A New and Improved Acetylene Gas Generator and Container.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Acetylene Gas Generator and Container.
FREDERICK SANSOM THORN, Ironmonger &c., of No. 169 Camberwell New Road,
Surrey, and CHARLES HODDLE Photographer, of No. 164 Camberwell New Road,
Surrey do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new and improved apparatus for generating and
storing acetylene gas from calcium carbide automatically. To accomplish this we
provide two cylinders suitable for holding water with an inverted cylinder inside
each connected by a U shaped tube passing from the top of No. 1 cylinder which
acts as generator through the bottom of each to the top of No. 2 cylinder which acts
as gas container. A stop-cock being inserted in the U shaped pipe between the two
cylinders and a T piece and stop-cock is added just beyond the inlet pipe to cylinder
No. 2 to provide an outlet. The calcium carbide is placed in a perforated holder
Both outer cylinders
suspended from the top of the inverted cylinder in No. 1.
heing filled with water and the stop-cocks turned on the gas will be generated in
No. 1, as soon as the inverted cylinder sinks sufficiently to allow the calcium carbide
to reach the water.
The outlet stop-cock should then be closed and immediately the gas is passed on
to No. 2 which upon becoming full the gas then fills No. 1. When this is done the
holder containing calcium carbide is lifted out of the water automatically suspending
further action until some of the gas is used when the calcium carbide returns to the
water and the generating proceeds until again full.
Upon turning off the stopcock between the cylinders the generator can be opened
and recharged No. 2 still acting as a supply to burners which can remain alight
during this operation.
Of course cylinder No. 1 can be made and supplied separately without departing
from the purpose of this Patent.
A New and Improved Acetylene Gas Generator and Container.
FREDERICK SANSOM THORN Ironmonger 169 Camberwell New Road, London, S.E.
CHARLES HODDLE Photographer 164 Camberwell New Road, London S.E. 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 has reference to a new and improved apparatus for generating
and storing acetylene gas from calcium carbide automatically.
To accomplish this we provide two cylinders suitable for holding water with an
inverted cylinder inside each connected by a U shaped tube passing from the top
of No. 1 cylinder, which acts as generator, through the bottom of each to the top
of No. 2 cylinder which acts as gas container. A stop cock being inserted in the
D

page_text: Ushaped pipe between the two cylinders and a T piece and stop cock is added
just beyond the inlet pipe to cylinder No. 2 to provide an outlet.
The
The calcium carbide is placed in a perforated holder suspended from the top of
the inverted cylinder in No. 1. Both outer cylinders being filled with water and
the stop cocks turned on the gas will be generated in No. 1. as soon as the inverted
cylinder sinks sufficiently to allow the calcium carbide to reach the water.
outlet stop cock should then be closed and immediately the gas is passed on to
No. which upon becoming full the gas then fills No. 1. When this is done
the holder containing calcium carbide is lifted out of the water automatically
suspending further action until some of the gas is used when the calcium carbide
returns to the wator and the generating proceeds until again full.
Upon turning off the stop cock between the cylinders the generator can be
opened and recharged No. 2 still acting as a supply to burners which can remain
alight during this operation.
Of course cylinder No. 1. can be made and supplied separately without departing
from the purpose of this Patent.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereto annexed.
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Fig. 1. shows a vertical section of the generator complete. J is a cylindrical
vessel open at the top made of sheet metal provided with feet or supports and
side handles for lifting as may be required. On the side of this vessel J is a
pocket J by means of which water can be poured into the vessel J the water
flowing into the interior through the hole J. Passing through the bottom of the
vessel J is a pipe N with its lower end leading into the condensed water chamber K
from which leads the external pipe P to the upper end of which can be fitted a
connection for attaching indiarubber or metal tubing as may be required.
a stop cock for opening or closing the outlet through the pipe P.
