Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1899 -Accepted, 6th May,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Generation of
Acetylene Gas.
I, JOSEPH EDWARD SCARTH, of 1, School Street, Pudsey, in the County of York,
Plumber do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating, what is
termed, acetylene gas from calcium carbide. And its object is to produce an
apparatus in which any number of generators may be employed which are capable
of being in operation simultaneously, or successively, or separately. And in which
the water supply to such generator is controlled by the rising and falling of the
gas holder or bell without the use of a displacer.
According to this invention the water tank or receptacle, hereafter termed the
water tank, may be made of any convenient shape, size, and material, and it may
or may not be provided with a suitable detachable or other cover. Within the
water tank is arranged a gas holder or bell, hereafter termed the gas holder, of
a smaller size so as to be capable of readily rising and falling therein. The gas
holder may or may not be provided with a gas chamber arranged in or above its
upper portion.
Within the water tank and interior of the gas holder are arranged a water supply
pipe and float, a gas pipe, and a gas supply or service pipe, all arranged as
hereafter described.
.
The water supply pipe which may pass through the bottom or lower portion of the
water tank is connected to the bottom or lower portion of one of the generators.
The portion of the water supply pipe within the gas holder may be provided with
one or more curved ends, say two ends, bent and curved downwards somewhat
similar to the letter f. Around the water supply pipe and within the gas holder
is arranged a float which may be made wholly or partially of cork or other
absorbent material or of a metal closed cylindrical tube which may or may not
be filled with pieces of cork, sponge, or other absorbent material, and having a
central metal pipe passing entirely through and above it. The central metal
float pipe is of larger internal diameter than the exterior of the water supply
pipe to permit of the float sliding freely upon the same. On the top of the float
or arranged at a suitable distance, above but connected to it, and surrounding
the central metal float pipe, is a cup or other receptacle which is partially filled
with mercury to form a mercurial seal or lock for the T ends of the water supply
pipe when it is required to automatically cut off the water supply to the generators.
To the top of the float may also be fixed one or more curved or other shaped
brackets which are carried to a suitable height above the top of the float in order

page_text: that when the gas holder descends its top will come in contact with the same
and cause the float to descend until the Tends of water pipe are withdrawn from
the mercury and the water is free to pass down the pipe to the generator. When
the ends of the water supply pipe are dispensed with and it terminates in a
pipe with a straight and uncurved end, then an inverted cap may be employed
which passes over the end of the water supply pipe into the mercury. The cup
may be automatically raised and lowered by a lever, fulcrummed to a support
fixed to the water supply pipe, and provided with a bent and upturned end which
is acted upon by the top of the gas holder whenever the cup is to be raised clear
of the mercury. The ends of both the gas pipe and gas service pipe, which are
within the gas holder, are arranged to be above the level of the water in the
tank, whilst their opposite or lower ends are connected to a box like receptacle
or chamber arranged below the bottom of the water tank, and which is capable
of being partially filled with water to form a water lock. The gas pipe to the
burners may be armed with a tap and coupled to the gas service pipe at a suitable
distance above the box like receptacle or chamber to permit of any condensed water
passing into the box like receptacle. An overflow pipe of U or other suitable
shape may also be provided and fixed to the box like receptacle about the level of
the water therein.
On the outside of the water tank may be arranged one, two, or more generators,
preferably two or more. Each generator consists of a suitable cylindrical or other
shaped receptacle, provided with a removable cover or lid which is retained in
position by a screw carried by a bridge piece fixed or pivoted to the generator.
The calcium carbide may be placed directly into the generator, but it is preferably
placed in a perforated receiver arranged to pass within the generator. The first
generator is connected at or near its bottom, as before described to the water
supply pipe. But when two or more generators are employed, the water supply
pipe after issuing from the water tank is connected to a three way tap or cock of
ordinary construction. Two of the three branches of the said tap or cock are in
direct communication with the two generators. Each of the said branch pipes
are connected together by a pipe shaped somewhat similar to the letter M only
with curved tops and bottom, so that when the first generator has been filled with
water it can then flow over the tap, through the M shaped pipe into the second
pipe. But when the water supply to the generator is cut off the tap can be
reversed to permit of the water flowing direct to the second generator. This
provides a ready means for recharging the first generator without stopping the
generation of gas.
When more than two generators are employed then the two first generators are
connected as above described and the remainder of the generators are fed from a
main supply pipe to which the second generator is attached. The main supply
pipe is made to pass round or along the generator in an inclined or gradually
rising direction to ensure of the water passing to each generator, through a separate
branch for each generator, in succession. The last generator of a series may, if
desired, be armed with a water gauge to ascertain when the water is entering the
last of a series.
Each pendant branch pipe is armed with a tap for cutting off the water supply
to its generator at pleasure for recharging or other purposes and without interfering
with the working of the remainder.
