US623910A

US623910A - Jerome t

Info

Publication number: US623910A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1916-04-25

Description

No. '623,910. Patented Apr. 25, |899.

.|. T. KELsx-J.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATUR. (Application led Mar. 5, 1898.)

@No Model.)

r lIl Nirnn STATES miren.,

JEROME T. KELSO, OF VINCENNES, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOI-IN D. LA CROIX, OF SAME PLACE.

Ao ETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,910, dated April 25,' 1899.

Application filed March 5, 1898.

To @ZZ whom, t ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME T. KELso, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vincennes, in the county of Knox and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in gas-generating apparatus, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of this character of a simple, compact, and inexpensive nature which shall be especially adapted for use in private dwellings and other places, the apparatus being substantially automatic in its operation, so as to require little or no attention after having been charged, and being provided with means to automatically maintain a substantially constant pressure of the gas in the storage tank or chamber.

The invention contemplates certain novelfeatures of the construction,combinatiom and arrangement of the several part-s of the improved apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devices are made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings an apparatus constructed according to my invention, in which drawings- Figure l i's a sectional vie w taken vertically through an apparatus constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is asectional detail View drawn to an enlarged scale and taken transversely through the valve at the bottom of the water-tank. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the upper part of the generating-chamber and the su pply-chamber above the same, showing the means for dis- Serial No. 672,625. (No model.)

charging the carbid into the generating-chamber. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the latch for holding the hinged doors of the carbid compartments closed.

In the drawings, l indicates the generatingchamber, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material and having a circular supply-chamber 2 located above it and communicating with the generating-chamber at its bottom, said supply-chamber being adapted for holding a supply of calcium carbid or other material and discharging the same to the generating-chamber.

The calcium carbid is contained in compartments formed within a drum 3 of circular form, held to turn in the circular supplychamber 2 upon a central shaft 4, extending across said supply-chamber, with one of its ends passed through the wall thereof and provided with a knob 5, by means of which the shaft and the drum 3 fixed thereon may be rotated in the supply-chamber, as will be hereinafter explained. The ends of the shaft 4 are of course suitably packed to prevent leakage of gas to the outside.

The shaft 4 is provided outside the chamber 2 with a radial pointer or index 6, arranged to play over a dial 7 of circular form on the outside of the chamber-wall, said dial being laid off in a number of divisions to correspond with the number of compartments 8 contained in the drum 3 and adapted to hold charges of calcium carbid. By this means as the handle 5 is turned and the charges of calcium carbid contained in the chambers 8 of the drum are successively discharged into the generating-chamber the index by its play over the dial 7 Will serve to show which of the compartments of the inclosed drum remain illed.

The compartments 8 in the drum 3 are formed between radial walls or partitions 9, extending between the end walls of the drum, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 3, and the outer edge of each of said radial partitions is bent to form one element of a hinge-joint, the other element thereof being carried by a door l0, curved to correspond with the periphery of the drum and adapted to close the outer end of the compartment, its free edge being adapted, as shown in Fig. 4f, to seat on an oltset formed at the outer end of the next adjacent partition i). The portion of the door 10 which forms the hinge is bent inwardly, so that the outer face of the door, which forms a part of the periphery of the drum 3 when closed, presents a smooth curved surface.

A latch is employed for holding cach door lO closed, said latch comprising a spring-actuated lever or dog having one end adapted to engage an opening in the adjacent wall or partition 9, the lever 11 being pivoted to the door 10, so that its opposite end will extend outside the door and be at the periphery of the drum when the door is closed, the door 10 being perforated to permit the passage of the lever, as shown clearly in Fig. L1. The inner end of the lever is beveled, so that when the door 10 is closed by engagement with the wall ot chamber 2 in the rotation of the drum 3 the door will be automatically secured.

