Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Purifying Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Purifying Acetylene
Gas.
We, JOHN SHACKLETON, of Larne, Engineer, and ALEXANDER Ross, of Bally-
clare, Laundry Proprietor, both in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows; -
Our invention relates to the production of illuminating and heating gas from
calcium carbide or other material of a like nature and consists in the use of an
inverted tank provided with a perforated tray which is arranged with a dome
in the centre and a pipe or tube passing from above such dome through it and
the inverted tank and carrying away the gas when generated. The ends of
the pipe or tube are open and to the top of the dome we attach a cupola having
a perforated base to admit the gas which then enters the pipe or tube and is by
it carried away.
The calcium carbide before referred to is introduced into the inverted tank
through a hollow plug tap which, when turned, empties its charge upon the
perforated tray and at the same time closes the top aperture thereby preventing
any escape of gas. The inverted tank is placed within a tank containing water
which rises above the perforated tray in the inverted tank and the pipe or tube
before mentioned is passed through the bottom of the water tank and coupled
to another pipe which delivers the gas into a cistern of water whereby it is
purified before being conveyed to a holder where it is stored for use.
Datad 11th
1000
HUGH HYNDMAN,
6, Chichester Street, Belfast, Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Purifying Acetylene
+
Gas.
We, JOHN SHACKLETON, of Larne, Engineer, and ALEXANDER Ross, of Bally-
clare, Laundry Proprietor, both in the County of Antrim, in Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
Our invention relates to the production of illuminating and heating gas from
calcium carbide or other material of a like nature and consists in the use of a

page_text: preferably cylindrical tank or chamber A. Fig. 1 closed at its bottom and open
at its upper end. Into this we place a tank B closed at its upper end. The
bottom of this tank consists of a plate K perforated with holes of small diameter
or we by preference use a wire screen. Over an opening in the closed end of
the tank B is placed a hollow plug tap which when turned empties its charge
upon the perforated tray and at the same time closes the plug so as to prevent
the escape of gas. To keep this plug in close and air tight connection with the
casting or casing we use a dished plate D and a nut E as shown in Fig. 2.
Leading to the chamber in the plug or tap is a chamber L covered by a lid M
which has a recess into which we fix an indiarubber or other suitable ring or
pad to make an air tight joint with the mouth of the casing enclosing the before-
mentioned tap. Passing through and secured to the bottom of the tank A is
a pipe F which is carried nearly to the crown of the inner tank B and attached
to and covering the mouth of the pipe is a domeshaped cover P. The mouth
of this pipe is not in contact with the under side of the dome. On the outside
of the tank A is a conical funnel I leading to the inside of the tank and used for
the purpose of charging the tanks A and B with the water necessary for the
production of the gas. To the bottom of the tank A we fix a tap Ġ for the
purpose of drawing off the solution of calcium or other residue resulting from
the liberation of the gas. For the purpose of purifying the gas we use a box
or chamber H placed outside the tank A and containing water and the gas in
its passage from the tank B by means of the pipe F to a receiver is washed in
transit through the chamber H.
The action of our apparatus is as follows:-Water is poured in through the
funnel I which is placed a convenient distance below the mouth of the pipe F.
The recess in the tap is charged with calcium carbide and its contents are
emptied into the tank B falling upon the dome over the mouth of the pipe F
whereby the carbide is spread over the perforated plate K at the bottoni. The
gas is then evolved and passes through the pipe F and by its pressure, if the
supply exceeds the demand, drives the water below the level of the grating K.
No gas is evolved until the falling of the pressure of the gas allows the water
to rise above K and attack the carbide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas consisting of an outer tank
arranged to contain water, having within it a smaller inverted tank on the
upper end of which is fixed a hollow plugged tap for charging with carbide
of calcium and on the lower end of which is a perforated tray for the support
of the calcium carbide and means for the removal of the generated gas substan-
tially as described.
2. The construction and arrangement of apparatus for the production of acety-
lene gas substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of Wahminn 1900
JOHN SHACKLETON,
ALEXD. ROSS.