Acetylene Generator.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Acetylene Generator.
We, GUSTAV NOWAK, of 49, Marktplatz, Bistritz, Pharmaceutical Chemist,
and PAUL KLEMM, of 116, Külsömonostori ut, Klausenburg, Merchant, both, in
the Empire of Austro-Hungary, 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 object of this invention is an acetylene generator which prevents the after
production of acetylene, that is to say, minimises its consequences."
Acetylene generators, such as hitherto constructed, have the defect that the
after production of acetylene due to the wet condition of the carbide has not
been sufficiently taken into consideration, as its removal from the water only
takes place after a certain pressure of gas has been attained or a sufficient
volume of gas has been evolved. This after production can however, assume
a considerable importance and where sufficient space is not provided may even
lead to explosions, wherefore such apparatus are always a danger--to their sur-
roundings. According to this invention, due consideration is given to such
after production, sufficient space being provided for the subsequently evolved
acetylene.
The drawings show one way of carrying our invention into practice, Fig. 1
being a vertical section of the whole apparatus, while Fig. 2 is a cross section
on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
This improved acetylene generator consists of a generating vessel A and of a
gas holder or gasometer B, these two contrivances being connected together by
the pipes cand. The pipe e passes through the bottom of a receptacle a² and
of a water tank a and is provided with two taps e and . The second pipe c
leads from the wall of the bell a¹ into the reservoir or water tank and is pro-
longed up a given height, being connected to the pipe which communicates
with the pipe by means of an india rubber pipe e. This pipe et enters the gas
bell. The generating vessel A consists of a water tank a in which two guide-
rails s are arranged diametrically opposite one another. A bell a is arranged in
this water tank a, and is provided with four guide-rollers capable of moving along
the rails s and with a pneumatic lid or cover f. The upper end of the said bell
is provided around its periphery with a flange which is furnished with two
notches f. A transverse arni f2 has two inwardly curved ends which can be made
to grip into or engage with the notches f, below the flange, by causing the arm
to turn upon the vertical screw-threaded axis m; the lid or cover f being fixed
in position on the same flange by means of the screw m and of a hand wheel,
and the bell being thus closed air-tight. The carbide receptacle a² is suspended
by its flange upon the angle iron k; its bottom being provided with a suitable
number of conical tubes . The pipe c, which enters the receptacle a² centrally,
leads to the gasometer. This pipe can be closed by the tap e¹ and carries a toothed
sector r¹ capable of turning on and off the key or plug of a second tap on which it
is fixed; this sector gears with a rack fixed to the gasometer bell.

page_text: This generator operates in the following manner:
The bell a of the generating vessel is raised and fixed in such raised position
until the receptacle a is filled with carbide of calcium which is as uniformly as
possible spread over the bottom thereof. The lid or cover which had to be mean-
while removed is replaced in position and is pressed tightly by the screw, where-
upon the bell with the carbide receptacle is slowly immersed in the water. The
air is allowed to escape out of a cock fixed to a suitable part of the generating
vessel. When the air has been displaced by the gradually evolved acetylene,
this air cock is closed and the tap c² of the pipe e is opened. The tap is opened
when the gasometer bell or holder occupies its lowermost position. The propor
tions in weight of the two bells are such that the bell a of the generating
vessel A can only ascend after the gas bell b¹ has been raised, and thus according
to the construction of the apparatus there will come a time sooner or later when
the rack will gear with the toothed sector and will gradually close the cock G³.
As soon as the latter is thoroughly closed, the further evolution of gas raises the
bell a' until the carbide receptacle a is lifted out of the water. The wet carbide
will continue to generate acetylene gas for a somewhat longer period, but the gas
thus generated will pass as soon as the generating vessel bell has risen far
enough, through the opening c, the pipe 2, the india rubber pipe, the pipes
and in order to reach the gasometer bell b. When acetylene gas is required
for use, the cock of the outlet pipe has to be opened. The gas bell sinks
gradually and opens the cock whereupon the gas stored in the bell a¹ can also
be used. When both bells have descended and have brought the carbide again
to the water, the generation begins anew. With the same gasometer several
generating vessels may be connected and may be alternately brought into
operation so as to obtain a constant production and cleaning.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. An acetylene generator characterized by the connection of a generating
vessel A with one or more casings, gasholders or gasometers B in such a manner
that the bells of such gas holders prevent, after being sufficiently filled, the
further entrance of gas, whereby the carbide receptacle is lifted out of the water
to stop the further generation of gas, the gas subsequently formed being stored
in the bell a¹.
2. In acetylene generators such as above claimed, the combination of a generat-
ing vessel with a casing or gas holder by means of two pipes or conduits c and c²,
v, &, communicating with the pipe et; the pipe c being provided with a tap c³
upon the plug or axis of which is mounted a toothed sector r gearing with a
rack r, so that after a predetermined filling of the gas holder, the supply of gas
may be automatically stopped.
3. In acetylene generators, such as above claimed, providing the bottom of the
carbide receptacle A2 with conical pipes through which the water impregnates
the carbide, so as to cause the decomposition to be effected in a downward
direction, i.e. from top to bottom.
Dated this 16th day of June 1899.
·
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents for the Applicants.