US622839A - Acetylene-gas generator - Google Patents

Description

No. 622,839. Patented Apr. ll, I899. E. H. CDNIBEAR &. S. W. RAY.

ACEIYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 27 1 897.) {No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

v ln'amjfeps I; Eda/W111i 65min Pfiehted Apr. H, I899. E. H. GUNIBEAH 81. S W. RAY

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Dfg. D'I 1597.)

' 2 Sheath-Sheet 2.

&No Model.)

a I i IIIIIIIII Ill l ll lll lim...

Ill/11111114 I n l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD I-I. CONIBEAR AND SAMUEL IV. BAY, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,839, dated April 11, 1899.

Application filed December 27,1897. Serial No- 663,651. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD I-I. CONIBEAE' and SAMUEL W. RAY, citizens of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a a new and useful Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for generating acetylene gas; and the object is to provide improved means for automatically controlling the generation of a predetermined quantity of gas, whereby the liability to accidents will be minimized.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction'and arrangement of parts,whicl1 will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas-generating apparatus, made in accordance with our invention and adapted to carry out our improved method, the gasometer being in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the generators. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of oneof the carbid-holders detaohed from the generator.

Similarreference-numeralsindicatesimilar parts in the several figures.

1 indicates the water-reservoir, and 2 the water-supply pipe, from which latter a series of branch pipes 3 lead, each of which branch pipes is provided with a valve 4. The generators are indicated by 5, each of which consists of an outer tube 6, having removable top and bottom caps, (indicated by 7 and 8, respectively,) an inner cylinder 9, which is closed at its lower'end and is adapted to fit within the tube 6 and be supported on the lower cap 8, and a series of carbid-holders 10, preferably three, and of such size that when superposed within the cylinder 9 they will fill it.

The holders 10 are closed at their lower ends, except as to a central opening in which a tube 11 is fitted, said tube being of the same length as the holder. A series of vertical partitions 12 extend from the tube to the wall of the holder to form a series of chainbers 13. Each of these chambers is adapted to receive a quantity of calcium carbid, and

v 11 and up into the top of the generator.

when the holders are in position 'the central tubes 11 will register and form a continuous passage opening out into the upper part of the generator. In order to establish communication between the several'chambers and the tube,'openings 14 are formed in the tube, and as the gas is generated in each chamber it will pass into the tube through the opening 14 and to the upper portion of the generator, whence it will be conducted to the gasometer, as will be referred to hereinafter.

Each partition is provided with an opening 15 near its upper end, and each opening is normally closed by a float-valve 16, which valve may be of any preferred construction.

17 indicates a tube on the inner face of the cylinder 9, preferably V-shaped, and the water is discharged into this tube from the branch pipe 3, which passes through the'cap 7 of the generator. Each holder 10 is provided with a recess 18 tofit over the tube 17 and also with an opening 19, preferably in one wall of the recess 18, near its upper end. The tube 17 is open at its lower end, and as the water is fed into it fromthe branchpipe 3 it will pass into the recess 18 and when it reaches the opening 19 will pass into one of the chambers. of the lowest holder. The gas will then be generated in this holder and pass out through the opening 14 into the tube As the water will continue to rise in the chamher, it will eventually operate the float-valve 16 and open communication between the chamber in which the generation has been going on and the adjacent chamber and permit the water to overflow into such adjacent chamber, when the gas will begin to generate in the last-named chamber, and this operation will be repeated until the calcium carbid has been exhausted in each of the chambers in the lower holder. The openings 15 will of .course be so arranged and be of such dimensions that they will permit the water to pass freely from one chamber to the other until all the chambers in the lower holder have been filled before it will rise above the lower holder, and in this manner the water will be keptentirely out of contact.

As soon as all the chambers in the lower holder have been filled with water the water will rise up in the space between the cylinder and the holders until it reaches the opening 19 in the holder next above, when the same operation will be repeated in all the chambers in this holder, and so on until all the chambers in the cylinder 9 have been filled with Water and the calcium carbid exto them in any suitable manner and its lower cross-bar 22 in close proximity to'the caps 8.

This lower bar is provided with a series of threaded openings for the reception of clamping-screws 23, which are adapted to engage the caps 8 on the respective tubes and when tightened up will force the upper end of the tube into close contact with the upper caps and also force the lowercaps into close contact with the lower end of the tube, it being of course understood that suitable packing will be used to make a gas-tight joint. The frame therefore serves to support the generator, and when it is desired to remove one of the generators in order to empty it the clampingscrew 23 will be loosened sufficiently to disengage the lower cap from the lower end of the generator, and the latter can then be moved entirely out from the frame and the cylinder 9 be emptied of the water and slaked calcium carbid and then be replenished with fresh calcium carbid and returned to its position in the frame.

24 indicates the gasometer,- and 25 the pipewhich conveys the gas from the several generators to the gasometer. The pipe 25 is connected to the respective gas generators by the branch pipes 26, which extend gas tight through the upper caps 7 of the respective tubes, and each branch pipe is provided with a valve 27. In the operation' of the device when it is required to use one generator at a time the valves 4 in the branch water-pipes will be closed to cut off water from the generators which are not being used, and the valves 27 will also be closed to prevent the gas from passing into them from the generator which is being used. Should, however, it be necessary to use two or more generators at a time, the valves 4 and 27 will of course be opened. Y 28 indicates a valve in the watersuppl pipe 2 between the source of supply and the branch pipes which lead into the gas-gem. erators, and this valve is provided with a le-. ver-handle, (indicated by 29.) The inner cylinder 30 of the gasometer, which rises as the gas is delivered into the gasometer, is provided with an opening in its upper end through which a rod 31 extends and is firmly secured to the cylinder to move with it. The inner end of the rod is provided with a ball 32, and its outer end is bent to form an arm 33, which is connected to the lever 29 by a link 34. The connection between the link 34 and arm 33 and lever 29 will be pivotal, and as the cylinder 30 rises under the pressure of gas delivered into the gasometer the valve 28 will be gradually closed and cut off the supply of water, and thereby stop the generation of the gas until the pressure is reduced in the gasometer.

