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

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating
Acetylene Gas.
I, ADOLPHE FÉLIX BOWERS, of the Republic of France, 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 a device for obtaining such pressure as is required
for ensuring the proper function of acetylene gas generators or lamps of the kind
in which the height in itself would not be sufficient to produce the requisite
pressure.
This device consists essentially of a receptacle with elastic walls of variable
volume or capacity, capable of being adapted either to the exterior or to the
interior of the acetylene gas generator, and the inner capacity of which admits of
being increased to a given extent by exerting a pull upon a point of its side or
wall so as to fill it with air or liquid by suction. When this receptacle has once
been filled and is left to itself, it tends to regain its original volume, either under
the influence of the elasticity of its sides or walls or under the action of a spring or
It thus forces the air or liquid
equivalent mechanism, provided for this purpose.
out in proportion to the consumption and at an adjustable and graduated pressure,
the result of which being, that the pressure remains essentially constant during the
whole time, in which the receptacle is being emptied.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section through the axis of my improved
regulator as arranged upon the wall of an acetylene gas generator or acetylene
apparatus of any kind such as a lamp, lantern or the like.
Figure 2 illustrates the use of this regulator in connection with cycle-lanterns.
Figure 3 represents a modification of the improved device, in which the elastic
string is replaced by a metal rod.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the apparatus shown
in Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 show cross sections on the lines A B and CD of Figure 4 respec-
tively.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 show details of various forms of feed devices hereinafter
described, and
Figure 11 shows another application of the improved device.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
The receptacle with elastic walls is in the example shown in Figure 1 constructed
in the form of a bellows 1 of india rubber, fixed upon the wall 2 of the gas generator
by the aid of a screw joint 3, prolonged by a tube 4, the lower end of which is pro-
vided with a notch 5. The top 6 of the receptacle 1 is provided with a screw-
a ring 8. On the said
threaded piece or mounting 7, terminating in
top wall a stop valve 9 is arranged. To the mounting 7 an elastic string 10
is fastened, the lower end of which is provided with a number of knots 11-11.

page_text: By engaging one or the other of these knots with the notch 5, a more or less intense
initial tension can be imparted to the string 10, according as it is required to
obtain more or less additional pressure.
The operation of this pressure-regulator is as follows:
Suppose the initial tension of the string 10 to be suitably adjusted beforehand
and the bellows 1 to be flattened by this tension. Then, in order to impart the
supplementary pressure required for the operation, it is only necessary to lift, by
the ring 8, the wall 6 of the bellows 1 and to subsequently release the regulator.
A suction will thus be produced in the said regulator, under the influence of which
it becomes filled with air or water. As soon as the ring 8 is released, the air,
compressed above the water surface, forces the water into the carbide reservoir,
whereby the latter is instantly thrown into operation. In proportion as gas
is consumed, the wall 6 of the bellows 1 descends, and, when the latter has been
completely emptied it is only necessary to repeat the same operation.
Referring to Figure 2 the bellows 1 is in this case arranged horizontally and
is guided by a casing 12 and located in the interior of the lower water-reservoir 13
of the lantern. On pulling the rod 8, the bellows 1 becomes filled with a certain
volume of water, descending through the tube 14 of the upper reservoir 15, where
it is immediately replaced by air entering through the valve 9. When the rod 8
is released, the compressed air in this reservoir forces the water through the tube 16
into the calcium carbide receptacle 17 and the apparatus assumes its normal
function. All that is necessary for varying the interior pressure when required,
is to simply unscrew the screw 18 and to either advance or move back the knot 11,
which retains the india rubber, according as it is desired to increase or diminish
this pressure, and to subsequently return the screw 18 to its place.
In the modification shown in Figure 3 the string is replaced by a metal rod 10
actuated in a downward direction by a spiral spring 101, located in a vertical tube
and exerting a constant pull upon the top surface 6 of the bellows 1, placed in this
case externally upon the top wall 2 of the generator. The function of the apparatus
is initiated and takes place in the same manner as before by lifting and subsequently
releasing the head 8 of the bellows.
This
In the modification shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the carbide receiver is formed
by a box 13, surrounded by the water of the reservoir 12 and closed by a large screw
stopper 33 with india rubber mounting. In this box a grate 31 is arranged, above
which the carbide is introduced through a tubular socket 32, which is in an open
position when the screw stopper 33 has been unscrewed and removed.
arrangement is such, that, when the said stopper has been replaced and the
apparatus then slightly shaken, the lime, produced by the reaction of the water
upon the carbide descends into the chamber below the perforated sheet metal,
whence it can be removed, when the stopper 33 is again taken off in order to
recharge the apparatus.
The pressure-regulator is formed of a bellows 1, subjected to the action of an
india rubber string 10, having a constant tendency to flatten the same. All that
is necessary for starting the apparatus is to inflate this bellows by pulling the
screw-stopper 8 after having slightly unscrewed the same, so that air can enter,
then to screw up the said stopper and to release the bellows. The air thus com-
pressed in the reservoir 12 forces the water through the metal tube 24 and through
the india rubber pipe 24¹ provided with a tap 20, down to the centre of the carbide-
mass, contained in the receptacle 13. The acetylene gas, thus produced, is taken
from the lower part of the apparatus and conveyed to the burner by the tube 25,
provided with a regulating cock 25¹.
In order that the quantity of water, flowing over the carbide during a given
time, may be varied, I arrange on the india rubber pipe 24¹ a regulator, by which
the discharge can be regulated with great precision by flattening the said pipe to
a greater or less extent.
This feed-regulator represented in Figures 5, 6 and 7 consists of a small cylinder 34
soldered to one of the sides of the water reservoir 12 and traversed by the india

