Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene and other Gan.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
and other Gan.
We, WILLIAM WOOD BEECHI, of Hatherlow Street, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Gas and Water Fitter, and HARRY JONES, of Chestergate, Stockport,
aforesaid, Gas and Water Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of appa-
ratus for generating acetylene and other gas by the application of a fluid to
calcium carbide or other such agent.
In carrying out the invention we construct the apparatus with a rising and
falling gasometer or holder of bell or other shape, fitting over a vessel or water-
tank of similar shape so that when closed down upon it there is no space for the
accumulation of air between the two. The inner vessel is preferably covered with
a dome shaped top corresponding in contour with the top of the holder though
for smaller or lighter apparatus the inner vessel may be open at the top. The
inner vessel is filled with water or other fluid and has a water-tank or vessel
round it to form a seal for the gas holder. A water supply pipe is connected to
the inner vessel and an air outlet pipe leading from the top down to the bottom
to allow the escape of air as it is filled. Two gas pipes pass through it to the
interior of the outer vessel or gas holder communicating with a gas chamber
below the apparatus. This inside water-tank serves as a supply of water for the
carbide and its capacity should be equivalent to the supply or charge of carbide
the apparatus can contain.
The water valve communicates with the interior of the inside water-tank by
a suitable connecting pipe and is connected by a lever and connecting rods wires
or the like with the rising and falling gas holder so that when the holder has
been raised a certain distance the valve is released and allowed to close and when
the holder falls nearly to the bottom the valve is opened and delivers a fresh
supply of water to the carbide chambers or retorts.
The water valve may be constructed to feed one carbide chamber or retort or
to feed two or more in rotation. It is fitted with an internal cylindrical passage
with a hollow plunger formed with a number of graduated holes or a graduated
slot of V or similar shape so that as it opens more and more a greater supply
of water is admitted to the carbide chamber or retort. For feeding two chambers
two outlet pipes are fitted to the water valve one at a higher level than the other
so that the water will flow off from the lower pipe until one carbide chamber is
completely filled and the level of the water rises in the valve and flows away
through the other outlet. Any number of outlets could be arranged at different
levels.
The carbide chambers or retorts (preferably two or more) are placed below the
water tank and gas holder and are fitted with gas tight doors of any suitable
construction held in position by pivoted cross bars with arms or levers and hand

page_text: screws. These cross bars are pivoted to the sides of the retort or chamber and
provided with a cam or eccentric which engages with and bears against a lug or
collar on the side of the lid and forces the lid tightly into position before any gas
is permitted to generate and keeps the lid in position until stop valves are closed
when opening retort.
The levers are connected to the stop valves on the water inlet pipes and the
gas outlet pipe by suitable connecting links, the removing of the cross bars with
arms to open the lids closes both pipes so that no water can puss to the carbide
and no back flow of gas can occur when the retort is open.
A receiving chamber for washing and cooling the gas is placed below the
retorts or in other suitable position with a water seal to the pipes and a syphon
safety valve or outlet. The inlet gas pipe enters this chamber and the gas is
caused to flow through the water to the outlet pipe which leads to the gas holder.
The carbide containers in addition to the ordinary division plates to divide them
into compartments are fitted with perforated division plates in cach compartment
so placed as to cause the water to flow down and attack the carbide first at the
bottom and allow the wet lime to fall away from any carbide left in the com-
partment. These containers correspond in shape with the retorts or generating
chamber in which they are placed and may be cylindrical or of other suitable
shape.
A safety non-return valve to prevent lighting back into the apparatus fitted
with gauze discs or the like is attached to the delivery pipe.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
and other Gas.
We, WILLIAM WOOD BEECH, of Hatherlow Street, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Gas and Water Fitter, and HARRY JONES, of Chestergate, Stockport,
aforesaid, Gas and Water Fitter, 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 construction and arrangement of appa-
ratus for generating acetylene and other gas by the application of a fluid to
calcium carbide or other such agent.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation.
Fig. 2. Sectional elevation on line a―e.
Fig. 3. Sectional elevation on line y-y.
Fig 4. Sectional detail of valve chamber or casing S.
Fig. 5. Detail showing cam or eccentric e for securing the gas tight lids E.
An outer tank or vessel A of cylindrical form is constructed with a rising and
falling gasometer or holder B of bell or other convenient shape. In the interior
of the vessel or tank A is placed a second water containing vessel or tank Cover
which the bell shaped gasometer B is fitted so that when the latter is closed down
upon it there is little or no space between the tops of the two for the accumula-
tion of air or gas.
The inner vessel or tank C is preferably covered with dome shaped top of the