The gas pipes of the first and last generators are connected with the box like
receptacle forming the water lock. These pipes are connected to the upper
portion of the said generators and are carried above the top of the generator and
then are made to descend into the water lock below the level of the water therein.
The gas pipes of the intermediate generator are connected to a main gas pipe
which is also in communication with gas pipes from the first and last generators
of the series. Each gas pipe leading from a generator is armed with a tap for
cutting off the flow of gas.
By this means generators may be arranged say around a water tank and the

page_text: whole or any desired number of generators may be in operation at the same time,
and the water supply controlled by the gas holder. The water to the water tank
may be supplied thereto from any convenient source.
1000
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Generation of
Acetylene Gas.
I, JOSEPH EDWARD SCARTH, of I, School Street, Pudsey, in the County of York,
Plumber, 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 improvements in apparatus for generating, what is
termed, acetylene gas from calcium carbide. And its object is to produce an
apparatus in which any number of generators may be employed which are capable
of being in operation say two at a time, or each generator successively, or separately.
And in which the water supply to such generator is controlled by the rising and
falling of the gas holder or bell without the use of a displacer.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a generator constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 an elevation drawn at a right angle to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a plan of same.
Fig. 4 an enlarged sectional elevation.
Fig. 5 an enlarged elevation showing method for connecting two generators
together.
Fig. 6 an elevation drawn to the same scale as Fig. 1 showing a method of
constructing a number of generators together.
Fig. 7 a detail view of float, cap, and water supply pipe.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is the water tank or receptacle, hereafter termed the water tank, which
may be made of any convenient shape, size and material, say, for example circular
or square, and of say, galvanized iron, and it may or may not be provided with a
suitable detachable or other cover at its upper end. The detachable cover is not
shown in the drawings. Within the water tank A is arranged a gas holder or
bell, hereafter termed the gas holder B made, say, of galvanized iron, and of the
same shape as the water tank but of a smaller size so as to be capable of readily
rising and falling therein. The gas holder B may or may not be provided with a
gas chamber, not shown in the drawings, arranged at or about the centre of the
crown 6 thereof, and to project above or from its upper portion.
Within the water tank A and interior of the gas holder B are arranged a water
supply pipe C and float 1), a gas pipe E, and a gas supply or service pipe F all
arranged as hereafter described.
The water supply pipe C which may pass through the bottom or lower portion
of the water tank A is connected to the bottom or lower portion of one of the
generators G. The portion of the water supply pipe C within the gas holder B
may be provided with one or more curved ends say for example two ends as
shown at Fig. 4, which are bent and curved downwards somewhat similar to the
letter T.
Around the water supply pipe C and within the gas holder B is arranged a
float D of any suitable shape, say, cylindrical, which may be made wholly or

page_text: partially of cork or other absorbent material or of a metal closed cylindrical tube
which may or may not be filled with pieces of cork, sponge, or other absorbent
material, and having a central metal pipe d passing entirely through and above
it. The central metal float pipe d is of larger internal diameter than the exterior
of the water supply pipe C to permit of the float sliding freely upon the same.
On the top of the float D or arranged at a suitable distance, above but connected
to it, and surrounding the central metal float pipe d is a cup H or other receptacle
which is partially filled with mercury to form a mercurial seal or lock for the T
ends of the water supply pipe when it is required to automatically cut off the
water supply to the generators.
To the top of the Hoat D may also be fixed one or more curved looped or other
shaped brackets I which are carried to a suitable height above the top of the
float as shown at Fig. 4, and in dotted lines at Fig. 2, in order that when the gas
holder B descends its top or crown 6 will come in contact with the bracket I and
cause the float I to descend until the Tends of water pipe are withdrawn from
the mercury
and the water is free to pass down the pipe C to the generator G.
When the ends of the water supply pipe C are dispensed with and it terminates
in a pipe C with a straight and uncurved end as at rig. 7 then an inverted cap J
may be employed which passes over the end of the water supply pipe
until its lower end or edge e dips into the mercury.
as shown
The cup H may be automatically raised and lowered by a loop or bracket I as
shown and described at Fig. 4, or it may be operated by a lever (not shown in
the drawings) fulcrummed to a support fixed to the water supply pipe, and
provided with a bent and upturned end which is acted upon by the top of the gas
holder whenever the cup is to be raised clear of the mercury.
The ends of both the gas pipe E and gas service pipe F which are within the
gas holder B are arranged to be above the level of the water in the water tank A
whilst the opposite or lower end e of the gas pipe E is connected to a box like
receptacle or chamber K arranged below the bottom of the water tank A, and
which is capable of being partially filled with water through an opening or
aperture closed by a cover, to form a water lock.
The pipe or pipes L which conveys the gas from the generator is connected to
the boxlike chamber K and the end or ends of pipe 7 is or are made to dip into the
water therein by which means the gas passing from the generator G to the gas
holder B must first pass through the water in the boxlike chamber K before
entering the pipe E.
