Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 31st Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
Improvements in Acetylene Gas Generators.
I, EDWARD JAMES DOLAN, of 3615 Warren Street, in the City of Philadelphia
and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 the following statement:-
The invention relates to gas generators, especially applicable to the generation
of acetylene gas or other gases formed by the union of a liquid and a solid.
The said invention comprises improvements in automatic agitators or shakers
for acetylene gas generators, and it has for its object the provision of a simple
and efficient attachment for acetylene gas generators of the type which employs
a rotating cage or compartment for holding the calcium carbide from which the
gas is generated, the device being adapted to automatically impart from time to
time a partial rotary movement to the cage or cylinder, so as to expose to the action
of the water a fresh surface of carbide and at the same time cause the refuse material
contained within the cage or cylinder to be thrown out between the bars of the
cage. The device is so constructed as to effect these partial rotations of the
cylinder at times when the pressure of the gas falls below a certain predetermined
point, at which the device is set to operate, that is to say when the pressure falls
below a certain predetermined point water is admitted which causes an increase
in pressure in the gas, and a consequent rotation of the cylinder. There is no
rotation while the gas is falling below the pressure, but when it has fallen.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
in the novel construction, and in the peculiar arrangement, combination and
adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the
accompanying drawing, and then specifically defined in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this specification, and in
which drawings:-
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a portion of one end of an acetylene gas generator,
with my invention applied thereto a portion of the generator being broken away.
Figure 2, is an end view of the same.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in central vertical section of the gas valve chamber
and its attachments, the position of the parts normally, being shown in full lines
and the positions assumed in operation being indicated by dotted lines.
In the drawing, 1 represents a gas generating chamber of any suitable size;
2 a cage for holding the carbide, and adapted to be revolved as hereinafter

page_text: described. The cage 2 is pivoted on a horizontal shaft 15, passing through a
gas tight packing in the end of the gas generating chamber.
It may be provided with doors corresponding in position with the feeding
openings when the cage is properly adjusted.
Water is supplied by the pipe 19 communicating with the perforated tube 17
extending longitudinally of the gas generator above the drum or cylinder, and
through the perforations in said pipe 17 water is distributed to the carbide
contained within the cage or cylinder.
18 is the gas pipe leading from the generator, being provided with the usual
stop valve 19; and 20 is a lateral pipe communicating with the pipe 21 and
leading to the lower compartment of an enclosed chamber 6, the interior of which
chamber is divided by a flexible diaphragm 11 which extends horizontally through
the chamber into two compartments 22 and 23, the lower compartment 23 being
gas-tight. 24 is a rod which at its lower end is attached to the upper face of
the flexible diaphragm 11. This rod 24 passes through an opening which is
provided in the upper casing or cover of the chamber 6, and at its upper end
the rod is pivotally connected with the outer end of the lever 9 through an inter-
vening link 25. The lever 9 has pivotally attached thereto at its inner end a
pawl 26 designed to enter the teeth of a ratchet wheel or pinion 27 carried at the
outwardly extended end of the shaft 15 upon which the drum or cage 2 is mounted.
10 is a larger ratchet wheel which is also secured to the shaft of the drum 2;
and 28 is a pawl or latch pivoted to the end of the generator case and engaging
the teeth of the wheel 10 to prevent back action of the shaft carrying the drum.
The operation of my device will from the foregoing description in connection
with the drawings, be readily understood.
A weight 29 having been placed upon the free end of the lever 30, which said
lever is at its inner end pivoted to the end of the gas generator case, and at the
point at which it crosses the rod or link 25 is pivotally attached to said rod, the
said weight will serve to normally hold the flexible diaphragm at the lower
end of the rod 24 down, thus holding the diaphragm 11 at the extreme lower limit
of its-downward throw. Gas passing from the generator and entering the com-
partment 23 beneath the flexible diaphragm 11, will, when the gas pressure
exceeds the downward pressure exerted by the weight 29, force the diaphragm 11
upward, thus raising the rod or valve stem 24, and through its connections will
force the pawl 26 against the teeth of the ratchet pinion 27 with which it is in
engagement, and serve to turn the shaft of the drum or cylinder in the generator
one notch forward.
The shaft is held against downward movement by the pawl 28, as will be readily
understood. It will be seen that by this construction the shaft of the drum will
be turned slightly each time that the gas pressure exceeds the weight upon the
lever 30. As soon as the gas pressure falls below the weight pressure, the pawl 26
will engage the next succeeding notch of the ratchet pinion 27, and with the next
following upward movement of the rod 25 the wheel will be again turned and
the shaft moved slightly. Each slight rotation of the drum or cage 2 will serve
to expose to the action of the water a new and fresh surface of carbide, while
the refuse or exhausted material will be jarred out between the bars and will fall
to the bottom of the gas chamber.
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. The combination with the carbide holder of an acetylene gas generator, and
the gas pipe leading from said generator of gas pressure operating mechanism
interposed between said gas pipe and the carbide holder whereby the said carbide
holder will be automatically agitated at intervals, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the carbide holder of an acetylene gas generator and
the mechanism for automatically agitating the same of a weighted lever adapted

page_text: to cause the agitating mechanism to operate when the gas pressure exceeds a
predetermined amount, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a rotatable drum or cylinder for holding calcium carbide
in a gas generator the gas chamber, the gas pipe leading from said chamber a
chamber having a flexible diaphragm in connection with the gas outlet pipe, a
rod attached to-the diaphragm and extended through the top plate of the diaphragm
chamber, a ratchet wheel upon the shaft of the drum or cylinder and connections
substantially as described between said diaphragm and ratchet wheel whereby
an upward movement of the diaphragm will serve to partially rotate the drum.
4. The combination with a rotatable drum or cylinder for holding calcium
carbide, the gas chamber of a generator, the gas pipe, the mechanism actuated by
pressure of gas within the pipe, for-effecting a partial rotation of the carbide
holder, of a weight for controlling the movements of the holder, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this day of August 1o.
EDWARD JAMES DOLAN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.