Improvements in Acetylene Generating Apparatus and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene Generating Apparatus and the like.
We, DAVID JOHN VAN PRAAG, of 3, Hardwick Place, Hampstead Road, in the.
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM HARKER, of St. Margarets,
Bridge. Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus in which
water is brought into contact with carbide of calcium, or other carbide, for the
production of acetylene.
The object of our invention is to produce an apparatus which is efficient and
casily manipulated..
Our invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of water
supplying device and carbide containing vessel, which may be applied to bicycle
and other lamps.
In carrying our invention into effect according to one modification in the
construction of an apparatus which is to be used for the production of acetylene
on a large scale, we use a water-sealed gasometer which received its gas supply
through a pipe connected with a carbide chamber to be hereinafter described.
A water reservoir in which the water level is kept constant by means of a ball
float or like device controlling the valve on the main supply pipe is supported
above the gasometer. The base of the reservoir is provided with a stuffing box
through which slides the water supply pipe for the carbide. This supply pipe
passes down through the top of the gasometer bell, to which it is attached gas
tight, and terminates in a nozzle in the gas space a short distance below the
top of the bell. Immediately above this nozzle and inside the bell a valve is
provided in the tube, said valve being controlled by a ball float or like device.
A tap which can be operated by hand is also provided in the tube just outside
of the bell. The upper part of the supply pipe which is open to the water in
the cistern is covered by a perforated cylinder which extends to the water
surface and is provided with a loose cap. This cap is weighted and lined on
its under side with leather or other substance for a purpose to be hereinafter
mentioned. In the inside of the gasometer bell a hopper is attached to the
frame which carries the gasometer. The wide part of the hopper opens into the
upper part of the gas space of the bell, while to the narrow part is attached a
tube which passes down through the base of the gasometer and terminates in a
nozzle inside the carbide containing vessel which is supported a short distance
below the gasometer. Above the carbide vessel the tube is provided with a stop
valve which is operated by hand to close the apparatus during the replacement
of the carbide.

page_text: According to a modification of the above arrangement we dispense with the
ball float and nozzle on the water supply pipe attached to the bell. Instead of
the hopper we fix a vertical tube in the base of the gasometer, the lower end of
this tube communicating with the water supply tube, mentioned above, which
passes into the carbide chamber. The water supply pipe attached to the bell is
adapted to slide in the fixed vertical tube. In the base of this hole we arrange
a valve through which water from the sliding tube is supplied to the carbide.
This valve is so constructed that on the rising of the sliding tube owing to gas
pressure on the bell it is lifted bodily from its seat, and at the same time it
closes the mouth of the tube thereby shutting off the water supply. When the
gas pressure diminishes this valve will be lowered to its seat, and thus open
the mouth of the sliding tube, thereby permitting water to flow again.
The carbide containing vessel consists of a cylindrical or other suitably shaped
vessel, the bottom of which is removable, and may be made water and gas tight
by means of washers and clamping screws. About the middle of the vessel a
removable perforated disc is fixed. Below this an unperforated disc is placed on
the top of a spring resting on the removable bottom of the chamber. The space
between the two discs is filled with carbide in any suitable form. The carbide
is thus always kept in contact with a moist pad of lime, on to which the water
drips from the nozzle above mentioned. Instead of the perforated disc we may
use a wire basket or perforated metal cage attached to the removable bottom,
the unperforated disc and spring working inside this cage, so that the whole
may be easily removed and replaced for cleaning and charging purposes. Or
instead of making the bottom removable we may arrange an opening in the side
of the vessel which may be made gas tight and allow for the introduction of the
charge and cleaning.
The carbide chamber may be water jacketted in any suitable manner to prevent
a dangerous rise of temperature, should there be any tendency for this to
occur.
The gas space of the carbide chamber communicates with the gas space of the
gasometer bell through a tube which we have already mentioned. It also opens
to the atmosphere through a tube which is normally closed by a valve. The
gasometer supply tube is also provided with a valve. The gas supply valve, the
valve on the water supply tube below the gasometer, above mentioned, and the
valve on the tube open to the atmosphere may be all controlled by hand at one
operation, and are arranged so that when the two former are shut the latter is
open and vice versa. The usual pipe for conveying gas to the mains is provided
inside the gasometer. The water seal of the gasometer near its bottom is in
communication with the atmosphere through a pipe which is provided to act as a
safety valve in the event of the pressure in the bell becoming excessive.