As stated above, the supply-chamber 2 is open at its bottom for colnmunication with the generatilig-chamber, and it will be seen that as the drum is rotated its compartments S will pass successively and in inverted position over the open bottom of the supplychamber, so as to be in position for discharging the contained material into the generating-chamber.

To permit of opening the doors 10 of the compartments S of the drum, so that the contents of the compartments may be discharged into the generating-ch amber, l employ a tripping finger or lug 14, carried on a shaft 1 5, which also extends through a packed opening in the wall of the generating-chamber and is provided at its outer end with a handle 1G, by means ot` which the shaft may be turned to bring the finger or lug into the path of the projecting` ends 13 ot' the latch-levers 11, which hold the doors 10 closed, by which means the levers are disengaged, thereby permitting the doors to drop by gravity, as shown in Fig. 1. 'When the shaft 15 is turned in the reverse direction, the iinger or lug l-t is removed from the path of the latchlevers 11, so that the drum 3 may be freely turned in the chamber 2 without discharging the contents of its compartments. To hold the shaft in position when the finger or lug 14 is in the path of the latch-levers, I employ a spring-arm 16 on the outer end ofthe shaft, which may be engaged between lugs 1Gb on the outer wall of the generating-chamber.

In the supply-chamber 2 and at one side of the opening in the bottom thereof which forms the outlet to the generating-chamber is arranged a rounded lug or projection 2, sufficiently elevated from the inner wall of the supply-chamber to come into frictional contact with the periphery of the drum 3, which periphery is formed, as above stated, of the doors 10 ot'. the carbid-compartments. The lu g or projection 2 has by preference engagement with the periphery of the drum 3 at one side of the path of the projecting ends 13 of the latch-levers 11, so as not to be engaged thereby in the rotation of the drum 3, and by this arrangement it will be seen that when'thc drum is rotated each door 10 which has been opened by the engagement of the finger llt with its latch, as above described) will by contact with the lug or projection 2 in the supply-chamber act to swing the door l0 pivotally into closed position, the latch-lever l1 acting, as above described, to automatically lock the door when closed and to hold it in closed position during the further rotary movement of the drum. The said lug or projection 2 also acts, by reason of its frietional engagement with the periphery of the drum 3, to hold the same against rotative movement in the supply-chamber 2 when partially emptied of the contents ot its compartments 8, so that the tendency of the drum to turn on its axis when partly emptied, owing to the lightening of one of its sides, is prevented. At the same time this tendency of the drum 3 to turn axially when partly emptied of its contents materially aids in the operation of the device, rendering the drum more easy of turning, especially as the compartments S become more nearly exhausted.

To permit the compartments S of the drinn 3 to be conveniently filled with calcium carbid atter they have been emptied, I provide in the top of the supply-chamber 2 a manhole, which will be kept closed when the device is working by means of a tight-fitting cover 17 of any desired kind.

1S indicates a partition formed by preference of a series of sections of close-lneshed wire netting or screen extending across the lower part of the generating-chamber l and on which the material discharged from the compartments S is adapted to fall, and 19 indicates a rose or spray-nozzle located above said screen partition 1S and adapted to supply water or other liquid in the form of spray to the material resting on the partition. There acetylene gas is to be generated, the calcium carbid when decomposed will be washed by the water through the screen partition and will collect in the lower part of the chamber 1, whence it may be removed by way of a suitable manhole.

Water is supplied to the nozzle 19 by way of a pipe 20, having a cock 21 and a checkvalve 21Art and leading from a water-tank 22. The pipe 20 opens into the tank at the bottom thereof and is controlled by avalve 23, mounted to slide on the bottom of the tank, being engaged at its edges in grooves 24 in the sides of the tank, as seen in Fig. 2. The valve 23 is provided on its upper face with spaced and perforated lugs 25, between which is-held the slotted lower end of a lever 2G, pivoted at its central part on a rod 27, extending across the tank 22 and having at its upper end a slotted connection with a link 2S, which passes through openings in the wall of the water-tank and also in the wall of the gas holding or stor- IOO IIO

age chamber 29, within which said link is connected to an automatic regulating device actuated bythe variations in gas-pressu re in the chamber 29 and adapted to control the passage of water through pipe 20, and thereby to control the generation of gas in the generating-chamber 1.

