Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Generating Acetylene
Gas.
I, ANDERS EDWARD ADOLFSSON, of Handtverkaregatan, 31A, Stockholm, Sweden,
Mechanical 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 invention relates to acetylene-apparatus, and has for its object, partly to
prevent the outer air from entering the gas-generator when water is being changed,
whereby an explosive mixture of gases otherwise might be formed; and partly to
prevent the gas contained in the gasometer, on such occasions as when the pressure
in the generator is equal to the atmospheric pressure (as for instance when carbide
is being filled in), from flowing back to the generator whence it would be
liable to flow out into the open air. The device consists principally in a pipe
connection combined with a water-seal firstly between the water-space of the
generator and the open air, secondly between the gas-space of the generator and
the water-space of the gasometer, and thirdly between the water-space of the
generator and the gas-space of the gasometer.
The accompanying drawing illustrates diagramatically an acetylene-apparatus
constructed in accordance with the present invention together with the gasometer
belonging to it.
The generator is connected with a partially water-filled chamber a located
either outside or inside of the generator. In this chamber terminate below the
surface of the water a water supply-pipe f, communicating with the outer air, and
another pipe e leading to the gas-space of the gasometer c, as well as a third
pipe communicating with the open air, which latter pipe, however; may con-
stitute a branch of the water supply-pipe f. The gas-space of the generator is,
moreover, in communication with the water-space of the gasometer by means of a
pipe & the end of which inside of the gasometer is bent in the shape of a siphon.
Finally, the gas-space of the gasometer communicates by means of a pipe k
(which, as shown in the drawing, may branch off from pipe e) with the place
where the gas is to be consumed. m is the bottom of the generator and n a pipo
for removing the lime deposited in said generator.
During the working of the apparatus the pressure in the generator 6 exceeds
that in the gasometer, and as a result columns of water are forced up to corre-
sponding heights in pipes f, e and preventing the escape of gas through these
passages; the gas is thus caused to pass through the pipe d and forcing out the
water-column in the end of said pipe discharges into the gasometer c.
If it is desired to draw off the water from the generator to replace it with fresh
water, the cock in pipe n is opened and the water flows out through said pipe.
The pipe n should be arranged in such a manner that it will not empty out all
the water from the generator but leave a sufficient quantity of water always in the
pipe, shutting off communication this way between the interior of the generator
and the open air and preventing the entrance of the latter into the generator when
drawing off the water. During this operation the pressure in the generator is
evidently diminished so as to fall below that in the gasometer, and as a result a
water-column is forced up in the bent end of pipe , preventing the gas in the
gasometer from passing this way back into the generator. On the other hand, the
gas in the gasometer forces out the water in the end of pipe e which is below

page_text: the surface of the water in the chamber a, thus admitting gas this way, from the
gasometer into the generator and equalizing the pressure as the water is drawn
off. Owing to the fact that both pipes f and are in communication with the open
i
air at their upper ends and that the pressure in the gasometer exceeds the atmos-
pheric pressure, a water-column is forced up in these pipes which prevents air
entering the generator (under the supposition, of course, that the supply of gas
from the gasometer is sufficient to equalize the reduced pressure in the generator,
due to the drawing-off of water). When water is subsequently to be added, the
cock in the pipe n is closed and water is admitted through f and gradually dis-
places the gas which is forced back to the gasometer c through pipe d, since it
cannot escape through pipes e, f, owing to the column of water contained therein.
When the water has risen to the required level in the generator b, the water-
column in pipe 7 will likewise have risen somewhat higher, and the length of
pipe should therefore be such that the water flows out of this pipe as soon as a
sufficient quantity of water has been added to cause the water-level of the generator
to rise above the normal one, the pipe 7 thus forming a means for controlling the
proper water supply. The pipe may of course be dispensed with should such
control not be desired. When in supplying carbide to the generator the pressure
in the latter falls to that of the atmosphere, the gas is prevented by the device
in question from entering from the gasometer c into the generator (and passing
from the latter into the open air), because in that case it would have to take the
course through pipe e one end of which dips in the water of chamber a, thus
shutting off the passage. With the pressures usually prevailing in the gasometer c
the gas cannot force out this column of water in the end of the pipe, when the
pressure in the generator equals that of the atmosphere, but in the case of greater
differences of pressure-which, however, occur only when water is drawn out of
the generator it is possible, as above mentioned, for the gas to enter this way
into the generator where the pressure is then less than that of the atmosphere.
The pipe n may if desired be arranged as shown in dotted lines in the accom-
panying drawing.
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. In acetylene-gas-generating apparatus in which the carbide is intermittently
fed into water, a device for preventing the entrance of air into the generator when
changing water, and the entrance of gas into the same generator from the
gasometer when filling in carbide, comprising firstly a water-chamber (a) com-
municating with the generator, secondly a water-supply-pipe (f) terminating below
the water-surface in said chamber, thirdly a pipe (e) likewise terminating with one
end below the aforesaid surface while its other end communicates with the gas-
space of the gasometer (c), fourthly a pipe (d) leading from the gas-space of the
generator and terminating in the water space of the gasometer by means of its
siphon-shaped end, and fifthly a pipe (») for drawing off water from the generator,
said pipe being so arranged that, in tapping, a small quantity of water will always
be left in it, which prevents the entrance of air this way into the apparatus.
2. In combination with the water chamber (a) and the pipes (f, e) com-
municating with said chamber, a pipe (7) communicating with the open air and
terminating below the surface of water in said chamber for controlling the proper
supply of water to the generator in filling it.
Dated this 26th day of September 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.