An Improved Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Acetylene or other Gases.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Acetylene or
other Gases.
EBENEZER BARNARD, Christchurch, Hants, no occupation, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to improvements in the mode of generating gas or gases
especially acetylene gas, in an automatic manner so as to control the quantity
generated, by the automatic supply of the carbide in a specified or unlimited
quantity, direct to the water, or to the carbide receiver below, which also in au
automatic way allows it to come in contact with, & again lifts it out of the water,
by the up & down action of the water, with a float or other contrivance or the
up & down action of the gas container actuating, revolving pockets, or other
receptacles, rotary, or other motion work, rod or rods, levers, pushes, pistons
wheels & pinions, quadrants, rack & pinion, rollers pulleys discs screws (endless
To describe
or other), weights lifts springs, clock work or other contrivance.
it in one of its simplest forms. provide three cylinders or other shaped recep-
tacles, each smaller than the other, with one end open in each; in the solid end
of the middle sized one, I cut a hole large enough to admit the small one, which
partly thrust through, is fixed into it in a gas tight manner, this combination
of the two vessels, forms the carbide container in the top part, & the gas receiver
in the other part, & being put into the largest cylinder or vessel which is nearly
filled with water, open end downwards forms an apparatus as far as outside is
concerned. In the carbide container at the top I place another cylinder or
receptacle to receive the carbide, (either upright horizontal or otherwise) through
a hole in its bottom, if upright, the carbide is pushed over the top edge, by a
rod or lever or other contrivance, (as the gas container descends & pushes it up)
& falls into the carbide receiver, (a receptacle placed or suspended below to
catch it) this vessel also descending with the gas container allows the water
to come in contact with its contents & gas is generated, & so the operation goes
on, distributing only sufficient carbide as may be decided on, or automatically
regulating the supply according to the quantity of gas consumed or desired.
By such means the part of the charge of carbide not actually making gas is kept
from contact with the water, & by an inside lid or cover to the container even
moisture is greatly or entirely excluded.
I also provide a cap or cover or lid by which the carbide container can be
shut off from the middle cylinder or gas container (by a screw from the top or
other means) this serves to recharge or to shut off any carbide remaining if gas
is not wanted. The residue accruing in the carbide receiver can be let out, by
a false bottom or flap door, or like method allowing the residue to fall to the
bottom of largest vessel into a vent, or the receiver can be lifted out & emptied
in the usual way.
Thus firstly I supply an automatic way of distributing the carbide to the

page_text: water
by combining this with a receiver which alternately dips & lifts out
of the water, provides a very safe & controllable way of generating the gas, which
is led away by pipes in the usual way.
An Improved Apparatus for Generating and Supplying Acetylene or
other Gases.
I, EBENEZER BARNARD, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants, of no occupa-
tion, 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 an improved apparatus for generating and supplying
acetylene or other gases, but is especially applicable to the production of acety-
lene gas from calcium carbide in an automatic manner.
The process of obtaining acetylene gas by the employment of a vessel of water
into which calcium carbide is introduced is now well known, and various forms
of apparatus have been devised for effecting this purpose but they all more or less
lack the essential requirement of a practical apparatus namely the introduction
of a small quantity of calcium carbide into the water and the removal of the
same from the water immediately that gas in any volume is generated.
Now the primary object of the present invention is by a simple arrangement
of parts to automatically feed the calcium carbide to the water in such manner
that only a small proportion thereof at a time will be moistened and that small
quantity will be brought into contact with the water when the volume of gas
in the holder becomes exhausted or decreased, and will be instantaneously removed
from the water as such volume increases so that an extremely sensitive apparatus
will be obtained, and only a small body of calcium carbide at a time will be dealt
with.
In carrying the invention into effect a generating chamber is employed con-
sisting of an open topped vessel of cylindrical or other shape containing a
quantity of water automatically supplied by any suitable means, and into this
chamber is introduced a cylinder or bell closed at the upper end and open at the
lower end, so that the water acts as a seal in connection therewith in the well
known manner and which constitutes a gas holder and this bell or gas holder
is guided by suitable means so that it can freely rise and fall within certain
limits.
