US1857456A - Shield for carbide feeds in acetylene generators - Google Patents

Description

'May 10, 1932. lRw|N 1,857,456

SHIELD FOR CARBIDE FEEDS IN ACETYLENE GENERATORS Filed May 19, 1927 IIVI/ENTOH Patented May 10, 1932 I UNITED STATES HERBERT Gr. IRWIN, OF AMARILLO, TEXAS SHIELD CARBIDE FEEDS IN ACETYLENE GENERATORS Application filed May 19,

This invention relates to splash valves or splash shields and drip rings adapted to prevent water splashing upon the carbide feed valve or otherwise moisture finding its way to and through the feed opening into the. carbide hopper of an acetylene generator and thereby clogging the feed. I

In such devices it is common to use a relatively large metallic tube depending from the 1 hopper bottom about the feed opening to a short distance above the water in the water chamber and through which tube carbide drops as it is fed from the hopper. The purpose of the tube being to shield the feed openmg against moisture and water splash when the generator is hauled about. The dripring is usually a fiat band projection formed on the hopper bottom about the feed opening in place of the tube, it is used on the stationary type generator and the purpose of same is to prevent Water that accumulates on the under and sloping side of the hopper bottom running down into the feed opening which would soon clog the feed. In recent years various types of valves have been designed for use immediately under the carbide feed in an effort to find a satisfactory means for a portable generator to prevent clogging of the feed due to moisture causing lime deposit.

While the metallic tube splash shield has been given extensive use, it has one drawback in that it finally clogs or closes with lime a deposit at its lower end obstructing the feeding of carbide. The usual drip ring has a similar disadvantage in that powders of lime from carbide, deposit on the inner wall of the ring creating a means of capillary attraction whereby some of the water at the lower edge of the drip ring is conveyed upwardly into the feed opening thereby clogging the feed. Other splash shields such as. valves, with which I am familiar give more or less trouble due to moisture and lime deposit.

The object of my invention is to provide new and useful improvements in splash shields, splash valves and drip rings for the carbide feed and carbide passageway in an 5.) acetylene generator.

used in the generator shown in Fig. 8.

1927. Serial No. 192,555.

A further object of my invention is to overcome the usual choking up of the carbide feed due to moisture and lime deposit.

A further object of my invention is to prevent an obstructive lime deposit in a passage- 56 way for carbide.

A further object of my invention is to prevent a means of capillar attraction forming in a passagewa for car ide.

A further ob ect of my invention is to pro- 00 vide a splash shield and drip ring that is self cleaning.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of my improved device, as described in the specification, claimed in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a back view of an acetylene generator with walls cut away showing a sectional view of a splash shield constructed in accordance with my invention, the shield being in closed position.

Figure 2 shows my splash shield mounted on a hopper bottom that may be used in such a generator shown in Fig.' 1, this being an end view of the shield clamping members in open position.

Figure 3 is an end view of the shield clamping members in closed position.

Figure 1 is a side view of the shield and clamping members in closed position;

Figure 5 is a side view of'the shield and clamping members in'open position. 0 Figure 6 shows one way for mounting my splash shield on a hopper bottom, the hopper bottom and shield being in section.

Figure 7 is a view of one of the shield clamping members better illustrating details 'of structure.

Figure 8 is a view of another style of generator with a portion of the water chamber and carbide hopper cut awa showing an alternate form in which my invention may be accomplished. The splash shield here is shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 9 is a side view of the splash shield bility.

- shoulder b F i re 10 is a view lookin down at the mout of the water chamber of the generator shown in Fi 8.

Figure 11- 1s a plan view of the outlet end of the carbide hopper of the generator shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 12 is a side view of a separable hopper bottom for a stationary generator show- 1n my invention in a drip ring.

igure 13 shows an alternate form in which my invention may'be worked out in a dri ring.

Re errin to the accompanying drawings, I have use the letter A to indicate enerally the s lash shield which is of ho ow cylindrical orm and composed of soft rubber havin qualities of toughness and durahen greater strength is required in a shield it may contain one or two plies of cord or preferably a knitting of seamless tubular form. The shield having plain ends shown in Fig. 9, may be cut to the required length from rubber tube stock. Certain grades of extra heav inner tube stock such as used in motor vehicle tires have been found to serve satisfactoril for the purpose. The shields having bea ed lower end portions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are preferably formed of suitable rubber gum heat treated or cured in molds under pressure as is well known in the art of rubber article and motor vehicle tire manufacture.

