Year: 1898

page_text: I, EVAN EVANS, of No. 45, Denbigh Street, Llanrwst, N. Wales, Ironmonger,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for purifying gas and especially
for use with apparatuses devised to generate acetylene gas from carbide of
calcium.
The crude gas from the generator is liable to contain various harmful in-
gredients some of which may be gaseous but soluble in water or other liquid;
others may consist of small quantities of liquid which it is desirable to prevent
from going forward in the apparatus; and other impurities again may be solid
consisting of dust or fragments of the substances employed for generating the
gas. All these various impurities are effectively removed by the use of my
apparatus, and I obtain a purified gas thoroughly washed from the injurious
elements.
I may construct my apparatus in various modifications to meet the requirements
of the apparatuses to which it is applicable, but when constructing it for attach-
ment to an acetylene gas generator I prefer to proceed as follows:-
The base of the apparatus consists of a closed tank of suitable dimensions,
and capable of containing a sufficient quantity of water or other suitable fluid.
The shape of the tank is preferably rectangular. At one end of the tank is the
inlet pipe for the gas from the generator, and at the other end I provide a small
let off cock for enabling the air to escape when the tank is being filled. About
the centre of the said tank I place a dome or cylinder the top of which is formed
by a plate secured by a screw passing through an arched support over the same.
This plate forms the sealing lid of the cylinder or the like, a rubber washer
being interposed between the metallic surfaces to render them air tight. The
interior of the cylinder consists of a circular vessel having a double bottom
of wire gauze or the like, and shaped somewhat like a bucket. This bucket is
provided with a handle for conveniently removing it when requisite from the
cylinder. The wire gauze partitions forming the bottom are suitably secured,
and have the joinings made tight with rubber washers or the like to ensure that
the gas coming up from below must pass through the meshes of the gauze.
the side of the cylinder above is the outlet tube for the purified gas. At the
end of the rectangular tank or otherwise as convenient, I attach a syphon tube,
which will act as a safety tube in case the pressure should rise beyond a certain
limit in consequence of any stoppage or sudden in-rush of gas.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
At
The tank is filled quite full of water or washing fluid, the crude gas passes
into the tank through the inlet, and accumulates around the same until it passes
the shoulder of the cylindrical receptacle attached thereto and bubbles up
through the water which has risen in the bucket owing to its displacement by
the accumulation of gas in the tank as aforesaid.

page_text: In this manner the gas is thoroughly washed and purified and broken up into
small bubbles during its passage through the double gauze partitious, and when
it reaches the open space above the water line it is thoroughly purified. The gas
finally passes to the gas holder or consuming apparatus through the outlet pipe
aforesaid.
:
It will be obvious that my apparatus may be constructed in various forms to
suit the requirements of the apparatus to which it is to be attached. In one such
modification I ensure the supply of liquid from the tank to the surfaces of wire-
gauze or the like, by affixing thereto a wick of suitable dimensions and material,
the lower end of which hangs down into the water in the tank and raises the
same by capillary attraction, and communicates it to the surfaces aforesaid.
It may be found necessary in practice when these surfaces are of some extent,
to make use of a substance other than wire gauze in connection with the said
wick, such as cloth, felt or textile fabrics. In dealing with some kinds of gases,
I may find it advantageous to introduce a further purifying apparatus through
which or over which the gas passes after escaping from the washing apparatus.
This further purifier may suitably consist of trays containing solid substances,
such as lime, oxide of iron, saw-dust soaked with acid, or other suitable purifying
or drying media, according to the kind of gas under purification, and the object
to which the said gas is to be applied.
T
י
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
I, EVAN EVANS, of No. 45, Denbigh Street, Llanrwst, N. Wales, Ironmonger,
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:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for purifying and washing gas,
and especially for use with apparatuses devised to generate acetylene gas from
carbide of calcium.
The crude gas from the generator is liable to contain various harmful in-
gredients, some of which may be gaseous but soluble in water or other liquid;
others may consist of small quantities of liquid which it is desirable to prevent
from going forward in the apparatus; and other impurities again may be solid
consisting of dust or fragments of the substances employed for generating the
gras. All these various impurities are effectively removed by the use of my
apparatus, and I obtain a purified gas thoroughly washed from the injurious
elements.
My apparatus may be constructed in various modifications to meet the require-
ments of the apparatuses to which it is applicable, but in the drawings it is
shown adapted for attachment to an acetylene gas generator.
In these Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan.
The base of the apparatus consists of a closed tank A of suitable dimensions,
and capable of containing a sufficient quantity of water or other suitable cleansing
fluid, such as brine or even paraffin oil. The shape of the tank is preferably
rectangular. At one end of the tank is the inlet pipe B for the gas from the
generator, and at the other end I provide a small let off cock C for enabling the

page_text: air to escape when the tank is being filled and for indicating when the tank is
full. About the centre of the said tank I place a dome or cylinder D which may
fit gas tight into an opening in the top of the tank to which it may be secured
in any suitable manner, the top of which dome or cylinder is formed by a plate E
secured by a screw F passing through a nut formed in an arched support or
spider G over the same. This plate E which is preferably dished forms the sealing
lid of the cylinder or the like 1) and may be supported by a flange h, a rubber
washer H being interposed between the metallic surfaces to render them air
tight. The interior of the cylinder consists of a circular vessel or second cylinder I
having a double bottom of wire gauze J or the like, and shaped somewhat like
a bucket. This bucket stands on flanges i and is provided with a handle K for
conveniently removing it when requisite from the cylinder 1) after the removal
of the lid or cover E. The wire gauze partitions J forming the bottom are suit-
ably secured in said bucket preferably in airtight frames. Rubber washers L
or the like are provided between the flanges i and the bottom of the bucket to
ensure that the gas coming up from below must pass through the meshes of the
gauze. At the side of the cylinder D above is the outlet tube M for the purified
gas. At the end of the rectangular tank or otherwise as convenient, I attach
a syphon tube O, which will act as a safety tube in case the pressure should
rise beyond a certain limit in consequence of any stoppage or sudden in-rush of
gas. are openings in the bucket I for allowing the purified gas
into
pass
the space between same and the cylinder D in order to reach the exit M. The
bucket I may however be made shorter than shown so that the gas can flow over
its upper edge to the exit M, in which case the openings f may be dispensed
with. It has a funnel or enlargement at top of amply sufficient size to contain
all the water capable of lying in the bend, whereby when the water is driven
out by a sudden escape of gas it can run back and again fill the syphon. This
is only necessary with inferior generators.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
to
The tank is filled quite full of water or washing fluid by means of syphon 0,
or through the top of the cylinder 1) after removing the cover E. The crude
gas passes into the tank through the inlet B which may be telescopically arranged
so as to be capable of being varied as to the height. The gas then bubbles up
through the water and passing through the double layers of gauze J into the
bucket I immersed in water is purified of mechanical impurities, which for the
most part fall to the bottom of the tank A. It then passes out through the
orifices f and M. The gas cannot get into the bucket D in large bubbles as the
same are cut by the lower gauze whilst any getting through the lower gauze
are cut by the upper gauze thus properly washing the gas. Any steam or other
vapour that may be in the gas after passing the lower gauze will be condensed on
reaching the second or upper gauze.
In some cases or in dealing with some kinds of gases, I may find it advan-
tageous to introduce a further purifying apparatus through which or over which
the gas passes after escaping from the washing apparatus. This further purifier
may suitably consist of trays containing solid substances, such as lime, oxide
of iron, saw-dust soaked with acid, or other suitable purifying or drying media,
according to the kind of gas under purification, and to the object to which the
said gas is to be applied. In the drawings, P is such a chemical scrubber of any
known form for scrubbing the gases with chemicals to take out phosphoretted
sulphuretted or arsenuretted hydrogen, or other chemical impurities present
through the use of impure materials in the formation of the carbide.
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:-
5 1. An apparatus for washing and purifying gas comprising a tank to hold the
cleansing fluid and having means for admitting the crude gas to below the level

page_text: of the fluid therein, a layer or layers of gauze or the like wholly or partly immersed
in the cleansing fluid, but above the point at which the gas enters said fluid, and
an exit for the purified gas above the gauze, the parts being so arranged that
the crude gas admitted into the fluid can only escape to said exit by passing
upwards through said gauze while immersed in the fluid and thus be purified
before reaching the exit substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In an apparatus for washing and purifying gas such as described the com-
bination with the tank for holding the cleansing fluid, of a dome or receiver
arranged thereon for the purified gas with a removable cover, and a gas exit,
and a removable cylinder or bucket carrying the purifying gauze in its lower
part, arranged within said dome or receiver, said bucket or cylinder being sup-
ported therein with its lower end closed gastight against the lower part of the
dome or receiver and having its upper end provided with openings or shortened,
to allow of the gas escaping through or over it to the exit whereby the gas
under operation is compelled to pass through the gauze whilst allowing of the
bucket or cylinder being removed as required substantially as described.
3. In an apparatus such as described for washing and purifying gas, the com-
bination with the tank for holding the cleansing fluid, of a cock adapted both
for the escape of air when the tank is being filled with the washing fluid and for
enabling the proper level of the cleansing fluid to be obtained, an inlet for the
crude gas, and a syphon tube to act as a safety tube in the event of an excess
pressure in the apparatus, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for washing and purifying gas in which the crude gas is
admitted below the level of the washing fluid, arranging the gas inlet so as to be
telescopically adjustable to vary as required the level at which the gas is admitted
substantially as described.
5. An apparatus for washing and purifying gas comprising the combination
with a mechanical wet filter, of a chemical scrubber, substantially as described.
6. In an apparatus for washing and purifying gas, a syphon tube such as 0
arranged to act as a safety tube in the event of, an excess pressure of gas in the
apparatus, substantially as described.
7. The general construction and combination of parts, taken as a whole, forming
the improved apparatus for washing' and purifying gas, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Patent Agents of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.