Improvements in or applicable to Apparatus for the Production and Supply of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Apparatus for the Production and
Supply of Acetylene Gas.
We, EMIL SEIFFERT, of 15, Post Strasse, Wickrath, Rhenish, Prussia, Engineer,
and JOHN DANIA TOMLINSON, of Soho Works, Rochdale, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the generation
and supply of acetylene gas.
One part of our said invention relates to the generator for producing the gas
from the action of water on carbide of calcium hereinafter referred to as car-
bide. In a cylinder or container of suitable strength and capacity we use a
carbide receptacle consisting of a cylinder provided with internal pockets
arranged radially and spirally. These pockets which are alternately longer
and shorter so as to better utilise the space open outwards. Their apertures
are covered at the lower part so as to be adapted to retain the carbide which is
placed in them.
The interior space in the receptacle is in communication above and below with
water pipes or conduits for the purpose of enabling a constant flow of cooling
water to pass through the receptacle. Suitable packings are provided to pre-
vent the escape of the cooling water into the container when the receptacle is
in its working position. The cooling water is admitted at the lower end and
becoming heated by contact with the pockets containing the carbide (when the
gas is being generated) the water rises. At the admission end a suitable cock
is provided for turning off the supply of cooling water and for enabling the con-
tainer to be flushed out when the carbide receptacle is removed.
The water for the generation of the gas is admitted through a pipe into an
annular perforated pipe at the upper end of the container. The perforations
of the said annular pipe are so disposed as to direct the water against the inner
eylindrical surface of the container down which it runs. The advantage of
thus admitting the water is that the fresh cool water meets the fresh supplies
of carbide which are successively acted upon as the water rises. The gas rising
from the carbide passes through a suitable pipe to a dip pipe which delivers
it below the water of the gas holder.
In some cases we arrange the generators in batteries of two or more connected
by pipes and control cocks in such a manner that the water may be admitted to
one or more of the generators simultaneously or in such a way that when one
generator becomes full the water will pass into another so that the different
generators of the battery come successively into action.
In one form of our said invention the gas. holder consists of a closed tank of
suitable form and capacity adapted to contain water and communicating with
an upper water tank from which the water for the supply of the gas holdor and
for the generation of the gas is taken by gravity.
The gas is admitted to the gas holder by a dip pipe almost to the bottom of -

page_text: the gas holder whence it passes through the water to the upper part of the gas
holder displacing a corresponding volume of water which rises through another
din pipe (also descending nearly to the bottom of the gas holder) into the tank.
In another form of our said invention the gas holder is built up of sections or
pipes connected at their upper ends into a common gas exit. Each section or
its connecting pipe is provided with a diaphragm of wire gauze so that in the
event of an explosion taking place in one section it will not be communicated
to the other sections.
Another part of our said invention relates to a control apparatus for controll-
ing or regulating the pressure of the gas. According to this part of our said
invention we use a valve mounted in a valve box provided with a series of ports
or perforations preferably of different sizes which as they are successively un-
covered permit gradually increasing quantities of gas to pass. The valve is
connected by suitable levers and rods to a float working in a suitable cylinder
or cistern, from the lower end of which a pipe leads to an upper tank. The
water passing through the control valve enters the float cylinder and when the
pressure rises it displaces some of the water so that the float is more or less
uncovered. The float descends and more or less closes the control valve where-
upon the pressure falls and the water re-enters. A constant automatic control
of the gas pressure is thereby obtained.
Other parts of our said invention relate to the construction of the main tank
and the arrangement of the pipes for their respective purposes. According
to this part of our said invention the supports of the main tank form some of
the pipes. The cooling water descends from the tank to the lower end of the
generator whence it rises (on becoming heated) through another pipe and flows
over into the tank, an automatic circulation being thus obtained. In some
cases we also arrange for the admission of the water for supplying the tank
through the generator. The water pipe leading to the generator is in communi-
cation with a pipe communicating with the interior of the gas holder or with
its gas outlet pipe so as to maintain a balance of pressure and similar water
level in the pipe which supplies the generator and in the gas holder. Conse-
quently when the water level in the gas holder sinks owing to an accumulation
of gas the generator water sinks in its supply pipe and thus the admission of
water to the generator and thereby the rate of generation of the gas is con-
trolled by the quantity of gas in the gas holder.