35 indicates ahinged valve adapted to close the discharge-opening of the pipe 25, and this valve is provided with an arm 36, which has an opening at its outer end, through which the rod 31 passes, and as the cylinder moves upwardly the ball 32 will be brought into engagement with the arm 36 and close the valve and prevent any further ingress of gas to the gasometer until the pressure has been reduced in the gasometer, thereby permitting the cylinder to fall.

While we have illustrated three gas-generators, itis obvious that the number maybe increased or diminished, as preferred, and it is also to be understood that where there is a regular water system, as in cities, the watersupply pipe 2 can'be connected with the regular water-supply pipes, and .in that case the reservoir 1 will be dispensed with.

In the practical construction of the generator-cylinder we make the bottom fixed to the cylinder-shell, the upper end of which is open to receive the removable cap 7, a suitable gasket 7 being interposed between the cylinder-shell and the head 7. We arrange the horizontal branch of the gas-pipe above the corresponding branch of the water-pipe for the purpose of preventing overflow of water from the generator or generators into the gaspipe and obviating any tendency of the water to flood the gas-pipe.

In our apparatus the overflow-waterfrom the last generator is conducted to the first generator by an overflow-pipe 37, which is arranged horizontally above the generators. One end of this overflow-pipe is attached to the branch pipe 3 below the valve 4 thereof, leading to the last generator, while the other end of said overflow-pipe 37 is attached to the branch pipe 3 below the valve 4 therein, leading to the first generator. This overflow-pipe 37 between the first and last generators is provided with a valve 38, which remains closed until the first generator has been recharged. Then this valve is opened and remains open;

, but valve 4 to said generator remains closed until the last generator is recharged.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

- Having thus described the invention, what we claim is 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbidholder having a series of chambers Within a common shell, a series of automatic valves which establish communication between the chambers on the overflow of Water successively from one chamber into another chamher, and a gas-outlet common to all of the chambers, substantially as described.

2. In anacetylene-gas apparatus, a generator comprising a series of carbid-holders arranged in the same vertical plane and each holder subdivided into a plurality of chamber's having valved communication one with the other and also provided with a common gas-outlet which is in communication with similar gas-outlets on adjacent carbid-holders, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator comprising a series of carbid-holders arranged one above the other within acommon casing and each holder subdivided into a secating one with the other to establish a com-' mon outlet forthe gas from the series of carbid-holde'rs, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a series of calcium-carbid holders arranged one above the other, each holder containinga series of chambers having valved communication with each other near their upper ends, and a gas-passage common to all the chambers, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-gasgenerator, the com-v bination with an external tube forming a gas.- generating chamber, and a water-pipe connected with said tube, of a cylinder provided with a longitudinal water-tube and fitted removably within the external tube for its Water-tube to be coincident with the waterpipe, and a series of carbid-holders Within said cylinder and each holder having a recess to receive the water-tube of thecylinder,

said Water-tube and the recessed holders being interlocked by the tube fitting the re cesses and the holders communicating with the tube through radial water-ports, whereby the carbid-holders are held in place to receive water from the tube and the series ofsaid holders are Withdrawable with the cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a generator having a series of carbid-holders arranged one above the other, each holder containing a series of chambers having valved communication with each other near their upper ends, and one chamber in each holder having an opening through which water passes for all the chambers in such holder,

and a gas-passage common to all the chambers, substantially as described.

7 In an acetylene-gas apparatus, acalciumcarbid holder, comprising a cylinder having a bottom provided with a central opening, a tube secured in said opening, and a series of partitions radiating from the tube to the wall of the cylinder to form chambers, each partition having a valved opening near its upper end, said cylinder having an opening in its Wall leading into one of said chambers, and

9. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the com-i bination with a generator, a gasometer, a water-pipe to the generator, and a gas-inlet pipe from the generator to the gasometer, of the gas-valve on the discharge end of the gas-pipe and having an arm within the gasometer-bell, a valve in the water-pipe, and a stem carried by the gasometer-bell to travel therewith and having one end connected with the watervalve and its other slidably fitted to the arm of the gas-valve, said stem having a stop arranged to adjust the arm of the gas-valve and close the latter on the upward travel of the gasometer-bell and said stem also closing the water-inlet valve, substantially as described.

10. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, the combination of a series of independent generators not less than three in number, a water-pipe having a series of valved branches, 3, connected individually to said generators, a water-overflow pipe, 37, arranged to extend over the intermediate generator without communicating with the water supply thereto and having its ends attached to the branches, 3, of the water-pipe tothe end generators below the valves in said water-pipe branches, a normally open valve, 38, in said overfiow-pipe between the end generators, and a gas-pipe having valved branches connected individually to the generators, whereby the water may overflow through the pipe, 37, from one end generator to the other and the valve, 38, may be closed when recharging either end generator, substantially as described.

11. In an acetylene-gas apparatus, a series of isolated generators each consisting of an outer tube, an inner cylinder having a closed bottom and a vertical water-conduit with ports at different elevations, and a series of superposed carbid-holders arranged within the inner cylinder for communicating individually through the ports with the waterto control the [low of Water successively to the compartments thereof, and a Water-conduit having connection individually with the series of carbid-holders, substantially as described. V

In testimony that We claim the, foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two'witncsses.

EDWARD H. CONIBEAR. SAMUEL W. RAY.

Witnesses:

G. D. LAUDERDALE, WALLACE ScHELL.

Images