Improvements in Generating Acetylene Gas for Cycles, Motor Cars, and the like description or character of Vehicles. in Portable Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Generating Acetylene Gas for Cycles, Motor Cars,
and the like description or character of Vehicles. in Portable
Generators.
.
JOHN CHITTY, 207, Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction, London, S.W., Hatter,
Hosier and Cyclists' Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
A generator to be made of any kind of metal, or of like character, and of
suitable size: consisting of a tubular cylinder for holding the calcium carbide;
with minute holes drilled at short intervals up side of same to allow water or
other liquids to penetrate the same for the formation of gas.
The cylinder to be either capped or corked at ends as most convenient. This
fitting into a tube of suitable size with minute hole drilled in bottom to allow
water or other liquids to penetrate to the inner cylinder and regulating the volume
of same, and which when gas is generated will not allow more than a sufficient
quantity to be so generated at one time; by the pressure of such gas acting
on volume of water will force same back through the said hole and will stop
formation of gas until said gas is burnt allowing water then to automatically
creep back to carbide cylinder and again generate. The tube is fitted with a
loose or screwed cap at bottom, and a fixed cap at top, through the centre of
which cap is fixed a small tube for taking off gas generated to burner or to
other tubes to said burner. This small tube being fitted with a tap for regulation
of supply of gas and removable. Sufficient small space is left at top of tube
for the condensation and cooling of gas between top of carbide cylinder and top.
of tube. The two, viz.: cylinder and tube are then enclosed in a tube or outer
case for holding water and fitted with a screwed cap at top and fixed cap at
bottom. A sufficiently small hole in centre of upper cap allowing small tube
to pass through and acting as a safety valve for releiving any over pressure of
gas and making generator absolutely non explosive.
Dated this 30th day of November 1897.
Improvements in Generating Acetylene Gas for Cycles, Motor Cars,
and the like description or character of Vehicles, in Portable
Generators.
I, JOHN CHITTY, 207, Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction, S.W., Hatter, Hosier
and Athletic Outfitter, 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:
The generator:
consists of a (Fig 1) vlinder A about 8 inches in loneth

page_text: 1
by 1 inches diameter, or of other appropriate size; of brass or other like metal,
capped each end with a brass or other like metal cap B to fit in end of cylinder,
or over end of cylinder, and the bottom end cap, having a small hole 1, of the
size of a needle point; and the upper cap either perforated with similiar sized
holes, or with a hole 2 of less than 1/8 inch in diameter. There are 3 holes C in
the side of the cylinder, of a needle point size, one about the centre, and the
others about 2 inches from each end. Also two small brass or other metal
bosses D of about ½ inch square and of equal thickness of cylinder, to avoid
and obviate any rattling. This is called the carbide cylinder Fig. 1, A, and fits
into another somewhat Fig. 2 similiar cylinder E size about 73% inches long by
inches diameter; or of other appropriate size; called the inner cylinder E.
This is fitted at the top end, with a fixed top in which is a condensor tube F
of about 3 inches long by ½ inch diameter; over which is fitted a tube G of
brass or other like metal (of which also the condensor tube F is made) of about
3 inches long by ½ inch diameter. Both these tubes being fitted; the one
over the other; in the fixed top of this inner cylinder E. Also a hole 3 is in
same to allow gas when generated to pass into the condensor. The 2 sides of
this inner cylinder have a brass, or other metal boss H or flange, of about
1½ inches long by 1/2 inch wide; sprung at edge to avoid any rattling. The
bottom end of this inner cylinder E is fitted with a screwed on (or other form
of attachment) cap I of about 3 inch long, in the side of which a needle point
sized hole C has been made.
On the top end (which is the ½ inch tube) is screwed on the gas tube K of
brass or other like substance 2½ inches about; in length, and about 3/16 inch
diameter or of other suitable size, at the top of which is the gas tap L, to
regulate the flow of gas when burning. This in turn, viz. the inner cylinder E
&c. Fig. 2, and containing the carbide cylinder, A Fig. 1, is placed in an outer
cylinder M Fig. 3 of brass or of other like or similiar metal, fitted, at bottom
end with a fixed cap 0; and the top end with a screwed on cap N; which is
put on, on the gas tube (before the gas tap is) and the hole of which is made
slightly larger then the diameter of the gas tube, to act as a valve or outlet,
for any overpressure of gas that may arise, through any unforseen circumstances.
The size of such outer case or cylinder M, Fig. 3, being about 13 inches long
by 13 inches diameter; or of other suitable size.
Manner of use. Fill calcium cylinder A with calcium carbide, place in inner
cylinder E and put on bottom cap I. These in turn place in outer cylinder M:
in which pint water has been put; and gas will generate at once.
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:
1st. That by the use of a double cylinder E & M and by the holes C (which
can be enlarged for larger pressures and volume of gas) in the carbide cylinder A
the generation of gas is controlled and is steady by allowing only a sufficient
quantity of water to act on calcium carbide at one time. The pressure of gas
being automatic in action, as when sufficient is generated, forcing water away
from carbide, and allowing it to again attack carbide when gas has been used.
2nd. That by having the hole of the top cap N of outer cylinder M slightly
larger in diameter than the gas tube K which passes through it; sufficient space
is left for relieving any overpressure of gas that may possibly arise from any cause
whatever.
Dated this 27th day of August 1898