US1803207A - Acetylene-gas generator - Google Patents

Description

IVA E5555 April 28, 1931. c c 1,803,207

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l amt MATTHEW Pfl/vCH/M April 28, 1931. M. PANCHICK 1,303,207

AQETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 igmwim I W/ TA/E S 5 E 5 gwventoz April 28, 1931. M. PANCHICK ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm tor, AMTfG/EW PAM/CHICK W/TIVE Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITEDFYSTATEFS PATENT OFF-ICE- MATTHEW PANCHICK, OF DETROIT", MICHIGAN ACE'IYLENE-GAS GENERATDR Application filed February 1, 1928. Serial No. 251,219.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators and has for an object'theconstruction of such a structure which may be transported and at the same time efiiciently ,5, generate acetylene gas.

Another object of this invention is the formation of an acetylene gas generator including a gas generating chamber, within which is removably supported a sheet metal tray adapted to receive sediment and permit gas to escape therefrom and a wire mesh tray fitted within the sheet metal tray adapted to carry the calcium carbide.

While the accompanying drawings and the description which is to follow, constitute a disclosure of the preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed. g

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the apparatus embodying the invention, the view being of a schematic nature;

Figure 2 is a vertical diametric sectional view through the generator of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 30f Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview through the carburetor of the apparatus; v Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through one of the drying units for drying the gas prior to its delivery to the carburetor;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional viewthrough the supply pipe by which water is admitted to the generator;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustratlng a slight modlficatlon of the invention.

vention includes a generator which is indi cated in general by the numeral 1, a pair of drying un'its indicatedone by the numeral 2 and the other by the numeral 3,a-source of compressed air supply indicated by the nu meral 4, and a carburetor indicated .by the numeral 5.

The construction of the generator I is best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings and, asshown most clearly in Figure 2, '65

the generator comprises a water reservoir 6 and a generating chamber 7. The water reservoir 6 and generating chamber 7 are of general cylindrical form and the said reservoir is disposed upon the top of the generating chamber and is provided at the peripheryof its bottom with an annular seat- 'ing groove '8 whichopposes a similar groove 9 formed at the periphery of the-top-of the generating chamber 7, the groove 9 being provided in a flange 10 which projects inwardly from the upper edge of the circumferential wall of said chamber, andthe chamber being open at its top. A packing ring or gasket 11- p of rubber is disposed within the matching grooves '8 and '9 and serves tov prevent the escape of acetylene gas from the-generating chamber 7. In order that the reservoir 6 and generating chamber? maybe separab'ly con- 7,

As illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, 7 the system or apparatus embodying the inmanner at its lower end asat 13'to the upper side of the bottom of the generating chamher 7 centrally thereofan d extends upwardly and through a tube 14 which is arranged centrally. within the generating chamber 7 andunited at its upper and lower ends, in an ,7

air-tight manner, to the top and bottom of the said chamber, a nut 15 being threaded onto theupper end oft-he stem 12 and binding against, a washer 16 which'is arranged upon the said end of the stem and bearsupon the I upper 'side'of the top of the generating chainsupport for a substantially.circular tray 17 comprising a circumferential wall 18 and a bottom 19, the circumferential wall 18 of the tray being provided at its top with an outstanding flange 20 which rests upon the flange 7, the tray being in this manner removably supported within the generating chamber. For a purpose to be presently explained thecircumferential wall of the tray 17 is formed with a number of perforations indicated by the numeral21. Arranged within the tray 17 is a similarly formed tray indicated by the numeral 22 comprising a circumferential wall 23 and a bottom 24, this tray being of wire mesh material and of a diameter and depth somewhat less t an the corresponding dimensions of the tray. 17 so that the circumferential walls and bottoms of the two trays will bemutually spaced. The circumferential wall 23 of the tray 22 is provided at its upper edge with an outstanding flange 25 which rests upon the flange 20 of the tray 17. A tube 26 is secured at its lower end to the upper side of the bottom 19 of the tray 17 and extends upwardly withinthe tray and a short distance above the same so as to have its upper end presented relatively close to the under side of the bottom of the reservoir 6, and the stem 12 extends upwardly through this tube.

