Improvements in or relating to the Generation and Storage of Acetylene.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Generation and Storage of
Acetylene.
We, GEORGE WILLIAM GASKELL and ROBERT RENTON GIBBS, both of 186, Park
Road, in the City of Liverpool, Optician and Engineer, respectively, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an acetylene gas generator in which the
generator itself is separated from the gasometer by a water or other seal and
so designed that it can be emptied and filled without escape of acetylene into
the air and while the gasometer is in use, also an arrangement whereby the lime
can be withdrawn at intervals without loss of gas and without practically
materially increasing the bulk of the apparatus. We form a gasometer in the
ordinary manner namely an inverted bell rising in a tank of water. In this
tank in the centre, but it can be to one side, we place a second chamber enlarged
towards the bottom and near the top of the enlargement we place a line of
perforations. The enlargement is not absolutely necessary, but is convenient.
Inside this chamber and parallel to it except in the enlarged part of the bottom
we place a second tube having no bottom and supported in the top of the bell
of the gasometer in any convenient manner more especially in the way hereafter
described. This tube fits loosely in the interior chamber almost filling it but
allowing gas to rise between the two. The usual pipe from near the top of the
gasometer has its open end near the top of the tank and passes out from the
gasometer at any convenient point to supply gas. Immediately under the central
chamber we bring out a pipe bent upwards close to the outside of the gasometer
and connect this with an india rubber tube with a glass tube extending to the
height of the gasometer. This tube performs the double purpose of a water gauge
to show the head of pressure in the gasometer and also by pulling down the
gauge glass and laying it flat or inverted to syphon out the milk of lime from
the gasometer. In the central tube we place the acetylene vessel. This can be
imperforate but with an interior bead round the bottom and a perforated bottom
resting on this bead and put in place through two openings cut in the bead or
it can be a chamber of perforated metal perforated to about the water level or
even to the top. The central tube is supplied with a pipe or pipes sealed in such
manner that the gas can freely escape from the central tube into the gasometer
but is prevented from returning by the seal. The seal can be a flattened end of
indiarubber tube which would be held closed by the pressure in the gasometer
and by its own inertia or it can be a water seal fixed so as to rise with the bell.
The central tube containing the carbide container is formed in one with the

page_text: gasometer bell and is closed at the top by a plug. We have designed already
three different ways for making this plug and it is obvious that a vast number
of other ways could be adopted, modifications of these. The first is a slightly
conical cup as a plug and an india rubber washer having a hole of considerably
smaller diameter than the plug covering the outer portions of the central tube
and fastened rigidly down to the gasometer by means of a metal ring on top
and a screw passing through it and tightening it to the bell. For this purpose
a wooden ring is usually let into the bell. When the plug is inserted it squeezes
this washer down into the tube and the washer is compressed between the cup
and the tube thus making a tight seal. A small burner and tube usually passes
up through the water from the bottom of the cup and is supplied with a cock.
Another plan is to make a solid plug of wood, cork, or other material and attach
the carbide container to it by means of a clip and screw. This also can have
a pipe and burner through it if desirable. The third plan is to close the top
with a thick disc of india rubber and two metal discs on each side. A screw
and wing nut can be used to compress the two metal discs together and thus
squeeze out the india-rubber until it fills the entire area of the central tube.
In this case again the carbide container can be attached to the plug by means
of a clip and screw and also there can be a small pipe through the plug provided
with a cock and burner. The mode of action is as follows:-The water gauge
being put in place water is poured into the gasometer until it is at the requisite
height the bell is inserted and the air allowed to escape through the discharge
pipe. The carbide container is now taken out filled with carbide the plug
inserted and the container returned to the central tube. The water having
free access to the centre compartment rises among the carbide and at once
generates gas, the gas escaping through the seal into the gasometer, and raises
the gasometer to the maximum point allowed, when the pressure becoming
greater forces the water out of the carbide chamber and evolution of gas is
stopped. The moment however by withdrawing gas the pressure in the gaso-
meter becomes less fresh acetylene is generated and this goes on till all the
carbide has been converted into lime. Part of the lime falls through the perfo-
rated bottom and the larger portion remains in the container. When the
evolution of carbide ceases the little tap at the top can be turned and any gas
remaining in the container will escape through this tap and can be burned.
The container is now taken out the lime in it emptied fresh carbide put in and
the cycle commences afresh. When large quantities of lime collect in the
bottom of the central chamber the water gauge is pulled out of its clip and is
used as a syphon until the water runs clear. It is then put back and fresh
water is added to the gasometer.
Dated the 0th day fo
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in or relating to the Generation and Storage of
Acetylene.
We, GEORGE WILLIAM GASKELL and ROBERT RENTON GIBBS, both of 186, Park
Road, in the City of Liverpool, Optician and Engineer, respectively, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object a gas generator mechanism in which the
generator itself is separated from the gasometer gas chamber by a water or
other seal and so designed that it can be emptied and filled without material
escape of acetylene into the air, and while the gasometer is in use; also an
arrangement whereby the lime can be withdrawn at intervals without loss of
gas and without practically materially increasing the bulk of the apparatus.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1. is a vertical section of one form of our apparatus; and
Figure 2 a partial section and partial elevation of a slightly varying form.
