Improvements in Generators for Producing Acetylene from Calcium Carbide and Water.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Generators for Producing Acetylene from Calcium
Carbide and Water.
I, JOIN 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 to improvements in generators for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water, of that class in which water is fed by gravity
to the carbide, the improvements being more particularly applicable to small
generators such as are used in table, vehicle and other portable lamps, the chief
object of this invention being the more perfect regulation of the flow of the
water and consequent more regular production of gas.
In carrying out my invention I arrange a carbide chamber of any suitable
shape so that the water from a water supply vessel shall flow by gravity there-
into. The water passes from the water vessel to the carbide chamber through
a passage provided with a cock or tap for cutting off the supply. Over the
orifice leading into this passage there is placed a pad or washer of absorbent
material such for instance as felt, and upon the absorbent there is placed a plate
say of metal which is fixed to a spindle and by means of a screw or equivalent
adjustment is pressed upon the absorbent and thereby regulates the percolation
of water therethrough. Preferably there is a short stand pipe leading to the
orifice aforesaid over which is mounted an inverted cup; the washer has a cen-
tral hole therein to clear the cup, and the plate aforesaid is dished so as not to
come in contact with the cup when the absorbent washer is pressed, by which
arrangement the pressure of gas generated acts with more certainty and effect
in keeping back the water when the gas is not being used as fast as it is pro-
duced. The spindle of the plate used for compressing the absorbent is carried
through the shell of the water vessel so as to enable it by means of a handle pro-
vided to be easily turned and the regulation of the feed made. A pipe is provided
in the carbide chamber preferably, to convey the gas away. The carbide chamber
is suitably arranged to enable it to be charged and emptied of the refuse and the
water vessel is provided with a charging hole and cover. By applying a burner
to the outlet pipe a gas generating lamp is obtained and when the lamp is
required for a vehicle a suitable attachment and hood are provided.
Dated this 914 dove of d 1908
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Generators for Producing Acetylene from Calcium
Carbide and Water.
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 to improvements in generators for producing acetylene
from calcium carbide and water, of that class in which water is fed by gravity
to the carbide, and especially to such generators in which the supply of water
to the carbide is governed by a regulating device comprising a pad of com-
pressible porous substance such as felt and means such as a screw for regulating
its compression, described and claimed in my Specifications of Letters Patent
No. 17793 and 17794 A.D. 1897.
These improvements are more particularly applicable in the case of table,
vehicle and other portable lamps, the chief object of the invention being the
more perfect regulation of the flow of the water and consequent more regular
production of gas, and the complete stoppage of the water supply when the lamp
is to be extinguished.
In order that my invention may be better understood reference is made to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents an elevation
in section of a generator lamp suitable for a vehicle embodying my improve-
ments, and Figure 2 a plan in section at line, Figure 1. In my improved
generator the carbide containing chamber a is arranged beneath the water con-
taining vessel b so that the water shall flow by gravity thereto. The chamber a
may be of any suitable shape and is provided with a charging opening and
, cover, but preferably, in the case of small generators the chamber is made in
two parts a a³ provided with a hermetically sealed joint a³ in which is a ring
packing a of indiarubber or other similar suitable material, and with clip
fastenings a³, so that it may be quickly cleaned out and recharged. The water
containing vessel is shewn as immoveably fixed to the upper part a² of the
chamber a. It is provided with a charging hole 61 and cover 62 and it com-
municates with the carbide chamber a by means of a passage in which is
interposed a cock c¹. The entrance 2 to the passage c is arranged preferably
in the centre of the bottom of the vessel which it is convenient to have raised
sufficiently above the top of the carbide chamber for the purpose of enclosing the
cock the handle of which arranged outside the vessel a. In the example
illustrated, the water vessel a is cylindrical and the carbide chamber practically
so; but any suitable form may be adopted. Covering the entrance to the pas-
sage c is arranged a porous pad or washer of felt or other suitable material
of like nature. The pad is preferably of annular form and it is kept centrally
in position round the passage c by means of the inverted cup e which is perforated
to let the water through. Upon the pad aforesaid there is placed a plate f which
is dished centrally at fi in order to be free of the inverted cupe when the pad is com-
pressed. The chief purpose of the inverted cup e and the dished part f¹ of the
plate f, is to better enable the excess pressure of gas generated in the carbide
chamber to keep back the water passing through the pad, than if the pad
covered the orifice or passage directly. To the plate f is fixed the end of a
spindle g which has a screwed part gl passing through the top 63 of the vessel b,
and a handle b by which to turn it round. Below the outlet of the tube ca
chain n is preferably suspended from the tube when the lamp is used for vehicles,
which chain swings about when the vehicle is running and distributes the water

page_text: over the surface of the carbide. In other cases a cone is placed on the bottom
of the carbide receptacle, or the carbide is covered by a flannel or similar washer
to distribute the moisture over the carbide. In the carbide chamber there is
provided an outlet h leading to the burner. This outlet preferably passes into
a small chamber i forming a filter and filled preferably with cotton wick or wool
in order to arrest particles of lime or other matter carried off by the gas. In
the example illustrated the filter i forms a bracket for supporting the burner j.
It also acts as a rest for a dovetail slide by which the hood is removeably
attached to the generator. There is also shewn a suitable attachment m for
securing the generator or lamp to a vehicle.
The necessary flow of water to the carbide can be regulated to produce the size
of flame required by means of the screw spindle g and this adjustment once made
need not be altered under ordinary circumstances, as by the use of the shut off
cock the further production of gas can be stopped, while if the flow were
shut off by the compression of the pad, such adjustment would have to be
repeated each time the lamp was lit, besides which the flow cannot be stopped
entirely by such compression.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
First. In a generator for the production of acetylene from calcium carbide and
water in which the admission of the water to the carbide is regulated by per-
mitting it to pass through a pad or washer of porous compressible material such
as felt provided with means such as a screw for compressing it more or less and
relieving it of compression, the use of a shut off cock interposed in the passage
between the porous regulator aforesaid and the carbide chamber, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The improvements in generators for producing acetylene from cal-
cium carbide and water which consist. in the use of a ring washer or pad of
porous compressible material such as felt surrounding the orifice of the passage
leading from the water vessel to the carbide chamber, a metal plate or washer
preferably dished centrally arranged upon the top of the pad or washer and
provided with a screw or its equivalent for compressing the pad and means such
as a perforated cap or dome placed over the orifice inside the pad or washer to
retain the latter in position so that the excess pressure of gas generated in the
carbide chamber shall tend to prevent the percolation of water through the said
pad, and a tap or cock interposed between the orifice and pad aforesaid and the
carbide chamber substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 21st day of January 1899.
R. J. URQUHART,
Chartered Patent Agent, 57, Barton Arcade, Manchester.