to become deranged by use.
According to our invention, the generating chamber is located at the base
of the apparatus and consists of a double-cone shaped compartment or a chamber
having sloping or hopper shaped sides surrounded preferably by an outer casing
and terminating at the bottom in an outlet through which the lime and other
waste products are removed and which is closed by a plug, valve, or the like
supported by a bar hinged to the framing and held up to keep the plug in its
closed position by a suitable catch. The upper end of the generating chamber is
surmounted by a fixed carbide holder located within an upright cylinder or casing
and having its lower end formed hopper-wise with a central and knife-edged
mouth or outlet closed by a conical valve carried and worked by an upright
stem, provided near the valve with a doubled coned end and at intermediate points
up its length with teazers for keeping the carbide contained within the holder
loose, or preventing it from clogging. The said valve stem passes out through
the roof of the container and has a head or button at the upper end, between
which and the said roof, a spring is disposed, the tendency of which is to raise
the valve and keep it up to the seating at such time as the gas-containing chamber
which is located around the said carbide holder and works in a water seal in the
outer casing of the apparatus, is raised by the pressure of generated gas, but
when the gas is consumed and the container falls,
strikes the top of the valve rod, compresses the spring and opens
the top of it
the valve which allows a quantity of carbide to fall through the opening into the
water contained within the generating chamber, thus generating a fresh supply
of gas which raises the gas holder and thus relieves the valve rod of the weight
and admits of the compressed spring re-acting to draw the valve into its closing
position.
The rising and falling gas holder is provided with a central open ended chamber
or central shaft which takes over the carbide holder, thus forming an annulus com-
partment or double bell, with the walls of the outer chamber left open and sealed
by the water contained in the upper or tank part of the outer casing of the
apparatus within which the said bell works.
The top of the gas holder bell is fitted with a detachable dome or cap which is
removable to admit of the recharging of the carbide container and is kept in
position by a hinged stirrup or loop, which is turned over and confines the crown
TD 077

page_text: and keeps the lower open end tight down onto a rubber seating ring provided for
the purpose of making the joint gas tight.
The carbide holder has a series of downwardly sloping partitions to prevent
the weight of the carbide at the top compressing or clogging that at the bottom,
whilst located within the gas container is a worm coil, with the lower end in
communication with a pipe leading to the upper part of the generating chamber,
and at the junction of the said pipe with the worm (which is for the purpose of
cooling the gas conducted by it from the generator to the crown of the gas holder)
is a tap for closing the pipe to cut off communication between the said generator
and gas holders during the time that the carbide chamber is being re-charged, so
that when a new supply of carbide is being introduced after the removal of the
detachable dome, the escape of the gas is prevented.
The generating chamber is provided with an independent water feed pipe, pro-
vided with a closing cock and with a funnel-shaped inlet end, whilst directed from
the inside crown of the gas container is the gas service pipe, with its lower delivery
end passing outwardly through the bottom part of the tank and fitted with the
main cock for shutting off the gas supply.
Dated this 2nd low of Mob 1800
We, RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND, of 55, Bull Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Clothier, FREDERICK SUNDERLAND, of 80, Lionel Street, Birmingham, afore-
said, Manufacturer, and GEORGE MARSHALL, of 21, Byron Road, Small Heath, near
Birmingham, aforesaid, Mechanic, 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 apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas, and has
for its object, to provide a generator which is simple in its construction, efficient
in action and not liable to become deranged by use, and whereby the gas, which
is generated pro rata with the consumption, is cooled before being delivered from
the apparatus.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a complete vertical section
of an acetylene generator constructed according to our invention.
Figure represents a section of the body part of the apparatus separately.
Figure 3 is a separate sectional view of the carbide holder.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the gas container which rises and falls within a
water seal arranged in the body of the apparatus, such movements being governed
by the generation and consumption of gas.
Figure 5 is a separate view of the detachable cap provided in connection with the
said gas container for the purpose hereinafter described.
Figure 6 represents the carbide supply valve and its spring separately.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
According to our invention, the generating chamber a is located at the base

