Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.Mech. E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson and
Company, of 6, Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool and London, in the Counties
of Lancaster and Middlesex respectively, Patent Agents, (a communication to me
from Paul Philippe Honoré Macé, Engineer, and Patrick Joseph de Burgue,
Engineer, both of Rue de la Victoire, Paris, in the Republic of France) do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a novel appliance for producing acetylene gas in
which the production of the gas is determined by the fall of the water upon the
carbide. It is characterised by the special means employed to regulate at will the
flow of the water, and also by the upper and lower layers of the carbide being
directly acted upon by water.
The appliance is formed of a cylinder very long in relation to its diameter and
comprising two parts which are fitted the one to the other about the middle of
the height of the appliance. This fitting is done so as to form an airtight joint
which does not allow the acetylene gas to pass through. An annular band of
indiarubber capable of sliding on the tube is placed over the joint when the two
cylinders are fitted one in the other; this ring has for its object to assure the
tightness of the fitting.
The cylinder is formed on its upper side with a plate or cap which is fixed to
it by solder or by any other suitable means. This cap carries two threaded
orifices in which are screwed two rods threaded at their upper ends. At the centre
is another threaded orifice into which is screwed a stopper. At another part of
the cap is found a passage for a tube through which the acetylene gas is carried off.
The upper part of the cylinder is intended to contain water. It is closed by a
bottom situated towards the base of this first cylindrical part. This bottom
carries two orifices formed with a valve seat which provide passages for the water
which falls on the carbide. Two rods tapered at the ends engage in these orifices
to alter their area, and consequently to regulate the flow of water. By screwing
the rods to the bottom, the orifices are closed completely, and the function of the
lamp is arrested. Below one of the orifices is a tube fitting into another tube
intended to lead the water on the lower layers of carbide contained in the second
part of the cylinder.
The acetylene gas which has been generated in the second part of the cylinder
passes by an orifice through the intermediate bottom; this orifice forms the
extremity of the tube in which the gas traverses the part of the upper cylinder
filled with water. The tube is terminated at its upper extremity by a tap. The
delivery end of this trap is formed of curved or other shape upon which is fitted
a tube of indiarubber destined to conduct the acetylene gas to the burner.
The lower part of the cylinder serves to contain the carbide. The bottom of this
cylinder can be fixed by solder, but it is preferable to have a screwed bottom, in
order that the cleaning of the appliance may be easier.

page_text: The carbide is contained in an inner perforated cylinder. This cylinder carries
in its interior and soldered on one of its sides a tube (not perforated) extending
from the upper part of the perforated cylinder and descending down to the bottom
of the perforated cylinder. This tube has for its object to engage the extremity
of the inlet tube and to lead the water to the lower layers of carbide.
The working of the apparatus is easy to understand.
The orifices for the inlet of water being closed, some water is introduced
through the upper orifice into the cylinder. The charge of carbide is placed in
the perforated cylinder and the cylinder which contains it is fitted to the upper
cylinder. One rod is then unscrewed so that the water may fall on the carbide.
When it is seen-that the evolution of the acetylene gas no longer takes place in
sufficient quantity the other rod is unscrewed in order that the water may act
directly upon the lower layers of the carbide. The carbide is thus rationally acted
on in all the layers and there is no longer any, fear that the sediment of lime
formed in the upper part will prevent the action of the lower layers of carbide.
If it is preferred, the two orifices through which water flows can be opened at
once and the carbide in the upper and lower layers can be attacked all at once
and by consequence the dispositions being taken all the carbide will be utilised.
We may remark that our system permits of the regulation in a very sensible
fashion of the production of gas, since the quantity of water on the carbide is
regulated by the engagement of the rods in the orifices forming valve seats and
that the area may be varied by turning the threaded rods by a turn or fraction of
a turn.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.Mech. E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson and
Company, of 6, Bank Street, Manchester, Liverpool and London, in the Counties 3
of Lancaster and Middlesex. respectively, Patent Agents (a communication to me
from Paul Phillippe Honoré Macé, Engineer, and Patrick Joseph de Burgue,
Engineer, both of Rue de la Victoire, Paris, in the Republic of France) 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 3
statement:-
The invention relates to improved apparatus for producing acetylene gas in
which the production of the gas is determined by the fall of the water upon the
carbide. It is characterised by the special means employed to regulate at will the
flow of the water, and also by the upper and lower layers of the carbide being 4
directly acted upon by the water.
In the annexed drawings;
Fig. 1, is a vertical section of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a sectional plan on line X-X Fig. 1.
The apparatus is formed of a cylinder very long in relation to its diameter and 4
comprising two parts A and B which are fitted the one to the other about the
middle of the height of the appliance. This fitting is done so as to form an
airtight joint which does not allow the acetylene gas pass through.
annular band of indiarubber J capable of sliding over the tube is placed over the
to
An

page_text: joint when the two cylinders are fitted one to the other; this ring has for its
object to assure the tightness of the fitting but it is not indispensable.
The cylinder A is formed at its upper end with a plate or cap which is fixed to
it by solder or by any other suitable means. As shown in Fig. 1 this cap carries
two threaded orifices e and f in which are screwed two rods E and F threaded at
their upper ends. Capse and f are screwed on to the exterior part of the
orifices. On the side of the cylinder or in any other convenient place is another
threaded orifice d into which is screwed a stopper D. A tube H serves for the
escape of the acetylene gas; it is terminated on its upper end by a safety valve h
to permit the acetylene gas to escape in case the pressure should become too great
and it communicates at the side with a tubular orifice h¹ into which is screwed
the burner for lighting or the tube conducting the gas to the said burner.
Neither the burner or the tube are represented on the drawings.
This
The upper part A of the cylinder is intended to contain the water. It is closed
by a bottom situated towards the base of the first cylindrical part.
bottom M carries two tubular orifices e2f3 the interior part of which is in the form
of a valve seat and provides passages for the water which falls on to the carbide.
Two rods E and F formed with cones at their ends engages in these orifices to
alter their area, and consequently to regulate the flow of water. By screwing the
rods to the bottom, the orifices e³ ³ are closed completely, and the function of the
lamp is arrested. On the orifices e³ and fare screwed two nozzles e³ and f³ to direct
the water in its fall.
The lower part B of the cylinder serves to contain the carbide. The bottom
of this cylinder can be fixed by solder, but it is preferable to have a screwed
bottom C, in order that the cleaning of the apparatus may be easier.
The carbide is contained in a removable cylinder K provided with apertures or
openings such as k. The cylinder K is closed at its lower end by a movable
bottom N to the centre of which is attached a tube P having at its lower part
a lateral opening p. The cylinder K carries towards its upper end a cover Q
pierced with openings such as q; at the centre of the cover Q is a tube q¹ which
is fitted in the tube P.
The working of the apparatus is easy to understand.
The orifices e and being closed water is introduced through the upper
orificed into the cylinder A. The charge of carbide is placed in the perforated
cylinder K which to facilitate the operation can be drawn out of the cylinder B.
The cylinder K is filled with carbide nearly up to the upper end of the tube P
and then the cover Q is placed over it, the cylinder K is replaced in the cylin-
der B and the cylinder B which contains the whole is fitted to the upper cylinder A.
The rod E is then unscrewed in order that the water may fall on the cover Q and
attack the carbide principally near the top. When it is seen that the liberation
of the acetylene gas no longer takes place in sufficient quantity the other rod F
is unscrewed in order that the water falling into the tube P may act direct upon
the lower layers of the carbide. The carbide is thus rationally attacked in all
the layers and there is no longer any fear that the sediment of lime formed in the
upper part will prevent the action of the lower layers of carbide.
If it is preferred, the two orifices through which water flows may be opened
at the same time and the carbide at the same time be attacked in the upper and
lower layers and in consequence of such arrangement all the carbide will be
utilised. This system permits of the regulation in a very sensible degree of the
production of gas, since the flow of water is regulated by the engagement of the
rods E and F in the orifices e2f2 and that the area may be varied by turning
the threaded rods by a turn or fraction of a turn.
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. Apparatus for producing acetylene gas, in which the production of gas is

page_text: obtained by the fall of water on to the carbide and in which the delivery of
water is regulated by means of screwed rods with conical ends engaging more or
less with the orifices for the flow of the water, it being understood that the rods
serve at the same time to close the orifices in order to arrest the function of the
lamp, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for producing acetylene gas the combination for the purpose
that the water may arrive at the same time or successively on the upper and lower
layers of carbide the said combination consisting of a moveable perforated cylin-
der K to contain the carbide a moveable bottom N to which is attached a tube P
with an opening at its lower end, a cover Q having at its centre a tube q' engaging
in the tube P, substantially as described and shown.
3. Apparatus for producing acetylene gas, having the several parts constructed
and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 10th day of October 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, & London, Patent Agents.