Means for Regulating the Supply of Water to Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Regulating the Supply of Water to Acetylene Gas
Generators.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGII, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., Fel.Ch.Inst.P.A., F.I.Inst.,
Practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion from John Wilson Carey, of Waverly Road, Taringa, Brisbane, in the
Colony of Queensland, Cabinet Maker), and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for supplying water to the generator for
the production of acetylene gas, said apparatus being so constructed that the
supply of water is regulated by the consumption of the gas.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pump of suitable diameter and
place it centrally within the gas-holder tank, the bucket or plunger as the
case may be is connected by a rod with the crown of the gas-holder. A suction
pipe or valve is connected either to draw from the gas-holder tank or from a
separate water supply. A delivery pipe (which may be fitted with a non-return
valve) is led from the pump above the highest part of the generator and turned
into the carbide chamber in such a manner that the carbide is brought in contact
with the water from the bottom upwards thus allowing the damp gas given off
to dry (by the absorption by the carbide of its moisture) as it passes up through
the carbide contained in the upper divisions of the generator.
In order however, that the invention may be thoroughly understood I will
now describe it in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 represents a part sectional-clevation of a complete plant for the
production of acetylene gas.
Figure 2 is a sectional-plan of same on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional-elevation of a small plant suitable for supplying gas
to a cycle or other vehicle.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification wherein several generators
are arranged in a circle around the gas holder.
A is the gas-holder tank. B, the gas-holder. C, the generator with water
jacket. 1, the delivery pipe coiled to increase the cooling surface. E, the pump
shell. F, the bucket or plunger. G, pump rod or spear connecting it to the
crown of the gas-holder. H, the suction pipe and valve. I, the delivery pipe
with valve J. K is a pipe with tap provided for conveying water for starting
the apparatus. L is a cover over the pump shell used as a guide to steady the
rod and gas-holder.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the carbide is put in through
the caps a in the top of the generator C, this having been done a little water
is admitted by means of the tap, through pipe K into the generator, thus causing

page_text: referring to one carbide chamber only, applies to all the chambers that may be
placed around the gas holder tank, because as will be seen every chamber is
separate and complete in itself and all the taps correspond exactly, so that
when the carbide is exhausted from one chamber the gas and water taps of that
chamber may be closed and the corresponding taps of the next chamber opened
and so on in rotation. When it is desired to stop any further generation of gas,
the drain tap g should be opened to let out any water and the tap closed
again.
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. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, a pump situated preferably
in the centre of the gas holder tank actuated by the movements of the gas holder,
a suction valve and pipe from the water supply to the pump, a delivery pipe
(with or without a valve) extending from the pump to a point above the highest
point of the generator and led thereto, substantially as hercin described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, the combination with a
gas holder of a pump and connections, substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of December 1899
by the re-action of the water on the carbide the immediate production of gas,
which passing into the holder B, causes the latter to rise and with it the plunger
or bucket F, and as the latter rises it draws in water through the suction
pipe H. Then when the production of gas ceases or the consumption overtakes the
supply, the holder falls and the pump discharges the water through the delivery
pipe into the generators and so causes the production of more gas, which in
turn raises the holder; and thus the apparatus works so long as there is
carbide in the generator.
In the apparatus shown in Figure 3, the same letters of reference apply, the
difference being that the whole is surrounded by a case M having a cap N
to prevent any water slopping about; also the delivery pipe D is shown dis-
charging into the bottom of the holder, from whence the gas bubbles to the
surface, but the pipe may be led to above the surface of the water. The
generator C in this case is placed in the bottom.
It is intended to carry this apparatus on the back fork of a cycle and connect
to the head lamp by a flexible tube; or it may be carried anywhere in a vehicle
and connected to both lamps.
It will of course be understood that this pump can be fitted to any variety of
generators and gas-holders, other than those illustrated.
