US2543662A - Acetylene generator - Google Patents

Description

Feb, 27, 1951 R, R, GEFFROY 2,543,662

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Dec. 3, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheel l RoERT Re QU i5 GEM-Roy \NvENToR= Fb. il?, WM

Filed Dec. 5, 1946 R. Ra L. GEH-ROY ACETYLENE GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roer fsN LoulsaFFraqy IN VE NTO@ PvP-19V.

Patented Feb. 27, 13,951

f u. UNITED sTAT -ACETYiiizl'vn GENERATOR Robert Ren Louis Geiroy,` Neuilly-sur-Seine,

Y France, assigner to Societe: Volcan S. A., Levallois, France, a French company Application December 3, 1946, serial No. 713,705

` In France August 1, 1946 The invention relates to acetylene generators producing acetylene under pressure, in which the automatic Working is obtained by means of a back-pressure chamber containingan air cushion. Y

In the arrangements most frequently employed, said back pressure chamber is placed around or by the side of the reaction vessel, and is attached either to the tank or to the cover, the back-pressure air cushion being entrapped in said back pressure chamber when the apparatus is being lled. v This arrangement provides for a satisfactory working. However, after a certain period of use, corrosion takes place with the usual materials, such as ordinary or galvanized steel sheets, to such a degree as to put the apparatus o ut of use in a few years, and to become a risk of explosions. Such corrosion is localized on the walls of the back-pressure chamber in contact with the air cushion, in the region of the fluctuations of the water level. As these walls are common with the reaction capacity, it is to believe that the temperature is one of the most important factors of corrosion. l

Another kind of generators is known, which Works on the same principle and in which the back-pressure chamber is formed by one or several submerged bells. This disposition has the advantage of allowing aneasyinspection of the interior of the back-pressure rchamber and at the same time of reducing corrosion, probably because the temperature of the water is always lower than that of the walls of the reaction vessel. Where severalbells are present, complete stoppagefof the generator due to the leakage of one of the bells through deterioration is obviated. In addition, the risk of explosion is avoided, inasmuch as the water level falls below its normal height and allows the carbide to emerge.

However, this arrangement is such that the carbide in course of decomposition lies nearer to the plane on which the residuary lime is deposited, which is a condition unfavourable to the good dilution of the lime `in the Water of decomposition, thus causing a lack of rflexibility of the working of the apparatus; The carbide recipient has a tendency to become choked up much quicker than when the bottom of the vat which receives the residue is farther away from the plane of the reacting water.

This drawback could be obviated by increasing the vertical distance separating the bottom of the carbide basket from the bottom of the reaction vessel by the height of the back-pressure 6 Claims.. (Cl. 1a-22) l 2 I bells, which would lead toa prohibitive overall size.

The present invention has for its object to devise a generator combining the advantages of the two systems, while eliminating their drawbacks, and with this object in view, an annular backpressure chamber is provided which is divided into several dismountable elements (cases or bells) extending vertically within the generator, preferably along its vv'alls,` in such manner as to leave the space necessary for the carbide basket in the centre.

Further characteristics Vof the invention will be apparent from the following description, referring to the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the generator along line I.-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along lineV 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view along line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Referring to the drawing, the generator comprises a cylindrical vessel I provided at its lower part with a bottom 2 and a draining device 2a and ending at its upper part in a conical part 3,'whose rounded edge li serves as a seating for the gasket 5 of a cover G. The latter is pivotally supported at I by a lever 8 pivoted at 9 on a bracket I8 secured to the conical part 3. Lever 8 ends in a fork Ia adapted to engage a screwthreaded'rod II pivoted at I2 on a bracket I3 secured to conical part 3. Tightening is afforded by a threaded knob I4, screwing on shaft II.

