Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 10th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
We, EMILE CHESNAY, of 21 Boulevard Carnot, Dijon, France, Photographer and
LOUIS PILLION, of 1 Place Saint Jean, Dijon, aforesaid, Merchant, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the specification of another application for Letters Patent filed by us No. 18992
of 1896, we have described a construction of apparatus for producing and storing
acetylene gas. Now the present invention has reference to certain improvements
in apparatus of the kind referred to. According thereto the base of the vessel
or chamber, containing the carbide (hereinafter called the movable carbide holder)
instead of being formed of a soluble lozenge is composed of a flexible or rigid
substance that is insoluble in water, but which by its reaction with water produces
one or more substances of a gaseous, liquid or solid, nature and which may be
insoluble or soluble, or instead of a lozenge, the base of the movable carbide
holder may be closed by one or more pieces of carbide of suitable forms and
dimensions.
The device, which is termed for the sake of distinction, a stationary piston and
whose function is to maintain at a constant level, before, during, and after the
reaction, the lower part of the mass of carbide or material subjected to the action of
water, is constituted by a support, or grating of metal or other suitable substance.
This stationary piston may be formed at its upper surface with points, lines or surfaces
of any suitable shapes and dimensions, and be fixed and arranged in any suitable
way.
The rods, strips, or plates of metal or other substance of which the stationary piston
is composed and whose apices or sections form the said surface may be made as
desired of one or more enlargements of one or more rods, or groups or bundles of
rods, one or more vertical planes arranged parallel or not, and alternating or not with
each other and fixed or inovable as desired these parts being attached by any
suitable means to the base, walls, sides, or upper part of the receptacle containing
them, as may be found most convenient.
For the purpose of moderating or diminishing as much as possible, or even
arresting at the proper time the hydration of the column of carbide contained in the
movable carbide holder, we provide (a) a receiver or bell, hereinafter termed a sheath,
of any suitable form, but usually corresponding to that of the movable carbide holder,
which it surrounds. This sheath is attached in any suitable manner to the top of
the external receiver, and should terminate at its lower end at a short distance above
the level of the surface of the stationary piston; grating or support.

page_text: At the commencement of the reaction, a certain amount of gas occupies the interior
of the sheath thereby producing a counter-pressure operating in opposition to the
further supply of gas to the sheath and consequently also to the introduction
therein of fresh particles of water carried over by the gas generated. (2) A covering
or layer of oil, essence or other liquid of vegetable, animal or mineral origin,
insoluble in, and having a less specific gravity than water, and which extends to a
suitable depth over the surface of the water contained in the gas generator.
This layer of liquid forms a kind of liquid seal which is hermetic when the apparatus
is at rest, and to a certain extent prevents the water from being carried over during
the generator of the gas, without at the same time interfering with the reaction.
The two arrangements or ineans above described under (a) and (b) may be
employed together or separately in order to lessen or diminish as much as possible,
or suppress the premature decomposition or hydration of the carbide in the generating
receptacle.
By a modification of the arrangement of the movable carbide-carrier with sheath
consisting in lengthening the said sheath so that it descends below the stationary
piston, support or grating the layer of petroleum or other oil or liquid that is insoluble
in water employed as above described need only cover the surface of the water
contained within the sheath and not the total surface of the water contained in the
generating receptacle. Two or more movable carbide holders of equal or different
capacities and stationary pistons, with or without sheaths, may, when necessary, be
arranged in a single generator casing and deliver into a gas holder common to
them. Or two or more separate gas generators of equal or different
capacities may be combined with a single gas holder. The pipes connecting the
gas generators with the water vessel the position of which is automatically controlled
by the movable bell of the gas holder, may be each provided with a cock so that any
one of the gas generators can be put in or out of connection with the said water
vessel at will to suit varying requirements.
Some of our improvements may be employed without the others.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Storing Acetylene
Gas.
We, EMILE CHESNAY, of 21 Boulevard Carnot, Dijon, France, Photographer and LOUIS
PILLION, of 1 Place Saint-Jean, Dijon Merchant, aforesaid, 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:-
In the specification of another application for Letters Patent filed by us No. 18992
of 1896, we have described a construction of apparatus for producing and storing
acetylene gas. Now the present invention has reference to certain improvements in
apparatus of the kind referred to as we will now proceed to describe with reference to
the annexed drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of our improved apparatus
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement thereof and.
Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of two arrangements of stationary piston
hereinafter referred to.
A represents the gas generator, K J the gas holder and C the water containing

