Improvements in the Process of Obtaining Gas for Lighting, Heating, and Motive Power Purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 5th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1897-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
Improvements in the Process of Obtaining Gas for Lighting, Heating,
and Motive Power Purposes, and in Apparatus therefor.
We, EMILE SOXILET, Consulting Chemist, FRANÇOIS VAN DEN BERGHE, Manu-
facturing Jeweller, and BORREMANS FRÈRES, Druggists, all of Hal, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, 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 1) a process for carbureting the air or combustible
gases (carbon oxides, volatilized petroleums and hydrocarbons, lighting gas etc.)
by the gas derived from acetylenes or any carburets under the action of water
or diluted acids. 2) apparatus for the application of the said process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS.
We have given the name of oxycarbene to the gaseous mixture which we use
for producing light, heat and motive power under the same conditions of use as
the lighting gas derived from coals.
The carburetion of air by our process and by means of our apparatus is made in
the proportions of 60% air to 40% gas in volume. This proportion is obtained by
the employment of the apparatus as hereinafter described.
The carburetion of the combustible gases, such as mon-oxide of carbon, lighting
gas, liquid volatilized hydrocarbons etc. can be made at pleasure in any proportion
and according to requirements, our apparatus being regulated thereto.
To carburet air the blower draws directly from the atmosphere.
To carburet lighting gas the pipe conveying the lighting gas is connected with
the suction tap of the blower.
To carburet any other gas (for instance oxide of carbon) the producer of this
latter is connected with the suction-tap of the blower.
Whichever gas is used the combustible element is always the carbon and the
supporter of combustion the oxygen in the air.

page_text: The denomination of oxycarbene extends therefore to any gaseous compound
enclosing these two elements whatever their proportions may be.
The process of manufacture and of production of the oxycarbene by means of our
apparatus has especially in view the use of acetylene gas derived from the carburets
or acetylenes by eliminating the inconveniences and dangers which this gas pre-
sents in its preparation and its use; it appears to us useful therefore to indicate
the same.
The inconveniences and dangers of acetylene are the causes of its present limited
use.
In its preparation (1) In most of the existing apparatus, the water falls on the
carburet, and thus lime is produced. This reaction is accompanied by a production
of intense heat. This heat may be communicated to the gas formed and be
sufficient for the combustion of the latter. Besides, the carburet in presence of
the small quantity of water is covered with a white layer of hydrate of lime which
forms a coating and prevents the subjacent layers of the carburet from being
attacked by the liquid; thus notable losses of the material occur. In our apparatus
these inconveniences do not exist, the carburet falls into the water and is totally
decomposed and the gas traversing the whole layer of water in the gas-holder
arrives cooled under the bell of the latter.
(2) Few apparatus are provided with a scrubber, without which impurities in
the produced gas are not removed.
By means of our apparatus, the gas passing through the whole water in the
gas-holder arrives under the bell washed, the water having absorbed the sulphide
of hydrogen, the ammonia and other soluble gases.
(3) In all the present systems, the carburet is exposed to a damp atmosphere.or
is in contact with carburet already reached by the water.
It therefore results that the part not yet attacked deteriorates quickly by absorb-
ing moisture. Thereby a considerable loss of first material results and slow and
untimely formation of gas, which not being able to disengage itself from the
generator, when the apparatus ceases to work, accumulates in the latter is com-
pressed and has a tendency to explode on account of its endothermical properties.
Our apparatus protects the acetylure or carburet completely against the water.
In its use (1) The use of acetylene whatever its manner of production and its
state, requires the use of special burners with capillary apertures. Under these
conditions a large part of the gas escapes complete combustion as is proved by the
carbon which is deposited under the form of soot.
The apertures are very easily obstructed; and very often the burners have to
be renewed after some hours use. The consumption suffers from it and economical
conditions are not realised.
Our process and apparatus allows the use of any burners now in use for lighting-
gas.
No deposit of soot can be formed and the whole carbon of the gas is integrally
burned.
2) The regulation of the gaseous afflux of acetylene burned in appropriate
burners cannot be done. The burners must be totally opened or totally closed
on account of their small openings. Our process allows of regulation by taps and
regulators inherent to ordinary gas burners.
3) The pure or unpurified acetylene being an endothermical gas, that is to say,
suscepticle of decomposing spontaneously and of combustion by the brisk heat
produced by this decomposition, is a gas offering a permanent source of danger.
This danger lies essentially in its brisk combination with the surrounding oxygen.
This danger is of course carried to the maximum when the gas is compressed or
liquified under pressure by the fact that there is an enormous quantity of gas
in a small volume. By means of our process and apparatus the acetylene is con-
sumed gradually and slowly and diluted in order to reduce its endothermical power
to the minimum.

