Improvements in or Appertaining to the Production of Acetylene Gas and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
Improvements in or Appertaining to the Production of Acetylene
Gas and Apparatus therefor.
(A communication by DANIEL HILAIRE CHIVERT of Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris in
the Republic of France, Mechanician.)
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foroign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick
and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil Enginoor, do hereby declaro
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
'This invention relates to apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, and has
for its object to furnish means of obtaining in an antomatic and regular manner,
and without increase of temperature, pure gas under constant pressure and in
quantities always proportionate to the consumption, the production being stopped
immediately the consumption ceases.
It consists in an apparatus of simple and practical construction in which calcium
carbide is employed in the form of grains of a given size as hereinafter shown, said
machine being composed essentially of a water resorvoir surmounted by a bell or
gasometer, and of a vessel containing the granules of calcium carbide, the fall of
which into the water is regulated by the movement of the bell which operates a feed
valvo, arranged on the carbide vessel or container.
In order to realize the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, the calcium carbide
must be first crushed and sieved in such a way as to bring it to a condition of
granules having approximately the size of a grain of wheat. The feed or fall of
granules of this diameter is easily effected and may be regulated with precision by
the valve, and moreover thoir weight is sufficient to canse them to fall to the bottom
of the reservoir, in which the mass of water absorbs the heat developed and pro-
duces a washing of the gas which ensuros its purification.
Finally, tho small size of the granules allows chemical action to be immediately
developed, so that the production of gas ceases immediately the feed of granules is
stopped.
Un tho contrary, if the carbide be reduced to a finer powder, the production of
gas takes place at the surface of the water, heat and steain being developed, which
act ou the carbide still in the valve, causing said valve to cease working. If the
carbide be in larger pieces, the working of the valve becomes irregular and further
these fragments coming in contact with the water become coated with a skin of
lime which protects their internal parts and prolongs the discharge of gas for a con-
siderable time after the foed has been stopped..
It will be seen, thoreforo, that the size of the granules of carbide is effectively
determined by the conditions horeinbefore stated.
The apparatus is composed of a water reservoir surmounted by a bell or gasometer,
the lower part of which is immersed in an annular chamber filled with water, but

page_text: independent of the water reservoir, which latter is provided with a supply pipe, a
dischargo tap and a gas withdrawal pipe. The calcinum carbide container is placed
insido the bell and supported by bars or brackets fixed to the reservoir. Said con-
tainer carries on its upper part rollers which serve as guides for the bell, and is
provided in its lower couical part with a valve in the form of a cupel, the spindle
of which valve is guided in a sheath or holder fixed to the carbide container, or in
any other suitable manner, the bevelled or tapering edge of the valve bearing on a
washer of indiarubbor, or other suitablo flexible matorial, which forms a seat.
This valvo is operated by a lever pivotted on a fixed support, and having at one
of its ends a counterweight intended to keep the valvo normally closed. The other
end of the lever is sufficiently prolonged to be engaged by an annular projection or
strip fixed on the bell. In this manner the boll, which is entirely freo in its upward
and downward movements, canses, each time that it descends, a certain quantity of
the granules of carbide to fall into the water, and consequently the production of a
corresponding volume of gas which then forces the bell to rise immediately; the
valve then closes immediately undor tho action of the weight and the production of
acetylene is arrested until the consumption of the gas produced causes the bell to
again descend, and to bring about a fresh fall of carbide into the water.
Practice shows that under these conditions the movements of the bell are very
alight, so that the pressure of the gas produced, which escapes by the gas pipe,
may be considered na being constant during the working of the apparatus."
The bell is provided, at n point situated above the scrow stopper of the carbide
container, with a tubular chamber open at its lower end and closed abovo by a screw
stopper; this chamber is threaded on its periphery and may thus be raised or
lowered by means of a hand-wheel, or in other suitable manner, in a scrow-threaded
collar arranged on the bell.
When it is desired to introduce granulated carbide into the container, the said
chamber is turned in such a way as to cause it to descend until its lower edge comes
to rest upon, and forms a tight joint with, an indiarubber washer, arranged for this
purpose round the stopper of the container. The two stoppers are then unscrewed
and the carbide is introdnced by means of a funnel or hopper. This operation
terminated, it is sufficient to replace the two stoppers and to cause the chamber to
rise into its upper position, to render the apparatus again ready for working.
In this manner no gas can escape from the bell, and the operation is effected
promptly and without allowing any disagreeablo odour to escape.
It is also ovideout that instead of using a screw throad formed on the periphery
of the chamber, any other suitable arrangement may be employed for causing the
said chamber to telescope in the interior of the bell with the object indicated.
It must also be understood that the invention is not limited to the forms and
particular arrangements which have just been described, and which may vary
according to the naturo and the uses to which the apparatus is to be put.
Thus for apparatuses of less dimensions there may be employed a simpler arrange-
ment, in which the carbide container is fixed directly on the bell, so that it is
sufficient to open the stopper of this recoptacle in order to introduce the carbide by
means of a funnel. In this case as the container moves with the bell, the opening
of the valve is effected by means of a rod which encounters the bottom of the
roservoir when the bell descends, whilst the closing of this valve is effected the
moment the bell rises by the action of a weight fixed on this rod, tho guide rollers
for the bell being in this caso mounted on arms or supports arranged on the water
reservoir, which latter is arranged in the same manner as that herein before described.
In another arrangement, the vessel containing the carbide in granules is held up
rigidly by any suitable supports outside and above the bell, and is provided with a
tubular extension forming a passage reaching into the bell with which it is connected
by a water joint in order not to impede its working. The valve is arranged at tho
bottom of this passage and is kept closed by a weight, the valve being opened when
the bell descenda, by means of a stop or catch fixed for this object in the interior of
tho bell.

