Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for the Production of Combustible Gas.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD NICOLL DICKERSON, of No. 64 East
34th Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Chemist.]
Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for the Production of
Combustible Gas.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 to a process and apparatus for producing combustible gas
especially acetylene gas.
I will first describe a simple means of generating such gas from calcium
carbide.
My invention relates to a means by which gas can be produced by the union of
a solid and liquid, and the supply of gas be automatically regulated and determined,
so that the gas is produced in proportion to consumption.
My invention is especially applicable to that system of producing gas, in which
a calcium or other metallic carbide is united with water, thereby producing
acetylene or some equivalent gas.
My invention is designed to supply a house or other point of consumption with
the desired quantity of gas at the desired pressure, and my apparatus also enables
the ready disposal of the refuse solid material, and in one form shown, the refuse
material can be removed without opening the interior of the apparatus to the
atmosphere.
My apparatus also automatically supplies both the solid material and the water,
which are to be united to form the gas.
In this process of manufacturing gas, there is an increase in volume in the
resulting lime over the calcium carbide, and a consequent tendency to clog or close
the vessels. An important point in my invention therefore consists in so arranging
the device as to prevent this clogging or closing.
My apparatus introduces a new function in this way, namely, that of producing
gas from a material automatically fed into a chamber which is not filled by the
material.
My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in
which,
Figure 1, represents an elevation, partly in cross-section, of my apparatus
complete; and
Figure 2, a modification of the structure of the feeding cone and the surrounding
parts, generally in vertical cross-section.
A, represents a suitable receiver for containing the calcium carbide, which
material I use by way of illustration. This chamber has a contracted lower
delivery opening, as at the bottom of the cone C, below which is the grate D,
upon which the material falls in such way as not completely to fill the again
expanding portion of the generator, which, as will be readily seen, is practically
hour-glass in shape.

page_text: The lower chamber F should be made of suitable area, so as to contain any
excess of generated gas. A suspended conical guide E is placed in the chamber F,
and, since the action of the water on calcium carbide precipitates lime, such lime
will fall through the guiding chamber E into the tray G, and it then can be drawn
out beneath the water in the apparatus by means of the chain shown, and then
raised by the tackle S, and so swung out of the apparatus.
The water tank Z, automatically fed to a proper height, as at l, by the float
cock T, surrounds the generator A, and also serves as a seal to the various pipes
dipping into it.
The chamber A is fed through the valves N, N¹, which are opening by screwing
out the hand-wheels shown, but these wheels are so arranged that only one can be
screwed out at once; that is, only one of the valves N, N₁ can be simultaneously
opened. This device can be arranged in many ways. In the form shown,
collars d, d, are placed upon the valve stems. These stems may be operated by
the hand-wheels 0,
o. Corresponding locking levers n, n', suitably pivoted, work
in co-operation with these collars. The lever n³, for instance, has the angular
surface p', and the upper projection or arm j. As soon as the lower hand-wheel
is unscrewed, the collar engaging with the angular projection p' raises the arm',
which thereupon locks the collar d, and the apparatus is so arranged that the
arm will continue raised to the full extent of the movement of the valve. A
similar arm and locking device is operated by the upper valve. In this case it is
held in its normal position by a spring.
The upper end of the feeding tube may be closed by a cap s, supported upon a
flexible tube connected with a ventilating pipe O. This ventilating pipe O also
serves to ventilate the room X, provided with door Y, in which the whole apparatus
may be placed. The ventilating valve is ordinarily left open, and carries off any
escaping gases in the room.
2"
At about the level of the grate is placed the gas escape pipe P, provided with
cock. This opens into the pipe e, which dips below the surface of the water to
about the lower level of the chamber F. This service pipe e may pass through a
condensing chamber f, whence the condensed water, if any, will fall again through
the pipe into the water of the receiver. The gas passes off by the service pipe R.
A pipe is also provided connecting with the upper part of the chamber A. In
this is provided a check-valve W opening into the delivery pipe e. This pipe also
connects through valve v with ventilating pipe O.
9
The entire chamber X and the water may be readily warmed, as follows: K, repre-
scuts a burner (preferably a Bunsen burner) which may be fed from the generated
gas. The products of combustion from this burner pass upward through the
pipe H, which opens into the pipe m delivering into the chamber. Surrounding
the pipe H is the concentric pipe J, which connects by the pipes L, M, with the
upper and lower portions of the water in the tank Z. In this way a circulation of
warm water is maintained and the room is kept warm.
Instead of the structure shown in Figure 1, the outside casing of the chamber A
may be cylindrical, and the chamber will then deliver as before into the interior
cone C, Figure 2, around which is the chamber a, serving for the outlet of gas by
means of outlets b, b, connecting with delivery pipe R.
The operation will be plainly the same as in the other device.
The operation of this device can now be readily understood: By opening the
valve V, the water level is lowered below the grate D. Then, by removing the
caps and closing the ventilator r, the material will be readily fed by means of a
funnel through the valves N, N₁, alternately opening, into the chamber A.
course, a single valve may be employed, if desired, but by the means shown, there
is no possibility of escape of any gas to the room.
Of
The desired amount of carbide, B, being delivered to the chamber A, the
valve V is closed and the water level raised until the water comes in contact with
the carbide B. Then, by opening the valve v, the apparatus can be purged of any

page_text: contained air, if desired, though if a double valve is used, there should be no con-
tained air, after the first operation. Then, closing the valve v and replacing the
caps and opening the ventilator r, the apparatus will automatically function until
the carbide B is exhausted, since by providing a regulating valve R¹ of any suitable
construction in the delivery pipe R, only the desired pressure will go to the house.
whereas an excess of pressure in the chamber A will force down the water below
the grate D, and the generation will practically stop. Any excess of generated
gas will be received in the lower chamber F. If by any chance this excess of gas
should fill the chamber F to the point of opening of the pipe t, then such excess of
gas would pass by the pipe t and the pipe O to the air.
