Improvements in Portable Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1897-Accepted. 18th Sept. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Apparatus for Generating and Storing
Acetylene Gas.
I, ARCHIBALD KAY, of 22 Main Street, Doune, in the County of Perth, Plumber,
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the con-
struction of a portable apparatus for generating and storing Acetylene Gas which
will be very convenient for use where such portable apparatus is required.
The apparatus consists of a small water tank, and a gas holder, sliding upwards
and downwards within said tank which may be constructed of galvanised steel
or other suitable metal or material.
The generating cylinders of which there may be one or more are constructed
preferably of galvanised steel or black steel, nickel plated or of other suitable
metal and have a door at each end. The generating cylinders are secured to th
side of the tank in an angled or inclined position by means of a galvanised steel
or brass bracket riveted thereto.
The size of the generator is proportionate to that of the gas holder. Each
generator door is secured by a cross bar and tightening screw, hinged to swiel
at one end and having a semi-bayonet catch at opposite end of bar, locking into
catch on end of cylinder.
The generator doors are fitted into grooves or seats cast on ends of cylinder or
sepiate castings secured thereto and are turned to a bearing and each ground so
as to make a gas tight joint with the seat. The condenser is placed over the
generator at a similar augle and may be of same material or of nickel plated brass
and is connected to same by a series of screwed nipples or union couplings or it
may be cast in one piece with the generating cylinder.
The inclined condensing arrangement permits any water that may pass into
condenser with the gas to gravitate back to the lower end, whence it returns to
the generating cylinder by the lower opening.
The gas generated is conveyed from the condenser upwards to a gas valve placed.
in the pipe conveying the gas to the holder to prevent the back flow of gas into
cylinder when recharging.
The gas is conveyed from the valve by a pipe leading down to lower part of gas
holder and upwards within it, and any water passing over is removed by the drip
cocks at bottom. The water for generating the gas from the calcium or other
carbide is supplied from tank through a valve to the generator to which it is
admitted at the top through a valve and injector in a fine stream or spray on the
carbide.
This valve is controlled by a floating ball or disc sliding by guides up and down-
on the two vertical inlet and outlet gas pipes inside the tank.
The sliding holder is fitted with a vertical rod of a suitable length screwed into
its top and having a disc secured on its lower end.

page_text: When the gas holder is at bottom this disc presses on floating ball and relieves
the valve lever from the lifting action of floating ball and allows the lever to fall
downwards to open the valve and (the injector cock being open) water to flow in
upon the carbide. Gas being generated the holder rises and relieves the floating
ball, which raises the lever and closes the supply valve until the quantity of gas
generated is consumed, when the cycle of operations is repeated. The water level
in holder is regulated by a tap fixed at the desired level. The outlet tap may have
a connection for attaching india-rubber tubing.
A glass gauge tube may be provided, having proper gauge taps and fittings to
indicate when charge is about exhausted or an indicator of special pattern affixed
to the generating cylinder for same purpose.
The cylinders in the larger sizes may be provided with a water jacket or casing
containing water having an opening at top to assist in reducing the temperature
of generating cylinder."
The gas may be passed through a suitable vessel containing hydrate of lime or
other lime, for the purpose of further drying and purifying this gas where
specially required.
Dated the 3rd day of November 1896.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Apparatus for Generating and Storing
Acetylene Gas.
I, ARCHIBALD KAY, of 22 Main Street, Doune, in the County of Perth, Plumber,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing:-
This Invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
of a portable apparatus for generating and storing acetylene gas which will be
very convenient for use where such portable apparatus is required.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended a sheet of explanatory drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation
and Figure 2 a vertical section of the apparatus while Figure 3 is a sectional
plan of the gas holder..
The apparatus consists of a water tank A and a gas holder B sliding upwards
and downwards within said tank A which may be constructed of galvanized steel
or other suitable metal or material.
The generating cylinders C of which there may be one or more are constructed
preferably of galvanized steel or nickel plated steel or of cast iron or other suit-
able metal and have a door C at each end. The generating cylinders C are
secured to the side of the tank A in an angled or inclined position by means of a
flange plate and washer, or riveted thereto, or by other suitable means.
The size of the generator C is made proportionate to that of the gas holder B.
Each generator door C¹ is secured by a tightening screw c carried by a crossbar c
hinged to swivel at one end and having a semibayonet catch at opposite end of
bar, locking into catch on end of cylinder.
The generator doors are fitted into grooves or seats ³ cast on ends of cylinder C
or separate castings secured thereto and are turned to a bearing and each ground
so as to make a gas tight joint. with the seat with or without packing material.
The condenser D is placed over the generator at a similar angle, and may be of

