Method and Means or Apparatus for Facilitating the Combustion of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 6th May 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Method and Means or Apparatus for Facilitating the Combustion
of Acetylene Gas.
1, CAMILLE COPPEAUX, of 144 Boulevard du Nord, Brussels, Belgium,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method for enabling the combustion of acetylene gas
to be effected under the conditions most favourable for obtaining the maximum
illuminating-power therefrom and to means or apparatus for carrying such method
into practical effect.
It is known that the use of acetylene for lighting purposes presents certain
difficulties arising from the relatively large volume of air required in order to
allow the combustion of this gas to take place in the most complete manner
possible.
Acetylene gas, when burning simply in the atmosphere, does not find in the
surrounding quiet air a sufficient quantity of oxygen to enable the combustion to
take place in a complete manner. A flame of this gas burning under those
conditions presents only a luminous zone of comparatively small illuminating
power and having as a continuation a clearly noticeable smoky zone arising from
imperfect combustion.
Heretofore, with the object of obviating this drawback, there have been
proposed various constructions of special burners in which, for the purpose of
supplying the..acetylene flame with the amount of air: necessary for complete
combustion, agitation of the surrounding air is produced so as to mix the said air
with the gas before combustion by means of special arrangements of gas-supply
pipes which cause two or more gas-jets to impinge against one another. These jets
in impinging against one another more or less violently, become broken up, and
become mixed with the more or less agitated surrounding air, and become spread
out so as to produce an illuminating: flame in which combustion takes place under
conditions more favourable to illumination. All these arrangements however are
attended by considerable disadvantages. A slight obstruction of the minute
orifices which serve for the exit of the gas, or a slight fault in adjusting the
direction of the gas-jets, is sufficient to render the agitation of the surrounding air
inadequate, and to cause the mixture of the said air with the gas to take place in
an imperfect manner. In such a case the combustion becomes imperfect, the
smoky zones of the flame increase in intensity, and the illuminating power becomes
considerably diminished. On the other hand, the eddies and vortices artificially
produced in the surrounding air impart movement to portions of air which do not
assist in the combustion, but which cool the flame and reduce its illuminating
power. With these burners, also, the air is mixed with the gas before it is ignited,
and the result is that in some cases the maximum illuminating power is but
imperfectly utilized, the proportion of gas in the flame being reduced to some
extent. Moreover, all these. arrangements have the further disadvantage that the
flame is fed at the expense of the oxygen contained in the space it is desired to
illuminate; it will be seen that this is a considerable drawback from a hygienic
point of view if the quantity of oxygen necessary to support complete combustion
of acetylene be taken into consideration.
Now, with the object of obviating. these drawbacks, I have invented a method

page_text: for effecting the complete combustion of acetylene, which consists essentially in
feeding an acetylene flame with a forced current of hot or cold air, independently
of the surrounding air, so as to supply the flame during combustion with the exact
quantity of air, and consequently of oxygen, that is necessary for effecting
combustion under the conditions most favourable to illumination.
This method has the advantage of avoiding the difficulties met with in
constructing burners for maintaining the accuracy necessary in directing the
gas-jets, and it obviates the drawbacks that might result from obstruction.
Furthermore, it enables an acetylene flame of a more intense illuminating power
to be used because the air arrives at the burner without mingling with the
before ignition; and it also enables the flame to be fed with external air, so that
combustion, and consequently illumination, can take place without detriment to the
air to be breathed by the persons in the place to be illuminated.
gas
Moreover as the flame can, if desired, be fed with air that has been previously
heated, all cooling of the flame is avoided; and the effects of such cooling are
considerably diminished even when cold air is used, because it is possible to regulate
the pressure, form, and direction of the air-jet in such a manner as to bring into
contact with the flame, only the air which is strictly necessary for complete
combustion of the gas, whereby all loss of heat caused by the heating of the
previously existing eddies of air are obviated.
Finally, this method enables the feeding of the flame to be effected in a
completely regenerative manner, because the stream of cold air can, on account of
its pressure, be heated systematically with ease by causing it to pass before
reaching the flame, through a conduit heated by the flame itself. If desired, the
cold air may be heated by passing it through a conduit heated by some source
other than the flame itself.
This method may be carried into practical effect by using an acetylene conduit
supplying the gas from any suitable generator, and a conduit into which the air is
forced, through a suitable pressure regulator, by mechanical means such as a fan
or blower, and by employing in the burner two or more conduits for supplying air
and gas, arranged in such a manner that the acetylene flame shall be in some way
licked by one or more layers of compressed air.
