Improvements in Acetylene Gas Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Apparatus.
I, KARL GUSTAF GUSTAFSSON, of 4, Sibyllegatan, Stockholm, Sweden, Mechanical
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:―
In apparatus for producing acetylene gas, where the carbide is allowed to drop
into the gas-generator through the free surface of a liquid, it is necessary, in order
to prevent the generation of gas commencing before the carbide has had time
to sink to the place where the generation of gas is intended to take place, to let
the carbide pass through a sufficiently deep layer of a liquid, such as oil for
instance, which floats on the water and does not generate gas with the carbide
and, moreover, does not retard the generation of gas too much on the introduction
of the carbide in the water. As however, the bubbles of gas formed cause con-
siderable disturbance of the liquid as they rise to the surface, an emulsion of the
oil and water is soon formed which is unable to protect the fresh carbide fed-in
from generating gas prematurely, said gas in this case gaining access to the room
or other space wherein the gas-apparatus is located.
The object of the present invention is to so arrange apparatus of the kind referred
to, that the above mentioned inconveniences are avoided.
In the accompanying drawing is shown a longitudinal vertical section of the
gas-generating chamber proper of an acetylene-gas apparatus or gas-generator
arranged in accordance with the present invention.
a is the water and oil-reservoir, and 6 the feed-passage for the carbide which
falls along an inclined plane d into the water f which is covered by a layer of
oil e. The improved arrangement consists in placing in the gas-generating cham-
ber a a chimney or flue g the lower end of which reaches below the surface of
the water while its upper end projects somewhat above the layer of oil. The said
flue or chimney is closed at the bottom except in one place (at h) where the
carbide descending along the inclined plane can enter into it. Moreover, by
means of a partition there is formed in the said flue a passage k the upper end
of which terminates about on a level with the surface of the layer of oil while its
lower end terminates in the water at the bottom of the flue. Evidently the said
passage can be replaced by a special pipe communicating at the top with the flue g.
When the carbide is fed into the apparatus, it slides into it along the bottom
of the flue, and the generation of gas commences as soon as the water has had
time to penetrate through the adhering film of oil, when the rising bubbles of
gas communicate an ascending motion to the body of water in the flue g. Should
there be any oil floating on the water in the flue 9, this oil is forced to accompany
the current of water which flows down over the edge of the partition i through
the passage and finally issues at the bottom of the flue where the oil rises to the
layer of oil situated above, while the water again flows into the flue through
the aperture h. By this means a circulation of the water is brought about, which
results in that, on the one hand, the flue g as a rule always remains filled with
ח

page_text: pure water only, not with water and oil, and, on the other hand, that bubbles of
gas cannot find their way out through the aperture h. Consequently in the genera-
tion of gas, no emulsion of the oil and water is formed, the oil remaining unaltered.
The bottom of the flue g should be loosely attached so as to admit of its being
dropped or pushed aside at intervals when it is desired to remove the slag or like
residue remaining from the decomposition of the carbide. The lime formed by
the chemical reaction accompanies the circulating water and settles at the bottom
of the apparatus whence it can be removed by means of a cock 1.
Finally it should be added that the passage k can be omitted altogether, in
which case the water thrown up over the upper edge of the flue g is allowed to
sink through the layer of oil outside of the flue.
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:-
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First. In combination with the gas generating chamber of an acetylene-gas
apparatus of the kind wherein the generation of gas is effected by feeding down
calcium-carbide or the like into water, a flue or chimney placed in said chamber
with the lower end reaching below the surface of the water while its upper end
projects above a layer of oil placed on the top of the water, said flue being closed
at the bottom, but for an aperture, through which the carbide is caused to fall,
for the purposes specified.
Second. In combination with the gas generating chamber of an acetylene-gas
apparatus of the kind wherein the generation of gas is effected by feeding down
calcium-carbide or the like into water, a flue or chimney placed in said chamber
with the lower end reaching below the surface of the water while its upper end
projects above a layer of oil placed on the top of the water, said flue being closed
at the bottom, but for an aperture, through which the carbide is caused to fall
and containing or being in communication with a passage the upper end of which
is about on a level with the surface of the layer of oil while its lower end terminates
in the water outside of the aforesaid flue, for the purposes specified.
T11 001
L1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.