Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
We, GUSTAVE LEBRUN of 17, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, Architect; and
FERNAND CORNAILLE of 12, Rue du Havre, Paris, France, Merchant; do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for producing acetylene gas,
the action of which is based essentially on the agitation of the carbide within a
revolving cage whilst water is projected upon it, in order that the residue of wet
lime resulting from the decomposition shall be separated from the carbide and
the action of the water be rendered instantaneous and regular and particularly
that the production of the gas shall be arrested when the supply of water ceases;
these conditions appearing to be indispensable to a practical apparatus for genera-
ting acetylene gas automatically as fast as consumed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings which represent an eleva-
tion and plan of the apparatus.
The apparatus comprises a generator formed by a closed metallic casing A
provided with two apertures R S one above the other closed by rubber-packed
covers secured by screws. The upper opening R is for the introduction of a
rotary cylinder of wire gauze acting as a sieve and containing calcium carbide
together with a few balls having conical sleeves for preventing the clogging of
the meshes. The lower opening S serves for the introduction of a tray for
receiving the lime residue resulting from the decomposition of the calcium carbide
during the operation of the apparatus. The cylindrical cage containing the
calcium carbide is mounted on a revolving shaft passing through a stuffing box
and driven by an endless chain from mechanism 13 contained in the base. A
water jet pipe C leads from reservoir E into the generator and is provided with
a regulator V to control the supply according to the normal gas production of
the apparatus. The feed reservoir E which is closed air-tight for retaining the
water by the vacuum, is made of glass and graduated to shew by the consump-
tion of water the degree of exhaustion of the carbide. A small pipe F connected
to the gas pipe G from the generator to the gas holder, admits gas to the reservoir
to permit the water to escape to the generator. The pipe F has a valve I which
is controlled by a counterbalance weight operated by the rise or fall of the bell K
of gas holder L, the valve being opened by the fall of the gas holder and closed
when it rises to its maximum height. The coil M of the pipe G leading from
CD

page_text: the generator to the gas holder is for cooling the gas and condensing vapours.
N is a purge cock.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The stop-cocks HD being closed
and the air vent P of the generator open, the covers R and S and stopper T are
removed and the cage charged with calcium carbide and balls, is placed in position
the tray emptied if necessary and reservoir E filled with water and closed. The
covers are then closed, the clockwork wound, and the cocks J and D opened.
The gas holder being in the lowered position, the cock I is opened and gas enters
reservoir E to allow water to be projected upon the calcium carbide and the
revolving cage being set in motion the generation of gas takes place. When the
air contained in the generator has escaped, the vent P is closed and cock H is
opened, the gas generated passing to the gas holder which begins to rise where-
upon the apparatus is ready to supply the gas.
When the consumption of gas is interrupted, or is less than that of its produc-
tion, the gas holder continues to rise until on reaching its limit the counterweight
closes valve L so that the gas being shut off from the reservoir E the supply of
water to the generator ceases. The carbide receiving no more water and being
freed by the rotation of the cage of the residue of wet lime which falls into the
tray, becomes inert and the production of gas entirely ceases until on the consump-
tion recommencing or increasing, the gas holder descends and the valve is
reopened whereupon the action is renewed until the charge of carbide in the
generator is completely exhausted.
Dated this 7th day of January 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
We, GUSTAVE LEBRUN of 17, Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, Architect; and
FERNAND CORNAILLE, of 12, Rue du Havre, Paris, France, Merchant; do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for producing acetylene gas,
the action of which is based essentially on the agitation of the carbide within a
revolving cage whilst water is projected upon it, in order that the residue of wet
lime resulting from the decomposition shall be separated from the carbide and
the action of the water be rendered instantaneous and regular and particularly
that the production of the gas shall be arrested when the supply of water ceases;
these conditions appearing to be indispensable to a practical apparatus for genera-
ting acetylene gas automatically as fast as it is consumed.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying our Provisional Specifica-
tion which represent an elevation and plan of the apparatus.
The apparatus comprises a generator formed by a closed metallic casing A
provided with two apertures R S one above the other closed by rubber-packed
covers secured by screws. The upper opening R is for the introduction of a
rotary cylinder of wire gauze acting as a sieve and containing calcium carbide
together with a few balls having conical sleeves for preventing the clogging of
the meshes. The lower opening S serves for the introduction of a tray for
receiving the lime residue, resulting from the decomposition of the calcium carbide
during the operation of the apparatus. The cylindrical cage containing the

