Improvements in or relating to Acetylene Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to 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 relates more particularly to portable generators for use in con-
nection with table and portable lamps and with small power internal combustion
motors such as are used for propelling wheeled vehicles and boats, and consists in
improvements in and connected with the construction of the generator with the
object of producing an inexpensive and simple generator which will not be detri-
mentally affected by vibration.
In my improved generator there is a closed chamber of metal or other suitable
material having a removable door or cover and inside this chamber is disposed a
perforated receptacle or basket to receive the calcium carbide and which is readily
removable. There is an orifice formed in the lower part or in the bottom of the
chamber and there is connected to this orifice a collapsed chamber preferably
principally formed of india-rubber or other suitable flexible material so as to be
capable of considerable expansion. The outlet pipe for the gas is led from the
upper part of the generator. There is a tap or other indicator for the reactionary
liquid, below the carbide receptacle.
The liquid, preferably water, is fed into the generator through the removeable
cover and the flexible chamber is slightly expanded, drawing some of the liquid
into it, the liquid being fed in until it rises in the generator to the indicator. The
receptacle or basket is then charged with the carbide and the cover of the generator
secured. By forcing the liquid out of the flexible chamber it is brought in con-
tact with the carbide and gas is generated by the reaction of the liquid upon the
carbide. As the production of gas proceeds, without its being drawn off as quickly
as generated, the pressure in the generator rises and the gas forces the liquid away
from the carbide through the orifice in the lower part of the generator into - the
flexible chamber causing it to expand. If the gas is drawn off by the outlet pipe
quicker than it is generated, the flexible chamber collapses and forces the liquid
back towards the carbide.
In order to prevent the liquid from flowing into the carbide receptacle in the
event of an upset of the generator there is formed a chamber or receiver arranged
so that the liquid shall be trapped by it in preference to flowing towards the
receptacle.
I may, when the generator is used for vehicles, dispose some absorbent material
such as sponge in the bottom of the generator to prevent the splashing of the small
quantity of liquid therein when the pressure of gas has forced the greater portion
of the liquid into the flexible chamber.
nu: geth law of H 1907
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to 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 and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates more particularly to portable generators for use in connec-
tion with table, vehicle, and hand lamps and with small power internal combustion
motors such. as are used for propelling wheeled vehicles and boats, and consists in
improvements in and connected with the construction, of such generators with the
object of producing an inexpensive and simple apparatus which will not be affected
by vibration.
In a generator constructed in accordance with my invention there is a closed
chamber of metal or of other suitable material which has a removeable door or cover,
and inside this chamber is disposed a perforated receptacle or basket to receive the
calcium carbide and which is made readily removeable. There is an orifice formed
in the lower part or in the bottom of the chamber and there is connected. to this
orifice a collapsed chamber preferably principally formed of indiarubber or other
suitable flexible material so as to be capable of considerable expansion. The outlet
pipe for the gas is led from the upper part of the generator. There is a tap or
other indicator for the reactionary liquid below the carbide receptacle.
The sheet of drawings attached hereunto illustrates a generator constructed in
accordance with my invention.
:
In the said drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the generator
and Fig. 2 a plan on the line ..
The generator consists first of a chamber or vessel a having a gas tight lid a¹
at the top shewn as screwed upon the casing a and having a flexible washer a² in
order to obtain a tight joint. The lower part of the casing a is fixed to a box
stand a³ which forms a bottom for the vessel a. A collapsed india rubber chamber b
is fixed in the box stand a3 by means of a perforated screw bi which passes through
the bottom of the vessel a, and is fitted with a nut, by which screw and nut the
india rubber chamber is clamped to the vessel a. A knob 62 tapped and provided
with a screw 63 is screwed by clamping to the outer wall of the flexible india rubber
chamber b. A receptacle or basket e perforated preferably all over, is formed to
fit loosely in the vessel a, leaving some space between it and the bottom of the
vessel as illustrated. Preferably a loose tray d is placed under the receptacle c and
rests upon projections d¹ upon the bottom of the vessel a. There is a water level
indicator preferably in the form of the tap e; this is left open while the chamber b
is filled or partly filled with water, so that the level remains below the bottom of
the vessel c. A tap f is fixed to the lid al for taking off the gas through the
orifice f¹. In order to prevent the liquid from flowing into contact with the carbide
in the vessel c in the event of the apparatus becoming upset, a shield 9 is fixed, to
the inside of the casing a in the manner shewn in the drawing and thereby a cham-
ber is formed in which the liquid will be trapped.
Water is introduced into the vessel d after the lid a¹ and the vessel c have been
removed. The water is allowed to partly fill the chamber b by expanding the latter
by means of the knob 62. A catch may be arranged for holding the knob when the
chamber is expanded. When the level coincides with the tap e, the vessel c charged
with granulated carbide is introduced and the lid or cover a¹ fastened down. By
releasing the knob and allowing the chamber b slightly to contract water is forced
into contact with the carbide in the bottom of the receptacle or basket c and gas is
AF

page_text: immediately produced which if not taken off as generated will act upon the surface
of the water and force it back into the chamber b. As the pressure of the gas pro-
duced falls, due to being consumed or drawn away from the generator, water is
forced out of the chamber b as the latter tends to assume its normal form and again
comes in contact with the carbide in the vessel c, gas being again produced, the
pressure of which again forces back the water unto the chamber b. This operation
is repeated until all the carbide or all the water is decomposed. The tray & serves
to receive the residue of the decomposed carbide which passes through the perfora-
tions in the bottom of the vessel c.
The generator shewn may be used as a vehicle lamp by fixing thereto a carrier
of the usual well know form, and placing a glazed hood over the burner, which
may be arranged in front of the casing a by carrying a pipe from the outlet orifice
thereto.
I do not confine myself to the particular form of the apparatus illustrated or to
the relative position of the chamber b which may equally well be applied at the
side of the chamber or vessel a, as long as the parts are arranged to fulfil the func-
tions required of them as herein before set forth.
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 generator for producing acetylene from cal-
cium carbide and water herein before described which consists of a gas tight vessel
to contain water having a hollow base, a flexible collapsed chamber in the base com-
municating with the vessel, a perforated basket for containing the carbide loosely
fitted into the vessel, a shield for preventing the water from coming into contact
with the carbide in the event of the apparatus becoming upset and a gas outlet
crifice closed by a tap arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in the drawings.
Second. In a generator for producing acetylene from calcium carbide and water
in which the pressure of gas produced forces the water out of contact with the car-
bide, the use and arrangement of a chamber of india rubber which is collapsed in
its normal state, in communication with the water in the apparatus for the
receiving the water as it is forced away from the carbide by the pressure of gas
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 24th day of December 1897.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.