A New or Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1898
L'an tatt
10th Nov
1802
Accented 18th Feb.
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas.
We, WILLIAM ALLEN COULSON, 105, Kyverdale Road, London, N., Freight
Manager, and HENRI DE THIERSANT, 187, Fulham Road, London, S.W., Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for the generation of
acetylene gas, the object being to enable the supply of gas generated to be auto-
matically controlled, and also to provide a means by which the carbide of calcium
may be delivered as required, the delivery apparatus being so constructed as to
prevent the entrance of extraneous air to the carbide of calcium during its delivery.
In carrying out our invention we provide an outer tank in which a cylindrical
vessel or gas holder is placed, and so arranged that when the gas is generated the
cylindrical vessel or gas holder will be raised according to the amount of gas
generated and contained therein. This gas holder carries the apparatus for
delivering the carbide of calcium, which consists of mechanism operated by means
of clock-work, weight, or other well-known and suitable motive power, so arranged
that when the gas holder is at its lowest position the mechanism may operate,
and this operation of the mechanism causes a certain amount of carbide to be
delivered to a shoot which is in communication with the gas-holder, and carries
an upper layer of oil in communication if necessary with an escape pipe so that
the carbide after passing through the oil comes into contact with the water and
falls into the interior of the gas holder. The gas generated will cause the gas
holder to rise and after the required movement has taken place the mechanism
for delivering the carbide of calcium is arrested by means of a suitable fixed stop
piece or other well-known and convenient arrangement. The carbide of calcium
may be carried in a holder which slides in a guide so perforated as to deliver the
required amount of carbide into the shoot aforesaid when the delivery mechanism
is in operation. A suitable delivery tube is provided for the passage of the gas
to the point of consumption & a suitable filter may be provided for filtering the gas,
In order to prevent the entrance of extraneous air to the carbide the mechanism
carrying the guide and holder is contained in a casing so arranged that the wheel
driving the carbide of calcium holder depends into a trough or tank
containing oil
suitable liquid, and
communicated
to this wheel by means of a roller upon which the wheel bears,
other suitable form of gear, this roller being driven through any
venient means by the mechanism consisting of clock-work, a weight or the
5 like. It will be evident that as the communication of the motion is carried out
under the surface of the oil the admission of extraneous air to the carbide of
calcium holder is avoided and the employment of stuffing boxes and suchlike dis-
pensed with.
1
or
other
1711 1 Wahmuam 1808
motion
is
or
con-

page_text: A New or Improved Apparatus for the Generation of Acetylene Gas.
We, WILLIAM ALLEN COULSON (Freight Manager), 105, Kyverdale Road,
London, N., and HENRI DE THIERSANT (Clerk), 187, Fulham Road, London, N.,
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 follow-
ing statement:―
This invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for the generation of
acetylene gas, the object being to enable the supply of gas generated to be auto-
matically controlled, and also to provide a means by which the carbide of calcium
may be delivered as required, the delivery apparatus being so constructed as to
prevent the entrance of extraneous air to the carbide of calcium during its delivery.
In carrying out our invention, we provide an outer tank in which a cylindrical
vessel or gas holder is placed, and so arranged, that when the gas is generated the
cylindrical vessel or gas holder will be raised according to the amount of gas
generated and contained therein. This gas holder carries the apparatus for
delivering the carbide of calcium which consists of mechanism operated by means
of clock work, weight, or other well known and suitable motive power, so arranged,
that when the gas holder is at its lowest position the mechanism may operate,
and this operation of the mechanism causes a certain amount of carbide to be
delivered to a shoot which is in communication with a gas holder and carries an
upper layer of oil in communication if necessary with an escape pipe so that the
carbide after passing through the oil comes into contact with the water, and
falls into the interior of the gas holder. The gas generated will cause the gas
holder to rise, and after the required movement has taken place the mechanism
for delivering the carbide of calcium is arrested by means of a suitable fixed stop
piece or other well known and convenient arrangement. The carbide of calcium
may be carried in a holder which slides in a guide so perforated as to deliver the
required amount of carbide into the shoot aforesaid when the delivery mechanism
is in operation. A suitable delivery tube is provided for the passage of the gas
to the point of consumption, and a suitable filter may be provided for filtering
the gas. In order to prevent the entrance of extraneous air to the carbide, the
mechanism carrying the guide, and holder is contained in a casing so arranged
that the wheel driving the carbide of calcium holder depends into a trough or
tank containing oil or other suitable liquid, and motion is communicated to this
wheel by means of a roller upon which the wheel bears or other suitable form
of gear, this roller being driven through any convenient means by the mechanism
consisting of clockwork, a weight or the like. It will be evident that as the com-
munication of the motion is carried out under the surface of the oil the admission
of extraneous air to the carbide of calcium holder is avoided, and the employment
of stuffing boxes, and such like dispensed with.