In an upward extension of the bell or gas holder which may be of smaller
diameter is arranged a reservoir of calcium carbide which is adapted to be sup-
plied through an hermetically closed door at the upper part of the extension and
this reservoir of carbide is fitted with a rod which passes through a hole or
perforation in the bottom of the carbide reservoir downward to the bottom of
the generating chamber so that as the bell descends by gravity the upper part
of the rod will push a charge of carbide over the top edge of the reservoir or will
actuate any other suitable feed device and will thus each time the bell descends
feed a charge of carbide from the reservoir into a shoot discharging into the
generating chamber.
Beneath the shoot and within the generating chamber is arranged a perforated
bucket which is suspended from the bell so as to rise and fall therewith and

page_text: this bucket the normal position of which is at a suitable distance above the water
level receives the charge of carbide from the shoot when in that position.
By this arrangement of parts as the bell slowly descends a charge of carbide
will be fed from the reservoir into the shoot and will fall into the bucket, which
in the continued descent of the bell will partly enter the water in the generating
chamber whereupon gas will be immediately generated thus raising the bell
and the bucket with its small charge will be immediately lifted clear of the water
so that only a small quantity of gas will be generated from the partially moistened
carbide in the bucket and the apparatus will continue to act in this automatic
and sensitive manner regulating the supply of carbide according to the quantity
of gas required so long as any carbide remains in the reservoir.
The apparatus is if desired provided with a valve or shutter adapted to be
actuated from the outside of the extension of the bell by the aid of which the
shoot may when the apparatus is not in use be effectually closed against moist
vapour which might rise into the shoot from the generating chamber.
In order to get rid of the residual spent carbide from the bucket the bottom
of the latter is hinged thereto and normally held closed by means of a counter-
weight which on the descent of the bucket near to the bottom of the generating
chamber upon the exhaustion of the gas from the gas holder is tripped by a
suitable projection thus discharging the spent matter into a kind of sink formed
at the bottom of the generating chamber and provided with a discharge opening
controlled by a suitable valve through which the spent matter may be drawn off
from time to time.
It will be obvious that the details of construction of the apparatus may be
considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention for
example the mechanism for discharging the carbide into the bucket may take
any other suitable form than that herein before described, whilst if desired the
actuating rod may be dispensed with and the descent of the bell may through
chains and links or the like be caused to actuate the feeding mechanism, whilst
as a further modification the carbide reservoir may be carried by a fixed part
of the frame of the apparatus and the bell may be connected therewith by means
of a bellows like or telescopic tube constituting a shoot.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.
. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus constructed according to the present
invention and showing the bell or gas holder in its depressed position.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3 of a slightly modified apparatus in
which the dimensions of the carbide reservoir are increased and showing the
bell or gas holder in its raised position.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of part of an apparatus similar to that repre-
sented at Figure 3, but representing a slight modification in the means for
storing and delivering the carbide.
Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 5 representing a further slight modifica-
tion in the same mechanism.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of an apparatus representing a further slight
modification in the means for conveying motion from the bell or gas holder to
the delivery apparatus and in the method of carrying the carbide reservoir.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 8 and
Figure 10 is a similar view to Figure 7 representing a further slight modifica-
tion.

page_text: In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a represents the generating chamber which con-
sists of a cylindrical open topped vessel or it might be of other suitable shape,
and this vessel contains a quantity of water automatically supplied by any suit-
able means, such as the ball valve g and into an annular well surrounding the
generating chamber a is introduced a cylinder or bell b closed at the upper end
and open at the lower end so that the water acts as a seal in connection therewith
in the well known manner and which constitutes a gas holder and this bell or
gas
holder is guided by means of rollers travelling on vertical rails or fram-
ing a carried by the generating chamber a so that the bell b can freely rise and
fall within certain limits.
The bell or gas holder bis provided with an upward extension 62 which is of
smaller diameter than the bell b or it might be of the same diameter if desired
and this extension 62 is hermetically closed by means of a lid or cover * held
in place by a screw 5 passing through a strap or bar 66 at its ends engaging
slots in brackets 7 carried by the top of the extension b².
Within the extension 2 is arranged a reservoir of calcium carbide which
is formed by a partition 63 extending across the extension 63 and the reservoir c
is fitted with a rod c¹ which passes through a guide surrounding a hole or
perforation in the bottom of the carbide reservoir a downward to the generating
chamber a so that as the bell descends by gravity the upper end of the rod c¹
will be carried through the carbide in the reservoir c and out at the top of the
reservoir c.
