Improvements in and connected with the Method of and Apparatus for Treating Acetylene Prior to Combustion.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Method of and Apparatus
for Treating Acetylene Prior to Combustion.
We THOMAS THORP of Whitefield near Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and THOMAS GARDINER MARSH, of Examiner Buildings, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of acetylene prior to combustion, and
consists in improvements in the method of diluting acetylene with air or other gases
and in the apparatus used in connection therewith and for the storage and delivery
of the diluted gas or mixture of gases, the object of these improvements being to
supply the acetylene duly diluted to ordinary gas burners at a low pressure.
Pure acetylene is usually burnt for lighting purposes in union jet burners having
very small orifices and under a comparatively high pressure of about 2 to 3 inches
of water in order to secure a thin flame and access of sufficient air to the acetylene
for combustion. These small orifices, however, soon become choked with carbon
deposits, and the flame also smokes when turned low. To obviate these inconveniences,
acetylene has been mixed or diluted with air or nitrogen, which allows of the use
of the usual burners employed for coal-gas for the combustion of the diluted
acetylene and avoids a smoky flame, the amount of dilution required varying some-
what with the class of burner used.
Our chief improvement consists in the method of diluting acetylene which is as
follows:-
We produce and preferably store in a suitable holder acetylene at a considerable
pressure, say of about 6 inches of water. We then discharge this high pressure
acetylene through the nozzle of an injector either into the pipes supplying the
burners, or into a second holder at a low pressure, say of one inch of water, an
induced current of the diluent, which may be atmospheric air or other gas, being
carried along with the acetylene into the pipes or holder, the proportions of acetylene
and diluent being regulated by adjusting the inlet orifice or the pressure of the
acetylene passing into the injector.
Preferably we employ a low pressure gas holder to supply the diluted acetylene
or mixture of gases to the burners, and our further improvement consists in the
arrangement of devices for controlling the operation of the injector effecting the
mixture in the manner herein before described, so as to regulate the supply of diluted
acetylene to the holder according to the consumption of the same by the burners,
as this consumption is not uniform. Preferably we adopt a tumbler device for
opening and closing a valve on the high pressure main leading from the high
pressure gas holder to the injector, the levers of the tumbler or their equivalents
being actuated by the rising and falling of the second low pressure holder. When
the diluted gas is used from this second holder while the injector is not in action,
the holder will necessarily descend and in doing so is made to actuate one of the
tumbler levers or their equivalents, and when the weight or spring lever has passed
the dead centre, the tumbler will be carried forward in the usual way and actuate the
opening mechanism of the valve.

page_text: The injector will then immediately commence to act and the holder become filled
with the mixture. As this takes place and the holder rises, the other lever or its
equivalent of the tumbler mechanism is engaged by the holder and the tumbler
carried backwards until the dead centre is again passed, when the reverse action
takes place and the valve is closed again, and so on. A water seal or its equivalent
on the pipe connecting the injector to the low pressure holder prevents the escape
of the diluted gas from this holder.
In the case of a gas works supplying acetylene gas to a district it is obvious that
the gas may be supplied at a high pressure as indicated from the storage gas holder,
and the dilution be effected in the manner herein before described at or near to the
point of consumption, in which case much smaller mains will be sufficient; or that
the gas may be diluted at the works from the high pressure holder into a low
pressure gas holder.
Instead of using an injector, the high pressure acetylene may be used to work an
air pumping engine, and the air pumped be mixed with the exhaust acetylene from
the engine and delivered into a gas holder, which may close and open the engine
stop valve by means of a tumbler mechanism, or its equivalent, similarly as herein-
before described with reference to the injector starting valve.
The improved method and apparatus hereinbefore described may also be used for
mixing or diluting acetylene with ordinary coal gas.
Instead of using high pressure acetylene for operating an injector or pump, we
may also use a power meter or exhauster divided into two compartments, or two
separate exhausters for delivering the acetylene from the first holder and the
diluent in the desired proportions to the second holder, and arrange the tumbler
mechanism or its equivalent controlled by this second holder so that it stops and
starts said exhauster or exhausters.
