Improvements in Generators for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1900-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Generators for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, ANTOINE LAURENT KIENY, of 18, Cours Ragot, St. Denis, Seine, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for the production or
generation of acetylene gas, comprising an arrangement for the regulation of
the admission of feed water in accordance with the requirements of the con-
sumption, and of an arrangement admitting of the recharging of the carbide
being effected whilst the apparatus is in operation, without loss of gas.
The apparatus comprises a reservoir divided by a partition into two compart-
ments. These two compartments which are open at their upper ends are covered
by a single lid or cover so as to form a gas tight joint. In one of the two above
mentioned compartments is arranged a tube fixed to the said lid or cover. This
tube is open at its lower extremity during the normal operation of the apparatus,
and it contains a receiver or carbide holder having at its upper end apertures
for the passage or escape of the gas produced. The above mentioned tube can
be closed when it is desired to replace the receiver or carbide holder during the
operation of the apparatus, by a bottom, or door which is connected on the one
side by a hinge to the lower edge of the tube, and which has on the other side a
double branched lug or fork piece in which is mounted a nut in which is
threaded a screw-threaded spindle which extends through a stuffing box and
can be operated from the exterior of the apparatus. The cover or door of the
tube has an aperture for admitting the feed water which communicates with a
water tank or reservoir as will be set forth in the course of the present descrip-
tion.
The gas produced in the first compartment is delivered into the other com-
partment through a tube which is continued or prolonged by another tube dip-
ping into the water contained in this latter compartment. This latter tube is
provided with apertures or perforations and is filled with cotton, saw dust, and
with wood charcoal pounded or broken, the gas escaping therefrom in thin
threads and traversing the water of the said compartment before escaping or
being delivered through a suitable tube to be led to the supply main for con-
sumption.
Upon the common cover or lid of the two compartments are fixed supports
carringing a water tank or reservoir, which, is closed all round and is provided
with a charging orifice capable of being closed by a cork or stopper, and is in
communication through a tube governed by a stop cock or valve with the second
compartment, so as to establish an equilibrium of pressure in the said water
reservoir or tank and admit of the discharge of the said water taking place
therefrom. This discharge is effected by means of a tube led to the cover of the
tube containing the receiver or holder for the carbide, Two stop cocks or valves

page_text: are mounted on this tube, the first is automatically operated by a regulator
which will be hereinafter described, and the other is a stop cock or valve allow-
ing of the discharge being absolutely checked or cut off.
Upon the cover or lid of the compartments, above the washing compartment
is arranged a stop cock or valve upon which is fixed the regulator for the dis-
tribution of the water. This latter has a bottom having a central guide hole
or perforation through which passes a stem or rod, and holes or apertures for
the admission of the gas coming from the washing compartment. This stem or
rod supports through the medium of a washer, a piece of pliable material or
diaphragm sustaining (indiarubber, indiarubber covering cloth, bladder) con-
nected to a circular extension on the said bottom, a washer placed on the pliable
material or diaphragm sustaining or supporting an upper stem or rod which
latter is jointed to a connecting rod operating the regulating cock or valve
placed in the water conduit up above the cock or valve for the absolute cutting
off of the supply; a spring surrounding the said upper stem or rod tends to
bring back the pliable material or diaphragm towards the bottom or down-
wards. When the pressure exerted upon the said pliable material or diaphragm
attains a certain value, the upper stem or rod, rising, closes the water admission
and arrests the production of gas.
Dated this 24th day of Navambor 1000
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, W., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Generators for the Production of Acetylene Gas.
I, ANTOINE LAURENT KIENY, of 18, Cours Ragot, St. Denis, France, Manu-
facturer, 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:-
The object of this invention is an apparatus for the production of acetylene
gas with automatic water-supply and capable of being fed with calcium-carbide
while in operation.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same;
The apparatus comprises a reservoir with two lateral compartments, or two
reservoirs joined together, a and a¹.
The reservoir or compartment a serves for generating the gas and a¹ for
cleansing the gas. The latter compartment also serves to contain the necessary
reserve of gas to maintain a pressure giving steady supply. Both compartments,
or reservoirs, a and a¹ are closed at the top by the cover c, which is held in
position by bolts, or screws. This cover receives the shut-off or closing tube d,
which is secured to it by a nut e.
