Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
We, FREDERICK SANSOM THORN and CHARLES HODDLE, both of No. 1, Tothill
Street, Westminster, in the County of London, Gas Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to our Patent No. 15962 of 1896 and is also applicable
to any apparatus for generating and storing acetylene wherein a tank and Hoating
gasholder is employed. It has for its object the providing means whereby all risk of
explosion is removed.
To avoid the risk of an explosive mixture of air and acetylene accumulating in.
the apparatus when it is first started we reduce the air space by fixing a diaphragm
inside the gasholder at its upper end so that the diaphragm may come close to the
surface of the water in the tank when the holder is empty. A chamber is thus
formed in the upper part of the gas holder which may be made to contain water or
any material for the purpose of adding such weight as may be necessary for regulat-
ing the gas pressure.
To prevent the gasholder becoming overcharged we fix an escape pipe inside it
with its outlet at the upper end so arranged that should the holder ascend to an
abnormal height the lower end of the pipe rises clear of the water in tank and so
permits the excess of gas to escape. The lower end of pipe being fitted with one
or more inverted cones to prevent the rush of gas carrying water up it.
To prevent an excess of pressure arising in the generating chamber we connect a
safety pipe to the body of the non-return valve situated on the gas outlet leading to
the ball valve so arranged that the pipe extends downwards to the bottom of the
water tank. Should the usual gas outlet and water inlet pipes be closed from any
accidental cause and the ball valve is shut the gas opens the non-return valve and
passes down the safety pipe and up through the water into the holder.
Dated this Ninth day of Tune 1000
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
We, FREDERICK SANSOM THORN and CHARLES HODDLE, both of No. 1, Tothill
Street, Westminster, in the County of London, Gas Engineers, 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 has reference to our Patent No. 15962 of 1896 and is also applicable
to any apparatus for generating and storing acetylene where a tank and floating gas-

page_text: holder is employed. It has for its object the providing means whereby all risk of
explosion is removed.
To avoid the risk of an explosive mixture of air and acetylene accumulating in
the apparatus when it is first started we reduce the air space by fixing a diaphragın
inside the gas-holder at its upper end so that the diaphragm may come close to the
surface of the water in the tank when the holder empty. A chamber is thus
formed in the upper part of the gas-holder which may be made to contain water or
any material for the purpose of adding such weight as may be necessary for regulat-
ing the gas pressure.
To prevent the gas-holder becoming overcharged we fix an escape pipe inside it
with its outlet at the upper end so arranged that should the holder ascend to an
abnorinal beight the lower end of the pipe rises clear of the water in tank and so
permits the excess of gas to escape-the lower end of pipe being fitted with one or
more inverted cones to prevent the rush of gas carrying water up it.
To prevent an excess of pressure arising in the generating chamber we connect a
safety pipe to the body of the non-return valve situated on the gas outlet leading to
the ball valve so arranged that the pipe extends downwards to the bottom of the
water tank. Should the usual gas outlet and water inlet pipes be closed from any
accidental cause and the ball-valve is shut the gas opens the non-return valve and
passes down the safety pipe and up through the water into the holder.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 shews an apparatus for generating storing and cooling acetylene gas with
two generating chambers and provided with the several improvements covered by this
patent.
Fig. 2 shews a section of the said apparatus on the line 2, 2, with the generating
chamber b, and its system of pipes and valves removed so that the working of the
parts in connection with the generating chamber a, can be more clearly described.
a, and b, are generating chambers each surrounded by the water in the gas-holder
tank c, by which means the gas at the moment of generation is efficiently
cooled. d, d, are carbide containers divided into compartiments by transverse
and longitudinal partitions. e, e¹, are outlet pipes for the generated gas
which passes through the non-return valves f,, and the ball-valves g, g',
(Patent No. 25835 of 1898) into the gas-holder . i, is a pipe admitting
water to the generating chambers a, b, and acting also as
a gas outlet.
j, is a condensing chamber for the purpose of freeing the gas from moisture before
delivery to the burners. 1, h, k, are supports for the pipes e, l, e. 1, is the
gas outlet leading from the holder to the condensing chamber. Water is introduced
into the tank at the pocket m, and can be run off if necessary by removing the
plug n. The pipe leading to burners is connected at o, p, is a horizontal plate or
diaphragm dividing the gas-holder h, into two compartments and fixed at a suitable
position so that when the gas-holder falls to its lowest point the diaphragm rests
upon or close to the surface of the water in the gas-holder tank c. By this means
the air which is enclosed in the apparatus at starting is so reduced in quantity that
immediately acetylene is evolved and the gas-holder, rises the volume of acetylene
is so greatly in excess of the small volume of air that the danger of an explosive
mixture is reduced to a minimum. The recess or pocket q, is formed to receive the
upper end of the pipe l, which must be above the water line. The compartment »,
may contain water or sand or any other fluid or material introduced by means of any
suitable opening for the purpose of increasing the weight of the gas-holder and giving
the required pressure to the gas. 8, is an open pipe leading from the interior to the
exterior of the gas-holder and placed at such a position therein as may be best suited
to the design of the apparatus in which the device is employed. If the floating gas-
holder becomes overcharged and rises to such a height that it carries the lower end of
the pipe to a point above the surface of the water in the tank c, then the excess of
gas at once passes up the pipe 8, and escapes at the upper end t, to which a flexible
or other tube can be attached if desired. One or more such pipes may be connected
to the gas-holder if found necessary.

page_text: To the lower end of the pipe s, we fix one or more hollow cones preferably inverted
as shown at u, by means of which any water which may be carried to the pipe by the
rush of escaping gas is thrown back and prevented from entering it. This device of
an escape pipe with or without the cone or cones may be applied to any generator
with a stationary holder wherein a water seal is employed. The lower end of the
pipe would dip into the water seal and when the excess pressure of gas forces down
the water the lower end of the pipe s, will become exposed and so permit the gas to
escape.
w, w¹, are open pipes leading from the enclosed space v, v¹, above the non-return
valves f,, down to the lower part of the tank. Should the cocks at a, be accidentally
closed when the ball-valves are shut then any gas afterwards generated will pass
through the non-return valve down the pipe w, and escape from the open end and up
through the water into the gas-holder h, thus preventing any dangerous accumulation
of gas in the generating chambers.
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. In any apparatus for generating storing cooling or purifying acetylene gas
wherein a floating gas-holder is employed reducing the air space in the gas-holder by
means of a horizontal plate or diaphragm which divides the gas-holder into two
compartments as and for the purpose herein described and shewn on accompanying
drawings.
2. In any apparatus for generating storing cooling or purifying acetylene gas
wherein a water sealed gas-holder is employed providing a pipe fixed in the interior
of the gas-holder with its lower end below the normal water level so arranged that
when the action of the apparatus causes the lower end of the pipe to become situated
above the surface of the water in the containing vessel gas can pass through the pipe
and be discharged outside the gas-holder.
3. In any apparatus for generating storing cooling or purifying acetylene gas in
which an escape pipe as described in Claim 2 is employed providing one or more
hollow cones fitted to the lower end of the pipe as and for the purpose described and
shewn on accompanying drawings.
4. In any apparatus for generating storing cooling or purifying acetylene gas, in
which a non-return valve is fitted to the gas outlet pipe from generating chamber
providing a pipe leading from a point above the non-return valve to the lower portion
of the water tank as and for the purpose herein described and shewn on accompanying
drawings.
5. The improved apparatus for generating storing and cooling acetylene gas as
herein described and shewn on accompanying drawings.
+491
FREDERICK SANSOM THORN.
CHARLES HODDLE.