Dated this 1111
1000
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
Improvements in and connected with the Method of and Apparatus
for Treating Acetylene Prior to Combustion.
We, THOMAS THORP of Whitefield near Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer and THOMAS GARDINER MARSH of Examiner Buildings, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, 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 the treatment of acetylene prior to combustion, and
consists in improvements in the methods of diluting acetylene with air or other
gases and in the apparatus used in connection therewith and for the storage and
delivery of the diluted gas or mixture of gases, the object of these improvements
being to supply the acetylene duly diluted to ordinary gas burners at a low
pressure.
Undiluted acetylene is usually burnt for lighting purposes in union jet burners
having very small orifices and under a comparatively high pressure of about two
to three inches of water in order to secure a thin flame and access of sufficient air
to the acetylene for combustion. These small orifices, however, soon become choked
with carbon deposits, and the flame also smokes when turned low. To obviate these
inconveniences, acetylene has been mixed or diluted with air or nitrogen, which

page_text: allows of the use of the usual burners employed for coal-gas for the combustion
of the diluted acetylene and avoids a smoky flame, the amount of dilution required
varying somewhat with the class of burner used.
Our chief improvement consists in the method of diluting acetylene which is as
follows:-
We produce in suitable apparatus and preferably store in a suitable holder
We then
acetylene at a considerable pressure, say of about six inches of water.
discharge this high pressure acetylene through the nozzle of an injector either
into the pipes supplying the burners or into a second holder at a low pressure,
say of one inch of water, an induced current of the diluent, which may be
atmospheric air or other gas, being carried along with the acetylene into the pipes
or holder, the proportions of acetylene and diluent being regulated by adjusting
the inlet orifice of the diluent or the pressure of the acetylene passing into the
injector.
Preferably we employ a low pressure gas bolder to supply the diluted acetylene or
mixture of gases to the burners, and our further improvement consists in the arrange-
ment of devices for controlling the operation of the injector effecting the mixture in
the manner herein before described, so as to regulate the supply of diluted acetylene
to the holder according to the consumption of the same by the burners, as this con-
sumption is not uniform. Preferably we adopt a tumbler device for opening and
closing a valve on the high pressure main leading from the high pressure gas holder
to the injector, the levers of the tumbler or their equivalents being actuated by the
rising and falling of the second or low pressure holder. When the diluted gas is used
from this second holder, while the injector is not in action, the holder will necessarily
descend and in doing so is made to actuate one of the tumbler levers or their
equivalents, and when the weight or spring lever has passed the dead centre, the
tumbler will be carried forward in the usual way and actuate the opening mechanism
of the valve.
The injector will then immediately commence to act and the holder becomes filled
with the mixture. As this takes place and the holder rises, the other lever or its
equivalent of the tumbler mechanism is engaged by the holder and the tumbler
carried backwards until the dead centre is again passed, when the reverse action takes
place and the valve is closed again and so on. A water seal or its equivalent on the
pipe connecting the injector to the low pressure holder prevents the escape of the
diluted gas from this holder.
In the case of a gas works supplying acetylene gas to a district it is obvious that
the gas may be supplied at a high pressure as indicated from the storage gas holder
and the dilution be effected in the manner herein before described, at or near to the
point of consumption, in which case much smaller mains will be sufficient; or that the
gas may be diluted at the works from the high pressure holder into a low pressure gas
holder.
Instead of using an injector, the high pressure acetylene may be used to work an
air pumping engine, and the air pumped be mixed with the exhaust acetylene from
the engine and delivered into a gas holder, which may close and open the engine stop
valve by means of a tumbler mechanism or its equivalent, similarly as herein
described with reference to the injector starting valve.
