Improvements in or connected with Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Acetylene Generators.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to generators for producing acetylene from calcium
carbide and water, and consists in the improvements in the construction of such
generators hereinafter set forth.
In an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention there is a closed
vessel to contain the carbide having a manhole or charging hole and cover on one
side, and on another side which is preferably the lower one, there is a small orifice
or a grating covered on the exterior by a stuffing box provided with a gland and
packed with some absorbent material such as felt, cotton wool or other similar
material. There is a rim-facing, formed round the lower side or bottom of the
vessel encircling the orifice in the gland. Internally there is a closed passage lead-
ing from the bottom of the vessel near the lower orifice to the upper part. The
internal side of this passage may be perforated, and may be filled with a wick or
similar absorbent.
This carbide holding vessel is disposed in a larger vessel which contains the
liquid. The liquid container may be any suitable vessel that will contain water.
When such a vessel is to be employed it is preferable to form a bell shaped cavity
at the bottom of the vessel containing the carbide, so that when the supply pipo
is closed the gas remaining or evolved after such pipe is closed will force back the
water in the bell and act as a safety valve.
In some cases when it is required to have a more portable complete apparatus
the liquid container is made as small as possible and at the bottom there is dis-
posed an elastic washer against which the rim-facing on the bottom of the carbide
container when inserted into the liquid container is pressed and withdrawn prefer-
ably by means of a screw so preventing and permitting the passage of further
moisture into the carbide container through the gland stuffing box.
improvements in or commo
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature
Price T

page_text: 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 generators for producing acetylene from calcium
carbide and water, and consists in the improvements in the construction of such
generators hereinafter set forth.
The drawings attached hereunto illustrate the construction of my improved
acetylene generators. Figure 1 represents the apparatus in sectional elevation.
Figure 2 represents a modified construction of the same, also in sectional elevation.
Referring now to the drawings:-In an apparatus constructed in accordance
with this invention, there is a closed vessel a to contain the carbide d, having a
manhole or charging hole a¹ and cover a² on one side, and on another side which
is preferably the lower one, there is a small orifice or grating a³ covered on the
exterior by a stuffing-box a provided with a gland, as and packed with some
absorbent material a6 such as felt, cotton wool, or other similar material. There
is a rim-facing a formed round the lower side or bottom of the vessel encircling
the orifice in the gland. Internally there is a closed passage a leading from the
bottom of the vessel near the lower orifice to the upper part, the internal side of
this passage is preferably perforated with small holes on the inside surface, and is
in some cases filled with a wick or similar absorbent.
This carbide-holding vessel a is disposed in a larger vessel b which contains
the liquid e
The liquid container & may be any suitable vessel that will contain
water. When such a vessel is to be employed it is preferable to form a bell-shaped
cavity Figure 2 at the bottom of the vessel containing the carbide, so that when
the supply or exit pipe is closed the gas remaining or evolved after such pipe is
closed will force back the water in the bell and act as a safety-valve, or as a
receptacle for the gas thus produced.
When however it is required to have a more portable complete apparatus the
liquid-container 6 Figure 1 is made as small as possible and is provided with a
cover ; and at the bottom there is disposed an elastic washer e against which
the rim-facing a7 on the bottom of the carbide container when the latter is inserted
into the liquid container is pressed and withdrawn preferably by means of the
screw a10, acting upon the collar a and in the screw socket 63 so preventing and
permitting the passage of further moisture into the carbide container through
the gland stuffing-box. An orifice f provided with a tap g is provided to take off
the gas generated.
In order to produce acetylene the container a is charged with carbide through
the cover a, and the container b is charged with water. The absorbent as in the
stuffing-box a is regulated by means of the gland as to pass sufficient moisture
to decompose the carbide in the container a so as to produce the necessary pres-
sure or volume of gas required for the given size of flame or for other purpose.
When the exit for the gas is closed in the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 the
carbide container a should be lowered on to and pressed against the washe
means of the screw a¹0, which will prevent further moisture from coming in con-
tact with the carbide. In the apparatus illustrated by Figure 2 after the closing
of the exit the pressure of gas increasing forces back the water in the bell a from
contact with the absorbent a and the further production of gas is stopy ed.
by
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:-
(1.) In generators for producing acetylene from calcium carbide and water the
use and interposition of a porous compressible material such as felt between the
water and the carbide and means for compressing the said pe cous incompressible
material so as to regulate its capacity for the percolation of moisture therethrough
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
(2.) The improved construction of generator for producing acetylene from

page_text: calcium carbide and water substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings.
(3.) The improved construction of generator for producing acetylene from calcium
carbide and water substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with
reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.