Any deposited moisture in any of the pipes in the apparatus will, as will be
readily seen, fall into the water in the tank Z. Any deposited lime falling in the
tray G can be removed at intervals, as desired, and withdrawn from the apparatus.
In cold weather the door Y being closed and the burner K lighted, both the water
in the tank Z is warmed and also the air within the chamber X, while, at the same
time, the products of combustion passing constantly upward through the pipe "
there is no possibility of exploding any explosive mixture in the chamber X,
should any exist there. In case of a leakage in the chamber ✗, if there were a
flame there, an explosion might occur.
20
If at any time there should be a stoppage in the neck of the hour-glass so as to
make a practically gas-tight joint there, if it were not for the pipe w an excess of
pressure might be generated in the chamber A, bursting the same; but the pipe
provided with check-valve W allows any escape of such excessive pressure into
the pipe e, while, at the same time, under normal conditions, all the gas escapes
through the pipe k instead of the pipe w, because the weight of the check-valve W
makes sufficient difference in pressure to force the gas to follow the pipe k, which
is desirable, as otherwise the generated gas containing some water passes through
the material B, and thereby has a tendency to generate an excess of gas.
It is apparent that parts of this device may be used without other parts. The
condenser is, ordinarily non-essential, but if the gas through pipe R has to pas
through any cold space, it is desirable to employ the condenser to prevent freezing
of any excess of moisture in such pipe.
It is obvious, also, that though I have shown the burner K as a Bunsen burner,
another source of heat could be employed.
It is an advantage to lower the level of the water in charging the apparatus only
a short way beneath the grate D, since the water absorbs a certain amount of gas,
and in charging the apparatus with additional water, the waste water carries off a
percentage of the gas.
The overflow is desirable as preventing any unnecessary excess of pressure in
the apparatus, since if the water is forced down in the chamber F, it never can be
raised above the level of the overflow k¹. The normal level at which water is fed
through the cock T should be below the level of the overflow k¹, say approximately
at 1.
When in this Specification I refer to the grating D, I, of course, refer to any
suitable perforated support for the carbide B.
Instead of causing the water to rise by its own pressure in contact with the
calcium carbide, I can also feed together the carbide and the water, controlling the
same by the consumption of gas; and the apparatus next to be described fulfils this
function.
This part of my invention relates to an improvement in process and apparatus
for the manufacture of combustible gas produced by bringing together two combining
materials, which by their chemical action produce the resulting gas, and is especially
applicable to the production of acetylene gas, by bringing together calcium carbide
and water.
My apparatus is arranged to feed the water to the calcium carbide, or the calcium
carbide to the water intermittently as such feeding may be necessary to supply the

page_text: gas consumed, and in order to accomplish this result I operate said feeding devices
by a governor which causes the operation of such feeding devices intermittently as
the gas is consumed. As shown, a governing holder is provided which receives the
excess of gas due to the feeding in of the gas producing material. It would be
disadvantageous in devices of this kind to connect the feeding device, say the water
feeder intended to spray the water upon the calcium carbide, directly with the
governor in such way as that the water-cock might stand open, because the
generation of gas is not instantaneous, and an excess of water beyond the capacity
of the holder might be fed into the carbide before the governor operated.
By my device I propose, therefore, to feed in only so much water as will not
fill the holder to its capacity, and no other charge can be fed to the holder until
the holder has become emptied to the desired point. The operation both of feeding
the water to the carbide and of feeding the carbide to the water is substantially the
same in principle. By my device, also, 1 provide for removing the products of
decomposition of the carbide, principally lime, without stopping the operation of
the machine.
Referring again to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 3, represents a vertical elevation, mostly in cross-section, and
Figure 4, a modification of the generating chamber, showing a different method
of removing the refuse ;
Figure 5, an end elevation of the feeding-in valve ;
Figure 6, an elevation of the same at right angles to Figure 5, mostly in
section:
Figure 7, a section through Figure 6 on the line a a;
Figure 8, a view of a modification of the feeding-in valve;
Figure 9, a sectional view of an automatic catch applied to the feeding-in valve
on the line 3, 3, Figure 8; and
Figure 10, a modification of the method shown in Figure 8 for operating the
feeding-in valve.
I will first describe the operation of the apparatus with reference to Figures 3,
5, 6 and 7.
1 represents the governing gas holder of any suitable construction; 4 the
generating chamber; 11 hopper or water supply connected with the generating
chamber by pipe 13 and spraying device 16; 12 pipe connecting generating chamber
with gas holder; 5 tumble-bob stop-cock intermittently operating and alternately
communicating with the hopper 11 and generator 4; 10 arm for operating the
tumble-bob stop-cock; 2 chain connected with the gas holder and operating the
arın 10.
In the operation, as shown in Figures 3, 5, 6 and 7, the water is designed to be
fed upon a body of calcium carbide 17 in generator 4. The feeding-in cock 5 is
provided with plug 6 having therein an angular channel 7, 8. This cock is operated
through a right angle by any well-known form of tumble-bob contrivance controlled
by governing holder 1. In the position shown in Figure 7, the gas-holder has risen
and thrown the tumble-bob weight 9 to the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 3. At this point, therefore, a charge of water fills the chamber 7, 8, of the
cock. This chamber may be made oblong, as shown in Figure 6, to increase its
capacity, if desired. In the position shown in full lines in Figure 3, and Figure 5,
the channel 8 is connected with the delivery pipe 13 and the charge of water has
been delivered to the carbide, the entry of the water to the cock being of course shut
off by the revolution of the cock. When the water is delivered gas is generated
from the carbide 17 in generator 4 thereby raising the gas-holder 1, which enables
the plug 6 of cock 5 to receive an additional charge of water which is retained in
the cock until the holder has again descended to the position shown in Figure 3,
when it is delivered upou the carbide. The amount of water which the cock will
contain is not sufficient when entirely converted into gas to produce gas in excess
of the capacity of the holder and as no additional water can be received in the

page_text: holder until after the holder has again been discharged, the apparatus is entirely
safe from any over-production of gas. When the carbide 17 is used up it may be
discharged by door 20, or preferably washed out by water pipe 18 through delivery:
pipe 19. The various pipes in this apparatus are, of course, provided with
suitable stop-cocks to open and close them as desired. A subsequent charge of
carbide is then placed in the generator 4 and the operation recommences.