In order that our invention may be readily understood, we have attached hereunto
a sheet of drawings to which we will now refer.
in the said drawings,
Figure 1, represents an elevation of our improved apparatus for. automatically
diluting acetylene and delivering it to the burners at a lower pressure; Figure 2, a plan
of the same, both views being on a reduced scale;
Figure 3, an elevation in section through the valves;
Figure 4, a plan of the valves;
Figure 5, an elevation of the tumbler mechanism and Figure 6 a plan of such
mechanism partly in section, to a full sized scale for a small apparatus.
Figures 7 and 8, represent in two views an elevation and plan in section of a

page_text: modified form of apparatus for mixing the gas and air automatically by means of
the undiluted or high pressure acetylene.
The same parts are indicated by like letters of reference in the several views.
The acetylene is introduced into the apparatus from a suitable holder at say six
inches pressure of water by a pipe a which leads to the automatically operated shut-off
valve band back pressure valve d into the variable capacity or governor holder c.
Between the shut-off and back pressure valves there is an air inlet orifice for
preferably a pipe provided with a regulating valve g Figure 4, which may in some
cases be made to close automatically by back pressure. There is also in the conduit
between the valve b and the orifice f an injector h, Figure 3, through which the high
pressure acetylene is directed through the back pressure valve into the holder c
causing air to be drawn in through the orifice and valve g and pass along with it
into the holder e aforesaid. Any suitable form of regulating valve o may be used but
preference is given to a screw-down conical face valve of the type indicated.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the drawings, the shut-off valve 6 and the back pressure
valve d are shewn connected by a bar i upon the centre of which bar is applied the
pressure to close the valves as required. But we may use an independent automatic
back pressure valve instead of the valve d as shewn, having no mechanical connection
with the valve b, or a hydraulic seal.
Above the holder e is a pulley wheel mounted upon a standard c³, arranged in
the position shewn in Figures 1 and 2, over which pulley a cord c³ or its equivalent
of suitable length attached to the bell e¹ of the holder is passed. This cord is led
round a second pulley ; carried by a standard k and terminates with a weight co.
The centre of the pulley carries two crank pins j, preferably fixed in a disc³,
rotating with the said pulley ; as the bell of the holder c rises and falls. In the
same axial line as, and facing the dise 3, there is mounted on a standard k a loose
disc having two projecting pins or studs . When the holder c is in the position
indicated in Figure 1, the relative positions of the pins or studs on the discs and 1,
are approximately as indicated in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. Loosely mounted in the
axial line of the said discs is a tumbler arm m carrying a balance weight m!. In the
disc there is a notch in which engages the end of a lever n of the first order
fulcrummed at n¹ upon the standard k. The other end of this lever terminates
with a joint n2 and is connected with the bar i by a connecting rod o. The discl
has also two other notches 13 and 1, the distance apart of which represents the
angular travel of the disc, and there is a spring fixed to the standards which
alternately engages in these notches as the disc moves, and prevents the disc from
over-running its allotted trave! or moving too quickly.
Figures 3 and 4, represent the shut-off valve, back pressure valve, injector and
air regulating valve, to a larger scale. The shut off and back pressure valves are
shewn of similar construction but as previously stated an independent automatic
back pressure valve of any ordinary construction or a hydraulic seal may be
substituted for the valve here illustrated, and any other suitable shut off valve may
be used in place of the one here shewn, the valves in this Specification not forming
the subject of claims. In these figures, 6 represents the shut off valve which
communicates with the back pressure valve d through the injector and passage p.
The air is drawn in through the valve g, and passes along with acetylene issuing
through the injector nozzle through the passage p and valve d into the mixing
chamber or holder c by the pipe q and stand pipe q'. The construction of the main
part of the valve b is in accordance with our previous Specification, No. 12334 A.D.
1894 for which we obtained Letters Patent, but in this case the valve spindles b¹
and d', Figure 3, are lengthened and fitted with a plunger 6, which fits and moves
in a chamber 3 in which there is a suitable liquid, the object being to prevent the
too sudden opening and closing of the valve. This is fully illustrated in the case
of the valve b only, but the valves and d being in this case alike, the valve b
illustrates also the internal construction of the valve d.
