US643746A - Acetylene-gas generator. - Google Patents

Description

No. 643,746. Patented Feb. 20, I900. I L. R. LE LANDE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Appiication filed. Feb. 26. 1899.)

(No Model.)

mlnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER R. LE LANDE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,746, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed February 28,1899. Serial No. 707,200. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LESTER R. LE LANDE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Los An geles, State of California, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas-machines in which gas is generated from water and calcium carbid; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a machine in which gas will be automatically generated in small quantities at a time and as fast as required for use; second, to provide a machine in which only a limited quantity of water at a time can be brought in contact with the carbid, and, third, to provide a machine of simple construction which can without danger be charged with a large amount of carbid and which can be easily cleaned. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire machine with only one generator, the pipes being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of my carbid-trays. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in section of parts of my valve. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a machine having two generators G and G.

A is the gas-holder, having a pipe A to let the air into and out of the holder when desired, which telescopes in the water-tank B. It is guided in its rise and fall by rods a and a, which are rigidly affixed to tank 13. A small auxiliary water-tank O is affixed to the tank B and connects therewith by aperture 6. The water-service pipe D, having cock D, through which water is supplied to the machine, terminates in the tank 0, and the admission of water therethrough is automatically regulated by the ball-cock E. The tank 0 may be dispensed with and the service-pipe D be led direct into tank B and the admission of water therethrough automatically controlled by the ball-cock E. The gas is led by service-pipe F from the gas-holder to the place of use. A waste-pipe F, having cook f, is connected thereto to draw off the moisture which collects in the pipe F.

G is the generator in which the gas is made.

The generator G is preferably constructed as follows:

The body is annular and has double walls 1 2, between which is a space which when filled with water forms a water-jacket 3 around the inner wall and aids in keeping the generator coolwhen gas is being generated therein.

4 is the cover, having flange 5, which projects into the water-space 3, and thereby makes a water seal between the body and cover. A small pipe 23, having cook 24, passes through the cover to allow the air to pass in and out when the cover is removed or put on. The cover is removably affixed to the body by clips 6, which pass over lugs affixed to the cover and body, respectively. The cover is preferably constructed so as to have a waterholding pan 7' in the top, sothat water may be placed therein to assist in keeping down the temperature in the generator when gas is being generated therein. This feature of the cover may be omitted. To the cover is attached a handle 8 for convenience in handling.

9 is the opening into pan 7 through which the water is poured.

10 is a waste-pipe having cook 11 thereon leading from the inside of the body of the generator to permit of the water being drawn ofi when the generator is cleaned. 12 is a similar pipe leading from the water-jacket 3 for a like purpose.

13 is a pipe having cock 2O connecting the interior of the generator with the water-tank B, which is used only in case the ordinary water-supply mechanism needs repairing. When more than one generator is used, it has branches running to each generator, as shown in Fig. 6.

H is a pipe leading from just above the'carbid in the generator to the gas-holder, having check-valve H, and terminates just above the water-line in the tank B.

I is an escape-pipe connected to pipe H and has cock I, through which the moisture which collects in pipe H is drawn off. To the top 7 of pipe H is attached a short flexible tube J,

preferably made of rubber, the free end of which passes through a piece of buoyant material K, preferably cork, which retains the outlet of the tube J submerged at a given depth and always automatically keeps it submerged at such depth in order that the gas may be cooled and washed.

L is the tray for holding the carbid. (Shown in detail-in Fig. 2.) It is preferably divided into compartments, fits within the inner wall of the body of the generator, is open at the top, and is water-tight, except openings Z through the side into the first of the compartments. The partitions m m m, which divide the tray L into compartments, have perforations it near the top thereof. The partition 911" has no perforations. The trays L preferably surround the pipe H and reach almost to the cover of the generator, as shown in Fig. 1.

