Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY EXLEY, of Byram Street, Huddersfield, in the County of
York, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating or
manufacturing acetylene gas (C2H2) and its object is to provide a simple and
compact apparatus adapted to automatically stop the production when a certain
quantity has been generated and again continue generating as the supply is
required.
For this purpose. I employ an apparatus consisting of a watertight receiver
having preferably two or more generators or producers connected to it. Each
generator is connected by a pipe or passage at or close to the top and a second
pipe or passage a suitable distance from the bottom and each pipe or passage is
fitted with a stop valve or cock. The receiver may consist of a vertical cylinder
which may have a slightly conical or dome shaped top, and the generators may be
cylinders of comparatively small diameter attached parallel to it. The generators
are each provided with a readily removable air and gas tight cap or cover at the
top fitted with an air valve or cock. They are also fitted with a removable water-
tight bottom adapted to be readily opened to enable the exhausted contents of the
generators to be removed when required!
Immediately above the receiver, or more or less elevated above it according to
the pressure at which the gas is required to be delivered, I provide a water-cistern
of sufficiently large capacity communicating with the receiver by one or more
pipes extending down into or connected with the receiver at a point below the level
of that at which the lower pipe or passage from each generator enters the receiver.
A delivery pipe, preferably passing in the form of a coil through the water-cistern,
is fitted to the highest point of the receiver.
Each generator is charged with calcic carbide, potassium carbide or an equivalent
substance contained in a wire cage or perforated container of such a diameter that
it. will readily pass into the generator and may extend down to, or approximately
to, the lower pipe or passage communicating with the receiver.
When each generator is charged in this way and the receiver is filled with water
(with more or less of a reserve in the said cistern) the lower pipe or passage of
one of the generators is opened thus admitting water thereto and the air valve
being opened the air is expelled by the acetylene gas generated by the action
resulting from the combination of the water and the calcic carbide or its equivalent.
Then when the air is expelled the air valve is closed and the upper pipe or passage
communicating with the receiver is opened. The gas afterwards generated passes
into the receiver displacing the water therein which is forced up into the cistern
until the water in the receiver falls below the level of the calcic carbide. Then
the generation of gas ceases and is only resumed when the escape or consumption
of gas allows the water to rise in the receiver and generator and again combine.
with the calcic carbide or its equivalent.
When the calcic carbide or its equivalent in one generator is exhausted or
approximately exhausted another one may be put into operation in the manner
before described and the first one may be discharged.

page_text: The pipe or passage from each generator to the receiver may pass up more or
less above the level of the top of the water cistern and extend downwards below
the minimum level of the water in the receiver by which means the gas is admitted
at or close to the bottom of the receiver and is consequently to some extent
washed as it rises through the water. When this pipe is formed in this way it may
not be fitted with a valve, it is therefore impossible to create excessive pressure in
the generator.
The air valves at the top of the receiver may be fitted with a fine gauze
diaphragm or its equivalent enabling the gas escaping therefrom to be tested by a
light without danger.
The receiver may be provided with a water-tight door to enable it to be cleaned
out or inspected.
Instead of putting the calcic carbide in perforated cages it may be suspended in
the generators in the form of a rod or in any other convenient manner.
Dated this 25th day of June 1895:
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.
Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN HENRY EXLEY, of Byram Street, Huddersfield, in the County of
York, Merchant, 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 improvements in apparatus for generating or
manufacturing acetylene gas and its object is to provide a simple and compact
apparatus adapted to automatically stop the production when a certain quantity
has been generated and again continue generating as the supply is required.
For this purpose. I employ an apparatus consisting of a watertight receiver
having preferably two or more generators or producers connected to it. Each
generator is connected to the receiver by a gas pipe or passage at or close to the
top and a water pipe or passage a suitable distance from the bottom and each
pipe or passage is fitted with a stop valve or cock. The receiver may consist of
a vertical cylinder which may have a slightly conical or dome shaped top, and the
generators may be cylinders of comparatively small diameter attached parallel to
The generators are each provided with a readily removable air and gas tight
cap or cover at the top and a discharge valve or the like at the bottom.
it.
Immediately above the receiver provide a water-cistern of sufficiently large
capacity communicating with the receiver by one or more pipes extending down
into or connected with the receiver at a point below the level of that at which the
lower pipe or passage from each generator enters the receiver. A delivery pipe,
preferably passing in the form of a coil through the water-cistern, is fitted to the
highest point of the receiver.
an
Each generator is charged with calcic carbide, potassium carbide or
equivalent substance contained in a wire cage or perforated container of such a
diameter that it will readily pass into the generator and may extend down to, or
approximately to, the lower pipe or passage communicating with the receiver.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings forming a part
of this Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in each of the figures.
Figure 1, represents an elevation, with the right hand side in diametrical section,
of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2, represents a plan view of the same.

