Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept. 1897
0.
tank 1.
The carbide-receiver A is made of rivetted sheet iron or other suitable material
of sufficient thickness to resist the pressure; its capacity may be varied according
to particular cases.
It is closed at its upper part by a rivetted or bolted head having an aperture
strongly and hermetically closed by a cover D by means of a bridge-piece and
set-screw.
It is, moreover, provided with a water-gauge V and an air-escape valve U..
The said head is further provided with three cocks each mounted on one of the
three pipes N, O, P.
The water-tank B, which is shown conical at its lower part and provided with
a drain-cock K, can be made with a flat botton,, and has a lateral aperture closed
lieretically and firmly by a cover E by means of a bridge-piece and set-screw.
The tank B is also provided with a water-gauge Af and a pressure-gauge L.
The cover C of the tank. B is of, cast metal and serves simultaneously:-
1. For hermetically closing the upper part of the tank B..

page_text: 2. For connecting the said tank with the carbide-receiver A, at the same
time forming a tight joint with the lower part of the said receiver A.
3. For receiving a screw-conveyer H, arranged to be turned about its axis by
means of a crank I, the stuffing-box J serving to prevent any escape of gas around
the axis of the screw H.
In the interior of the receiver A, the cover C forms two inclined planes, see
Figure 4, for conducting the carbide onto the screw H.
When the covers D, E and the cocks, K, N, O, P are closed, if the tank B is
full of water, and the receiver A full of carbide, the apparatus is ready for work.
OPERATION.
Filling a gasometer at a low pressure. When all is ready as above mentioned,
after having opened the air-escape valve U, it is only necessary to turn the screw H
by means of the crank I.
The pieces of carbide situated at the lower part of the receiver A engage with
the thread of the screw H, and,, being pushed thereby to the end thereof, reach
the aperture X and fall into the water in the tank B where they decompose,
producing gas which drives out the air contained in the apparatus through the
cock U.
When, by the odour, it is found that the gas commences to escape through
the cock U, the said cock U is closed and the cock on the pipe N opened.
The heat generated by the decomposition of the carbide raises the temperature
of the water in the tank, but this temperature will be lower accordingly as the
quantity of water is greater.
In the proportion of ten kilogrammes of water to one kilogramme of carbide,
the temperature will not rise beyond 35 degrees as a maximum.
After having driven the air from the apparatus, the acetylene produced
traverses the receiver A and, passing through the pipe N, is delivered to be stored
under the bell of the gasometer after having traversed suitable washing, purifying
and drying apparatus.
On continuing to turn the screw H, the production of the gas continues un-
interruptedly until the reserve of carbide contained in the receiver A, is exhausted.
At this moment, as the pressure in the apparatus is very low, it is only necessary
to open the cock of the pipe P', which conducts water from a reservoir situated
at a sufficient height for this water to enter the apparatus and fill it, driving
out the gas before it.
When, by inspection of the water-gauge V, it is seen that the apparatus is full
of water, the cocks on the pipes N and P are closed.
At this moment, as there is no longer any gas remaining in the apparatus, if
the cover D and the large drain-cock K be opened, the water from the tank will
escape, carrying with it the lime residues S which will have accumulated in
the conical bottom of the tank.
When the water has descended to its normal level in the tank, which can be
ascertained by inspection of the water-gauge M, no more lime will remain in
the tank.
The drain-cock K is then closed, the carbide-receiver A is filled and the
apparatus is again ready to work.
In the case just above mentioned, that of supplying a gasometer, the cock and
pipe O are useless and may be dispensed with.
When on the contrary the apparatus is intended to produce gas under pressure,
and to fill a reservoir or accumulator, the retaining cock and pipe O are also
necessary as hereinafter explained.
Manufacture of gas at a high pressure. The gas for filling reservoirs or
àccumulators is made by continually turning the screw H and causing the carbide
to fall into the water in the tank.
But when the carbide is exhausted, since the pressure in the interior of the
apparatus is the same as that in the reservoir or accumulator, if, after having

