Improvements in Generators for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Generators for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
We, DR. JOHANN BILLWILLER, Chemist, of 44, Kanonierstrasse, Berlin, and
KURT ERDMANN ROSENTHAL, Engineer, of 31, Dorotheenstrasse, Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, 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 consists in an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas,
the characteristic feature of which is that the carbide is placed in a closed recep-
tacle, formed of a material which is porous, and permeable by water, so that,
when the water from without enters the receptacle through the pores of the same,
the generation of gas is thereby brought about. If the pressure of the generated
gas be too strong, the gas pressure forces the water through the porous sides of the
carbide receptacle back again into the water reservoir, so that the gas generating
action is interrupted. By this arrangement the "after" generating action
(subsequent giving off of gas) which is generally found to be very disagreeable,
if not actually avoided, is reduced to the smallest imaginable extent, as the water
is completely driven out of the generating cell. In order to enlarge the area
over which the carbide is acted upon, and through which the water has to pass,
and thus to increase the effectiveness the porous receptacles may be furnished
with grooves, projections, additional pieces, ribs, recesses, etc.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows one form of the invention in section
and plan view, whilst Figs. 2 to 6 illustrate, also in section and plan, different
forms of the carbide receptacle.
b
As
In the water reservoir a, formed of suitable material, is the carbide receptacle b
which is made of some porous substance, for instance clay, is closed air-tight at
the top, and connected with the gas conduit c. The water from the sides and from
below enters the carbide receptacle through the porous sides of the same.
guide for the receptacle 6 in the water reservoir a, a cross-piece d is arranged.
When the water out of a enters the carbide receptacle 6 through the porous sides,
gas is soon generated and conveyed through the pipe c to the place where it is
to be used. If the pressure in the gas chamber be too great, the gas pressure
drives the water entirely through the porous sides of the carbide receptacle again
into the water reservoir, so that an after" generating action (or effect) will not
occur at all or only to a very small extent, and the pressure will only reach such
a height as corresponds to the resistance presented by the porous nature of the
sides of the vessels.
In order to increase the area over which the carbide is acted upon, and through
which the water has to pass, the carbide receptacle may be hollowed out at the
bottom and be furnished on the sides with projections and recesses, longitudinal
ribs, cross-ribs and the like, as shown in Figs. 2 to 6.
Hereby the permeableness of the carbide receptacle by the water and the points
of contact of the carbide with the sides of the receptacle are increased.

page_text: 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. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, the characteristic feature
of which is that the carbide is placed in a closed receptacle, formed of a porous
material, which is permeable by water, so that, when the water from without
enters the receptacle, a gas-generating action is brought about; but, if the pressure
of gas be too strong, the water is forced back through the porous sides of the
receptacle, for the purpose of reducing the "after" generating action (subsequent
giving off of gas) to the smallest possible extent.
2. A form of the receptacle characterised under Claim 1 the distinguishing
feature of which is that the receptacle is furnished with hollows, recesses, pro-
jections or the like, for the purpose of enlarging the contact surfaces of the recep-
tacle, for the carbide as well as for the water, and altering the cross-section as
may be desired.
Dated this 24th day of June 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.