page_text: vessel for automatically altering the level of the water in the gas generator, as
required.
According to our present invention the base of the vessel or chamber D, containing
the carbide (hereinafter called the movable carbide holder) instead of being formed
of a soluble lozenge may be closed by one or more pieces of carbide of suitable forms
and dimensions, and the device E which is termed for the sake of distinction a
stationary piston and whose function is to maintain at a constant level, before,
during, and after the reaction, the lower part of the mass of carbide or inaterial
subjected to the action of water, is constituted by a support, or grating of metal or
other suitable substance. This stationary piston may be formed at its upper surface
with points, lines or surfaces of any suitable shapes and dimensions, and be fixed
and arranged in any suitable way.
The rods, strips or plates of metal or other substance of which the stationary piston
is compased and whose apices or sections form the said surface may be made as
desired of one or more enlargements of one or more rods (Fig. 3), or groups or
bundles of rods, (Fig. 4) one or more vertical planes arranged parallel or not, and
alternating or not with each other and fixed or inovable as desired these parts being
attached by any suitable means to the base, walls, sides, or upper part of the receptacle
containing them, as may be found most convenient.
For the purpose of moderating or diminishing as much as possible, or even
arresting at the proper time the hydration of the column of carbide contained in the
movable carbide holder D we provide
a) A receiver or bell F (see Fig. 1), hereinafter termed a sheath, of any suitable
form, but usually corresponding to that of the movable carbide holder D, which it.
surrounds. This sheath is attached in any suitable manner to the top of the external
receiver A and should terminate at its lower end at a short distance above the level of
the surface of the stationary piston, grating or support E.
At the commencement of the reaction, a certain amount of gas occupies the
interior of the sheath F thereby producing a counter-pressure operating in opposition
to the further supply of gas to the sheath F, and consequently also to the intro-
duction therein of fresh particles of water carried over by the gas generated.
b) A covering or layer H of oil essence or other liquid of vegetable, animal or
mineral origin, insoluble in and having a less specific gravity than water, and which
extends to a suitable depth over the surface of the water contained in the gas
generator. This layer of liquid H forms a kind of liquid seal which is hermetic when
the apparatus is at rest and to a certain extent preventing the water from being
carried over during the generation of the gas, without at the same time interfering
with the reaction.
The two arrangements or means above described under (a) and (b) may be employed
together or separately in order to lessen or diminish as much as possible, or
suppress the premature decomposition or hydration of the carbide in the generating
receptacle.
By a modification of the arrangement of the movable carbide-carrier with sheath
consisting in lengthening the said sheath as shewn at F Fig. 2 so that it descendis
below the stationary piston, support or grating E' Fig. 2 the layer H of petroleum
or other oil, or other liquid that is insoluble in water employed as above described
need, as shewn, only cover the surface of the water contained within the
sheath F and not the total surface of the water contained in the generating
receptacle.
I is the pipe connecting the vessel C with the lower part of the generator and L
the pipe leading from the top of the generator to the gas-holder.
Two or more movable carbide holders of equal or different capacities and
stationary pistons, with or without sheaths, may, when necessary, be arranged in a
single generator casing and deliver into a gas holder common to them. Or two or
more separate gas generators of equal or different capacities may be combined with a
single gas-holder. The pipes connecting the gas generators with the water vessel C
the position of which is automatically controlled by the movable 'bell of the gas

page_text: holder, may be each provided with a cock so that any one of the gas generators can
be put in or out of connection with the water vessel at will to suit varying
requirements.
Some of our improvements may be employed without the others.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said 5
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. Our improved apparatus for generating and storing acetylene gas substantially
as herein described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2. In apparatus of the kind referred to the herein described means for preventing 1
or lessening the hydration of the column of carbide in the vessel D.
Dated this 28th day of April 1897.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
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