Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Calcic Carbide and Illuminating and Heating Gases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
CUALI LIIE SIMCITICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Manufacture of Calcic
Carbide and Illuminating and Heating Gases.
We, HILLIARY ELDRIDGE, Electro-Metallurgist, DANIEL JOHNSON CLARK,
Electrician, SYLVAIN BLUM, Calcium Carbide Expert, and ANDRE ABRAHAM BLUM,
Gentleman, all of the City of Galveston, County of Galveston and State of Texas,
United States of America, 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 an electro-chemical apparatus designed for producing
calcium carbide for use in the manufacture of acetylene gas, and for the manu-
facture of illuminating gas itself, thus enabling us at one and the same operation
to manufacture calcium carbide in the electrical furnace and to generate a gas
suitable for general illuminating purposes.
One object of this invention is to provide a plant in which the heat generated
by the electrical furnace or retort to fuse the materials in the manufacture of
calcium carbide may be utilized as a means for heating air to be employed in
the manufacture of illuminating gas.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which acetylene
gas may be generated and in which hot air may be carburetted, such operations
being performed independently and said apparatus is so constructed and arranged
for service that the gas produced by carbureited air may be enriched by combining
acetylene gas therewith, and subsequently intermingling such combined gases
by decomposing them, due to the action of heat in the electrical retort or furnace,
thereby producing a superior quality of illuminating gas.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved furnace or retort
in which the parts are arranged for easy access and manipulation, and in which
the passage of air or gas through their heating appliances may be effected
continuously to carry on the manufacture of gas uninterruptedly while the furnace
is being charged or the product removed.
With these ends in view, our invention consists of the novel combination of
instrumentalities, and in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be
hereinafter fully described and poinied out in the claims.
To enable others to understand our invention, we have illustrated one embodi-
ment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,
and in which.-
Figure is a general sectional elevation of our plant for manufacturing
calcium carbide and generating illuminating gas.
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the electrical retort or
furnace, detached from the gas making elements of the plant.
Figure is an enlarged sectional elevation through the carburetting tank, the
acetylene gasomeier, gas generator, and the primary storage tank.

page_text: Figure 4 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the revoluble carrier and the
sectional head or closure of a part of the electrical furnace or retort.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional plan view, on an enlarged seale, the plane of
section being indicated by the dotted line 5-5 of Figure 2 and looking in the
direction indicated by the arrow.
Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through a part of the furnace or retori,
illustrating the construction at the open receiving end of the series of hot air
pipes employed in the furnace for heating atmospheric air therein preparatory to
being forced into the carburetting tank.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the plow or stirrer within the electrical
retort or furnace to throw the materials within the zone of the electric are therein.
Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
1
Generally speaking, our plant for manufacturing calcium carbide and illumi-
nating gas contemplates the employment of an electrical furnace 1, a carburetter 2,
an acetylene gas generator 3. a holder or gasometer 4, for the neetylene gas, and
general or storage gasometer 5, all of which are operatively connected together
for service in the manner which will be hereinafter fully described. We will
first proceed to a detail description of the electrical furnace indicated by the
numeral, and shown more clearly by Figures 2. 4. 5 and 6 of the drawings.
This furnace embodies a retort constructed of masonry or fire brick in any
suitable way to provide a chamber the fire brick construction being preferred.
because it is better adapted to resist the intense heat generated by the electrical
appliances of the furnace. The bottom of the chamber 7 of the retort is con-
structed with a cavity 7" in which is fitted a central cathode S-S both members
of which are made of metal, although other suitable material may be employed
in the formation of such cathode. The member S of the cathode is designed to
be permanently fastened or seated within the cavity of the retort, but the
member S of said cathode is exposed to the intense heat of the electric are, in
consequence of which said member 8" is liable to deteriorate and wear out. 117
therefore, prefer to apply the member S" of the cathode removably within the
permanent member S thereof, in order that such member S may be renewed when
worn. The electric connection between one of the conductors of the circuit and
the cathode is effected by the employment of a metallic rod 9. which passes
through a suitable passage formed in the brick work of the retort 6, the inner end
of said rod provided with a screw thread engaging with correspondingly threaded
openings in the members of said cathode, while to the outer end of said rid 9
is clamped, or otherwise fixed, one of the conductors I of the electric circuit.
