US1490417A - Acetylene-gas generator - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1924. 1,490,417

J. L. CHESNUTT ACETYLNE GAS GENERKTOR Filed Aug. 16 192'0 /N VEA/TOR.'

Amil 15, i924. 1,490,417

` J. Yl.. CHESNUTT ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed5 Aug. 16 l5 9 20 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 @Z1 Mm m Apri 15 1924 J. L. CHESNUTT ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Aug. 1a. 1920 4 Sheetsheet 3 prr l5, i924.

J. L. cHEsNu'i-T A CETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Aug. 16. 1920 4 sheets-,sheet 4.

`Patented Apr. l5, 12d,

JOHN LOUCXEN CEESNUTT, @F KANSAS GETY, VHSSOURI.

vv.ACTElYL'ENE--GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed. .August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,583.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN L. CHnsNUTT, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved acetylene gas generator and particularly means for automatically controlling the supply of carbid to the generating chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for automatically supplying carbid to the generating chamber, including a diaphragm acting upon a feed rod, gas being introduced to the upper side of said diaphragm from the generating chamber through a by-pass.

A further object of this invention is to provide manually operated means for starting or initiating the generation of gas prior to the automatic feed of carbid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm for automatically oper ating a feed rod and a system of levers connected with said diaphragm for amplifying the movement thereof.

A further object of this invention is to produce a generator which is of exceedingly simple construction, inexpensive, easy to operate, not liable to get out of repair, and eminently safe in operation.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the complete device. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the generating tank and regulating tank, on an enlarged scale. Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the hopper and feed cone devices detached. Figure e is a cross-section of the regulating chamber on the line 11C-4 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 8 of Figure 2.

, Figure 9 is a'vertical section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a regulating chamber and diaphragm therein, amplifying levers being interposed -between the diaphragm and' feed rod.l Figure 10 is a plan of portions of the devices shown in Figure 9.

ln the construction of the device as shown the numeral 12 designates a tank formed of sheet metal and provided with a cover 13 adapted to be secured thereto by bolt-s 14 passing through peripheral flanges 15, 16 formed respectively on the tank and cover. A gasket 17 is interposed between the lianges 15, 16 so that the cover may be sealed to gas-tight condition. The tank may be mounted on sills 18 and securely bolted thereto by bolts 19 passing through angle irons 20 secured to the tank; and the sills may be mounted on skids 21 and secured thereto in a similar manner. ln the present construction and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the interior of the tank 10 constitutes a generating and storage cham ber, and a pressure gage 22, shown conventionally, is mounted on the cover 13 and communicates with said chamber.

A regulating tank or chamber 23 is mounted in any suitable location, in this instance above and centrally of the cover 13. The regulating tank 23 is of much smaller capacity than the tank 12, and communicates therewith by a tube 24 sealed to said tanks by means of glands or packing washers 25. A diaphragm 26, of any suitable construction, is mounted horizontally across the regulating tank 23 and divides the interior thereof into upper and lower chambers, said diaphragm being sealed in said tank to gastight condition in any suitable manner. ln this instance the tank 23 is formed in two parts, upper and lower, each having a peripheral iange 27, and the diaphragm is clamped between said fianges by means of bolts 28. A by-pass pipe 29, equipped with a cut-off valve 30 and also with a drain valve 31, communicates between the interior of the generating and storage tank 12, through the cover thereof, and the upper portion of the regulating tank 23 at a point above the diaphragm 26.

A carbid hopper 32 is suitably mounted in the upper portion of the main tank 12. As shown a plurality of brackets 33, each having a hole 3ft in its horizontal portion, are secured to the inner surface of the wall of the tank 12, near the top thereof, and lugs 35 are secured to! the outer wall of the hopper and each of said lugs is formed with a downwardly projecting tongue 36 adapted to enter the hols 3ft of one of said brackets. Thus the hopper is suspende-d in the tank and is restrained against casual circumferential mo-vement.

