Improvements in the Method of Generating Acetylene Gas, applicable to Ordinary Acetylene Generators or to Table or other Lamps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Generating Acetylene Gas, applicable
to Ordinary Acetylene Generators or to Table or other Lamps.
I, EVAN EVANS, of 45, Denbigh Street, Llanrwst, in the County of Denbigh,
Ironmonger, etc., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
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My invention consists of my specially constructed carbide-holder arranged in
a suitable casing, with suitable means for the admission of water, and with a
special arrangement of an auxiliary water-compartment, by which means I am
able to greatly reduce the size of the principal water compartment in the base
of the lamp or generator, to continue a stealy and uninterrupted water supply,
and to maintain the level of the water at a given point until the whole is consumed.
In constructing my improved generator I proceed as follows:-the following
description being applicable principally to table-lamps in which the carbide is
contained in the base, but it is understood that the principle is equally applicable
to generators of all kinds, and also to lamps of every description, and for other
purposes:
In the lower part of the lamp I provide a tube of a given size, which tube I
call the gas-holder. Inside this gas-holder I provide a series of tubes, smaller
in diameter, arranged in the form of a circle, each tube being open at the upper
end and arranged to take my special form of carbide-holder, which I afterwards
describe. In each of the said tubes is provided a slot, running from the top to
the bottom. On the outside of each slot a strip of metal is arranged, which I
call the slot-guard, in such a way as to effectually prevent any water getting into
the tube except through the small hole provided for the purpose, which small hole
is arranged so far at the side of the slot-guard as to be not directly opposite the
slot in the tube, the object of this arrangement being that the water, entering by
the hole provided, shall strike against the outside edge of the tube and shall thence
find its way to the bottom of the slot, entering the tube at the bottom instead of
opposite the hole.
The holes for the admission of water are arranged at a different level in each
of the tubes, beginning with the first, in which it is placed about half way down,
and gradually rising until the last tube is reached, in which case it is placed close
to the top.
Into each of the said tubes so provided with slot, slot-guard and hole for the
admission of water, a specially constructed carbide-holder is inserted, which
carbide-holder consists of a tube with two pieces from the opposite sides cut away.
which pieces are then hinged, in the form of doors which open and shut, and
which, when shut, complete the circumference of the tube. On the inside of
the tube are arranged shelves or divisions, three, four, or more, as may be required,
which shelves serve to divide the charge of carbide, on the principle of my separate
cells, claimed in my Patent No. 10508 of 1897. Each of the doors of this carbide-
holder is furnished with perforations running its entire length, for the admission
of water and the emission of gas. One object of this arrangement of the carbide-

page_text: holder is to facilitate the filling of same, as the carbide-holder, is held in one
hand, with one door closed, the other open door will serve as a scoop, by means of
which the granulated carbide can, with the greatest ease, be scooped into its
place inside the holder. The open door being then closed retains it in its position.
My object in arranging the carbide-holder with two doors is to facilitate cleaning.
The carbide-holder, when placed in the tube, is then ready for use.
When charged the tubes containing the carbide-holders are placed in the
gasometer, and the opening sealed by means of a screw-cap fitted with washer
or in any other approved way. In the centre of such cap I provide a valve for the
admission of water and for the retention of the gas, when generated. This valve
may be in any approved form. That which I prefer to use is in the form of an
india-rubber ball, working in a specially arranged cap, which may be lifted by
the water and so allow of the water being admitted to the gas-holder, while should
the water be expelled it will return to its bed, and will effectually prevent the
emission of the gas.
