An Improved Method of Packing Calcium Carbide and Generating Acetylene Gas therefrom.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Packing Calcium Carbide and Generating
Acetylene Gas therefrom.
I, EDWARD JAMES DOLAN, of 3615, Warren Street, Philadelphia, in the County
of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman,
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;―
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in methods
of generating acetylene-gas and it has for its object, among others, the provision
of a single, inexpensive and efficient method for generating acetylene-gas,
whereby the rapidity of generation of the gas may be effectually controlled at
all times, the deposition of the residue of the exhausted carbide within the
generating or storage-chamber may be avoided and an increased amount of
carbide, over that possible by former methods, may be stored within the generating-
chamber.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same
consists in enclosing the carbide in small portions, or charges within a wrapper
of suitable material, such for instance as coarse cheese cloth and then binding
tightly with a strong cord or its equivalent, so as to bind the contents of the
package into as tightly compressed a bundle as possible, preferably two or more
thicknesses of the wrapper material surrounding the bundle.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification :
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bundle or charge of calcium-carbide, pre-
pared in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of a bicycle lamp, showing the generating-
chamber as provided with my prepared charges.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A represents
a small package of calcium-carbide which is wrapped closely within a covering B
of coarse cheese-cloth or other material of an open or porous nature such as
will allow the water, when brought into contact with the covering or wrapper
to be carried by capillary attraction to the next adjacent package, thus insuring
a uniform and gradual saturation of the several bundles of carbide contained
within the generating-chamber. The packages should be wrapped in such a
manner as to insure a covering of at least two or three thicknesses of cloth upon
all sides of the package, and after wrapping the bundle should be compressed
as much as possible and held in its compressed form by a strong string or cord
passed around the bundle and securely tied.
I have found as the result of practical experiment that this wrapping of the
carbide tightly is a great improvement over the methods heretofore employed,
as it is more cleanly in handling, both in charging and in discharging generators
or lamps. It prevents expansion of the residue, thereby requiring less water
and also prevents too rapid generation of the gas. This wrapping of the carbide
within tightly compressed bundles serves further to keep all dust or other

page_text: materials or impurities from escaping into the generating-chamber and thus
clogging the valves or pipes, which has heretofore been so objectionable and
troublesome in acetylene-lamps.
While I design the invention for use in all forms of gas-generators I find
that it is of especial value when used in connection with acetylene-lamps, for
the reason that the full charge can be divided into several parts, thus rendering
it possible and convenient to accurately measure the amount of gas required.
While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the gas-generating chamber
of a lamp as provided with a plurality of packages, it is at once evident that
if preferred for any reason, the entire quantity of carbide contained within the
chamber may be enclosed within a single package.
My invention, while herein described as used in connection with a gas-
generating chamber, is as will be at once evident, equally adapted for use in
connection with the shipment or storage of calcium-carbide. By first packing
the material within cloth-covered and closely compressed bundles, the danger of
possible explosions caused by frictional contact between the loose pieces of
carbide in shipment is obviated, as the covering or wrapper of the package will
prevent friction. It is also evident that where carbide is thus packed the danger
from accidental flooding of the storage-chamber will be greatly lessened, as in
case fire should result, the generation of the gas would be much slower than
would be the case if the carbide were loose or uncovered.
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. The method of packing calcium-carbide which consists in enclosing the
same within small packages or bundles enclosed within a covering of absorbent
material and compressing the bundle, substantially as described.
2. The herein-described method of generating acetylene gas, the same con-
sisting in wrapping tightly small quantities of carbide with absorbent material
and bringing the package thus prepared into contact with water.
3. The method of generating acetylene-gas, which consists in enclosing one
or more tightly wrapped packages of calcium carbide within a gas-generating
chamber and then bringing water into contact with the packages, substantially as
described.
D
L
1
J
T11000