Improvements in or connected with Portable Generators for Producing Acetylene from Calcium Carbide.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
Improvements in or connected with Portable Generators for
Producing Acetylene from Calcium Carbide.
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 relates more particularly to portable generators for table and
vehicle lamps, and the chief objects of the improvements are to better control the
production of gas and to obtain greater safety.
In my improved generator there is a chamber in which the lower part contains
the reactionary liquid and the upper part contains a basket for the carbide. This
chamber is preferably made in two parts which are screwed together. The basket
is mounted so as to slide from its highest position in the upper part of the chamber,
until it comes in contact with the reactionary liquid in the lower part of the
chamber. This is effected by means of a rack and pinion, screw or other suitable
movement in connection with which there is a shaft brought through the side of
the chamber and provided with a milled disc by which the position of the basket
with relation to the liquid can be adjusted.
In the lower part of the chamber there is disposed some absorbent material
such as sponge, in such a manner that it conveys the liquid, and the bottom or
the sides of the basket shall come in contact with it when the basket is lowered.
In some cases there is a flap or other suitable valve arranged between the upper
and lower portions of the chamber and it is of sufficient size to permit of the
basket passing into it.
A nine is led from the upper part of the chamber to the burner.
Improvements in or connected with Portable Generators for
Producing Acetylene from Calcium Carbide.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Ianchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature

page_text: of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates more particularly to portable generators for table and
vehicle lamps for producing acetylene from calcium carbide and water the chief
objects of the improvements being to obtain better control over the production of
gas and safety from explosion.
My improved generator is constructed in accordance with that system in which
the carbide is contained in a vessel above the vessel containing the water and
the necessary moisture to cause decomposition of the carbide and the production
of the gas acetylene, is conducted to the carbide on the principle of capillary
attraction by means of some absorbent material.
The drawings attached hereunto illustrate the carrying out of my invention.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a generator applied to a vehicle lamp;
Figure 2 a sectional elevation from the back; and Figure 3 a sectional plan of
the generator through the operating screw. Figure 4 illustrates a generator for
a table lamp and represents a modification.
In the several views the like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3 my improved generator A. has a lower com-
partment a formed to contain the reactionary liquid, an upper compartment b
which is preferably made detachable and a loosely fitting vessel c to contain the
calcium carbide. The compartment b is fitted with a lid b¹ preferably hinged,
having a spring catch 62 and made gas tight by a flexible packing or washer 63.
It is secured to the lower compartment a preferably by means of the screw joint 64
illustrated in Figure 2, having a packing 65 there between. The vessel c has
preferably a conical bottom. In the bottom there is a central orifice c¹. Along
one side of this vessel there is formed a groove into which is fixed a rack di
there being sufficient width in the groove for a pinion d² to travel up and down.
The pinion is mounted in position upon a spindle d³ which is carried in a bear-
ing formed by the stuffing box d upon the exterior of the compartment 6 the out-
side end of the spindle d³ is provided with a milled disc d5 by which the vessel c
can be lowered and raised. There is a gas outlet conduit e leading from the
upper part of the compartment d to the burner socket f which in this case of a
vehicle lamp is mounted in front say of the compartment b. That part of the
conduit e lying against the compartment b is undercut forming a dovetailed ridge
as shewn in Figure 3. The hood 9 of the lamp is formed with a groove g¹ to fit
the dovetailed ridge and the hood is held in position by passing the groove thereon.
Any other suitable means may however be employed for securing one part to
the other. The burner socket f has a screwed cap f¹ fitted beneath by which the
burner can be easily cleaned by blowing through or by passing a wire through.
The lamp illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is provided with a spring carrier h
of well known construction which is attached to a saddle piece ¹ fixed to the com-
partment b. Any other suitable carrier may be similarly attached.
b
The vessel a of the lamp has some absorbent material i placed therein. This
is preferably sponge but felt or other similar suitable absorbent may be used. This is
soaked with water the compartment 6 being removed preferably, or the vessel c
is first removed through the lid 61 for this purpose. The carbide is placed in
the vessel c, and when it is required to light the burner the vessel c is lowered
by means of spindle d³ until the edge of the orifice c¹ comes in contact with the
absorbent by which the moisture is taken up by the carbide lying in the bottom
of the vessel c. The production of gas in any appreciable quantity is stopped by
raising the vessel c out of contact with the absorbent i.
Referring now to the modification illustrated by Figure 4, the compartment b
is provided with a bottom 66 in the centre of which there is a tube 67. The bottom
of the vessel c is preferably flat and has an orifice c¹ large enough to pass over the
orifice 67. Into the orifice 67 is fitted a wick which projects above the edge 68
and depends into the vessel a. The conduit leads to the burner through the
tap and socket k. The production of gas is commenced in this apparatus in a

page_text: similar manner to that described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. By lower-
ing the vessel c, until the wick passes through the orifice c¹ in the vessel c and
comes in contact with the carbide, gas is produced due to the moisture communi-
cated by the wick from the water in the vessel a. The production of gas is practi-
cally stopped by raising the vessel c by means of the spindle d³ clear of the wick i.
Instead of a rack and pinion, equivalent means may be used for lowering and
raising the carbide vessel.
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:-
First. The improved construction of portable generator for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water by which when charged the production of gas
can be commenced or stopped at will, which consists of a vessel a containing
water; an absorbent i; a compartment 6 fixed to the vessel a, having a gas tight
charging lid b, and outlet orifice or conduit e, and containing a sliding vessel c
to contain the carbide and bring it in contact with the absorbent by means of the
spindle acting through rack and pinion gearing or equivalent mechanism
externally operated, substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the
several figures of the drawings.
Second. The improved construction of portable generator for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water by which the production of gas can be commenced
and stopped at will substantially as described and illustrated with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
Third. The improved construction of portable generator for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water by which the production of gas can be com-
menced and stopped at will substantially as described and illustrated with reference
to Figure 4 of the drawings.
Fourth. The manufacture and use of a portable generator for producing
acetylene from calcium carbide and water which has a liquid containing chamber
provided with an absorbent, and a carbide containing vessel having a perforated
bottom enclosed in a gas tight chamber, and which vessel is capable of being
moved by means of a rack and pinion or equivalent device so that the perforated
bottom thereof can come in contact with the absorbent and be removed there-
from when desired substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the drawings attached.
ול
01
T
AD 1007
Paltu
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.