page_text: II is the blower.
III is the gas holder.
THE CARBURETOR OR GENERATOR.
B is a
C is
E is a
A represents a generator in the lower part of which water is placed.
funnel with pipe B¹ and tap B2 for use in serving the generator with water.
an outlet tap for emptying the water. D is a water level gauge glass.
chamber for the carbide closed above by a cover E¹ and having in it a disk E2
pressed down by spring E³ to feed the carbide. At the base of the chamber E is a
cylinder E in which is a worm F and from such cylinder E there leads a delivery.
pipe H. The shaft of the worm F is carried in bearings at the ends of the
cylinder E and carries at one end a chain wheel G.
K is the lower stationary part of the gas holder and M the movable dome thereof.
The latter is guided, suspended, and counterbalanced as at K in the known manner.
Its guiding frame is formed by the pipes P to which gas enters by the pipe PL
from the generator A passing into the gas holder by the pipe P². I is a collecting
bell in the generator to which the pipe P¹ is connected. N is a bellows or blower
of any suitable kind to be worked by hand through lever N¹ or otherwise.
delivery pipe N2 leads to the pipes Q which lead to the interior of the gas holder.
By means of this device air may be pumped into the gas holder.
Its
On the frame is a chain wheel S, and gearing the two chain wheels S and G is a
chain T on which is an adjustable stud U, on the dome M is a finger V. When the
dome has risen so far that the finger V moves the stud U, the chain T is moved
and the wheels G and S revolved. The worm F is thus revolved and carbide is
fed by it into the water in the generator A. Acetylene is thus produced and com-
mences to enter the gas holder. Having therefore by means of the bellows Nj
pumped air into the gas holder until the dome M has risen sufficiently to cause the
finger V to move the stud U, which has been adjusted so that this amount of air is
exactly that required to give the desired proportion when the holder is filled up
by the acetylene, the carbide will be then automatically fed and continue to be so
by the rise of the dome M until the latter is full whereupon there will be a mixture
of air and gas therein ready for use.
00 are the pipes for delivery of the gas mixture. Close before each burner is
placed a regulator and flame arrester consisting of rolled up metallic gauze having
on its outside screw threads or helical ribs and tapering to nearly a point at the
end nearer the burner such point being provided with a fine bore. This device
indicated by W in the drawing reduces the pressure at the burner and prevents any
return of the flame to the gas holder. The bellows may draw from the outer air
or from the interior of generator A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. As a combustible gas the mixture of acetylene and air in the proportions
herein before described and called oxycarbene.
2. The process and the apparatus for automatically feeding the generator depend-
ing upon the action of the bell M and consisting as to its principal parts of the
arm V adapted to the bell with its stud the toothed wheels and the endless screw
for feeding the carbide.
3. The disposition of the blower (bellows or pump) for the suction of the gas
remaining in the generator and its annexed parts for forcing the said gas under the
bell of the gas holder or to suck in other gases taken from any generator.
4. The regulator W placed in the tube O and intended for augmenting the

page_text: pressure or diminishing the delivery and avoiding the return of gas to the gas
holder.
Dated this 5th day of June 1897.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.