The tube is provided, at its lower end with a hinge, serving to fix the
bottom cover in position. The latter is, itself, provided with a fork-rod in
which slides a pivot-nut receiving a screw g¹, held underneath the cover
a gland h.
by
The screw ghas, at its top, a square for the purpose of fixing a hand-wheel,
in order to permit shutting off at the bottom f; an india-rubber joint ring on
the tube d, at the joint, prevents any leakage when the bottom is closed.
This system of closing allows of the apparatus being loaded, or fed, while in
operation, as the closing bottom f being in contact with the tube and perfectly

page_text: secured against leakage, the carbide can be put into the apparatus at any time,
without fear of an explosion.
The closing tube receives the carbide-holder j, which is perforated in its
upper part, the gas passing out through the holes k; it receives a central tube,
on which are fixed three or four rings serving as supports.
The carbide being laid on the bottom of the holder, and on the washer sup-
ports, the water passes through the central tube, enters at the bottom and
attacks the carbide from below, leaving the upper part intact.
If it is desired to attack the carbide in a direct manner, the central tube
must be omitted (as in the accompanying drawing) and in this case a hole is
made in the centre of the carbide-holder to let the water escape.
The carbide-holder being placed in position, it is closed at the top by the
cover, which is securely fastened by 2 or 3 eye-bolts, tightened by means of
winged nuts 13. This cover is provided with a hole m to admit water through
the tube n, fastened thereto by a socket 1.
The reservoir or compartment a¹, in which is stored a certain quantity of
water, is provided at its lower part with a cleansing tube 61, which is provided
with several small holes and filled with cotton, wood-shavings, or coal-dust.
The gas, passing through this tube, becomes divided by the obstacles it encounters
therein and consequently passes through the water in this divided state, freeing
itself entirely of any lime dust, or impurities.
The reservoir, or compartment, a¹ is closed at the top by the cover c, on which
are placed the pillars supporting the water-tank 0. This tank is provided, at
its upper part, with a boss o¹, intended to receive the socket of a tube p,
mounted on a cock s, to admit the gas. The object of this device is, whilst
equalising the pressure in the water tank, to allow the water to flow from the
latter into the carbide-holder; an opening for the admission of water, and pro-
vided with a stopper, or cork, is provided on one side of the tank and a water-
level tube o shews if there is a deficiency of water. The lower part of the tank
is provided with a double cock g, the upper cock receiving the connecting rod r,
the lower one serving to completely shut off the water. The tube n for admitting
water is fixed underneath this last-mentioned cock.
Another
Over the cock is fixed the water distributor u. This distributor consists
of a bottom cover having in its centre, a guide-hole, around which are several
holes serving to admit the gas, and a lower rod, on which is a disk supporting
a piece of supple skin, bladder-membrane india-rubber, or the like v.
disk, above this, keeps the whole in position, being pressed by the upper rod.
The skin, membrane or india-rubber is fastened on the upper circumference
of the bottom cover and thus serves as a floating regulator valve. A spring u¹
wound round the upper rod and bearing on the central disk of this regulator,
gives the requisite tension and helps to lower the said regulator.
On the bottom cover is screwed the casing of the regulator:-this casing has,
in the centre, a guide-hole for the upper rod, in the top part of which is fixed
the pivot support, working in the fork of a connecting-rod r. Instead of this
pivot-support, a cheek may be provided in which the connecting rod r would
be held by means of a bolt-pin.
The lower rod may be provided, in its lower extremity, with an iron. disk
supporting a joint-ring held by means of a screw; this joint ring is intended
to close the holes by which the gas enters under the float, in case of a sudden
cessation of lighting or heating being required; the object of this arrangement
is to relieve the supple skin, india-rubber or other material from too much
usage.
The opening is intended to receive the tap through which the gas passes
out; the piping, which conveys the gas to where it is to be used, is joined to
this tap.
The reservoirs or compartments a, a¹, communicate with each other by means
of the tube b (Fig. 2).

page_text: WORKING OF THE APPARATUS
The apparatus being loaded, all the taps must be opened, except that one
which completely shuts off the water.
To set the apparatus going, open this tap; the water descends through the
tube n, meets the carbide, and acetylene-gas is thereupon generated.
The gas passes through tubes and ¹, entering the compartment a¹; the
pressure of gas acts on the float-valve, or regulating piston, and causes it to
ascend; this movement actuates the connecting-rod r, which gradually closes
the tap through which the water enters; the gas production being diminished,
the pressure also decreases and the float-valve, or regulating piston, descends
again of itself and, acting in a contrary direction on the connecting-rod r,
re-admits the water. This alternate action goes on, in accordance with the
production required, until the carbide is exhausted.