page_text: same material as generator and may be connected to same by a series of screwed
nipples or as shown in the drawings it may be cast in one piece with the generating
cylinder and have openings communicating with same or it may be one opening
extending the full length of condenser.
The inclined condensing arrangement permits any water that may pass into the
condenser 1 with the gas to gravitate back to the lower end, whence it returns to
the generating cylinder.
The gas generated is conveyed from the condenser upwards by the pipe E to a
gas valve E placed in the pipe a continuation of which conveys the gas to the
holder B and this valve E¹ prevents the back flow of gas into cylinder C when
recharging same.
The gas passing through the valve E is conveyed by the pipe E leading down
to lower part of gas holder and upwards within it, and any water passing over is
removed by the drip cock 13 at bottom, where a drip well may also be placed.
The water for generating the gas from the calcium or other carbide is supplied
from tank A through a valve and the pipe F1 fitted with stop cock
generator to which it is admitted at the top from the condenser through a valve and
injector in a fine stream or spray on the carbide.
to the
This water valve F is controlled by a floating ball or disc G which may if desired
be fitted to slide on guides up and down on the two vertical inlet and outlet gas
pipes E and H inside the tank A and the float G is connected to the end of the
weighted valve lever f by the chain g.
The sliding holder B is fitted with a vertical rod b of a suitable length screwed
into its top and having a disc bl secured on its lower end.
When the gas holder is at the bottom or in its lowest position this disc b¹ presses
on the floating ball G and slackening the chaing relieves the valve lever f from
the lifting action of floating ball G and allows the lever f to fall downwards to
open the valve F and (the injector cock F being open) water to flow in upon the
carbide in the generator C. Gas being generated the holder B and disc b¹ rise
and relieve the floating ball C which raises the lever f and closes the supply
valve F until the quantity of gas generated is consumed when the cycle of
operations is repeated. The water level in holder is regulated by a tap fixed at
the desired level, not shown in the drawings. The outlet tap may have a
connection for attaching india-rubber tubing.
A glass gauge tube not shown in the drawings may be fitted on the generator
having proper gauge taps and fittings to indicate when charge is about exhausted
or an indicator of special pattern may be affixed to the generating cylinder for
same purpose.
The generated gas is conveyed away for consumption by the pine H fitted with
a drip well h and drip cock h³.
The cylinders in the larger sizes may be provided with a water jacket or casing
containing water having an opening at top to assist in reducing the temperature
of generating cylinder.
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:-
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of a
portable apparatus for the generation and storage of acetylene gas, all
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Second. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of an
apparatus for the generation of acetylene gas in a continuous manner in pro-
portion to the demands of consumption all substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a portable apparatus for the generation and storage of Acetylene Gas
the use of one or more generators or generating vessels placed in an inclined
position and fitted with charging and discharging doors all substantially as hercin

page_text: described and illustrated more particularly by Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In a portable apparatus for the generation and storage of acetylene
gas the construction and arrangement of the water supply fittings to permit of
the generation of gas only in proportion to consumption and at a low pressure
and of the complete stoppage of generation when consumption ceases all
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a portable apparatus for the generation and storage of acetylene gas
the arrangement and construction of the inclined generation and fittings to effect
their isolation from the gas holder while being recharged and to prevent air being
admitted to gas holder while recharging all substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a portable apparatus for the generation and storage of acetylene gas
the construction or arrangement and combination of water supply valve F,
weighted lever f and float G with actuating disc 61 all substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and illustrated by Figure 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of August 1897.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.