Referring to Fig. 1, numeral 1, designates the water chamber of an acetylene generator; 2, the carbide hopper; 3, a separable hopper bottom carrying a rim gasket 5- and clamped between the ho per and water chamber. A band rin 6, 0 such size as will receive the upper en of the splash shield is formed integral with the hopper bottom about the carbide feed opening 7, to provide an annular which the upper end of the splash shie d may be secured to the hopper bottom with a band clamp 8, see Fig. 6. The shield should be of suflicient length to extend downward to a short distance above the water level. Ordinarily this would constitute a satisfactory shield against moisture from the hopper bottom and the splashing of water in a. generator for limited portable use, such as hauling the generator on a hand truck in and about the shop. But when the generator is to be mounted on a motor vehicle for extended service outside the shop and when it is desirable to haul the generator fully charged with water, carbide and gas, a manually operated clamping device is provided to clamp and close the shield immediately under the carbide feed valve 9, thus preventing water reaching the feed valve and carbide outlet 7. This form of clamping device has a square frame consisting of a pair of relatively long stud bolts 10, forming two opposite sides and a pair of tube members 10E, forming the other two opposite sides of lar frame like structures having end portions 11K, and 12K. The abutting ends of the bar stock after the bending is complete ma be Welded to make an endless structure ad ing rigidity. The upper sides of the clamping bars pivot in the tube members 10E and the lower exposed sides 11 and 12 engage the splash shield. The end portions of the bars should be of such length that when the side portion of the bars are moved toward each other they will meet immediately and directly under the carbide outlet 7 so that in closing the shield the pocket made thereby will hold not more than a. mere handful of carbide. By clam ing the shield directly under the carbide out.et the bending of the wall of the shield will be about equal on o posite sides and the clampin bars may eacli have an equal movement. lso the side portions 11 and 12 should swing in parallelism so as to clamp the shield with equal tension along the line of engagement. Furthermore the clamping bars should be connected so that when one is moved back and forth as from open position to clamping position and back again the other bar will move likewise. And in addition to moving back and forth simultaneously the clamping bars should be provided W1th means whereby they will remain under spring tension in either open or closed position. This may be accomplished by adding the fingers 11N, and 12N,and the spiral compression spring 13, to one or both end portions of the clamping bars. Upon reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that these fingers extend between the end portions 11K and 12K overlapping a short distance. The finger UN is made integral with the end portion 11K about midway thereof and about right angles thereto, so that when the bar 11 is in open position the finger will range in a direction above center of the side portion 12K to a point midway between the two end portions of the clamping bars. The projecting end of this finger terminates in an elongated eye cam piece HQ. The finger 12N, is made integral with the clamping bar 12 at the upper pivot end of the end portion 12K and the finger inclines downward toward the center of the opposite end portion 11K, passing through the eye cam-piece HQ, and overlapping the finger 11N a short distance; The overlapping of the fingers serve as a stop limiting the opening movement of the clamping bars. The spring 13 fits loosely about the finger 12N whereupon one end seats at the junction of the finger with the end portion 12K of the bar, whlle the opposite end of the spring presses constantly against the cam-piece 11Q. A plain washer msty be used between the end of the spring an the cam-piece as a necessary wearing medium directly engaging the cam. It will be seen that upon moving the clampin bar 11 to closed position the extremity of the finger 11N moves upward carrying its campiece llQ upward to a point above a straight line running through the center of the pivots 10E, which position the cam-piece may be referred to as being above center. By reason the finger 12N extending through the eye of the cam-piece the extremity of same is carried upward also above center thus moving the clamping bar 12 to closed position simultaneously with the bar 11. The pressure of the spring 13 on the lower side of the cam-piece in pos1tion above center is applied to the clampin bars through the medium of the fingers. 11 12N and pivots 10E, thus holdin the clamping bars in closed position, 0 ampingand closing the shield A as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. By moving the clamping bar 11 to open position, (see Fig. 2) the fingers and cam-piece are brought downward to a position below center, WhlCh position the pressure of the spring applies to push the clamping bars apart. In less words, the fingers 11N, 12N, cam-piece HQ,