The anode 11 extends vertically through the retort in axial relation to said retort
and to the cathode, the lower end of said anode being presented centrally to the
removable member S of the cathode. This anode consists, preferably, of a pencil
or rod of carbon, and said carbon anode is fitted within a tubular carrier 12
suspended above the retort by means which permit of the vertical adjustment of
said carrier and anode, in order to establish and regulate the are as required.
Over the electric furnace is arranged a suspension beam 13, which may he
supported from the roof or in a overhead position by any suitable means. This
suspension beam sustains the hood, the suspending devices therefor, and the
suspending devices for the anode and its tubular carrier. The hood 14 is of
conical or funnel shape, substantially as shown by Figure 2. and it is suspended
over the retort in a manner to have its broad, lower, open end adjacent in, and
entirely surrounding the upper part of, the retort 6 in order that said hood may
collect and receive the fumes and gases arising from the retort during the fusing
of the calcium oxide and carbon necessary to form the calcium carbide. On the
upper edge of the wall surrounding the retort chamber is rigidly fastened n
metalle bearing plate 15. and this bearing plate serves as a support for a series
of angular brackets 14, the latter being bölfed rigidly to said bearing plate, sub-|

page_text: stantially as shown in the instance illustrated at the right hand of Figure 2. The
brackets 16 extend upwardly from the retort and have the inclined extremities 16*
forming seats for the reception of the lower edge of the fume collecting hood 14,
and the upper end of said fume collecting hood terminates in a tubular exten-
sion 14 to which is attached a bearing ring 17. This bearing ring 17 is flanged
to fit snugly to the tubular extension 14 of the fume hood, and it is also provided
with vertical openings or sockets IS in which are fitted the lower extremities of
the vertical guide rods 19. The bearing ring, the tubular extension of the fume
collecting hood, and the guide rods for said hood, are all united solidly together
by through bolts 20 which pass through said parts substantially as indicated by
Figure 2.
To the suspension beam 13 is rigidly bolted the flanged upper end of a hanger 21,
which is provided above the electrical appliance to form a means which assists
in guiding the rods 19 of the fume collecting hood, and as one of the guides for
the tubular carrier of the anode 11. This hänger 21 has its lower head provided
with a guide box which consists of an upwardly projecting sleeve 22, a bushing 23
and a gland 24. The sleeve 22 is integral with the lower head of the hanger, and
The
it is externally threaded to receive an internal thread on the gland 24.
bushing 23 is of electric insulating material and it is confined within the sleeve
and gland of the guide box, so as to come in engagement with the tubular
carrier 12 of the movable anode, said bushing serving to insulate the anode and its
tubular carrier electrically from the metallic parts of the guide box and the
hanger 21. The upper extremity of the anode carrier 12 protrudes above the
guide box on the hanger 21, and to said extremity is fastened a head 25. This
head is socketed to receive the conductors 10 forming a part of the electrical
circuit, said conductors being clamped in the head by means of set screws or
other suitable devices. To the eve of the head 25 is connected one end of the
suspension cable, rope or chain 26, which passes upwardly over a guide sheave 27.
the frame of which is bolted or otherwise fastened to the suspension beam B:
and said suspension cable or chain 26 receives a drop weight (not shown). The
drop serves as a counter-poise for the anode and its carrier, whereby the carrier is
adapted to move easily and freely and to be adjusted up or down, as may be
required. The tubular carrier 12 terminates at its lower end in an enlarged foot,
which receives a clamping screw 12 adapted to bind upon the carbon pencil or
rod forming the anode and to clamp said anode rigidly and adjustably within
said tubular carrier 12. The guide rods 19 for the fume collecting hood pass
through suitable apertures provided in the upper and lower heads of the hanger 21
and in the suspension beam 13, and these rods thus serve to direct the hood !!
in a straight vertical line and keep it from swaying out of position with relation
to the retort and to the brackets 16 upon which the lower open end of the hood
is seated, when said hood is lowered into close relation to the retort. The bearing
ring 17 is provided with laterally extending lugs 28, to which are attached weight
earrying ropes or chains 29 which are reeved through suitable sheaves 30, bolted
or otherwise fastened to the suspension beam 13. The weighted cables 29 counter-
poise the fume collecting hood 14 and enable the latter to be raised and lowered
easily and quickly so that access may be obtained to the chamber 7 of the retort.