The action of the generator is as follows:-The tap above the gasometer bell
is opened, and water from the reservoir flows through the perforated cylinder
and down the supply pipe into the hopper inside the bell. If the lower regulating
valve has been opened it will drip on to the carbide, thus causing an evolution
of gas. The gas passes into the bell, causing it to rise, carrying with it the
supply pipe, and when a sufficient amount of gas has been generated the mouth
of the supply pipe will have risen clear of the water surface and no more water
⚫ can be supplied. The tube in rising takes up the weighted cap above mentioned.
This cap thus provides a closure for the top of the tube to prevent escape of gas
from from the bell, and prevents ingress of air. The ballfloat controlling the
valve on the inside of the bell is provided in the event of the tap above the bell
being inadvertently left open when the lower water regulating valve is shut.
In this case water would simply rise in the hopper until it shut off the supply
through the ball float. When the lower valve was again opened the water supply
would be taken from this hopper. When the apparatus is not in action the lower
water and gas supply valves are shut, and the valve on the atmospheric tube
open. This allows any gas which may be in the carbide chamber to escape, and

page_text: the chamber may be cleaned and charged without incurring danger on the part
of the attendant.
to
In applying our invention to a bicycle lamp, the lamp in one of its forms is
constructed, of a cylindrical chamber closed at its upper and lower ends respec-
tively by screw caps. The upper cap may be provided with small holes to allow
any excess of gas escape. Inside the top of the chamber depends a
water chamber, which may be filled by unscrewing the upper cap. The space
between the outer walls and the water chamber forms the gas space. The water
chamber extends nearly half way down the lamp. Below the water chamber
is attached a removable perforated disc, against which carbide which lies on an
unperforated disc is pressed by a spring resting on the screw cap which forms
the base of the lamp. The lower cap is made removable for the purpose of
charging and cleaning. In place of the lower screw cap we may arrange the
lamp so that its lower part consisting of perforated disc etc. is detachable. It
may be locked to the lamp body at one operation by providing it with a bayonet
joint, and washers to make the joint tight. Instead of the perforated disc we
may use a perforated metal cylinder or a wire cage to contain the carbide and
the spring feed device, so that the whole is easily removable. We may also
arrange the lower part of the lamp so that cleaning may be effected, and carbide
introduced through an opening in the side.
The water drips on to the carbide through the perforated disc from a small
hole in the base of a conical valve seat which is fixed in the bottom of the water
vessel. To the upper part of the valve seat is attached a ring which forms the
valve chamber and which is perforated with holes near its base. These holes
serve to admit the water to the valve chamber. A hollow sleeve which is bevilled
conical at its lower end screws into the inside of the ring and forms the regulating
valve, and when screwed home it beds on a washer of leather or other substance
on the conical scat, so as to give a water tight fitting. To the upper end of the
sleeve a long tube is attached which extends up above the water surface so that
on unscrewing the upper cap of the lamp the valve may be operated by hand.
A wire passing down through the tube, valve and small hole, is used for keeping
the said hole free from deposit. It also assists in the water feed.
A small burner attached to the side of the lamp is in communication with the
gas space round the water chamber.
This arrangement which we have described with reference to a bicycle lamp
may also be applied with slight modifications to a table lamp, or a Davy," or
other mining lamp. In the " Davy lamp the generator and burner may be
enclosed in one case, and locked together at one operation.
In applying the above arrangement to a table lamp the whole apparatus may
be enclosed in the ornamental case forming the body of the lamp. The water
regulating valve is connected to the valve on the gas supply to the burner so
that they may be operated by hand simultaneously. They are so arranged that
they open and shut together. We may combine a small gasometer with the
lamp.
The gas holder is of such capacity as to receive all the gas generated after the
water is shut off.

page_text: Improvements in Acetylene Generating Apparavus and the ano,
We, DAVID JOHN VAN PRAAG, of 3, Hardwick Place, Hampstead Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM HARKER, of St. Margarets,
Bridge Road, Maidenhead, in the County of Berkshire, Gentleman, 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:
Our invention relates to improvements in that class of apparatus in which
water is brought into contact with calcium carbide or other carbide for the
production of acetylene.
Our invention consists generally, as applied to an apparatus for the production
of acetylene on a large scale, in causing the water supply to the calcium carbide
to take place through a tube sliding through the base of the water reservoir
said tube being attached to the gas-holder or bell, and in providing a cap which
covers and uncovers the mouth of said tube upon the motion of the gas-holder
or bell, thus controlling the flow of water through the tube.