In Figure 4, the same device is shown as in Figure 3, excepting that in this case
it is intended to feed the carbide to the water. In this case, of course, it is
necessary that the carbide shall be reduced to a powdered condition. It is then
placed in the hopper 11 which may be provided with cover 21 to prevent accidental
escape of gas. In this case the bottom of the hopper 4 is open and is sufficiently
below the level of the water 22 to furnish the pressure necessary to deliver
to the gas holder 1 through pipe 12. The generated gas rises through the water
and the lime settles to the bottom of the water receiver 23, whence it can be
continuously removed by a flow of water through pipe 18, which water escapes
through the over-flow 19. The lime itself will mostly settle in the part 24 of
the water chamber 23, whence it can be removed as desired, without stopping the
operation of the device.
In Figures 8, 9 and 10, the feeding-in valve is shown as having a vertical
movement instead of a revolution. This device is especially useful for feeding in
water upon carbide, though by simply inclining the pipe 14 upward and the
pipe 13 downward powdered carbide can also be fed through the apparatus. In
this case the feeding-in valve consists of an outer tube 24 and an inner tube 25.
The inner tube is closed, excepting for ports 26, 27, which in the operation of the
apparatus connect with the inlet and outlet 14, 13. In this case, as before, the
feeding-in valve is operated by the governing holder 1. As shown in Figure 8,
the feeding-in valve is operated by stem 28 guided in bracket 29 engaging with the
square stem 28 to prevent revolution. In this stem 28 there are openings 30 with
which the spring pins 31 engage when the valve is in such position that the port 26
corresponds with the opening 14. The adjustable springs 32 are of such strength
as to prevent the valve from dropping by gravity, but will allow the valve to drop
after the stem 28 has been struck by the bracket 33 attached to the holder 1.
The bracket 33 is likewise attached to the stem 28 by chain 2. When the valve 25
has fallen it rests against the stop 34 and the port 27 corresponds with pipe 13.
When the holder 1 rises after the water has been discharged upon the carbide
through pipe 13, in the first place the valve gets into the position shown in
Figure 8, where both ports are closed, then upon rising further the valve chamber
is filled with water through port 26. The valve may still continue to rise together
with the holder without injury, provided it does not rise high enough to allow its.
lower edge to clear the opening of pipe 14. The general operation is the same as
that of the previous device.
In Figure 10, substantially the same device as in Figures 8 and 9 is shown,
excepting that the locking device 31 is omitted, as this is not requisite where water
is to be fed. In this device the valve 25 is raised by counterbalance 35, which
counterbalance 35 is controlled by holder 1, and cord 2, as shown. The counter-
balance 35 is arrested by stop 36 at which point the port 26 will correspond with
the pipe 14, and the holder may still continue to rise, slackening the chain 2.
Then the valve is filled with water. As the gas is emptied from the holder 1 it
sinks, raising the counterbalances 35 and 37 and the valve 25 falls until the port 27
opens into the port 13, the port 26 meanwhile having left the pipe 14, an additional
supply of water is then fed to the carbide in chamber 4, Figure 3, and the operation
may be repeated.
In case of
any excess of
an escape pipe 43, which
that valve by gravity.
gas being, from any cause, fed to the holder 1, I provide
is provided with valve 41, having lever 42, which closes
When the holder 1 rises to a determined height it will
open the valve 41, and allow the excess of gas to escape by pipe 43 to the air or
some other receptacle.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of manufacturing gas, which consists in automatically bringing
into contact a solid and liquid material which by their union form a gas, and in
automatically supplying an excess of water from a source external to the apparatus,
thereby maintaining a constant minimum level in the apparatus, and governing the
same by the consumption of the gas, substantially as described.
2. The process of manufacturing gas, which consists in automatically bringing
into contact a solid and liquid material which by their union form a gas, and in
automatically supplying an excess of water, and governing the same by the
consumption of the gas, the pressure of which gas in the supply is determined
automatically, thereby maintaining a constant pressure at the burner, and a variable
pressure in the apparatus, substantially as described.
3. The process of generating gas and removing refuse material, which consists
in bringing a liquid and solid in contact with each other by causing the liquid to
rise up to and through the material, thereby allowing the refuse of the solid
material to fall through the liquid, and of removing said refuse from the apparatus
by withdrawing said refuse horizontally from beneath the gas generator and then
vertically through a surrounding body of water, without opening the gas generator
to the atmosphere, substantially as described.
4. The combination in a gas generating apparatus, of a chamber for containing
the gas-producing solid material, of another chamber for containing water con-
necting with said first chamber by a constricted orifice, and of a perforated support
for the solid material below said orifice, in a chamber, and greater in diameter than
the orifice, substantially as described.
5. The combination in a gas-generating apparatus of a chamber for containing
the gas-producing solid material, of another chamber for containing water con-
necting with said first chamber by a constricted orifice having an independent
overflow chamber, and a perforated support for the solid material below said orifice,
located in a chamber greater in diameter than the orifice, substantially as described.
6. The combination of a chamber for containing a solid gas-producing body, an
independent chamber beneath containing a liquid which combines with said solid
material to form a gas, a fixed grating or equivalent support for supporting the
solid material, and a gas-escape pipe permanently fixed at the level of the grating
for removing the gas, substantially as described.
7. The combination of a chamber for containing a solid gas-producing body, an
independent chamber beneath containing a liquid which combines with said solid
material to form a gas, a grating or equivalent support for supporting the solid
material, a gas-escape pipe at the level of the grating for removing the gas, and a
constricted opening between said upper and lower chambers and above the
gas-escape pipe, substantially as described.
