An Improved Automatic Generator and Storage Vessel. for Acetylene Gas
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1899
Complete Specification: Left, 6th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHANNES ZODERRUTILER, OL 110,00, pranaus
Road, Bombay, India, Engineer.]
An Improved Automatic Generator and Storage Vessel. for Acetylene
Gas,
I, HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY, of No. 9, New Broad Street, in the City and
County of London, Chemical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved automatic generator and storage vessel
for acetylene gas.
The apparatus is designed for the production of acetylene gas by the decom-
position of calcium carbide by means of water and is of that general type, in
which the water is allowed to fall in small quantities upon a quantity of the
carbide.
In carrying the invention into effect a metal apparatus preferably of rectangular
shape is made use of.
This apparatus consists essentially of four chambers, namely a gas generating
chamber, a central water chamber, a second water chamber surrounding the central
chamber, and finally an annular upper chamber situated within the foregoing
and communicating therewith as hereinafter set forth.
The calcium carbide is placed in a vessel or trough which is conveniently of
cylindrical shape and which fits as closely as may be into the first chamber
aforesaid which in this case is also cylindrical and is placed close to the bottom
of the apparatus, but preferably in such a position that the carbide vessel is
water-jacketed on all sides.
At the point where the carbide vessel intersects the middle line of the generating
vessel, an aperture is cut in the said vessel which aperture corresponds to the
conical outlet of the second chamber aforesaid which is placed immediately
above it. The. said conical outlet is closed by a screw-plug or the like which
is conveniently attached to a vertical rod passing upwards to the top of the
apparatus, and supported in a matrix at the top of the apparatus and connected
on the outside with a handle or the like, whereby the plug can be raised or lowered
at will
The chamber described as the third in the foregoing description communicates
with the space immediately beneath the central water chamber by means of a
tube passing upwards from the top of the said third chamber to the highest
water level in the apparatus, and then downwards to the space in, which the
carbide holder is placed.
The said third chamber communicates with the annular fourth chamber by
means of a tube passing from the bottom of the. third chamber upwards into. the
bottom of the fourth chamber. The said fourth chamber has, moreover, one or
more tubes from its top part communicating with the interior of the apparatus.
The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows:-

page_text: The aforesaid second and third chambers having been filled with water (the
plug valve being screwed down tight) a screw plug is removed from the end of
the lowermost or carbide chamber and the trough containing the carbide is
inserted therein, and the orifice hermetically closed by the said screw plug. The
valve is then lifted until water. can drip through the aperture in the carbide
trough upon the surface of the material therein. Immediately acetylene gas is
liberated which passes upwards through the horseshoe tube aforesaid and enters
the top of the third vessel, which at this period is quite full of water. The gas
displaces the water which is forced thereby to ascend the tube from the bottom
of the third chamber into the annular fourth chamber above it. The gas is
consequently under increasing pressure as the water is displaced.
If there is such an evolution of gas that the chamber becomes full, it follows the
course of the water and passes likewise up the tube into the fourth chainber
from which it escapes through the tube or tubes at the top thereof into the top
of the outer casing of the generator, and thus escapes into the atmosphere through
the special valve or burner provided for the purpose.
If, however, the apparatus is working normally, that is to say, the production
of acetylene gas is approximately equal to its consumption. the gas passes upwards
through an exit tube connected to the burners or gasometer, or other consuming
or storage arrangement.
Suitable apertures are provided for access to the interior of the generator for
purposes of cleaning and the like.
The following advantages are obtained by the use of this improved apparatus;
1. Simplicity and ease of construction.
2. The apparatus is portable and self-contained.
3. Gas is generated freely and regularly even if the apparatus is exposed to
shocks, and it is therefore particularly suitable for lighting carriages, tramways,
railway carriages, bicycles, and the like, as well as for general purposes.
4. If for a time more gas is generated than what is consumed, or if the gas
outlet is closed and there is still a quantity of gas generated, the whole or the
greater portion of this gas is stored up within the apparatus.
5. The gas is separated from the outside air by a fixed quantity of water
contained in the apparatus, by which also the gas pressure inside the apparatus
is limited. A dangerous pressure of gas from within the apparatus is therefore
not possible to occur, and the means provided whereby an excess of gas can
escape, are simple and safe.
6. Air spaces, where, after starting the apparatus, the air can mix with
the gas and thereby form an explosive mixture, are reduced to a minimum.
7. The inflow of water into the carbide container can be casily and accurately
regulated from outside the apparatus. But should the valve for the water into
the carbide container be left open after closing the gas outlet, or have been opened
too far, and the gas pressure rise within the apparatus, this gas pressure will soon
neutralise the pressure of the water, and no more water will enter into the
carbide container until the gas pressure has been reduced again by drawing off
a quantity of gas. Independent from outside adjustment at the discretion of
the user of the apparatus. the apparatus therefore regulates itself and it auto-
matically generates gas quickly or slowly, in exact proportion to the quantity
consumed.
8. The heat evolved in generating acetylene gas from the carbide, is absorbed
or much reduced by the quantity of water which always surrounds the gas generat-
ing chamber and the gas is further cooled in the conducting pipes within the
apparatus, which are surrounded by water, and also by coming into direct contact
with water.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Generator and Storage Vessel for Acetylene
Gas,
I, HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY, of No. 9, New Broad Street, in the City and
County of London, Chemical 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 an improved automatic generator and storage vessel
for acetylene gas.
The apparatus is designed for the production of acetylene gas by the decom-
position of calcium carbide by means of water and is of that general type in
which the water is allowed to fall in small quantities upon a quantity of the
carbide.
In carrying the invention into effect a metal apparatus preferably of rectangular
shape is made use of..
Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates diagrammatically
a vertical section of the apparatus, the same consists essentially of four chambers,
namely a gas generating chamber A, a central water chamber B, a second water
chamber C surrounding the central chamber, and finally an annular upper
chamber D situated within the foregoing and communicating therewith. as herein.
after set forth.
The calcium carbide is placed in a vessel or trough a which is conveniently
of cylindrical shape and which fits as closely as may be into the chamber A
aforesaid which in this case is also cylindrical, and is placed close to the bottom
of the apparatus, but preferably in such a position that the carbide vessel is
water-jacketed on all sides.
At the point where the carbide vessel intersects the middle line of the generating
vessel, an aperture a is cut in the said vessel which aperture corresponds to the
conical outlet of the chamber B aforesaid which is placed immediately above
it. The said conical outlet is closed by a screw-plug or the like which is con-
veniently attached to a vertical rod a passing upwards to the top of the apparatus,.
and supported in a matrix at the top of the apparatus and connected on. the
outside with a handle e or the like, whereby the plug e can be raised or lowered
at will.
The chamber C communicates with the space immediately beneath the central
water chamber B by means of a tube g passing upwards from the top of the said
chamber C to the highest water level in the apparatus, and then downwards to
the space A in which the carbide holder a is placed.
The said chamber C communicates with the annular fourth chamber D by
means of a tube. passing from the bottom of the third chamber upwards into.
the bottom of the fourth chamber. The said fourth chamber has, moreover, one
or more tubes from its top part communicating with the chamber B.
The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows:-
The chambers B and C having been filled with water (tlie plug valve e being
screwed down tight) the screw cover is removed from the end of the carbide
chamber A and the trough a containing the carbide is inserted therein, and the
orifice hermetically closed by the said screw covert. The valve cis then lifted until
water can drip through the aperture a¹ in the carbide trough. upon the surface
of the material therein. Immediately acetylene gas is liberated which passes
upwards through the horseshoe tube g aforesaid and enters the top of the vessel.C,
which at this period is quite full of water. The gas displaces the water which
is forced thereby to ascend the tube from the bottom of the chamber C into the

page_text: annular fourth chamber D. The gas is consequently under increasing pressure as
the water is displaced.
If there is such an evolution of gas that the chamber C.becomes full, it follows
the course of the water and passes likewise up the tube i into the fourth chamber D
from which it escapes through the tube or tubes at the top thereof into the top
of the outer casing of the generator, and thus escapes into the atmosphere through
the special valve or burner provided for the purpose.
If, however, the apparatus is working normally, that is to say, the production
of acetylene gas is approximately equal to its consumption, the gas passes upwards
through the exit tube h connected to the burners or gasometers, or other consum-
ing or storage arrangement.
Suitable apertures such as m are provided for access to the interior of the
generator for purposes of cleaning and the like.
The following advantages are obtained by the use of this improved apparatus;
1. Simplicity and ease of construction.
2. The apparatus is portable and self-contained.
3. Gas is generated freely and regularly even if the apparatus is exposed to
shocks, and it is therefore particularly suitable for lighting carriages, tramways,
railway carriages, bicycles, and the like, as well as for general purposes.
4. If for a time more gas is generated than what is consumed, or if the gas
outlet is closed and there is still a quantity of gas generated, the whole or the
greater portion of this gas-is stored up within the apparatus.
5. The gas is separated from the outside air by a fixed quantity of water
contained in the apparatus, by which also the gas pressure inside the apparatus
is limited. A dangerous pressure of gas from within the apparatus is therefore
not possible to occur, and the means provided whereby an excess of gas can
escape, are simple and safe.
G. Air spaces, where, after starting the apparatus, the air can mix with
the gas and thereby form an explosive mixture, are reduced to a minimuni.
7. The inflow of water into the carbide container can be easily and accurately
regulated from outside the apparatus. But should the valve for the water into
the carbide container be left oven after closing the gas outlet, or have been opened
too far. and the gas pressure rise within the apparatus, this gas pressure will soon
neutralise the pressure of the water, and no more water will enter into the
carbide container until the gas pressure has been reduced again by drawing off
a quantity of gas. Independent from outside adjustment at the discretion of
the user of the apparatus. the apparatus-therefore. regulates itself and-it auto-
matically generates gas quickly or slowly, in exact proportion to the quantity
consumed.
8: The heat evolved in generating acetylene gas from the carbide, is absorbed
or much reduced by the quantity of water which always surrounds the gas generat-
ing chamber and the gas is further cooled in the conducting pipes within the
apparatus, which are surrounded by water, and also by coming into direct contact
with water..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
-
The improved acetylene gas generator constructed and operating substantially
as described and slown
day of April 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.