'In order that a supply of water may be initially introduced into the reservoir '6, the reservoir is provided upon its top with a filling spout 27 which is closed by an airtight cap 28. In carrying out the invention, water is supplied from the reservoir, in regulate-d quantities, to a mass of calcium carbide which is arranged within the tray 22, so as to eflect the generation of the acetylene'gas, and in order that this supply of water may be effected and controlled, means is provided which will now lee-described. -The means referred to above for supplying water from the reservoir 6 to the generating chamber 7 comprises a vwater supply tube 29 which is fitted through openings 30 and 31, in an air-tight manner, formed in the top and bottom respectively of the reservoir 6, the said tube extending upwardly above the top of the reservoir and downwardly beneath the bottom thereof with its lower end terminating within the tray 22 above the bottom of said tray. In that portion of its length which extends between the top and bottom. of the reservoir 6, the tube 29 is formed with a plurality of small perforations indicated by the numeral 32, and the lower end of the tube is reduced in diameter and interiorly tapered as at 33 to provide a delivery orifice of relatively small diameter and a valve seat. At this point it will be understood that water, contained within the reservoir 6, is delivered through the perforations 32, from the reservoir, into the tube 29 and is delivered, by way of'the orifice 33, at the lower end of said tube, into the mass of calcium carbide which is supported within the tray 22. In order that the flow of water from the lower end of the tube 29, into the mass of calcium carbide within the tray 22, may beregulated, a coupling 34 is applied to the upper end of the tube and is closed at its upper end by a cap 35 having a central threaded opening 36 in which is adjustably mounted the threaded upper portion 37 of a valve rod 38 the lower end of which is tapered as at 39 so as to conform to the valve seat which surrounds the orifice 33 within the lower end of the tube 29, a hand wheel 40 being provided at the upper end of the valve rod whereby the rod may be adjusted so as to vary the position of its tapered lower end with respect to the said valve seat. At this point it will be understood that water is supplied, substantially drop by drop, to the calcium carbide, by way of the lower end of the tube 29, and in order that the supply of'water may be insured and to prevent anylikelihood-of clogging of the orifice 33, means is provided for supplying air under pressure to the said tube 29, and for this purpose the coupling 34 is provided with a radial branch 41 to which a compressed air supply pipe 42 may be connected.

The compressed air supply pipe 42 is conis indicated in general by the numeral 43 and this compressed air tank may be arranged in any suitable position within or upon the automobilein connection with which the apparatus is installed, as for example behind the dash board. Airunder pressure is supplied to the tank 43 through the medium of an air pump 44 the piston rod 45 of which is designed to be operatively connected, in any appropriate manner, with some moving part of the-engine of the automobile, so that, while the engine is running, air will be compressed and supplied to the said tank, and in order that excess pressure may be avoided, a safety valve 46 of any of the ordinary types is connected with the tank and opens through one wall thereof. A pressure gage 47 is likewise preferably mounted upon the tank so that theuser of the apparatus may ascertain the pressure of the air within the tank.

Air under pressure is delivered from the tank 43 by way of a pipe 48 and a cut-off valve 49 is interposed in this pipe and may be coupling, and a manually operable cut-off.

valve 51 is interposed in the length of the said pipe 42 and may be adjusted so as to regulate the supply of air under pressure by way of the said pipe 42 to the water supply tube 29. A coupling 52 is connected to the lower end of the pipe 48 and a compressed air supply pipe 53 is connected at one end to this coupling and at its other end is placed in communication with the generating chamber 7 as clearly shown in Figures l and -2 of the drawings, a manually adjustable cutoffvalve 54 being interposed in the said pipe 53 so that the air under pressure, delivered to the generating chamber 7 by way ofthe pipe 53 may be controlled.

