US1494462A - Acetylene-gas genebator - Google Patents

Description

May 20, mM

H. CQMPTON AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR original Fild Aug. s. i921 Afef 7077 hf 50777/5727777 Patented May 20, 1924. i

UNITED STATES 1,441,512 PATENT oFFic.

MARION' H. COMPTON, OF MUSCATINE, IOWA.

AoE'rYLnNnGAs GENERATOR.

Original application led August 3, 1921,'Seria1 No. 489,586. Divided and this application led December 9, 1,922. `Serial No.` 605,854.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it lnown that I, MARIONv H. COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Muscatine, in the countyof Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. y

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators of that type wherein a container or casing is provided having a spout at its lower end, with a gas bell disposed above the water and carbide receptacle contained within the gas bell and operated by the gas bell to cause the discharge of carbide into the water at the lowerv end of the container, such a gas generator being illustrated in my pending application for patent, Serial No. 489,586, of August-3, 1921, of which application this is a division. i

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a generator of this character comprising an outer casing and a hollow vpedestal disposed entirely withiny the casingand removably supported thereon, this pedestal providing a strong, convenient and substantial support for the carbide ycontainer and increasing the gas capacity of the machine.

A further object is to so construct this pedestal as to `provide a sealing compartment exterior to the pedestal having sealing liquid therein and in which the lower portion of the usual gas bell is disposed.

Another object is to mount upon l the.

pedestal a gas discharge pipe having in `its length a water filter or trap and means being provided whereby the moisture collected in thefilter shall be carried back into the main reservoir. i t

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

The figure is a vertical sectional Vview of an acetylene gas generator constructed in accordance with ymy invention.

Referring -to this drawing, lOdesignates the outer casing of the generator, `which may be any desired length and` diameter, the lower end of this casing being formed to provide a lrelatively deepinverted cone 11. Above the tapered lower end of the casing there is provided anupwardly and inwardly extending flange 12, which atA its lower margin is riveted or otherwise attached to the wall of the casing. The top of the casing is closed by aremovable cap orcover y13. The casing, as illustrated, is designed to be disposed beneath the ground, the ground level being indicatedby the dotted line a so that only the cap 13 is above the ground. This cap 13 is, of course, provided with suitable handles whereby it may be removed and under normal circumstances is locked or otherwise attached to the casing so that it cannot be unauthorizedlyremoved. v

Disposed ywithin the upper portion of the casing 10 and resting upon the flange 12 is anannular support or rpedestal 14, ythe lower portion of which is downwardly and outwardly flared at 15, and the lower margin of this portion rests upon the flange 12. It will be noted from the figure that the angle of theflange l12 is slightly greater than the angle p of the flared portion 15 so that a wedging fit is secured between the lower margin of the face 15 and the outer face 12, thus` `securing a tight joint between these parts. p The upper portion ofthe pedestal 14 is of uniform` diameter and double-walled so as to provide an outer wall 416, between which andthe inner `wall an annular sealing space 17 is formed which is to be filled with water or "other `.liquid up to any desired ornecessarvllevel. AAbove the level of the water within. this sealing space the pedestal is formed. on its inner wallwith the perforations 18` whereby gas generated within the generating chamber may escape into the bel. l.

` Disposed inthe upper portion of the casing 10 is a gas bell 19 havingits lower por` tion disposed within the sealing compartment n17'. It willbe obvious that this bell will rise and. fall in accordance with the amountof `gastontained within ythe bell. The perforations 18 permit 4the gas to pass from the interior of the pedestal to the in terior of the bell. The top ofthe bell has a handle 20 .whereby it may be manually raised. I`Preferabrly the upper edge of the wall y16.extendsfinward at 16a toward the wall of the .gas bell. t

,\Disposed.within the gas bell and supportedby the upper end ofthe inner wall of the pedestal 14 is a` carbide `container ydesignated 21. The lower end of this conf taineris hopper.shaped at 22. The upper end of the container is. preferably open. A seat 22?l is,l y,formed at .the upper. margin of che, ink, he p the hopper-shaped `portion 2 2, the upper end of the inner wall of the pedestal resting within this seat so that the carbide container 21 is properly centered with're's'pect to the casing 10. Obviously there is no necessity of having a gas-tight joint at this point for the reason that any gas which may escape between the inner wall of the pedestal and the carbide container 21 will pass into the bell. Inasmuch as the bottom of the carbide container has the formof an invertedcone, it is obvious that the carbide container will be guided into position as the carbide container is lowered onto the pedeetal. l do notwish to b e limited in this resent case to any particular formof carb'iifefeeding means. `I have. ilhistrated,t however, part;r of the carbide feeding` meane', which shown in my. co-pending app-licatioinerial No. 489,586, beforlfeferred td Insthis construction v the lower endjof the: .hoppershaped portion 22 .ofthe carbidecmtaiiier 21 is formed. with l'terally 4 ezrteriding chute 23 having side walls and; front and rear walls, thabQttQm-M .f thi-.. @hue exe tending downward toward the open lower end thereof.v l 4 Pivotally mounted .betweenthe side. Walls is the valve 25 which vis crescent-'shaped in cross section to provide a downwardly curved portion 26 anda reversely curved portion 27. The chute has afront wall 28, with the lower edge. of Awhichqth'e pore tion 27 of the valve coacts. When the valve is in the position vshowiriil..the figure,

the hollowinterior of the 'valve isi1 open to receive carbide from the chute.` i, The ,valie 25' is formed with anarm; 30 and when ,tjhie` arm, is drawn upward thevalvewill rotate so that the portion v27 willfca'use vtheopening between the walls .24,and 2 8, while the interiorof the valve will dischargedownf ward, thus discharging a certain amount of carbide into the water.