8. In a gas producing apparatus, the combination of the chamber A, having a
constricted lower opening, the chamber F greater in diameter than the constricted
lower opening A, the grating D located in the chamber F at a point greater in
diameter than the constricted opening, and the surrounding water-jacket Z,
surrounding said constricted chamber and serving as an overflow chamber,
substantially as described.
9. In a gas producing apparatus, the combination of the chamber A, having a
constricted lower opening, the chamber F greater in diameter than the constricted
lower opening of A, the grating D located in the chamber F at a point greater in
diameter than the constricted opening, the surrounding water-jacket Z surrounding
said constricted chamber and serving as an overflow chamber, and the gas escape
pipe t connected with the chamber B below the level of the constricted opening of
said chamber, and itself passing through the surrounding water-jacket, substantially
as described.
21..

page_text: 10. The combination of the chamber A having lower converging sides with the
chamber F having upper converging sides with the chamber A to form a con-
stricted orifice, and the perforated support D for the solid material beneath the
constricted orifice, and a chamber below the perforated support D, substantially as
described.
•
11. The combination of the chamber A provided with gate valve N, the water-
seals with flexible pipe, thereby allowing the chamber A to be emptied of gas,
and likewise carrying off any escape past the valve N, substantially as described.
12. The combination of the generating chamber A, the water-chamber F, the
grating D, and overflow water-chamber Z, and the gas delivery pipe g provided
with gas regulator R¹ controlling the height of the water in the chamber F, and
the overflow chamber Z, substantially as described.
13. The combination of the gas generator A, the water chamber F, the
grating D, the surrounding water chamber Z provided with automatic water
supply arranged to deliver water obtained from a source exterior to the mechanism
above the level of the grating D, and the overflow k¹ above the level of the
water supply, substantially as described.
14. The combination of the chamber A, the water chamber F, the grating D,
and the escape pipe t connecting with the lower portion of the chamber F, normally
beneath the water level in said chamber, thereby serving as an automatic escape,
substantially as described.
15. The combination in a gas generator for combining a solid and liquid
material, which by their union form the gas, of a chamber for containing the
solid material provided with a grating upon which it rests, and which grating
communicates with a chamber containing the liquid beneath the grating, and a
double gate valve communicating with the chamber above the grating for feeding
material upon the grating without exposure to the atmosphere, substantially as
described.
16. The combination in a gas generator for combining a solid and liquid
material, which by their union form the gas, of a chamber for containing the
solid material provided with a grating upon which it rests, and which grating
communicates with a chamber containing the liquid beneath the grating, and a
double gate valve communicating with the chamber above the grating for feeding
material upon the grating without exposure to the atmosphere, the said double
valve being combined with mechanism substantially as described, whereby the
opening of one of such valves prevents the opening of the other, substantially as
described.
17. The combination in an apparatus for supplying gas by the union of a solid
and a liquid, of a chamber for containing the solid material above a grate, a
grate or perforated support for supporting said material above the chamber
containing water, an escape pipe for carrying off the generated gas, located at
or about the level of the grate, and a pipe communicating with the upper part
of the chamber and with said escape pipe and containing a check valve opening
from the upper chamber toward the escape pipe, substantially as described.
18. The combination in an apparatus for generating gas by the union of a solid
and liquid, of the chamber A for containing the solid material, and the grating D
supporting the same, the lower chamber F containing the liquid beneath the
grating D, and itself contained in the liquid receptacle Z, its lower opening being
located above the bottom of said receptacle, the removable tray G, and the interior
cone E for guiding the refuse material into the tray G, substantially as described.
19. In a gas generating apparatus, the combination of the gas generator A,
surrounded by the liquid receptacle Z contained in the chamber X, and a heating
contrivance consisting of an exterior combustion chamber delivering its products of
combustion into the chamber X, substantially as described.
20. In a gas generating apparatus, the combination of the gas generator A,
surrounded by the liquid receptacle Z contained in the chamber X, and a heating
contrivance consisting of an exterior combustion chamber delivering its products

page_text: of combustion into the chamber ✗, the said exterior, heating chamber being
provided with a water heater having two connections at different levels to the
water within the chamber, thereby simultaneously heating the water and the air
within the chamber, substantially as described.
21. In an apparatus for producing gas by the union of a liquid and a solid, the
combination of an exterior cylindrical chamber a, an interior cone c and the
grating D, and the gas outlet 6 located in the space between the cylindrical
chamber a and the cone c, substantially as described.
22. The combination in a gas generating apparatus of the chamber A, the
grating D, the chamber F, the interior guiding cone E, and the removable
receptacle G, substantially as described.
23. The process of producing illuminating gas without the addition of heat,
which consists in intermittently bringing in contact with each other a determined
quantity of a liquid or a solid, which, by their union, produce a fixed gas, the said
intermittent additions producing determined quantities of gas, substantially as
described.
24. The process of producing illuminating gas without the addition of heat,
which consists in interinittently bringing in contact with each other a determined
quantity of a liquid or a solid, which, by their union, produce a fixed gas, the said
intermittent additions producing determined quantities of gas, and of determining
the frequency of said production of determined amounts of gas by the consumption
of the gas, substantially as described.
25. The combination of the gas-holder 1, the valve 5 having a chamber therein
of determined capacity, and a connection between the holder and the said valve
for operating the same, the said valve having a chamber of fixed capacity
alternately connecting with the feed and the delivery, thereby at each operation
feeding a measured contents of the chamber into the gas generating chamber 4,
substantially as described.
26. The combination of the gas-holder 1, operating feeding-in valve containing
a chamber alternately connecting with the feed and delivery of the apparatus, and
delivering the contents of the chamber at each operation of the generating
chamber 4 connected therewith located in the water chamber 23 having its open
bottom at a sufficient distance above the bottom of the chamber 23 to allow of the
withdrawal of the material fed through chamber 4 by the valve 5, and means for
withdrawing said material, substantially as described.
27. The combination of the vertically moving feeding-in valve 25 with holder 1
and connections operating said valve, and the generating chamber 4, suitably
connected, substantially as described.