For purposes of illustration we will now refer to the annexed drawings, in
which;
-
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to
our invention.
Figure 2 plan view of same.
a is a holder or gasometer which is carried in the tank b being supported or
counterbalanced by means of weights and cords g or other such suitable arrange-
ment. The holder or gasometer a carries the train of clock wheels c geared
to the rack which is carried upon the feeder c. This feeder is divided into a
required number of compartments f, and slides in the guide or casing g¹. This
fecder may be provided with a suitable cover for the purpose of preventing the

page_text: external air or moisture coming into contact with the carbide charges in the
various compartments. The compartments are for the purpose of containing car-
bide of calcium, the object being that when one of the compartments f is over
the aperture a charge of carbide will fall into the tube i, and following the
direction of the arrows will be deposited at the bottom of the split cylinder j
(carried upon the bottom of the tank 6) through the medium of the shoot or
slide k. The tank is filled with water to about, the level m. The bent or U tube n
is in communication with the passage o, and the inlet p, is for the insertion of
oil or such suitable fluid which is poured therein in a quantity sufficient to form
a layer through which the carbide must pass before it comes into contact with the
water. Of course, owing to the lighter specific gravity of the oil it will remain
at the highest point. The end of the passage o through which the carbide passes
may be closed in any suitable manner, such as by hinged door 9 which is operated
by the rod r passing through the sleeve s carried in the holder or gasometer a.
The
use of this door is to enable the water in the tank to be withdrawn when required
without the necessity of the withdrawal of the oil. The pipe for the outlet of
the gas when required is placed at or about the height shewn, and communicates
with an outlet u after passing through the filtering chamber which may contain
any suitable filtering material. The pipe w is connected to the outlet pipe t, at y,
but does not pass through the filtering chamber, but is carried to a suitable height,
being provided with a valve z so arranged that when the gasometer or holder has
risen to a certain height, a catch piece will come into contact with this valve, and
so allow any excess of gas to escape to the open air or other convenient absorber.
The bent or U tube n may contain oil or other suitable liquid and is in communi-
cation with the excess exhaust tube at 1 so that any gas that may be generated in
the passage o will pass thereup, and may escape through the bent or U tube n
to the open air as soon as the pressure rises sufficiently for this purpose. The
passage is shaped as shewn at 2 so that any ascending gas bubbles will tend to
pass up to the bent or U tube, and not through the pipe i. The operation is as
follows: The train of clockwork wheels which may be of any suitable construc-
tion being in motion, causes the feeder to travel in the required direction, thus
delivering the carbide to the pipe i, whence it passes through the layer of oil 3,
thence to the split cylinder j, thus generating the acetylene gas in its contact with
the water, and as this gas is generated the gasometer a will rise until a sufficient
amount of gas is contained therein. A stop plate or the like 4 is carried at a
suitable part of the frame 5 so arranged that when the holder or gasometer has
risen to the required distance it will engage with a suitable part of the clockwork
mechanism, and retard the motion of the same, thus preventing further delivery
of the carbide in the feeder.
The stop rod 25 is carried by the spindle 22 being connected to the ratchet
wheel 23 through the medium of the spring pawl 24. By this arrangement it
will be seen that the stop rod may be worked independently of the clockwork for
the purpose of delivering the carbide more readily than would be the case if
the escapement of the clockwork alone were employed as this spindle is connected
to the clockwork through the medium of a ratchet wheel and pawl or any other
suitable and well known form of effecting this object, namely, to allow the spindle
to be rotated independently of the clockwork and at the same time so arranged
as to be driven by the clockwork in one direction.
After sufficient gas has been withdrawn from the gasometer to allow it to fall
the clockwork mechanism may be relieved from the stop piece 4 and so again
operate the feeder. If required a supplementary catch or stopping piece may be
provided which will resist the motion of the clockwork when at its lowest or
required intermediate positions. Any suitable form of escape may be employed,
such as a pallet and pendulum or a fan wheel or such like and the clockwork
mechanism may be arranged in any suitable and well known manner, so that when
in motion, the compartments of the feeder are brought into their discharging
position by a series of intermittent movements instead of one continuous move-

page_text: ment. Although we have described the clockwork mechanism for the carbide
feeder it will be seen that a system of levers or other suitable arrangement might
be employed, said levers being operated by the rise and fall of the gasometer,
thus carrying out the object viz. the feeding of the carbide as required to the
interior of the holder or gasometer.