and spring 13 may be described as means for gearing the clamping bars 11 and 12 together, reversing the pressure of the spring upon the pivots of the bars for holding same in either open or closed position. The side contact of the fingers as will be seen in Fig. 2 serve to stop the clamping bars in open position. An eye 15 is provided on the lower end of the portion 11K of clamping bar 11 for connection with a crank 17 through the medium of the link 16, see Fig. 1. The crank 17 is secured to the inner end of a rock shaft 18, which latter extends outward of the wall of the water chamber 1 through a suitable tubular bearing and packing gland not shown. The outer end of the rock shaft terminates in an upright handle 19, by which the operator may move the shield clamping bars to either open or closed position at will. As a safety means to prevent undue gas pressure on wall of the shield above the clamping bars in case the operator fails to open the clamping barsbefore releasing gas pressure in the water chamber, as when refilling the generator, a small recess N is made in the bar 11 or the bar 12 or in registration in both bars midway between their end portions on the side engaging the shield, see Fig. 7. With this recess in the bars the shield is not clamped tightly at the point of recess thus providing a passageway between the walls of the shield by which gas from the carbide hopper may escape into the water chamber.

It will be understood that lime from .calcium carbide, although a water tightening element, particularly when first formed, does not cake to any'ap preciable degree of thickness on the wall of a passageway for carbide whose surface is changing at intervals. By reason of the elastic wall of the splash shield it is changed in contour near the carbide outlet at intervals through theuse of the clamping means which, would shed any a preciable deposit thereon in that vicinity. esides the clamping means, the dashing of water upon the shield as when the generator is hauled in a motor vehicle often changes the contour of the entire shield for a short period of time thus breaking loose any lime cake formed on the inner surface of the shield in use betweenhauls. Furthermore, due to the elastic wall of the shield, the wall is pressed and thereby reduced in thickness throughout its length when there is' gas pressure in the generator. Upon releasing gas pressure as when refilling the generator the wall of the shield returns to normal thickness which would loosen any lime cake formed on the inner surface thereof between fillings. Thus it will be seen that the inner surface of the splash shield is changed in various ways through the use of the generator and is therefore self cleaning.

Referring to Fig. 8, numeral 1 designates the water chamber of an acetylene generator; 2, the carbide hopper; 3G, the hopper bottom which in this style of generator is made integral with the carbide hopper; 7B, the

carbide feed valve; A, the splash shield which in this generator has plain ends, being cut the desired length from soft rubber tube stock. The upper end of the water chamber terminates in a short cylindrical mouth-piece 1C, having comparatively thick side walls and a smooth and rounded upper edge or rim. Through this mouthpiece the splash shield extends downwardly into the water chamber to a short distance above the water level. The upper end of the shield being stretched outwardly over the rim and downward upon the outer side of the mouth-piece whereupon it contracts when released, holding itself in place. The lower end of the carbide hopper terminates in a short tube 21, having an outside diameter of such size as will fit into the end of the shield. A second short tube 22, whose inside diameter is of such size as will receive the mouth-piece with the shield in place, is made integral with the carbide hopper about the tube 21 thus formment of gas at the rim of the mouth-piece. Stud bolts 1H, extending upright from the water chamber through eye projections 2X, on the hopper extension 22 serve with the nuts lY, for clamping the carbide hopper onto the water chamber. The splash shield in this generator is without clamping means on account of the generator not being intended for extensive portable use. In hauling this generator on a hand truck in and about the shop there is occasionally some splashing of water upon the outer wall of the shield, mostly upon the lower end which, would cause some agitation in the wall of the shield. And if the generator be tilted to the side as in hauling it over irregular surfaces the wall of the shield would be changed in contour for a short period of time by gravity, thus sheathing lime deposit which may have formed on the inner surface of the shield. When there is as much as five pounds variation in gas pressure in the generator there is a slight variation in thickness of the wall of the shield which goes to prevent the caking of'lime on the inner surface thereof.