The flanged hearing ring 17 being attached rigidly to the fume collecting hood.
provision must be made for the exit of the fumes and gases therefrom. I attain
this object and also provide a guide box 31 for the anode carrier 12. said guide
box 31 being arranged centrally within the bearing ring to provide openings or
slots 2 for the exit of the gases and fumes from the hood. This guide box 31
consists of a sleeve 33 depending centrally from the bearing ring, a gland, and
an insulating bushing 35. The sleeve 33 is joined to the hearing ring by the
radial webs 36, and the lower end of said sleeve is threaded to enable the gland 34
to be screwed thereon, in order to confine the bushing 35 within the sleeve and
in electrical contact with the anode carrier 12. This bushing consists of an

page_text: electrical insulating material arranged to have direct contact with the anode
carrier and to serve as the means for insulating the hearing ring and the hoo!
electrically from the anode carrier, and the insulated guide box 31 is situated
in the bearing ring and on the hood in vertical afinement with the insulated guide
box on the lower end of the hanger 21, whereby the anode carrier 12 is adapted
to pass through both insulated guide boxes and to he guided in a straight vertical
line thereby.
The bearing plate 15, on the upper edge of the retort 6, is provided in its upper
surface with a groove forming a ball race for the reception of a series of anti-
friction balls or rolls 37, and upon the ball bearing formed by the balls or
rolls 37 rests a rotatable carrier S. shown by Figures 2 and 4. This rotatable
carrier consists of a ring or annulus occupying a horizontal position in compact
relation to the upper open side of the relori G, and said carrier is adapted for
rotation in a horizontal plane on the retort in order to provide a means for moving
the stirrer or. plow 39 within the refert chamber. In one embodiment of our
invention, this rotatable carrier 88 is provided with a series of gear teeth on its
periphery, with which teeth meshes a spur gear pinion 40 fastened to the upper
end of a shaft. 41. Said shaft 41 is journaled at its upper end in a suitable
bearing of the frame 42, and the lower end of the shaft is stepped in a bearing $
on the base of said frame 42, the latter being bolted or otherwise fastened to the
base or floor of the furnace, see Figure 2. Said rotatable carrier 38 sustains a
sectional head or closure 44-14. This closure is of substantially disk like form
and adapted, when closed, to lie within the ring like carrier. The sections of the
head or closure are provided with lugs or ears 45 hinged at 46 to diametrically
opposite sides of the carrier 38, and said sections of the closure are provided, near
their inner free edges, with lugs 47 which are adapted to rest, when the sections
are closed, upon the carrier and thus limit the folding or closing movement of
said sections forming the head or closure. The pivotal connection 46. hetween the
sectional closure and the rotatable carrier, occupy positions above the horizontal
plane of the carrier, as shown by Figure 2, and thus the sections of the closure
may be drawn upwardly and outwardly to occupy position. when opened, out of
the way of easy access to the retort chamber 7. The adjacent inner edges of the
hinged closure members are recessed at 49 to form a central opening in the closure
or head, for the passage of the anode II and its carrier 12, thus permitting free
vertical movement or adjustment of said anode and its carrier when the head is
adjusted to close the upper open side of the retort chamber.
The plow or stirrer 39 has an offstanding curved foot 89%, see Figure 7, and
the shank of said plow or stirrer passes vertically through a socket 39 provided
in the member 44 of the head or closure, said shank being clamped rigidly in
position in said socket 39 by a binding screw 89 or its equivalent. The shaft
has a pulley 48, or other driving appliance, for imparting rotary motion to the
shaft, and the said shaft is adapted to drive the earrier BS, the sectional closure
or head, which is hinged to said carrier, and the plow or stirrer 39, so that said
plow or stirrer is adapted to travel in a horizontal plane within the material
contained in the retort chamber, thus stirring up said materials and feeding fresh
material within the zone of the electric are formed by and between the anode 11
and two-part cathode S-8 in the bottom of the retort chamber.