Conduits for supplying air and gas in this way may be variously arranged.
In one type of burner according to this invention there are three converging
conduits, one being situated between the two others: the middle conduit may be
used for gas and the outer ones for air or vice versa. In a second type of burner
there are two converging conduits, one for gas and the other for air. Another
having two conduits has them oppositely directed so that the jets of gas and air
issuing therefrom will impinge directly against each other. In another type a
central conduit is surrounded by a converging conduit of annular cross section: the
former may be used for air and the latter for gas or vice versa. Another type has
three parallel conduits, one being situated between the other two: the inner
conduit may be used for gas and the other for air or vice versa. Another type of
burner has two bifurcated conduits arranged in line with each other and oppositely
directed, the arrangement being such that jets of air and gas issuing therefrom will
impinge obliquely against each other.
As the use of mechanical power of any kind for producing the compressed air-jet
by means of which I feed the acetylene flame, may offer some difficulty, especially
in those cases where a motor is not available, I may employ an arrangement in
which the requisite air-pressure is produced by the acetylene gas itself, the pressure
of which is arranged to operate an air-compressing device.
Tno acetylene generators containing carbide of calcium receive water from a
higher reservoir through a suitable pipe. The gas generated and given off by the
generator in action, passes by a pipe into an expansion-cylinder provided with a
piston which operates, by means of suitable levers, an air-compressor that is in
communication with an air-bell. provided with a pipe through which the air passes
to the illuminating-burners.

page_text: The aforesaid expansion-cylinder is in communication with a gas-holder provided
with a pipe through which the gas can pass to the illuminating burners. In
proportion as the gas is generated in one of the generators, and as, consequently,
its pressure increases, the piston in the expansion-cylinder (upon which there is the
counterpressure of the gas expanded under the normal pressure) rises and operates
the air compressor which delivers into the air-bell. On the other hand, the
expanded gas passes to feed the gas-holder.
By means of this arrangement, the requisite air-pressure is produced readily and
without having recourse to any special motive-power the pressure of the gas itself
being employed for the purpose. The apparatus can be easily arranged to be started
and stopped automatically for instance, by arranging the supply of water to the
generators to be controlled by the gas-holder, which on reaching the upward limit
of its travel may be made to close automatically the cock that controls the supply
of water and thus stop the generation of the gas and consequently the operation of
the expansion-cylinder and of the air-compressor.
The air compressing apparatus may, if desired, be arranged at a distance from the
gas generating or supplying plant, so that only one conduit would be necessary
throughout the entire length of the gas-main. In such a case, the generators or
holders containing liquid or compressed gaseous acetylene being situated at a
definite spot, it would be sufficient to provide one single gas-pipe for supplying the
gas to an expansion-cylinder fitted with an air compressing device and with gas
and air holders or bells, situated near to the illuminating apparatus.
The air-compressing apparatus might be located in the illuminating-apparatus
itself by employing a suitable ventilating device or fan operated by the pressure
of the gas.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Method and Means or Apparatus for Facilitating the Combustion
of Acetylene Gas.
I, CAMILLE COPPEAUX, of 144, Boulevard du Nord, Brussels, Belgium,
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:-
This invention relates to a method for enabling the combustion of acetylene gas
to be effected under the conditions most favourable for obtaining the maximum
illuminating-power therefrom and to means or apparatus for carrying such method
into practical effect.
It is known that the use of acetylene for lighting purposes presents certain
difficulties arising from the relatively large volume of air required in order to
enable the combustion of this gas to take place in the most complete possible
manner.
Acetylene gas, when burning simply in the atmosphere, does not find in the
surrounding quiet air a sufficient quantity of oxygen to enable the combustion to
take place in a complete manner. A flame of this gas burning under those
conditions presents only a luminous zone of comparatively small illuminating power
and having as a continuation a clearly noticeable smoky zone arising from imperfect
combustion.

