US1255308A - Safety appliance for acetylene-generators. - Google Patents

Description

I. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915. n

Patented Feb. 5, 1918;

[7L/Einw@ il?" A 1. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. |915- Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

a sHETs-sHET 2 J.. HARRIS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATIQM man MAR. 22. m5.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- alvw/ @HV/U5 Ft/TM5.

JOHN HARRIS, OFCLEVELMD, OHIO.

SAFETY APFLIANCE FOR AClETYlLENE-GENERATOEQS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.. 5, 191%..

@riginal application filed October 12, 1914, Serial No. 866,194. Divided and this application tiled March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,161.

of Ohio, have invented a certain new and' useful Improvement in Safety Appliances for Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l v I This invention relates to apparatus for generating acetylene-gas of high pressure, such as is used with blow pipes for so called autogenous welding, vthe apparatus shown and described herein being of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 866,194, filed October, 12th, 1914, of which this application is a division.

My present invention relates more particu.

larly'to safety appliances for use with gas generators, and it has for its object to provide means whereby apparatus of the aforesaid 'character are rendered absolutely safe and reliable, the means comprising certain safe guards which compel the .operator to vent the generator when it is opened for the purposes of draining it, or of supplying it with water or carbid.

A further object of the invention is the provision of' safety appliances for attaining this end, that are comparatively simple o f construction, easy of operation, andpositive of'action.

ln general terms it may be stated that the invention consists of mechanism for carrying out the above objects, embodying vthe features of construction, combinations of elements, Vand arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fully described vand claimed in this s eciication, and shown in the ac-y companying drawing, in, which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gas generator equipped with the safety appliances-of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary side elevation of the generator shown inI Fig. 1,- the first of the vfigures showing the parts in the positions they occupied when the generator is. closed 4and the second, showing the appliancesl in inedective position, so that the filling valve,'fthe sludge valve, and carbid-hopper coverfjmay be opened; -v Fig. 4 isa perspective view of-the top of the generator, with vthe parts in the position shown in Fig. 32,-Fig. 5 is a plan of the y of the links 8, and is carbid hopper, and the parts connected thereto; Figs. 6 and 7 are central vertical sections of the vent valve, the planes of the respective sections being substantially at right angles to each other; and Fig. .8 is a perspective view of certain parts of the weight motor whereby the carbid 'feeding mechanism is operated.

Taking u a detailed description of the invention by the use of reference characters, 1 represents the generating chamber of the apparatus above which is supported,

upon a neck 2, a carbid hopper 3. The fillf ing opening of the hopper 3 is adapted-to be closed by a cover 4 that is clamped to the opening by means of-a screw 5 which is threaded through a yoke 6, the ends whereof arepivoted to the-hopper on opposite sides of the filling opening. This is in accordance withl the usual method of closing receptacles of this kind, and as a safeguard against the same being opened except when the p apparatus is in proper condltion to permit of such an act, a shield 7 is providedv to-protect these parts, the same being supported by Aa suitable number of links 8, 8, which are arranged to be swung, by the movement of a plate 9, from the position shown in Fig. 2, to that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, i

tion between the links 8 andv l2 being in' turn connected to the. end of the plate 9 by means of a link 13. Because. of this con.- struction, when the pivotal point of the links 12 and 8 is swun backward, said links are thrown downwar to substantially the plane of the upper endsof the ears 16' and l11,'-and the shield 7 is tilted on edge, as shown in Figs. Band 4, V v f` `Arod 14 extends from Vone to the other located so as to' engage said links are, pivoted directly tothe ed es of the open side of the shield and limit t e swin movement of the shield `with res ect' to the 'nks. i. p

he lower end of the plate 9 is pivoted lllO tothe end of an arm that is journaled between the ears 16, which project from the side of the hopper 3. The arm 15 has also pivoted to it a rod 17 which extends down in front of the apparatus and has its lower en'd attached to the operating handle 18, of a lling valve 19. It will be noted that the upper end of the handle 18 is of segmental formation, the are of the segmental portion 20 being concentric 'with the stem 21 of the valve, whereon the arm is fastened. It will be stated that when the handle 18 is in the position shown in Fig. 2f, the valve 19'is closed; but when the handle is swung upward through" substantially 45, `as in Fig. 3, the valve is open. n

The valve 19 has connection with the generating chamber of the apparatus, through the nipple 22 and elbow '23; and at its upper -end the-valve has connection, through the nipple 24, with awater filling receptacle and water level indicator 25. An overflow pipe 26 is connected to the vside of the filling receptacle at an elevation corresponding to the high water level of the generator, indicated by thelines a. Therefore, whenthe valve 19 -is open,fgthe generating chamber may-be filled by introducing waterintothe receptacle 25,`by the use of a hose or other suitable means,'until the water within the receptacle 25 attains the elevation of its overflow, when it will be known that the level within the generator has reached its maximum height.