The hopper 32 is formed with the usual sloping hopper bottom having a relatively small opening at its lower end, and a coneshaped valve 37 is mounted in and adapted to close said opening, said cone having its larger end down and projecting through said opening. Thecone valve 37 is secured, as by a suitable coupling 38, to the lower end of a feed rod 39 extending vertically within the hopper and passing upwardly7 through the upper portion of the tank l2 and through the tube 24 to the regulating tank 23, said rod ending immediately below the center of the diaphragm 26. That portion of the feed rod 39 within the hopper 32 preferablyis enclosed within a tube 40, anda shield cone 4l is fixed to the lower` end of said tube and covers and protects the coupling 38 and upper end of the cone valve 37. It is the kfunction of the tube 40 to prevent pressureof carbid in the hopper against the feed rod 39, and it is the function of the shield cone 4l to prevent pressure of carbid against the coupling and lower cone, prevent packing of carbid on said lower cone. and insure freedom of movement of the parts. To support and steady the tube or pipe 40 within the hopper 32, triangular plates 42 are provided, one above the other, each formed with a circular hole to receive said tube or pipe. Hooked rods 43, in this instance three in number, are secured to the corners of each of the triangular plates 42, extend horizontally and pass through the walls of the hopper and are threaded at their outer ends and nuts 44 mounted on the projecting ends againstI the wall of the hopper. set collar 45 is secured to the upper end of the pipe 40 and rests on the uppermost triangular plate 42.

A yoke-shaped or downwardly arched bracket 46 is mounted on and secured to the lower end of the hopper 42 and spans the lower end of the valve cone 37. A forked lever 47 is fulcrumed between its ends on one lower corner of the bracket 46 and the inner end of said lever extends beneath the center of the cone 37 and hopper. A threaded stem 48 is fixed rigidly to and extends outwardly from the outer end of the lever 47, and a weight 49 is threaded on said stem'and adapted for lon.- gitudinal adjustment thereon, said weight being held in adjusted position by a locknut 50.

A feed rod extension 51 is threaded and secured in the lower end of the ycoupling 38 and said extension projects Vdownwardly through the cone 37 and through a guide hole in the center of the yoke-shaped bracket 46. A yoke-shaped standard or post 52 is formed on or fixed rigidly to the inner end of the forked lever 47 and extends upwardly, in straddling relation to the bracket 46`r within the cone 37. The cross member of the yoke-shaped standard 52 is uppermost and is formed with a central hole through which the extension feed rod 5l projects freely. Lock nuts are screwed on the extension feed rod 5l and are adapted to bear against the upper end of the yoke-shaped standard 52, which upper end preferably is rounded so as to produce pressure near the center of the locknuts in any position of the lever and standard. It is the tendency of the weighted lever 47, through the standard 52, to maintain the cone valve 37 in uppermost or closing position, by pressure on the locknuts 53 of the extension feed rod, thus forcing the cone upwardly to its seat in the lower end of the hopper and preventing feeding of carbid from said hopper. The weight 49 may be adjusted longitudinally of the stem 48 as desired to secure the proper amount of pressure.

A carbid filling opening is provided, compri-sing a collar 54 sealed in an opening in the cover 13 and having a lid 55 adapted to be drawn tightly against the outer end by means of a bolt 56 passing through a packing gland 5.7 in said lid and seated in a plate 58 engaging beneath a flange 59 on the interior of the collar. A gasket 60 is interposed between the collar 54 and lid 55, so that the lid may be drawn to gas-tight condition by tightening the bolt 56. A similar water filling opening, having a collar 6l, is provided in the side wall of the tank l2, and the hopper 32 is so arranged on its supports that the weight 49 is adjacent the latter opening, thus facilitating manual adjustment of the position of said weight on the stem 48. lt is to be understood the collar 6l is equipped with closing means similar to that just above described in connection with the collar 54 of the carbid filling opening, including a lid 62 and bolt 63 (see Figure l).

A starter rod is secured.y gas-tight, to the center of the diaphragm 26 and projects upwardly therefrom within the regulating tank 23. A shaft 65 is journaled in and to one side of the center' of the tank 23 and projects through the wall of said tank, being sealed to gas-tight condition in any suitable manner as by passing through a gland 66. A lever 67 is fixed to the inner end of the shaft 65, extends substaiitially radially of the tank 23, and has its inner end apertured or slotted to receive loosely the starter Vrod 64. rlhe starter rod 64 is threaded and spaced pairs of lock nuts 68, 69 are mounted thereon, respectively above and below the lever 67, whereby said rod may have a range of limited vertical movement without conlill? Leader? tact of said nuts with said lever. A starter handle 7G is lined to the outer end porti-on ci the sha-tt 65 and is adapted tor manual actuation to rock said shaft and cause a vertical oscillation of the inner end of the lever (i7 at times to contact the nuts G8, 69 and cause vertical movement of the starter rod 64.