28. The combination of the governor 1, vertically moving feeding-in valve 25,
provided with locking device 31, with the generating chamber 4, suitably connected,
substantially as described.
29. The combination of the governor 1, vertically moving feeding-in valve 25,
operated by counterbalance 35, a flexible connection 2, and the generating
chamber 4, suitably connected with the valve, substantially as described.
30. The combination of the gas-holder 1, having an inlet pipe 39, and an outlet
pipe 40, the said outlet pipe being provided with an escape valve 41, having
lever 42. automatically closing said valve by gravity, and a chain 38 directly
connected to the holder 1 and of such a length as to open the valve 42 only at the
upper limit of traverse of the holder 1, the valve otherwise being independent
of the motion of the holder, substantially as described.
D
101
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1895-Accepted. 16th Nov., 1895
ענשנע VULI
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD NICOLL DICKERSON, of No. 64 East
34th Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Chemist.]
Improved Methods of and Apparatus for Mingling Gas or Air and
Acetylene Gas or other Enriching Gas for Illuminating Purposes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 to an improved process of increasing the illuminating
power of gas, and mechanism for carrying the same into effect, and it is especially
applicable to the addition of acetylene gas, in a determined percentage, to air or a
combustible gas.
If acetylene as an enricher is added to water gas, the illumination
at first is very high, but after a few hours decreases. It is therefore, practically
impossible to enrich water gas at the works by acetylene and thereafter supply such
enriched gas through the mains.
This invention is, therefore, primarily designed to supply the enriching material
to water gas practically at the point of consumption of the water gas. As this
illuminant continnes in the water gas without material loss for some time I thereby
am enabled to practically avoid the deterioration of the enriched gas. My process
also enables the mixing, in practically predetermined quantities, of two gases, as,
for instance, acetylene and air, or acetylene and water gas or coal gas, the whole
being automatically controlled.
I do not broadly claim to be the inventor of the addition of acetylene to water
gas as an enricher; but the present invention is based upon a means of remedying
a difficulty never known to exist, and the remedy of which never was discovered
until this invention. That difficulty consists in the fact that, unlike other enrichers,
acetylene will disappear, in part at least, as an enricher, if it remains in contact
with water gas for a considerable time, as, for instance, during the period in which
gas is stored in gas works until its delivery to the consumer.
It is also based upon
the discovery of the law that, unlike other chemical combinations, the combination
of the acetylene, or its conversion into some other hydrocarbon, does not occur
immediately, but only after a period of contact between the water gas and the
acetylene, and that, therefore, the acetylene can be added at the place of
consumption without losing its illuminating power, while it cannot be so added in
the ordinary way at the works.
My invention will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figure 1, represents an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for carrying
out my invention;
Figure 2, a detail of a double port stop-cock;
Figure 3, a view of the plug of a double port stop-cock;
Figure 4, a view of the plug of a single port stop-cock;
Figure 5, a plan view of a governor operating a double port stop-cock like that
shown in Figure 3 ;

page_text: Figure 6, an elevation, partly in section, of a modification of the governor B,
shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 7, represents a modification, in which one tube is made to serve the same
function as the two shown in Figure 6; and
Figure 8, a modification of the holders A and C, shown in Figure 1.
In my drawings, A, B and C. represent three holders. Instead of the holders A.
and C, ordinary gas governors may be employed. The holder B serves both as a
governor and as a mixing chamber, and, therefore, should preferably be arranged
in the form of a holder, though in some cases two gas governors and a mixing
chamber could be substituted, as will be hereafter explained.
The holder A is provided with inlet pipe D, provided with governing valve E.
When the holder A is filled to a certain point the governing valve E is closed, an
thereafter the pressure in A. remains constant. The gas passes from A t. B by a
pipe provided with governing valve G, preferably of special for.n. The holder C
F
is similarly constructed and similarly connected with the holder B through pipe H
and governing valve g. The pipes F and H unite in the common entry pipe M.
The holder B is provided with delivery pipe N, preferably distant as far as possible
from the delivery port pipe M. Of course, the pipes F and H might be provided
with independent delivery pipes into the holder B. The governing cocks Gg should
be so constructed and adjusted as to open simultaneously and to present, at whatever
position of opening, ports having the same relative area, that is to say, at all points
of the rise of the holder B the cocks G g should present the same relative area of
opening, as for instance, 1 to 10. Under these conditions, by making the pressures
in A and C practically uniform, the gas will be delivered into holder B practically
in the proportion of 1 to 10. Of course, if necessary, allowance will be made for
the difference of specific gravity of the two gases and their consequent rate of flow.
This, however, is readily determined by experiment and adjustment of the relative
size of the openings of the cocks. These valves or cocks may be constructed in any
suitable way, provided they comply with the conditions of constantly presenting
openings bearing the same ratio to each other. A simple form consists in making
the openings of the plug of an ordinary cock rectangular in section with a
corresponding entry through the cock casing. By making the openings in one of
the cocks ten times as wide as the opening in the other cock, the ratio of delivery
will be, practically, 1 to 10. A plug of such cock is shown in Figure 4. Instead
of arranging the two independent cocks G g, a single cock P (Figures 2 and 3) can
be used, which will then be arranged as shown in Figure 5. In this cock the plug
is hollow and has two external openings Rr corresponding to similar ports in the
shell of the cock. They are arranged to open simultaneously and deliver, as before
described, relative proportional amounts of the enriching gas and water gas or air
through the pipes and H into the delivery pipe M. These valves cau also be
arranged, as shown in Figure 6. In this case the ports are inside the governing
holder B, and they are preferably arranged in the sides of two tubes S and T.
When the holder is down, as in the position shown in Figure 6, the ports correspond.