The oil performs a very important function inasmuch as the carbide by being
coated with the oil, and passing through same is prevented from coming into
direct contact with the water immediately it touches the surface and thus the
gas to all intents and purposes, is not generated in any objectionable quantity
until it reaches its destination namely at the point 6. 7 is a slide or shutter
operated by the rod 8 for enabling the outlet or passage 9 to be closed when
required, and then by opening the passage 9 at the point 10 by means of a suitable
door or shutter 11 the residue of the carbide and product of composition may be
readily removed without the necessity of emptying the tank 6. The door or
shutter 11 is then closed, and the shutter 7 opened, when the generation of gas
will proceed as before. It will be seen that when the carbide of calcium has
passed through the layer of oil it will be coated with a certain amount of this
oil which will collect at or about the surface of the water in the gasometer or
holder a and in order to remove this oil when a sufficient quantity has collected
a pipe 12 is provided, the inlet end 13 of which is a sufficient distance below the
water so that the layer of oil which collects may be drawn off through the medium
of the tap or outlet 14 as required. The sides of the tank b and the holder and
gasometer a are provided as shewn when required with transparent plates 15 & 16
for the purpose of enabling the amount and condition of the oil to be viewed as
required, 17 being a rod carrying a brush or other suitable surface by means of
which the interior of the transparent plate 15 may be cleaned at intervals as
required by operating the rod 17.
The apertures f in the feeder e may, when desired be closed by doors or flaps 18
which are hinged or pivoted to the feeder at or about 19, each flap or door closing
one of the compartments, and when the door or flap is over the aperture / the flap
will fall and allow the carbide to pass and the continued movement of the feeder
will again raise or close the flap or door 18. The rack 20 shewn in Figures 1 & 2
is operated by the pinion 21 on the spindle 22, and will move in an opposite
direction to that of the feeder e, and may be so graduated or marked as to indicate
the number of compartments from which the carbide has been discharged, but it
will be understood, that although we have shewn this form of indicator as an
illustration there are many well known, and convenient arrangements by which
the same result can be obtained.
Of course although we have described one particular construction and arrange-
ment of the various parts of our invention it will be seen that the shape and
location of their positions may be varied according to required circumstances
without departing from the essential features of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas: the combined construction
and arrangement of the various parts substantially as described and illustrated
herein and for the purpose set forth.
2. In apparatus for the production of acetylene gas: a feeder divided into a
required number of compartments, and being operated when required by clock-
work mechanism or such like, said feeder delivering the carbide of calcium into
a passage carried by the holder or gasometer said passage carrying a layer of
oil through which the carbide is delivered to the required part of the
interior of the holder or gasometer in which the gas is generated, said
clockwork mechanism or the like being stopped when required by a catch
or stop piece suitable tubes for delivery of the gas when generated and
permitting of an escape of excess of gas, said gas being filtered through any suit-
:

page_text: able means; a supply cylinder contained in the interior of the holder or gasometer,
and into which the carbide is delivered; an outlet or aperture for the removal of
the products of decomposition and residue; transparent surfaces arranged in the
outer tank of the holder or gasometer for the purpose of enabling the required
part of the interior, such as the oil container to be viewed, said transparent sur-
faces in the holder or gasometer being cleaned by a brush or the like operated
from the exterior; suitable weights or counterpoise for supporting the holder
or gasometer.
3. In apparatus for generating acetylene gas the employment of a feeder carried
upon a gas holder or gasometer, said feeding apparatus being operated by suitable
mechanism such as clockwork, so arranged that the rise and fall of the gasholder
or gasometer will regulate the supply of carbide to the interior of the said gas
holder or gasometer through the operation of suitable stop mechanism arranged
to stop or retard the action of the feeding mechanism as and when required
through the movement of the holder or gasometer.
4. In acetylene gas apparatus: the employment of a layer of oil for preventing
the premature generation of gas from the carbide in any objectionable quantity
until it has reached the desired destination in the holder or gasometer.
Dated this 18th day of November 1899.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicants.