Improvements in or relating to Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Acetylene Generators.
I, EDWARD LEWIS LEVETUS, of The Dell, Park Hill, Moseley, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in generators for the production of
acetylene gas from calcium carbide, and its object is to provide means for the
admission of the water to the calcium carbide by means of a syphon feed.
According to this invention the casing of the generator may be made of any
suitable shape and size, and it may be made in one or more pieces, say, screwed
or otherwise fixed together. It may also be provided with detachable end pieces
arranged to screw on to the casing or to be otherwise fixed in position, and one
of them may be supplied with a vent hole if so desired.
The casing is divided into an upper and a lower compartment for containing
respectively the water and the calcium carbide and gas generating chamber. The
carbide may be placed either into a separate receptacle arranged to fit the com-
partment, or into the compartment direct.
In the water compartment is provided and fixed a syphon shaped pipe, one end
of which is arranged at a suitable distance from the division plate between the
two compartments, and which forms the bottom of the water compartment,
whilst the other and longer end passes through the division plate into the lower
or carbide compartment, and its end is also contracted for diminishing and regulat-
ing the water supply to the requisite amount. The syphon shape pipe may also
be provided with a tap capable of being operated from the outside of the casing.
gas supply pipe--which may be armed with a tap operated from the outside
also passes through the bottom of the division plate, water compartment, and
side of the casing to a glazed or other reflector for conveying the gas from the
generating chamber to the burner.
Within the water compartment may be another pipe for the escape of the
"aftermake." This pipe is armed at its upper end with a safety valve whilst
its lower end communicates with the gas generating chamber.
The method of filling the syphon being to open the tap fixed in or on the
longer leg so as to leave a free air passage, then the water compartment is filled
up to the top above the level of the bend in the syphon and the water will then
fill the latter. The said tap can then be turned off and again opened when the
light is required.
The water will then be fed through the syphon and drop onto the carbide for
generating the gas, and which is afterwards conveyed as described to the burner.
In some cases the water and carbide chambers may be entirely distinct and
separate pieces the only connection between them consisting of the long end
of the syphon, and the gas outlet pipe may also pass in any direction through the
water chamber.
COLL 1000

page_text: Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of a generator of a similar construction to that
shown at Fig. 1, with gas pipe projecting from the upper part of the generator.
Fig. 6 a plan of same.
Fig. 7a sectional elevation of a generator in which the water receptacle
surrounds the carbide receptacle.
Fig. 8 a plan of same.
Like parts in all the views are marked by similar letters of reference.
The casing of the generator may be made of any suitable shape and size, such
as for example, say, cylindrical or square, and it may be made in one or more
pieces, say two parts A and B, as at Figs. 1, 3 and 5, screwed or otherwise
fixed together. It may also be provided with detachable end pieces C and D
arranged to screw on to the casing or to be otherwise fixed in position, and one
of them, say C, may be supplied with a plug or vent hole c if so desired.
The casing is divided into an upper and a lower compartment A and B by a
division plate E,-which forms the bottom or lower end piece of compartment A,-
for containing respectively the water and the calcium carbide and gas generating
chamber. The carbide may be placed either into a separate cylindrical or other
shaped receptacle Farranged to fit the compartment B, or into the compartment
itself direct.
In the water compartment A is provided and fixed a syphon shaped pipe G,
one end g of which is arranged at a suitable distance from the division plate E
between the two compartments A and B,-and which forms the bottom of the
water compartment A, whilst the other and longer end. g of the syphon passes
through the division plate E into the lower or carbide compartment B, and its
end may be contracted or perforated for diminishing and regulating the water
supply to the requisite amount. The syphon shape pipe G may also be provided
with a tap H capable of being operated from the outside of the compartment A.
In some cases the end g of the syphon pipe G which passes within the carbide
receptacle B may be provided with a number of pipes or branches,-within the
compartment B, as at Fig. 3, such as, say, two, three, or four, or more.
A gas supply pipe I—which may be armed with a tap J operated from the
outside, also passes through the bottom of the division plate E of the water
compartment A and side of the compartments A or B as at Figs. 1 and 3, or the
top C of the compartment A as at Fig. 5, to a glazed or other reflector K for
conveying the gas from the generating chamber to the burner L.
Within the water compartment may be another pipe M for the escape of the
"aftermake." This pipe is armed at its upper end with a safety valve N of any

page_text: suitable and ordinary construction, whilst its lower end communicates with the
gas generating chamber B above the top of the carbide receptacle F.
At Figs. and 8 a generator is shown with the carbide compartment B
depending into and surrounded by the water compartment A. The water from
compartment A is fed into the carbide compartment B by means of the syphon G
as shown, which in this case passes up through the bottom E¹ of the carbide com-
partment B. The end of the syphon pipe G within the carbide compartment may
terminate in one, or more branches."
In all cases the length of the pipe g¹, or its branches, within the carbide com-
partment is immaterial and may be varied according to convenience.
The method of filling the syphon G being to open the tap H fixed in or on the
shorter leg so as to leave a free air passage, then the water compartment is
filled up to the top above the level of the bend of the syphon pipe G and the
water will then fill the latter. The said tap H can then be turned off and
again opened when the light is required.
The water will then be fed through the syphon G and drop or pass onto the
carbide for generating the gas, and which is afterwards conveyed as described to
the burner L by means of pipe I.
In some cases the water and carbide chambers may be entirely distinct and
separate pieces, the only connection between them consisting of the long end g¹
of the syphon pipe G, and the gas outlet pipe I may also, if desired, pass in any
direction through the water chamber A.
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
The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the apparatus for the
manufacture and delivery of acetylene gas substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Toted this 28th day of Tabruary 1890