The diluted acetylene leaves the holder c by the pipe q2.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-As previously stated, acetylene is

page_text: introduced into the apparatus at a comparatively high pressure, say six inches of
water. It enters by the pipe a, passes through the shut off valve b, and is directed
through the injector nozzle into the pipe p through the valve d, assuming the
valves b and d to ho open and the tumbler mechanism and holder bell in the positions
indicated in Figure 1; and so into the holder e by the pipe 9, inducing a current
of the diluent through the pipe and valve a which diluent passes with the acetylene
into the holder e, causing it to rise, by which the pulley j is rotatel in the direction
of the arrow, Figure 1. This brings the pin or stud which carries the tumbler
arm m to come in contact with it and carry it over the vertical centre of its
fulcrum when it falls upon one of the pins l', and so causes the disc to move
round until the spring has entered the notch P, and the end a of the lever "
As the holder c
to press upon the bar i of the valves and d and close them.
becomes exhausted of the dilutel gas, the same action takes place in the reverse
direction which has the effect of opening the valves b and d.
We do not confine ourselves to the arrangement of tumbler mechanism herein-
before described, but any other known arrangement of such mechanism operating
in a similar manner may be used.
Instead of diluting the acetylene by means of a current of air or other diluent
induced by an injector worked by acetylene of a higher pressure, we may use the
high pressure acetylene to drive a motor, which may be of any known construction
of fluid pressure inotor worked by moderate fluid pressure, to drive an air forcing
pump, blower, fan or their equivalents, and mix the exhaust acetylene from such
motor with the air delivered by the said air forcing engines or machines. For
instance, a piston engine arranged like a steam engine, may be worked by the high
pressure acetylene and actuate or drive the air forcing engine. The mixed exhaust
acetylene and air are in these cases delivered through a back prossure valve or
hydraulic seal into a variable capacity holder or governor, arranged similarly to
the holder e hereinbefore described and operating tumbler mechanism for closing
and opening the stop valve of the engine by its rise and fall. Preferably we employ
rotary engines and air blowers for this purpose which may be of any known kind
capable of being driven by and producing moderate pressures respectively. We
prefer, however, engines and blowers working with a water seal as these work
with little friction and there are no leakages with them if the water levels are kept
at the required height. Such engines and blowers may be of the well known spiral
pipe or blade type, the direction of the spirals in the engine and blower being
opposite and the two wheels or being mounted on the same shaft. Or instead of
such spiral blade blowers or engines we may use motors and blowers constructed in
the same way as ordinary gas meters, the acetylene at a higher pressure than
required at the burner being admitted to one gas meter in the same way as for
the usual gas supply and driving the meter drum, and a second meter, drum in
another casing but arranged in the opposite way to the former, being coupled to
the first one and driven by it; this second drum drawing air through the casing and
discharging it from the hood of the drum through the usual meter iolet pipe into
a mixing chamber into which the acetylene from the first meter casing also passes.
With such apparatus the acetylene need not have so great an initial pressure as
when injectors or piston engines are used. With this arrangement the variable
capacity chamber and tumbler can be omitted, as when the burners are shut off
the back pressure in the pipes and mixing chamber will arrest the movement of the
acetylene motor.
Figures 7 and 8, are two views illustrating the general construction of such an
apparatus for automatically mixing acetylene and air or other diluent in the
required proportions. Figure 7 is a sectional elevation on line x, . Figure 8 is a
front elevation with the cover removed.
This apparatus consists of two chambers a, a, in which are mounted two measuring
drums t, t, of ordinary construction, similar to what are employed in gas meters..