The carburetter 2 consists of a vertical tank 50. As shown by Figures 1 and 3.
this tank 50 consists of a cylindrical vessel closed at its upper and lower ends by
suitable heads, but the detail construction of the tank is not material, because
the tank may consist of metallic sections and heads riveted together. The upper
head of the carburetter tank is constructed to accommodate a series of pipes.
which will be presently described in detail, and said carburetter tank is equipped
with a liquid gage 51 and with a pressure gage 52, which gages may be of any
suitable or preferred construction. The pipe 5 is connected to the upper head
of the tank 50 and with a suitable supply tank containing hydro-carbon fluid, such
as naptha, and said pipe 53 thus constitutes the supply pipe for renewing the

page_text: supply of hydro-carbon liquid to the tank 50, as may be required, said pipe 53
being provided with a stop cock 5 to cut off communication with the supply
tank and the tank 50. Between the tank 50, containing the bath or liquid hydro-
carbon, and the retort of the electrical furnace, is arranged an air pump 54.
In the drawing we have shown this air pump as of the rotary blower variety, but
the style of air pump which may be employed is not material. Said air pump 54
has its discharge nozzle connected with the hydro-carbon tank 50 for the liqui:1
hydro-carbon, and with one series of heating pipes or coils within the furnace-
retort, by a pipe. the sections of which are indicated at 55-55". The pipe 55"
is connected to the discharge of the pump 54 and leads thence to the head of the
tank 50 and terminates in a downwardly extending branch 55, which passes
through the tank 50 nearly to the bottom thereof, so as to discharge air into the
liquid hydro-carbon contained in the tank 50. The section 55 of the air pipe
is connected with one series of pipes 56 within the chamber of the furnace-retort.
We provide this refort with two series of pipes, one series of which has been
referred to as being indicated by 56, and the other series of which is indicated
at 57. The series of pipes 56 are arranged outside of the pipes 57 and adjacent
to the wall of the retort 6. and thus the pipes 57 are arranged within the air
pipes 56 so as to be exposed directly to the heat evolved by the electric are within
the electrical furnace. The outer series of pipes 56 are connected with the pipe 55.
which leads to the air pump 54, and they thus constitute a heater in which the
temperature of atmospheric air may be raised to the required point before the
heated air passes through the pump into the liquid hydro-carbon contained within
the tank 50 and carburetter. One of the pipes constituting the series of air
heating pipes 56 has an open inlet mouth 58, which is formed by a stuffing box,
indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. This stuffing box consists of an interiorly
flanged casing which is screwed on the open upper end of one of the pipes 56,
and within said easing is seated a pair of parallel plates or disks 59 between which
is a packing of asbestos, wool or other suitable filtering material. The stuffing
box 58 is open or exposed for the free ingress of air to the series of air heating
pipes 56, and for this purpose the disks 59 are perforated, to provide for the
free ingress of air to the pipe 56. The employment of the perforated disks 59
is important. in that the upper disk prevents the filtering material from escaping
from the box 58 into the contents of the retort chamber, and the filtering material
contained within said stuffing box 58 prevents refuse and dirt from being drawn
into the pipes 5 to clog the latter and retard or prevent the passage of air through
the heating coils or pipes, and the air pump. to the carburetter tank 50. When
the pump 54 is in operation, air is drawn by suction through the stuffing box 58.
thence traverses the heating coils or pipes 56, and thence travels through the
pipes 55-55 and the air pump to the branch 55, by which the heated air is
discharged into the tank 50 below the surface of the naptha or the hydro-carbon
liquid contained therein.
To one of the inner series of pipes 57 is coupled a gas inlet pipe 59, one end
of which is attached to the upper head of the tank 50 above the level of the
liquid hydro-carbon therein, and said pipe 59 is provided with a regulating
valve 59 which may be closed to shut off communication between the tank 50
and the gas heating pipes 57 within the retort chamber. The pipe 59 connects,
as described to one terminal pipe forming a part of the circulating heating coil 57.
while to the other terminal pipe of said heating cail 57 is connected a return gas
pipe 60, which leads from the electrical furnace to the general storage tank 5.
