US1914162A - Portable acetylene generator - Google Patents

Description

Patented June 13, 1933 lTED STATES PATENT FFIcE- STUART PLUMLEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH WELDING EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE PORTABLE ACETYLENE GENERATOR Application filed October 27, 1930. Serial No. 491,610.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in acetylene generators, particularly of the portable type, and more particularly to a mechanism adapted tov feed the carbide from the usual carbide chamber or hopper of the generator, into the usual wa-' ter chamber thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a carbide feeding mechanism including a plate adapted to be interposed between the usual carbide hopper and the water chamber of the generator, and forming in effect the bottom of said hopper, and said plate having a feed opening therein over which a feed member is mounted, said member being provlded with means for rotating it whereby it may feed the carbide deposited on the outer portions of said plate, towards the feed opening therein for precipitation into the water 0 chamber.

A further object is to provide a carbide feed mechanism for an acetylene generator including a plate adapted to be fixedly mounted between the usual water chamber of the generator and'the carbide chamber provided above the water chamber, said plate having a centrally located opening therein over which is mounted an inverted cone, adapted to prevent the carbide in the carbide chamber from flowing through the opening in said plate, and a spider being mounted over the opening in said plate beneath said inverted cone and having curved arms adapted to feed the carbide on said plate inwardly towards said opening, said spider having non rigid connections with a drive shaft extending upwardly through the carblde chamber, the upper end of which, is connected with a suitable motor whereby, when said motor is operated, the spider will be actuated to feed carbide deposited on said plate through the opening therein, whereby it will be precipitated into the water chamberof the generator, and a water-tight valve being provided for closing the opening in said plate when the generator is not in use.

A further object is to provide a portable generator having means whereby the opening between the lower part of the generator and the carbide hopper may be closed with .a

water-tight valve whereby the generator may be moved about without danger of water entering the carbide chamber, and the generator also having a novel feed mechanism which will not stick and become inoperative when the generator is in use.

out the various objects of the invention, but

it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a generator showing the invention embodied in the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the spider for feeding the carbide through the feed opening in the plate provided at the bottom of the hopper; and I Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the means for closing the feed opening in the plate separating the water chamber from the carbide hopper.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here shown, for purposes of disclosure, there is illustrated in Figure 1, an acetylene generator of ordinary construction, comprising the usual shell 2 provided with a bottom 3 and an upper frusto-conical wall 4 which cooperate to define a water chamber 5. An agitator 6 is shown mounted in the lower portion of the water chamber and is provided with the usual crank 7 situated exteriorly of the shell 2 whereby the agitator may be operated when necessary. The shell 2 of the generator has secured thereto a suitable funnel 8 which communicates with the Water chamber 5 through a suitable valve 9, where by water may be introduced into the water chamber. A suitable drain valve 10 is shown provided at the lower portion of the generator by means of which the contents of the water chamber may be drained therefrom.

The upper portion of the frusto-conical Wall 4 is shown terminating in a cylindrical portion 11 provided with an outwardly turned flange 12. This flange provides a support for a plate 13, which provides an important feature of the invention. This plate serves as a bottom for a carbide hopper 14, supported upon the generator. The hopper is secured to the generator by suitable clamping bolts 16 passing through apertures provided in the outwardly turned flange 12, and similar apertures provided in an annular member 17 having an upright annular flange 18 engaging a member 19 secured to the lower portion of the hopper 14, by such means as weldin Suitable gaskets 20 are engaged with the opposite marginal portions of the plate 13, and prevent leakage of the gas from the upper portion of the generator. The diameter of the plate 13 is preferably such that its periphery will engage the clamping bolts 16, as shown in Figure 2, whereby these bolts provide means for centering the plate with respect to the axis of the generator.

A feed opening 21 is provided in the plate 13 and is preferably centrally located therein. A plu valve 22 of a suitable material such as rubber, is provided for closing the feed'opening 21 in the plate 13, when the generator is not in use. This valve is supported upon an arm 23 secured to a shaft 24 mounted in suitable bearings 25 and 26, secured to upper outer portions of the frustoconical wall 4, as shown in Figure 2. The shaft 24 passes through the upper inner portion of the generator, and provides means for operating the arm 23 carrying the valve 22. A suitable operating lever 27 is secured to one end of the shaft 24 and has a latch 28 thereon adapted to engage a notched quadrant 29 whereby the valve may be locked in closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The dotted lines in Figure 1 illustrate the valve in an open position.

The hopper 14 is provided with an upper cone-shaped wall 30 which has a filler opening 31 therein through which the carbide may be introduced into the hopper 14. The filler opening 31 is provided with a suitable closure 32 adapted to be secured in position by suitable clamping bolts or studs 33.

A tubular member 34 is fixedly mounted. within the hopper 14 and has its upper end suitably secured to the upper portion of the wall 30 of the hopper, and extending therethrough as shown in Figure 1. An inverted cone 35 is secured to the lower end of the tubular member 34 and has its lower edge spacedfrom the top surface of the plate 13 and from the lower walls of the hopper 14 to permit carbide to flow between the edge of the cone 35 and the Wall of the hopper 14, as indicated at the right hand side of Figure 3. The inverted cone 35 prevents the carbide from flowing to the center of the plate 13 Where the feed opening 21 is located. (See Figure 3.)

