Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1899
Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
I, EMIL HILBERG, of 16, Schellingstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Chemist, 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;-
-:
The acetylene generators on the " casting-in" system hitherto known, not-
withstanding the special advantages of many mechanical contrivances for effect-
ing the casting in, are still imperfect as regards the measuring of the quantity
of carbide to be thrown in from time to time and the regulation of the gas
pressure, so that, on account of these drawbacks, and the danger and incon-
venience arising therefrom, it has not been possible up to the present time, to
bring such apparatus into general use.
The present invention relates to a number of improvements, which have the
common purpose of ensuring the use of such apparatus without the least danger
as well as an absolutely uniform illuminating flame.
This purpose is effected by the arrangement of a transmitting contrivance
for the calcium carbide with positively reliable action, which in a more per-
fected form affords security against the introduction of too large a quantity of
carbide into the water, and further by the arrangement of a reservoir, com-
municating with the water reservoir and the gas chamber, and furnished with
outlet openings, into which the generating liquid is forced and, eventually, in
the case of the gas pressure becoming too strong, from which it can flow out,
the excess of gas escaping at the same time.
The safety of the apparatus in working is further provided for by a contrivance
which, if the apparatus be accidentally overturned, prevents the liquid from
running out and also prevents the improper opening of the contrivance for the
passage of the carbide so that any accidental generation of gas is impossible.
In the accompanying drawings, an acetylene generator fitted with these im-
provements is illustrated, from these drawings however, the mechanism for
automatically opening and closing the contrivance for allowing passage to the
carbide is omitted, as this mechanism can be constructed as may be preferred
and the invention does not relate to the same.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an acetylene generator, representing the general
arrangement of the carbide transmitting contrivance and of the chamber com-
municating with the gas and water chambers;
Figs. 2 to 5 show different forms of the simpler kind of transmitting con-
trivance;
Figs. 6 to 12 represent improved forms of the transmitting contrivance, so
constructed that only a measured quantity of calcium carbide can fall into the
water;
Fig. 13 illustrates the most complete form of the transmitting contrivance; and
Figs. 14 and 15 are vertical sections of an acetylene apparatus with an arrange-
ment of a spiral course, or with an arrangement of plates which will prevent
ro 037

page_text: the liquid from running out and the gas from flowing away in the event of the
apparatus being over-turned.
In the acetylene generator illustrated in Fig. 1 the inner cyclinder e is
divided, by a funnel shaped part g carrying the transmitting contrivance v, into
an upper carbide chamber c and a lower gas chamber a. The lower end of the
cylinder e is surrounded by the water reservoir h, to the top of which a cover-
ing surrounding the cylinder e is joined, this covering being furnished with
outlet openings f.
As the cylinder e does not extend to the bottom of the water reservoir h, the
chamber formed between the cylinders and e communicates with the gas
chamber, from which the gas can be carried out and to the burner through a
suitably arranged pipe.
If the transmitting contrivance should be left open too long by any accident
and more carbide than is proper fall into the water, the water contained in the
lower part of the cylinder e is forced out by the excessive pressure of the gas.
The water contained in the reservoir h would rise in the chamber d and How
out through the openings f, in the same way, the gas can escape through these
openings. Any danger of explosion is thus entirely obviated. As a matter of
course, it is not necessary that the chamber d should directly surround the
cylinder. This chamber can also be a specially constructed vessel, which can
be connected with the water reservoir h, whereby the pressure of gas is regu-
lated in a perfect manner, the quantity of water at first forced away and then
flowing back again fulfilling the function of a gasometer.
The transmitting contrivance illustrated in Fig. 2 consists of a single india
rubber plate split diagonally or of two such plates coming into contact with
one another. The form and arrangement of the india rubber plates will be
clearly seen from Figs. 2 to 5. A rod furnished with a tongue z, which may
be worked by any preferred mechanism, in rising or falling, opens the trans-
mitting contrivance, the flat shaped tongue penetrating squarely into the
diagonal cleft and forcing apart the two india rubber plates or parts. In this
form, however, there is the possibility of uneven quantities of carbide falling
into the water and the pressure of gas thus fluctuating too much. Moreover,
this form of the transmitting contrivance may be injuriously effected by sudden
shocks and so that the quantity of calcium carbide introduced is objectionably
large. This drawback is best obviated by the form of the contrivance illustrated
in Figs. 6 to 12.
Of these forms that in Figs. 6 and 7 differs in detail from the form in Figs. 11
and 12, but substantially both agree..
The transmitting contrivance in this form is constructed after the fashion of
a calix.
If, now, the automatically worked rod, which carries the tongue z on a thin
neck, executes the given movement downwards, the calix shape chamber k filled
with granulated calcium carbide will be closed upwards by the upper lips ii,
which closely surround the rod above the neck, as shown in Fig. 7, whilst the
lower lips open, so that what is contained in the chamber k can drop out
below. After the rod slides back into its position of rest, the chamber k will
be again filled with granulated calcium carbide during the period of rest so
that the action described can be repeated in the same way as often as desired.
By making the chamber k of a suitable size, it is possible to reduce the quantity
of calcium carbide to be introduced to a satisfactory practical measure.
The upper part of the rod should be of such dimensions as to close completely
tight the passage formed by the lips i, when the tongue z has opened the lower
lips. By means of this arrangement, it is impossible, even when the greatest
shocks occur, for any further gas yielding material to issue from the upper
store chamber at the moment when the lips are forced apart.
The lower part z of the rod serving for opening the transmitting contrivance
may be formed in different ways for different purposes; for example, the part z.