page_text: 3416
calcium, carbide is mounted on a revolving shaft passing through a stuffing box
and driven by an endless chain from mechanism B contained in the base. A
water jet pipe C leads from reservoir E into the generator and is provided with
a regulator to control the supply according to the normal gas production of
the apparatus. The feed reservoir E which is closed air-tight for retaining the
water by the vacuum, is made of glass and graduated to shew by the consump-
tion of water, the degree of exhaustion of the carbide. A small pipe F connected
to the gas pipe G from the generator to the gas holder admits gas to the reservoi
to permit the water to-escape-to-the-generator: The pipe F has a valve I which
is controlled by a counterbalance weight operated by the rise or fall of the ball K
gas holder L, the valve being opened by the fall of the gas holder and closed
when it rises to its maximum height. The coil M of the pipe G leading from
the generator to the gas holder is for cooling the gas and condensing vapours.
N is a purge cock.
of
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The stop-cocks H J D being closed
and the air vent P of the generator open, the covers R and S and stopper T are
removed and the cage charged with calcium carbide and balls, is placed in position
the tray emptied if necessary and reservoir E filled with water and closed. The
covers are then closed, the clockwork wound, and the cocks J and D opened.
The gas holder being at this moment in the lowered position, the cock I is
opened and gas enters reservoir E to allow water to be projected upon the calcium
carbide and the revolving cage being set in motion the generation of gas takes
place. When the air contained in the generator has been allowed to escape, the
vent is closed and cock H is opened, the gas generated passing to the gas holder
which begins to rise whereupon the apparatus is ready to supply the gas.
When the consumption of gas is interrupted, or is less than that of its production,
the gas holder continues to rise until on reaching its normal limit the counterweight
closes valve L so that the gas being shut off from the reservoir E the supply of
water to the generator ceases. The carbide receiving no more water and being
freed by the rotation of the cage of the residue of wet lime which falls into the
tray, becomes inert and the production of gas entirely ceases until on the consump-
tion recommencing or increasing, the gas holder descends and the valve is
reopened whereupon the action is renewed until the charge of carbide in the
generator is completely exhausted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a system of apparatus for producing acetylene gas the combination within
a closed chamber, of a revolving perforated drum or cage containing the calcium
carbide and a tray adapted to receive the lime residue from the decomposition of
the carbide which is separated therefrom by the rotation of the cage as specified.
2. In the herein described apparatus for producing acetylene gas the combina-
tion, with the generator, of a closed water chamber or reservoir placed at a higher
level than the generator and connected at its upper part by a pipe with the gas
discharge pipe from the generator so as to render the flow of water dependent on
the gaseous pressure in the water chamber, a gas holder, a pipe leading from the
generator to the holder, a valve actuated by the gas holder so as to arrest the
admission of gas and consequently the supply of water to the generator when the
holder rises, and a conduit connecting the water chamber and the generator as
described.
3. In an apparatus for making acetylene gas the combination of a revolving
perforated drum or cage for containing calcium carbide and getting rid of the lime
residue as fast as it is produced, means for removing the gas as generated, a gas-
holder for receiving the gas, means for supplying liquid to the perforated cage,
comprising a closed water chamber, a pipe connecting the water chamber with
the generator, a pipe connecting the water chamber and gas holder whereby gas

page_text: pressure from the gas holder may be introduced into the water chamber to force
water therefrom to the generator, and means for controlling the flow of gas through
the said pipe controlled by the movement of the gas holder substantially as des-
cribed and for the purpose set forth.
ated this 6th day of October 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.