l pop-off valve 7l, shown conventionally, is mounted in the wall ot the tank l2 to relieve excessive pressure it the occasion arises at any time. l

in exit pipe 72 leads 'from the generating and storage tank l2 and enters a gas washing tank 73 supported by a bracket or brackets 7l from the main tank l2. The gas washer tank 72 is shown conventionally and is adapted to contain water in its lower portion and material such as mineral wool in its upper portion, as well as other devices such as screens for washing, cleansing, screening and drying the gas before it is carried to place of use. The washing tank 73 is provided with a filling spout 75 and a drain cock 76, and a feed pipe 77 leads from its upper end to carry the gas to its destination. As an additional actor of safety, and to provide additional cleansing of the gas, a flash-back such as 78, here shown conventionally, may be interposed in the feed pipe 77, from which a hose 79 or other connection, equipped with a feed valve 80, leads to suitable nozzles, torches or other place ot use oi the gas.

ln use, the parts having been assembled as shown and described, the hopper 32 having been supplied with. carbid and water placed in the tank therebeneath, the eneration of gas is initiated by moving t Le starting handle 70 lightly through an arc in either direction a few times, thus moving; the starter rod 64 up and down as before stated and causing a vibration of the diaphragm 2G. This causes a vertical movement of the feed rod 39, with which the diaphragm contacts, and such movement -forces the cone valve 37 down and permits some carbid to tall through the annular opening thus produced between said valve and thelower rim or" the hopper. ris the carbid talle into water in the tank 'l2 is generated and lills the large tank and some or" the gas passes through the by-pass pipe 29, the valve having been opened, to the upper portion of the regulating tank 23, above the diaphragm. 'lfihen the gage 22 indicates the desired pressure the startery handle is placed in neutral position and tie b v-pass valve 30 is closed` so that the pressure in upper part of regula-ting tank above diaphragm is maintained at the standard or desired amountn Thereafter, as gas is used jfrom the tank l2 through the exit pipe 72 and ,connections7 pressure below the diaphragm 2 is decreased and the excess pressure above the diaphragm ltierces it downl and causes an opening movement of the valve 37, and more carbid is permitted to tall into the ,water to generate more gas and restore the normal pressure, which again closes the valve; it being understood that the weighted lever i7 always acts to hold the valve in closed position except when some counter agency forces it open. llhis operation continues so long as gas is used from the storage tank, the slightly varying pressure above and below` the diaphragm keeping it vibrating slightly against the leed rod 39 so that the valve 37 is kept open inst enough to maintain the correct `flow of carbid and the normal pressure in the tank l2. By this means a steady volume and pressure ot gas is maintained, whether much or little is used.

ln Figures 9 and l0 l have shown a plurality oit levers interposed between the diaphragm and the feed rod to amplify the variation of the former in its effect upon the latter. ln this construction the diaphragm is composed of a relatively rigid circular member 26a of less diameter than the tank 23 and a` more or less exible annular member 26b supporting said rigid member and in turn supported by the wall of the tank, as hereinbetore described. A ring 8]. is clamped between the walls of the members of the tank, beneath the diaphragm member 26", and gaskets 82 may be interposed between said members if desired. Forked ears 83 project inwardly radially trom the ring 8l and levers Se, in this. instance three in number, are fulcrurned at one end each in said ears and extend inwardly toward the center ot the tank. The feed rod 39a is formed or provided with an enlarged head S5 at its upper end, spaced somewhat below the center oi the diaphragm member 26, and the inner ends of the levers Se rest on said head, which preferably is provided on its upper euri-face with radial lugs or ribs 86 to prevent accidental displacement ot said levers. The rigid diaphragm member 26a is formed nea-r its circumference with spaced pairs of downwardly projecting apertured ears 87, each pair of which embraces and is pivoted to one of the levers Se, such connection being nearer the outer than the inner ends of the levers. lownward movement oit' the diaphragm member 26a, nermitted by flexibility of the outer diaphragm Vmember 26b and induced by excess pressure of gas above it or by action the starting devices, results in an actuation ot the levers 84 to communica-te pressure to the feed rod 398 through the head 85, such pressure and the corresponding` movement being of course amplified and increased. by the favorable leverage obtained through the connections described. Thus the sensitiveness olf' the automatic control of feed of carbid is increased, and-variations in pressure of gas stored in the tank 12 quickly result in movements to restore such pressure to normal, so that the pressure is maintained at all times at or nea-r normal condition.

This generator, including the automatic f feed regulating means, is exceedingly simple,

easy to operate, and not likely to get out of repair, and consequently is safe. It can be easily and quickly recharged with carbid or water through the filling openings provided for that purpose. In case the diaphragm should burst the feeding of carbid would cease, `and the feed valve would be automatically closed so that further generation would be discontinued.