page_text: of the body part of the apparatus and consists of a double-cone shaped compart-
ment or a chamber having sloping or hopper shaped sides a, surrounded pre-
ferably by an outer casing, the said sloping roof being arranged both for the
purpose of decreasing the surface area of the water contained therein, whereby
the gas generated is not so liable to become humidified by contact with a consider-
able water surface, and also to reduce the internal capacity of the generator,
thereby minimising the risk of explosions by reason of the small amount of air
that can be contained therein to mingle with the generated gas on the starting
of the apparatus. In the bottom of the said generating chamber, is an outlet b,
through which the lime and other waste products are removed and which is closed
by a plug or like valve b¹, supported by a bar &², hinged to the casing or to the
framing and held up to keep the plug in its closed position by a suitable catch.
The upper end of the generating chamber is surmounted by a carbide holder_c,
located within an open-ended upright shaft or cylindrical extension, of the
generating chamber and having its lower end c³, formed hopper-wise with a
central and knife-edged mouth or outlet c³, closed by a conical valve d, carried
and worked by an upright stem, provided at intermediate points up its length
with projections or teazers ³, for keeping the carbide e, contained within the
holder, loose, or preventing it from clogging. The said valve stem passes out
through the roof c³, of the container and has a head or button , at the upper
end, between which and the said roof, a spring, is disposed, the tendency of
which is to raise the valve and keep it up to the seating c³, at such times as the
gas-containing chamber f, which is located around the said carbide holder and
works in a water seal y, contained within a partitioned-off upper part a*, of the
outer casing of the apparatus, is raised by the pressure of generated gas, but
when the gas is consumed and the container f, falls the top h¹, of a detachable
cap h, secured to the roof of it for the purpose hereinafter described strikes the
top d, of the valve rod, compresses the spring and opens the valve which allows
a quantity of carbide to fall through the opening into the water i, contained within
the generating chamber, thus generating a fresh supply of gas which raises the
gas holder and thus relieves the valve rod of the weight and admits of the com-
pressed spring re-acting to draw the valve into its closing position.
The rising and falling gas holder f, is provided with a central open-ended
chamber or central shaft f¹, which surrounds or takes over the shaft-like extension
of the generating chamber wherein the carbide holder is located, thus forming an
annular gas holder or double bell, with both the outer annular chamber and the
inner cylindrical one sealed by the water contained in the sealing tank ", sup-
ported by the outer casing of the apparatus within which the said gas holder works.
The detachable dome or cap h, fitted to the top of the gas holder bell screws
onto a collar 2, a hermetically sealed to prevent the escape of any gas which
may leak out between the carbide holder and the shaft wherein it is located, by
coming, when fully home upon a rubber sealing ring the said cap being
removable to admit of the re-charging of the carbide container through the plug
closed opening m.
The carbide holder has a series of downwardly sloping partitions c¹³, to prevent
the weight of the carbide at the top compressing or clogging that at the bottom,
whilst located within the upper tank a is a worm wheel, with the lower end
in communication with a pipe 3, leading to the upper part of the generating
chamber, and at the junction of the said pipe with the worm (which is for the
purpose of cooling the gas conducted by it from the generator to the crown of
the gas holder) is a tap, for closing the pipe to cut off communication between.
the said generator and gas holder during the time that the carbide chamber is
being re-charged, so that when a new supply of carbide is being introduced after
the removal of the detachable dome, the escape of the gas is prevented.
The generating chamber is provided with a water feed shaft a, provided with
a funnel-shaped inlet end a², for convenience in pouring in water, whilst directed
from the inside crown of the gas container is the gas service pipe k, with its lower

page_text: delivery end passing outwardly through the bottom part of the tank a', and fitted
with the main cock k', for shutting off the gas supply.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is:-
First: In acetylene generators, preventing the clogging of the calcium carbide
contained within the carbide holder, by the employment of downwardly sloping
partitions, arranged substantially as herein described and set forth.
Secondly: In acetylene generators, locating the carbide holder within an
open-ended shaft or superimposed extension of the generating chamber, sub-
stantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly: In acetylene generators, providing the generating chamber with an
open-ended shaft or upward extension, adapted to contain a carbide holder, and
surrounded by a water seal tank within which an annular gas holder or bell rises
and falls, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Fourthly: An acetylene generator, consisting of a generating chamber pro-
vided with an open-ended shaft or upward extension, adapted to contain a carbide
holder, and surrounded by a water seal tank within which an annular gas holder
works, with the said holder having a detachable and hermetically sealed cap
adapted to depress the rod of a spring-closed supply valve and prevent leakage
of gas between the shaft and the carbide holder, substantially as described and
set forth.
Fifthly: In acetylene generators, the general construction, arrangement and
combination of the several parts operating for the purpose substantially as herein
described and set forth.
Deted this 20th love of Tune 1900
RICHARD HENRY SUNDERLAND.
FREDERICK SUNDERLAND.
GEORGE MARSHALL.
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.