Around the gasometer I provide a suitable water-chamber, in any approved
shape, but, in order to economise space and reduce as much as possible the size
of the diameter of my lamp, or this part of the generator at the base, my water-
chamber is not of sufficient size to contain the necessary quantity of water to
exhaust the carbide. therefore provide an auxiliary water-chamber, which is
in the form of a lengthened tube fixed upon the top of the gasometer, but much
smaller in diameter. Through this tube, or auxiliary water-chamber, the gas-
pipe from the gas-holder passes. At the lower end of the auxiliary water-chamber,
and near to its junction with the gas-holder, I provide an opening, with a suitable
device for closing same, through which, when inverted, the water may be poured
which is required to fill it, and through which, when returned to its upright
position, the water can pass. The hole in question is arranged to come below
the level of the water in the principal water-chamber when such water-chamber
is filled. Having filled both the principal and auxiliary water-chambers, the
action will be on the principle of the ordinary bird fountain, namely, as the water
in the principal water-chamber is exhausted, the hole will be opened and water
will be supplied to take the place of that consumed. It will be evident that I can,
if desired, provide a means of filling my auxiliary water-chamber from the top,
thus obviating the necessity of its inversion, while I can, if desired, also arrange
for the hole through which the water finds its way to the principal water-chamber
to be opened or closed by means of a screw or tap manipulated from the top and
working either externally or internally.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Method of Generating Acetylene Gas, applicable
to Ordinary Acetylene Generators or to Table or other Lamps.
I, EVAN EVANS, of 45, Denbigh Street, Llanrwst, in the County of Denbigh,
Ironmonger, etc., 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:-
My invention consists of my specially constructed carbide-holder arranged in
a suitable casing, with suitable means for the admission of water, and with a

page_text: special arrangement of an auxiliary water-compartment, by which means I am
able to greatly reduce the size of the principal water compartment in the base
of the lamp or generator, to continue a steady and uninterrupted water supply,
and to maintain the level of the water at a given point until the whole is consumed.
In order to facilitate description, reference will be had to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
-
Figure 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation, of a table lamp constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2a cross section on the line -y of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and
carbide holders.
elevation and plan of the series of tubes which receive the
Figure 5 an elevation of a carbide holder showing one door open, and
Figure 6 a cross section of same showing both doors open.
In constructing my improved generator I proceed as follows: the following
description being applicable principally to table-lamps in which the carbide is
contained in the base, but it is understood that the principle is equally applicable
to generators of all kinds, and also to lamps of every description, and for other
purposes:
In the lower part A of the lamp I provide a tube B of a given size, which tube
I call the gas-holder. Inside this gas-holder BI provide a series of tubes smaller
in diameter, arranged in the form of a circle, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, each
tube being open at the upper end and closed at the lower end and arranged to take
my special form of carbide-holder D, which I shall afterwards describe. In each
of the said tubes C is provided a slot c (Figure 4) running from the top to the
bottom. On the outside of each slot ca strip of metal e is arranged, which I
call the slot-guard, in such a way as to effectually prevent any water getting
into the tube C except through a small hole (Figure 3) provided for the purpose,
which small hole is arranged so far at the side of the slot-guard e as to be not
directly opposite the slot in the tube, the object of this arrangement being that
the water, entering by the hole provided, shall strike against the outside edge of
the tube C and shall thence find its way to the bottom of the slot e, entering the
tube at the bottom instead of opposite the hole.
The holes for the admission of water are arranged at a different level for cach
of the tubes C, beginning with the first, in which it is placed about half way
down, and gradually rising until the last tube is reached, in which case it is
placed close to the top as shown in Figure 3.
Into each of the said tubes C so provided with slot c, slot-guard c and hole c
for the admission of water, a specially constructed carbide-holder D (Figures 1, 5,
and 6) is inserted, which carbide-holder consists of a tube with two pieces from
the opposite sides cut away, which pieces are then hinged, in the form of doors d
which open and shut, and which, when shut, complete the circumference of the
tube. On the inside of the tube are arranged shelves e or divisions, three, four,
or more, as may be required, which shelves serve to divide the charge of carbide,
on the principle of my separate cells, claimed in my Patent No. 10508 of 1897.
Each of the doors of this carbide holder D is furnished with perforations d
running its entire length, for the admission of water and the emission of gas.
