An Improved Acetylene Gas Generator.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 1st Jan., 1898
An Improved Acetylene Gas Generator.
I, WILLIAM TYREE, of 54 Lambton Quay. Wellington, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "An
Improved Acetylene Gas Generator" and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
This invention relates to generators used for the manufacture of acetylene gas
and its object is to overcome the difficulties and faults experienced with existing
forms of generators by providing an apparatus of simple construction whereby
the pressure of gas in the generator shall be constant or practically so, whereby
air shall not be admitted to the interior of the generator when recharging with
carbide or water whereby the waste products of the carbide may be washed out of
the generator or the generator recharged without loss of gas, and liability to
accident shall be reduced to a minimum so that the apparatus may be safely
manipulated by an unskilled person.
According to this invention the generator consists of a tank or cylinder for
holding a quantity of water, into which a holder dips and is thus sealed against
the escape of gas. A trunk or pipe is fixed to the top of the holder and also dips
in the water and is sealed. When charging the generator the carbide is dropped
down this trunk or pipe and falls directly into the water and then upon a conical
surface formed upon the bottom of the tank. The carbide is thus scattered
towards the sides of the tank and prevented from settling directly below the trunk.
Immediately the carbide has been dropped through the trunk, the latter is closed
by means of a slide or trap and the gas ascending from the carbide is thus pre-
vented from escaping through the trunk. In order to prevent the gas escaping
between the holder and tank, an inner lining is provided within the tank leaving
an annular space wherein the holder rises and falls and thus a seal is formed
which prevents such escape of gas.
In order that my invention may be most easily understood reference will
be made to the accompanying drawing whilst giving a detailed description.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the generator.
Figure 2 is a cross section on line A-B, Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the generator arranged with a gravity trap to
the trunk.
Figure 4 is a similar section of the generator arranged with a crate to hold the
carbide and the inner lining dispensed with.
Figure 5 is a section of the holder with the cone attached to the trunk and
operating as a trap to prevent gas ascending up the trunk.
Similar letters refer to similar parts.
Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the
tank (a) contains water into which the holder (b) and its trunk (c) dip. The ends
of this trunk are closed by means of slides (c), the upper one of which excludes
dust and dirt and indicates the position of the lower slide, which prevents gas
escaping through the trunk. The slides are fixed to the rod () which is covered

page_text: by a tube or casing () and acts as a pivot whereon the slides may he revolved by
means of their handle (c). The slides may be supplied with a spring and close
automatically, but I prefer them to be closed by hand as shewn.
An uninterrupted passage is left free of lodgment for the carbide which is
dropped through the trunk and falls upon the cone (¹) where it is dispersed and
thrown towards the sides of the tank. The slides (e) are immediately closed
and ascending gas thus prevented from passing through the trunk (c). The upper
end of the trunk is restricted at (9) or made smaller in diameter than the lower
part to ensure the uninterrupted fall of the carbide which is thus gauged.
The inner lining (7) prevents the escape of the gas through the annular space
between the tank (a) and holder (b), all the gas being collected above the water
level and in the holder. The gas is drawn off through the pipe (a²), and the
delivery regulated by stop cock (h).
In charging the generator for the first time when it is desirable to exclude the
air, the holder is lowered into the tank to its lowest position, the cock (h) being
shut and the contained air allowed to escape through the cock ('). Water is
then admitted through the trunk (e) until it fills the tank and flows over the rim.
After closing cock (h) the apparatus is then ready for the introduction of the
carbide through the trunk as previously described.
When it is desired to wash out the tank the sludge cock (a) is opened and the
water as it is drawn off is replaced by a supply of water admitted through the
trunk. Any gas which may be in the generator is thus not wasted, nor is its
pressure practically altered.'
Referring now to Figure 3, a modification is shewn where the gravity trap (6)
replaces the slide (c) Figure 1. This trap is hinged at (7) and weighted by the
rod (c) which causes the trap normally to close. The casing (3) encloses the
rod (10) and is returned at (12) to prevent ascent of gas at the back of the trap
and up the casing. To open the trap the rod (e) is lifted until the trap assumes
the position shewn by dotted lines, when a free passage is left for the carbide
which may be now introduced and the trap immediately closed.
On Figure 4 a further modification is shewn where the inner lining (d) of
Figures 1 and 2 is dispensed with, the carbide being caught upon the crate (f),
from which position the ascending gas cannot escape through the annular space
between the tank and holder.
On Figure 5 the cone (a) is fixed to the trunk (e) with which it rises and falls
and operates as a trap for the trunk and disperses the carbide towards the sides
of the tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas the combination of a tank
containing water with a holder having a trunk whereby the carbide may be intro-
duced and without removing the gas from the interior of the generator substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas the combination of a tank con-
taining water with a holder having a trunk whereby the carbide may be intro-
duced without removing the gas from the interior of the generator said trunk
being provided with a slide or trap to prevent escape of gas through the trunk,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
4. An apparatus for generating acetylene gas consisting of a tank for holding
water a holder sliding in the tank and a trunk whereby the carbide may be intro-
duced without removing the gas from the interior of the generator, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth herein.
4. An apparatus for generating acetylene gas consisting of a tank for holding
water a holder for containing the gas as it is generated said holder sliding in
the annular space formed between the tank and its inner lining and having a

page_text: trunk whereby the carbide may be introduced without removing the gas from the
interior of the generator the escape of gas being prevented by a slide or trap
attached to the trunk, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
5. An apparatus for generating acetylene gas consisting of a tank for holding
water a holder for containing the gas as it is generated said_holder sliding in
the annular space formed between the tank and its inner lining and having a
trunk for the introduction of the carbide which falls upon a cone and is dispersed
at the bottom of the tank without removing the gas from the interior of the
generator the escape of gas being prevented by a slide or trap attached to the
trunk, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
6. An apparatus for generating acetylene gas consisting of a tank for holding
water a holder for containing the gas as it is generated a trunk whereby the car-
bide may be introduced without removing the gas from the interior of the generator
and a crate whereon the carbide is caught and held in suspension, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth herein."
7. In an apparatus for generating acetylene gas a trunk in the holder and
sludge cock in the tank whereby the 'generator may be washed out without
material alteration of pressure or waste of gas, substantially as and for the pur-
poses set forth herein.
8. The improved generator for the manufacture of acetylene gas consisting of
parts constructed arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set
forth herein and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 29th day of November 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M. I. Mech. E.
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.