Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Cooling, and Storing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Cooling, and Storing
Acetylene Gas.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BAUGHAN, of Charlbury, in the County of Oxfordshire, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for generating cooling and
storing acetylene gas and has for its object provision of a combination of simple
and efficient parts whereby the supply of gas is automatically regulated and the
generation stopped when the consumption ceases. The form of apparatus accord-
ing to my invention, consists of a water tank with ordinary rising & falling gas
holder in connection with which are one or more but preferably two, cylindrical
generators or calcium carbide containers formed of cast or malleable iron or other
suitable material, fitted with hermetically, closed lids and tap at bottom for the
discharge of spent carbide. This generator or generators are fitted in a vertical
position either in front or on either side of the water tank and connected by
suitable pipes & couplings.
Attached to the gas holder, either inside or outside is a cam or rod which
operates a lever of a suitable equilibrium valve fitted to a pipe in water tank of
gas holder, or contained in a separate tank and connected by a pipe with branch
and stop cock to each generator. Underneath or at base of water tank is a box
or drip well partly filled with water and into which the pipes conveying the gas
from each generator dips and thus prevents back flow of gas from holder, and to
which dip well a condenser in the form of a coil, or vertical pipes fixed inside
water tank is connected, & through which the cooled gas passes to holder, any
condensation falling back into dip well. From the holder by a pipe
passing from above water level of tank & through bottom of same, the gas is led
to burners. From the bottom of water tank another stop cock is fitted and con-
nected by Tee piece to the aforesaid pipe conveying water to the generators, for
the triple purpose.
First. Of supplying the generators with water by hand,
Second. Of supplying water to generators until a sufficient quantity of gas has been
generated and the automatic stage reached. Third. For drawing water out of
tank. Attached to the two plugs of stop cocks on the branching pipes for convey-
ing water to the generators are weighted levers kept in a horizontal position and
cocks closed, by a trigger attached to the water tank, which trigger is released
by a rod, upon which the gas holder in descending presses, allowing the water
to flow into which ever generator it is desired.
Dated this dov 21ot of Donarition 1007
WILLIAM HENRY BAUGHAN,
Charlbury, Oxfordshire.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Generating, Cooling, and Storing
Acetylene Gas.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BAUGHAN, of Charlbury, in the County of Oxfordshire, Gas
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 invention relates to improvements in apparatus, for the generating, cool-
ing, and storing of acetylene gas, and has for its object provision of a combination
of simple and efficient parts, whereby the supply of gas is automatically regulated
and generation stopped when the consumption ceases. And in order that my
invention may be clearly understood, I append a sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1, is a side sectional elevation of gas holder, and Figure 2, a front sectional
elevation of generator tank, with front removed showing carbide chambers and
the automatically regulated taps for the admission of water to either of the said.
chambers. Figure 3, elevation of generator cover, and Figure 4, elevation of
carbide trays or buckets. In accordance with my invention, I provide one or more
generating vessels, two at least being preferred, constructed and connected with
the gas holder and water supply as follows.
As illustrated by the drawings Figure 1, H is a rising and falling gas holder
to the interior of which on one side near the bottom is attached a projecting lip P.
And on the outside edge of crown or top of said holder is a second lip or projec-
tion P 1. This gas holder is of the usual form, within a water tank T, inside which
said tank is fixed the automatic water supply valve V, with its lever Q and counter
weight W, also, the condenser C, for cooling gas, with dip or water seal to
prevent return of gas when generator is open for purpose of re-charging, with its
outlet pipe I conveying the gas into holder and service pipe 0, for supplying gas
to burners. F, is a small tap to regulate the height of water and seal of pipes J
and J 1 in condenser.
Figure 2, shows a second tank T1 which is connected by 2 or more pipes A
and A1 to the gas holder water tank T so arranged that the water level of both
tanks are equal. Inside the tank T1, are placed the carbide chambers or
generators G and G 1 with their respective pipes J and J1, for conducting the gas
from same to condenser C, and cocks Y and Y 1, for letting off the residual lime
and water. Underneath the tank T1, is a Tee piece K connected by pipe L to
automatic valve V, in gas holder tank T. To each of the two outlets of the Tec
piece is connected a cock M and M1, to control the supply of water which is
conveyed from the said cocks by pipes S and S1, through side of generator,
whence it is conducted to bottom of generator by metal plates U and U 1, in front
of inlets. Attached to the plugs of each of the two cocks M and M 1 is a weighted
lever N and N 1, and immediately above the centre of Tee piece attached to bottom
of tank T 1, or to side of tank T, by a pivoted joint is a trigger R, for the purpose
of holding and releasing the weighted cock levers N and N1, which said trigger
is operated by the rod B, carried by two guides attached to tank T.
gas,
which
Figure 3, is an elevation of metal cap or cover of carbide chambers or generators
provided with iron weight for keeping same down against pressure of
when in place is prevented from escaping by the seal of water.