By heating the air in the series of coils 56 and forcing it through the hydro-
carbon liquid contained within the tank 50. the air is carburetted by passing
through naptha or other hydro-carbon liquid contained within said tank. The
carburetted air from the tank 50 is conducted by the pipe 59 through the gas
heating coils or pipes 57, and in its passage through said pipes or coils 57 the
heat decomposes the naptha vapor and insures a chemical combination of the
naptha vapor with the atmospheric air, thus producing a fixed gas which may

page_text: he conveyed by the pipe 60 to the gas holder 5. The pressure gage 52 indicates
the atmospheric pressure of the air contained within the tank 50 and forcet
therein by the pump 55, and in event of any clogging of the air heating pipes.
or of the pump, a decreased pressure of the carburetted air contained within the
tank 50 will be indicated by the guge 52. The liquid gage 51 serves to advise
the operator of the quantity of liquid or hydro-carbon contained within the
tank 50.
The section 5 of the pipe between the pump and the tank 50 is provided with
a suitable check valve 61, and the section pipe 55, between the pump and the
heating coils or pipes 56, is provided with a check valve 62 and a two-way stop
cock . This stop rock 63 is useful, in that it provides means for cutting off
communication between the heating coil 56 and the pump 54, and said stop cock
may be adjusted to permit of the ingress of air into the pipe 55 without drawing
air through the heating coils 56, whereby the pump 54 may be allowed to coul
off should it become too highly heated by protracted service due to forcing the
hot air from the pipes 56 into the hydro-carbon tank,
The acetylene gas generator 3 consists of a tank 65 in which calcium carbide
may be stored and water may be admitted for the generation of the acetylene gaz.
This tank 65 may he constructed in any suitable way, and we prefer to provide
said tank with two man holes and covers therefor. The upper man hole it is
provided for the purpose of renewing the supply of calcium carbide in the tank 65.
and the lower man hole 67 enables convenient access to be had to the bottom of
the tank for removing the spent carbide therefrom. To the bottom of the tank 65
of the gas generator is attached a pet cock GS, by which surplus water at the
bottom of the tank to may be drawn off as occasion may require. A valved water
inlet pipe 69 is attached to the head of the tank 65, and to the inner end of said
water pipe 69 is located a sprayer 70, which is suspended in a position above the
calcium carbide contained within said tank Go for the purpose of uniformly
distributing or spraying water thereon. Said tank 65 is provided with a blow-off
cock 71, by which the atmospheric air contained within said tank 65 may be
discharged therefrom. The acetylene gas generated in said tank 65 by the
chemical action of the water upon the calcium carbide, is conveyed by a pipe 7
from the tank 65 and discharged into the gasometer 4, and this discharge of
acetylene gas may take place above the hydro-carbon liquid, or it may be dis-
charged below the surface of the liquid, as shown, by extending the pipe
through the tank 50, to terminate at a suitable distance above the hottom of said
tank. Said pip 72 is provided with a stop cock 13 to cut off communication with
said tank 65 and the gasometer 4.
We have equipped our plant with means whereby the gas due to the saturation
of hot atmospheric air with napiha vapors may be enriched by the addition of
acetylene gas to the carburetted air, and to attain this object we provide a gas
punip 74 and connections between the hydro-carbon liquid tank 50 and the
gasometer 4.
As shown by Figures 1 and 3, the gas pump 74 is situated between the tank 50
and the gasometer 4, and said pump 74 is connected by a pipe 75 with the feed
pipe 76 extending upwardly within the gasometer 4, said pipe 75 having a slop
cock 77 and a check valve 78. The connection between the pump 74 and the
tank 50 is by means of a pipe 79, having a check valve 80. said pipe 79 opening
through the tank 50 below the level of the hydro-carbon liquid therein.
