Improvements in and in connection with the Manufacture of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
We, MARY DAVOREN, Shopkeeper, Jox PETER BELTON, Ironmonger, and
JOSEPH DAVOREN, Ironmonger, all of 6, Tullow Street, Carlow, in the County of
Carlow, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in and in connection with the manufacture of
illuminating gas has for its object to provide a process and apparatus for the
economical production of brilliant illuminating gas applicable for either large or
small installations, and consists in the production of acetylene by the action of
pure water on calcium carbide. The gas thus formed is carried in ordinary fittings
and burnt by means of suitable burners in the same fittings as are at present in
use for coal gas.
According to this invention a gas holder constructed with open bottom in the
ordinary manner is immersed in a tank filled with water so as to form a hydraulic
seal to prevent the escape of gas. From the top of the said holder depends a hollow
cylindrical vessel with closed bottom end but open at its upper end and provided
with a wire or other basket for containing the calcium carbide. The bottom of
the containing vessel is connected to the inside of the holder by means of a cock
which is manipulated from the outside so that water may be admitted to the calcium
carbide as desired, while the upper part of the said vessel is connected through a
cock to the upper part of the gas holder which is provided with suitable guides
and counterweights.
The containing vessel having been duly charged with calcium carbide and closed
to the atmosphere, water is admitted, when acetylene gas is generated and con-
veyed to the gas holder, whence it is carried by an outlet pipe to the lower part
of a purifier comprising a tank or vessel filled with oxide of iron through which
the gas passes to the outlet or supply pipe.
The purifier consists preferably of a vessel having a horizontal perforated
partition on which the oxide of iron rests, the sides forming an open water jacket
or channel into which the vertical sides of the cover, suitably weighted, dip,
so as to form a waterseal. It will thus be seen that the gas enters the purifier
beneath the perforated partition, passes through the oxide of iron to the upper part
of the vessel and thence through the outlet or supply pipe.
In order to avoid stoppages in the working of the acetylene generating
apparatus when replenishing the calcium carbide containing vessel two or more
sets of apparatus may be employed and connected to the purifier in rotation.
Dated this 1st day of July 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and in connection with the Manufacture of
Acetylene Gas.
We, MARY DAVOREN, Shopkeeper, JOHN PETER BELTON, Ironmonger, and
JOSEPH DAVOREN, Ironmonger, all of 6, Tullow Street, Carlow, in the County of
Carlow, Ireland, 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 for improvements in and in connection with the manufacture of
acetylene gas has for its object to provide a process and apparatus for the
economical production of brilliant illuminating gas applicable for either large or
small installations, and consists in the production of acetylene by the action of
pure water on calcium carbide. The gas thus formed is carried in ordinary fittings
and burnt by means of suitable burners in the same fittings as are at present in
use for coal gas.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings Fig. 1 represents a sectional eleva-
tion of an apparatus suitable for the manufacture of illuminating gas according
to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the
gasholder and showing a modified construction of generating chamber.
Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a gasholder a constructed with open bottom
in the ordinary manner is immersed in a tank filled with water so as to form
a hydraulic seal to prevent the escape of gas. From the top of the said holder
depends a hollow cylindrical vessel e with closed bottom end but open at its upper
end and provided with a wire or other basket d for containing the calcium
carbide. The bottom of the containing or generating vessel e may be caused
to communicate with the inside of the holder a by means of a cock e which is
manipulated from the outside by means of a handle f connected thereto by the
spindle passing through the stuffing box on the holder a so that water may
be admitted to the calcium carbide as desired, while the upper part of the said
vessel is connected through a cock el (secured in the cover of the gasholder and
manipulated from the outside of the same) to the upper part of the gasholder.
The carbide containing vessel is secured to a flanged ring i, itself secured
to the top of the holder, and terminates upwardly in a flange 1, the joint between
it and the cover plate m being formed by a rubber ring n.
The said cover
plate m is held firmly in position by the screw o passing through
the yoke whose ends are held by the studs g all as clearly shown.
In order to exclude air from the upper part of the vessel c as much as
possible, a displacing plug r, which may be of any suitable material, is inserted
after each recharging operation. Supposing water to have been admitted to the
chamber and the cocks e e immediately closed, gas might be generated of suffi-
cient pressure to endanger the safety of the apparatus. To obviate this danger a
safety pipes is led out from the upper part of the gas generating
vessel to a higher point that the highest water level in the gas-
holder, thence to the bottom of the gasholder and returned upwardly into the
position shown. It will be readily understood that under normal pressures water
will remain in the leg s, the arms acting as a seal; but that under any consider-
able increase of pressure the water will be forced out of legs permitting the gas
to escape through s into the gasholder. On the reduction of the gas pressure the
seal is again effected, the safety pipe being again automatically refilled on the
fall of the gasholder.
In the event of the gas cock c¹ being shut off, while the cock is left open, the

page_text: water is forced out of the generator by the gas within it, through the cock e,
thus preventing the further generation of any appreciable quantity of gas until
the cock el is again opened.
An air vessel t is secured to the holder by bars, its buoyancy serving to counter-
balance the weight of the fittings in the holder and to reduce the pressure of the
gas.
Counterweights w are also provided connected by cords or chains passing
over pulleys and being connected to guide plates secured to the holder a and
sliding along guides a secured to the tank as shown. The gas is conveyed from
the holder a to a purifier and condenser 1 through the pipe c.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The generating vessel having
been duly charged with calcium carbide and closed to the atmosphere, water is
admitted through the cock e when acetylene gas is generated and conveyed to the
gasholder through the pipe e and cock e whence it is carried by the outlet pipe cl
to the lower part of a purifier and condenser band from thence through a supply
pipe ready for distribution and consumption.
In order to avoid stoppages in the working of the acetylene generating apparatus
when replenishing the calcium carbide containing vessel, two or more sets of
apparatus may be employed and connected to the purifier in rotation.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the generator c is surrounded by an annular
water jacket f open to the atmosphere at its upper part and having its shell g
securely joined to or forming part with the top of the gas holder a, and into the
said water jacket the cylindrical shell ', forming part with the generator cover
dips, thereby forming a gas tight water seal joint. The cover is held in its closed
position by lugs or catches m' secured to the cover and which engage with the
hooked heads of studs secured in the holder, while a cock o¹ is provided to
permit of the egress or ingress of air when closing or removing the cover
cock e¹ is connected to the interior of the generator by the chamber p¹ and pipe ct.
The object of the chamber 21 is to collect the water formed from condensed vapour
in the pipes e which water is drained off at intervals through pipe e which
passes through the side of the holder a and is sealed by the cap r².
The
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. An acetylene gas generating apparatus comprising a calcium carbide con-
taining vessel secured to a gasholder and provided with water inlet and gas outlet
controlled by cocks, and a safety pipe the whole arranged substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.
2. An apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating gas comprising a gas-
holder, an acetylene gas generator secured to the gasholder, means for counter-
balancing the weight and controlling the pressure of the gas and means for
delivering the gas collected in the holder, the whole arranged constructed and
operating substantially as described and shown.
Tatal th: 50th ton of tabo 1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.