Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: * Date of Application, 10th Feb:,1899-**-
Commisto Sonnifination Loft 10th Nov 1800 Accented
10th Fah 1000
*PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
4242
1.
"
I, HENRY HAWKINS, of 250, Green Street, Upton Park, in the County of
Essex, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention' is designed to provide a generator for acetylene gas, whereby
the supply of water to the calcium carbide is automatically regulated according
to the pressure of the gas required. My generator can be made in any suitable
Bize and shape and can be applied to bicycie, table and other lamps and lanterns,
or can be used to supplying gas to holders for general lighting purposes.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the chamber-or. chambers for the
water, suitably above the chamber or chambers for the calcium carbide and in
which the gas is generated For lamps one water chamber and one gas generat-
ing chamber is sufficient, but for large generators two or more of each class of
chamber are desirable as then the apparatus can be continuously worked.
The water chamber is hermetically sealed and has a pipe or its equivalent
preferably extending through the same. The upper end of this pipe is open to
the atmosphere and is fitted in a suitable cup, the lower-end dips down either
into or at the side of the generating chamber nearly to or below the. bottom of
the same, and then bends up and extends above the top of the chamber, here it
again bends downward and leads to the generating chamber. A hole is formed
in the said pipe at a level with the bottom of the water chamber but above
the top bend in the pipe. This hole allows the water in the pipe to be main-
tained at a constant level and to pass through the same into the generating
chamber on to the calcium carbide according to the pressure of gas in' the said
chamber.
.
Where the generator is applied to lamps the top bend in the pipe is fitted
with a tap so that the quantity of water passing into the generating chamber can
be limited and thereby a constant pressure of gas obtained.
In large generators where several generating chambers are used the top bend
in the pipe is furnished with branch pipes fitted with taps leading to the
respective chambers.
For generators other than those applicable to lamps, I use a safety pipe for
each generating chamber telescoped in an outer case and sealed with water, so
that should the gas supply be shut off by mistake while the gas is still gene-
rating, this surplus gas will escape through the safety pipe and be conveyed to
a suitable outlet. For lamps this safety pipe is unnecessary as the gas generated
whether consumed or not will pass through the burner.
The generator is furnished with suitable air vents, gauge glasses and pipes
to ensure its proper working.
T
1
201 J 11
1900
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene was generators.
I, HENRY HAWKINS, of 258, Neville Road, Forest Gate, in the County of
Essex, but formerly of 250, Green Street, Upton Park, Essex, Mechanician, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
-
My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the generation
of acetylene gas from calcium carbide and water but more especially to means
for automatically regulating the water supply whereby the production of gas
is limited proportionately to the consumption:
In order that my invention may be easily understood, I will refer to the
accompanying drawings in which-
Figure 1, is a sectional view of a bicycle lamp furnished with an acetylene
gas generator made according to my invention.
Figure 2, is an enlarged detail view shewing the adjustable needle connected
with the water-supply pipe.
Figure 3, is a detail view shewing the hole in the pipe for the inlet of water.
Figure 4, is a sectional view of a continuous working generator, and
Figure 5, is a front elevation of same but with one generating chamber in
section.
My generator can be made in any suitable shape and size, and can be applied
to bicycle, table, and other lamps and lanterns oi be used for supplying gas to
holders for general lighting purposes.
In carrying out my invention I arrange the chamber or chambers for the
water suitably above the chamber or chambers for the calcium carbide so that
the water will feed on to the calcium carbide and thereby generate gas in the
lower chamber.
The water chamber (A) is hermetically sealed and has a pipe (B) or its equiva-
lent preferably extending through the same. The upper end of this pipe is
open to the atmosphere while the lower end dips down either into the generating
chamber (C) as in Figure 1, or at the side of the apparatus as in Figure 4, and
then bends upward and extends suitably above the top of the generating cham-
ber, here it again bends downward and leads into the said chamber (C).
A hole (D) 18 formed in said pipe slightly above the bottom of the water
chamber and above the top bend in the pipe; the water from the chamber (A)
passes through this hole into the pipe and thence into the generating chain-
ber (C) This hole and the particular formation of the pipe allows the water
to be maintained at a constant level in the pipe, independently of the height
of water in the chamber.
When the generator is working regular and the pressure of gas in the gene-
rating chamber is normal the water in the pipe (13) does not cover the hole (D)
so that air passes from the open end of the pipe (B) through this hole, into the
water chamber and while air passes into the chamber a proportionate quantity
of water passes out through the hole (D) into the pipe, and thence to the calcium
carbide. But when the pressure of gas in the generating chamber becomes
excessive it forces the water in the pipe (B) back and so causes it to cover the
hole (D) so as to exclude the admission of an to the water chamber, and thus
prevents water passing from the said chamber. Consequently as the water feed
to the calcium carbide is temporarily stopped further generation of gas is pre-
vented until the pressure of gas is again normal.
At the outlet end of said pipe (B) are affixed one or more needles (E) down

page_text: which the water trickles and drips on to the carbide. The upper end or boss of
needle which screws into the socket (E¹) has suitable grooves therein to allow
for the passage of the water. Said needle can be adjusted in its socket so that
the quantity of water passing from the pipe into the generator can be limited
according to the amount of gas required.