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided for feeding the carbide from the outer portions of the plate 13 towards the center thereof and through the feed opening 21, into the water chamber. Such means consists of a spider 36 having a plurality of curved arms 37, preferably shaped as shown in Figure 2. his spider is positioned over the feed opening 21 and directl beneath the cone 35 as shown.

A means for operating the spider 36 is shown in Figure 1, and may consist of a suitable spring-actuated motor 38 suitably supported upon the upper portion of the generator and having a drive shaft 39 extending downwardly through the tubular member 34 and provided at its lower end with oppositely extending arms 41, having suitable chains 42 connecting the outer ends thereof with oppositely disposed arms of the spider, as will be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The motor 38 is provided with a crank 43 whereby it may be wound up. The operation of the motor is controlled by a suitable regulator, indicated by the numeral 44 in Figure 1, which is operated by the pressure of the gas in the generator.

By connecting the spider-shaped feed member 36 to the arms 41 of the drive shaft 39, by means of the chains 42, the feed member is dragged around by the chains and is permitted to move both vertically and horizontally as it is pulled through the carbide, with the result that it cannot stick and render the feedings mechanism inoperative. The

curved arms 37 of the spider 36 are adapted to dig into the carbide positioned upon the plate and thus move it towards the center of the plate 13 from which it is fed through the opening 21 and into the water chamber at the bottom of the generator. The inverted cone 35 prevents the carbide from rendering the spider 36 inoperative and. at the same time prevents the carbide from flowing through the feed opening 21 when the feed mechanism is not being operated.

The valve 22 provides means for closing the feed opening 21 to prevent water from entering the carbide chamber or hopper, when the generator is being moved about from place to place, whereby water cannot accidentally enter the carbide chamber above the plate 13. When the valve is opened by manipulation of the lever 28, the valve swings clear of the carbide opening, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, so that the particles of carbide being fed through the feed opening 21 will not impinge against the valve but drop directly into the water. The valve is so located that when in the open position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1, it will not project into the water in the chamber 5.

By securing the plate 13 in position between the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 11 and the hopper 14 in the manner shown in Figure 3, no holes need be drilled therein. The plate is centered by means of the clamping bolts 16 which substantially engage the periphery thereof, and is securely held in place within the confines of these bolts by means of the flange 12 and annular member 17, the gaskets 2O engaged with the opposite marginal edge portions of the plate 13 rendering the joints substantially gas and water tight. By thus securing the plate in position, it may readily be removed from the generator for replacement or repairs, when necessary, by simply removing the bolts 16 and lifting the hopper sufficiently to permit the plate to be withdrawn from beneath the annular member 17.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a portable acetylene generator having a water chamber therein, a carbide hopper over said chamber, a plate interposed between the bottom of the hopper and said wa ter chamber, and having a feed opening through which the carbide is fed from the hopper into the water chamber, a valve for closing said opening, said valve being mounted beneath the opening and having means exteriorly of the generator casing for operating it, means within the hopper for preventing the carbide from normally flowing through said feed opening, a spider for feeding the carbide through said opening, a drive shaft for the spider provided with oppositely extending arms, each having a flexible connection with the spider, and a clamping means for securing said plate in position between the hopper and said water chamber in leak-proof relation, comprising a pair of out- Wardly turned flanges, one being provided upon the lower end of the hopper and the other upon the upper end of the generator casing, between which the marginal edge portion of the plate is seated, and means for axially translating said flanges to cause them to grip the marginal edge portions of the plate.

2. In an acetylene generator, a hopper adapted to support a supply of carbide, a tank having a water chamber in the lower portion thereof adapted to receive carbide from said hopper, a wall separating the hopper from the water chamber and having a feed opening therein, means within the hopper for normally preventing the carbide from discharging therefrom through said feed opening, a feed member normally resting on said wall and comprising a plurality of curved arms, a drive shaft having oppositely extending arms secured thereto, and elongated flexible elements operatively connecting said feed member with the arms on said shaft whereby when said shaft is rotated, said feed member will be actuated to feed portions of the carbide through said feed opening and into said water chamber.

3. In an acetylene generator, a hopper for supporting a supply of carbide, a tank having a water chamber therein adapted to receive carbide from said hopper, a substantially horizontally disposed wall separating the hopper from the water chamber and having a feed opening therein, means within the carbide chamber for normally preventing the carbide from discharging therefrom through said feed opening, a feed member freely mounted over said feed opening and comprising a plurality of arms extending beyond the edge of said feed opening and adapted to be supported on said wall, a drive shaft, flexible elements operatively connecting said shaft with said feed member whereby when said shaft is rotated, said flexible elements will cause a dragging movement to be imparted to said feed member to cause its arms to engage and feed portions of the carbide supported on said wall in an inward direction through said feed opening and into the water chamber, and a closure for sealing said opening.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of Oct. 1980.

STUART PLUMLEY.

Images