An Improved Automatic Acetylene Gas-generator.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Acetylene Gas-generator.
I, SIGISMOND DE SZEPCZYŃSKI, of 37, Kärnthnerstrasse, Vienna I, in the Empire
of Austria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This acetylene gas-generator is designed for working on a large scale and is
consequently arranged for continuous operation.
It consists essentially of a water-receptacle, over which one, or, for continuous
working, a larger number of calcium-carbide-receivers are arranged, these receivers
communicating with the water-receptacle by means of an opening capable of being
closed by a valve or the like and through which the calcium carbide is fed auto-
matically into the said water-receptacle by means of a conveyor-screw actuated by
the gasometer-bell in accordance with the consumption of gas.
In carrying my said invention into practice, according to one form or modifica-
tion, the water-receptacle is formed similarly to a steam-boiler and is consequently
provided with man-holes and mud-holes and also with a water gauge-glass and a
pressure-gauge.
Over the water-receptacle are arranged two calcium carbide-receptacles
which are used alternately so as to obtain uninterrupted working. These.
two receptacles are made of U-shape in cross-section SO as, on the one
hand, to permit of the carbide being completely seized by a conveying-
screw or worm, and on the other hand, to permit the cover to be sealed gas-tight
in the simplest manner. These receptacles are in communication with the water-
receptacle through shafts or passages which are adapted to be closed gas-tight by
suitable valves; these valves are moved by means of shafts which extend to the
exterior through suitable stuffing-boxes and are provided with crank-arms, the
said valves being capable of being held in their closed position by means of ad-
justable weights.
On the shafts of the conveyor-screws or worms, are keyed ratchet-wheels which
can be coupled with a loose pulley by putting into gear therewith catches or pawls
mounted on the said pulley, this being done when one or the other carbide receiver
is to be set in operation. The pulley is connected with the gasometer-bell in such
a manner that it is rotated as the gasometer-bell rises and sinks in the consumption
of the gas.
:
When this rotation takes place in the direction corresponding to a descent of
the gasometer-bell, that ratchet-wheel is moved, whose pawl is in engagement and
therefore also the corresponding conveyor-screw is rotated, whereby the calcium
carbide is fed towards the shaft or passage and the part of the charge next thereto
falls through the free opening into the water receptacle.
If the gasometer-bell rises by reason of the rapid evolution of gas, the cord yields
and the pulley turns back, under the action of a counterweight without however
allowing the cord to become slack and without carrying the conveyor-screw with it

page_text: since the pawl or catch, if in engagement, will slide over the teeth of the ratchet-
wheel during rotation of the pulley or pawl-carrier in this direction.
In order to compensate for the friction which takes place in the motion of the
conveyor-screw or worm relatively to the pieces of carbide, and by the transport
of the latter, and the amount of which varies between a maximum value (when
the receiver is full) and a minimum value (when the receiver is empty) and there-
fore to reduce the power necessary for turning the conveyor-screw, weights are
arranged at the ends of the shafts, so that their turning-moments vary, which
weights act on the conveyor-screws so as to tend to turn them in the direction of
the cord.
The cord supporting this counterbalance weight is placed in a gimlet-shaped
groove on a cone (snail) in such a manner that the weight has the greatest turning
moment on commencing to feed the carbide, when the friction is greatest, and this
turning moment is reduced by unwinding the cord during the rotation of the screw
or worm in proportion as the friction becomes less by reason of the diminution in
the quantity of material to be moved.
The turning moment of a weight of this kind is however determined in that,
in no position, can a rotation of the conveyor-screw be caused in a backward
direction.
The double crank serves for winding-up the weight and a fixed pawl engaging
with a ratchet-wheel on the said snail, serves to hold the conveyor-screw fast
whilst the carbide receiver is being filled; finally this crank also serves for intro-
ducing carbide by hand to set the apparatus in operation, since the gasometer-bell
is still at the bottom, or for assisting the apparatus by hand in cases when it
needs repair.