O is a pipe having cock 17 and leads from the tank P to the bottom of the interior of the generator G, through which water is supplied to the carbid in the generator. Vhen more than one generator is used, it has branches running to each generator, as shown in Fig. 6, each branch being controlled by a cook. The tank P should hold a supply of water sufficient to generate into gas the carbid held by two of the trays L. In the bottom of the tank P is located the valve R, which controls the admission of the water from tank B into tank P and from tank P into generator G. This valve is so constructed that in its normal position it presents an open way for the water to pass from the tank B into tank P, connection being made from tank B to aperture s of cylinder R by pipe V, and when operated by the fall of the gas-holder A the way between tanks B and P will be first closed and an open way then made between tank P and generator G. The valve R con sists of a. hollow cylinder R, closed at the ends, having apertures r, r, and r, and an outer cylinder R, having apertures s, s, and s. The pipe 0 is connected to the outer cylinder B so that the aperture 8 registers with the interior thereof. One end of cylinder R projects through the end of tank P, and around the projecting end of cylinder R is removably atfixed by screw 6 a collar S, having a stem T connected to one end of the rod T, the other end of the stem T carrying the weight U.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a machine having two generators. It is more convenient to have a reserve supply of carbid that can be used while the first generatoris being cleaned, and for that reason it is preferable to have two generators. When a second generator is used, they are connected together by a by-pass 14, havingcocks 15 and 16, and the pipe 13, having cock 20,is connected to such by-pass. The by-pass 14 is connected to the interior of each generator at the bottom, and the top of the bypass is on a level with the top of the tray L in the generator. The pipe 0 has two branches, one running to each generator, and is provided with cocks 17, 18, and 19.

My machine having two generators G and G is operated as follows: The trays L are filled with carbid and placed in the generator and the cover thereof fastened. Cocks 15, 16, 17, and 19 are opened, and cocks 18 and 20 are closed. The several tanks are filled with water. There being no gas in the machine, the arm A depresses the stem T of the valve R. This permits the water from the tank P to flow into the generator,and gas is generated therein. This gas passes through the pipe 11 into the gas-holder A. As soon as a suflicient quantity has accumulated therein to raise the holder A, so that the pressure of the arm A is released from the rod T, the weight U causes the valve R to assume its normal position, (which is forming an open way between the tanks 13 and P,) and the further flow of water into the generator is stopped until such time as the gas is used out of the holder, so that the arm A will again operate the valve R and permit the water to flow into the generator, when more gas will be generated, the gas-holder will rise, and the water again be shut off and the generation of gas stopped. It will be seen that only a small quantity of gas is generated at a time and that its generation is automatic as long as the carbid lasts. As soon as the carbid in generator G is exhausted the water flows through by-pass 14 into generator G, and gas is then generated as in generator G, which can then be cleaned and a new charge of carbid put therein. This is done by closing cocks 15 and 19 and opening cook 18. The cover is taken oh, the trays taken out, the ashes removed, and generator cleaned. As soon as the generator is dry the trays are recharged and put back and the cover fastened on and cook 15 opened,

when generator G is ready to automatically produce gas as soon as the carbid in generator G is exhausted, which can then be cleaned in like manner. Should it become necessary to repair valve R, cock 17 may be closed and cook 20 opened and a sufiieient quantity of water introduced into the generator and the supply turned elf. This has to be done by the operator, and the amount of water turned into the generator is regulated by his judgment. Tank 13 is provided with a pipe 21, having cook 22, by means of which the water is drawn out of the tank when desired. As the gas passes through pipe H moisture is collected therein, which is drawn oif through waste-pipe I.

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

An acetylenegas machine, comprising a large water-tank; a gas-holder telescoping within said tank; a small water-tank at the side of the large water-tank adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of water, a valve in said small water-tank having two sets of ports (one of which is closed when the other is open) one set of ports adapted to form, with the connecting-pipes, an open way for the passage of water from said small tank into the generator at the bottom, and the other set of ports, with connecting-pipes, to form an open way for the passage of Water from the large, into the small Water-tank; a pipe connecting the large water-tank with one of the ports of the said Valve; acollar having a stem connected to said valve; a Weight on one end of said stem and a rod pivotally connected to the other end of said stem; an arm on the gas holder adapted to strike said rod and depress the same upon the descent of said holder below a predetermined point, and thereby open the passage-way for the water to enter the generator; a pipe connecting one of the ports of the said Valve with the generator at the bottom thereof; a generator, a plurality of carbid-trays divided into compartments in said generator adapted to receive water in the compartments in succession, commencing at the bottom of the generator; a pipe connect- LESTER R. LE LANDE.

W'Vitnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, M. MCGINNIS.

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