Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Generators.
I, ALBERT HUSSON, of 12 Kirchstrasse, Porrentruy, in the Canton of Berne,
Switzerland, Notary, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an acetylene apparatus, viz.: the arrangement. of
the generator. An important feature of the generator is that the shutting off
of the gas is effected by the water itself, a circumstance which enables mechanical
closing contrivances to be dispensed with and thus obviates the risk of an
escape of gas. This novel arrangement is specially advantageous where there
is a special gasholder for storing the gas.
The annexed drawing illustrates the invention in question by way of example,
Fig. 1 being a front elevation, part in section, Fig. 2 a side elevation, the upper
part in section.
a is a vessel serving as generator. Into this vessel a descends a funnel-pass c
(for the charge with calcium carbide), the lower opening of which is surrounded
by a casing, two lateral and opposite sides of which, d, d, are arranged in a
plane inclined inwards, but are only a little more than half as long as the two
other lateral sides f, the position of which is vertical. Below the mouth of the
funnel e the two sides e, e, which come together in the form of a roof, intersect
each other; these sides are inclined in the opposite direction to the sides < and
project towards the inferior edges of the sides d. By the arrangement of these
sides d and e inclined opposite to one another and in the opposite direction, it is
impossible assuming that the vessel is filled with water beyond the lower opening
of c, for the gas to escape through the funnel-pass e as its tendency always is
to reach the outlet by the shortest route, which outlet is arranged on the upper
part (k) of the generator; the said sides thus effect a shutting off by the water
itself.
At is an opening which can be hermetically closed and intended for filling
the vessel with water. h is an overflow-cock, at there is a junction for connect-
ing the gas-pipe, either with the gasholder or with the purifier or even directly
with the place where the gas is used. At the lowest place of the vessel there
is an opening for emptying and cleaning the vessel a.
The casing (in the interior of the vessel a) may be round, its upper part thus
resembling a funnel, whilst its lower part forms a cone or a pyramid.
Dated this 24th day of June 1899.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: I, ALBERT HUSSON, of 12 Kirchstrasse, Porrentruy, in the Canton of Berne,
Switzerland, Notary, 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 generators for producing acetylene gas, of the type
in which the calcium carbide or other material is allowed to fall into a vessel
containing water.
The objects of the invention are
To dispense with all mechanism-för feeding the carbide or other material into
the generator.
To dispense with the perforated discs or trays. generally used. to receive the
carbide.
To prevent the gas generated from escaping through the charging orifice by
means of the water contained in the generator.
To shape the bottom of the generator and the charging hopper in such a
manner that the waste material and water are easily removed from the generator:
Now according to this invention I provide a vessel of any suitable size shape
and material having a domed or other suitably shaped cover and a tapered'
bottom, the vessel 1 prefer to use being cylindrical with a domed cover and a
conical bottom the said bottom being fitted with a cock or valve to enable the
waste material to be run off or blown out.
In the cover of the said vessel I fix a charging hopper or funnel pass herein-
after called the hopper and a pipe to convey the gas to any desired point.
I attach to the bottom of the hopper a casing having an inclined bottom
forming one or more inclined planes or shoots for diverting the charging material
to the bottom of the vessel the said shoot or shoots also preventing the escape
of gas as hereinafter explained.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which
Fig. 1 is a section of an acetylene generator constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is section of the same at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is section of a similar generator but having the bottom of the casing
inclined in the opposite direction to that shewn by Fig. 1.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.
A is a vessel of any suitable size shape and material the said vessel being
preferably cylindrical and constructed of a suitable metal which is not easily
oxidised by the charging material and water used.
The vessel A is provided with an arched or domed cover B and a conical or
tapered bottom D the said bottom being fitted with a cock or valve E to enable
the waste water and other material to be run off or blown out when necessary.
G is a branch. pipe to which is attached the gas main I and if necessary a
safety valve.
His a test cock to ensure the vessel A being filled with water to the proper
height the said cock being placed at the working level of the water.
C is the hopper into which the calcium carbide or other material is charged
the said hopper being secured by rivetting or otherwise to the angle iron F
which is also secured by rivetting or otherwise to the cover B the joint between
the cover and hopper being gas tiglit.

page_text: The hopper C may be oblong square circular or elliptical in cross section and
is smaller at the bottom than at the top as shewn by the drawings.
J is a casing of metal or other suitable material surrounding the hopper C
to which it is secured by rivetting or by other suitable means.
The casing J is open at the top and is provided with an inclined bottom 0
having an aperture therein and two or more inclined planes MM below the
bottom of the hopper Cattached to the said casing.
QQ are baffle plates attached to the casing J and to the inclined planes M M.
As will be seen on reference to Fig. 1, the casing J is narrower at the top
than it is at the bottom the sides of the casing extending from a little above the
bottom of the hopper to within a short distance of the bottom of the vessel A,
the casing being open not only at the top but also at RR about half way up
the ends thereof.
In some cases instead of the bottom of the casing J being parallel or approxi-
mately parallel to the bottom of the vessel A it may be inclined in the opposite
direction as shewn by Fig. 3 and instead of having one central opening in the
bottom of the casing, one or more orifices may be. formed at the sides thereof
as shewn the bottom of the casing forming inclined planes M M which planes
may if desired have other inclined planes or baffles SS parallel to them so as
to form shoots having the mouths thereof vertical or slightly inclined towards
the hopper C.
N is a stand or staging to support the vessel A.
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
The vessel A is filled with water to the level of the cock H and the carbide of
calcium or other material is charged into the hopper C and falls through the
water on to the inclined planes MM and thence to the inclined bottom of the
vessel A.
The gas generated escapes mainly past the outside of the casing J to the
surface of the water in the vessel A and collects under the cover B from whence
it is drawn off through the branch G and main I.
The gas which ascends into the casing is deflected outwards by the baffle
plates QQ and escapes through the orifices RR and top of the casing the gas
always tending to take the shortest path to the surface of the water.
If the shoots shewn by Fig. 3 are used instead of the baffles QQ any gas
striking the bottom of the shoots is deflected upwards and no gas enters the
shoots as the mouths thereof are vertical or slightly inclined inwards at the
top and the gas rises vertically to the surface of the water.
In conclusion I would remark that I do not bind myself to the precise details
herein before specified as the same may be varied within wide limits without
departing from my invention but:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
declare that what
invention and in wliat manner the same is to be performed
I claim is
1. In an acetylene generator the combination of a vessel preferably cylindrical
having an inclined or conical bottom and a suitable cover, with a tapering or
conical charging hopper fixed in the said cover, the delivery orifice of the said
hopper being below the working level of the water in the generator, a casing
surrounding the lower portion of the said hopper, inclined planes formed in
one with or attached to the casing below the hopper, baffle plates attached to
the casing below the said inclined planes and an inclined bottom to the said
casing all substantially as specified and shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In an acetylene generator the combination of a vessel preferably cylindrical
having an inclined or conical bottom and a suitable cover with a tapering or
conical charging hopper fixed in the said cover the delivery orifice of the said
hopper being below the working level of the water in the generator and one or

page_text: more inclined planes or shoots formed in one with or attached to a casing sur-
rounding the lower portion of the said hopper the said shoots being below the
delivery orifice of the hopper and provided with vertical mouths or mouths
slightly inclined inwards all substantially as specified and illustrated by Fig. 3
of the accompanying drawings.
3. In acetylene generators the combination with open topped charging hoppers
of one or more baffle plates or inclined planes for the purpose stated.
4. Acetylene generators constructed as shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of January 1900.
T. E. HALFORD,
82, Mark Lane, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.