In order to operate this valve,- I provide operating meansA disposed within a Ihousing 31 in the mainwcarbide container 2 1.` The operating mechanism comprises a` vpair of supporting bars 32, and; a lever 33 pivoted at 34tbetweensaid rsupportingvbrs, this lever being connected by a link 3,5 t o the extremity ofthe ari-ri 30,v The inner end of the lever is pivotally, connected to avertioally extendingr'o'd 36 eigtends through the housing. 3l, throiigh the upper Open, end, ,of the carbide chifrriba. and pref? era'bly extends downwardthronghthe lewer end of the. housing andterr`riiriates` in a tapered extremity ,located iinledately Outer. er1-fl of the lever .33 Car'r'ie al, 37 holdsV that 8nd.0f ,thl downward, ,thus` caus t If the g-as in the gas bell becomes reduced in quantity, the gas bell will fall and 'the upper end of the gas bell will strike the upper end of rod 36, depressing this rod, thus lifting the weight 37 and the link 35, lifting arm 30 and permitting the discharge ofl carbide from the valve into the generator. When the discharged carbide causes the generation of a certain amount of gas, the bell rises and as soon as it has risen a certain distance the weight 3T will again act to cause the valve to return to the position `shown in the ligure. The lower end of rod 36 acts to break up the carbide at the lower end ofthe container.

lhav'e shown one form of feeding mechanisin, but I donot wish to be limited to this particular form, as it is obvious that the improvements which are claimed in this present application need not be associated Y with a. carbide feed mechanism of the chareter-d1iscl0sed- A Supported longitudinally within the casing 41Q andbetween the gas bell and the sealingwall 17 is a gas discharge pipe J 3 8, the lower end of which extends vinto the water contained in the casing 10 above the flange 12. VThus the upper end of this pipe 38 has a branch39 extending out of the casing. Disposed in the length of the pipe 38 is a filter 4:0,v and connected to the v lower end of the pipe 38 and preferably passing below the sealing chamber 1 7y is a branch 41, which after passing through the inner wall of the pedestal, extends upward into a. position just below the hopper-shaped portion 22 and` isthen downwardly bent to form an inlet `terminal 4:2,` Vhen there is an ezfcess of gas, that is when a greateramount of gas' is vgenerated than is being drawn o if through the pipe 39, the gas will pass upward throughthe openings 18 yinto the gas bell and the gas bell will rise, as before stated. When, however, less gas is being generated than is being used, the gas bell will fall, forcing the gas back through the openings 18 into the upper portion of the pedestal and this gas will pass through the inlet 4 2 and soout through Vthe outlet 39. The filter will cause all moisture and foreign matter to be subtracted from the gas and this moisture will drain back into the,sea li 1'1gl space surrounding the flange 12.

In order toreinovewater from this sealingv space which surrounds the ange 12 and sunro'unds thelower end of the pedestal, a drlwlof opngclosed by a plug 43 maybe provided and water maybe drawn frointhe sealing space 17 .by opening the plug 44 in the outer wall of thissealing Snace.l,., 1, t,

v theoparati on of thisconstruc'tion, the lower portion of thercontainer is filled with water to a' point above the upper edge of the flange 12 and preferably above the lower margin of the downwardly fiared conical portion 15 of the pedestal. Thus the `joint between the portions 15 and 12 is beneath the water, thus preventing gas from passing around the pedestal or through the joint between the pedestal and the flange 12 into the casing 10. Of course, the carbide chamber is to be lled with carbide and upon a depression of the bell 19 the apparatus will begin to function by discharging carbide into the water, thus generating gas, which will lift the bell 19 to its normal `position and the valve will thus be closed. When the gas pressure diminishes, however, the bell 19 will lower, striking the upper end of the rod 36 and causing the discharge of carbide into the water. If it be desired to clean or repair the parts, it is only necessary to talle off the cap 13, whereupon the bell19 may be entirely removed. This discloses the carbide container and the carbide container may be filled with carbide or may be also entirely removed. It is not necessary to remove the pedestal 14 nor withdraw the water within the sealing space 17 or the water exterior to the portions 12 and 15. When sludge is to be removed, a pipe is inserted downward through the casing so that the lower end of the pipe is adjacent the lower extremity of the tapered portion 11 and the sludge may then be pumped off without removing but little of the water within the generator and with but a minimum disturbance of this water. desired to remove the pedestal also, this may be readily done by lifting it off the flange 12.