The gas pipe M to the burners may be armed with a tap (not shown in the
drawing) and coupled to the gas service pipe F at a suitable distance from the
boxlike receptacle or chamber K to permit of any condensed water passing either
into the boxlike receptacle or into an overflow pipe N provided with a U or other
suitably shaped end on the outside of the water tank. The over flow pipe N
may be fixed to the boxlike chamber K about the level of the water therein.
On the outside of the water tank A may be arranged one, two, or more
generators G of ordinary construction preferably two or more. Each generator G
consists of a suitable cylindrical or other shaped receptacle, provided with a
removable cover or lid G which is retained in position by a screw G² carried by
a bridge piece G³ fixed or pivoted to the generator. The calcium carbide may be
placed directly into the generator, but it is preferably placed in a perforated
receiver Garranged to pass within the generator.
The first generator is connected at or near its bottom, as before described to
the water supply pipe C. But, when two generators are employed, the water supply
pipe C after issuing from the water tank A is connected to a three way tap or
cock O of ordinary construction. Two of the three branches of the said tap or
cock 0 are in direct communication, by means of pipes P and P¹ with, say, two of
the generators. Each of the said branch pipes P and P" are connected together by
a pipe Q shaped somewhat similar to the letter M only with curved tops and
bottom, so that when the first generator has been filled with water it can then

page_text: flow through the M shaped pipe into the second pipe P¹. But when the water
supply to the generator is cut off the tap () can be reversed to permit of the water
flowing direct to the second generator. This provides a ready means for recharging
the first generator without stopping the generation of gas.
The vertical portions of the M shaped pipe may be armed with taps Q¹ Q² for
similar purposes.
When more than two generators are employed then the two first generators
may be connected as above described and the remainder of the generators are
fed from a main supply pipe R to which the second generator is attached. Or
the whole of the generators may be connected to the main supply pipe R as
shown at Fig. 6.
The main supply pipe R is made to pass round or along the generator in an
inclined or gradually rising direction to ensure of the water passing to each
generator, through à separate branck S for each generator,-in succession. The
last generator of a series may, if desired, be armed with a water gauge (not
shown in the drawings) to ascertain when the water is entering the last of a
series.
Each pendant branch pipe S is armed with a tap $1 for cutting of the water
supply to its generator at pleasure for recharging or other purposes and without
interfering with the working of the remainder.
The gas pipes L of the first and last generators are connected with the boxlike
chamber Kforming the water lock, or if desired the whole of the gas pipes L
may be connected to said chamber K. The pipes L are each connected to the
upper portion of the generator and are carried above the top of the
generator as shown at Figs. 1, 4 and 6 and then are made to
descend into the water lock chamber K below the level of the water therein.
The gas pipes of the intermediate generator when only the first and last are
connected to chamber K are connected to a main gas pipe T shown in dotted
lines at Fig. 6, which is also in communication with gas pipes from the first and
last generators of the series. Each gas pipe L leading from a generator is armed
with a tap for cutting off the flow of gas.
By this means generators may be arranged, say, around a water tank and two
of the generators may be in operation at the same time, or each generator may be
in operation separately or successively and the water supply controlled by the
gas holder.
The water to the water tank may be supplied thereto from any convenient source
through pipe V.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The generator G having been charged with calcium carbide, and the water
tank A filled with water to, say, the level; and the float 1 having been
depressed until the end or ends of the water pipe C, or the ends of the cap J
fixed to said pipe C, are clear of the mercury in the cup H, on opening the
tap O water will flow from the water tank A through the pipe C into the bottom
of the generator where it will be absorbed by the calcium carbide, and acetylene
gas given off. The gas thus given off passes from the top of the generator through
pipe L to boxlike receptacle K and from thence through gas pipe E to the gas
holder B. The gas is conveyed from the holder to the mains or burners by the gas
service pipe as described.
After the calcium carbide in the first generator has given off all its acetylene gas,
the water may then he made to pass, either up the M shaped pipe Q or the tap O
turned to cause the water to pass through pipe to the second generator, or as
at Fig. 6 the water may be made to pass through the first generator, and escape
from the top of same through pipe R and the branch pipe S into the second
generator. This last named operation may be repeated in succession with each
operation until the whole of the generators have been successively operated upon.
The taps S may be closed to prevent the water from main pipe R passing to any
generator being re-charged.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare I am aware
that mercurial seals have been employed for acetylene generators outside of the
gas holders and operated independently of a float, I therefore do not claim a
mercurial seal except when used as herein described, but what I do claim is:-
First. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus
for the manufacture and delivery of acetylene gas substantially as herein described
and illustrated.
Second. In apparatus for the manufacture and delivery of actylene gas the
use of a mercurial seal constructed as described in combination with a float arranged
within the gas holder and to be operated thereby and for the purposes described
and illustrated.
1000