Improvements in Apparatus for Making Illuminating Gas.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Illuminating Gas.
I, HENRY BRYANT, of Aransos Pass, in the County of Patricio and State of
Texas, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improved machine for making illuminating gas from.
calcium carbide and water, and it consists in an apparatus containing a generator
for holding the carbide and for applying water to it, and liberating the gas; and
a service pipe from the generator to distribute the gas to burners for use; and
an expanding gas holder connected with such pipe, to regulate the feeding of the
gas from the generator to the burners, to take the excess of gas and supply its
deficiency as required, and having a movable top to accommodate the holder to
the gas and maintain nearly constant pressure therein. In the pipe is a valve
between the generator and said holder, arranged to be operated by such movable
top to cut off the gas when the top goes up to a certain point, and turn it on when
the gas goes below such point. The said pipe has a branch connecting on the
generator side of such valve with a tank of a fixed volume adapted to receive and
hold the gas from the generator when the said valve is closed, at varying pressures,
and to supply such gas to the pipe and expanding holder when the valve is open.
The generator has a water supply pipe also provided with a cut off valve operated
by the movable top of the gas holder. These two pipes connecting with the
generator have each a ball or other check valve, to prevent the escape of gas to
the generator when that is open for refilling, and the escape of gas from the
generator through the water pipe, and the apparatus has other parts and features
requisite to complete it for use, and may be made with modifications in several
parts.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Illuminating Gas.
I, HENRY BRYANT, of Aransos Pass, in the County of Patricio and State of
Texas, United States of America, Machinist, 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: —
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved gas-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan
view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing parts of the generator and

page_text: the gas-outlet in full lines, and dotted lines showing how the water-inlet differs
therefrom. Fig. 4 is a detail section showing water-inlet in full lines.
This invention consists in an improved apparatus for producing acetylene or
an illuminating-gas from carbide of calcium and water or suitable materials and
storing and feeding the gas to distributing-pipes for use at a nearly uniform
pressure, notwithstanding the irregularities of production, by automatic regulation
of production and control and in various details in the same.
The apparatus, as shown, has a base or support A, of cast metal, on which are
set two gas-holding tanks B and C, securely held thereon. The base-frame has
a shaft mounted in it at one end bearing wheels D, adapted to act both as
supports in standing and to facilitate movement when needed, and at the other
end bears two legs I as supports and two handholds H for use in movement.
The tanks B and C are also held together by a band E at the top and a band F
between, also arranged to hold the gas-generator G in the angle between the
tanks.
'
The tank B is a gasometer of a telescopic form, with a base for water or a
fluid and a top B₁, sliding freely up and down therein, to receive and feed the
gas. The top has a holder B2 for weights to give and regulate pressure on the
gas, while the generator acts and is charged intermittently at predetermined
points of the movement of the movable top B¹.
The generator G is held by a band F and pipes I, connecting it with tanks B
and C. It is made, of cast metal or otherwise, as a vertical cylinder rounded at
the ends. It is provided with an outlet and valve G below for use in washing
it out and a removable top G2; the top turns on a vertical hinge G³ to open and
bears a spanner-clamp G4 to engage the generator-rim. This clamp holds the.
top firmly in place by a set-screw G³, pressing down on it by turning. The
generator has a removable shell G, to hold the carbide and water for making the
gas, for facility in charging and discharging.
The tank C is a gas holder made like a hot water tank, or of any suitable form,
to withstand high pressure tension. It has a diaphragm C near the top to
separate a water-chamber forming a water reservoir C, and a funnel or pipe for
inlet of water, and a pipe C2 for feeding water from the chamber into the
generator G to form gas. The pipe C² has a valve C4 with a lever to operate it,
loaded with, a weight to draw down to automatically turn on water to form gas.
This lever is attached by a chain or rod B³ to the top B¹ of the tank, so that when
the top is raised by an excess of gas it will raise the lever and close the valve and
shut off the inlet of water and the formation of gas until the gas is used. To make
automatic regulation, the feed-pipe C connects with a cavity C6 in the generator,
opening upward, having a ball or check valve C7 arranged to let the water flow
in when it heads in the pipe is enough to overcome the pressure of the gas, but
so that when there is no water or when the gas-pressure is too great it will auto-
matically close the valve, cut off the water and formation of gas, and prevent the
escape of gas from overpressure. This arrangement of inlet is as illustrated in
Fig. 3, except that the passages I and I are omitted, and the passages C2 and C³
(partly shown in dotted lines) are substituted for them.
The service-pipe I connects from tank C and by branches from generator G
and tank B with the burners beyond point K by branches as may be needed. It
connects with the generator by branch I', which also has a ball 12 or other check-
valve and outlet 16 and 17 to prevent the gas from escaping when recharging.
The pipe I has a quick-acting valve 18 between the generator and the con-
nections of tank B, and this valve has a lever for working it, by which it is
connected by a chain or rod 133 with the edge of the tank-top B¹, so that when
that rises to a certain level it will lift the lever and close the valve to shut off
the gas from tank B to prevent overpressure in the tank and through the burner-
pipes. The passages in valves 13 and C4 are made with narrow slotways through
the two portions of a turn-valve or of other suitable form, so as to be quick acting,
or to open and shut off by very short movements when required.
ま

page_text: The tank B is made of two shells, concentric, with a
top B¹ to slide in..
The pipe I has a branch I projecting into tank Baud rising therein above the
ghest level of the water, so the gas can pass in and out freely.
