Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by Charles W. Beck, of
No. 2572, Lakewood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Manu-
facturer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to acetylene gas generators and more specifically to an
improved generator wherein the carbide is fed into a saturating chamber in
small graduated quantities at such frequent intervals and in such manner that
the generation of gas is practically continuous and automatic.
Among the objects of the invention are the following:-to provide improved
means for controlling the conflux of the gas-generating elements whereby the
rate of generation is kept substantially equal to the rate of consumption and
whereby the generation may be arrested almost instantly, thus avoiding waste
and at the same time permitting the generator to be made very compact, to
render such control or regulation automatic and dependent upon the consumption
of the gas, to provide an improved feed mechanism for handling the pulverulent
carbide which is specially constructed to prevent access of vapour to the carbide
and consequent clogging of the feed mechanism;-to provide gas regulating
mechanism which affords uniform pressure of gas at the burner; and to provide
an apparatus of generally simplified, improved and effective construction which
requires no special skill on the part of the operator in order to render its use
safe and satisfactory.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings:-
-
Fig. 1 is an axial section of apparatus according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, in section, of the device for arresting the feed
plunger.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the clamping devices whereby
a gas tight joint is made.
The apparatus comprises a generating chamber a, a carbide receptacle b, and
a chamber c for the gas bag.
The chamber a has somewhat the form of the base of a vase, this form being
adopted to give the generator a tasteful appearance and considerable capacity
of saturating chamber.
The middle part d is of cylindrical form and is connected to a by a clamping
device e.
The upper part c is screwed to the middle section d, which has an opening
for the introduction of the carbide, normally closed by a screw plug f.
For the purpose of preventing the splashing of the water as the carbide drops
into it and for convenience in emptying out the residuum, a float g, preferably

page_text: made of cork, is suspended in the chamber a and has holes through which water
may pass up through it.
An expansible bag h is fastened to the edge of the float g and to the mouth
of a by an elastic split ring.
The carbide dropping from the hopper falls upon the float g, and as it
accumulates gradually weighs the float down into the water.
When all the carbide has been used up, the residuum can be removed by
taking out the bag h and float g and emptying them.
It is to be understood that though the bag and float are convenient, they may
be dispensed with without affecting the operation of the generator.
The chamber a is provided with a safety valve adjusted to the maximum
pressure desired.
In order to form a gas tight joint between the chambers a and d, their flanges
are made to clamp between them a packing ring by four clamps having
eccentrics mounted in their lower ends by turning which the flanges of a and d
are forcibly drawn together.
The funnel shaped carbide hopper fits loosely with its upper edge beneath
a bead formed inside the chamber and it is steadied by an inverted conc
resting by its lower edge on another bead. The loose fitting to these beads allows
sufficient passage for gas to the space above the hopper and any vapour carried
by the gas is condensed on the external surfaces of the hopper band on the
cone !.
Thus the gas which enters the space above the carbide hopper is practically
free from moisture.
The lower mouth of the hopper is provided with an elastic ring m which may
be of soft rubber having its inner edge bearing against a plungern the lower
portion of which is cylindrical, but has a groove o of less diameter, so that when
the plunger descends until this groove faces the edge of m, carbide can pass froin
the hopper into the bag h.
When the groove o descends beyond the edge of m the passage for carbide is
again stopped.
The stem of the plungern is provided with agitators which reciprocating
through the mass of carbide keeps it in a loose condition. This stem passes
loosely through a boss which clamps the lower side of a flexible bag on the
cover of the chamber and is attached to a weight s to which the upper side of
the bag r is also attached.
Through the upper end of the stem there is a channel for gas to pass by
a flexible pipe to supply the burners, and in this channel there is preferably
a pad of felt or other suitable pervious material to filter the gas as it passes
through.
Two guide rods u attached to the weight s pass through holes in the cover of
the apparatus and terminate in rings so that they can be pulled up to raise the
weight s. When they are so pulled up they can he locked in position by catches
(see Fig. 2).