Referring, to Fig. 12, numeral 3 designates a separable hopper bottom which may be used in a stationary generator of a style similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The drip ring AB, is the same as the splash shield except it is shorter and, may be secured to the hopper bottom thesame as the splash shield shown in Fig. 6. And it may be cut to the desired length from suitable rubber tube stock. This drip ring prevents the formation of lime cake on the inner surface thereof by changing in wall thickness due to variation in gas pressure in the generator, as for an instance, when the pressure is released to refill with water and carbide. I

Referring to Fig. 13, the drip ring AC, consists of a suitable length of soft rubber tube stock having a margin adjacent its ends cemented, then the tube is'doubled back u on itself bringing the cemented ends toget er to be heat treated. The space X, between the two walls of the ring may be filled with an elastic material such as air, soft rubber strands, a coil of small soft rubber tubing or rubber sponge material, not shown, the filler being inserted before the cemented marginal ends of the casing are cured together. The vulcanized end ring thus formed may be clamped on to the hopper bhttom in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 12. This cushion drip ring, as it might becalled, has some advantage over the plain ring in that it has greater contraction under gas pressure and therefore greater expansion upon releasing gas pressure. Thus the resistance against lime caking on the walls of the ring is greater. This form of my invention may be used in generatorshaving the major portion of the carbide hopper extending down into the water Y, of the drip chamber. Such hoppers have more exposed surface which condenses more moisture, consequently there is more drip at the drip ring.

It will be seen that by preventin r lime deposit on the inner surface of the s ield also prevents moisture being drawn up into the shield or drip ring and into the carbide feed outlet by capillary attraction through the pores of the deposit.

While I have shown and described a variety of splash shields and drip rings constructed in accordance with my invention, it will be manifest to persons skilled in the art that many changes may be made in minor de tail of structure in adapting the device to various use, and slight changes in the mode of operation of same within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details described and shown.

What I claim is 1. In a valve shield for the valve controlled carbide feed outlet of a carbide feed hopper mounted on the water chamber of an acetylene generator, a flexible tube depend ent from about said outlet, means for clamping said tube laterally and closing it adjacent to said outlet.

2. A tubular carbide feed shield having an inner wall impervious to acetylene and water moisture under generator pressure and inherently unstable in wall thickness and wall surface at substantial variation in generator pressure, an outer wall, and an enclosed cavity between the walls.

3. In an acetylene generator having a wa ter chamber and a'carbide feed hopper with a valve controlled carbide feed outlet mounted on the water chamber, a vertically disposed tubular shield dependent from about the carbide feed outlet, said shield having an inner and an outer circumferential wall impervious to acetylene and water moisture uner generator pressure forming a sealed annular enclosure, elastic material in said enclosure, the inner wall of the shield being elastic to be expanded and compressed with said enclosed elastic material by gas pressure in the generator and to return to normal size and thickness when gas pressure in the genmaterial impervious to water moisture under generator pressure dependent from said annular shoulder and extending a substantial distance downwardly into the generator chamber, including annular elastic means constantly tending to retain the valve member cylindrical, and annular clamping means for securing the valve member onto said shoulder.

5. In a portable acetylene generator having a water chamber and a carbide feed hopper with a valve controlled carbide feed out let mounted on the water'chamber', a valve splash shield for the carbide feed outlet designed to be closed when the generator is hauled about, adapted to prevent water splashing into said carbide feed outlet and also to prevent water running into the carbide container through said outlet should the gen-f erator be accidentally overturned in hauling,

consisting of a vertically disposed tube of resilient material dependent from about said carbide feed outlet and extending a substan tial distance downwardly into the generator chamber, and means for gripping and closing the tube immediately under the carbide feed outlet, said gripping means being manually operated to grip and release said tube through the medium of a connection with a rock shaft terminating in a handle on the exterior of the generator.

6. In a portable acetylene generator having a water chamber and a carbide feed hopper with a valve controlled carbide feed outlet, a vertically disposed tubular splash shield de pendent from'about the carbide feed outlet and extending downward into the water chamber of the generator, said shield having an elastic and flexible wall impervious to water moisture under generator pressure.

7. .In a portable acetylene generator, a tubular carbide feed passageway of elastic material imperviousto water moisture under generator pressure extending from about the Y carbide feed outlet downward into the water chamber, said passageway designed to protect the carbide feed outlet from splashed water in the chamber, the lower edge of said passageway being free to swing laterally upon tilting the generator. v

8. A generator comprising a container, a hopper mounted in the upper end of the container and provided with a depending apron, a flexible skirt connected to the apron and depending therefrom and having the free end thereof freely movable in the container to prevent liquid in the container from splashing into the hopper, the bottom of the'hopper having a discharge opening embraced by th'e skirt, a "alve for closing said opening.

HERBERT G. IRWIN.

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