As the pressure rises the ports are simultaneously and relatively closed, being made
of the determined proportion. Of course, more than one port need not be used
unless desired. As this form of valve is not absolutely tight (though entirely so for
all practical purposes) I have arranged that at or about the point of closure of the
slot openings in pives S and T the lower parts of the pipes T shall be closed by
ordinary valves W. Under these circumstances, the relative proportion is admitted
to the mixing chamber B, of the two gases, or gas and air, but instead of employing
the mixing chamber in the holder B, the valves G g can be separately operated by
governors simultaneously moving under equal pressure, and the gas led to a separate
receiver.
By Figure 7, I have combined the functions of the apparatus shown in Figure 6,
in one pipe. In this device I have divided the central tube a by means of a
partition. The exterior tube, which may be flexibly supported on the holder B, is
operated as the tubes are in Figure 6, and corresponding ports G g are provided,

page_text: through which the gases may pass into the mixing chamber. They are simultaneously
opened by the movement of the holder B.
In case of mixture of acetylene and air, the arrangement shown in Figure 8 of the
holders A and C should be employed. In this case, if the supply of acetylene
should cease or diminish, air only might enter the holder B in the form of apparatus
shown in Figure 1, and thereby increase the proportion of air to the explosion
point; or, on the contrary, if the air supply should cease, a pure acetylene might
be fed into the system and thereby produce smoke and other disadvantages.
In order to remedy this, I have arranged, by the apparatus shown in Figure 8,
that each governor shall not only govern its own entry valve, but the delivery valve
of the other holder; that is, if either holder becomes empty, thereby ceasing to
supply gas, it closes simultaneously the delivery from the other holder, thereby
making it certain that gas in the determined proportions only can be delivered to
the mixing chamber. The apparatus is the same as shown in Figure 1, though for
the holder B there shown, I prefer to substitute the holder shown in Figure 6,
but the governor A controls the valve a on the pipe H so as to close that valve
when the governor A is closed. Similarly, the governor C closes the delivery
valve b from the holder A. No gas is therefore delivered through either of the
pipes F and H, unless both holders A and C contain and are delivering gas.
Assuming the holder A to contain acetylene and the holder C water gas, the
mingled acetylene and water gas uniting in the pipe M will be delivered into the
holder B. As the holder rises the cocks G g or the cock P are closed until they
deliver constantly the required amount of gas to the holder B, which, mingling in
the pipe M and the chamber of the holder, escapes thence through pipe N to the
point of combustion.
If two gas governors are employed at Gg delivering into a common delivery
pipe M, the same result will be accomplished by making the areas of the delivery
valves of these governors in the desired ratio; but in this case, exceeding
sensitiveness on the part of the governors is essential, or else one such governor
may supply an excess of the gas which it governs. I therefore much prefer two
openings controlled by the same governor, rather than two openings controlled by
two governors.
It is obvious that the process of adding acetylene as an enricher at the point
of consumption may be utilized in other ways besides that shown, and by means of
other apparatus.
Though prefer that the pressures in governors A and C shall be equal, the
apparatus can still be operative, even though these pressures be unequal, though
would be corre-
constant, in which case the areas of the ports in valves G 9
spondingly carried, being proportionately less in area in that port which governs
the gas at higher pressure. Of course, if the areas of the ports remain constant,.
a variable mixture of the gases may be made by varying the relative pressures
upon the governors.
By the process herein described, a single main can be used to supply heating
gas and illuminating gas, the illumination being added to such portion of the gas
as it is desired to use for illuminating purposes, and the remainder of the gas being
burned for fuel purposes.
I can also by means of my invention mingle the gases under high pressure, as
well as under the normal or burning pressure last described; and I will now
describe the means and mechanism for accomplishing this result; wherein the
expanding power of one of the said gases is utilized to accomplish the compression
of the other gas.
For the proper burning of acetylene in ordinary burners, it is important that
the acetylene should be mingled with air, either in equal proportions or in propor-
tions varying from 40 to 50 per cent. of air and 60 to 50 per cent. of acetylene,
thugh, of course, other proportions may be utilized.
For illustration, in this description I refer to the mingling of equal quantities of
air and acetylene.

page_text: When acetylene gas is generated from calcium carbide and water, it generates
pressures, varying at normal temperatures, from 600 to 3,000 or 4,000 pounds to
the square inch, dependent upon the internal temperature of the generator, which
pressure can be utilized by my apparatus in effecting the compression of the air to
be mingled with or in a compressed condition.
Another convenient source of acetylene gas is to be obtained from cylinders
containing the liquefied gas having at ordinary temperatures a pressure of trom
6 to 7 hundred pounds per square inch. By utilizing the pressure of the escaping
acetylene from either of these sources, 1.compress the air to the desired pressure.
This I may do, if low pressures only are desired-say 30 pounds to the square inch
above zero-by, in the first place, filling a chamber with air, and then allowing an
equal volume of acetylene under pressure to enter, thereby compressing the air in
the cylinder and mingling it with the entering gas.
My apparatus is, however, especially designed for higher pressures-say
150 pounds to the square inch above the atmosphere-when the tanks containing
the compressed gas become useful for transportation on vehicles or similar
purposes. They can, for instance, replace the tanks now utilized in the Pintsch
gas system.
This part of my invention will be readily understood from a reference to
Figure 9, which is a diagrammatic plan of the arrangement of my apparatus. The
apparatus, however, is not intended to be shown in detail, being of well-known
forins.
A, represents a vessel containing acetylene under sufficient pressure to operate
the apparatus, as, for instance, a vessel containing liquefied acetylene, or a vessel
in which water and calcium carbide being brought in contact the necessary pressure
is established.
The pressure of the gas in chamber A is carried by pipe B, having cock k to
motor C, operating air compressor M. The gas, having done its work in motor C,
is expanded and very cold. Pressure can be restored to this gas and the cold can
be utilized by passing it through heating coil D, which may be placed in brine to
absorb the cold to be subsequently utilized, or it may be filled with flowing water,
thereby adding pressure, it required, to the escaping gas from the motor C.