To prevent dust from the pulverised carbide from passing from the hopper
up into the gas bag r, a bag w of closely woven fabric is fixed by its upper side,
by a clamping nut, under the cover of band by its lower side it is similarly
secured to the stem of the feed plunger n. This bag is pervious to gas but
impervious to the carbide.
The operation of the apparatus may be understood from the foregoing descrip-
tion, but may be briefly outlined as follows:
The chamber a having been separated from the rest of the apparatus and
charged with water and a quantity of pulverised carbide having been charged
into the hopper b through the hole which is then closed by the screw f the
parts a and d are screwed together by the clamps and the generator is ready
for operation.

page_text: It may be started by releasing the guide rods u and lowering the feed plunger n
gradually until carbide begins to escape from the hopper into the water.
Gas being thus generated, inflates the gas bagr and either prevents the further
descent of the feed plunger n or raises the plunger closing the passage for carbide
from the hopper.
When the gas is ignited at the jet the feed mechanism automatically regulates
the rate of feed, the feed plunger descending as the gas bag collapses until a
small quantity of carbide is discharged into the liquid, whereupon the pressure
again inflates the bag and thereby shuts off the feed.
Should the gas bag accidentally leak, the plunger would drop far enough to
carry its groove beyond the lip of the rubber m and so close the discharge opening.
The elastic ring m is contained within a metal ring fixed to the hopper b, on
which is screwed a cap y by means of which the ring m can be more or less com-
pressed so as to regulate the size of the orifice thereof through which the
plunger passes, in such manner that it may always fit with a slight elastic
pressure against the cylindrical part of the plunger.
Dated this 10th day of January 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by Charles W. Beck, of
No. 2572, Lakewood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Manu-
facturer) 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 acetylene gas generators and more specially to an
improved generator wherein the carbide is fed into a saturating chamber in
small graduated quantities at such frequent intervals and in such manner that
the generation of gas is practically continuous and automatic.
Among the objects of the invention are the following:-to provide improved
means for controlling the conflux of the gas-generating elements whereby the
rate of generation is kept substantially equal to the rate of consumption and
whereby the generation may be arrested almost instantly, thus avoiding waste
and at the same time permitting the generator to be made very compact to
render such control or regulation automatic and dependent upon the consumption
of the gas, to provide an improved feed mechanism for handling the pulverulent
carbide which is specially constructed to prevent access of vapour to the carbide
and consequent clogging of the feed mechanism;-1 to provide gas regulating
mechanism which affords uniform pressure of gas at the burner; and to provide
an apparatus of generally simplified, improved and effective construction which
requires no special skill on the part of the operator in order to render its use
safe and satisfactory.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the drawings acco-
panying the Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is an axial section of apparatus according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, in section, of the device for arresting the feed
plunger.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the clamping devices whereby
a gas tight joint is made.

page_text: The apparatus comprises a generating chamber a, a carbide receptacle b, and
a chamber c for the gas bag.
The chamber a has somewhat the form of the base of a vase, this form being
adopted to give the generator a tasteful appearance and considerable capacity
of saturating chamber.
The middle part d is of cylindrical formi and is connected to a by a clamping
device e.
The upper part c is screwed to the middle section d, which has an opening
for the introduction of the carbide, normally closed by a screw plug f.
For the purpose of preventing the splashing of the water as the carbide drops
into it and for convenience in emptying out the residuum, a float g, preferably
made of cork, is suspended in the chamber a and has holes through which water
may pass up through it.
An expansible bag his fastened to the edge of the float g and to the mouth
of a by an elastic split ring.
The carbide dropping from the hopper falls upon the float g, and as it
accumulates gradually weighs the float down into the water.
When all the carbide has been used up, the residuum can be removed by
taking out the bag h and float g and emptying them.
It is to be understood that though the bag and float are convenient, they may
be dispensed with without affecting the operation of the generator.
The chamber a is provided with a safety valve adjusted to the maximum
pressure desired.
In order to form a gas tight joint between the chambers a and d, their flanges
are made to clamp between them a packing ring j by four clamps having
eccentrics mounted in their lower ends by turning which the flanges of a and d
are forcibly drawn together.
