Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
We, THE BRITISH ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Co., LD., Acetylene Gas Generator
Manufacturers, and HUGH KERR SPENCE, Manager, both of Church Street,
Kirkcaldy, N.B., 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 which relates to improvements in acetylene gas generators and
forms modifications of or additions to the invention described in the Specifica-
tion of Patent No. 29554 of 23rd Decr. 1896, has for its primary object to
provide more simple and efficient means for bringing the chambers into action one
after the other upon the exhaustion of the carbide therein, whereby the generation
of the gas can be performed automatically after the generator has been once started.
Our invention has also for its object to improve the construction of the water valves
and pipes supplying the carbide chambers.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation and
Fig. 2 a section of a generator constructed in accordance with our invention.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation.
Fig. 4 a plan and
Fig. 5 a side elevation, all to an enlarged scale, of the valve operating mechanism
shewn in Figs. 1 & 2.
Referring to the said drawings we employ, as in our former Patent referred to,
a tank A containing the gas bell B. Below or at the bottom of the tank are
situated the carbide chambers C containing the drawers c. D is the tank containing
the water to be supplied to the carbide chambers. The gas generated in the
chambers is led by pipes E into the condensing chamber e from whence it passes by
the pipe el into the bell. It then descends the pipe F and after circulating through
the casing f is led to the premises, or whatever purpose it is required, by the
pipe fl
The essential feature of our invention as already stated consists in automatically
operating the valves so that when one chamber has become exhausted its valve
is put out of action and the valve of the other or fully charged chamber brought
into use.
The means for effecting this we will now describe. At or near the top of
the water tank D are situated counter weighted levers G G¹ pivotted at g. These
levers engage with slots h h formed at the upper end of the valve rods H, H¹ and
are fitted with pins J J¹ of a shape as shewn which project through the wall of the
tank A and protrude a short distance therethrough. Upon a place K attached
to the side of the bell B is situated, so that it is free to revolve, a disc k having

page_text: six catches or arms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and three pins 13. The said plate K
also carries two fixed pins L, L'. A pawl or pivoted flap M is secured to the side
of the tank A, and held in the position shewn by the pins m m¹ which allow it to
rise but prevent it from descending further, the said pawl being for the purpose of
rotating the disc & whereby its stops can be varied in position to actuate the one or
other of the water valves.
"
"
In combination with this arrangement we employ means for indicating which
chamber is in use. This consists of a plate N bearing the words ON and
"OFF" for each chamber, only one of which words however can be seen at a
time over each chamber.
The plate N is shifted from side to side by the arms N₁ pivotted at N³ and
having a tail portion 0 arranged to be actuated by the stops, & ³ of the
rotating disc k.
Supposing now that both chambers are fully charged and the parts in the
position shewn, the action of the generator after being once started in a manner
similar to that described in our former Patent, will be as follows;-
The supply of gas generated will cause the bell to rise and the pins L L¹ to pass
the pins J J without actuating the valves. If the supply is sufficient the bell will
still rise and the catch or arm 6 pass the pawl M. Should the first supply how-
ever not be sufficient to raise the bell to this height, it would, upon the consump
tion of gas, fall until the stops L, L' came into contact with the pins J, J', thus
opening both valves and generating sufficient gas to raise it to the position first
described.
When in this raised position the pin k¹ engages with the pin J on each and
every occasion that the bell descends, this continuing until that chamber is
exhausted.
it.
The bell by the continued consumption then descends, the catch 6 comes in con-
tact with the pawl M thereby giving the disc a motion of partial rotation and the
pin is brought against the tail piece 0 of the indicating mechanism thus altering
The bell still descends until the fixed stops L L engage with the valve stops
and open the valves, further gas is thus generated and the bell raised to its higher
position.
The pin then actuates the pin J¹ until the chamber is exhausted when the
former movements are repeated.
To act as a check against the disc over-running we employ a ratchet and pawl as
shewn.
'
The valves supplying the water to the carbide chambers are, in accordance
with our present improvements, formed or provided with a circumferential
groove thus forming a double seat for the valve cover and further ensuring its
being watertight. Also in accordance with our invention we employ a short length
of pipe P having perforations p arranged to distribute the water more 'evenly
amongst the carbide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In acetylene gas generators, the means for automatically bringing one chamber
into action after the other, substantially as herein before described and shewn in
the accompanying drawings.
2. The rotating disc k secured to the bell of an acetylene gas generator, having the
arms or catches 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 arranged to engage with the pawl M upon
the water tank and with the pins k³, 1, ³, upon its face arranged to engage with
the pins or projections J, J of the water valve rods, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3. The means for indicating which chamber is in use, consisting of the sliding
plate N carried by the arms N¹ so that it can be shifted from side to side and

page_text: arranged to be actuated by the stops ¹³ of the rotating disc, substantially as
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction of the valves supplying the water to the carbide chambers,
substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of June 1898.
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.