Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
I, JAMES STOTT, of Vernon Works, Lee Street, Oldham, Lancashire, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct cylinders for generating acetylene gas
and arrange them in connection with a safety gas holder in a compact form,
the whole being simple in action and partly automatic.
For the purpose of my invention, I mount one or more generating cylinders
vertically on or in a frame, the cylinders being fitted with top lids secured by
screws and fly nuts, and with draw off taps at bottom.
Within each cylinder is placed a number of trays on a rod passing through
them centrally, the trays being kept apart by short tubular pieces threaded on the
rod between each tray. The trays are for supporting pieces or blocks of calcium
carbide for the generation of the acetylene gas when water from an overhead tank
is allowed to flow by a pipe into and down the side of the cylinder, and as the water
gradually rises in the cylinder it acts upon the calcium carbide on the trays in
succession and generates the gas which is conducted by a pipe to a safety gas-
holder of special construction.
In order to ensure a continuous supply of the gas for consumption proper
connecting pipes are arranged so that water may be admitted to each cylinder
alternately (if two or more are employed) in such manner that whilst the gas
generated is being taken from one cylinder, the other may be recharged with fresh
carbide of calcium.
A back valve is fitted in a bend between the water tank and the cylinders to
prevent any gas escaping by the water supply pipe into the water tank or cistern.
The gas-holder above referred to, consists of two parts viz.: the holder proper
and an upper tank into which water from the gas-holder beneath, can be forced
by the gradual accumulation of gas, the water passing up a pipe carried to near
the bottom of the holder and into the upper or pressure tank where it forms a
hydraulic head increasing in power in proportion to the volume of gas stored in
the holder beneath.
The level of the water may be read off on a gauge glass.
The upper or pressure tank has a blow off pipe through which any excess of gas
beyond a certain pressure may escape after forcing its way through the water in
the pressure tank.
The dimensions of the water pressure tank are such that the head of water is of
5 the same power as that of the water supply tank, or nearly so, and should the gas
certain point, the back valve before mentioned in the water
pressure rise above

page_text: supply pipe would automatically close and stop the flow thus preventing any
further generation of gas.
A gas governor or regulator may be fitted to the gas supply pipe leading from
the holder to the burners where the gas is to be consumed."
J
78
1000
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said James Stott.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
I, JAMES STOTT, of Vernon Works, Lee Street, Oldham, Lancashire, 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 object of my invention is to construct cylinders for generating acetylene
gas and arrange them in connection with a safety gas-holder in a compact form, the
whole being simple in action and partly automatic.
My invention is shown on the annexed sheet of drawing in which the apparatus
is represented partly in section.
The calcium carbide holders consist of cylinders A, A, with covers B, B, secured
by fly nuts C to the flanges of the cylinders and having a flange packing to make
the same gastight.
These cylinders A, A, are supported on a frame such as a table or bench D,
and the lower ends of cone or inverted dome shape are provided with draw off
taps E, E. I have only shown two of such cylinders, but they can be increased
in number as desired and be coupled up by the water supply pipe and branches F, F,
each having a tap G, so that either of them can be shut off at will. The
branches F, F, lead inside and downwardly to near the bottom of the cylinders
respectively, so that the water in the cylinders has a rising flow therein to saturate
the carbide gradually and proportionate to the supply regulated by the taps G, G.
Each cylinder A has a rod H centrally dropped therein when the lid or cover B
is removed, and each rod H has a series of superposed trays I, I, kept apart by
short lengths of tubing J, J, the whole being rigidly fixed by a top fly nut K.
This allows of the trays being separately charged with carbide and to then be dropped
over the rods H and also the intervening tubes J. The trays I, I, may however
have stand up central collars for distancing the trays in substitution for the short
lengths of tubing.
The water supply pipe L has near its connection with the branches F, F, a bend
or loop M and a non-return valve in the box N, the water being taken from a
filter P fitted in the tank Q provided with an ordinary ball tap R in connection wit
the street or other main. By means of the filter, the water is supplied to the
cylinders A, A, in a clear condition.
The gas gradually generated by contact of the water with the carbide passes
by the pipes S, S, also provided with taps T, T, to a condenser consisting of top
and bottom boxes U, U, connected by pipes V, said condenser being exposed to the
atmosphere tends to cool the gas and deprive it of any moisture it may carry
up before it enters the way lead W, which by its descending leg having a tap W
leads the gas into the upper part of the gas holder X in which a body of water is

page_text: kept and which determines the quantity and regulates the gas pressure in the
holder X, the water being fed thereto by the pipe X' shown in dotted lines from
the hydraulic head in the upper tank Y, the height being indicated by the
gauge glass Z proportionate to the gas pressure. As the pressure and volume of
gas increases, the water from the holder X is driven back by the pipe X' and rises
in the tank Y and so one equilibrates the other proportionately to the consumption
which is supplied by the lead off a on which a Stott Governor" 6 is shown to
maintain an equal light according to the number of flames or burners lighted up.
Y¹ excess relief pipe.
The combination and compact arrangement of the various appliances as repre-
sented on the annexed diagram is specially adapted for lighting up country
mansions and houses out of ordinary gas supply districts because all that is
necessary is to utilise a shed or outhouse away from the main building for the
plant and to run the lead-off a into the building for lighting purposes, the tap c
being readily come-at-able from any desired point.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
The construction of an acetylene gas generating plant with condenser as
described, and essentially the arrangement represented on the annexed drawing or
diagram, and consisting of superposed trays J accessible in cylinder A, water
supply for upflow by branches F, F, non-return valve in pipe L of water filtered
at P, condenser U, V, and hydraulic head in tank Y fitted above holder X, as
set forth.
1000
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said James Stott.