The upper end of the rod e¹ is enlarged and formed with a cup or recess and
each time the bell descends a charge of carbide is left in the recess and at the
required time is swept out of the recess by a pusher or brush pivotally mounted
at 3* upon the extension 2 of the bell b and falls into a shoot 2* discharging
into the generating chamber a.
Beneath the hopper mouth and the shoot 2* and within the generating cham-
ber a is arranged a perforated bucket d which is suspended by rods or links d
from the bell b so as to rise and fall therewith and this bucket which is normally
located above the water in the generating chamber a receives the charge of
carbide from the shoot 2* before it enters the water.
By this arrangement of parts as the bell b slowly descends some of the carbide
will be caught by the recess 2 of the rod c¹ and eventually will be swept out
of the pocket by the pusher or brush when it will fall upon the incline 62**
and thence into the shoot 62* and thus a charge of carbide will be fed from the
reservoir through the shoot 62* into the bucket d.
The bucket in the continued descent of the bell will partly enter the water
in the generating chamber whereupon gas will be immediately generated
thus raising the bell b and then the bucket d with its small charge will be imme-
diately lifted clear of the water so that only a small quantity of gas will be
generated from the partially moistened carbide in the bucket and the apparatus
will continue to act in this automatic and sensitive manner regulating the supply
of carbide according to the quantity of gas consumed so long as any carbide
remains in the reservoir c.
The shoot 2* is provided with a shutter e hinged at e¹ to the partition 63 and
pivotally connected with one end of a curved rod e² extending through a stuffing
box to the outside of the apparatus and there provided with a knob or handle e
by the aid of which the rod may be pulled out and the shutter e raised into a
horizontal position, against a rubber covered flange e when a spring catch e'
engages a corresponding notch e5 in the rod e² and locks the shuttere in that
position as shown in Figure 5 thus effectually closing the shoot 62* against moist
vapour which might rise from the generating chamber a.
In order to get rid of the residual spent carbide from the bucket & the bottom
of the latter is hinged thereto and normally closed by means of a counterweight 3
which on the descent of the bucket near to the bottom of the generating cham-

page_text: ber a upon the exhaustion of the gas from the gas holder or bell b is tripped
by a projection such as a² from the bottom of the generating chamber a thus
discharging the spent matter from the bucket d into a kind of sink a³ formed
in the bottom of the generating chamber a and provided with a discharge nozzle
or opening a controlled by a suitable valve through which the spent matter may
be drawn off from time to time.
The extension 2 of the bell or gas holder bis fitted with a cock or valve 68
by which the contained air may be exhausted from the apparatus upon first
putting the same in operation and by means of this valve the exhaustion of the
air from the bell may be regulated so as to cause the bell to slowly descend
so that the bucket d with its charge of carbide gradually enters the water in the
generating chamber a thus giving time for the generation of a considerable
volume of gas before the bucket enters the water to any serious extent.
The extension 62 is also provided with a divided scale in connection with
which is employed a pointer a carried by the generating chamber a so that the
volume of gas contained within the gas holder may be easily ascertained, whilst
the gas is taken off by a gas pipe f extending to the top of the generating cham-
ber a.
In Figure the apparatus is slightly modified as compared with Figure 3,
that is to say the carbide reservoir c is made much deeper and the bell band
co-acting parts are so proportioned and arranged as to admit of a correspondingly
greater traverse of the bell b.
The apparatus is provided with a hook adapted to engage the framing or it
might be any other suitable device by means of which the bell b may be secured
in its raised position so as to put the apparatus out of action.
In the example given at Figure 6 the device is substantially the same as that
herein before described but the means for storing and delivering the carbide
are slightly modified.
In this case the reservoir for the carbide consists of a quadrant shaped
chamber provided with division walls & constituting pockets and this chamber c
is mounted upon an axis of motion and provided with an offset c³ which is by
a link connected with a rocking lever mounted upon an axis of motion c*
and one end of which lever in the descent of the bell b comes against the
rod thereby turning the carbide chamber or reservoir on its axis * and
more or less discharging. the contents of some of the pockets therefrom into the
shoot 62* whence the carbide falls into the bucket das herein before described.