All these parts being assembled and connected, as described and as shown in
the drawings, the method of manufacturing calcium carbide and illuminating
gas is as follows:
The anode carrier 12 is lowered until the anode 1 comes in contact with the
cathode in the bottom of the furnace, after which the closure 44-44" is opened
and the chamber of the furnace retort is filled with a mixture suitable for
manufacturing calcium carbide. The cover is now closed and the electric current

page_text: is turned on through the conductors 10-10", said current passing through the
anode holder 12, the anode, the cathode, and the rod 9. By lifting the anode
and its carrier upward, the arc is established between the cathode and the proximal
end of the anode thereto, and the heat generated by the electric arc fuses the
materials within the retort chamber to effect the chemical union thereof and
produces calcium carbide. The carrier 38 is rotated by the shaft 41 to insure
traveling movement of the plow or stirrer 39 in the materials contained within
the retort, and as the mixture fuses under the action of the electric are the plow
or stirrer 39 continually throws fresh mixture within the zone of the electric arc.
While the process of manufacturing calcium carbide is being conducted the system
of pipes 56 and 57 are heated by the heat evolved from the eletric are. The air
pump 54 being set in motion, air is drawn by suction through the pipes 56 to
be heated therein. and thus forced in the heated condition into the tank 50 con-
taining liquid hydro-carbon. The heated air is discharged below the surface of
the liquid hydro-carbon and bubbles up through said liquid absorbing naptha
vapors in its passage, so that it becomes saturated with the naptha vapor. The
air is thus carburetted and emerges from said tank 50 through the pipe 59 which
conducts it through the pipes 5 the heat of which decomposes the naptha vapor
and produces a fixed gas which is conveyed by the pipe 60 to the storage
gasometer 5. When it is necessary to enrich gas produced by carburetted air,
such enrichment may be effected by combining acetylene gas with such carburetted
air. Under these conditions the air pump 54 and the gas pump 74 are operated
simultaneously, the one to force heated atmospheric air into the liquid hydro-
carbon tank 50 and the other to discharge acetylene gas from the gasometer 4
to the said tank 50 below the level of the liquid bath therein, thus allowing
carburetted air and acetylene gas to combine mechanically by intermingling
together in the tank 50. Subsequent to the chemical mixture of the carburetted
air and the acetylene gas, the mixed gases pass through the pipe 59 into and
through either series of pipes or coils 57 by which the gases are fixed and decom-
posed, resulting in the production of a fixed gas of high illuminating properties
which may be conducted by the pipe 60 to the general storage tank 5. As the
process of manufacturing gas is being conducted, the calcium carbide is produced
in the retort of the electrical furnace, and when the materials have been thoroughly
fused and result in producing the desired product of calcium carbide, the shaft 41
is arrested, the electric current is switched off, the fume collecting hood and
anode are raised, and the cover is opened to permit the product to be removed
by suitable mechanical appliances, as, for instance, by a crane and tongs. The
removal of the calcium carbide from the retort and subsequent charging of the
retort with fresh materials does not interfere with the generation of the illumi-
nating gas.
Although we have described the employment of independent series of heating
pipes, it is evident that heating coils may be substituted for such heating pipes.
In the apparatus shown, the series of pipes 56 are for heating air while the
pipes 57 serve to heat and decompose the gas, but, if desired, the connections
between the tank, the air pump, and said independent series of pipes, may be
reversed. should it be desired to vaporize a low grade of hydro-carbon oil which
may be found to be too difficult to vaprarize, because such hydro-carbon is
practically non-volatile, or in other words, the outer series of pipes 56 may be
used to heat the gas, while the inner series of pipes may be used for heating
the air. Under these conditions the inner series of pipes 57 may be connected
with the pump and thence to the tank, while the outer series of pipes may be
connected with the pipe 59 which leads from the tank 50 to the furnace, thus
enabling the temperature of the air to be raised to a very high degree, because
the inner series of pipes are subjected to greater heat from the electric are.
According to our improvement in the manufacture of illuminating gas, we
heat the air before forcing the same into a bath of hydro-carbon liquid, and by
this preliminary heating step the air is better adapted to vaporize the hydro-

page_text: carbon and to absorb the hydro-carbon. By our process of treating gas by
mechanically intermingling heated carburetted air with acetylene gas, and subse
quently decomposing the hydro-carbon vapor in the presence of the acetylene gas
by passing the commingled gases through the super-heating coils, the gas is
de-hydrated and enriched before it is carried to the storage gasometer.