All the external piping is advantageously of brass and bent as shown, and
all the inside piping is advantageously of compo. Where the pipe I, that leads
the water from the pump enters the top of the carbide chamber or generator,
there is provided a small flat hollow piece of galvanised iron soldered down each
edge with top end opposite the inlet pipe; this serving to shed the water down
the inside wall of the generator to the bottom and thus prevent any water
touching the carbide in the top caps. The practical operation of the invention
is as follows:-
At the commencement all the taps should be closed except the water tap
(b, at the back) and the gas tap (c, in the front) and the gas holder tank (A)
and the water jacket a round the carbide chamber C should both be nearly full
of water, and the carbide chamber of course supplied with carbide of calcium.
Assuming all these to be in order, then open the starting tap k in the pipe K,
this permits water to pass from the gas holder tank into the bottom of the
carbide chamber and immediately said water meets with the carbide the gas
is of course generated and passes out of the generator near the top via the pipe D
into the gas holder B causing the latter to rise, the tap k should then be
turned off and as soon as the holder has risen about half way, the air tap b¹
should be opened, this will suddenly release the pressure and bring the holder
down smartly and eject any air that may have got in, but before the holder
has come right down, the air tap should be closed in order to prevent more
air getting in, then connect the service pipe to the service tap d. The apparatus
is now in order and ready to make gas. All the taps at the burner or burners
must be open to permit of the expulsion of air which is necessary in order to
get a good light. To start, open the gas tap c and water tap (all the rest
being, as above stated closed). Now open the starting tap k for a few moments
thus admitting water to the carbide and producing the gas which as before is
conveyed via the pipe D into the gas holder B, and as soon as the latter begins
to rise, close the tap and open the service tap d and light up the burners.
There is a tap f for testing the carbide chamber to find out whether or not
the carbide is exhausted. To do so, close the gas tap c and open this test tap f,
and if water flow it indicates that the carbide is exhausted, but if gas come
it indicates that the carbide is not exhausted.
In order to recharge with carbide while the lights are on, the gas holder should
be at least half way up close the gas tape to shut the gas in the holder,
remove the cover of the carbide chamber, open the drain tap g to let out the lime
water and residue after which close this tap and re-charge the chamber with
fresh carbide and replace the cover. This description although for convenience

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
Means for Regulating the Supply of Water to Acetylene Gas
Generators.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., Fel.Ch.Inst.P.A., F.I.Inst.,
Practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion from John Wilson Carey, of Waverly Road, Taringa, Brisbane, in the
Colony of Queensland, Cabinet Maker), and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for supplying water to the generator for
the production of acetylene gas, said apparatus being so constructed that the
supply of water is regulated by the consumption of the gas.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pump of suitable diameter and
place it centrally within the gas-holder tank, the bucket or plunger as the
case may be is connected by a rod with the crown of the gas-holder. A suction
pipe or valve is connected either to draw from the gas-holder tank or from a
separate water supply. A delivery pipe (which may be fitted with a non-return
valve) is led from the pump above the highest part of the generator and turned
into the carbide chamber in such a manner that the carbide is brought in contact
with the water from the bottom upwards thus allowing the damp gas given off
to dry (by the absorption by the carbide of its moisture) as it passes up through
the carbide contained in the upper divisions of the generator.
In order however, that the invention may be thoroughly understood I will
now describe it in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 represents a part sectional-elevation of a complete plant for the
production of acetylene gas.
Figure 2 is a sectional-plan of same on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional-elevation of a small plant suitable for supplying gas
to a cycle or other vehicle.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modification wherein several generators
are arranged in a circle around the gas holder.
A is the gas-holder tank. B, the gas-holder. C, the generator with water
jacket. D, the delivery pipe coiled to increase the cooling surface. E, the pump
shell. F, the bucket or plunger. G, pump rod or spear connecting it to the
crown of the gas-holder. H, the suction pipe and valve. I, the delivery pipe
with valve J. K is a pipe with tap provided for conveying water for starting
the apparatus. L is a cover over the pump shell used as a guide to steady the
rod and gas-holder.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the carbide is put in through
the caps a in the top of the generator C, this having been done a little water
is admitted by means of the tap, through pipe K into the generator, thus causing
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