The funnel shaped carbide hopper b fits loosely with its upper edge beneath
a bead formed inside the chamber d and it is steadied by an inverted cone
resting by its lower edge on another bead. The loose fitting to these beads allows
sufficient passage for gas to the space above the hopper and any vapour carried
by the gas is condensed on the external surfaces of the hopper and on the
cone 1.
Thus the gas which enters the space above the carbide hopper is practically
free from moisture.
The lower mouth of the hopper is provided with an elastic ring m which may
be of soft rubber having its inner edge bearing against a plunger n the lower
portion of which is cylindrical, but has a groove o of less diameter, so that when
the plunger descends until this groove faces the edge of m, carbide can pass from
the hopper into the bag h.
When the groove o descends beyond the edge of in the passage for carbide is
again stopped.
The stem of the plunger n is provided with agitators which reciprocating
through the mass of carbide keeps it in a loose condition. This stem passes
loosely through a bossy which clamps the lower side of a flexible bag r on the
cover of the chamber d and is attached to a weight s to which the upper side of
the bag is also attached.
Through the upper end of the stem there is a channel for gas to pass by
a flexible pipe t to supply the burners, and in this channel there is preferably
a pad z of felt or other suitable pervious material to filter the gas as it passes
through.
Two guide rods u attached to the weight s pass through holes in the cover of
the apparatus and terminate in rings so that they can be pulled up to raise the
weight s. When they are so pulled up they can be locked in position by catches v
(see Fig. 2).
To prevent dust from the pulverised carbide from passing from the hopper
up into the gas bag r, a bag w of closely woven fabric is fixed by its upper side,

page_text: by a clamping nut, under the cover of band by its lower side it is similarly
secured to the stem of the feed plunger n. This bag is pervious to gas but
impervious to the carbide.
The operation of the apparatus may be understood from the foregoing descrip-
tion but may be briefly outlined as follows:
The chamber a having been separated from the rest of the apparatus and
charged with water and a quantity of pulverised carbide having been charged
into the hopper b through the hole which is then closed by the screw f the
parts a and d are screwed together by the clamps k and the generator is ready
for operation.
It may be started by releasing the guide rods u and lowering the feed plunger n
gradually until carbide begins to escape from the hopper into the water.
Gas being thus generated, inflates the gas bag r and either prevents the further
descent of the feed plunger n or raises the plunger closing the passage for carbide
from the hopper.
When the gas is ignited at the jet, the feed mechanism automatically regulates
the rate of feed, the feed plunger descending as the gas bag collapses until a
small quantity of carbide is discharged into the liquid, whereupon the pressure
again inflates the bag and thereby shuts off the feed.
Should the gas bag accidentally leak, the plunger would drop far enough to
carry its groove beyond the lip of the rubber m and so close the discharge opening.
The elastic ring m is contained within a metal ring a fixed to the hopper b, on
which is screwed a cap y by means of which the ring m can be more or less com-
pressed so as to regulate the size of the orifice thereof through which the
plunger passes, in such manner that it may always fit with a slight elastic
pressure against the cylindrical part of the plunger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An acetylene gas generator comprising three chambers a generating chamber
below containing water, a middle chamber containing a hopper for feed of carbide
and a gas filter, and an upper chamber containing a loaded gas bag, for regulating
the feed, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
2. The feeding mechanism comprising the loaded gas bag, a stem extending
down from its weight, this stem being provided with agitators and terminating
in a cylindrical plunger made with a groove, and a hopper with a mouth piece
of elastic material having an inner edge bearing against the plunger, substantially
as described.
3. The bag filter arranged to intercept dust in the gas which passes from the
middle chamber to the loaded gas bag, substantially as described.
4. The guide rods attached to the weight of the gas bag and provided with
catches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The jointing of the middle chamber to the generator by clamping together
their flanges with an intervening packing ring by means of bent clamps bearing
on the one flange and having excentrics bearing against the other flange, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1899
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.