page_text: same shape or contour as the holder B and has no communication with the
interior of either the holder B or the tank or vessel A. It may be of any size
corresponding to the number of carbide retorts or holders and is filled with water
and is intended as a water supply for the carbide retorts or holders while the
water in the outer tank or vessel A serves as a water seal for the holder 13.
The inner water supply tank C is provided with an air pipe c which permits of
the inflow and outlet of air as the water is drawn off from or filled into the tank.
Two gas pipes a and b one to convey the gas to the interior of the holder B and
the other to convey the gas therefrom to the service pipes preferably pass through
the interior of tank C but without any communication therewith the water in the
tank serving to cool the gas. The air pipe c also acts as an overflow pipe.
The carbide chambers or retorts Done two or more are placed in any convenient
position below the water tanks and gas holder A B and C, and are fitted with gas
tight doors or lids E of any suitable construction held in position by pivoted
cross bars F with arms or levers f and hand screws G. The cross bars F are pivoted
to the sides of the retort or chamber D and provided with a cam or eccentric e
which engages with and bears against a lug or collar on the side of the door or
lid E and forces it tightly into position before any gas is permitted to generate
and keeps the lid in position until stop valves are closed when opening retort D.
A gas receiving chamber H containing water for washing and cooling the gus
is placed below the retorts 1 or in other suitable position. The inlet gas pipe K
from the retorts D enters the chamber H and the gas is caused to flow through
the water to the outlet pipe a which leads to the gas holder.
The inlet gas pipe K from the retorts extends below the water in the receiver H
causing the gas to bubble through the water before ascending the pipe a to the
holder B. At one end it is fitted with a safety valve or pipe h through which the
gas can force its way if the pressure rises too high and an outlet pipe h¹ for the
escape of gas also with an overflow pipe ha through which excess of water
drains off.
The water tank C is connected with the retorts D by a water pipe L fitted with
stop taps M and the gas pipes K from the retorts D are also fitted with stop
taps N these stop taps are both connected with the pivoted cross bars F which
retain the lids E of the retorts D in position by links me and n so that the
movement of the cross bars F to open or remove the lids E close both gas and
water taps and prevent any flow of water to the carbide or back flow of gas from
the holder to the retorts while the retort remains open. The raising of the cross
bars to secure the lids E reverses the movement of the links m and » and opens
the stop valves M and N.
The water supply pipe L is also fitted with a valve P which is connected by
the lever R and rod or link r with the exterior of the holder B so that when the
holder B has been raised a certain distance the valve P is released and allowed
to close and when the holder falls nearly to the bottom, the valve P is opened
and delivers a fresh supply of water to the carbide chambers or retorts D.
The valve P is constructed with an internal cylindrical passage or hollow
plunger provided with a number of graduated holes por a graduated alot of V
or similar shape so that as it opens more and more a greater supply of water is
admitted to the carbide chambers or retorts.
Where two or more retorts 1) are employed the valve P delivers into a chamber
or casing S and separate pipes 7 lead to each refort the end of one placed at a
higher level than the other so that the water will flow off first through the lower
pipe until one carbide chamber is completely filled and the level of the water
rises in the chamber 8 when it flows off through the second pipe to the other
carbide retort or chamber. Any number of such pipes may be arranged at dif-
ferent levels.
The carbide containers T in which the carbide is introduced into the retorts D
are formed with a number of division plates & to divide them into different com-
partments and in addition are fitted with perforated grated, netted, or similar

page_text: open work division plates U one in each compartment t¹ to hold the carbide away
from the bottom of the container T and so placed as to cause the water to flow
down and attack the carbide first at the bottom and allow the wet lime to fall
away from any carbide left in the compartment.
The division plates are constructed to cause the water to flow over the top
from one compartment to the next and the water is conducted down below the
open work division plates by pipes u.
The containers T correspond in shape with the retorts or generating chambers D
in which they are placed and may be cylindrical or of other suitable shape.
A safety non-return valve V to prevent lighting back into the apparatus fitted
with gauze discs or the like is attached to the delivery pipe b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. Apparatus for generating acetylene gas constructed with a closed water
supply tank placed inside a second tank or vessel and the gas holder the water
tank and the holder being connected with the retorts and with a washing chamber
by connecting pipes substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas the combination with the generat-
ing retorts or chambers and lids or covers thereof of pivoted arms or levers pro-
vided with cams for securing the lids connected by links or rods_with_stop taps
on the water inlet and gas outlet pipes which shut the top taps when the retorts
aro open to prevent flow of water or gas therethrough substantially as described.
3. Jn apparatus for generating acetylene gas a water supply valve actuated by
the rise and fall of the gas holder constructed with a hollow plunger provided
with graduated series of holes or a graduated slot to supply an increased quantity
of water as the valve opens to a greater extent substantially as described and
shown.
4. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas a valve for supplying a series of
retorts separately in succession fitted with delivery pipes situated at different
levels substantially as described and shown.
5. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas carbide holders constructed with
compartments sub-divided by open work partitions to prevent the carbide resting
upon the bottom of the holder and directing the water to the bottom of the com-
partment thereby allowing the water to attack the underside of the carbide first
and the spent line to fall to the bottom substantially as described.
6. Apparatus for generating acetylene gas having the several parts constructed
and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Патра THIS LAT) (IRLY OY AUGUST 1898.
Dared THIS LAT) (IRLY OT AVP1ST 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, & London, Patent Agents.