Improvements in the Treatment of Calcium Carbide, whereby the Conversion of same into Acetylene Gas may be retarded without the Aid of any Mechanical Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1898-Accepted; 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Calcium Carbide, whereby the
Conversion of same into Acetylene Gas may be retarded without
the Aid of any Mechanical Devices.
I, GUSTAF DILLBERG, of 77, Elizabeth Street, Sydney, New South Wales,
Electrician, 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 to utilize calcium carbide for illuminating pur-
poses, without the aid of any specially constructed generator.
It is well known that calcium carbide in contact with water generates a com-
bustible gas known as acetylene, of intense brilliancy. The rapid conversion of
calcium carbide into gaseous form has hitherto necessitated specially constructed
generators with controlling devices, whereby the water contact may be regulated
to suit circumstances, by automatically or otherwise raising the calcium carbide
out of the water by means of the rising gas holder in which the gas is collected, or
by depriving the calcium carbide of the water contact, or by feeding the water in
minute quantities upon the calcium carbide. All these various methods mean
more or less complicated mechanism, which necessarily must be more or less
unsatisfactory, as any mechanism is liable to become deranged, as well as require
considerable care and attention, besides entailing complication.
The aim of this invention is to dispense with any mechanical contrivance for this
purpose, and to use the calcium carbide in its most simple and effective form,
viz., by simply immersing it in water contained in any sort of receptacle, such as
the oil-holder of an ordinary kerosene lamp, a bottle or jar made of china, glass
or metal, or any other receptacle which may be preferred.
gas
When calcium carbide in its natural state comes in contact with water, is
rapidly evolved, so much so that controlling devices are indispensable.
Instead of using mechanical devices for this purpose, I effect the same result
by causing the calcium carbide admixture (hereinafter described) to retard the
liberation of the gas. Such retardation is effected by the introduction of a foreign
ingredient or ingredients into the calcium carbide.
To make such an admixture efficient, it is necessary that it be intimately combined
with the calcium carbide; this combination is accomplished by introducing evenly
the foreign substance amongst the particles of which the solid calcium carbide is
composed, an operation which necessitates bringing the solid calcium carbide into
granulated or powdered form. To satisfactorily accomplish this object, it is
essential that minute portions of the foreign substance be interposed between.
the carbide particles. This foreign substance must of necessity be of a more cr
less adhesive nature, either in its normal state or when heated or liquefied, so that
when all the ingredients are intimately mixed, a plastic composition of even and
semi-solid consistency is obtained. This plastic composition if left for a time,
solidifies, but before such solidification occurs I place it in a mould and exert upon
it considerable pressure, whereby it is moulded into a cake of smooth and glossy
appearance, and of great hardness and even consistency.

page_text: Though I have found many substances effecting this purpose with a more or less
good result, either singly or combined, I prefer a mixture of napthalene and resin,
the proportions of same depend upon the quality of the ingredients employed as
well as upon the size and number of burners used and pressure of gas required.
Where a burner consuming say a quarter of a foot of acetylene gas per hour is
used, the proportions of the mixture is approximately 10 napthalene, 3 resin, and
45 of calcium carbide.
To obtain the ultimate mixture, the napthalene and resin are reduced to a liquid
form by heat, into which liquid the crushed carbide is stirred until the composition
attains a semi-solid consistency, when it is placed in a mould and compressed as
above referred to, the result being a hard cake of smooth and glossy appearance
and of even consistency.
When removed from the mould it is ready for use and may be dropped into any
receptacle containing water. The only essential feature with such a receptacle
being, that it must be furnished with a tight-fitting cork or stopper, supplied with
a hole to hold either a burner direct or a pipe communicating with a burner or
burners.
The pressure inside such a receptacle when in use may be made very slight, and
the most delicate glass vessel may be employed without any fear of bursting,
as the gas generated is in proportion to that consumed regulated by the retarding
mixture.
I wish it understood that I do not claim an admixture of foreign ingredients to
prevent deterioration, but to retard the generation of acetylene gas..
+
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;-
Granulated calcium carbide in combination with an admixture of one or more
foreign ingredients of adhesive propensity, either when in their normal condition
or when heated or otherwise rendered liquid, which mixture is to be moulded and
compressed into a solid cake, and when used to be totally immersed in water, for
the purpose of generating acetylene gas in proportion to the retarding quality and
quantity of the retarding admixture, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1898.
GUSTAF DILLBERG.