Apparatus for the Automatic Generation and Distribution of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Automatic Generation and Distribution of
Acetylene Gas.
I, ALFRED TOBLER of 72 Rue du Château, Garenne-Colombes (Seine), France,
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for the automatic generation and distribution
of acetylene gas comprising a reservoir of water upon the surface of which
constantly presses a piston which serves to regulate the pressure of the gas and to
distribute it to the burners which may be at any distance from the apparatus.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in
which
Figure 1 represents a general view of the apparatus and
Figure 2 a section and plan of the ball valve.
The apparatus consists essentially of the water reservoir a whose capacity would
vary with the number of burners to be supplied. This reservoir not only furnishes
the water necessary for the generation of the acetylene gas but also a reserve of
liquid which by absorbing the caloric developed in the generators prevents the
temperature rising. In the reservoir a works a piston 6 whose rod c is provided
at its upper end with a disc or head d which supports the weights for regulating
the pressure in the apparatus. The piston rod c is graduated to correspond to the
volume of water introduced into each of the generators so as to indicate the
number of generators in use or exhausted and the level of the water in the generator
in service. The piston is guided in its movement by rollers e e travelling against
guides f. The reservoir is provided at its lower end with a delivery pipe g provided
with a ball valve and connected to one of the generators h. The generators, the
number of which may be varied, are each provided at top and bottom with ball
valves j which permit of the entrance of water to the generators but prevents its
escape therefrom and they are connected the one with the other by flexible tubing i
which permits of the generators being installed or removed while the apparatus is
at work. Each of the generators contains an inner cylinder k of wire gauze closed
at bottom and serving to contain crystals of calcium carbide. The outer cylinder h
is hermetically closed at its upper end by a cover l secured by a bayonet joint and
connected by a flexible tube m with a collector n for conducting the gas generated
into the bell o of a gasometer r which is furnished with an exit pipe p for supplying
the gas to the lighting apparatus. q are cocks arranged upon the collector n which
serves to enable the generators to be set up for use and removed as found desirable.
The bell o placed in container r consists of a concentric cylinder closed at any
suitable point in its height by a caps the construction being such that the pressure
of the
gas
stored in the bell acting on the surface of the liquid tends to lower the
level of the liquid within the bell which is permitted to rise between the concentric
cylinders o r.
It will be seen from the foregoing that the liquid forced by the pressure of the
piston into the first generator brings about the production of acetylene gas which
is conducted by the collector n to the bell o. When the calcium carbide contained
in said generator is exhausted and no more gas is produced, the liquid fills this

page_text: generator and passes by means of pipe i into the next generator when the action is
repeated, and so on.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
⚫COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Automatic Generation and Distribution of
Acetylene Gas.
I, ALFRED TOBLER of 72, Rue du Château, Garenne-Colombes (Seine), France,
Inventor, 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 :-
My invention has for its object the automatic generation of acetylene gas by
causing water under constant pressure to be passed in succession through a series
of generators containing calcium carbide in such manner as to bring the generators
successively into action to regulate the pressure of the gas generated and to effect
its distribution to the burners which may be at any distance from the apparatus.
The invention is illustrated in the drawing accompanying my Provisional
Specification in which
Figure 1 represents a general view of the apparatus and
Figure 2 a section and plan of the ball valve.
The apparatus comprises a water reservoir a of a capacity commensurate with
the number of burners to be supplied whence is supplied the water necessary for
the generation of the acetylene gas and an excess which by absorbing the caloric
developed in the generators h prevents the temperature rising therein. The water
in the reservoir a is under the pressure of a piston b whose rod c has a tray d
loaded with weights for regulating the pressure in the apparatus. The piston rod c
is graduated to correspond to the liquid capacities of the generators h so as to
indicate the number of generators exhausted and the level of the water in the
generator in action, and it is guided by rollers e e and guides f. The reservoir is
connected by a delivery pipe 9 (provided with ball valves at j) with the lower part
of the first of a series of any number of generators h, connected the top of the
first with the lower part of the next by flexible tubes i which permit of the
generators being installed or removed while the apparatus is at work, each tube
being provided at top and bottom with ball valves which permit of the entrance
of water to the generators but prevent its return therefrom. Each of the
generators contains an inner container k of wire gauze closed at bottom and
containing crystals of calcium carbide. The outer cylinder h is tightly closed at
top by a cover secured by a bayonet joint and connected by a flexible tube m and
nozzle q provided with a stop-cock with a collecting main n for conducting the gas
generated into the bell o of a gas holder r whence the gas is delivered for
consumption through a pipe p. The stop-cocks q enable the generators to be
connected or disconnected as required. The bell o of the gas holder is continued
upwards above its crown s in the form of a cylinder so that the pressure of the
gas stored in the bell will depress the level of the liquid within the bell and cause
it to rise between the cylinders o r. Upon water being forced into the first
generator, acetylene gas is generated and conducted to the gas holder. When the
calcium carbide contained in the first generator is exhausted so that no more gas
is produced, the water fills this generator and overflows into the next generator
where the action is repeated, and so on.

page_text: It is to be understood that the forms, dimensions, details, and materials employed
in the construction of the apparatus may be varied without in any way departing
from the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described apparatus arranged and combined for operation substantially
as specified, for effecting the generation of acetylene gas in successively acting
generators and for regulating the pressure and effecting the distribution of the gas
thus generated.
ted this 11th day
овпчату 1097.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.