Whether such warming coil is required, depends upon the pressure desired in the
tran portation cylinders I. L. Escaping from the coil D, the gas passes by pipe E
to receiver G, which should be of sufficient capacity to retain an excess of gas
until the same is required for the transportation cylinders. The air passing from
air compressor M by pipe R passes through cock g to pipe S communicating with
air receiver N. In case the power of the expanding acetylene from chamber A is
not sufficient to compress the air to the requisite pressure, an additional supply of
air may be carried to the receiver N from air compressor O by pipe P through
cock h.
It is obvious that in place of air, any other gas may be compressed by the
compressors MO, to be afterwards mingled with the acetylene.
In order to charge the shipping cylinders L L', I proceed, as follows: In the
first place, I fill the chamber L with the requisite air pressure from the air
reservoir N by opening cocks a and e, cocks b, c and d being closed. Having.
admitted, for instance, 75 pounds of air to the cylinder L, as shown by the gauge,
the cock a is closed and the cock d opened, when the acetylene compresses the
air in the cylinder L by its own pressure from the chamber G, which must have a
pressure in excess of 150 pounds, if that is the desired pressure in L. If 150 pounds
be allowed to enter into the cylinder L from the receiver G, substantially equal
quantities of air and acetylene will be contained therein. The cylinder L can then
be removed for transportation, by closing the cocks d and e, aud the cylinder L'
can be similarly charged, while an empty cylinder replaces the cylinder L.
The operation of the cocks will be manifest to any skilled mechanic, and both
cylinders by means of the combination shown can be simultaneously filling. For
instance supposing the cylinder L to contain air delivered to it from the air

page_text: receiver N, by closing the cocks a and b and opening the cock c, the air can be
used to fill the cylinder L', while at the same time the air in cylinder L is being
compressed by the acetylene from the receiver G by opening the cock d.
It is, of course, apparent, that though air and gas may be compressed
together, by this means any other gas, such as illuminating gas, may be substituted
for the air, and compressed by the pressure of the acetylene.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of enriching combustible gas, which consists in producing com-
bustible gas at a distant point, transmitting it through mains to the point of
consumption, and adding at the point of consumption a determined percentage
of acetylene gas, thereby avoiding the loss of illumination consequent upon the
long contact of the acetylene with the combustible gas, substantially as described.
2. The process of enriching illuminating gas, which consists in supplying a
combustible gas or air under a determined and constant pressure and an enriching
gas under a determined and constant pressure to a governor simultaneously
determining the equally proportionate flow of said two gases, substantially as
described.
3. The process of enriching illuminating gas, which consists in supplying a
combustible gas or air under a determined and constant pressure and an enriching
gas under a determined and constant pressure to a governor simultaneously
determining the equally proportionate flow of said two gases, the said governor
itself maintaining a constant, but less, pressure on its delivery side, substantially as
described.
4. The combination of two gas governors maintaining constant pressures upon
their delivery sides, connections bringing together the two gases passing through
said two governors, and a third governor simultaneously governing the delivery
from the first two governors by means of two delivery ports of different areas,
which two delivery ports have constantly the same relative area at all points of
their opening, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the governor A, and the governor C, each connected
with the valve P having double delivery ports of different areas, maintaining,
however, the same relative areas at all points of the opening of the cock, and a
connection or connections from said cock P to the governor B, substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the holder B with the tubes S S and T T, having lateral
openings Gg, and the closing valves W W, closing the tubes T T when the holder
is elevated, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the holders A and C with valves EL and ab, the
holder A governing the valve E and the valve a on the delivery holder C, and the
holder C controlling the valve L and the valve b on the delivery holder A, sub-
stantially as described.
8. The process of forming an illuminating gas under pressure, which consists, in
primarily, filling a chamber with compressed gas, and, in secondly, compressing
two gases together by admitting a subsequent charge of illuminating gas at a
higher pressure than the previously compressed gas, substantially as described.
9. The process of forming an illuminating gas under pressure, which consists,
in primarily, filling a chamber with compressed gas, and, in secondly compressing
the two gases together by admitting a subsequent charge of illuminating gas at a
bigher pressure than the previously compressed gas, the said pressure being derived
from the generation of the gas, substantially as described.
10. The process of compressing air and gas together in a chamber, which con-
sists in compressing the air by a motor driven from the generating gas, in causing
the said compressed air to enter a cylinder, and in finally further compressing the
air and mixing it with gas by admitting the gas which has previously passed

page_text: through the motor which has compressed the air and is still at a higher pressure
than the air, substantially as described.
11. The combination of a gas generator A connected with and operating motor
cylinder C, a chamber L, a connection from the exhaust of the motor cylinder C
to the chamber L, the air compressor M operated by the motor C, a connection
from the external air for supplying the air compressor M, and a connection from
the air compressor M to the compressed air cylinder L, thereby enabling the
simultaneous compression of air and gas, substantially as described.
12. The combination of the source of gas under high pressure, air com-
pressor C M, gas chamber G air chamber N, and the connections for leading the
compressed air and subsequently the compressed gas into a chamber L, substantially
as described.
13. The combination of the source of gas under high pressure, air com-
pressor C M operated by the gas delivered from the source of gas, the gas heater D,
the compressed gas chamber G, the compressed air chamber M, and connections
shown for leading the compressed air and the compressed gas to chamber L, sub-
stantially as described.
14. The combination of the source of gas under high pressure, air com-
pressor C M operated by the gas delivered from the source of gas, the gas heater D,
the compressed gas chamber G, the compressed air chamber N, connected with
additional air supply O, and connections shown for leading the compressed air and
the compressed gas to chamber L, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD NICOLL DICKERSON, of No. 64 East
34th Street, in the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, Chemist.]
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Supplying Combustible
Gas for Illuminating Purposes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:
The following invention relates to an improvement in a method and apparatus
for supplying illuminating gas to houses or other places, and is especially applicable
to the practical utilization of liquefied acetylene gas. I have discovered that such
gas can be liquefied, under suitable conditions at reasonable pressures, and
subsequently utilized for illuminating purposes. Preferably, the gas should be
mingled with a suitable proportion of air before burning.