If
A quantity of suitable carbide is placed in the shell Go and replaced in the .
nerator and the lid closed tightly by screw G. Water is fed into chamber C¹.
he water then passes by pipes C and C, by lifting a valve, into the shell Go in the
enerator G through an annular space onto the carbide, so as to produce gas.
he gas passes out of the generator by passage 17 by lifting valve 12, and on.:
to branch I and then into and along pipe I to the several burners in use.
he gas generates faster than it is used, the pressure increases until it lifts the
op B' and until the top lifts the chain B2. This turns the lever of valve..C,
o as to cut off the water to stop the formation of gas. This chain also turns the
ever of valve 13, so as to cut off the gas from tank B and the burner-pipes, so as
to prevent too high pressure therein. If there should be an excess of water in
the generator, or if it by any chance the pipe should leak into it, then the excess
of gas formed would go into the tank C, which is made strong enough to hold the.
gas at any pressure within the capacity of one charge of carbide to form and
hold it without increasing the pressure at the burners when the gas is used out.
until the top B¹ lowers and opens valves C and 13 by chain B. This lets gas
out of tank C and generates more gas until the top B₁ rises, so as to lift the chain.
and cut the gas off again. When all is working well, the gas will be at nearly
a uniform pressure through all the parts, and the generation will go on nearly as
the gas is used; but to insure this and avoid all accidents the apparatus is made.
with the several parts for automatic control and with an expanding tank for gas
at a regular pressure for use and with a pressure-tank for storing any excesses and.
feeding back as required.
Various modifications may be made.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said "inven-"
0 tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
to accom-
1. In combination a generator adapted to form gas from a carbide and water,
a service-pipe, with two tanks, connecting with such
and provided with
adapted to expand and contract
generator and pipe, one
35 modate variations between the generation and use of the gas, at a pressure near
that intended for the service-pipe, and the other adapted to receive and feed the
excesses of gas at varying pressures, and with four valves, two turn-valves with
means for operating them from excess of gas in the charging-tank, adapted one
to control the admission of gas to such tank and the other of water to the
40 generator and two check-valves adapted to prevent outlet of gas from th
generator by the water passage, and from the gas-holder to the generator, sub
stantially as set forth.
2. A generator constructed to form gas from a carbide and water, having a remo
able cell to facilitate charging and discharging, a removable cap having a stirrup ar
45 screw-holder, and two passages in the wall of the generator each provided wit
a ball or check-valve adapted to allow the passage of water inward by one, and
gas outward by the other, while preventing the escape of gas by reverse passag
in combination with an expansible and a non-expansible gas-tank and serv
pipes connecting the generator and the tanks, and provided with automatical
50 controlled valves, substantially as set forth.
3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a gasometer and a hol
capable of sustaining a high tension, a pipe entering the gas-space of both
valve located between the generator-inlet and the gasometer and means
opening and closing said valve operated by the gasometer at predetermined po
55 of its path of motion, a gas-generator connected to said holder and means
automatically starting the generator upon the reduction of the gas-pressure
the gasometer below a given point as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 4. In an acetylene-gas generator the combination of a gasometer and a holder
capable of sustaining a high tension, a pipe entering the gas-space of both, a
gas-generator connected to said holder and a valve in said pipe located between
the generator-inlet and the gasometer and means for opening and closing said
valve operated by the gasometer at predetermined points of its path of motion.
5. In an acetylene-gas generator the combination of a gasometer and a holder
capable of sustaining a high tension, a pipe entering the gas-space of both, a gas
generator connected to said holder, a valve in said pipe located between the gene-
rator-inlet and the gasometer and means for opening and closing said valve
operated by the gasometer at predetermined points of its path of motion and a
supply of water delivering its fluid to the generator and provided with a valve
controlled by the motion of the gasometer.
6. In an acetylene-gas generator, a gasometer, and a holder capable of sustain-
ing a high tension, a pipe entering the gas-space of both, a gas-generator connected
to said pipe, a valve in said pipe located between the gas-generator, inlet and
the gasometer, and means for closing said valve when the gasometer has received
a desired quantity of gas and opening it when the gasometer has fallen to a
desired point, said valve being operated by the gasometer with a supply of water
delivering its fluid to the generator and provided with a valve controlled by the
motion of the gasometer, said valves being so adjusted that when the gasometer
descends, the gas-supply valve will open a desired period prior to the water-
supply valve, substantially as described.
7. In an apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combination
with a water-reservoir, and a gasometer, of a generator, a valved water-supply
pipe between the reservoir and the generator, and a valved branch water-pipe
communicating with the generator whereby to provide independently-controllable
water-feed connections between the generator and the water-reservoir.
8. In an apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combination with
a water-reservoir, of a gasometer adapted to rise and fall therein, a generator, a
gas-pipe leading from the generator into the gasometer a valve in the gas-pipe
a weighted arm on the plug of the valve, and a blade or rib on the gasometer
adapted to operate the arm when the gasometer rises to a predetermined height
to cut off the flow of gas to the gasometer.
9. In an apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combination with
a water-reservoir, of a gasometer adapted to rise and fall therein, a generator, a
gas connection between the generator and the gasometer, a water connection
between the reservoir and the generator, a valve in the water connection, a lever
on the plug of said valve and blades or ribs on the gasometer adapted to strike
and operate said lever in both the upward and downward movements in the gaso-
meter, for the purpose specified.
10. In an apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combination with
a water-reservoir, of a gasometer, a generator, a gas connection between the gene-
rator and the gasometer, a water connection between the reservoir and the
generator, a valve in the gas connection adapted to be operated by the gasometer
when the latter rises to a predetermined point to cut off the flow of gas to the
gasometer, a valve in the water connection adapted to be operated by the gaso-
meter when the latter rises to a predetermined point, the parts being so arranged
that the water-valve will be operated to cut off the water-supply prior to the
operation of the gas-cut-off valve.
D1 this 2nd dovr of Sentember 1898
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.