One object of this arrangement of the carbide-holder is to facilitate the filling
of same, as when the carbide-holder D, is held in one hand, with one door closed,
the other open door will serve as a scoop, by means of which the granulated carbide
can, with the greatest case, be scooped into its place inside the holder. The open
door being then closed retains it in its position. My object in arranging the
carbide-holder with two doors is to facilitate cleaning.
The carbide-holder D. when placed in the tube C, is then ready for use.
When charged, the tubes C containing the carbide-holders are placed in the
gasometer B, and the opening sealed by means of a screw-cap fitted with washer
or in any other approved way. In the drawing the cap E is shown screwed up
by means of a screw F which engages through a nut Ġ formed in a stirrup H.

page_text: The ends of the stirrup are engaged under Flugs on the gas holder B or in
bayonet slots to allow of its being readily removed with the cap after loosening
the screw F. A washer is provided on the cap to make a tight joint. In the
centre of such cap E I provide a valve J for the admission of water and for the
retention of the gas, when generated. This valve may be in any approved form.
That which I prefer to use is in the form of an india-rubber ball J, working in
a specially arranged cap K, which ball may be lifted by the water and so allow
of the water being admitted to the gas-holder B, while should the water be
expelled said ball will return to its bed j and will effectually prevent the emission
of the gas.
Around the gasometer I provide a suitable water-chamber L in any approved
shape, but, in order to economise space and reduce as much as possible the size
of the diameter of my lamp, or this part of the generator at the base, my water-
chamber L is not of sufficient size to contain the necessary quantity of water to
exhaust the carbide. I therefore provide an auxiliary water-chamber M, which
is in the form of a lengthened tube fixed upon the top of the gasometer, but
preferably much smaller in diameter except near the bottom. Through this tube,
or auxiliary water-chamber passes the gas-pipe O from the gas holder B. At
the lower end of the auxiliary water-chamber which may be here reduced in area
by means of a partition N, and near to its junction with the gas-holder B. I
provide an opening m with a suitable device for closing same such as a slide n
through which, when the chamber M is inverted the water may be poured which
is required to fill it, and through which, when said chamber is returned to its
upright position, the water can pass when the slide has been opened. The slide n
works in grooved ribs n' (Figure 2). The hole m in question is arranged to come
below the level of the water in the principal water-chamber L when such water-
chamber is filled. Having filled both the principal and auxiliary water-chambers
Land M the action will be on the principle of the ordinary bird fountain, namely,
as the water in the principal water-chamber is exhausted, the hole m will be
opened and water will be supplied to take the place of that consumed. It will be
evident that I can, if desired, provide a means of filling my auxiliary water-
chamber from the top, thus obviating the necessity of its inversion, while I
can, if desired, also arrange for the hole m through which the water finds its way
to the principal water-chamber L to be opened or closed by means of a screw or
tap manipulated from the top and working either externally or internally.
In action the water in the principal water chamber L enters the gas holder B
at the bottom through the valve J and then enters the cylinders C successively
through the holes as before described in order to reach the carbide in the
holders D.
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. The improvement in acetylene gas generators which consists in making the
water chamber of reduced capacity, and providing an auxiliary water chamber
arranged on the principle of the "bird fountain" to feed the main water chamber
automatically as required, whereby a steady and uninterrupted water supply is
secured, and the level of water is maintained at a given point until the whole
supply is consumed, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In acetylene gas generators, the arrangement of a series of tubes adapted
to receive carbide holders and to be inserted in the gas holder, each tube being
closed at the bottom and having a lateral inlet for water arranged at a different
height for each tube whereby the water only obtains access to each tube in
succession, substantially as herein before described.
3. In acetylene gas generators, a carbide holder having portions of its sides
formed as hinged doors with perforations for the admission of water and emission
of gas, whereby filling and cleaning are facilitated, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The general construction and combination of parts taken as a whole, forming
the improved acetylene generator, substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated.
T
1
1
r
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.