Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
I, RICHARD JOHN Moss, Gas Engineer, residing at 10, Conduit Road; Abingdon,
in the County of Berkshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the production of acetylene gas from calcium car-
bide, and is an amplification of an invention for which an application for Letters
Patent, No. 1254 of 1897, was made by me on January 18th.
The present invention relates particularly to an improved means for trapping
the gas in the gas holder whilst the generator is withdrawn from the said gas
holder for the purpose of recharging the carbide cage. The apparatus consists.
essentially of a square outer tank or container having a number of stand pipes
within it communicating with or connecting water pockets at the base of the
container with the generating chamber, gasholder, and supply or delivery pipe,
the gas holder having a central and depending tubular part within it adapted to
work in the container, an independent generator to fit the said tubular part and to
be carried by the gasometer, and which latter has a permanently closed top part,
an open bottom, and a carbide cage located therein, which is introduced from its
open bottom.
It is in the construction of one of the water pockets in the base of the container
which constitutes the basis of this application. In my prior application as cited
a valve is used covering one of the stand pipes for the purpose of forming a
trapping of the gas in the gasometer against its return through the stand pipe
communicating with the generator when the generator is removed for recharging.
According to this invention the valve as aforesaid is dispensed with and a water
trap is formed in the water pocket referred to in the following manner:-
The inner end of the vertical stand pipe from the generating chamber extends
into the water pocket to within three-eighths of an inch of its bottom, and around
this is placed a partition or dividing strip of metal forming a chamber around the
said end, but not shutting the pipe off wholly from the body of the water pocket;
the said partition being left standing from the bottom of the water pocket about
a quarter of an inch and depending an eight of an inch below the lower end of
the stand pipe from the generating chamber as aforesaid. This water pocket has
connected at its other end the stand pipe leading to the gasometer and, when
working the water pocket is about half full of water.
When the gas is being generated the partitioned-off portion around the end of
the generator stand pipe is formed into a compressure chamber for the purpose
of displacing the water from the partitioned-off part into the body of the water
pocket, so that no resistance is offered to the passage of the gas downwardly under-
neath the lower edge of the partition, and it has only to rise through the water
in the body of the pocket to pass up the gasometer stand pipe into the gasometer,
but immediately the pressure of gas generation is relieved the pressure in the com-
pression chamber also is reduced and the water rises therein to a common level

page_text: The working condition of the water pocket c is approximately half full of water,
and likewise is the chamber g³, when the generator is in the conditions shown
in Figs 1 and 4; the water in the said chamber rising to a like extent in the
extension g of the stand pipe. When the generation of gas is taking place in
the generating chamber and the said gas is passing into the gas holder e by
way of the stand pipes a³, a", and the water pocket or purifying chamber c, the
parts of the generator are approximately in the position shown by the broken
view, Fig. 3, the chamber at this time acting as a compression chamber so that
the water therein is forced out by the pressure of the gas approximately clear to
the extreme end of the extension g of the stand pipe, so that the gas may bubble
through the water under the partition 2 and upwards, through the water in the
water pocket, to the stand pipe a, and from thence to the gas holder e. If the
pressure down the stand pipe is withdrawn altogether or reduced, as would be
the case if the independent generating chamber d was withdrawn, or the carbide
spent, the displaced water in the chamber would immediately rush back from
the main body in the pocket e and cover up the lower end of the stand pipe a³,
which covering up would seal the said stand pipe against gas already generated
and contained in the gasholder.
It is to be understood that the generating chamber and the gas holder e are
never rigidly connected, although the said chamber under ordinary conditions of
working rests upon the said holder; also that the extension g of the stand pipe a
does not reach by at least an 8 of an inch to the lower edge of the partition
wall g, and that the said lower edge stands away from the bottom of the water
pocket about a ¼ of an inch.
Thus is an acetylene gas generator constructed without a valve of any kind,
(the water trapping dispensing with all such objectional elements) and so that it
can be recharged with carbide without the escape of any stored gas and without
the necessity of using the whole of the gas before recharging.
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:-
First. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with an independent and
removable generating chamber fitted with carbide cages, and a stand pipe which
is enclosed therein, of a water trapping means fitted to the end of the said stand
pipe and intervening between it and the gas holder for the purpose substantially
as described and set forth.
Second. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a water con-
tainer 2, a gas holder working therein, an independent and generating chamber d
centrally supported by the said gas holder, and being fitted with carbide cages,
and an enclosed stand pipe a, of a water trapping means fitted to the lower end of
the stand pipe a, and located within a gas washing or purifying chamber c, so as
to intervene between the said stand pipe and the gas holder, substantially as
described and set forth.
Third. The general arrangement and construction of the whole of the parts of
the gas generator in combination as set forth in Figs. 1 to 4.
Dated this 22nd doxe of October 1909
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.