In carrying our invention into effect according to one modification, as illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus for the production of acetylene
on a large scale.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a section of a cycle lamp constructed according to our invention.
Figure 4 is a section of a Davy" or mining lamp.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A is a water reservoir in which
the water level is preferably kept constant by means of a ball float
controlling the valve on the main supply pipe M. B is the gasholder provided
with the usual water seal, and C is the gas generator. These are supported on
a suitable staging S. The water reservoir is provided with a stuffing box D,
through which slides a tube E which is attached gas-tight at F to the top of the
gasholder or bell B. The tube E is prolonged through the bell and slides in
a vertical tube G fixed to the base of the gasholder. The upper part of the
tube E is open to the water in the supply cistern and it is surrounded by a
perforated cylinder or other suitable support a¹ upon which rests a weighted
cap a². This cap is provided with a projecting piece which acts as a centering
device for the cap on the mouth of the pipe E. When the gasholder or bell B
becomes filled with gas it rises, carrying with it the tube E which lifts the
weighted cap a² from its support a¹. The cap a is provided with a washer
against which the end of the pipe E presses, thus forming a tight joint. The
cap prevents further supply of water to the carbide and also escape of gas from
the gasholder B.
!
The tube G is provided with a regulating valve H and a nozzle K through
which the water flows on to the calcium carbide in the container C¹.
The tube L provided with a stop valve H¹ and non-return valve N, conveys
the gas to the gasholder. P is a tube which puts the generator in communication
with the atmosphere through the stop valve H2 and non-return valve N¹. The
tube P is also in communication with the water seal of the gasholder through
the flexible tube p¹ and pipe ⁄², so that in event of the pressure rising too high,
the excess of gas can escape through p¹ to the atmosphere the flexible tube p
is sufficiently long to permit of the free motion of the bell B.
The valve H, H¹ and H can be controlled by hand at one operation and they
are so arranged that when H and H' are open, H2 is shut, and vice versa.

page_text: A filling tube R carrying gauge glasses R1 and R2, is provided by means of
which the gasholder may be filled with water to expel air by the aperture 6¹
which is normally covered by a screw cap. The water is drawn off by the syphon
tube T. The gas is supplied to the mains by the exit tube U which carries a
trap and valve U', through which water carried over by the gas or deposited by
condensation may be drawn off.
Stems 63, 62 are provided upon which weights may be placed for the purpose
of increasing the gas pressure.
The carbide receptacle c¹ which is placed inside of a suitable casing C, consists
of a cylindrical vessel preferably perforated, provided with a removable perforated
top which is fixed by a bayonet joint to the casing c¹. The calcium carbide
is placed between the top and an unperforated disc which rests upon a
spring c
The spring serves to keep the carbide in contact with the moist pad
of lime which forms under the perforated top on to which the water drips
from the nozzle K.
The casing C is provided with a removable door which is fixed gas-tight by
means of bolts and washers.
The carbide chamber may be water jacketted in any well-known suitable
manner to prevent a dangerous rise of temperature should there be any tendency
for this to occur.
The mode of operation and the action of the generator are as follows:-
The valve H, H¹ are closed and H2 is opened, the cap on b¹ is then inscrewed
and water is poured into the gasholder through the filling tube R until the level
rises to R as shown by gauge glass R2. The object of this is to drive the air
out of the gasometer bell. The cap is then screwed on b' and the valves H and H¹
are opened. This generated allows water to flow on to the carbide in cand
the gas generated accumulates in the gasometer bell. The syphon T is then
started and the water in the gasometer is run off until its level is at R³ as
shown by the gauge glass R¹. As the gas is generated the bell is caused to rise
taking with it the tube E, and when a sufficient amount of gas is evolved E will
have risen clear of the water surface and no more water can be supplied to the
carbide. The tube in rising takes up the weighted cap a². This cap provides
a closure for the top of the tube to prevent escape of gas from, and also ingress
of air to, the bell.
As the gas becomes used up the bell or holder B falls until the cap a² again
rests upon the support a', when a further supply of water to the carbide takes
place through the pipe E. More gas is then generated, and the bell again rises,
the pipe Elifting the cap and the water supply is shut off. These operations
succeed one another with perfect regularity so long as the valve H is open, and
the action of the apparatus is thus perfectly automatic.
In the above water reservoir is described in which the water level is kept
constant by means of a ball float, so that the tube E, when it takes up the weighted
cap a rises clear of the water surface. It is obvious, however, that the water
level need not be constant and that the depth of water in the reservoir may be
such that the tube E never rises clear of the water surface. The cap a will
prevent further supply of water to the carbide when the tube E has risen
sufficiently high to raise it from the top of the perforated cylinder a¹.
When the apparatus is not in action the valves H and H' are closed and H2
is open.
This allows any gas which may remain in the carbide chamber to
escape to the atmosphere through non-return valve N, and the chamber may be
cleaned and charged without allowing the gas in the gasometer to escape. Thus
the carbide chamber may be recharged while lights are being supplied with gas
from the gasometer without in any way interfering with the lights. The non-
return valve N on the tube P allows gas to escape but prevents access of air
to the carbide chamber in the event of the water supply being cut off before all
the carbide in the chamber is exhausted and thus the formation of an explosive
mixture in C is avoided.

page_text: Referring to Figure 3 which illustrates a cycle lamp constructed according to
our invention, C₁ is a cylindrical chamber closed at its upper and lower ends
by screw caps G¹ and H₁ respectively. From the top of the chamber depends
the water reservoir A which may be filled by unscrewing the cap G¹.
reservoir can also be formed by a division across the cylindrical casing.
The
The carbide containing receptacle is similar to that described above and consists
of a perforated cylindrical vessel 0₁ against the top K¹ of which the carbide
which lies on an unperforated disc M₁ is pressed by the spring L which rests
upon the removable cap H¹. The vessel O is detachably secured to this cap so
that the whole may be taken to pieces readily for charging and cleaning purposes.
Water is supplied to the carbide from the reservoir A¹ through the holes E
in the valve which consists of a cylindrical collar F with a conical seat having a
nozzle N2 at its base. The valve stem consists of a plug D¹ which is screwed
into the collar F and is bevelled at its lower end to bed on the conical seat,
so as to make a tight joint. A rod B₁ attached to the plug D¹ projects above
the water surface into the space under the cap G¹ so that the valve may be readily
regulated by hand on unscrewing the cap. The wire W attached to the plug 1
and passing through the nozzle Na is provided to control the water feed. We
find that we can alter the rate supply of water by varying the length of the
wire.
The cap G¹ is perforated at G³, G2 so as to admit air into the space above the
water surface and allow the escape of any excess of gas which forces its way into
the said space through the valve.
A small burner P₁ attached to the casing C₁ is provided with the usual
hood R³ with lens and reflector. The dotted lines indicate an alternative arrange-
ment of burner and reflecting hood.
The construction of lamp generating apparatus described above may be adapted
with slight modifications to a "Davy or other mining lamp as shown in
Figure 4, by providing it with a device S by means of which it may be locked
to the body of the lamp. It may also be adapted to a table lamp by adding to
it instead of the Davy lamp body a globe and gallery R³ as indicated by the
dotted lines. In the lamp shown at Figure 4 the water reservoir A¹ is formed
by a division across the cylindrical casing C'. The gas exit pipe carrying the
burner P¹ passes centrally up through the water reservoir and the water is
supplied to the carbide in the container 01 through a regulating valve F¹ similar
to that described with reference to Figure 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An acetylene generating apparatus in which the water supply is auto-
matically controlled by the motion of the gas holder or bell substantially as
herein before set forth."
2. An acetylene generating apparatus comprising a water reservoir, a gas
generator and gasholder said gasholder carrying a pipe such as E through which
the water supply to carbide in a container such as C takes place, the water supply
being controlled by the motion of the gasholder substantially as herein before
set forth.
3. In acetylene generating apparatus a water supply device consisting of a
tube such as E fixed to the gasholder sliding in a fixed tube such as G at its
lower end and having its upper end open to the water in the supply cistern
while the gasholder is being supplied with gas, said water supply being auto-
matically cut off by a cap such as a substantially as herein before described.
4. The construction and general arrangement of an acetylene generating
apparatus substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In combination with a lamp acetylene generating apparatus comprising a

page_text: water reservoir supported in the upper part of the lamp body, a water supply
valve such as E' provided with a nozzle through which passes a feed wire, said
wire being attached to the lower end of the valve stem, and a carbide container
supported in the lower part of the lamp body said container consisting of a
perforated vessel provided with a spring and pressing plate, substantially as
herein before described.
6. The improvements in acetylene generating apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and 25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents,