Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRI SEZ, of 44, Cours Chabrol, St. Denis,
France.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, 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 improved apparatus for producing acetylene gas,
which I will hereinafter describe with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which
Figure 1 represents a half vertical section along the axis of the apparatus
and a half elevation.
Figure 2 represents a half horizontal section on line A B of Figure 1 and a
half plan.
My apparatus consists essentially of gas generators (two of which are repre-
sented by way of example in the drawing) and of a gas holder.
Each of the gas generators is composed of a receiver 1 closed by a cover 2,
provided with any suitable device for ensuring a tight joint. Angular brackets 3
serve to maintain a plate 4 at a certain distance apart from the bottom; upon
this plate carbide boxes 5, 5, 5b, 5°, and so-forth, are placed on top of one
another. These boxes, which are formed with a solid base and a perforated
mantle or periphery, are held in position by the rod 6, which latter is secured
to the plate 4.
The gas-holder consists as usual of a reservoir 7 and a sliding bell 8 guided by
friction rollers 9 9*, adapted to roll upon the T-irons 10. The bell 8 has a
cross bar 11 fixed upon its upper end; this cross-bar terminates at each of its
extremities in form of a hook so constructed as to embrace and support each of
the gas generators above referred to; each gas generator is more-over guided at
its lower part by a friction roller 12, adapted to roll upon a T-iron 13, fixed
upon the outer wall of the reservoir 7. It is thus clear, that by this arrangement
the gas generators are carried along by the movable or sliding bell and follow
all the movements of the latter. The water serving for the reaction arrives at
the lower part of the gas generator through the flexible pipes 14, connected to
a single three way cock 15, arranged at the bottom of the reservoir 7, which cock,
according to the position given to its plug, permits of either feeding one single
gas generator or of feeding both of them, or of completely isolating the one
and the other from the reservoir.
The gas formed in each generator is discharged through the orifice 10 and is
carried off by the pipe 17 which has its other end immersed in the reservoir;

page_text: this said end traversing the wall of the bell 8, to which it is soldered, and
terminating internally in form of a nozzle 18: upon this nozzle 18 a flexible
pipe 21 is mounted, which is connected to a bent tube 19 directed towards the
bottom and carried by a float 20: an identical arrangement is provided for the
discharge of the gas arising from each generator; the said bent tubes 19 may
either be carried by a single float or by separate floats.
A pipe 22 terminating in a cock 23, arranged upon the outside of the reservoir,
serves to convey the gas from the interior of the bell, in order to pass it into
the feed conduits from which it is drawn.
The characteristic arrangements of my apparatus having thus been explained
I will now describe its operation.
After the reservoir 7 has been filled with water up to a suitable level, while
the bell occupies its low position, I will suppose the cock 15 to be operated
so as to place one of the generators in communication with the reservoir. In-
stantly the water level existing in the reservoir has the tendency to be established
in the gas generator through the intermediary of the pipe 14, but as soon as
the water in its rising motion arrives in contact with the carbide contained in
the lower box 5, acetylene gas is produced and discharged by the orifice 16, the
pipe 17 the nozzle 18, the flexible pipe 21 and the bent pipe 19, into the water
of the reservoir, where it forms bubbles and subsequently arrives under the
bell 8, which latter it lifts. As the bell ascends, it carries the gas generator
along with it, thus withdrawing the carbide from the action of the water. From
this moment the water level remains stationary under the bell and the level in
the gas generator is kept about at the same height. If, therefore, the consump-
tion exceeds the production the bell 8 as well as the gas generator descends, and
as the level remains constant, a fresh layer of carbide is attacked and thus fresh
gas produced. If this production exceeds the consumption the bell rises together
with the gas generator, thus withdrawing the carbide contained in the latter,
from the action of the water. The operation thus proceeds in a regular manner,
until the carbide contained in one of the generators is completely exhausted.
All that is then necessary is to so operate the cock 15 as to place the reservoir
in communication with the other gas generator which has been previously charged,
isolating of course the gas generator which has been working in order to re-
charge the same. The production can be thus continued indefinitely without
any interruption. It should be noted that in the almost improbable case of a
rapid and exaggerated over-production, the water would be forced into the pipe 14
and the gas in passing that way would be discharged from the reservoir to the
outside, without any accident being caused. In order that the variations of
volume may manifest themselves in as small differences of level as possible, the
upper part of the reservoir 7 is constructed with a larger diameter than the
main part.
Upon each of the discharge pipes 17 I have provided a cock 24 for the purpose
of completely isolating the gas generator from the bell; this cock is not however
indispensable, seeing that the bent tube 19 which is immersed in the water forms
a hydraulic joint and prevents the gas from returning to the gas generator.
In the apparatus which I have just described, I have supposed two gas gener-
ators to be employed which may be operated simultaneously or in succession:
one might of course, suspend four or any number of gas generators from the
bell the same apparatus constructed on the same principle may also comprise
but one generator, it being, however, evident that in this case the working
would have to be stopped for the purpose of cleaning and charging. In all
cases a counter-weight may, if deemed suitable, be arranged for the purpose of
relieving the bell from the weight of the gas generators.
Although I have herein described a specific form of apparatus, I reserve the
right of providing my apparatus with any such detail arrangements or modifi-
cations as I may consider useful in each case, especially as regards the form,
the dimensions, the special arrangement of the constituent parts and so forth.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
In apparatus for producing acetylene gas:-
Firstly, the use of two gas generators, independent of one another but both
connected to one and the same bell of the gas holder, from which they are
externally suspended, and which carries them along with it in all its movements.
Secondly, the system of effecting communication between the lower part of
the gas generators mentioned in the first claim, and the reservoir of the gas-
holder, through the intermediary of two flexible pipes connected to a single
three-way-cock, permitting either a single gas generator to be placed in operation
or both of said generators to be fed simultaneously or finally both of them to
be completely disconnected from the reservoir.
Thirdly, the inner arrangement of the gas generator comprising a number
of superposed boxes, containing the carbide and having their periphery pierced
with holes.
Fourthly, the method of operation of each of the gas generators resulting
from the arrangements forming the subject of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd claims and
according to which arrangements, fresh layers of carbide are placed in contact
with the water, when the bell and the gas generators descend to a sufficient
extent.
The whole substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.