page_text: Figure 3, represents a separate view on a larger scale of the wire cage for the
calcic carbide.
The cylindrical receiver or holder A has a water cistern B of fully the same
capacity mounted above it but separated therefrom by the diaphragm or horizontal:
partition C. A pipe D connecting the receiver with the cistern is fixed in this
diaphragm and extends almost to the bottom of the receiver and a delivery pipe E
from the receiver is also fixed in the said diaphragm and is carried out at the
top of the cistern and connected to the service pipe. The pipe E is preferably.
formed into a coil in the cisteru for the purpose of cooling the gas passing'
through it.
Two vertical generators F and F 2 are fixed to the side of the receiver and
are each connected to it by a gas pipe G fitted with a stop cock G 2 and a bottom
water pipe H also fitted with a stop cock H 2. A lid K is fitted to the top of
each generator which may be held tightly down against the packing L by the
screw M fitted in the bridge piece N extending diametrically across the top of the
generator. The bridge piece N is pivoted on the studs O, O fixed in the rim ƒ
of the generators. A discharge tap P is fitted in the bottom of each generator
to enable the water and residual matter to be drawn off when required.
A wire or perforated cage Q filled with carbide of calcium or other suitable
substance is placed in each generator and rests upon the end H 3 of the pipe H
projecting into the interior of the generator or it is supported above such pipe in
any other convenient manner. An ordinary bow handle R pivoted to the lugs S, S
secured on opposite sides of the top of the cage is provided to facilitate
removing the cage to discharge it. An ordinary water gauge T is preferably
fitted to the receiver.
To put the apparatus into operation the top cocks G 2 and H 2 are closed and
the receiver is filled with water as well as a few inches up the cistern to form a
reserve. Then the lids of the generators are removed and the cages filled with
calcic carbide are placed in position in the generators and the lids again secured.
Assuming that the generator F is first used the taps G2 and H2 in the gas and
water passages G and H are each opened and the water from the receiver is
admitted to the generator the generation of gas at once commences and this gas
passes into the receiver displacing the water therein and forces it up through the
pipe D into the cistern B until the water in the receiver falls below the level of
the calcic carbide in the cage Q. The generation of gas then ceases and is only
resumed when the escape or consumption of gas allows the water to again rise in
the receiver and generator and again combine with the calcic carbide.
W, is a water-tight door which may be removed to give access to the interior
of A.
An air valve may be fitted in each generator to discharge the air therefrom
before the gas passage to the receiver is opened, but I do not find it necessary.
When the calcic carbide or its equivalent in one generator is exhausted or
approximately exhausted another one may be put into operation in the manner..
before described and the first one may be discharged.
A pipe J is preferably fitted in the top of each generator and is carried up more
or less to the top of the water cistern and then down again and is connected to
the holder; this pipe forms a safety pipe and renders it impossible to create
excessive pressure in the generator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination with a receiver having a water cistern immediately above
and connected to it by a pipe extending below the minimum working level of the
water in the receiver, of an external acetylene gas generator connected to said
receiver by both a gas passage and a water passage, substantially as herein shown
and described.

page_text: 2. The combination with a receiver having a water cistern immediately above
and connected to it by a pipe extending below the minimum working level of the
water in the receiver, of two or more acetylene gas generators each connected to
said receiver by both a gas passage and a water passage, substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. The combination with acetylene gas apparatus of the type specified, of the
pipe J, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose specified.
4. My improved acetylene gas apparatus constructed, arranged and operated as
described with reference to and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of March 1896.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Patent Agents.