A sludge valve y28 is applied to the generating chamber 1', near its bottom, below the operating'handle 18; and the gate 29 of the sludge valve has connection with said handle, by means of the yoke 30vand the rod 31, which telescopes within a tube 32 that is pivoted to the operating handle. The length of the rod 31 is such as will cause its upper end to abut .theupper end of the tube 32, when the gate' v290i the sludge valve is closed and thebperating handle 18 is down; and the length of the tube 32 is such as will prevent vits withdrawal from .the rod 31 when the operating handle 18 is elevated.

Froml the description thus far it will be seen that neither the cover of the lcarbid hopper canbe removed, nor the sludge valve opened, until thejoperating lever 18 of the filling valve 19 has been elevated and the` valve opened. However, it is essential that 4the.apparatus be exhausted, prior to the openingvof the.v valve.19, and mechanism for preventingthe operation of this valve vuntil the apparatus has been exhausted, will be descri ed presently.

I vwill nextdescribe the valve that is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, whereby the apparatustis vented in case the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined point, and through \which the apparatus is exhausted prior to each operation ofthe filling valve 19. It

tension ofthe sprin will be observed from the aforesaid Figs. 6 and 7, that the vent valve comprises upper and lower casing members 35 and 36, the adjacent edges of which are each provided with a horizontal flange '37 and 38, respectively. Between these flanges is securely clamped the periphery of a flexible diaphragm 39. The casing member 35 con verges toward its upper end and terminates in a cylindrical neck 40 which has applied to it a cap 41, and threaded within the neck, and adapted to becovered by the cap 41, is a spring casing 42, against the top wall of which bears the upper end of a coil spring 43. The lower end of this spring surrounds a shank 44 of a yoke 45 that is formed inte gral with a disk 46, from the underneath side of which depends a central stud 47. By means of the stud 47 and the nut 48 applied thereto, there is clamped to the disk 46, plate 49, diaphragm 39, and a valve member 50, having an annular pliable contact portion 51, preferably of rubber. The contact portion of the valve member is arranged to engage a seat 52 of corresponding shape, which is located centrally within the lower casing member 36, and is preferably formed by'the upper end of an internal tubular extension which rojects from one side of the casing, and with which extension is connected the vent pipe 53.

The valve member 50 may be caused to bear upon its seat 52, at any desired pressure, suchA pressure being obtained by varying the 43 .which is accomplished through the a justment of the casing 42, that is threaded into the upper end of the neck 40, said casing 42 being provided with a portion 55 for the application of a wrench or other tool. The lower end of the casing member 36 terminates in an internallyr threaded boss 56 that has connection, through the pipe 57, with the generating chamber 1. Now, therefore, `when the pressure within the generating chamber exceeds that of the,

Extending through the yoke 45 is an ec centric 60 upon the shaftr61, journaled in the opposed walls of theupper casing member 35, the same being provided with a suitable packing gland 62 where it t passes through the wall of said casing member.

Applied 'tothe end of the shaft 61, beyond vthe packing gland 62, 1s an arm 63 which has its free end connected, by the link 64,

ltoa lever 65 that is journaled at 66 to a lug' 67 projecting from the front of the generating chamber 1. This lever carries a 'Segment 68, the curved face of which is concentric with the pivot 66, and which has a radius equal to the distance between said pivot and the forward end of the handle 18 Larnaca handle as to cause the segment of the lever- 65, and the segmental portion of the said handle to be in substantially the same plane. llt may be stated, also, that the length of the arckof the segmental portion of the `valve handle is such as will cause its periphery to just escape .oneend of the segment 68 when the'lever 65 is vertical. Therefore, thehandle 18 can be operatedonlyvwhen the lever 65 is in its extreme upper position, and the lever '65 can be operated only when the handle 18 is in its extreme lower position. It is obvious from this that the valve 19 t cannot'be opened forl the purpose of supplying water to the generating chamber, nor can the sludge valve be opened, nor the cover of the carbidhopper removed,'until the lever '65 has been elevated to operate the valve andvent the apparatus, y

lf, through any cause, the pressure within the apparatus becomes .excessive and proi duces a condition which may be considered dangerous, the Vdiaphragm 39 will be elevated to remove the' valve 50 from its seat 52 and allow' the excess gas to escape through the vent pipe 53, which leads to ther exterior of the building. As ,previously pointed; out, the vent valve may be regulated to-reslst varyingdegrees of pressure through the adjustment of the spring 43, in actual practice, the spring being adjusted 'to li'fteenpounds pressure, as required .by in-vv surance companies.