page_text: illustrated in Fig. 8 is made flat and entirely so on its upper surface, it may also
be furnished with ribs, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
If it be a question of working the transmitting contrivance from below, the rod
must be provided with a special flat and tongue shaped part z¹ as illustrated in
Figs. 11 and 12, in addition to the part which in this case would be rounded.
The upper part z must fit exactly into the circular opening of the upper
lips ii, so as to close this opening when the under lips are forced apart by
the flat portion z¹.
The best effect is obtained by the transmission contrivance illustrated in
Fig. 13. Owing to its nature this transmitting contrivance may be regarded as
a double valve.
The granulated carbide in the carbide reservoir g lies on the upper valve
plates v. If now the rod be pressed downwards, so that the bulging part z
forces asunder the plates or parts which come into contact with one another
everywhere except in the middle where they are diagonally cleft, then a certain
quantity of carbide falls on to the lower india rubber plates v. As the rod
further descends, the bulging part z comes under the plate v, these come closely
in contact again with one another and surround the rod so that no more carbide
can fall through. In the further course of the downward movement of the rod
the head z opens the plates ¹, which allow the store of carbide lying on them to
fall into the water.
As the bulging part z opens the upper plate in descending as in rising, and
carbide falls twice through the cleft, whilst the head z¹ only conveys the stock
of carbide collected between the pairs of plates once to the water at each opera-
tion the double upper pouring out must naturally be adapted to requirements.
Beyond the new transmitting contrivances, however, the improvement illus-
trated in Figs. 14 and 15 is intended to prevent any danger in the handling
of acetylene apparatus.
As soon as an acetylene apparatus of the form shown in Fig. 1 is carelessly
overturned, so that it lies horizontally, the decomposing fluid in running off
from the reservoir h, into the lowest part of the space d formed between the two
cylinders and e will partially release the lower opening of the cylinder e
extending beneath the carbide chamber, so that the gas generated in the
chamber passes out freely through the uppermost openings f, whilst the
liquid runs away through the undermost openings f.
The improvement which obviates this difficulty consists substantially in the
introduction of a number of spiral courses s between the covering b and the
inner cylinder e. If, now, an acetylene generator with this improvement, is
brought into a horizontal position, the decomposing fluid is prevented from
running out, whilst the gas also cannot flow out, as it must pass along the spiral
course, but here, the way is stopped by the water filling the lowest part of
the spiral course.
This improvement can be suitably limited to the employment of a single spiral
course as steep as possible.
Instead of one or more spiral courses two or more simple partitions can be
furnished, these being alternately placed and enclosing only a part of the
hollow space . In Fig. 15 an arrangement of this kind is illustrated, s s
indicating the two partitions, which are so placed in relation to each other that
their open extremities lie diametrically opposite to one another.
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:
1. Improvements in acetylene generators consisting in the arrangement of a
subordinate reservoir communicating with the gas and water chambers and
furnished at the upper end with outlet openings, and adapted to receive and
allow the escape of the water when the generation of gas is too great, and the

page_text: 2
arrangement of a transmitting contrivance composed of one or more india
rubber plates v¹, which have or form one or more clefts lying one over the
other, which can be opened by a rod furnished with one or more enlargements ==¹
and, in consequence of the elasticity of the material of which they are formed the
said plates automatically close again substantially as described.
2. In acetylene generators of the kind indicated in Claim 1, a subsidiary reser-
voir 6 having a number of spiral courses s for the purpose of preventing the fluid
from running out and the gas from escaping without passing through the fluid,
when the generator is in a horizontal position substantially as described.
3. In acetylene generators of the kind indicated in Claim 1 a subsidiary reser-
voir 6 having an arrangement of partitions s s placed alternately, which do not
wholly enclose the hollow space & substantially as described.
4. In acetylene generators of the kind indicated in Claim 1, the transmitting
contrivance consisting of india rubber plates which are normally in contact
either by abutting as in Fig. 2 or in the manner of lips as in Fig. 3 and 4 or at
an angle as in Fig. 5, substantially as described.
5. In acetylene generators of the kind indicated in Claim 1 the transmitting
contrivance formed like a calix, so that by the actuation of the rod the lower
pair of lips are pressed apart, when the upper pair of lips is closed, so that the
calcium carbide present in the chamber is emptied out through the cleft
between the lower lips 77, without its being possible for the calcium carbide
in the store chamber to pass out substantially as described.
6. The modified form of rod for opening the transmitting contrivance referred
to in the preceding claim in which the part penetrating into the cleft is fur-
nished with ribs or protuberances of any preferred kind for the purpose of
expediting the emptying of the cup or calix shaped space k substantially as
described.
7. In acetylene generators of the kind indicated in Claim I a transmitting
contrivance consisting in the arrangement of two india rubber plates vin
such a manner that a suitable arrangement first opens the upper cleft and closes
it again before the carbide is released from the same apparatus by the opening
of the second under cleft so as to pass into the water so that not only are definite
quantities of carbide introduced into the water, but assurance afforded that one
of the clefts is constantly closed and that only the measured off quantity of
carbide reaches the water, from the reservoir substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of August 1899
F. W. GOLBY,
Patent Agent, 36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.