VAt a suitable distance above the bottom of tank 2 is secured, as by welding, a conical ring I5 merging into a substantially cylindrical collar I6 and formed with stamped out bosses II. On ring I5 rest several boxes (three in the embodiment represented) I3, I9, 20 open at the bottom and having an external arcuate wall 2|,v an internal arcuate wall 22, lateral walls 23, 24 and an upper wall 25; bosses Il are centered between the walls 2|, 23, 24 of the boxes, and serve to guide and keep'the latter in place. Two circular inwardly stamp-ed beads 265 and 21 of the cylindrical vessel I are adapted to bear on the outer wall 2l of each of the boxes I9, so as to reduce friction when inserting or removing the boxes. g

The boxes are held in place at their upper ends by a circular sleeve 30 or any other suitable device such as screws, clips, etc. adapted to keep the proper distance between the boxes. Sleeve 30 has three equally spaced out-turned tongues 30a, which respectively rest on the upper edge of one of said boxes.

pipe 34, which leads from the upper part of the tank to the trap box, whereby the moistened gas flows down to the bottom. Water partially condenses at the bottom of trap lbox33 and `is dis charged through a hole 35, provided with a "c'o'ck (not shown), while the partially dried gas -isfdischarged through a hole 36, leading to the lplace of use or to a pressure reducing valve.

A carbide basket 31 is vertically movable within a pit 28, formed by the walls 22 of the boxes;

it rests on a lifting arm 38, secured to a shaft 39 which extends in a water-tight m'annerthrough the wall of the tank, and carries at its outer `end a control lever-Ml.

The operation is as follows:

The tank being Viilled with water up to level XX, for example,.and the basketbeing filled with carbide, lowering of lever 38 submerges the carbide to the desired depth. The pressure "of the gas which is generated forces the water from the tank through the holes 32 into the back-pressure boxes I8, I9., 2i), where an air cushion is entrapped. The air acts as a pressure regulator, as is well known. The gas is freed from a part o f its moisture in trap box 33 'and escapes through hole 36.

The boxes I8, I9, 20, can vbe easily dismounted by removing sleeve 30 or the like, tilting theminwardly and talkingv them out y'at the top. lThe ,boxes can thus be cleaned and replaced in case In case of the deterioration of one of the boxes I 8, I9, 20, the others will continue to operate, and there will only `result va lowering of the level of the water in the tank, thus eliminating all risk of explosion.

It will be noted that the holes 32, through which water iiows in-and out :following the Huctuations of the pressure, are in such a position that the risk of obstruction by the lime is greatly reduced. In addition, ring I5 drives towards the center of the tank the gas bubbles which may be formed. by the fall of grains of carbide into the liquid, and thereby prevents acetylene from entering boxes I8, I9, 20.

It will -be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment above described, which has been given only by way of example.

Thus the central pit l28, instead of being cylindrical and of uniform diameter, can be cylindrical only in its upper part, which lserves to guide the carbide basketv with :a suitable clearance; in the region of contact between carbide and water, the surface-of water indirect contact with the carbide can be .increased by giving to pit V28 a greater diameter, the shape being either cylindrical or frusto-conical.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An acetylene generator comprising. a tank adapted to contain water, and having an opening in its top, a removable cover for said tank, a vertically movable carbide basket in said tank aligned with said opening so as to be removable therethrough when said cover is removed, at least one counter-pressure box sealed at its upper end to contain a pressure regulating air cushion and having at least one oriiice adjacent 'its lower end opening into said tank below the lowest wate'r level, a support member on which the lower end of said box rests, said support member being attached to the inner surface of the tank and-spaced` .fromfthe 'tank bottom, said member and saidbox havinglconforming surfaces adapted to restrainth'e box against lateral displacement,

and -means for holding the upper end of the box against lateral displacement into the path of said basket, said holding means being accessible for removal only when said cover is removed, so that said cover, said box and said basket are separately removable from said tank.

v2. AnE acetylene generator comprising fa tank adapted to contain water, and having an `opening in its top, a removable cover for said tank, a vertically movable carbide basket in said tank, a plurality of annnlarly spaced counter-pressure boxes, each sealedv at its upper end to contain `a pressure regulating air cushion land lhaving at least one orice adjacent its lower end vopening into said tank below the lowest water level, said tankhaving an internal support ring on which said boxes rest with their lower ends spaced from the tank bottom, said ring having vits central opening aligned with said basket, said boxes being eil'ective to guide said basket during its vertical movement, and removable means for holding vthe upper ends of the boxes against lateral displacement into the path Vof said basket, said cover, said boxes and said Abasket being independentlyr and individually*removable-from said tank so that -said basket is removable through said top opening when said cover .-is removed without moving said boxes.