Also passing
through the bottom of the vessel J is another pipe N₁ with its lower end
connected to the pipe N and its top end fitted with a ball valve of ordinary
construction N³ having its lever connected to the inside of the cover E2 of the
vessel E by means of the chain N and hook N. Ja is a projecting flange fixed on
the side of the vessel J and cut away in two places as shown in Fig. 2, which is a
section of Fig. 1. on the line 1. 2. E is a cylindrical gas chamber made of sheet
metal and open at the bottom so that the water in the vessel J can rise in its
interior it is provided with a domed top E having a rim E by which the gas
chamber can be supported on the top edge of the vessel J. E is a projecting
flange fixed on the side of gas chamber E and cut away in two places as shown in
Fig. 2. In the centre of the gas chamber E hangs the calcium carbide holder.
The details of this and the top valve of gas chamber are shown in Fig. 3 now to be
described. In Fig. 3, A is the calcium carbide holder made of sheet metal or any
suitable material and provided with a flange A at the top by which it is supported
on the valve seating D. The holder is circular in its cross section and the lower end
is smaller than the upper one so that the holder with the aid of the cross bar A³ can
be drawn out through the opening in the valve seating D. One or more large holes A³
are provided near the top of the holder and a system or systems of perforations A¹
arranged as shown are provided at about the position indicated. The bottom of the
holder may be permanently closed or fitted with a plug B screwed into a socket A³,
this plug can be removed if necessary when the holder is cleaned or the contents
taken out. The valve seating D is fixed on the top E2 of the gas chamber E, a circular
opening E being provided in the top E' to allow the carbide holder to pass through.
The seating Dis fitted with a joint ring of indiarubber or other suitable material, C.
On the joint ring rests a circular metal valve F which can be forced down tight on
the ring C by means of the screw H and the bar G. The bar G. Fig. 4. is tapped
to suit the screw H so that when the screw presses the valve down the bar G
rises and being placed under the lugs D', D' as in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 enables
the valve F to be kept firmly down on the joint ring C. The bar and valve are
removed when the holder has to be lifted out of the gas chamber.

page_text: The action and method of using this apparatus is as follows:
vessel J.
The gas chamber E is lowered into the vessel J in the position shown in Fig. 2
which is a section on line 1. 2. Fig. 1, when the rim E3 rests on the top of the
vessel J the gas chamber E is turned round a distance equal to about of its
diameter so that the flanges E', E are immediately beneath the flanges J², J2 on
The end of the chain N on the ball valve N³ is then placed on the
hook No.
Dry calcium carbide in such quantity as may be required is placed in the holder A
which is then put into the gas chamber E and the valve F is closed by means of
the screw H the bar G and the lugs D', D' Fig. 3. as already described. The cock P
is opened and water is poured into the pocket J' from whence it passes through the
hole J³ into the vessel J until it reaches the required level as at M. The cock Pl
is then closed. As soon as the water reaches the calcium carbide in the holder A
by flowing in through the holes A¹, acetylene gas is evolved and passing through
the holes A' and A³ accumulates in the upper part of the gas chamber E until it
acquires sufficient pressure to raise the chamber the upward movement being
eventually stopped by the meeting of the flanges E', E' and J, J2 or by the opening
of the ball valve N the lever of which is raised by the action of the chain N
attached to the cover E2-either or both of these devices being used for the purpose
as may be required.
The opening of the ball valve allows the gas to escape through the pipes N1, N2,
the pipe N being continued to any point required. The upward movement of the
chamber E causes the carbide to be lifted out of the water when the generation of
the acetylene gas soon ceases. The gas stored in the chamber E can be used for
lighting or other purposes by opening the cock P' and allowing it to flow to the
point required through tubing connected to the pipe P.
While the gas is being used the pressure falls and the chamber E carrying the
carbide holder with it sinks until the carbide again reaches the water when more gas
is evolved and the chamber once more rises. The generation of gas thus proceeds
automatically during its consumption and until the calcium carbide is exhausted.
