Year: 1896

page_text: I, EMILE RICHARD-LAGERIE of 296 Grand Rue, Roubaix, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This apparatus for the production of acetylene gas is composed of an ordinary
gasometer and has no generator independently thereof. The upper part of the
moveable bell-shaped jar has, at its centre, an outer case or chamber which is
isolated from the jar by a conical-shaped valve through which the carburet of
calcium is supplied to an inside tube or basket; this chamber once it is loaded, is
itself isolated from the air. On ascending the conical shaped valve, which is
operated by means of a screw-threaded rod and a fly-wheel situated on the upper
part of the outer chamber, the carburet falls into a tube or basket, made of sheet
iron, the lower third part of which is perforated. A bottom hinge allows the
stones and lime to be discharged from time to time, their complete discharge
being effected through the tap at the lower part of the conical bottom.
The advantages obtained by this system are as follows:
I. The bell-shaped jar is self-regulated, since it draws the carburet from the
water as it ascends.
II. For the same reason, it remains almost stationary at two thirds of its height,
thus allowing the gas, which escapes only by the lower perforated part, to ascend
slowly in the gasometer and it does not pass out, for use, till at least half an hour
after its production, thus giving the necessary time for the dust to settle down,
which would otherwise clog the very small orifice of the burners.
III. This bell-shaped jar remains up for about two-thirds of its height oscil-
lating until the carburet is exhausted. When it goes down half way, it sets an
alarm signal in operation, which announces that it is necessary to re-fill the
upper box. At the moment of warning, however, there will still be enough gas
left to burn for about 20 minutes.
While the apparatus is in operation, it is fed with the carburet and the lime
is discharged. If, by accident, the bell-shaped jar were to rise owing to the car-
buret fallen to the bottom in dust, the same signal would sound to announce that
the over-supply of gas must be expelled. In the larger sized apparatuses, these
signals are given by electric bells and at any desired distance.
The moveable bell-shaped jar is furnished at one side, with a tap-screw stopper,
or plug, to which is fixed a manometer, and on the other side with a rod, or
gland, for the working of the hinge serving for the expulsion of the small stones
and dust of the lime.
I now proceed to give a modification of the apparatus described above. The
upper box for loading the carburet is suppressed and the sheet-metal perforated
basket is replaced by a non-perforated reversed cylinder stopping at a few centi-
meters from the bottom of the bell-shaped jar; this cylinder or tubes extends
a few centimeters beyond the calotte of the jar; thus allowing a gas-top to be

page_text: soldered to the tube, which, by a quadrant fixed on the calotte of the bell-shaped
jar, makes the interior of the loading tube communicate with the jar.
The object of the device, just described, is to completely suspend the action
of the carburet, when this gas-top is closed, for the water is thrust underneath
when the gas produced in the tube has no issue, or outlet, above; consequently
the rapidity of the action of the water on the carburet can be regulated by opening
the tap more or less.
The sheet-metal perforated basket is introduced into the cylinder from under-
neath and held by bolts. Moreover, to obtain a perfect washing of the acetylene
into the water and to prevent any heating, a cylindrical float reversed, is placed
on the carburet basket, which rises with the water and allows the gas to escape
on meeting the water.
To purify the gases, the bell-shaped jar is provided, at the gas outlet, with an
outside lateral pipe containing sponges saturated with sulphate of iron stopping
the ammoniacal products and the residue of the sulphides which might otherwise
escape during the passage of the gas through the water.
In the same way, to dry the gas, a second outside lateral tube is added to the
jar, enclosing anhydrous carburet of calcium, or dried cellulose.
Dated this 18th day of December 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.
I, EMILE RICHARD-LAGERIE of 296 Grand Rue, Roubaix France, Engineer, 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 the present invention is an apparatus for the production of
acetylene gas, in which the production is automatically regulated according to
the consumption, having a regulator for the exit of gas, allowing this to burn
with a constant pressure; it is provided with a gas purifier and dryer.
The annexed drawing shows a vertical section of the apparatus.
composed of a vat or cistern B in which a gasometer bell A is submerged.
This is
In the center of this bell a small reversed bell C is arranged submerged in a
cylindrical recipient with a double side, fixed to the bell A and forming an
hydraulic joint, to prevent the gas produced in the bell C from penetrating into
the bell A from underneath this bell C.
This latter slightly surpasses the upper cap of the bell A allowing the soldering
of a cock G to the upper part of the said bell C, the said cock allowing the com-
munication of the bell C with the bell A by means of a tube x and a second
cock G secured to the bell A.
The bell C is the charging hell.
In the interior of this bell the carburet basket D is placed; this basket is com-
posed of a cylinder in perforated sheet; it is introduced into the bell C from
below and the basket is fixed in it by means of bolts.
To obtain a perfect washing of the gas produced, in the water of the gas pro-
ducer, which contains lime, in order to take away the sulphuretted hydrogen
which it contains and to overcome all heating, a reversed float E, which rises with
the water, is placed on the basket.

page_text: The bell A is provided with empty chests P, P fixed to its interior side, and
serving to substitute the counter-weights generally used with gasometer bells;
it has fixed to its exterior sides, rods o, o passing through eyelets fixed to the
interior side of the vat and guiding the bell in its vertical up and down move-
ment. A gas disengaging tube H leads the gas from the interior of the bell, to
the purifying apparatus ; this tube descends under the lower bottom of the
fixed reservoir, is bent and continues to the purifying apparatus M arranged
along the exterior side of this vat A; this purifier contains pieces of sponge
impregnated with sulphate of iron stopping the ammoniac matters that the gas
may contain and the sulphuretted hydrogen which might have escaped from the
action of the water mixed with lime in the gas-producer, in which water the gas
has cleared as we have explained in the course of the present description.
From the purifier M the gas enters, by the tube W into a second tube N con-
taining anhydrous carburet of calcium or dried cellulose which removes all
humidity from the gas.
These arrangements also serve to set the gas free from the solid particles it
might draw with it and which might cause the very small holes of the burners
to be stopped.
The arrangement of the connecting tube x of the reversed bell C with the
bell A and the cock G¹ is intended to allow the entire and free suspension of
the reactions in the gas producer, when the gas cock G¹ is completely shut; in
this case the gas produced in the gas-producer, having no issue at the top, forces
the water to the bottom; at a certain moment there exists no contact between
the water and the carburet: the production of gas eases. Thus we can regulate the
reactions in the gas producer and the production of gas, by opening the cock G¹
more or less.
The gas cock G₁ being opened, the carburet basket being filled and fixed in
the reversed bell C and submerged in the water of the vat B, the production of
gas is effectuated; the gras escapes through the cock G and goes under the
bell A this rises and at a certain moment the carburet basket drawn towards
the top with the reversed bell C and the bell A, is no longer in contact with the
water; then the production of gas ceases.
According to the consumption the bell empties and descends; at a certain
moment the carburet will again come into contact with the water from which a
fresh production of gas ensues, and so forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas, distinguished by a small
reversed bell containing the carburet basket, arranged in the bell of the gaso-
meter, whose vat contains the water for the reactions; by a regulating cock for
the exit of gas, allowing this gas to be burnt with constant pressure; and by gas
purifying and drying organs.
2. An apparatus for the production of acetylene gas substantially as described
above and shown in the annexed drawing.
Dated this 17th day of September 1897.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.