Before filling the carbide receiver, the shut off valve thereof is closed and the
gas contained therein allowed to pass into the atmosphere or into a reservoir bell
through a suitable pipe or conduit. The acetylene gas is removed through the
said pipe and, after purification, is conducted into the gasometer. The advantages
which are obtained by means of this apparatus are as follows:-
The amount of water is very large compared with the amount of carbide sup-
plied thereto for the time being, consequently detrimental elevation of temperature
cannot take place and no acetylene gas compounds (polymers) are formed. The
generation of gas proceeds in proportion to the consumption and very advant-
ageously since the carbide comes into direct contact with water and the gas
generated is thus washed since it must traverse the column of liquid. The loss
of gas is insignificant in this apparatus and is limited to the capacity of the car-
bide-receiver on filling, which operation can be carried out without interrupting
the working. The renewal of the charge can take place at any time without
interrupting the working. Moreover the arrangement for the continuous supply
of water and for the continuous removal of the used-up water and of the lime
residue is very important, this residue being for the most part carried off with the
water. This is preferably effected by allowing fresh cold water to flow continually
into the water-receptacle through a pipe opening near the bottom thereof and
preferably having its upper end funnel-shaped. This pipe serves as a safety-
valve and enables the deposit present to be stirred up by the entering water. The
used water and the milk of lime are driven out through an ascending and descend-
ing pipe, siphon or the like. By this continuous circulation of water, uniform
cooling is ensured. Moreover by this arrangement, high pressures and any danger
of explosion are prevented.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Antproved Automatic Acetylene Gas-generator.
I, SIGISMOND DE SZEPCZYNSKI, of 37, Kärnthnerstrasse, Vienna I, in the Empire
of Austria, 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 and by the following statement:-
This acetylene gas-generator is designed for working on a large scale and is
consequently arranged for continuous operation.
2*1
It consists essentially of a water-receptacle, over which one, or, for continuous
working, a larger number of calcium-carbide-receivers are arranged, these receivers
communicating with the water-receptacle by means of an opening capable of being
closed by a valve or the like and through which the calcium carbide is fed auto-
matically into the said water-receptacle by means of a conveyor-screw actuated by
the gasometer-bell in accordance with the consumption of gas.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ing, in which one form or modification of the apparatus is shown, in Figure 1 in
longitudinal section and in Figure 2 in end elevation partially in section.
The water-receptacle 1 is formed similarly to a steam-boiler and is consequently
provided with man-holes and mud-holes and also with a water gauge-glass and a
pressure-gauge.
ner.
Over the water-receptacle are arranged two calcium carbide-receptacles 2, 3
which are used alternately so as to obtain uninterrupted working. These two
receptacles are made of U-shape in cross-section so as, on the one hand, to permit
of the carbide being completely seized by a conveying-screw or worm 4, and on
the other hand, to permit the cover 5 to be scaled gas-tight in the simplest man-
These receptacles are in communication with the water-receptacle 1 through
shafts or passages 6 which are adapted to be closed gas-tight by suitable valves 7;
these valves are moved by means of shafts 8 which extend to the exterior through
suitable stuffing-boxes and are provided with crank-arms 9, the said valves being
capable of being held in their closed position by means of adjustable weights 10.
"On the shafts 11 of the conveyor-screws or worms 4, are keyed ratchet-wheels 12
which can be coupled with a loose pulley 13 by putting into gear therewith catches
or pawis 14 mounted on the said pulley, this being done when one or the other
carbide receiver is to be set in operation. The pulley is connected by means of a
cord 15 with the gasometer-bell in such a manner that it is rotated
as the gaso-
meter-bell rises or sinks in the generation or consumption of the gas.
"When this rotation takes place in the direction of the arrow corresponding to a
descent of the gasometer-bell, that ratchet-wheel is moved, whose pawl is in
engagement and therefore also the corresponding conveyor-screw is rotated, where-
by the calcium carbide is fed towards the shaft or passage 6 and the part of the
charge next thereto falls through the free opening into the water receptacle.
If the gasometer-bell rises by reason of the rapid evolution of gas, the cord 15
yields and the pulley turns back, under the action of the counter-weight 16 with-
out however allowing the cord to become slack and without carrying the conveyor-
screw with it since the pawl or catch, if in engagement, will slide over the teeth
of the ratchet-wheel during rotation of the pulley or pawl-carrier in this direction.