page_text: rubber pipe 24¹. In the interior of this cylinder a piston 35 is adapted to be dis-
placed, one extremity of which is in contact with the pipe 24', and the other
extremity of which bears against the point of a screw 36 with a milled head. By
tightening or loosening, this screw, the india rubber pipe becomes more
or less flattened, whereby its section for the passage of the liquid is either
reduced or increased and the discharge thus adjusted. By screwing the
screw 36 right down, it is even possible to completely stop the flow of the liquid,
so that this device may if desired replace the tap 20.
The device represented in Figure 8 is analogous to the preceding and operates
in the same manner, the only difference being, that the cylinder 34 is screwed on a
screw-threaded tenon 37, soldered to the wall of the water reservoir 12, and that
the milled head of the screw 36 is provided with a spring 38, acting like pincers,
the two ends of which engage with notches arranged along the generatrices of
the cylinder, the object being to prevent the screw from loosening under the
influence of vibrations.
The double spring 38 shown in Figure 9 may also be fixed to the cylindrical
body 34 of the feed regulator, in which case the spring exerts a constant pressure
upon the milled head of the screw 36.
The
This vertically arranged regulator is closed by a screw 371 of equal diameter and
equal pitch to the screw-threaded tenon 37, so that on withdrawing the
screw 371, the same type of regulator may be screwed on to the said tenon and
may be constructed either as represented in Figure 8 or as in Figure 9.
spring 38 may also be replaced by slots arranged, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9,
along the generatrices of the cylinder 34, with the object to render the same elastic.
The feed-regulator, represented in Figure 10 consists of a cylinder 34, provided
with a milled head, and through the axis of which passes the india rubber pipe 24¹.
This cylinder, into which three or four longitudinal slots are cut, which serve to
render it flexible, has its outside provided with conical screw threads, upon which
a milled screw nut 36 is screwed. By tightening or loosening this screw nut the
inner diameter of the cylinder 34 and consequently the section of the india rubber
pipe 24 is more or less contracted, so that the discharge can thus be regulated
at will.
Figure 11 illustrates the use of my device in connection with apparatus, which
owing to its nature is not subject to continual vibrations, for example in connec-
tion with a portable lamp.
In this type of apparatus the bellows 1 is fixed below the base of the acetylene
generator. The interior of the bellows I communicates with the water reservoir 12,
from which passes a tube, provided with cock 20; this tube terminated through the
medium of a distributor 23 with contracted mouth or orifice in a vertical pipe 21
of large diameter ending slightly above the bottom of the carbide receptacle 13.
This latter is closed by a lid 2, carrying the burner 25, surrounded by a cup filled
with water, and in which the acetylene gas arrives after having traversed a filtering-
material 26. The lid 2 is also provided with a narrow-mouthed distributor or
better with a stop-valve 9, placed in communication with the reservoir 12 by a
tube 27, fitted with a cock 27¹.
The whole device is supported by a hollow support or base 28, in which the
external wall of the reservoir 12 is adapted to freely turn. This wall carries a
certain number of pins or tenons 29 capable of sliding in slots 30, provided in
the support 28.
In order to start the apparatus, the generator is so placed as to rest with its pins
or tenons 29 upon the edge of the support 28. Subsequently the receptacle 13 is
charged with carbide and hermetically closed, whereupon the reservoir 12 is com-
pletely filled with water through the feed socket 17. The water thus introduced
depresses the bellows 1 and it is then only necessary to turn the generator until
the tenons 29 engage with the slots 30. The generator thus rests upon the
bellows 1, which undergoes a compression sufficient to force the water through
the distributor 23 and to cause the same to descend upon the carbide through

page_text: the tube 21. The gas is thus produced and its pressure increases gradually. If
the consumption of gas is not in proportion to its production, its pressure increases
and the gas escaping through the stop-valve 9 acts upon the water in the reservoir 12
and its level falls gradually. As soon as this level descends below the distributor 23,
the water ceases to fall upon the carbide. As the consumption continues, the
pressure of the gas diminishes and the level of the liquid again reaches the
nozzle 23. If the pressure remains insufficient, the water continues to rise and
reaches the top of the tube 27 and, if the stop-valve 9 is not tightly closing, it
flows over the carbide, thus increasing the production of gas, until the equilibrium
has been re-established.
In order to stop the working of the lamp, it is only necessary to lift the
generator and to cause it to again rest with its pins or tenons 29 upon the edge
of the support 28.
It may sometimes happen, that the weight of the generator is too much or is
not sufficient for producing the proper pressure upon the bellows 1.
In this case
I may arrange either in the interior or upon the outside of the said bellows, a
spiral spring, adapted to a compression or initial tension, sufficient to com-
pensate for the excess or deficiency of weight of the generator.
The constructional devices, forming the subject of this invention are, without
any essential modification, applicable to acetylene generating apparatus of all
kinds and are especially appropriate for the lighting of dwellings, vehicles, rail-
way carriages and for safety-lamps employed in mines and so forth.
I, therefore, do not limit myself to the constructional details, above described
by way of example, and which may be varied according to special applications.
The bellows 1, particularly, may be made of any appropriate form. It may be
even constructed in form of a fixed cylinder, in which a piston is adapted to move
in accordance with the action of a suitable elastic medium.
For the india rubber string or band a metal spring or any other equivalent
device capable of producing the same result may be substituted. It is also
possible to dispense with springs altogether by imparting to the walls or sides
of the bellows an elastic resistance sufficient to cause the same to become flattened
spontaneously. I may also employ several of my improved feed-regulators in
connection with comparatively large apparatus, and adapting these feed regulators
to work jointly or alternately, and to distribute the gas in one or several conduits
provided or not with branch-pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is
1. An automatic pressure regulator for acetylene gas generators, essentially
consisting of a receptacle with elastic walls or with variable volume, the inner
capacity of which can be increased to a certain extent by exerting a traction
or pull upon one point of its wall, so as to fill it with air or liquid by suction;
the said receptacle once filled and released, having the tendency of re-assuming
its original volume either under the influence of the elasticity proper of its walls
or sides or under the action of a spring or equivalent device provided for this
purpose, or under the influence of the weight itself of the apparatus, thus forcing
the air or the liquid, in proportion as the gas is consumed, at an adjustable and
graduated pressure.
2. The special constructional devices or types of the automatic pressure regulator
for use in connection with acetylene generators, referred to in the preceding
claim, substantially as described with reference respectively to Figures 1, 2, 3,
4, 5 and 6 and to Figure 11 of the drawing and for the purposes specified.
. 3. The feed regulating arrangement essentially consisting of a set-screw device
arranged on the india rubber pipes which convey the water or the gas, and per-
mitting of varying the inner section of these pipes, substantially as described,
and represented by way of example in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings.

page_text: 4. The separation of the carbide receptacle in two compartments by means of a
grate, one compartment containing the carbide and the other serving as a chamber
for collecting the lime residues resulting from the reaction; the position of the
said grate in the carbide receptacle being adapted to be varied according to circum-
stances.
5. The combination, in one and the same apparatus, of the devices, forming the
subject of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Claims, with the feed-regulator forming the sub-
ject of the 2nd Claim, which combination substantially constitutes the apparatus
herein before described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 15th day of April 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.