Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
1, PHILIPPE SCHRECK, of Villa Palmyra, Versoix, Canton of Geneva, Republic
of Switzerland, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of acetylene gas generator
wherein the gas is generated under water each time the gas pressure decreases
in the gas holder, by opening automatically chambers charged with carbide,
whereby gas is produced practically free from air, the attention required mini-
mized, the chargeing simplified and reduced to as long intervals as possible.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the gas holder, Fig. 2 of the gas generator, Fig.
a sectional elevation of the latter, and Fig. 4 a plan with top removed. Fig. 5
is a longitudinal section of a chamber charged and closed, Fig. 5 a cross section
of a chamber with empty charge receptacle, Fig. 5º a longitudinal section of an
empty chamber and charge receptacle with fastener open, and Fig. 5 a side
view of a chamber without fastener.
In carrying out my invention I employ in the middle of the gas generator
vessel, Fig. 3, a drum vertically mounted in bearings a¹, and furnished
externally with chambers e arranged in screw form, the front ends of these
chambers being closeable by doors d' hinged thereto and pressed against a suit-
able packing by hook fasteners (12.
In the gas generator vessel is also employed around the said chambers, a ring e
vertically guided by the rails e¹, e², e³, e and suspended from chains f¹, f passing
over the chain pulleys f³, f secured upon the shaft g.
The shaft end g is mounted in the wall of the gas generator vessel whilst the
other end passes through a stuffing box g³ out of the vessel. Upon the shaft
end is secured a ratchet wheel hand upon its boss a double armed lever
adapted to rock thereon.
The lever arm reaches up to the gas holder, Fig. 1, and the latter has
secured a bracket & furnished with a stud k¹ which in the lowest position of tho
gas holder presses against the lever arm i¹.
The lever end is furnished with a weight
adapted to rise the lever arm it against the stop **.
rendered adjustable thereon and
Upon the lever arm is employed a feed pawl in gear with the ratchet
wheel h and upon the generator vessel a back pawl ..
The lid of the gas generator vessel is furnished with a short pipe, the orifice
of which is bent downwards and communicates with a receiver m. the top of
which is furnished with a pipe leading to a cylinder o situated at a lower
level than the said receiver.
From the top of the cylinder o another pipe leads to the gas holder.
The pipe connection described which leads indirectly from the gas generator

page_text: to the gas holder, can be cut off by means of the main cock q; two cocks q¹, q
are also employed on the lid of the gas generator vessel and one at the bottom
of the cylinder o.
The lower end of the gas generator vessel is formed conical and provided
with a discharge valve such as are used in existing gas generators, whils
the side of the generator vessel is formed with a man-hole s.
For the purpose of introducing the carbide into the chambers c, receptacles e
are provided open at the top perforated at the sides and less in diameter than
the said chambers and so arranged on angle irons that they do not come in
direct contact with the walls of the chamber c.
The receptacles are furnished opposite the hinged doors d' with springs c
which throw the same open when released from the pressure of the hook
fasteners ².
The working of the apparatus is as follows:-
After having removed the man-hole lid, the chambers are charged with car-
bide and the hinged doors closed as well as the man-hole. Water is then
admitted into the generator vessel through the pipe connection (which can be
cut off by the cock q¹) until it covers the uppermost of the said chambers. The
lever is then actuated, which causes the shaft 9 and with it the chain pul-
leys f³, to turn and by winding up the chain fi, f2 the ring e to rise. The
said lever is actuated until the said ring contacts with and opens the hook
fastener of the first chamber, after which the door flies open and gives the water
access to the carbide.
At this moment the generation of gas commences, the gas holder then
rises and lifts its stud off the lever arm ¹.
The gas generated passes from the generator vessel through the bent pipe 7
into the receiver me wherein the water which has followed the gas separates and
settles. The cylinder o serves also as a separating vessel.
When the gas holder due to the decreased pressure therein has descended to
the position of the lever shown in the drawing, the stud presses upon the
lever arm and the latter causes the ratchet wheel to be turned forward one
tooth.
This turn causes the chains to be wound onto the chain pulleys f³, f, the
ringe to rise proportionately and by removing the fastener of the door of the
second chamber to open the same, after which the generation of gas repeats
itself.
The moment at which the fastener begins to open through contact with the
upper edge of the ring e is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.
The cock serves for the admittance of air into the gas generator vessel.
for the purpose of emptying it of water through the valve r, whilst the cock q
serves for emptying the cylinder o.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1
1st. An acetylene gas generator, consisting of a drum adapted to rotate on a
horizontal plane inside a vessel and externally furnished with a number of
chambers arranged in screw form and closeable by means of hinged doors and
hook fasteners and of a ring employed around the said chambers, adapted to be
raised by means of chains and to press the hook fasteners off the said hinged
doors, for the purpose of successively discharging under water the chambers
containing the carbide whereby gas is produced practically free from air, the
chargeing is simplified and reduced to as long intervals as possible, substantially
as set forth.
2nd. Means for actuating the chains specified in the preceding claim, con-
sisting of a double armed lever with adjustable weight, one arm of which, when
the gas holder descends, is pressed down by a stud and causes a ratchet wheel

page_text: secured upon a shaft to be turned and through the medium of chains and chain
pulleys to wind up the ring, specified in the preceding claim, and the latter to
successively discharge the said chambers each time a decrease of gas pressure
takes place in the gas holder and the latter descends, all substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In an acetylene gas generator such as specified in Claim 1, a device for
separating the water leaving the generator vessel with the gas generated, con-
sisting of a receiver employed above the said generator vessel containing
a pipe with bent down orifice and of a pipe leading from the top of the said
receiver to the gas holder, the said pipe having inserted at a lower level than
the said receiver a cylindrical vessel which also serves for the separation of the
water from the gas generated, all substantially as set forth.
Doted this 13th dox of October 1800
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.