page_text: Finally, in another arrangement, more particularly suited for apparatuses
intended to be placed in a fixed casing of small dimensions or in a portable casing,
the bell works in an annular water chamber placed above the water reservoir, and
the carbide container is maintained above the bell by means of a pipo, the lower
part of which is fixed to the reservoir. In this arrangement the valvo is placed near
the top of the pipe and is operated by a lever provided with a counterweight and
operated by the bell above which it is placed.
Dated thio 27th of AL 1000
Improvements in or appertaining
Production of Acetylene
Gas and Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bauk Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick
and 822 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, 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 apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, and has
for its object to furnish means of obtaining in an automatic and regular manner, and
without increase of temperaturo, pure gas under constant pressure and in quantities
always proportionate to the consumption, the production being stopped immediately
the consumption ceases.
It consists in an apparatus of simplo and practical construction in which calcium
carbide is employed in the form of grains of a given size as hereinafter shown, said
machine being composed essentially of a water reservoir surmounted by a bell or
gasometer, and of a vessel containing tho granules of calcium carbide, the fall of
which into the water is regulated by the movement of the bell which operates a feed
valve arranged on the carbide vessel or container.
I have found that in order to realise the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, the
calcium carbide must be first crushed and sieved in such a way as to bring it to a
condition of granules having approximately the size of a grain of wheat. The feed
or fall of granules of this diameter is easily effected and may be regulated with
precision by tho valvo, and moreover their woight is sufficient to cause them to
fall to the bottom of the reservoir, in which the mass of water absorbs the heat
developed and produces a washing of the gas which ensures its purification.
Finally, the small size of the granules allows chemical action to bo immediately
developed, so that the production of gas ceases immediately the feed of granules is
stopped.
On the contrary, if the carbide be reduced to a finer powder, the production of
gas takes place at the surface of the water, heat and steam being developed which
act on the carbides still in the valve, causing said valve to cease working. If the
carbide be in larger pieces the working of the valve becomes irregular, and further
these fragments coming in contact with the water become coated with a skin of
lime which protects their internal parts and prolongs the discharge of gas for a con-
siderable time after the feed has been stopped.
It will be seen, therefore, that the size of the granules of carbide is effectively
determined by the conditions herein before stated.

page_text: mentioned granules of calcium carbide into acetylene gas.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sections of various modifications of the same.
In these Figures, the samo letters of reference indicate the same parts of the
apparatus.
As may be seen in Figure 1, the apparatus is composed of a water reservoir A
surmounted by a bell or gasometer B, the lower part of which is immersed in an
annular chamber c filled with water, but independent of the water reservoir A, which
latter is provided with a supply pipe e, a discharge tap al and a gas-withdrawal pipe
a². The calcium carbide container D is placed inside the bell and supported by bars
or brackets & fixed to the reservoir A. Said container carries on its upper part
rollers b which serve as guides for the bell B, and is provided in its lowor conical
part with a valve E in the form of a cupel, the spindle of which valve is guided in
a sheath or holder e fixed to the carbide container D, or in any other suitable
manner, the bevelled or tapering edge of the valve bearing on a washer of india-
rubber, or other suitable flexible material, which forms a seat.
This valve is operated by a lever F pivotted on a fixed support fand having at
one of its ends a counterweight G intended to keep the valvo normally closed. The
other end of the lever F is sufficiently prolonged to be engaged by an annular pro-
jection or strip H fixed on the bell B. In this manner the bell, which is entirely
free in its upward and downward movements, causes, each time that it descends, a
certain quantity of the granules of carbide to fall into the water, and consequently
the production of a corresponding volume of gas which then forces the bell to rise
immediately; the valve E then closes immediately under the action of the weight G
and the production of acetyleno is arrested until the consumption of the gas pro-
duced causes the bell to again descend, and to bring about a fresh fall of carbide
into the water.
Practice shows that under these conditions the movements of the boll B are very
Blight so that the pressure of the gas produced, which escapes by the gaspipe a³,
may be considered as being constant during the working of the apparatus.
It will be seen in Figure 1, that the bell B is provided, at a point situated above
the scrow stopper d¹ of the carbide container D, with a tubular chamber I open at
its lower end and closed above by a screw stopper i; this chamber is threaded on
its periphery aud may thus be raised or lowered by means of a hand wheel it, or in
other suitable manner, in a screw threaded collar arranged on the bell.
When it is desired to introduce granulated carbide into the container D, the said
chamber I is turned in such a way as to cause it to doscend until its lower edge
comes to rest upon, and forms a tight joint with, an indiarubber washer d³, arranged
for this purpose round the stopper d' of the container D. The two stoppers d' and
i are then unscrewed and the carbide is introduced by means of a funnel or hopper.
This operation terminated, it is sufliciont to replace the two stoppers and to cause
the chamber to rise into its upper position, to render the apparatus again ready for
working.
In this manner no gas can escape from the bell, and the operation is effected
promptly and without allowing any disagreeable odour to escape.
It is also evident that instead of using a screw thread formed on the periphery of
the chamber I, any other suitable arrangement may be employed for causing the
said chamber to telescope in the interior of the bell with the object indicated.
It must also be understood that I do not limit myself to the forms and particular
arrangements which I have just described, and which may vary according to the
nature and the uses to which the apparatus is to be put.
Thus for apparatuses of less dimensions, I may employ the simpler arrangement
shown in Figure 2, in which the carbide container D is fixed directly on the bell B,
so that it is sufficient to open the stopper d' of this receptacle in order to introduce

page_text: the carbide by means of a funnel. In this case as the container D moves with the
bell, the opening of the valve E is effected by means of a rod g which encounters
the bottom of the reservoir A when the bell descends, whilst the closing of this valvo
is effected the moment the bell rises by the action of a weight G fixed on this rod,
the guido rollers b for the bell being in this case mounted on arms or supports
arranged on the water reservoir A which latter is arranged in the same manner as
that hereinbofore described.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3 the vessel D containing the carbide in
granules is held up rigidly by any suitable supports outside and above the bell and
is provided with a tubular extension forming a passage h reaching into the bell B
with which it is connected by a wator joint k in order not to impedo its working.
The valve E is arranged at the bottom of this passage h and is kept closed by a
weight G, tho valve being opened when the bell descends, by means of a stop or
catch fixed for this object in the interior of the bell.
Finally, in the arrangement shown in Figure 4, more particularly suited for
apparatuses intended to be placed in a fixod casing of small dimensions or in a
portable casing, the bell B works in an annular water chainber C placed above the
water reservoir A, and the carbide container D is maintained above the bell by
means of a pipe h, the lower part of which is fixed to the reservoir A. In this
arrangement, the valve E is placed near the top of the pipe h and is operated by a
lever provided with a counterweight G and operated by the bell above which it is
placed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what mannor the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas; the combination with a water
reservoir and a movable bell or gasometer covering said reservoir in an air-tight
manner, of a container for crushod carbide fixed rigidly to the reservoir and located
within the bell independently of the same and a valve located at the base of said
container and adapted to be operated by the movements of the bell, substantially as
described.
2. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising a water reservoir and
a bell or gasometer covering said reservoir in an air-tight manner and including a
fixed container for crushed carbide; the combination therewith of a valve E in the
form of a cupol and arranged and guidod in the discharge orifico of the container
and operated by means of a hinged and counterweighted lever F, the end of which
lever is adapted to be engaged by an annular projection or strip H on the interior
of the bell, substantially as herein before described and shown.
3. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising a water reservoir, a
bell or gasometer covering said roservoir in an air-tight manner and including a
fixed container for crushed carbide: the combination therewith of a movable chamber I
arranged by means of an air-tight joint in an opening formed in the bell above
the filling orifice of the container in such a way as to form when lowered a tight
joint on the said reservoir, and of the stoppers i, d', adapted to the said chamber
and container respectively for the introduction of the crushed carbide into tho
container, substantially as herein before desoribed and shown.
4. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas, the combination with a water
reservoir and a bell or gasometer covering said roservoir in an air-tight manner, of
a container for crushed carbide fixed at the top and in the interior of the bell with
which it moves, and a feed valve arranged at the bottom of the container and
automatically closed by a weighted vertical rod g but adapted to be opened whon
the bell descends by the end of said rod striking on the bottom of the water
reservoir, substantially as described and set forth.
5. In an apparatus for producing acetyleno gas, a water reservoir A, a bell or
gasometer B covering the said reservoir, a container D for crushed carbide fixed to
the reservoir A. and having rollers b for guiding tho bell, a valve E guided by a

page_text: sheath or socket e arranged vertically in the centre of the orifice for discharging
the carbide, a chamber I screw-threaded at the top of the bell to form an air-tight
joint at the top of the container, and stoppers i d', arranged in the chamber I and
container D respectively, substantially as described and shown.
;
6. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas, the combination with a water
reservoir and a bell covering said reservoir in an air-tight manner, and a container
for crushed carbide fixed outside and above the bell of a pipe conveying the
carbide into the water reservoir and passing in an air-tight manner through an
opening at the top of the bell and having at its lower end a counterweighted valve
located within and actuated by tho bell, substantially as described and shown.
7. In an apparatus for producing acetyleno gas, the combination with a water
reservoir and a bell or gasometer covering in an air tight manner the top of said
reservoir, and a containor for crushed carbide lixod outside and above the bell; of
a pipo conveying directly the carbide into the water reservoir and having a pivoted
valve, the lever of which is adapted to be actuated by the exterior part of the bell,
substantially as described and shown.