page_text: closed the outlet-pipe N, the cover D be opened, the whole excess of acetylene
would escape immediately into the atmosphere thus causing an enormous loss
which must be avoided by storing this excess of gas in a special receiver, either
in a second similar apparatus ready for operation, or in the bell of an ordinary.
gasometer.
In this latter case, after having closed the cock N and opened the cock O, the
retaining pipe will conduct the gas under the bell of the gasometer, and the
end of the operation will be similar to that above mentioned in the paragraphs
relating to low pressures.
When the manufacture of the gas is to be continuous, it is necessary to employ
two generators or apparatus couple by a pipe T controlled' by a cook, as shown
in Figure 5.
Then, immediately one apparatus has ceased to operate, as the other is ready
to start, it is only necessary to open the cock T, the gas under pressure in the
first will then expand into the second, driving the air therefrom and reducing
to about one-half the amount of gas to be sent into the bell of the expanding
gasometer.
It is obvious that the dimensions and arrangements of the apparatus above
mentioned can be modified without departing from the nature of my said inven-
tion, the principle of which consists, primarily, in enclosing in the same apparatus
a certain quantity of water, and a reserve of carbide, which can be caused to fall
regularly into the water and in a time which can be varied according to require-
ments and at the will of the operator, without either loss of gas or entry of air
during the operation.
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Dullings, London, W.O.,
Agents for the Applicant.
11 and 12 Southan
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Manufacturing Acetylene.
I, PAUL DE RESENER, of 52 Rue de Menilmontant, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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:-
The improved apparatus forming the subject of my invention fulfils the
following conditions:-
1. It is capable of being used for making acetylene at any pressure and can
consequently be employed as well for supplying an ordinary gasometer at 'a
pressure of a few centimetres of water as for filling reservoirs with compressed
gas.
2. The generation of the gas can be slow or rapid as desired.
3. The apparatus can be recharged and cleaned without any loss of gas.
4. It is simple in form, does not take up much space, is very strong in all
parts, and its operation, being extremely simple, can be entrusted to any person.
The diagrammatic drawings of my apparatus accompanying my Provisional
Specification are only intended to enable the construction thereof to be under-
stood. In these drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view of the said apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 1-2, Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figure 4 is a section of the carbide receiver on the line 3-4-5-6, Figure 2,

page_text: .1. The carbide receiver A.
2. The water-tank or vat B.
3. The cover C for the tank B.
2
'
The carbide receiver A is made of rivetted sheet iron or other suitable material
of sufficient thickness to resist the pressure; its capacity may be varied according
to particular cases.
It is closed at its upper part by a rivetted or bolted head having an aperture
strongly and hermetically closed by a cover D by means of a bridge-piece and
set-screw.
It is, moreover, provided with a water-gauge V and an air-escape valve U.
The said head is further provided with three cocks each mounted on one of the
three pipes N, O, P.
The water-tank B, which is shown conical at its lower part and provided with
a drain-cock K, can be made with a flat bottom, and has a lateral aperture closed
hermetically and firmly by a cover E by means of a bridge-piece and set-screw.
The tank B is also provided with a water-gauge M and a pressure-gauge L.
The cover C of the tank B is of cast metal and serves simultaneously:-
1. For hermetically closing the upper part of the tank B.
2. For connecting the said tank with the carbide-receiven A, at the same
time forming a tight joint with the lower part of the said receiver A.
5. For receiving a screw-conveyer H, arranged to be turned about its axis by
means of a crank I, the stuffing-box J serving to prevent any escape of gas around
the axis of the screw H.
In the interior of the receiver A, the cover C forms two inclined planes, see
Figure 4, for conducting the carbide onto the screw H..
When the covers D, E and the cocks, K, N, O, P are closed, if the tank B is
full of water, and the receiver A full of carbide, the apparatus is ready for work.
OPERATION.
+
Filling a gasometer at a low pressure. When all is ready as above mentioned,
after having opened the air-escape valve U, it is only necessary to turn the screw H
by means of the crank I.
The pieces of carbide situated at the lower part of the receiver A engage with 3
the thread of the screw H, and being pushed thereby to the end thereof, reach
the aperture X and fall into the water in the tank B where they decompose,
producing gas which drives out the air contained in the apparatus through the
cock U.
When, by the odour, it is found that the gas commences to escape, through 4
the cock U, the said cock U is closed and the cock on the pipe N opened.
The heat generated by the decomposition of the carbide raises the temperature
of the water in the tank, but this temperature will be lower accordingly as the
quantity of water is greater.
In the proportion of ten kilogrammes of water to one kilogramme of carbide, 4
the temperature will not rise beyond 35 degrees as a maximum.
After having driven the air from the apparatus, the acetylene produced
traverses the receiver A and, passing through the pipe N, is delivered to be stored
under the bell of the gasometer after. having traversed suitable washing, purifying
and drying apparatus.
50
Un continuing to turn the screw, the production of the gas continues un-
interruptedly until the reserve of carbide contained in the receiver A is exhausted.
At this moment, as the pressure in the apparatus is very low, it is only necessary
to open the cock of the pipe P which conducts water from a reservoir situated
at a sufficient height for this water to enter the apparatus and fill it, driving 5
out the gas before it.