In the example given at Figure 7 the means for operating the carbide reservoir e
are similar to those lastly hereinbefore described but in this case the said reser-
voir takes the form of a tray open at one end and inclined and in connection with
the mouth of this tray is employed a V shaped pocket which is mounted upon
a centre of motion so that in the horizontal position of the reservoir cin
which it is normally held by a counterweight the pocket or shutter c will
close the mouth of the reservoir whilst as the reservoir is turned upon its
axis in the descent of the bell the pocket or shutter will automatically
act as a regulator to prevent any large quantity of carbide being discharged.
In the example given at Figures 8 and 9 the carbide reservoir and its action
are substantially the same as those shown and described with respect to Figure 7
but in this case the extension of the bell b is carried by and fixed with the
framing a and is connected with the bell b by a flexible shoot consisting of a
bellows 62* or it might be a telescopic tube whilst in place of the rod c¹ the
carbide reservoir is by a rod or link ct and chain connected with the bell b
so that in the descent of the bell the carbide reservoir e will turn upon its
axis and cause the discharge of a portion of its contents through the shoot 12°
in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described and the carbide reservoir c
is similarly provided with a counterweight to restore it to its normal position
upon the rise of the bell b.
In the example given at Figure 10 is shown an apparatus designed for the

page_text: storage of a considerable volume of gas and in this case a separate generator b*
is arranged at the side of the gas holder a and water is supplied to the
generator b through a ball valve y from the well a* of the gas holder a whilst
the gas is conveyed from the generator 6* to the gas holder a by a pipe i.
The carbide reservoir cand feed mechanism are identical with those shown
and described with respect to Figure 7, but in this case the rod el depends from
an offset from the bell b and passes through a stuffing box cl to the interior of
the generator * but the action of the apparatus is substantially the same as that
herein before described.
It will be seen that by the employment of the bucket to receive the carbide the
residue is confined within given limits and the weight of the bell and parts carried
thereby are practically uniform throughout the operation and a constant pressure
gas
is thus maintained.
of
I would have it understood that whilst I have shown and described the best
means that I am at present acquainted with for carrying my invention into
effect I do not confine myself to the precise details thereof, as it will be evident
that the same and more especially the feed mechanism may be considerably varied
without departing from the spirit of the present invention and it will also be
evident that the same may he employed in the production of gases other than
acetylene.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. An apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising a generating chamber
containing water an expansible gas holder, a carbide reservoir provided with a
feeding device actuated by the downward movement of the gas holder and so
arranged as to discharge a given quantity of carbide at each such movement,
a perforated bucket adapted to receive said charge of carbide suspended from a
moving part of the gas holder in such manner that in the raised or expanded
position thereof the bucket will be clear of the water the parts being so timed
that as the bell or moving part of the gas holder descends a charge of carbide
will be delivered to the bucket before it reaches the water substantially as
herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. An apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising a generating chamber
containing water a bell or gas holder sealed by the water, a carbide reservoir
carried by the bell, a rod extending to the bottom of the generator and at its
upper end adapted to carry a charge of carbide over the top edge of the reservoir
upon the downward movement of the bell, a perforated bucket adapted to receive
said charge of carbide suspended from the bell in such manner that in the raised
position thereof the bucket will be clear of the water the parts being so timed
that as the bell descends a charge of carbide will be delivered to the bucket before
it reaches the water substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
3. In an apparatus for producing acetylene gas a carbide feeding device com-
prising a rezervoir for the carbide carried by a moving part of an expansible gas
holder, a rod passing through the bottom of the reservoir and at its lower end
casting on a fixed base and at its upper end adapted to carry a charge of carbide
over the top of the reservoir at each downward movement of said gas holder
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
4. An apparatus for producing acetylene gas comprising a generator contain-
ing water, a vertically movable bell or gas holder sealed by the water, a reservoir
of carbide carried by the bell, means for delivering a charge of carbide from
the reservoir at each descent of the bell and a perforated bucket suspended from
the bell and adapted to receive said carbide and enter the water so that as the
weight of the live carbide in the reservoir is reduced said loss of weight is com-
pensated by the increase in the residual matter carried by the bucket and borne

page_text: by the bell whereby approximately a constant pressure of gas is maintained
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 20th day of May 1898.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Rooms 221-225, Birkbeck Bank Chambers,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.