As stated, the compressed air tank 43 may be located behind the dash board of the automobile, and the pump 44 is intended to be operated by some moving part of the engine or the transmission and therefore located relatively remote from the tank 43, and therefore a flexible air hose 45" is provided to es tablish connection between thepump and the said tank. The generator 1 may be mounted at any desired point but preferably-upon one of the running boards ofthe automobile.

In order that the generated acetylene gas may be thoroughly dried and all impurities separated therefrom prior to deliveryof the gas to the carburetor 5, the'gas is caused to circulate throughthe drying units 2 and 3, and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, these units, which are of counterpart construction, consists each'of a chamber 55 which may be of metal and within which absorbent'cotton or any other suitable .absorbent and filtering material 56 is arranged, each chamber having a relatively large-mouth 57 through which thematerial 56 may be introduced and this mouth being exteriorly threaded as at 58 for the application thereto of a cap 59. A pipe 60 is connected by a short length of rubber hose 61, with a'short delivery pipe 62 which extends from the generating chamber 7, and is coupled-as at 63 to the upper end of a tube 64 which leads downwardly through the cap 59 andinto'the mass of material 56 within the chamber -55-of the drying unit 2. Ashorter tube 65 is likewise mounted in the cap 59 of this chamber and is connected by a coupling 66 with one end of a pipe 67 which leads to a coil 68 which is disposed to surround the-exhaust manifold E of the internal combustion engine, a pipe 69-being led from the other end of this coiland connected by a coupling 70 with a tube 71 which corresponds to the tube 64 and: which leads downwardly into the tank of the drying unit 3 through the top of said unit} Preferably the: units 2 and 3 will be' arranged at theopposite-sides of the internal combustion engine in connection with which the apparatus is installed, andattaching brackets 72 may be associated with the closure caps 59 of said units forthe pur-- pose of attachment to any suitable and convenient fixedpart ofthe automobile, or the engine thereof. The unit 3 likewise contains within its chamber 55, amass of absorbent material corresponding to the mass 56, the

. units being, as previously stated, of counterpart construction, and at this point it will be evidentthat'the acetylene'gas generated inthe generator 1 will be delivered, by way of the pipe 60, to the unit 2 and will circulate through the mass ;of absorbent material 56 withinthe chamber 55 of said unit and will then pass,-by way of the pipe 67, tothe coil 68 where it .will be heated, due to'the heat radiated from the exhaust manifold E and through the pipe 69 to the unit 3-where it circulates through the mass of absorbent material within the chamber 55 of this unit,

and the closure cap'of this unit supports'a pipe 7 3 corresponding to the pipe 65 of the unit 2 to which'is connected, by a coupling.

74, one end of a pipe 75 which leads to the carburetor of the apparatus. 7 r

The carburetor 5 of the apparatus comprises a mixing chamber which is indicated by the numeral 7 6 and which is preferably of the general spherical form shown in Fig- 'ure 4 of the drawings, andat one side this chamber is provided with an intake spent 77. which is preferably of the flared form shown in the said figure, and a valve seat 78 is formed within the inner end of the said spout substantially at the juncture of the spout with the said chamber 76. A valve is arranged within the spout 77 of the earburetor and comprises a head 79 which coacts with thevalve' seat 7 8, and a stem80 which extends from the head and through a guide 81 provided"withinthe'said spout, the stem slidably fittingthrough said guide and being provided at its outer end with a collar 82 'againstwhich :bears one end of aspring 83 which is arranged upon the valve stem and which spring bearsatits other end against the guide 81 thusyieldablyholding the valve 79 in closed position resting upon the seat 78. At its side opposite the side from which the spout 77 extends, the mixing chamber 76 of the carburetor is provided with a tubular extension 84 which is provided at its outer endwith flange 85 adapting the same to be bolted to the intake of the intake manifold, indicated by the reference letter I, of the internal combustion engine, it being understood that the carburetor 5 of the apparatus of the present invention is to supplant the carburetor ordinarily employed and connected with the said intake manifold. The tuburetor may be controlled, a valve 89 is mounted in the said extension 86 and is provided with aport 90 which may be brought into and out of registration with the passageway 88 by rotation of the valve, the valve stem being provided in its upper end with a crank arm 91 to which is connected a rod 92 which may lead to the instrument board of the automobile upon which the apparatus is installed.