Our apparatus is adapted for the manufacture of different kinds of gas, for
example, à gas of high illuminating quality, or a gas rich in carbon for heating
purposes. The gas formed by the combination of carburetted air with acetylene
gus, is especially adapted for city lighting, but the gas produced by carburetted
air and subsequently fixing the carburetted air by passing it through highly
heated coils or pipes, is low illuminating quality, and is well adapted to lie
used as fuel for heating and other purposes.
Wa
By immersing the discharge end of the acetylene gas pipe 72 in the hydro-
carbon tank, the acetylene gas is caused to pass through the hydro-carbon bath, and
in its ascent it is enriched by absorption of vapor from the liquid hydro-carbon. In
the manufacture of illuminating gas by the production of acetylene gas and the
subsequent enrichment thereof by passing it through a liquid hydro-carbon, we
do not find it necessary to force hot air into the hydro-carbon tank, nor do we
find it necessary to subject the gas formed by the combination of acetylene gas
with hydro-carbon vapor to the intense heat in the inner series of pipes or coils 67,
which are situated in close proximity to the are in the electrical furnace.
therefore propose to close the valve it in the pipe 65. between the air pump 54
and the pipes or eoils 56, so as to cut off the air supplied to the punip 54, to
couple the pips 50 to one end of the outer series of pipes or coils fit, and to likewise
couple the off bearing pipe 60 to the other end of the pipes or coils 56. Now,
when the gas pump 74 is operated, the acetylene gas is forced through the pipe 79
to be discharged to the liquid in the tank, 50, and, as the gas rises through this
liquid, it absorbs vapor from the liquid, and the gas is thus enriched. Such gas
is conducted by the pipe 59 to the coils 66 and thence through the pipes or coils 06,
to be fixed thereby, before it is discharged to the pipe 60, by which the gas is
conveyed to the gasometer 5. Gas made in this manner is especially adapted
for illuminating railway coaches and steamers. By passing the acetylene gus
enriched by hydro-carbon vapor through the coils or pipes 56, the gas is not sub-
jected to the great heat which it would receive if passed through the pipes 57:
hence, the carbon is not decomposed when made in the manner described, and
the illuminating quality of the gas is not injured.
It will be seen that we may couple the hydro-carbon taak in series with either
of the series of pipes or coils 56 or 57. When carburetting air, to produce a low
quality of gas, we employ the pump 54 between the pipes or coils 56 and the
tank 50, so as to heat the air in the pipes 56: then force hot air through the tank,
and then superheat the carburetted air, to produce a fixed gas, by passing it
through the superheating coils 57; or the cock G3 may be closed and the pump 74
be brought into service. to force acetylene gas through the liquid in the tank 50,
from whence the gas is conducted in the pipes or coils 56, and thence to the
gasometer 5 through the pipe 60.
The air-pump and the gas pump may be of any suitable construction, and the
gasometers are the ordinary devices used for the storage of gas.
We are aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and the details
of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the
spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. We, therefore, reserve the
right to make such modifications and alterations as clearly fall within the scope
of the invention.
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:-
1. The combination with an electric furnace, of a carburetting tank, two series

page_text: of heating pipes or coils, an air-forcing mechanism connected with one series of
pipes or coils and with, said tank, and a pipe connection between the tank and
the other series of coils, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with a carburetter tank, and an electrical furnace for the
manufacture of carbide, of a series of air heating pipes or coils situated within
the furnace, an air-forcing mechanism connected with said coils and with the
carburetter-tank, a storage holder, and superheating coils or pipes also situated
within the electrical furnace and connected with the carburetter tank and with
said holder, for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.
3. In a plant for the manufacture of calcium carbide and illuminating gas, the
combination of an electrical furnace equipped with an anode, cathode and adjust-
ing devices: a carburetter tank; a series of air-heating pipes or coils situated
within the furnace to be heated by the are produced therein between the anode
and cathode; an air pump connected with said pipes or coils and with the car-
buretter-tank, a series of superheating pipes, or coils independent of the air heating
coils and situated within said electrical furnace, and connections between the
carburetter tank and said superheating coils, both series of coils within the furnace
being independent of the furnace appliances and adapted to be operated con-
tinuously without respect to the charging of the furnace, substantially as described.
