An Improved Acetylene Gas Generator.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Acetylene Gas Generator.
I, WILLIAM FORRESTER, Main Street, Stenhousemuir, Larbert, in the County
of Stirling, North Britain, Registered Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to an improved automatic acetylene gas generator.
In carrying out my invention, I have an outer and inner chamber, which con-
stitute the gas holder and in which there is a coil of pipes for the circulation of
water to keep the gas cool as it enters the gasholder, thus obviating the disagree-
able smell which comes from existing generators. In the gasholder one or more.
generators is or are carried and in this or these the carbide holder
or holders is or are placed. These generators are provided with 'turned
faced covers which are fixed down with bayonet-bridge and screw
or' other suitable means SO that they can be put on and removed
with ease. Suitable cocks are provided for the discharge of any super-
fluous water. At a convenient distance from the top of the gas holder and
supported on pillars or standards-which also act as guides for the inner or rising
chamber of the gasholder-there is a cistern for the purpose of supplying the
generator with water, which passes through a pipe leading from the cistern to
the generator, and entering it near the top. This pipe has a turned down bend
inside so that the water may rise from the bottom on to the carbide. At the
upper end of this pipe there is a valve, which is operated by means of a weighted
lever connected with a chain and balance weight, which pass through a casing
in the cistern. At the opposite side of the generator near the top there is a
pipe for carrying off the gas as it is generated into a water seal to prevent the
return of any gas from the gas-holder whilst recharging. This vessel is also filled
with charcoal or other suitable substance for purifying and washing the gas before
reaching the pipe through which it passes into the gasholder. All foot of gas-
holder a suitable cock is provided for drawing off any condensed water.
The modus operandi is as follows:-After the carbide holders have been
charged they are placed in the generators and the gasholder being empty the
weights open the valves and sufficient water is allowed to pass from the cistern
down the supply pipes and into the carbide holders at the bottom and as the gas
becomes generated it passes out at the top and through the discharge pipes and
into the water seal and purifier and from thence into the gasholder. As the
gasholder becomes filled it rises, and when it reaches a certain point it comes in
contact with the suspended weights thereby automatically closing the valve so
that no further water is allowed to get into the generator. As the gas, which has
been generated is drawn off for domestic or other use, the gasholder begins to
fall when the valve automatically opens and the water is again allowed to pass
into the generator. From this it will be obvious that so long as water is in the
tank or vessel and carbide in the holder the generator is always at work.
I might also have a communication from the main or other source of supply

page_text: to this tank with a self-closing ball valve so that the tank or vessel for supply-
ing the water to the carbide would always be full.
I
may also provide an electric indicator for the purpose of giving warning when
all the calcium carbide has been used up in sufficient time to allow of the
recharging before all the gas has been consumed.
From my improvements it will be seen that all the parts being held within
tank, the apparatus takes up very little room.
Dated this 1st day of October 1898.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.
An Improved Acetylene Gas Generator.
I, WILLIAM FORRESTER, Main Street, Stenhousemuir, Larbert, in the County
of Stirling, North Britain, 'Registered Plumber, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved automatic acetylene gas generator.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings, of which,
Figure 1 is view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improved
acetylene gas generator.
Figure 2 is plan.
In carrying out my invention, I have an outer chamber or tank A, an inner
rising chamber B, which constitute the gasholder and in which there is a coil
of pipes, not shown in drawings, for the circulation of water to keep the gas cool
as it enters the gasholder A, thus obviating the disagreeable smell which comes
from existing generators. In or outside the tank A one or more generators Ù
is or are carried and in this or these the carbide holder or holders D) is or are
placed. These generators Care provided with turned faced covers e¹ which are
fixed down with bayonet-bridge and screw or other suitable means so that they
can be put on and removed with ease. Suitable cocks Rare provided for the
discharge of any superfluous water. At a convenient distance from the top of the
tank A and supported on pillars or standards V-which also act as guides for the
inner or rising chamber B of the tank A-there is a cistern M for the purpose
of supplying the generator C with water, which passes through a pipe E leading
from the cistern M to the generator C, and entering it near the top. The
cistern M is provided with central tube or passage M for allowing the chain H
passing through. This pipe E has a turned-down bend inside (not shown) so
that the water may rise from the bottom on to the carbide S. A syphon trap F
for preventing back discharge is also provided. At the upper end of this pipe
there is a valve G, which is operated by means of a weighted lever H connected
with the chain H¹ and balance weight H2, which pass through a casing in the
cistern. At the opposite side of the generator C near the top there is a pipe I
for carrying off the gas as it is generated into a water seal T to prevent the
return of any gas from the gasholder whilst recharging. This vessel T is also
filled with charcoal U or other suitable substance for purifying and washing the
gas before reaching the pipe J through which it passes into the gasholder A. At
foot of gasholder a suitable cock P is provided for drawing off any condensed,
water.
The modus operandi is as follows: After the carbide holders D have been

page_text: charged they are placed in the generators C and the gasholder B being empty,
the weights H2 open the valves G and sufficient water is allowed to pass from the
cistern down the supply pipes E and into the carbide holders D at the bottom and
as the gas becomes generated it passes out at the top and through the discharge
pipes I and into the water seal and purifier T, and from thence into the gas-
holder B. As the gasholder becomes filled, the inner chamber B rises, and when
it reaches a certain point it comes in contact with the suspended weights H³
thereby automatically closing the valve G so that no further water is allowed
to get into the generator. As the gas, which has been generated is drawn off
for domestic or other use, by means of the pipe 0, the chamber B begins to fall
when the valve G automatically opens and the water is again allowed to pass into
the generator. From this it will be obvious that so long as water is in the
tank or vessel and carbide in the holder the generator is always at work.
I might also have a communication from the main or other source of supply
to this tank with a self-closing ball valve so that the tank or vessel for supplying
the water to the carbide would always be full.
I may also provide an electric indicator for the purpose of giving warning when
all the calcium carbide has been used up in sufficient time to allow of the
recharging before all the gas has been consumed. This may consist of a projec-
tion-stud with spindle connected to the gasholder so that as the gasholder fill
to a predetermined level the spindle would come in contact with a switch thereby
causing a bell to ring in any convenient place.
From my improvements it will be seen that the apparatus takes up very little
l'oom.
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:-
The acetylene gas generator constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 30th day of Tunn 1900
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.