Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1897- Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Generators.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to portablo generators for producing
acetylene from calcium carbide, and the object of the improvements is mainly to
prevent the accidental generation of gas in a large quantity by sudden contact of the
reactionary liquid with the carbide in the event of the apparatus becoming upset
or by agitation of the liquid due to vibration.
According to my invention I employ two separate chambers one of which serves
to receive the carbide and the other the liquid. The carbide chamber is preferably
cylindrical, provided with a grating at one end and a cover, and at the other
eud with a charging door or cover. There is also a pusher provided with a weight
or spring which is arranged to press the carbide towards the grating and keep it in
contact therewith. A pipe leads from this chamber to conduct the gas generated
therein to the gas-holder or burner.
The other chamber is formed to contain the reactionary liquid preferably water.
It may be of any convenient and suitable shape, and is provided with a charging
orifice. A pipe is led from the interior of this chamber to the first mentioned
chamber entering the latter preferably just beneath the grating. A suitable wick
is passed from the liquid containing chamber through the pipe and grating into
contact with the carbide in the carbide chamber. Suitable means are provided for
raising and lowering the wick from and into the liquid and carbide.
The two chambers may be arranged and fixed together in any suitable way.
In some cases where it is convenient to employ two oblong or cylindrical chambers
lying side by side I hinge the one to the other at the end farthest away from the
wick carrying tube, and I form a suitable gas tight joint where the wick tube enters
the carbide chamber, and I secure the two chambers together at this part by a clip
or by a union joint or other suitable means.
Dated this 30th dor of March 1807
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Acetylene Generators.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates more especially to portable generators for producing
acetylene from calcium carbide and water and consists in improvements which have
for their chief object to prevent the accidental generation of the gas in a large
quantity by sudden contact of the reactionary liquid with the carbide in the event
of the apparatus becoming upset or by agitation of the liquid due to vibration.
In accordance with this invention the apparatus is constructed with two separate
chambers which are preferably screwed or hinged together. One of these chambers
serves to receive the carbide and the other to receive the liquid. The carbide
chamber is preferably cylindrical and vertically arranged having a bottom formed
as a grating upon which the carbide rests, and a charging door or lid at the upper
part. To keep the carbide pressed against the grating and squeeze through the
decomposed material there is a spring or weight arranged above the carbide to press
thereon. A gas conduit leads from this chamber to the burner or gas holder.
An
The liquid containing chamber is preferably round and is secured to the carbide
chamber beneath the grating thereof leaving between an enclosed space.
orifice having a lid is formed in the chamber to pass the liquid thereinto. From the
interior of this chamber a pipe is conducted into the space beneath the grating, and
in this pipe is arranged a wick which is capable of being raised and lowered with
respect to the grating by means of a toothed wheel and spindle, the latter being
carried to the outside of the chamber through a gas tight stuffing box.
On the drawings appended hereunto,
Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention, and Figure 2 a plan of the same with the cover of the carbide
chamber removed.
In this apparatus there is a vessel a of any convenient shape, to contain liquid
having a wick tube a fitted with feeding wheel a³, the spindle a of which passes
through a stuffing box a, a filling orifice with cover and a well at around the
wick tube al Above the well there is fixed a chamber 6 having a perforated
bottom or a grating and a gas tight removable cover 63 which is shewn screwed on
but which may be hinged or clamped to the body of the chamber b. There is an outlet
orifice shewn in the cover for conducting the gas away. The chamber is prefer-
ably screwed on to the vessel a as shewn at ba gas tight joint being made therent by
means of a washer . There is a pusher c consisting of a plate which has pre-
ferably a spring e pressing upon it, but it may have a weight instead. There is
provided a venta in the wick tube a¹ to permit the gas generated to pass into the
vessel a above the water when the water rises above the lower end of the wick tube.
Into the vessel a water d is introduced through the filling orifice a³. A wicke
is also introduced into the wick tube a. Through the cover the carbide f is
introduced into the chamber b. It is preferably granulated, and as it becomes
decomposed by means of the moisture drawn up by the wick when the latter is fed
to come in contact with the grating, the pressure of the spring upon the pusher
plate c forces the carbide down upon the grating, the decomposed part passing
through the grating into the well beneath. The gas produced rises through the
granulated carbide and passes out by the orifice b³. An ordinary tap and burner
up

page_text: may be connected to the cover b at the orifice when the generator is used as a
table lamp. When tho generator is used for a vehicle lamp a pipe may be led from
the outlet orifice to a burner placed in front say of the body of the chamber and
a hood having a glass and chimney of any suitable well known construction may
be attached to the said body by means of a clip or other attachment.
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:-
First. The improved construction of portable generator for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water and by which the production of gas can be com-
menced and stopped at will which generator consists of a liquid containing vessel a
having a charging orifice and cover a, a wick tube a¹ with feeder a a³ and wick e,
a chamber & fixed to the vessel a, above the wick tube a' having a perforated bottom
or grating above the wick tube and a gas tight lid or cover substantially as
described with reference to the several figures of the drawings.
Second. The manufacture and use of a generator for portable lamps for producing
acetylene from calcium carbide and water, in which the water is contained in a
vessel provided with a wick tube and wick and is fed to the carbide through a
grating upon which it rests in a separate compartment, by means of said wick the
production of gas being started and stopped by means of a feeding arrangement to
the wick, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this worn thay OF DECEM 1991.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.