page_text: 1eretofore, with the object of obviating this drawback, there have been proposed
various constructions of special burners in which, for the purpose of supplying the
acetylene flame with the amount of air necessary for complete combustion, agitation
of the surrounding air is produced so as to mix the said air with the gas before
combustion by means of special arrangements of gas-supply pipes which cause two
or more gas-jets to impinge against one another. These jets in impinging against
one another more or less violently, become broken up, and become mixed with the
more or less agitated surrounding air, and become spread out so as to produce an
illuminating flame in which combustion takes place under conditions more favourable
to illumination. All these arrangements however are attended by considerable
disadvantages. A slight obstruction of the minute orifices that serve for the exit
of the gas, or a slight fault in adjusting the direction of the gas-jets, is sufficient
to render the agitation of the surrounding air inadequate and to cause the mixture
of the said air with the gas to take place in an imperfect manner. In such a case.
the combustion becomes imperfect, the smoky zones of the flame increase in intensity,
and the illuminating-power becomes considerably diminished. On the other hand
the eddies and vortices artificially produced in the surrounding air impart movement
to portions of air which do not assist in the combustion, but which cool the flame and
reduce its illuminating-power. With these burners, also, the air is mixed with the
gas before it is ignited, and the result is that in some cases the maximum illuminating
power is but imperfectly utilized, the proportion of gas in the flame being reduced
to some extent. Moreover, all these arrangements have the further disadvantage
that the flame is fed at the expense of the oxygen contained in the space it is
desired to illuminate; it will be seen that this is a considerable drawback from a
hygienic point of view if the quantity of oxygen necessary to support complete
combustion of acetylene be taken into consideration.
Now, with the object of obviating these drawbacks I have invented a method for
effecting the complete combustion of acetylene, which consists essentially in feeding
an acetylene flame with a forced current of hot or cold air, independently of the
surrounding air, so as to supply the flame during combustion with the exact quantity
of air, and consequently of oxygen, that is necessary for effecting combustion under
the conditions most favourable to illumination.
This method has the advantage of avoiding the difficulties met with in constructing
burners for maintaining the accuracy necessary in directing the gas-jets, and it
obviates the drawbacks that might result from obstructions. Furthermore, it enables
an acetylene flame of a more intense illuminating power to be used because the air
arrives at the burner without mingling with the gas before ignition; and it also
enables the flame to be fed with external air, so that combustion and, consequently,
illumination are no longer produced entirely at the expense of the volume of air
available for the breathing of the persons in the place to be illuminated.
Moreover as the flame can if desired, be fed with air that has been previously
heated, all cooling of the flame is avoided; and the effects of such cooling are
considerably diminished even when cold air is used, because it is possible to regulate
the pressure, form, and direction of the air-jet in such a manner as to bring into
contact with the flame, only the air that is strictly necessary for the complete
combustion of the gas, whereby all loss of heat caused by the heating of the
previously existing eddies of air is reduced to a minimum.
Finally, this method enables the feeding of the flame to be effected without
extensive plant, in an intensely regenerative manner, because the stream of cold air
can on account of its pressure, be heated systematically with ease and to any
desired extent by causing it to pass before reaching the flame, through a conduit
heated by the flame itself. If desired, the cold air may be heated by passing it
through a conduit heated by some source other than the flame itself.
This method may be carried into practical effect by using an acetylene conduit
supplying the gas from any suitable generator, and a conduit into which the air is
forced, through a suitable pressure-regulator, by mechanical means such as a fan or
blower, and by employing in the burner, two or more conduits for supplying air and

page_text: gas, arranged in such a manner that the acetylene flame shall be in some way licked
by one or more layers of compressed air.
Conduits for supplying air and gas in this way may be variously arranged.
Figs. 1 to 12 of the accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example,
various burners or arrangements of conduits for the supply of air and gas to an
acetylene flame; the gas-conduits are indicated by the letter g, and the air-conduits
by the letter a.
of
In one type of burner represented in Figs. 1 and 2, 5 and 6 there are three
converging conduits one being situated between the two others: the middle conduit
may be used for gas and the outer ones for air as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, or
vice versa as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. In a second type of burner (see Figs. 3
and 4) there are two converging conduits, one for gas and the other for air.
Another having two conduits (see Fig.7) has them oppositely directed so that the jets
gas and air issuing therefrom will impinge directly against each other. In another
type shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a central conduit is surrounded by a converging conduit
of annular cross section: the former may be used for air and the latter for gas as
indicated in Fig. 8, or vice versa as indicated in Fig. 9. Another type (see Figs. 10
and 11) has three parallel conduits, one being situated between the other two; the
inner conduit may be used for gas and the other for air as indicated in Fig. 10, or
vice versa as indicated in Fig. 11. Another type of burner shown in Fig. 12 has
two bifurcated conduits arranged in line with each other and oppositely directed,
the arrangement being such that jets of air and gas issuing therefrom will impinge
obliquely against each other.
