An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating and Regulating the Consumption of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating and
Regulating the Consumption of Acetylene Gas.
1, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY, of the Firm of Bayley and Beeching, of Dene
House, Poole Hill, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, do horoby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for generating and controlling
the consumption of the gas known as "acetylene"; and has for its object to provide
compact, simple, and effective apparatus so designed and operating that when tho
light is turned off, generation of gas ceases.
The apparatus in its simplest form consists of an inverted cylinder or other
shaped vessel having its upper end closed, and its lower end, the plates forming
which have their edges serratod open. Near the top are placed one or more
perforated or reticulated trays for the purpose of carrying a supply of carbide of
calcium or other substance suitable for producing acetylene gas when brought into
contact with water. The cylindrical vessel is placed open end downwards in a
vessel of any convenient shape and size suited to contain water and this outer
vessel is preferably covered on the top. From the interior of the inner vessel a
pipe communicates directly with the burner or burners the supply of which is
controlled by a top.
The operation is as follows:-The inner vessel having a supply of carbide of
calcium placed upon the tray or trays and the tap being closed, is placed in position,
open end downwards, in the outer containing vessel; and this outer vessel has then
poured into it sufficient water to cover the inner vessel. The air contained in the
inner vessel is compressed slightly by the weight of the water, and of the inner
vessel, and the contained air forms a cushion which prevents contact of the water
with the carbide of calcium.
Upon the tap which governs the supply being opened, the air contained in the
inner vessel is forced out and the water is thus allowed to come into contact with
the carbide of calcium, and a somewhat violent reaction takes place, resulting in
the formation of acetylene. This immediately forces the water downwards in the
inner vessel and upwards in the containing vessol preventing further generation of
gas. When the quantity of gas already generated has been consumed by the
burner or burners the water once again rises so as to come into contact with the
carbido of calcium and thus generate a further supply; and these operatious are
repeated until the carbide of calcium is exhausted.
The inner vessel may have two or more concentric walls and the container may
be so formed that a second wall projects upwards from it between the concentric
walls of the inner vessel, thus forming a double trap.
The water instead of surrounding the inner vossef may be contained in a separate
tank, which communicates with the vessel by a pipe. A separate vent pipe may
be used as well as a drain tap.
Dated this 21st day of October 1905

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Generating and
Regulating the Consumption of Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN CHARLES BAYLEY of the Firm of Bayley and Beeching, of Dono
House, Poole Hill, Bournemouth in the County of Hants, Ironmonger, 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 of generating and controlling the consumption
of the gas known as acetylene, and apparatus therefor, and has for its object to
provide a compact, inexpensive, and effective apparatus of the simplest kiud so
designed and operating that when the light is turned off, generation of gas coases.
The apparatus in its most simple form consists of an inverted oylinder or other
shaped vessel having its upper end either closed or made to open, and its lower end
open, the plates forming which have their lower edges sorrated or perforated.
Near the top are placed one or more perforated or reticulated trays for the purpose
of carrying a supply of carbide of calcium or other substance suitable for
producing acetylene gas when brought into contact with water. The cylindrical
vessel is placed open end downwards in a vessel of any convenient shape and size
suited to contain water and this outer vessel is preferably covered on the top.
From the interior of the inner vessel a pipe communicates directly with the burner
or burners the supply to which is controlled by a tap.
The operation is as follows:-The inner vessel having a supply of carliide of
calcium placed upon the tray or trays and the tap being closed, is placed in position
open end downwards in the outer containing vessel, and this outor vessel has then
poured into it sufficient water to cover the inner vessel. The air contained in the
inner vessel is compressed slightly by the weight of the water and of the inner
vessel, and the contained air forms a cushion which prevents contact of the water
with the carbide of calcium.
Upon the tap which governs the outlet of gas being opened, the air contained in
the inner vessol is forced out and the water is thus allowed to come into contact
with the carbide of calcium, and the usual reaction takes place, resulting in' the
formation of acetylene. This immediately forces the water downwards in the
inner vessel and upwards in the containing vessel preventing further generation of
gas. When the quantity of gas already generated has been consumed by the
Burner or burners the wator once again rises so as to come into contact with the
carbide of calcium, and thus generato a further supply: and these operations are
repeated until the carbide of calcium is exhausted.
The water instead of surrounding the main vessel may be contained in a separate
tank which communicates with the vessel by a pipe. In this pipe is placed a check
or back pressure valve, which allows the water to return to the tank through this
valve, but not to return again to the vessel. Connected to tho water tank side of
this valve, is a small pipe or bye pass, in which is placed a stop valve. This bye
pass leads direct to the vessel, but only allows a small quantity of water to pass.
The object of this small pipe or bye pass is to allow the water to run into the
vessel very slowly, so as only to moisten the lower layers of calcium before the gas
starts generating.
When the generating of the acetylene gas is started, the large pipe comes into
requisition to allow the water that is pressed back by the gas to return freely to the
water tank. The gas-holder in this case may have a hinged cover held down by a
lever catch and fitted air-tight, so as to open readily and allow fresh carbide of

page_text: I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of the simpler form of apparatus, with external
reservoir. The cover d, is shown hinged but might be solid, as in Fig. 2. Two
perforated trays b, and ¿¹, for holding the calcium carbide, aro shown resting upon
the support 6.
Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of another form of my invention, in which the
water reservoir is placed directly over and around the apparatus.
a, is the gas-tank or generating chamber;
b, and b¹, are the trays for holding the calcium carbide, and with perforations m.
in which
Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of the simpler form of apparatus, with external
reservoir. The cover d, is shown hinged but might be solid, as in Fig. 2. Two
perforated trays b, and 6¹, for holding the calcium carbide, aro shown resting upon
the support o
Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation of another form of my invention, in which the
water reservoir is placed directly over and around the apparatus,
a, is the gas-tank or generating chamber ;
b, and b, are the trays for holding the calcium carbide, and with perforations m.
o, is the leg or support for the trays;
d, is a hinged cover for the gas-tank ;
di, is a fixed cover for same;
e, is the calcium carbide;
, is the water inside the gas-tank a ;
is the water reservoir; g' the supply pipe;
h, is the stop valve of g'; allowing the water to nscend but not descend; h¹ is a
bye pass pipe with valve h².
i, is a draw off tap for draining off the water in the gas-tank.
*, is the outlet pipe for gas, with tap k¹;
1, is a narrow space between the water reservoir and the gas-tank.
It will be seen that in Fig. 2, the water descends by the passages 1, and passes
nnder the gas-tank; perforations m², being formed to admit it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In an apparatus for the production and supply of acetylene gas, the gas
generator a, with its outlet pipe k, and the removable perforated trays b, and b',
resting on the support e, in combination with a water tank g, furnishod with the
outlet pipe i, and with or without the pipo A, with its fittings h', h³, and the
openings m¹, as herein described and set forth.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Nowgate Street, Loudon, Patent Agent.