In some cases we arrange that the overflow or surplus water from the tank
shall pass through a dip pipe in the gas holder for the purpose of renewing the
water in the gas holder.
D
3011
1000
Improvements in or applicable to Apparatus for the Production and
Supply of Acetylene Gas,
We, EMIL SEIFFERT, of 15, Post Strasse, Wickrath, Rhenish Prussia, Engineer,
and JOHN DANIA TOMLINSON, of Soho Works, Rochdale, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and the accompanying drawings to which reference is hereinafter

page_text: made and in all the figures of which the same letters of reference indicate the
same parts or parts having the same function.
Our said invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the generation
and supply of acetylene gas.
The general arrangement of an installation made in accordance with our said
invention is illustrated in elevation in Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 2. A is
the generator B the gasholder C the pressure regulator D the water tank E is
the pipe for delivering the gas to the lamps. The tank D is supported by
hollow columns ad and m³ which at the same time form conduits or pipes
for the supply of water from the tank to the different parts of the apparatus.
A central support may be also supplied by a short pillar (closed at the top)
from the pipe connection at dio at the top of the gasholder B. The two pipes a².
convey the water for the generation of gas and also for the cooling of the
generators, the pipe supplies the water to the gasholder the pipe m² serves
as an overflow pipe for maintaining a constant water level in the tank D.
Some of the water descending from the bottom of the tank through the
pipes arises up the pipe for the generation of the gas while the rest passes
along the pipes to the interior of the generator where it becomes heated by
the heat produced in the generation of the gas and thus becoming lighter it
rises through the generator along the pipe and flows back into the tank into
which it is delivered just below the water level w. An automatic circulation
thus takes place through this part of the apparatus.
One part of our said invention relates to the construction of the generator A
for producing the gas from the action of water on calcium carbide or other
materials which yield up gas when brought into contact with water. The
details of the generator are shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 3 and in
sectional plan in Fig. 4.
In a cylinder or container a of suitable strength and capacity is a carbide
receptacle consisting of a cylinder provided with internal pockets arranged
radially and spirally. These pockets which are alternately longer and shorter
so as to better utilise the space have the lower part of their apertures b¹³ which
are in the cylindrical face of the receptacle covered so as to be adapted to retain
the carbide which is placed in them. The interior space in the receptacle not
occupied by the pockets communicates below and above with the water pipes b* b
which form part of the circulating system already described for the purpose of
producing a constant upward flow of cooling water through the interior of tlie
carbide receptacle . Suitable packings or joints are provided to prevent the
escape of the cooling water into the container when the receptacle 6 is in its
working position. At the lower end is a three way cock e which controls the
admission of the cooling water and also enables the supply of cooling water to
be cut off while at the same time causing the interior of the container to com-
municate with the waste pipe thus providing means for flushing out the con-
tainer when the carbide receptacle is removed.
To enable the carbide receptacle to be easily withdrawn from the generator
for recharging the upper and lower parts of the pipe 65 are connected by an
intervening length of flexible pipe. The lid of the generator which is held in
position by screw bolts or clamps bears on the receptacle and presses it down
against the bottom of the container. Intervening packings shown in Fig. 3
make water-tight joints between the lid the wall of the container and the
receptacle at the upper part and between the container and the bottom part of
the receptacle when the lid is screwed down.
The water for the generation of the gas enters through the pipe a¹ into an
annular perforated pipe at the upper end of the container. The perfora-
tions are so made as to direct the water against the inner cylindrical surface
of the container down which it runs. The advantage of thus admitting the
water is that the fresh cool water meets the fresh supplies of carbide which

page_text: are successively acted upon as the water rises. The gas resulting from the
action of the water on the carbide passes through the pipe a" (Fig. 1) until
having ascended higher than the level wc of the water in the tank D it descends
along the dip pipe a³ which delivers it into the lower part of the gas holder B.
In some cases we arrange the generators in batteries of two or more as shown
in plan in Figs. 2 and 6 and in elevation in Figs. 5 and 7. The generators are
connected with each other by pipes and control cocks in such a manner that the
water may be admitted to two or more of the generators simultaneously or
successively in such a way that when one generator becomes full the water
passes on to the next of the series. To this end the generators are connected
by bent pipes which communicate with the supply pipes between the cocks a³
and a with which each generator is provided. The generating water rising up
the pipe a enters a transverse distributing pipe whence it descends down
separate branch pipes a¹ to each generator.
Supposing a battery of four generators I II III IV as shown in the drawings
to be used and the upper cocks at of the generators II III IV to be closed
while the cock as of the generator I and also all the lower cocks a³ remain open
the water will first flow into the generator I. As soon as this is full the water
will find its way along the first connecting bent pipe to the next generator II
and so on until the last generator IV is reached. If all the cocks are opened
the water will enter all the generators simultaneously. By closing some of
them the water may be confined to as many of the generators of the battery as
may be desired. By closing one or more of the lower cocks as the corresponding
generators are entirely cut off from the water supply for the purpose of
recharging.
In Fig. 7 the lower and upper cocks and a are shown in line with each
other. In Fig. 1 the lower cocks a³ are nearer to the generators on the supply
pipe a, either construction may be used,
In one form of our said invention the gas holder B (Fig. 1) consists of a
closed vessel preferably of cylindrical form adapted to contain water which
descends by gravity from the tank 1 down the pipe or hollow column whence
it passes by a branch pipe to the lower part of the gas holder.
The gas descending the dip pipe a³ likewise enters the gas holder at its lower
part whence rising through the water it displaces a corresponding volume of
The latter forcing it back along the pipe to the tank 1).
In another form of gas-holder (shown in section in Fig. 8 in plan in Fig. 9
and in elevation in Fig. 5) the gasholder is formed of sections or pipes con-
nected at their upper ends to a common gas exit. In each of the branch
pipes just before they join the transverse connecting pipe we insert a din-
phragm of wire gauze. The tubes rest on foot pipes having plates d³ formed
thereon for the reception of the ends of the tubes . The upper ends of the
tubes are closed by caps de Tie bolts secure the foot pipe the tubes and the
caps to each other. In this construction the gas from the generators descending
the dip pipes is distributed by perforated pipes along the interior of the
foot pipes do which also receive the tank water from the supply pipes . Both
water and gas enter the tubes through apertures in the plates d³ and the
rising gas displaces an equivalent volume of water as already described.
A simpler construction of a sectional gas holder is illustrated in sectional
elevation and plan in Figs. 10 and 11 in which the interior of a plain cylin-
drical gas holder such as shown in Fig. 1 is filled with straight pipes ¹º held
in position between two perforated plates "The ends of the pipes may
he coated with paint cement or composition in order that they may make a good
joint against the perforated plates. Lying on the upper perforated plate d
is a sheet of wire gauze over which is a layer of gravel which is covered in
turn by a sheet of wire gauze and a perforated plate
By the use of such sectional gasholders having either separate diaphragms
in the outlet pipes of the separate sections as described with reference to Fig. 8

page_text: or having wire gauze and gravel as described with reference to Fig. 10 great
safety is obtained for in the event of an explosion taking place in one of the
sections its effect is limited to that particular section. Risk of an explosion
being communicated backwards from the common outlet pipe is also avoided..
In order to maintain a balance of pressure and consequently similar water
level in the generator supply pipe and in the gasholder B a pipe
tains an open gas communication between the transverse pipe a" and the
interior of the upper part of the gas holder.
way
main-
:
Another part of our said invention relates to the control of the pressure.
This we effect by the use of an appliance C through which the gas passes on its
from the gas holder to the supply pipe for the lamps. One form of this
appliance is shown in sectional elevation in Fig. 12. The gas leaving the gas
holder by the pipe g (Fig. 7) enters the regulator through a valve mounted
in a valve box or seating. A series of ports or perforations are formed in the
valve seating preferably of gradually increasing dimensions which as they are
successively uncovered by the action of the valve permit gradually increasing
volumes of gas to pass into the regulator. The valve is connected by the rod fi
and the lever f to a float f working in a closed vessel or cylinder f from the
lower end of which a pipe leads to an upper tank placed at such an eleva-
tion as to give a head or pressure of water corresponding to the maximum pres-
sure of gas. As the pressure of the gas rises in the vessel fe it displaces some
of the water or other liquid so that the float becomes more or less uncovered and
thereupon sinks and closing the valve flessens or prevents the entrance of gas
until the pressure diminishes whereupon the water re-enters and the float rises.
A constant automatic control of the gas pressure is thereby obtained. The gas
passes out of the regulator at E.
In order to dispense with the separate tank and to readily vary the maximum
pressure we may use the modification shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15. Figs. 13 and 1
are respectively sectional elevation and sectional plan. Fig. 15 is a sectional
plan to a larger scale of the valve. In this construction the cylinder f which
contains water or other liquid is closed at its lower end by a flexible floating
diaphragm of india rubber cloth. The circumferential margin only of this
diaphragm is secured so that the central part is free to float in the air. Its posi-
tion at any given moment depends on the relative intensities of the upper and
lower forces acting on it. The guide stalk fl which is secured to the centre of
the diaphragm has attached to it cords f which passing over pullies are con-
nected to a weight f. This weight balances the weight of the diaphragm the
guide stalk the super-incumbent liquid in the cylinder and the pressure of the
gas. The gas coming from the gasholder along the pipe 9 (Fig. 1) enters at fis
a bonnet f which is held against the valve f" by a spring. A series of per-
forations of gradually increasing dimensions in the bonnet at this point and in
the valve itself admit gradually increasing volumes of gas to the interior of
the valve when the valve is rotated. The gas thus admitted passes through
the valve and through similar graduated apertures in the other end of the valve
and its seating f" to the interior of the cylinder f. The necessary rotation in
imparted to the valve by the toothed wheels fi fi and deriving motion
from a rack f which forms a continuation of the guide stalk f". The gas
passes from the regulator to the lamps through the opening and the pipe E.
When the pressure of the gas rises it depresses the floating diaphragm into
or towards the position indicated by dotted lines at fat the same time lifting
the weight and closing the valve f" more or less according to the increase of
pressure. The weight is preferably formed in sections so as to admit of
the weight and consequently the pressure of the gas being regulated as may be
desired. Regulators having closed receptacles such as described present the
advantage over regulators of the inverted bell type that the difficulties attendant
on a liquid seal which is liable to evaporate are removed. This particularly

page_text: applies to acetylene gas which is more or less soluble in the sealing. liquids
ordinarily available.
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 hereinbefore described apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene
gas substantially as described and shown.
2. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas the method of water
supply and circulation substantially as herein before described and shown.
3. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas the combination of a
tank, supports therefor acting as water conduits a gas generator and a gas-
holder substantially as described and shown.
4. A generator for the production of acetylene gas consisting of an outer
casing an internal carbide receptacle having pockets radially and spirally
arranged and a water circulation passing through the interior of the carbide
receptacle substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shown.
5. A battery of two or more generators for the production of acetylene gas
in combination with control cocks and pipes such as described for simultane-
ously or successively bringing the separate generators into action substantially
as set forth and shown.
6. A gasholder for the reception of acetylene gas consisting of two or more
sections or tubes having a common gas exit. but insulated by wire gauze for the
purpose of preventing the communication of explosions substantially as set forth
and shown:
.
7. A pressure control apparatus for acetylene gas consisting of a closed recep-
tacle containing a liquid through which the gas is passed in greater or less
volumes by a control valve operated by a float or a floating diaphragm as the
pressure fluctuates substantially as set forth and shown.
L 1
Det
1900
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M.Inst.C.E.,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.