A is a tank having a spout a at the top, B is a gasometer sliding in this tank,
being guided therein by the vertical tube C passing through another vertical
tube D. Vertical tube D has a series of holes pierced in it as shown at d, and
the bottom of the tube C is open. E is a third tube slightly splayed out at the
top and having the ends protected by wire. On the lower end standing on the
wire rim is a perforated plate F on which the carbide f rests. This perforated
plate can be kicked up and if desirable withdrawn when in a vertical position
through two slits in the bottom wire not shown in the drawings, which are
opposite each other and which allow this plate to pass through them. G is a
hollow plug filled with water or oil. It can however be solid if desirable. A
pipe g passes up through this plug and is supplied with a pet cock and can either
end at this pet cock in a burner as set forth at g¹ in Figure 2, or it can be
curled round and introduced into chamber B at H. The tube E containing the
plug G is bedded on india-rubber washer which, when the tube is inserted,
bends it down as shown, the washer having a much smaller hole than the tube.
An annular cover I is placed on the washer and is screwed down by wood screws
to the wooden ring i, thus holding the india-rubber in place. J is a pipe
attached to the side of tube C having an indiarubber nozzle at the end formed
flat at its extremity but of very thin material so that it will open with little
pressure and allow gas to escape from tube E through tube C, but closes instantly
against any return of the gas. A very fine hole K is used to allow a small leak
from tube E. L is a pipe leading from near the top of chamber B to a tap 30
as to draw off gas to where it is wanted. M is another pipe leading from the
centre of the enlarged part of tube D and having a cock m at the end, when a
quantity of lime collects at the bottom of tubes C and D this cock is opened
and the egress of water drives out the lime with it.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The plug G and tube E which are only connected by a flexible pipe with the
cock H' is lifted out of tube C and a supply of carbide inserted. The plug and
tube are then replaced. The water rising in pipe C so as to be on a level with
the rest of the water, attacks the carbide and acetylene gas is given off, and
passes out through valve J into B, the slight pressure required to open valve J
serving to keep the height of water in tube C very little below that in chamber B.
The increase of gas in B causes the gasometer and tube C together with the
carbide tube E to rise together and the water in the two chambers being nearly
on a level the carbide is lifted above the level of the water. If however gas
be drawn off through pipe L and cock 1, chamber 13 and with it the carbide
tube E will fall again until more gas from tube E arrests the fall. It will thus
be seen that as long as there is sufficient water and there is any unconverted
carbide in the apparatus, evolution of acetylene will go on. The water is kept
to about the height of the middle of the spout.
Figure 2 differs from Figure 1 in the following respects. The plug G is made
of wood or other like material and has a hollow portion X preferably loosely
filled with sponge or other like material supported by a grating Y so as to filter
the gas that escapes through the pipe g. The carbide tube or chamber E is

page_text: supported on the side of the plug though if the plug be nearly solid instead of
having a chamber, it is preferably fixed to the bottom of the plug by a screw.
In either case the chamber E is drawn out with the plug. In place of the
valve ja series of two or more pipes J¹ pass down into a water seal which is
attached to the gasometer and rises with it. The circular trough carries
sufficient water to form an effectual trap and prevents any gas from returning
back from chamber B into E. The spout a is not shown in this drawing, but
either it or the gauge pipe described in the Provisional Specification can be
used for ascertaining the height of the water in the gasometer tank. In our
provisional we mentioned various other plugs besides those already described,
such as an indiarubber disc pressed outward by being compressed between
metallic discs. We find however no advantage in this over the wooden and metal
plugs already described.
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. The combination with a gasometer, of a central or other chamber in or
attached to the said gasometer open or pervious near the bottom to the gasometer
but water sealed from the upper portion of the gasometer and a perforated genera-
tor in said chamber open to the water at the bottom but closed at the top and
capable of being withdrawn from the gasometer for replenishing without the
admission of air to the gasometer substantially as described.
2. In combination with a generator and a gasometer and water tank enclosing
same, a tube (or tubes) connecting the generator and gasometer, constructed
with valve or seal in such manner that the gas has free exit from the generator
into the gasometer but cannot return substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus such as is claimed in the first claim the combination of the
plug, the generator and the indiarubber seal for the plug or generator sub-
stantially as herein described.
4. The arrangement and construction of a generator and gasometer for acety-
lene gas substantially as herein described, whereby the height of the water in
the gasometer tank can be at once gauged and fresh water admitted, the lime
passing through the perforations of the generator can be withdrawn from time
to time and the generator when exhausted can be removed and filled or a fresh
filled one applied with the minimum introduction of air or escape of acetylene
gas substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.