Figs. 13 and 14 show also a practical example of a burner of the kind above
described in which the air which feeds and causes the formation of the flame is
first heated by the flame of the gas itself. Upon the two pipes A and A' of a
double air and gas conduit, there is fixed a double union R which carries the burner.
The latter is substantially constituted by two main conduits T and T¹ provided
with a double cock C. The conduit T serves to supply acetylene gas and rises
directly above the cock C, extends through a part p, the special object of which
will be described hereinafter, and ends at a little distance above the part p in the
form of a small aperture a¹ for the escape of the gas.
The second conduit T¹ serves to supply the burner with the requisite air, which
is delivered under pressure into the conduit A'. The conduit T rises a little
above the cock C and joins the part p where it communicates with a passage D
bent in the form of a lyre in such a manner as to return to the part p after passing
overhead, at a distance of some centimetres from the outlet aperture al of the
acetylene conduit T, where it forms a serpentine coil S. The part p, where this
conduit D finally terminates, is provided internally with an annular conduit E to
which are connected two small conduits t' parallel to the conduit T and terminated
by nozzles H each furnished with an opening directed obliquely in such a manner
that the axes of these openings intersect at a certain distance above the opening (a¹)
of the pipe T and in the axis of this pipe.
The burner thus constructed operates in the following manner :-
When the cock C is opened, the gas under pressure escapes directly through
the opening a' of the pipe T, at the outer extremity of which it can be ignited.
The air under pressure passes from the conduit A' into the conduit D, circulates
in the serpentine S, passes through the part p, and escapes through the orifice of
the nozzles H.
These two jets of air under pressure encounter each other at a point I on the jet
of gas and expand thus bringing about simultaneously the expansion of the jet of
gas, which assumes the form of a flat flame like the well known one of batswing-
burners serving for illumination with ordinary gas. At the end of a few seconds
after igniting the gas escaping from the outlet a the serpentine coil S placed above
this flame is heated and from this time the flame is fed with hot air.
This burner therefore presents over the ordinary acetylene burners important
advantages in this sense that not only does it suppress the formation of the flame,

page_text: gas
and
(so difficult to realize under good conditions) by the meeting of jets of
realizes this formation by means of a single jet of gas combined with jets of air,
but it moreover enables to be given exactly to the flame, owing to the mechanical
action exerted by the jets of air upon the jet of gas the flat ferm and the quantity
of air necessary for obtaining a perfect combustion, air preliminary heated and no
longer consumed entirely to the detriment of the volume of air reserved for the
occupants of the place to be illuminated.
It might be found advantageous in certain cases, as regards the distribution of
the light, to modify the head of the burner in such a manner as to obtain a series
of flat flames which together present the aspect of a tulip or a luminous cylinder.
It is sufficient in this case to modify the head of the burner as shown in Fig. 144,
by making the pipe T for supplying acetylene communicate with a circular pipe l
furnished with a large number of outlet-openings arranged vertically or obliquely.
The two air-pipes t, t' support a circular pipe t pierced with inclined, or, as shown,
horizontal outlet-orifices. Each jet of air under pressure being directed upon a jet
of gas, there is formed by the meeting of these jets a series of flat flames like those
obtained by means of the typical burner represented in Figs. 13 and 14 but affecting
a certain curvature that gives to the whole the aspect of a tulip or a luminous
cylinder.
As the use of mechanical power of any kind for producing the compressed air-
jet by means of which I feed the acetylene flame, may offer some difficulty,
especially in those cases where a notor is not available, I may employ an
arrangement in which the requisite air-pressure is produced by the acetylene gas
itself, the pressure of which is arranged to operate an air-compressing device.
Two acetylene generators A¹ B' (Fig. 15) containing carbide of calcium receive
water from a higher reservoir F through a suitable pipe E. The gas generated
and given off by the generator in action, passes by a pipe D' into an expansion-
cylinder G provided with a piston which operates, by means of suitable levers, an
air-compressor I' that is in communication with an air-bell Z provided with a pipe T
through which the air passes to the illuminating-burners.
The expansion-cylinder G is in communication with a gas-holder H¹ provided
with a
pipe T through which the gas can pass to the illuminating burners. In
proportion as the gas is generated in one or other of the generators. A¹ or B³, and
as, consequently, its pressure increases, the piston in the expansion-cylinder (upon
which there is the counter-pressure of the gas expanded under the normal pressure)
rises and operates the air compressor which delivers air into the air-bell Z. On
the other hand, the expanded gas passes to feed the gas-holder H.