4. In a plant for the manufacture of calcium carbide and illuminating gas, an
electrical furnace having a retort-chamber for the treatment of a mixture to
produce calcium carbide and equipped with a cathode, an anode, and regulating
appliances therefor, in combination with two independent series of heating pipes
or coils, a hydro-carbon tank. a pump connected with one series of coils and with
the tank, a pipe connection between the other series of coils and said tank. an
acetylene gas generator, and a pump between said generator, and the hydro-
carlion tank, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.
5. In a plant for the manufacture of calcium carbide and illuminating gas, the
combination of an electrical furnace having a retort and electrical appliances for
fusing materials to produce calcium carbide, a carburetter tank. an acetylene gas
generator, a pump for forcing acetylene gas from said generator into the carburetter
tank, a series of air heating coils situated in the furnace retort, an air pump
connected with said air heating coils and with said carburettor tank to discharge
air into the hydro-carbon liquid in said tank, a second series of heating coils
situated within the furnace retort, and a pipe connected with said second series of
heating coils and with the carburetter tank to receive therefrom commingled
carburetted air and acetylene gas, for the purposes described, substantially as
set forth.
6. The method herein described of manufacturing illuminating gas which
consists in separately generating acetylene gas and carburetting air, mechanically
combining said carburetted air and acetylene gas, and dehydrating and fixing
the commingled carburetted air and acetylene gas by passing the mixture through
heating coils, substantially as and for the purposes described.
7. An electrical furnace comprising a retort provided with a cathode, a sus-
pended anode, and a counterpoised fume-collecting hood suspended over said retort.
substantially as and for the purposes described.
S. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort having a cathode, of
a counterpoised fume-collecting hood suspended over said retort, and a suspended
anode guided through, but insulated from, said hood, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
9. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort having a cathode, of
a vertically-adjustable fume-collecting hood, a hanger over said hood, insulated
guide-boxes carried by the hanger and the hood, and a suspended anode passed
through said insulated guide-boxes, substantially as and for the purposes described.
10. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a furnace having a retort
and a suspension beam. of a hanger depending from said beam and carrying an
insulated guide-box, a vertically-adjustable fume-collecting hood guided by said

page_text: hanger and the suspension beam and carrying an insulated guide box in vertica!
alinement with the guide box of the hanger, and a suspended anode fitted in said
guide-boxes of the hood and hanger, substantially as described.
11. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort, and a fume-collecting
hood, of a bearing ring attached to said hood and provided with an insulated guide
box which is arranged therein to form the exit openings or slots, and an anode
passing through said guide box and insulated thereby from the bearing ring and
The hood. substantially as described.
12. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort, of a revoluble carrier
mounted thereon and having a closure or head, a stirrer or plow mounted on the
carrier and depending therefrom within the retort, and means for driving said
carrier, substantially as described.
13. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort having a cathode,
of a revoluble carrier mounted on said retort, a sectional closure attached to the
carrier and sustained thereby over the retort, a plow or stirrer mounted on the
closure, an anodo passing through said closure, and a suspended fume-collecting
hood over said carrier and the closure, substantially as described.
14. In an electrical furnace, the combination with a retort, and a suspended
rnode, of a two-part cathode having one member permanently fitted to the retort
and its other member seated removably within said permanent member, and a
conductor attached to said anode and protruding from the retort, substantially
as described.
15. In an apparatus for manufacturing illuminating gas, the combination with
an electrical furnace, and a carburetter tank, of a heating coil in said furnner,
an air pump connected with said tank, and a pipe connecting the heating coil to
the pump and provided with a two-way valve for the admission of atmospheric air
to the pipe and to said pump. for the purposes described, substantially as set forth.
16. In an apparatus for manufacturing illuminating gas, the combination with
an electrical furnace, and a carburetter tank. of a series of air heating pipes or
coils having at one end a filtering box constituting an air inlet to the pipes or
coils, and a pump connected to the other end of said pipes or coils and to the
carburetter tank, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.
17. The method of manufacturing illuminating gas which consists in generating
an acetylene gas by immersing calcium carbide in water; then enriching the
acetylene gas by passing the same through a hydro-carbon liquid, and finally
fixing the enriched gas by passing it through heating pipes or coils, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 1st day of May 1899.
For the Applicants,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.EE.. M.1.Mech. E..
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.