The important feature of this invention I deem to be the automatic control through a diaphragm so arranged that a supply of gas is carried to its opposite side through a by-pass, the regulating chamber thus formed being supplied with gas to the extent ofthe normal or ideal pressure. It is apparent that the location and position as well as arrangement of the diaphragm may be varied, as by extending it entirely across the upper end of the main tank, or placing a separate diaphragm chamber or tank at a different location from that here shown and described. I do not desire, therefore, to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement here shown and described.

Another feature which I consider of importance is the hand controlled starting lever mechanism, and also the lever mechanism 'for amplifying the action of the diaphragm.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a generator having a container and a valve controlling' the passage of carbid therefrom, the combination of a regulating chamber, a diaphragm extended across said chamber in gas-tight condition, a vertically movable feed rod connected toy said valve and extending to a point beneath said diaphragm, and levers pivotally connected to said diaphragm and engaging the upper end of said feed rod whereby pressure on and movement of said diaphragm results in greater movement of said feed rod.

2. In a generator having a container and a valve controlling the passage of carbid therefrom, the combination of a diaphragm forming one side of a gas-tight regulating chamber, a feed rod secured to said valve and extending to a point beneath said diaphragm, and suitably fulcrumcd, having pivotal connections with said diaphragm and engaging the upper end of the feed rod, whereby pressure in said regulating chamber upon said diaphragm is transmitted to and amplified with respect to actuation of said feed rod and opening movement of said valve. f

nasca. r?

3. In a generator having a container and a valve adapted to control the passage of carbid therefrom, the combination of a diaphragm forming one side of a gas-tight regulating chamber, a feed rod secured to said valveV and extending adjacent said diaphragm, movement of said diaphragm in one direction being adapted to actuate said feed rod and open said valve, a stem secured to said diaphragm and extendin within said regulating chamber, a rock sha t in said regulating chamber, means connected with said rock shaft for causing actuation of said stem in both directions and yet permitting independent movement of said diaphragm and stem without affecting said rock shaft, and means for rocking said shaft.

4c. In a generator, a tank, a hopper suspended therein and formed with an opening at its lower end, a valve adapted to close said opening, a feed rod secured to said valve and extending upwardly through said hopper, a tube enclosing a portion of said feed rod, a shield secured to the lower end of said tube and embracing the upper portion of said valve, plates apertured to receive said tube, rods secured to said plates and extending laterally and anchored to the walls of said hopper, and a stop member secured to said tube and engaging above one of said plates, to support said tube and members carried thereby.

5. In a generator, a controlling device comprising a chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber, a stem secured to said diaphragm and extending within said chamber, longitudinally spaced stop members on said stem, a rock shaft journaled in said chamber, an arm on said rock shaft extending adjacent said stem between and adapted to engage said stop members and to move said stem in either direction, and a lever handle on said rock shaft outside of said chamber.

6. In a generator, a tank, a hopper therein, valve-controlled feed mechanism for said hopper including a vertical feed rod, a regulating chamber, a diaphragm. extending across said chamber, levers fulcrumed at their ends within said chamber and having their opposite ends adapted to rest on said feed rod, and pivotal connections between said diaphragm and intermediate portions of said levers, whereby movement of said diaphragm is amplified with respect to said feed rod.

7. In a generator, a tank, a hopper therein, a valve controlling said hopper and having an upwardly extending feed rod, a regulating chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber and formed of an annular flexible member and an inflexible member centrally thereof, a lever fulcrumed at one end within and extending substantially radially of said chamber beneath said medew diaphragm, the opposite end of seid. lever adapted to engage said feed rod, and e pivotal connection between the inlexible portion of said diaphragm and an intermediate portion of said lever.

8. In a generator, a, tank, e hopper therein, a valve controlling said hopper and having an upwardly extending feed rod connected thereto, e regulating chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber, a ring supported by the wall of said chamber, levers ulerumed to one end to said ring and extending substantially radially of seid chamber, the opposite ends of said levers adapted to rest on en enlarged uppei1 end of seid feed rod, end pivoal connections between seid diaphragm and intermediae portions of seid levers, such connections being closer te the ulerums than to 'bhe :free ends of said levers.

Signed et Cheyenne, in `the county of Laramie and State of Wyoming, this 30th day of July, 1920.

JOHN LGUClEN CHESNUTT.

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