Improvements in Gas Generators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Generators.
I, CHARLES HENDERSON CAMPBELL, of 17 South Sixth Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 consists in providing a gas generator with means whereby the
volume of gas generated will be automatically regulated and controlled by the
rising and falling of the gas holder, for which purpose said gas holder is connected
with the feeding device of the generator chamber.
It also consists in so constructing said feeding device that it is operative in only
one direction of said gas holder.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a partial vertical section and a partial side elevation of a
gas generator embodying the invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of a detached portion drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view on line a, a, Figure 1, to an enlarged
seale.
Figure 4 represents the coupling union drawn to an enlarged scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
Referring to the drawings:
A designates a generator, which is adapted to contain water, and has connected
with it the water supply vessel B, which is attached at its lower end to said
chamber A, at or near the bottom thereof.
C designates a closed chamber for containing material, say calcium carbide, the
same having at the bottom thereof the feed trough D, within which is the spiral
conveyor E, said trough being in communication with the generator A by means
of the pipe F.
G designates a valve which is arranged in the pipe F, and is connected by the
link H with the lever J, the latter having also connected with it the rod K, whose
upper end is pivotally attached to the swinging yoke L, which is mounted on the
chamber C, and adapted to extend over the cover thereof, whereby the latter may
be held firmly in its closed position, in which case the valve G will be open, it being
evident that in the removal of the cover for any purpose by the operation of the
lever J, the valve G is also operated, whereby it is closed and thus the escape of gas
from the generator through the pipe F is prevented, it being evident that by the
rotation of the conveyor in one direction, the calcium carbide will be conveyed
through the trough E to the pipe F, and directed by the latter into the generator A,
whereby gas is generated.
The conveyor E has connected with it the shaft M, which is suitably mounted,
and has attached to it the ratchet N, with which engages the pawl P on the
collar Q, the latter being loosely mounted on said shaft M, and having connected
with it a sprocket wheel R, which is also loosely mounted on said shaft M.
ID 017

page_text: Passing around said sprocket wheel R, and a sprocket wheel S is the sprocket
chain T, it being noticed that said wheel S is mounted on the shaft U, which
carries the pinion V, and is supported by the hangers W or other suitable means,
said pinion meshing with the rack X, which rises from and is secured to the gas
holder Y, within which are the pipes A, B, which pass through the tank Z, the
outer end of the pipe A being connected with the generator A, while that of the
pipe B is connected with the service pipe.
The operation is as follows:
As the calcium carbide enters the generator A, and unites with the water therein,
the resultant gas passes from said generator through the pipe A', and so reaches
the gas holder. As the latter rises, motion is communicated by the rack X and
pinion to the shaft U, and consequently by the wheel S, chain T and wheel R
to the collar Q, whereby the pawl rides freely over the ratchet N, and imparts
no motion to the shaft Y and the conveyor E. When however, the gas is used,
the gas holder sinks and motion is communicated. in a reverse direction, by the
intermediate parts, to the collar Q, whereby the pawl P engages with the ratchet N
and rotates the latter, and with it the shaft M, and the conveyor E, so that'the
calcium carbide is again supplied to the generator, the automatic supply and
cutting off of the material to the generator thus being effected by the descent and
ascent of the gas holder.
The generator A is connected at its lower end with the box C, the same being
adapted to receive the accumulation of spent carbide or sediment from said
generator, it being noticed that the connecting pipe D' is formed in sections coupled
by the union E' in the periphery of which is the recess F', which is adapted to
receive the tongue G₁ on the end of the lever H connected with which is, the
valve J', which is fitted in the pipe D'. It will now be seen that in order to remove
the said spent carbide or sediment without necessarily lowering the water line in
the generator, the valve J is closed by the action of the lever H, thus also closing
the pipe D', while at the same time removing the tongue G¹, from the recess F
of the coupling, so that the latter may then be rotated and the box C¹ removed from
the upper section of the pipe D', the contents of the box then being accessible.
When the box is restored and properly coupled in position, the lever H¹ is
operated, so that the tongue G again engages with the coupling E, and the
valve J is opened, whereby the sediment may again pass through the pipe. D into
the box below the same.
The gas holder is provided with a safety valve K', which in the present case is
shown attached to the pipe 131, the same serving to open when the holder rises at
about its limit, thus relieving any access of volume of gas therein.
A safety valve may also be connected with the pipe A' so as to relieve the
generator A similar to the gas holder.
If desired, the valve G may be placed in the chamber C, so that when said valve
is closed there is any tendency of the material packing thereon, due to the rotation
of the feeding device, the same will be prevented owing to the absence of said valve
from the pipe.
The teeth of the rack do not extend continuously to the lower end of the same,
so that there is a blank which will prevent the operation of the pinion V,, as the
holder rises towards its limit.
>
On the pipes A, B', are strainers L',' M¹ respectively, the same consisting of
casings having coke or other material therein.
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 :-
.
"
1st. A gas generator and a feeding chamber therefor, in combination with a
conveyor for the material in said chamber, leading to said generator, a gas holder
and mechanism connected with said gas holder and said conveyor for operating
the latter.

page_text: 2nd. The combination of a generator, a chamber for containing gas-forming
material, a feed trough at the bottom of said chamber, a conveyor in said trough,
said trough being in communication with said generator, a ratchet wheel connected
with the shaft of said conveyor, a pawl carried loosely on said shaft, a gas holder
and means intermediate of the same and said pawl, whereby the latter is operated
and motion imparted to the conveyor.
3rd. In a gas apparatus, a conveyor intermediate of the supply chamber and the
generator, and a gas holder in combination with a rack attached to said holder, a
pinion meshing with said rack, and means operated by said rack for imparting
rotation to said conveyor in only one direction, whereby the feeding of said material
to the generator is accomplished as the resultant gas is discharged from the holder.
4th. A gas generator, a supply chamber, a feeding conveyor intermediate of
said chamber and generator, and a gas holder in combination with a rack attached
to said gas holder, a pinion meshing therewith, and connections for the shaft of
said pinion and said conveyor, including a pawl and ratchet, whereby said convevor
receives motion in only one direction.
5th. In a gas generator, a conveyor intermediate of the supply chamber, and a
generator in combination with a ratchet fixed to the shaft of said conveyor, a pawl
carried loosely on said shaft, and gearing intermediate of said pawl and gas holder,
whereby motions in opposite directions are imparted to said pawl, so that on the
ascent of said gas holder the supply of material to said generator ceases, and on
the descent of the same the generator receives a supply of said material.
6th. In a gas generator, a supply chamber, a feeding device therefor, a gas
generator, and a communication between said chamber and generator, in com-
bination with a valve in said communication, and a cover for said holder, and
means whereby when said holder is opened said valve will be closed, and cice
versa.
7th. In a gas generator, a sediment chamber or box removably connected with
said generator, a sectional pipe intermediate of the same, and a coupling for the
sections having a recess therein, and a valve between said generator and chamber,
in combination with a lever which is adapted to operate said valve and to interlock
with said union when the valve is opened, and to be disconnected from said
coupling when the valve is closed.
8th. A gas generator, and a gas holder provided with a safety valve auto-
matically operative in the event of an excess of volume of gas in either.
Dated this 15th dow of Mar 100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.