In order to compensate for the friction which takes place in the motion of the
conveyor-screw or worm relatively to the pieces of carbide, and by the transport
of the latter, and the amount of which varies between a maximum value (when
the receiver is full) and a minimum value (when the receiver is empty) and there-
fore to reduce the power necessary for turning the conveyor-screw, weights are.

page_text: arranged at the ends of the shafts, so that their turning-moments vary, which
weights act on the conveyor-screws so as to tend to turn them in the direction of
the cord 15.
The cord 17 supporting this counterbalance weight 18 is placed in a gimlet-shaped
groove on a cone (snail) 19 in such a manner that the weight has the greatest
turning moment on commencing to feed the carbide, when the friction is greatest,
and this turning moment is reduced by unwinding the cord during the rotation of
the screw or worm in proportion as the friction becomes less by reason of the
diminution in the quantity of material to be moved.
The turning moment of a weight of this kind is however determined in that,
in no position, can a rotation of the conveyor-screw be caused in a backward
direction.
The double crank 20 serves for winding-up the weight 18 and a fixed pawl 21
engaging with a ratchet-wheel on the said snail, serves to hold the conveyor-screw
fast whilst the carbide receiver is being filled; finally this crank also serves for
introducing carbide by hand to set the apparatus in operation, since the gasometer-
bell is still at the bottom, or for assisting the apparatus by hand in cases when it
needs repair.
Before filling the carbide receiver, the shut-off valve 7 thereof is closed and the
gas contained therein allowed to pass into the atmosphere or into a reservoir bell.
The acetylene gas is, in the working of the apparatus, conducted through a suitable
pipe or conduit at 22, and, after purification, is conducted into the gasometer.
The advantages which are obtained by means of this apparatus are as follows:-
The amount of water is very large compared with the amount of carbide sup-
plied thereto for the time being, consequently detrimental elevation of temperature
cannot take place and no acetylene gas compounds (polymers) are formed. The
generation of gas proceeds in proportion to the consumption and very advan-
tageously since the carbide comes into direct contact with water and the gas
generated is thus washed since it must traverse the column of liquid. The loss
of gas is insignificant in this apparatus and is limited to the capacity of the car-
bide-receiver on filling, which operation can be carried out without interrupting
the working. The renewal of the charge can take place at any time without
interrupting the working. Moreover the arrangement for the continuous supply
of water and for the continuous removal of the used-up water and of the lime
residue is very important, this residue being for the most part carried off with the
water. This is preferably effected by allowing fresh cold water to flow continually
into the water-receptacle through a pipe 23 opening near the bottom thereof and
preferably having its upper end funnel-shaped. This pipe serves as a safety-
valve and enables the deposit present to be stirred up by the entering water. The
used water and the milk of lime are driven out through a siphon 24, 25 or the
like. By this continuous circulation of water, uniform cooling is ensured. More-
over by this arrangement, high pressures and any danger of explosion are pre-
vented.
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. An automatic acetylene-gas-generator, comprising a water-receptacle having
one or more calcium-carbide receivers arranged over the same, which receivers
are connected with the said water-receptacle by openings capable of being closed
by suitable valves and are provided with conveyor-screws adapted to be turned by
the gasometer-bell as it sinks during consumption of the gas, for the purpose of
feeding the carbide, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In an acetylene-gas-generator such as is herein before described, mechanism
for transmitting the motion of the gasometer-bell to the conveyor-screw, com-
prising a loose pulley which is connected with the gasometer-bell by means of a
cord and can be coupled by a ratchet-wheel and pawl with the conveyor-shaft in

page_text: one direction of motion, a suitablé weight being provided for maintaining the
tension of the cord, substantially as described.
3. In an acetylene-gas-generator such as is hereinbefore described, a device for
reducing the friction caused by the motion of the conveyor-screw and determined
by the quantity of carbide contained in the carbide-receiver, which device comprises
an open spiral or snail mounted on the conveyor shaft in the groove of which a cord
fastened to a counterbalance weight unwinds in proportion to the rotation of the
snail, at the same time continually reducing the turning moment, substantially as
described.
20th day of January lo
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.