the upper-'portions of thecasing would be led o through abranch pipe, whichjoins the main vent pipe 53. i

Having thus described ff my invention` 1. rlhe combination. with vapparatus comi" prising a-generating chamberhaving a 'filling valve, the lling valve having an operating handley `that'is provided with lan abutment, of a member lmovable into. and

out of the-path of said abutinent,Yfallvent;` valve for the apparatus, that is'subjiectedfto, .l and adapted to` be opened normally gasy pressure within the generating chamber, andr connections between the aforesaid movable memberV and' saidlcvent valve. vvvhereby thev 551' movement of the member 4out .of the path [of the aforesaid abutment willzopen 'said'vent `the handle of shield for the coverof .the `carbid hopper,

abutment, of a member movable into and out of the path of sald abutment, said member,

when in the path of theabutment, prevent- Yi v the combinationwith tliejeoverv of `the carbid .f y

,the v'lling valve'having an tdt ing the opening of the filling valve, a vent valve for the apparatus, that is subjected to land adapted to be opened normally by gas pressure Within the generating chamber, con-y nections. between the operating handle of the filling valve and the aforesaid shield whereby said shield cannot-be moved from eHective position when said valve is closed, and further connections between the aforesaid movable member and the vent valve whereby-the movement of the former out of the path of the aforesaid abutment will open said vent valve. 1

3. The combination with apparatus comprising a generating chamber having la lling valve, said iillin Valve' having a handle that is provided with an abutment, of a member movable into and out of the path path of the abutment preventing the opening of the lillingvalve, a vent valve for the yapparatus that is adapted to be operated normally by the pressure within said apparatus, means tendlng to seat said valve, connections between the aforesaid movable inem berand saidv vent valve whereby the movement offtheformer out of the path of the aforesaid abutment will open said vent valve, carbid feeding mechanism, ,al motor for `operating said mechanism, a lo'clr for saidmotor, means tendin to hold the lock in enective position, an connectionsbetween saidlock andthe aforesaid movable member whereby the movement of said memt g ber into the path of the aforesaid abutment ln o the d1aphra-I SQA-becomes -fraetured, the gas vwhich would thus escape into will yunlock the motor. dflln apparatus ofthe character set forth,

.y thecombination Withthe cover of the c'arbid hopper and the securing moans therefor, ofk `agshield which covers said securing means l and extends downward entirely therearound,

alpair of links having their upper ends fpivoted to theshield at diametrically opposite points and their lower ends pivotally connected to the hopper alongsidethe cover v 11e the respective upper and lower pii'rotallf points ofthe links being inaxial alinement, a link of substantially the samel length as 1p Vthe aforesaid links which has its upper end ivoted tov the lshield adjacent -one of'- the ormer links, a lshorter linl: connecting the lowerifpivotal point of saidformer link to '4 the-cfrresponding end of the last mentioned 1 dmeansffor swinging'rfthe shorter naapparatus of thecharacter set forth, i

-A hopper. and fthe-securing means`,therefor, of 1 ,ar shi'e'aldA which' covers said securm'g means@ and extends `do'wnvvard entirely therearound, #125 i Y. connected to the hopper alongside-t e cover, pivoted' the respective upper 'and lowerA points of the links being in axial alinement, a link of substantially the same length as the aforesaid links which has its upper end pivoted to the shield adjacent one of the former links, a shorter'flink connecting the lower pivotal point of said former link to the corresponding end of the last mentioned link, an abutment carried by and between the first mentioned pair of links and arranged to engage the edge of ythe shield when the samevis moved to ineective position, and means for swinging the shorter link.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a generating chamber having a filling valve, the filling valve having a rotatable operating handle, a segmental `member rigid with said handle and having a peripheralI portion concentric with the axisof rotation of said handle, a second segmental member rotatable in they plane of the first segmental member and having a peripheral portion concentric-with its axis of` rotation, they combinedl radii Aof the segmental members being greater than the distance between their axes ofrotation, said members being so arranged that one may v `swing'past the end of the otherfonly when Copies of this patent mayl ha obtained for the other is in normal position, a vent valve for the apparatus that is subJected to and adapted to be openedv normally by gas pressure within the generating chamber, and connections between the second mentioned segmental member and said vent valve whereby the movement of said segmental member out of the path of the first mentioned segmental member will open said vent valve.

7. The combination with a gas generating system, of means whereby the system may be opened, a device normally blocking the operation. of said means and movable from blocking position, a vent valve constantly subjected to the pressure within a system and capable of being actuated by excessive pressure therein, and connections between said device and valve whereby the movement of said device from blocking position will effect an actuation of the valve.

In testimony whereof, l hereunto aliix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

J OHN HARRIS.

Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. WEsr, HUGH B. MCGILL.

' Washingtqm. C."

Images