3. An acetylene generator, comprising a tank adapted to contain Water, an annulus attached at its outer edge to the inner surface of said tank and extending A-inwardly and upwardly so as to deflect toward the middle of the tank any gas bubblesforming below the -annu1us, a plurality of individually removable counter-pressure boxes open at their lower ends and resting on said annulus, said annulus andfsaid boxes having conforming surfaces-adapted to restrain said boxes against lateral displacement, removablermeans forholding the upper ends ofthe yboxes against lateral displacement, and a vertically movable carbide Abasket in said tank, said basket being aligned with the central opening in the annulus and being guided in its vertical movements by the inner 4sur-faces of said boxes.

4. An acetylene generator, comprising a tank adapted to contain water, an annulus attached atitslouter edge vto the inner surface of said tank and extending inwardly and upwardly so as to deflectv toward the middle of the tank any gas bubble rforming below the annulus, a plurality of individually removable counter-pressure boxes openat vtheir lower endsand resting on said annulus, so that said lower endsare closed thereby, said annulus and said .boxes .having conforming surfaces adapted to restrain said boxes against lateral displacement. said .boxes havingopenings in their vertical walls adjacentsaidannulus, said openings 'beingy protected `from .bubbles by said annulus and 'being .incapable of ,receiving any vertically moving bubble, removable means for holding the upper ends of the boxes against lateral displacement, and a vertically movable carbide basket in said tank, said basket being aligned With the central opening in the annulus and being guided in its vertical movements by the inner surfaces of said boxes.

5. An acetylene generator, comprising a tank adapted to contain water, an annulus attached at its outer edge to the inner surface of said tank and extending inwardly and upwardly so as to deflect toward the middle of the tank any gas bubble forming below the annulus, a plurality of counter-pressure boxes open at their lower ends and resting on said annulus, said annulus having upwardly projecting bosses formed therein to engage and position the sides of the said boxes, removable means for holding the upper ends of the boxes against lateral displacement, and a vertically movable carbide basket in said tank, said basket being aligned with the central opening in the annulus and being guided in its vertical movements by the inner surfaces of said boxes.

6. An acetylene generator, comprising a tank adapted to contain water, an annulus attached at its outer edge to the inner surface of said tank and extending inwardly and upwardly so as to deflect toward the middle of the tank any gas bubble forming below the annulus, a plurality of counter-pressure boxes open at their lower ends and resting on said annulus so that said lower ends are closed thereby, said annulus having upwardly projecting bosses formed therein to engage and position the sides of said boxes, said boxes having openings in their vertical walls adjacent said annulus, said openings being protected from bubbles by said annulus and being incapable of receiving any vertically moving bubble, removable means for holding the upper ends of the boxes against lateral displacement, and a vertically movable carbide basket in said tank, said basket being aligned with the central opening in the annulus and being guided in its vertical movement by the inner surfaces of said boxes.

ROBERT REN LOUIS GEFFROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. AN ACETYLENE GENERATOR COMPRISING A TANK ADAPTED TO CONTAIN WATER, AND HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS TOP, A REMOVABLE COVER FOR SAID TANK, A VERTICALLY MOVABLE CARBIDE BASKET IN SAID TANK ALIGNED WITH SAID OPENING SO AS TO BE REMOVABLE THERETHROUGH WHEN SAID COVER IS REMOVED, AT LEAST ONE COUNTER-PRESSURE BOX SEALED AT ITS UPPER END TO CONTAIN A PRESSURE REGULATING AIR CUSHION AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE ORIFICE ADJACENT ITS LOWER END OPENING INTO SAID TANK BELOW THE LOWEST WATER LEVEL, A SUPPORT MEMBER ON WHICH THE LOWER END OF SAID BOX RESTS, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TANK AND SPACED FROM THE TANK BOTTOM, SAID MEMBER AND SAID BOX HAVING CONFORMING SURFACES ADAPTED TO RESTRAIN THE BOX AGAINST LATERAL DISPLACEMENT, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING THE UPPER END OF THE BOX AGAINST LATERAL DISPLACEMENT INTO THE PATH OF SAID BASKET, SAID HOLDING MEANS BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR REMOVAL ONLY WHEN SAID COVER IS REMOVED, SO THAT

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