It will be seen that my pedestal is so constructed that it provides a chamber containing water separate and distinct from the main tank, said chamber providing a water seal for the lower end of the gas bell. It is also to be noted that the pedestal is so constructed that it provides a space for the pipe 38, which pipe is provided with a water filter or trap draining back into the water between the parts 12 and 15 and the outer wall of the casing 10. Preferably the upper end of the pipe 38 is provided with a gas cock 45 whereby air may be vented when putting generator into operation after recharging.

It will be seen that there is a dead air space formed between the wall of the casing 1() and the wall 16 and between the casing 10 and the gas bell which prevents the gas bell seal from freezing.

I claim 1. An acetylene gas generator comprising an outer casing, a pedestal seat attached to the inner face of the casing and `extending upward and inward therefrom, a pedestal annular in cross section disposed within the casing and having its lower end detachably resting upon and engaging the seat, said pedestal being formed to provide a liquid Of course, if it be holding sealing compartment within the outer casing and spaced therefrom, and a gas bell having its lower portion disposed within the `sealing compartment.

2. A gas generator of the character described comprising an outer `casing adapted torcontain water in its lower portion `and having an upwardly andfinwardlyy extending flange disposed below the water level and constituting a pedestal seat, a pedestal annular in cross section and flared at its lower end to detachably rest upon the exterior face of saidflange, said pedestal above the flared lower end being formed to provide an annular sealing compartment within the outer casing and spaced therefrom, and a gas bell disposed within the casing and having its lower y'portion disposed within the Y sealing compartment. r

3. An acetylene gas generator comprising an outer casing adapted to contain water and having an upwardly and inwardly extending fiange constituting a, pedestal seat, the upper end of said flange beingdisposed `below the normal water level in the casing, a pedestal annular in cross section disposed within the casing and having its lower edge downwardly and outwardly flared to restr loosely and detachably upon the upperfa'ce' of said flange, said pedestal above the flared portion having an outer wall defining a sealing compartment adapted to hold sealing liquid,

said o-uter wall being disposed within the outer casing and spaced therefrom, the upper portion of the pedestal being formed to provide an annular seat, and a carbide container removably disposed within the pedestal and detachably resting upon said seat.

4. An acetylene gas generator comprising an outer casing adapted to contain water at its lower end and having an upwardly and inwardly projecting fiange whose lower edge is disposed below the normal water level in the casing and constituting a pedestal seat, a pedestal having an outwardly and downwardly flaring lower portion loosely resting upon said flange and ,being disposed within the water exterior tothe flange, the pedestal being annular in cross section and extending upward in the casing and spaced therefrom, the pedestal being formed to provide an annular sealing compartment above its flared lower portion disposed inward of and in spaced relation to the outer casing, a gas bell having its lower portion disposed within the sealing compartment, carbide feeding mechanism carried by the pedestal and disposed within the gas bell, and a gas outlet pipe carried by the pedestal between the wall of the pedestal and the wall of the tank, said outlet pipe having a filter in its length and at its lower end draining into the space between the tank and th pedestal supporting flange.

5. An acetylene gas generator comprising an outer casing adapted to contain water at its lower end and having an upwardly and inwardly projecting flange whose lower edge is disposed below the normal water level in the casing and constituting a pedestal seat, a pedestal having an outwardly and downwardly flaring lower portion resting loosely upon said flange and being disposed within the water exterior to the flange, the pedestal being annular in cross section and extending upward in the casingand spaced therefrom, the pedestal being formed to provide an annular sealing compartment above its flared lower portion within and spaced from the outer casing, a gas bell having its lower portion disposed within the sealing compartment, carbide feeding mechanism carried by the pedestal and disposed within the gas bell, a gas outlet pipe disposed between the pedestal and the wall of the tank and exterior to the bell, said outlet pipe extending vertically and at its upperend having an outlet branch extending through the wall of the tank, the lower end of said pipe discharging into the space between the pedestal supporting flange and the tank, there being a filter between said lower end of the pipe and the discharge branch thereof, and an inlet branch' extending from said pipe inward below the gas bell sealing compartment of the pedestal and opening into the upper portion of the pedestal.

6. An acetylene gas generator comprising an outer casing adapted tov contain water at its lower end, a pedestal extending upward within the casing and supported at its lower end thereon, the pedestal being formed to provide an annular sealing compartment above its lower portion, a gas bell having its lower portion disposed within the sealing compartment carbide feeding mechanism carried by the pedestal and disposed within the gas bell, a gas outlet pipe disposed between the pedestal andthe wall of the tank and exterior to the bell, said outlet pipe extending vertically and at its upper end having an outlet branch extending through the wall of the tank, the lower end of the pipe discharging into the space between the pedestal and the tank, there being a filter between said lower end of the pipe and the discharge branch thereof, and an inlet branch extending from said pipe inward below the gas bell and the sealing compartment.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. v

MARION H. COMPTON.

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