Figure 4, shows buckets or trays for introducing the carbide into generators,
having perforations D on their sides for admission of water, and hole through
centre of each, through which a rod E passes for convenience of lifting same."
The working of apparatus is as follows.

page_text: The tanks T and T1, having been filled with water, and water poured into
condenser, through either pipes J or J 1, sufficient to seal the said pipes, and
prevent gas flowing back which may be ascertained by opening the little cock F.
The set of trays or buckets, Figure 4, containing calcium carbide is placed in
each generating chamber G and G1, and covers X and X 1, placed over the tops
of said generators and its companion outlet pipe J and J 1 communicating with
the condenser C, on either side of tank T, thus forming a gas tight joint, by the
dipping of the covers into the water surrounding the carbide chambers, contained
in the tank T1 and prevented from rising through pressure of gas by weighted
top or other suitable means, thereby dispensing with the usual and unsatisfactory
rubber washers, crossbars, screws and the like.
The cocks Y and Y 1, at bottom of carbide chambers for the purpose of
cleaning out same are then closed, also controlling cock M by the weighted
lever N, being lifted into a horizontal position and held in such position by the
end of vertical arm or leg of trigger R. The horizontal arm of trigger then lifts
a light rod of iron or brass resting by its lower end on it, with its disc B raised
about 2 inches above level of tank T. The other controlling cock M 1, being left
open and the gas holder H, being placed in the tank T; on opening outlet cock O,
a little, the air is expelled and holder falls gradually until the lip or projection P,
presses on top arm of valve lever Q when the weighted valve W, is lifted, allow-
ing water to pass into carbide chamber G1 by way of control cock M1 and
pipe S1, and coming in contact with the carbide in bottom tray, gas is generated
and conveyed by pipe J 1, into condenser, and thence into holder H. This opera-
tion is automatically continued as long as sufficient carbide is contained in the
generating chamber to maintain the burners in use. When first generator is
exhausted or nearly so, on the holder H. sinking, the projection P is lowered past
the upper arm of valve lever Q, and as holder continues to sink the projecting
piece or lip P1, presses on the end of rod B, which bearing on the end of hori-
zontal arm of trigger R, releases the end of controlling cock lever N, which falling
by its own weight, opens the cock M, allowing the water to pass into generator G,
on holder H, sinking sufficiently low to depress the lower arm of valve lever Q,
when the gas generated again raises the holder and with it, the projection P
above the top arm of lever Q.
The generator G1, being exhausted, can now be emptied, recharged, and the
controlling cock M 1, closed by the lever N 1, being set horizontally and held in
this position by trigger R, to be operated on by the descending holder again when
generator G is exhausted.
With this arrangement it is obvious that one generator may be charged and in
reserve for immediate use as required, either gerator may be recharged
independently of the other, and in cases of emergency when greater number
of burners than usual are required, both generators may be set working together
by both controlling cocks M and M1, being left open.
Also that the tank T1, with generating chambers, may be placed any desired
distance from gas holder H, by extending the water supply, and gas delivery pipes
between them, or the automatic water supply valve V, may if desired be placed in
a detached water vessel, to be supplied with water by hand, or it may be connected
to town, or any efficient water supply and operated by projection or lip on rod
working in guides attached to outside of gas holder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. In an apparatus for generating, cooling, and storing acetylene gas, where-
in a gas holder is used for the combined purposes of automatically regulating the
supply of water to the carbide of calcium, of automatically directing the course
of water to carbide containers, and for storing the gas generated all substantially as
herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2nd. In an apparatus for the generation and storing of acetylene gas, wherein
the generators or carbide containers, are placed in a vertical position in a vessel
filled with water, and surrounded by same, substantially as described and illus
trated by accompanying drawings.
3rd. In an apparatus for generating and storing of acetylene gas, wherein the
carbide containers are hermetically closed, by weighted covers dipping into the
water surrounding the said containers, substantially as described and illustrated
by accompanying drawings.
4th. In an apparatus for the generating and storing of acetylene gas, wherein
a weighted valve, having two arms or levers is employed for the supply and regula
tion of water to carbide, and operated by the gas holder, substantially as described
and illustrated by accompanying drawings.
wherein
5th. In an apparatus for the generating and storing of acetylene gas,
the admission of water to carbide container, is controlled by a cock, having a
weighted lever, held and released by a trigger, automatically operated by the gas
holder, substantially as described and illustrated by accompanying drawings.
6th. The arrangement and combination of parts, forming an improvement in
apparatus for generating and storing acetylene gas, substantially as described and
illustrated by accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of September 1898.
WILLIAM HENRY BAUGHAN.