In order that a suitable volume of air may be admitted to the mixing chamber 7 6 of the carburetor 5,'while the engine is idling, the

mixing chamber is formed in its under side with an opening 92, and a valve plate 93 is slidably mounted, by a screw 94, upon the under side of the said mixing'chamber and is provided with a projecting finger piece 95 which may be grasped for the purpose of adjusting the same, the valve plate having an opening 96 therein and having its portion in which the opening is formed slidably engaged in a boss 97 formed upon the under side of the mixing chamber and provided with an inlet'opening 98, it being understood that by loosening the screw 94,-the valve plate may be adjusted so as to vary the size of the passageway afiorded by the openings 92, 96 and 98, and thus regulate the supply of airto the mixing chamber of the carburetor, the screw 94 being of course adapted to be tightened after the desired adjustmenthas been effected, so as to hold the said valve plate in its position of adjustment.

Figure 7 of the drawings illustrates a slightly modified form of the carburetor, and

in this figure the carburetor mixing chamber is indicated by the numeral 99 and-the intake nozzle by the numeral 100, the nozzle being provided in its inner end with a valve stem guide 101 corresponding to the guide 81, of the previously described embodiment, and a similar guide 102 being arranged within the inner end of the mixing chamber 99 adjacent the point of juncture of the tubular extension which are disposed against the opposite faces of the body 106 and secured in place by nuts 108 threaded upon the stem of the valve which isindicated by the numeral 109, the

stem being slidably fitted. through the guides 101 and102, and a spring 110 being arranged upon the stem and hearing at one end against the guide 102 and at its other end against the valve head 105. In other respects the carburetor shown in Figure 7 is identical with the carburetor shown in Figure 4 and previously' described.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be understood that the valve 51 is adjusted so as to provide for the supply of air under pressure through the pipe 42 in sufiicient volume to insure of the proper delivery of water from the reservoir 6 into the mass of calcium carbide within the tray 22, the valve rod 38 being adjusted so as to regulate the supply of water, and it will likewise be evident that the valve 54 may be adjusted so as to provide for the supply of air under pressure to the generating chamber 7 to cause fiowof the generated gas from this chamber through the pipe 60, to the drying-unit 2, where the gas is freed of the major portion of its moisture content, the gas being deliveredfrom this unit by way of the pipe 67 to the coil 68 where the gas is heated and further dried and then delivered by way of the pipe 69 to the drying unit 3, from which i it passes to the carburetor 5 and its admission to the carburetor being controlled by the throttle valve 89 which is adjusted through the medium of the rod 92. The gas which is delivered into the carburetor will of course enter the mixing chamber 76 of the carburetor where it will be mixed with air taken in through the spout 77, upon the intake strokes of the pistons of the engine, the explo- H sive mixture thus produced being delivered to the intake manifold I and, by way of this ,manifold, to the engine cylinders. It will also be evident, from the foregoing, that due to the provision of the rubber hose connection 61 between the generating chamber 7 of the generatorl and the pipe 60, if there should be an excess of gas pressure, this hose will expand and burst thus-avoiding any damage to the other parts of the apparatus, it being a simple matter to replace the hose, in the event this mishap occurs.

It will be understood, in connection with the generator 1, that, due to the spacing of the peripheral and'bottom' walls of the tray 22fromthe corresponding walls of the tray 17, a free circulation of the water through the mass of calcium carbide is provided, and

the waste product, which is in the form of a powder, due to the disintegration of the calcium carbide lumps, in the generation of the gas therefrom, may fall through the mesh of the tray onto the bottom of the tray 17 from which it may be removed from time to time, as required.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In a generator of the character described,

a generating chamber, an annular flange formed upon the inner surface of the wall of the chamber near the top thereof, a sheet a water reservoir resting upon said chamher, and means for feeding Water from the reservoir to the chamber, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MATTHEW PANOHIGIC

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