By means of this arrangement, the requisite air-pressure is produced readily and
without having recourse to any special motive power, the pressure of the gas itself
being employed for the purpose. The apparatus can be easily arranged to be
started and stopped automatically for instance, by arranging the supply of water to
the generators A' and B', to be controlled by the gas-holder H' which on reaching
the upward limit of its travel may be made to close automatically the cock that
controls the supply of water and thus stop the generation of the gas and consequently
the operation of the expansion-cylinder and of the air-compressor.
Fig. 16 of the annexed drawings shows by way of example a modification of the
arrangement above described, which may be advantageous in certain cases.
The gas being contained in any suitable generator G', for example a vessel
containing liquified acetylene, has, in order to reach the gas-bell B,, to first pass
through a special auxiliary bell I,, which plays the part of an expanding apparatus.
This bell I, is connected to one end of a beam the other end of which carries an
air-bell that plays the part of an air-compressor and is in communication with
the air-bell B', from which the compressed air pipe T extends.
The gas-bell B, is furnished with a system of suitable levers that enables it to
effect automatically the opening and the closing of a suitable cock or valve r
inserted in the pipe connecting the generator G¹ to the belt I, of the gas-expander.
The latter bell effects or controls the operation of two cocks inserted the first

page_text: in the same pipe as the cock r, the second in the pipe connecting the bell I, of the
expander to the gas bell B. The air-inlet and outlet pipes in communication with
the bell I, of the air-compressor are each furnished with non-return valves s
that respectively prevent the accidental return of the air from the bell B', into the
bell I, when the latter bell rises, and the escape of air from the same bell back
into the external atmosphere when the said bell descends.
When the air-compressor is at rest the gas-bell B, is at or near the top of its
stroke; at this moment the cock r is closed, the cock r¹ open, and the cock
closed. The bell I, of the gas-expander occupies at this time its lowest position
and the bell I', of the air compressor its highest position. When, in consequence
of the consumption of gas, the gas-bell B, descends, it opens in its movement the
cock and gas from the generator then passes into the bell I, of the expander,
which is raised thereby as well as the counterweight p', which loads the bell.
This bell, by its ascent lowers the bell of the air-compressor I', which forces the
air that has entered it through the valve s, into the special bell B', past the
valve s.
When the bell I, arrives at the top of its course, it closes the cock r¹ and opens
the cock thus permitting the expanded gas to pass into the gas-bell B₂. The
arrival of gas from the generator being then suppressed, the bell I, of the expanding
apparatus descends again under the action of the suitably regulated counterweight pl
and forces the gas into the bell B, until this bell arrives at the bottom of its stroke,
when the cock is closed automatically.
From this time the feeding of the burners by air and gas under pressure will be
assured in a regular mauner, the operation of the air compressor recommencing in
the manner herein before described as soon as the bell B, has descended sufficiently
to open again the cock r.
The air-compressing apparatus may, if desired, be arranged at a distance from
the gas or generating or supplying plant, so that only one conduit would be
necessary throughout the entire length of the gas-main. In such a case, the
generators or holders containing liquid or compressed gaseous acetylene being
situated at a definite spot, it would be sufficient to provide a single gas-pipe for
supplying the gas to an expansion-cylinder fitted with an air compressing device
and with gas and air holders or bells, situated near to the illuminating apparatus.
The air-compressing apparatus might be located in the illuminating apparatus
itself by employing a suitable ventilating device or fan operated by the pressure of
the gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improved method of facilitating the combustion of
acetylene gas, which consists in projecting towards the flame produced by the
buruing of the said gas, one or more continuous currents or jets of air under
pressure, supplied from a place independent of the air space immediately surrounding
the flame, substantially as described.
2. In an acetylene burner fed by a current of air under pressure, the production
of one or more flat flames by the combined action of jets of air and jets of gas under
pressure the said jets being so arranged that their meeting together effects the
desired spreading of the flame, or flames, as set forth.
3. In apparatus for facilitating the combustion of acetylene by means of currents
or jets of air under pressure, causing the air under pressure to pass through a pipe
or device having a comparatively large heating surface and arranged above the
flame so as to be heated thereby as set forth.
4. For carrying out the method specified in Claim 1 the utilization of the
pressure of the acetylene gas produced in any suitable generator, as a motive power
for actuating an air-compressing device for producing the required supply of air
under pressure.

page_text: 5. The combination with acetylene burning apparatus of acetylene gas generators
and air compressors constructed and operating substantially as herein described for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of February 1897
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.