METHOD OF LOADING THE APPARATUS DURING OPERATION.
Close the stop-cock to shut off the water completely; bring the closing
bottom into contact with the closing tube d, by means of the screw g¹; then
unfasten the joint of the tube n, through which the water enters and place it
against one or other of the pillars supporting the water tank, unscrew the nuts
holding the cover 7; remove the latter and then withdraw the carbide holder j.
Put another holder, previously filled, in the place of the one taken out, and
then replace the cover 7, the pipe n, and all the parts, in their operative position,
after which re-open the bottom cover f.
To fill the water-tank o, close the cocks and the cock for stopping the supply
of water, unscrew the stopper, which closes the orifice, through which water
is poured into the tank. Fill the tank, screw the stopper again in its place,
open the cock s and the cock for stopping the water supply. The apparatus
will then immediately commence to operate.
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 acetylene-gas producing apparatus, distinguished by having a reservoir
provided with a lid or cover, the said reservoir being divided into two compart-
ments in one of which is generated the gas which is washed in the other com-
partment, the latter serving to store the gas under a certain pressure necessary
to maintain the supply to the burners, the said apparatus being also distin-
guished by a water-tank for feeding water to the generator; by a device regulat-
ing the supply of the said water, this regulator being actuated by the pressure
of the gas in the washing compartment, so as to open, more or less. the cock
admitting water to the generator, according to the consumption; by a hermetical-
closing device, cutting off all communication between the generator and the
remainder of the apparatus, for the purpose of re-charging the generator, by
taking out the empty carbide-holder and inserting a filled one in its place,
substantially as shewn and described.
2. In the acetylene-gas generator, claimed under No. 1, the arrangement
in compartment a of the above described reservoir, of a tube connected to the
cover of the reservoir and opened at its lower extremity, when the apparatus
is in operation; of a carbide-holder j, placed inside the said tube, having in its
upper part a series of openings for the gas to pass into compartment a; of a
cover capable of hermetically closing the tube d, by means of an india-rubber
ring, this cover being on one side, hinged to the said tube and supporting on
the other side a forked rod in which slides a pivot nut receiving a screw worked
by a hand-wheel, on the outside of the apparatus, for closing the tube d, with
the object of removing the exhausted carbide-holder and inserting a filled one
in its place, without loss of gas, as described and shewn.

page_text: 3. In the acetylene gas generator claimed under No. 1, the arrangement, in
the above-named compartment a, of a tube immersed in the water contained
in the said compartment, this tube being perforated with several holes, and
being filled with hydrophile cotton, wood-shavings or coal dust and receiving
the gas through a tube b, as it comes from the compartment a in which the gas
is generated, the gas passing through the water contained in compartment a¹
and thence through the piping a to the gas-burners, as shewn and described.
4. In the gas generator claimed under No. 1, the arrangement of a water-
tank o, placed in the upper part of the apparatus and communicating, through
a tube n, with the carbide-holder j, by means of two cocks joined together, q,
the upper one being operated by the device for regulating the supply of water,
and the lower one affording means for completely shutting off the water supply,
the water tank being provided with a tube communicating, by means of a tap
or cock s, with the cleansing compartment a', to establish an equilibrium of
pressure in the said water-tank and allow the water to flow into the generator,
as shewn and described.
5. In the gas-generator claimed under No. 1, a device for feeding the water
to the calcium carbide, distinguished by a bottom cover placed in the centre of
a guide-hole, around which are several holes serving for the admission of gas;
by a lower rod, on which rests a disk supporting a piece of supple-skin, bladder-
membrane, waterproofed tissue, or india-rubber v, a disk serving to keep the
whole pressed tight by an upper rod, the said skin, membrane, tissue or india-
rubber being secured to the upper rim of the above named bottom cover and acting
as a regulating float-valve, to operate the said upper rod, which is joined to a
connecting rod in connection with the key of the cock, which admits water to
the generator, a spring surrounding the said rod and resting on the above-
mentioned disk providing the desired tension and tending to lower the said
regulating rod, the whole substantially as described and as shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of Sontember 1900
A. L. KIENY.
By his Agents,
Charles Bauer, Imrie & Co.,
The City Patent Office, 72, Cannon Street, London, E.C.