These are disposed back to back and their spindles 2 are connected together at t³
manner that they shall rotate together. The chambers s', do not

page_text: -communicate with one another except below the water levels. In the front chamber,
there is an inlet for the acetylene, and a float valve, normally open but closed
with the fall in the water level, may be employed. There is an overflow pipe s
leading to the overflow chamber . The drum spindle at the front end is
connected with the index u by means of a vertical shaft geared to the drum spindle
by which the number of revolutions of the drum is recorded. Preferably th-re is a
worm t, at the end of the drum spindle and gearing into it a worm wheel on
the vertical shaft. From the chamber there is a passage leading to the
mixing chamber e, hereinafter referred to. The chamber is in communication
with the open air or other diluent, by means of an orifice leading from the
front chambers into the drum beneath the hood thereof is the inlet elbow
pipe . At the back of the chamber s there is a chamber s, forming a water
seal and there is an elbow pipe leading from under the hood of the drum t
to the chamber above the water level. From this chamber s there is a conduit s
leading to the above mentioned mixing chamber .
The acetylene enters the front chamber a fro.n the generator at a higher pressure
than that at which it is afterwards burnt, by the inlet 3, and passes by means of the
elbow pipe into the drum t, causing it to rotate in its effort to pass through, from
which drum it passes into the upper part of the chamber s' and out by the passage s
into the mixing chamber v. The rotation of the drum t causes the drum t which
acts as a pump or blower for the diluent entering the chambers by the orifices
forcing the diluent through the elbow pipe t' into the chamber s and out by means of
the duct into the mixing chamber e aforesaid, where the acetylene and diluent mix
together and are led away by the pipe to the burners or storage holder.
The mixing chamber is preferably provided by partitions so that the gases have
to pass in a circuitous way and become thoroughly mixed, and may be provided with
a very light back pressure valve or equivalent dise to prevent any possibility of
explosion.
The improved methods and apparatus hereinbefore described may also be used for
mixing or diluting acetylene with ordinary coal gas. We are aware that injectors
have been used before for mixing acetylene and air at the burner, and we do not claim
the use for this purpose of an injector by itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved method of diluting acetylene by employing it at a higher pressure
than required for combustion to work an injector or its equivalent through which a
current of the diluent is induced, mixed with which the acetylene is conducted to a
variable capacity chamber or governor and thence to the burners, and controlling the
valve admitting the acetylene to the injector by means of tumbler mechanism operated
by the extension or contraction of the variable capacity chamber, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The improved method of diluting the acetylene by employing it at a higher
pressure than required for combustion for working a motor which drives a pump, a
blower or their equivalent for forcing the diluent into a variable capacity chamber,
into which the exhaust acetylene from the motor is conducted and controlling the stop
valve of the motor by means of tumbler mechanism, operated by the extension and
contraction of the variable capacity motor substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The improved method of diluting acetylene by employing it at a higher pressure
than required at the burner to actuate a rotary water sealed motor of the spiral or gas
meter type, which drives a similarly constructed air pump or blower and mixing the
forced air and exhaust acetylene, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The improved arrangement or construction of apparatus for diluting acetylene
by means of an injector through which acetylene from the generator forces the diluent
along with the acetylene into a variable capacity chamber the extension and contraction
of which operates tumbler mechanism controlling the valve, admitting acetylene to

page_text: the injector, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 6,.
of the drawings.
5. The improvements in apparatus for diluting acetylene substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
6. The improved arrangement or construction of apparatus for diluting acetylene,.
consisting of the combination of a fluid pressure engine actuated by acetylene fr.m
the generator and a pump blower or their equivalent forcing the diluent and driven
by said motor, a variable capacity chamber receiving the forced diluent and exhaust.
acetylene, and tumbler mechanisin controlling the stop valve of the acetylene motor
and operated by the extension and contraction of the said chamber, substantially as.
hereinbefore described.
7. The improved arrangement or construction of apparatus for diluting acetylene,
consisting of a water sealed motor of the gas meter type actuated by acetylene from
the generator and driving a similarly constructed blower and mixing the exhaust.
acetylene and forced diluent substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figures 7 and 8, of the drawings.
8. The improved arrangement of apparatus for diluting acetylene substantially as-
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,.
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.