T'he
For lamps the top bend in the pipe (B) is fitted with a tap (E2) so that the
water supply can be shut off when not required. A perforated tube (F)
(Figure 1) is used to prevent the pipe (B) and needle (E) from coming in contact
with the carbide. It is preferable to rest the said tube upon a cone and cause
the water to drip on the top of same so that it will run down the side thereof
and come in contact with the carbide around its base. A wad (1) having a
plate resting thereon is pressed by means of a spring upon the carbide.
gas outlet pipe (G) extends from the generating chamber to the burner: it 18
preferable to filter the gas through wool or other suitable substance before it is
consumed. The gas generating chamber (C) is made in two parts and coupled
The water cham-
by a suitable connection to facilitate charging and cleaning.
ber (A) has a filling hole covered by a cap (H) which can be removed when it
is necessary to refill the chamber with water. The bicycle lamp shewn in
Figure 1 is given as an example. The application of my invention to other
kinds of lamps will be sufficiently understood without further reference.
In order to construct a generator to work continuously as shewn in Figures 4
and 5 I employ two or more generating chambers such as (I) and (J), to each
of which the water supply pipe (B) is connected by means of the cross pipe (K).
Cocks (K) and (K¹) on said cross pipe are used to shut off the water supply from
either of the generators not required to be worked.
As the water chamber (A) must be hermetically sealed while the generators
are working, water is fed into same from an auxiliary tank (L) through the
pipe (L); while being filled the air in said chamber is allowed to escape into
the auxiliary tank through the pipe (L2). Both of said pipes are fitted with
cocks.
(M) is a gauge glass for ascertaining the height of the water in the tank.
(N) is a cross pipe Figure 4 on the end of the water supply pipe (B) in each
generating chamber. From this pipe are depended a suitable number of
needles (E) constructed as herein before mentioned. The water drips from these
needles on to a revolving cartridge which consists of a centrally pivoted dium (0)
and a cylindrical wire cage (0) between which is a layer about an inch in
thickness of calcium carbide The water dripping on to one side of the cart-
ridge and saturating the carbide causes the same through the extra weight of
water to slowly revolve. As the carbide becomes partially spent the outside
to the perforated
portion squeezes through the wine cage (01) and falls on
plate (O2) thus a fresh surface of carbide is in due course presented to the water.
Upon two complete revolutions the cartridge is considered "spent" and should
spent
be recharged. For this purpose it is necessary to shut off the now
generator by closing the water tap (K¹) and gas outlet tap (P) on the pipes
communicating therewith, then remove the spent" cartridge and after clearing
out the residue, recharge with calcium carbide and replace in position.
meantime to prevent any stoppage in the production of gas the other generator
should be started working by opening the water and gas taps in connection
therewith.
دو
In the
In lieu of the cartridge above described I may use any other suitable form
of holder for the calcium carbide.
As the gas is generated it passes through the pipe (P) into the receiver (Q).
This receiver at starting is filled with water, which as the pressure of gas
increases is forced through the pipe (Q¹) into the compartment (R) above the
receiver, so that a constant head of pressure is obtained. The pressure in the
compartment (R) corresponds with the pressure of the head of water in the
pipe (B) thus the level of water in the compartment and pipe are equal. The

page_text: Ot
"
.height of water in the compartment (R) is ascertained-by means of the gauge
glass (R)...
The gas outlet pipe
(S) preferably connects with the dome (S').formed in the
.receiver (Q)..
+
For each generating chamber I use a safety pipe so that should a generator
be started and the cock on the gas outlet pipe be accidentally closed, the gas will
escape through said safety pipe. This consists of a pipe (1) which leads from
the generating chamber to a suitable height above the top of the apparatus
where it. dips into an outer tube (T) through a box (T2) situated at the upper
end thereof as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 4. The tube and also the portion
of the pipe (T) dipping therein are filled with water up to the level of the said
box (T) The gas under pressure when it has no other outlet forces the water
out of the pipe into the tube and then forces the water out of the, tube into the
box. From this box the gas escapes, through the pipe (T3) into the compart-
ment. (R) and finally through the vent pipe (U)
A branch pipe (V), from the pipe (T) communicating with the generator allows
air or impure gas to escape from the generator before starting the same working
the cock on said pipe being closed as soon as the gas starts to be generated..
(W) ista drain cock for drawing off the contents of the chamber (Q). when
required.
.C.
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:-
Firstly In acetylene gas generators the feed pipe (B) having an inlet
hole (1) therein communicating with an hermetically sealed water reservoir,
said pipe being open at the top to the atmosphere and extended downward and
then bent upward but below the hole (D) and over the generating chamber sub-
stantially as herein set forth
Secondly: In acetylene gas generators the safety pipe for each generator
formed in the manner substantially as herein set forth.
3
Thirdly An acetylene gas generator capable of continuous working con-
structed in the manner substantially as herein set forth.
Dated the 10th day of November 1899
W. D ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
}