Fig. 7 shows a vertical section of the gas container complete.
is a cylindrical vessel open at the top made of sheet metal provided with
feet or supports and side handles for lifting as may be required. On the side of this
vessel is a pocket Q by means of which water can be poured into the ves-el Q
the water flowing into the interior through the hole Q*.
Connected to the bottom of the vessel Q is a pipe T with its lower end connected
to an external pipe Tone end of which by means of the union and bends at T2 is
connected to the pipe T3. T4 and T are stop cocks and T is a bracket for supporting
the pipe T, a connection suited for indiarubber or metal tubing can be fitted to the
end of the pipe T3 beyond the stop cock T. Q³ is a projecting flange fixed on the
side of the vessel Q and cut away in two places as shown in Fig. 8 which is a section
of Fig. 7. on the lines 3. 4. R is the gas chamber made of sheet metal and open at
the bottom so that the water in vessel Q can rise in its interior. It has a domed
top R having a rim R³ by which it can be supported on the top edge Q1 of the
vessel Q. R' is a projecting flange fixed on the side of the vessel It and cut away in
two places as shown in Fig. 8. Two or more lengths of chain are provided and
fixed round the vessel Q in suitable positions and hooks are fitted to the top R2 of the
vessel R for connecting same. One such chain and attachments being shown at Q
The action of this container is as follows-The gas chamber R being placed in the
vessel Qin the position shown by Fig. 8 is turned about one quarter of its diameter
until the flanges R', R' are immediately beneath the flanges Q3, Q3 and the ends of
the chains on the vessel Q as at Q are placed on the hooks on the cover R² as already
described. The cock T is then opened and water is poured into the pocket Q² until
it stands at a suitable level in the vessel Q and chamber R as at S. The cock T is
then closed and the container is ready for use. The pipe T shown on the left of
Fig. 7. is connected directly or by a length of tubing to the apparatus used for
generating the gas. The gas is admitted to the container by opening the cock T

page_text: and accumulates in the chamber R until it acquires sufficient pressure to raise it its
upward movement being stopped by the meeting of the flanges R', R' and Q3, Q3 or
by the chains outside the vessel Q as at Q either or both of these devices being used
for the purpose as may be required. The gas in container can then be used as
required by connecting tubing to the top of the pipe T3 and opening the cock T.
As the chamber R sinks owing to the consumption of gas a further supply is
admitted by the pipe T or the cock Ts can be closed, the pipe T' disconnected from
the source of supply and the container used until the gas within it is exhausted.
The generator Fig. 1. and the container Fig. 7 can be used in combination when
required by disconnecting the pipe P from the vessel J. Fig. 1. and connecting
the pipe T Fig. 7. directly or by means of tubing to the union O Fig. 1. The
generator and container can be any distance apart, but if placed close together we
should connect the vessels J and Q by a hook or hooks or by metal straps to
facilitate transport and connect the top R2 of the chamber R to the top-E of the
chamber E by a short length of chain so that after the chamber R has risen a short
distance it will exert a pull upon the chamber E and assist it to rise.
The action of the combined apparatus will be as follows.-As the gas is generated
in the chamber E Fig. 1. it will, when the cock T is opened pass into the container.
As the chamber R is of less weight than the chamber E Fig. 1 it will rise and become
well charged with gas before the chamber E moves. The action of the generator
will be automatic as already described during consumption of the gas drawn off
from the pipe T3. When the carbide becomes exhausted the cock T can be closed and
as the upward travel of the chamber R is in advance of the travel of the chamber E
there will always be sufficient gas in the chamber R to continue the supply during
a period long enough to enable a fresh charge of carbide to be put into the holder.
Two or more generators and containers can be used in combination by connecting
them with metal or other tubing as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The generator with calcium carbide holder, gas chamber and condensed water
chamber complete, the calcium carbide holder having its system or systems of
perforations and the perforations in each system arranged as shown, all substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The container with gas chamber complete, substantially as described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination substantially as described, of a generator and container or of
generators and containers as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1896.
FREDERICK SANSOM THORN.
CHARLES HODDLE.