An Improved Automatic Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Apparatus for Producing Acetylene Gas.
I, PAUL ANTOINE MARIE LACROIX, of 1, Rue Clémence Isaure, Toulouse, in the
Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows;
As stated in my British Patent No. 4761 of 1897, the principle of my invention
consists in the application of an hydraulic lever with water feed independent
of the gasometer, to the supply of water in one or more generators of any
system of acetylene gas generation.
This hydraulic lever is formed by coupling a syphon, which is fed by a large
reservoir with a gasometer operated in the usual way by water.
As shown in my Patent 4761 of 1897, there is a constant communication of
pressure between the syphon and the gasometer, but not hydraulic communication.
The gasometer water plays an essentially passive part, having no other object
than to serve in the storage of gas, and in the regulation of the supply of water
in the generator or generators, by communication of pressure. It is the syphon,
and consequently the reservoir that supplies it, which serves for the production.
of the gas.
From this it will be seen that the small end of the hydraulic lever thus
obtained is at the controlling point, that is to say at the gasometer, and the
large end at that of distribution, that is at the syphon.
This system presents numerous advantages of which the two following are
the principal
The first is very perfect working, affording the most complete security.
The second is that the height of the column of water is not constant, and
thus the perfect working of the apparatus is always assured, as the level of
the water in the feed reservoir undergoes very considerable variations.
The water reservoir instead of being formed of a simple basin higher than
the syphon, is formed by a large receptacle surmounting a lower one the size
of which is added to its own.
The generators, arranged in the form of drawers, are disposed in the lower
receptacle. In this way, the water contained in the reservoir serves at the
same time to feed the syphon, that is to produce the gas, and to keep the
generators cool.
This contrivance also enables the gas to be cooled before entering the gasometer.
From the foregoing it will be understood that this apparatus comprises the
same constituent parts as those described in the Patent 4761.
In this case the syphon is formed by the reservoir itself into which a part of
the tube is projected.
The water system for generating the gas consists of three cocks an a corre-
sponding number of pipes. One of these is a three-way cock, which conveys the
water supplied thereto into that one of the two generators to which its outlet
is directed. A casing above this cock serves for the passage of the gas, and at

page_text: the same time for automatically bringing the second generator into action, by
carrying off the overflow from the first when the same is exhausted. A. special
contrivance is arranged in this casing to secure the successive action of the
second generator, as soon as the first is exhausted, and whilst it is being filled
with water.
Two cocks are also suitably arranged to enable the generators to be isolated
for purposes of re-charging.
The action is as follows:-
The water ascends the tube to the distributing cock, which conveys it into
that one of the two generators towards which its outlet is directed. The gas
thus produced passes through a chamber of the distributor, and through an
outlet tube above, and enters the gasometer, where it forces the water in the
lower compartment into the upper compartment.
Thus a balance is brought about between the column of water in the gasometer,
and another column in the generator, this latter column representing the difference
between the level of water in the water reservoir and the outlet orifice of the
water distributor. The equilibrium of the apparatus is thus established.
Besides the advantages above mentioned, this arrangement allows of the
addition of any number of generators to the right or left of the apparatus.
Dated this 12th day of April 1898
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.
I, PAUL ANTOINE MARIE LACROIX, of 1, Rue Clémence Isaure, Toulouse, in the
Republic of France, 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 refers to apparatus for the automatic production of acetylene
gas and consists mainly of the application of a hydraulic lever with water feed
independent of the gasometer, to the circulation of water in one or more
generators of any kind whatever.
I say whatever, because, although I have described in detail the special systèm
that I have adopted, I consider that the generator of itself plays a secondary
part here, the principal feature of my invention being especially the application
of the hydraulic lever with water feed independent of the gasometer, to the
circulation of water in the generator or generators.
This hydraulic lever is formed by the coupling of a siphon F-G which sup-
plies a large reservoir with a gasometer having water displacement M-N.
As I have very clearly pointed out in my former Patent No. 4761%, the siphon
and the gasometer are in constant communication as regards pressure, but not
in a hydraulic sense. The gasometer water plays an essentially passive part,
having no other object than that of serving for the storage of the
gas and
regulating the circulation of water in the generator or generators A by com-
munication of pressure. It is the siphon, and consequently the reservoir C,
that supplies it, which serves for the production of the gas.
From this combination, as I have already explained in my first summary,
it results that the small arm of the lever thus created, is at the regulating point,
that is to say, at the gasometer, and the large arm at the point of circulation,
that is, the siphon.