The regulating device consists in a collapsible box or casing having fiat inflexible walls 30 of sheet material connected by flexible side Walls 3l, which may be of leather, sheet-rubber, or thelike, and which serve to hold in place a central partition 32, between which and the walls 30 of the box or casing are arranged spiral springs 33, adapted to hold the Walls uorinally separated, as shown in Fig. 1.

lVlien the gas-pressure in the chamber 29 rises, the walls 3U will be forced nearer each other, thereby compressing the springs rllie link 28 is connected tothe central partition 32, and it will be seen that when the box or casing is compressed by the rise of gaspressure iii chamber 29 the movement of the partition 32 will be transmitted to lever 26 and will serve to actuate the valve 23 and stop the flow of water through pipe 20. Vlien the gas-pressure falls7 the springs 33 will return the partition 32 to its first position and the pipe 2O will be again opened. The storage-chamber has an outlet-pipe 44 for the gas to be consumed and is preferably provided with a pressure-gage 45 and a manhole closed by a cover 4G.

The gas generated in chamber 1 escapes by way of a pipe 34 at the upper part thereof, which pipe is con nected with a cooling-coil 35, arranged in a coiideiising-chamber 3G, having in its top an opening 37 to permit the supply of water for immersing and cooling the coil, and having at its lower part a valved outlet 3S for the discharge of such water from time to time. The lower end 39 of coil 35 passes through the wall of a purifying-chamber 40, into the lower part of which it opens, and said chamber 40 is provided at its top with an inlet 4l, so that it may be charged with a suitable purifying agent to take up the im purities from the gas. Tlie heavier and condensed impurities will fall to the bottom and may be withdrawn at a valved outlet 42. The gas rises to the top of the purifying-cliamber 40 and passes by way of a pipe 43 to the storageclianibcr 29.

In operation the charge ot' calcium carbid is dropped from one of the compartments S of the drum 3 upon the screen partition 18 in the generating-chamber, after which the cock 21 is operated to permit water to flow through pipe 2O to decompose the charge, the gas passing by Way of pipe 34 to and through the condensing and purifying chambers and by pipe 43 to chamber 29. As the pressure in chamber 29 rises the regulating device willI act to automatically cut off the supply of water, and thus stop the generation of gas. Valve 21 will serve to prevent any gas from being forced into the water tank or chamber.

The employment of the latches 1l for holding the coinpartinent-doors normally closed not only holds the carbid in the compartments, but also eifectually guards against decomposition of the carbid held in said compartments by water splashing from the generating-chamber below. By the use of the adjustable shaft 15, carrying the trippingfinger 14, it is also obviousthat said finger may be adjusted out of operative position when not required for use-as, for example, when the drum 3 is being charged.

From the above description it will be seen that the apparatus constructed according to my invention is of an extremely simple and inexpensive nature and is especially well adapted for the purposes for which it is designed, and it will also be obvious that the apparatus is capable of some modification Without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood aslimit ing myself to the precise form and arrangement of the parts herein set forth; nor do I wish to be understood as limiting myself to the employment of my improved apparatus as a generator for acetylene gas exclusively, since it is obvious it may be used for generating other gases as Well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is h 1. A gas-generating apparatus, comprising agenerating-chamber, asupply-chamber over the `genei'ating-chamber and communicating therewith at its lower part, a horizontal shaft, a drum arranged to turn in the supply-chamber on said shaft and provided with compartments adapted to successively discharge their contents, as the drum is tiirned,into the generating-chamber, hinged doors for said conipartmeiits, latches for holding said doors closed, and means to release said latches to permit said doors to be opened to discharge the contents ofthe compartments, said means consistingin a shaft mounted to turn and provided with a finger adapted to be moved by the turning of the shaft into position to engage said latches, substantially as set forth.

2. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chaniber,a siipply-chamber over the generating-chamber, means located over the generating-chamber for supplying successive charges of material from the supplychamber to the generating-chamber, and a screen partition arranged across the generating-cliamber above the water-level therein and adapted to receive the material discharged froin the supply-chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. A gas-generating apparatus comprising ageneratin g-cliainber, a supply-chamber over the generating-chainbei3 means located over the generating-chamber for supplying successive charges of material from the supplychamber to the generating-chamber, a screen partition arranged across the generating- IfO lio

chamber above the water-level therein and adapted to receive the material discharged from the supply-chamber, and a nozzle having a liquid-supply pipe and arranged over the screen partition, whereby the liquid discharged from said nozzle is adapted to decompose the material resting on the screen partition and also to wash the decomposed material through said partition, substantially as set forth.

4. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a pipe connected to said chamber and leading to a liquid-supply, a gas-storage chamber connected to the generating-chamber, a box or casing located in the storage-chamber having in liexible end walls and iiexible side walls, springs held in said box and arranged to hold the same normally distended, a valve controlling the iiow of liquid through said pipe, and mechanism connecting said box or casing in the storagechamber with said valve whereby the valve is controlled by variations in the gas-pressure within the storage-chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a pipe connected to said chamber and leading to a liquid-supply, a gas-storage chamber connected to the generating-chamber, a collapsible box or easing located in the storage-chamber and adapted to collapse upon the rise of gas-pressu re therein, means to hold said box or casing normally distended, a valve controlling said pipe, and

'mechanism connecting the box or casing and said valve, whereby the valve is controlled by variations in the gas-pressure in the storage-chamber, substantially as set forth.

G. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chalnber,a supply-chain ber over the generating-chamber and communicating therewith at its lower part, a drum arranged to turn in the supply-chamber and provided with compartments open at the periphery of the drum and adapted to successively discharge their contents, as the drum is turned, into the generati11g-chamber, hinged doors for said compartments, means to hold said doors closed, and mechanism adapted to be thrown out of and into operative position for releasing said door-holding means to permit the doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartments into the generating-chamber, substantially as set forth.

7. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber,a supply-chamber over the generating-chamber and communicating therewith at its lower part, a drinn arranged to turn in the supply-chamber and provided with compartments adapted to successively discharge their contents, as the drum is turned, into the generating-chamber, hinged doors for said compartments, latches for holding said doors closed and means, adapted to be thrown out of and into operative position, to release said latches to permit said doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartments, substantially as set forth.

8. A gas-generating apparatus comprising agenerating-ehamber,asupply-chamberover the generating-chamber and communicating therewith at its lower part, a drum arranged to turn in the supply-chamber and provided with compartments adapted to successively discharge their contents, as the drum is tnrned,into the gen@rating-chamber, hinged doors for said compartments, lneans to hold the doors closed, mechanism adapted to be thrown out of and into operative position to release the door-holding means to permit the doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartments into the generatingchamber, and means to close said doors when opened, substantially as set forth.

9. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber,a supply-chamber over the generating-chamber and comm nnicating therewith,a drum arranged to turn in the sup ply-chamber and provided with partitions forming between them compartments open at the periphery of the drum to discharge their contents, as the drum is turned into the generating-chamber, each of said partitions being formed with one element of a hinge and with a shoulder adapted to seat the edge of a door hinged to the next adjacent partition, doors, each having at one end ahinge element hinged to the hinge element of one of the partitions, and having its opposite edge adapted to be seated on the shoulder of the next adjacent partition and provided with a latch for holding the door in closed position, and mechanism for releasing said latches to permit the doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartments into the generatingchamber, substan tially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

JEROME T. KELSO.

Vitnessesz JOHN D. LA CROIX, Mum REDMoN.