page_text: When, by inspection of the water-gauge V, it is seen that the apparatus is full
of water, the cocks on the pipes N and P are closed!
At this moment, as there is no longer any gas remaining in the apparatus, if
the cover D and the large drain-ceck K be opened, the water from the tank will
escape, carrying with it the lime residues S which will have accumulated in
the conical bottom of the tank.
When the water has descended to its normal level in the tank, which can be
ascertained by inspection of the water-gauge M, no more lime 'will remain in
the tank.
The drain-cock K is then closed, the carbide-receiver A is filled and the
apparatus is again ready to work.
In the case just above mentioned, that of supplying a gasometer, the cock and
pipe O are useless and may be dispensed with.
When on the contrary the apparatus is intended to produce gas under pressure,
and to fill a reservoir or accumulator, the retaining cock and pipe O are also
necessary, as hereinafter explained.
Manufacture of gas at a high pressure. The gas for filling reservoirs or
accumulators is made by continually turning the screw H and causing the carbide
to fall into the water in the tank.
But when the carbide is exhausted, since the pressure in the interior of the
apparatus is the same as that in the reservoir or accumulator, if, after having
closed the outlet pipe N, the cover D be opened, the whole excess of acetylene
would escape immediately into the atmosphere thus causing an enormous loss
which must be avoided by storing this excess of gas in a special receiver, either
in a second similar apparatus ready for operation, or in the bell of an ordinary
gasometer.
In this latter case, after having closed the cock N and opened the cock O, the
retaining pipe will conduct the gas under the bell of the gasometer, and the
end of the operation will be similar to that above mentioned in the paragraphs
relating to low pressures.
When the manufacture of the gas is to be continuous, it is necessary to employ
two generators or apparatus coupled by a pipe T controlled by a cock, as shown
in Figure 5.
Then, immediately one apparatus has ceased to operate, as the other is ready
to start, it is only necessary to open the cock T, the gas under pressure in the
first will then expand into the second, driving the air therefrom and reducing
to about one-half the amount of gas to be sent into the bell of the expanding
gasometer.
It is obvious that the dimensions and arrangements of the apparatus above
described can be modified without departing from the nature of my said inven-
tion, the principle of which consists, primarily, in enclosing in the same apparatus
a certain quantity of water, and a reserve of carbide, which can be caused to fall
regularly into the water and in a time which can be varied according to require-
ments and at the will of the operator without either loss of gas or entry of air
during the operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The arrangement of the cover of the water-tank so as to simultaneously
form the cover of the water-tank, the base of the carbide-receiver and the inclined
planes for leading the carbide onto the conveyor-screw, substantially as, and for
the purposes, herein before described.
2. The feeding or conveyor-screw with its particular arrangement whereby
the carbide is caused to fall regularly into the middle of the tank, this taking

page_text: place at any pressure without loss of gas or entry of air during the manufacture,
substantially as hereinbefore described!
3. The improved acetylene generator comprising a water-tank, a carbide-
riceiver arranged over said water-tank, a screw-conveyor for feeding the carbide
into the said water-tank, pipes provided with controlling cocks or valves com-
Jaunicating with the upper part of the said carbide-receiver, and removable man-
holes or doors in said tank and receiver, substantially as, and for the purposes,
herein before described.
4. The improved acetylene-generator constructed substantially as described
with reference to the drawing and operating as, and for the purposes, herein before
described.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents, for the Applicant.