page_text: This system has many advantages, the two principal of which are as follows; --
The first is very great accuracy in working, affording the most perfect safety.
The second is, that the height of the column of water is in no way arbitrary,
and that the perfect working of the apparatus is always assured, even though
the level of the water in the feed-tank may vary very considerably.
It is in this that my invention consists and this is the principle which I claim
as my property in whatever form it may be applied.
In fact, it is evident that the result will be the same whether the tubes forming
a siphon be arranged concentrically, or replaced by a single U-shaped tube.
This is so reasonable that I do not consider it necessary to dwell further on
the point. If I revert to the question, it is, I repeat in order to avoid any mis-
understanding especially in view of the quite special application of my principle
to a new type of apparatus on which I am now engaged.
The annexed drawings illustrate the invention.
At first the apparatus seems to have no relation to my patent, but if closely
examined, it will be quickly seen, on the contrary, that it is nothing but a very
precise application thereof.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are respectively a front view, elevation and plan of the
apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a view in plan and section shewing the apparatus connected to a
gasometer with water displacement.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus arranged in battery form.
As will be seen, the water reservoir C, instead of being composed of a single
tank "superior" to the siphon, is formed of a large vessel surmounting a pedestal,
the size of which is added to its own.
The generators arranged in the form of drawers are placed in the pedestal,
In this way the water contained in the whole contrivance serves at the same
time to supply the siphon, that is to say, for the production of the gas and for
the cooling of the generators.
This arrangement, moreover, enables the gas to be cooled before entering
the gasometer. For this purpose, it is sufficient to make use of a contrivance
of the kind-illustrated in the drawing.
So much being stated, it is easy to shew that this apparatus, in reality, com-
prises only the various parts necessary for the production of light.
C is the supply reservoir.
G the pipe conveying water to the distributor.
Fis the distributor.
U the gas outlet.
L, L' the two tubes forming communication between the distributor, and the
generators A, A¹.
The siphon here is thus not formed by two concentric pipes, but by the
reservoir itself in which a part of the pipe G is immersed.
As regards the distributor, it is composed of an apparatus which is nothing
but the junction of three cocks a, b, b¹.
The cock a is a three-way cock which diverts the water reaching it through
the pipe G into the generator, towards which its handle is turned. The box
D which is above it, serves at the same time for the passage of the gas, and
the automatic starting of the second generator, by diverting the overflow from
the first generator, when the latter is exhausted. A special arrangement con-
tained in this box assures the starting of the second generator without the least
interruption immediately the first is exhausted and whilst it is filling with water.
The cock thus in itself alone replaces the four cocks of the first distributor.
The cocks b, b enable the generators to be isolated for the purpose of being
recharged.
If, now, we turn to Fig. 4, we shall easily understand the working of the
apparatus.

page_text: '
The water ascends by the pipe G to the distributor which diverts it into the
generator to which its handle is turned.
'
The gas being quickly produced, passes through the chamber D of the dis-
tributor and the tube U in order to enter the gasometer, where it forces the
water of the lower compartment N into the upper compartment M.
We need not here notice the condensing box, which is of no importance in
connection with the principle under consideration.
Thus a time comes when the height of the column H in the gasometer, becomes
equal to a column H₁ in the generator, which column H', represents the difference
between the level of the water in the tank C and the outlet hole in the distributor.
The apparatus is then immediately equipoised.
It will be at once seen that this new apparatus is absolutely in harmony with
the principle of the invention as described in my previous patent beforemen-
tioned which it does not, in any way, modify. It is, in fact, the application of
the hydraulic lever with water supply independent of the gasometer.
This new arrangement has numerous advantages, amongst others, the utilization
of the feed water for cooling the generators, and the facility of adding any
number of generators to the right and left of the apparatus which by means of
the thermo-siphon may be cooled by the water from the reservoir C.
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 an automatic apparatus for producing acetylene gas, the application of
the hydraulic lever, with water supply independent of the gasometer, to the
circulation of water in the generator or generators, under any form in which
this principle may be applied, as herein described and set forth.
2. In an automatic apparatus for producing acetylene gas, the form of con-
struction and method of operation herein described and set forth.
Dated the 10th
J
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.