My invention will be readily understood from a reference to the accompanying
drawing, which represents an elevation, partly in section, of my device, in which A,
represents a liquefied gas receiver; B, an automatic reducing valve; Tan expansion
coil in brine tank; E, regulating valve; M, gas holder; G, mixing device; J, a
burner; and D, a safety valve.
The liquefied gas is contained in the receiver A, of which several may be
simultaneously connected to the pipe if desired, or they may be consecutively
connected to the gas pipe L, as desired. This gas will exist in a liquid form at
ordinary temperatures at a pressure of less than a thousand pounds to the square
inch. The gas escaping from the liquid, passes through cock R to pipe L to
automatic pressure-reducing gas governors B, of which a series B B¹ may be
employed, if desired, so as to reduce the pressure to the point desired for the
holder. I do not describe the construction of such automatic pressure reducing
valves, for they are well-known. They may be of the kind employing a diaphragm
or piston to close a valve, or the said valve may be adjustable by hand to the exact
determined pressure.
It is generally advisable to reduce the pressure by successive
steps in a series of such valves.
The expansion of the liquid to a gas produces cold, which may be utilized by
causing a pipe C to pass through the brine tank S. Of course, this coil will be
arranged with reference to the expansion of the liquid at a suitable point. It may,
for instance, be between the reducing valves B B. The cold so produced in the
brine tank may be utilized in any well-known way, or the expansion coil T may be
itself placed in a refrigerator as a source of cold. I prefer, however, for
household purposes, to cool a suitable body of brine, the cold of which can be
afterwards utilized, because the cold produced by the gas is necessarily intermittent,
lependent upon the consumption of the gas.
The gas passes by pipe C to holder M, which may be of any suitable construction,
r may be replaced by a pressure regulating device. This holder M controls, the
top-cock E on the inlet of the holder, thereby shutting off the pressure when
he holder has reached its capacity. The bolder itself is weighted to the pressure
dapted to operate the air-mixing machine G, to which the gas passes by the
ipe F, and from which it passes by pipe H to burner J. This air-mixing machine

page_text: may be of any suitable kind, the object being to add to the gas a proportionate
amount of air, a suitable proportion being fifty-five per cent. of acetylene gas and
forty-five per cent. of air. In case of excess of pressure in the pipe C, a safety
valve D may be provided, allowing the escape of such pressure through the
pipe N to the open air, or into a receptacle.
The operation of my device will now be readily understood: The pressure of
the gas being reduced by the reducing valve to a reasonable amount, enters the
governing holder M. When the same is filled the entry valve E, which opens by
its own weight, is raised by the chain P, so as to prevent further passage into the
holder. The bolder itself automatically supplies the gas main F, delivering
through the mixer G to the burner. In case of any excess of pressure escaping
through the regulating valve B so as to endanger the apparatus, such excess may
escape by the safety valve D.
Though I prefer to employ the governing holder M for exact uniformity of
pressure, it is evident that in some cases this may be omitted, the regulating
valve B taking its place. Also, the safety valve D is merely a question of
additional precaution in some constructions of the apparatus, and is non-essential
to the operation or to the novelty of my process, which consists, essentially in the
practical utilization of liquefied acetylene for illuminating purposes.
I do not claim to be the first inventor of a regulating valve for regulating the
pressure delivered from liquefied gas, such idea being in common practice in
refrigerating machines. By the combustion of an illuminating gas derived from a
liquefied gas, a different condition exists, namely, the necessity of obtaining at the
burner a substantially uniform pressure. If the consumption at the burner is
uniform, and the pressure in the liquefied tank is substantially uniform, an
intermediate regulating valve will maintain a practically constant pressure on the
burner. A liquefied combustible gas, so long as there is any liquid remaining,
maintains at the same temperature substantially the same pressure, and it is the
utilization of this law, to maintain on the combustion side of the regulating valve
a uniform pressure, that I accomplish by this invention. By this apparatus, the
practical combustion of liquefied acetylene has been for the first time accomplished;
and though it is desirable for absolute uniformity of pressure to have the
valves BB automatically moving, and to have the governor M, and for some
purposes, the air mixer G, yet these parts are, in fact, immaterial for some uses of
my invention. If, for instance, a burner J, or a number of burners are to be
lighted, the regulating valve B can be set so as to supply the requisite pressure to
the burner, and then the cock R being opened, the burners J will burn properly,
so long as there is any liquid in the receiver A, provided the consumption be uot so
rapid as to greatly reduce the temperature in the receiver A.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of utilizing acetylene gas as an illuminant, which consists in
liquefying said gas, in allowing the gradual escape of said gas from a liquid to a
gaseous condition, and subsequently burning the said gas under a regulated pressure,
substantially as described.
2. The process of utilizing acetylene gas as an illuminant, which consists in
liquefying said gas, in allowing the gradual escape of said gas from a liquid to a
gaseous condition, in mingling the said gas with a suitable quantity of air, and
subsequently burning the said gas under a regulated pressure, substantially as
described.
3. The combination of the gas receiver A, containing combustible gas in a
liquefied condition by reason of the pressure of said gas in the receiver, the
automatic reducing valve B through which the gas passes from a liquid to
a gaseous condition, and the burner J connected therewith, substantially as
described.

page_text: 4. The combination of the gas receiver A, containing combustible gas in a
liquefied condition by reason of the pressure of said gas in the receiver, the
automatic reducing valve B through which the gas passes from a liquid to
a gaseous condition, the pipe C, the air mixer G, and the burner J connected
with said air mixer, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the gas receiver A, containing combustible gas in a
liquefied condition by reason of the pressure of said gas in the receiver, reducing
valve B, expansion coil T, liquid chamber S, and receiver M, substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the gas receiver A, containing combustible gas in a
liquefied condition by reason of the pressure of said gas in the receiver, reducing
valve B, governor M, mixing device G, and safety valve D, and the connections as
shown and described.
Dated this 02 1
CNT
1008
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.