Improved Means for Use in the Purification of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Use in the Purification of Acetylene Gas.
We, JAMES WILLIAM BAILEY and JOHN CLAPHAM, both of Eagle Works,
Keighley, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
In the production of acetylene gas by calcium carbide which is only commer-
cially pure it is found that a certain amount of impurities such as aqueous
vapour, sulphuretted and phosphoretted hydrogen and the like, are given off along
with said gas, and if allowed to remain present therein, considerably affect the
illuminating power of such gas, have a deleterious action on most of the metals
employed in connection with its conduction and combustion, and otherwise
seriously interfere with its successful use, and our said invention consists in an
improved means or apparatus of simple construction whereby these impurities
may be entirely or to a certain extent removed from said gas.
In carrying our invention into effect, we make use of a case or holder of circular
or other suitable shape in cross section; and inside this we mount at a suitable
distance from the lower end a container having a perforated bottom and con-
taining a quantity of slag wool or other similar substance. Above this said con-
tainer and reaching to within a short distance of the upper end of the outer vessel
or holder we place an open ended cylinder or case in such a manner that its lower
end forms a gas-tight joint with the container for the slag wool above described.
Within this latter mentioned cylinder we place a tray which is perforated or
formed of suitable trellis work, and above this we place a receptacle or bag formed
of a suitable porous material and containing calcium chloride or other suitable
purifying agent, this bag being formed fit tightly against the sides of the said
inner receptacle. Above this bag is placed another perforated tray and on this
another receptacle and so on until there is a series of such trays and receptacles,
while above the uppermost receptacle is superimposed another perforated tray on
which is placed slag wool or a layer or sheet of cotton wool.
The outer casing is covered by a suitably formed lid, while handle parts are
mounted at the upper end of the inner casing so as to enable the series of trays
and receptacles contained therein to be readily inserted or removed.
The inlet and outlet pipes for the acetylene gas are so formed that said
gas
is
caused to travel first through the container in which is placed the slag wool, the
gas by this means being broken or split up and any solid particles removed there-
from, then through the series of receptacles containing the calcium carbide or
like purifying agent and finally through the remaining layer of slag wool.
If desired the gas may be further passed over or through lime, or a solution of
caustic soda or caustic potash in order to effectually remove any traces of chlorine
remaining after its previous treatment.
1311
1
1000

page_text: improved means for use in the rurincation of Acetylene Gas.
We, JAMES WILLIAM BAILEY and JOHN CLAPHAM, both of Eagle Works,
Keighley, in the County of York, Engineers, 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, that is to say:
In the production of acetylene gas from calcium carbide which is only commer-
cially pure it is found that a certain amount of impurities, such as aqueous
vapour, sulphuretted and phosphoretted hydrogen and the like, are given off along
with said gas, and if allowed to remain present therein, have a deleterious action
on most of the metals employed in its conduction and combustion, and other-
wise seriously interfere with its successful use as an illuminant, and our inven-
tion relates to an improved means or apparatus of simple construction whereby
these impurities may be entirely or to a certain extent removed from said gas.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings, which are illustrative of our said
invention:--
1
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevation and plan respectively of our improved means
or apparatus for purifying acetylene gas.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional side elevation and sectional plan respectively of
parts illustrated by Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 5 and 6 are detail drawings hereinafter referred to.
Similar figures and letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
In carrying our invention into effect we make use of a case or holder a of
circular or other suitable shape in cross section and inside this we mount at a
suitable distance from the lower end the container by means of the flange b
thereon taking over the inwardly projecting flange a¹ in the holder a.
The con-
tainer is provided with a perforated bottom 62 and contains a quantity of slag
wool or other similar substance c. Above the container b and resting on the
Hange we place the cylinder or case d, this reaching to within a short distance
of the upper end of the holder a. Gas-tight joints are made between the
Hanges a band . On the flange of the cylinder d we place a tray e the
upper surface el of which is perforated or formed of suitable trellis work (see
Fig. 6) and above this we place a receptacle or bag f. containing calcium chloride
or other suitable purifying agent, this bag being formed to fit tightly against the
sides of said inner receptacle or cylinder d. Above this bag f. is placed another
tray e and over this another receptacle f and so on until there is a series of such
trays e and receptacles f, while above the uppermost receptacle is superimposed
another perforated tray 9 on which is placed slag wool or a layer or sheet of
cotton wool.
The holder a is covered by a suitably formed lid h, while handle parts & are
preferably mounted at the upper end of the cylinder d so as to enable the series
of trays and receptacles to be readily inserted into or removed from the holder a.
The whole aparatus is mounted on a suitable stand or support q.
The acetylene gas is conducted to the purifier by means of the pipe from
which it travels first through the container b (in which is placed the slag wool c
that acts as a distributor of the gas as well as collector of any particles of matter
carried thereby) then through the series of receptacles f containing the calcium
chloride or like purifying agent, and forward through the remaining layer of
slag wool c, whence it escapes by means of the annular space m intervening
between the holder a and cylinder b, through the outlet pipe n to be consumed as

page_text: will be well understood. Or if desired the gas may be further passed over or
through lime, or a solution of caustic soda or caustic potash in order to effectually
remove any traces of chlorine remaining after its previous treatment.
A small tap o is mounted at the lower end of the holder a in order that any
Equid matter collected in said holder may be removed while another tap p is
mounted on the lid h or at any part near the upper end of the holder a so that
on the acetylene gas being first admitted through the inlet k all the air or mix-
ture of air and acetylene contained in the holder a may escape through said tap p
prior to the gas being passed forward to be consumed.
It will readily be seen that we may vary, the number of trays & and recep-
tacles f as also the number of layers of slag wool c as circumstances may require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
Means or apparatus for use in the purification of acetylene gas, the same being
constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 18th day of August 1900.
SAMUEL HEY,
Agent for Applicants.