US717221A - Acetylene-gas generator. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7l7,22l. Patented Dec. 30, I902.

G. E. LA CELL.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

{Application filed Sept. 2, 1902: (No Model.) 2 SlIee'ts-Sheet I.

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l I I I I II W k I' 'IIII" I II II I {II II I 'I III I II IIIIIIH IIIIIIII I I; Wm "H I I' NIII I WITNESSES 8% as & //V VE/VTOH W G'emyefilafieil N0.-7l7,22l. Patented Dec. 30, I902;

a. E. LAGELL;

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

{Applicatibn filed Sept. 2, 1902.: I (No Model.) 2 Sheeis- Sheet 2.

BYMA.

' A TTORNEYS UNITED= STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. LA CELL, OF LAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA.

ACETY'LEN E-GAS' e EN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,221, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed September 2, 1902. $erial No. 121,819. (No model.)

To all whom, it m/cty concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LA CELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at La kota, in the county of Nelson and Stateof North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for the generation of acetylene gas automatically and with safety, so that ,gas cannot escape through the ignorance or carelessness of attendants, nor can the apparatus be wrecked by explosion at or subsequent to the operation of recharging the generator.

One object that I have in view is the provision of an improved generator of that type wherein the carbid is contained in isolated charges, such generator making provision for the effectual and individual sealing and isolating of the carbid charges, to the end that the charges held in reserve shall not become affected by the moisture arising from the water which is engaged in decomposing the active charge or-in saturating the spent charge or charges. The generator is removable bodily and in a sealed condition from its tank, so that it, may be carried out of doors, emptied, cleaned, and recharged without permitting the escape of odor into the room.

A further object is to automatically cut oii the supply of water on the removal of the generator and to restore the water-feed devices to an active condition on replacement of the carbid-container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the courseof the subjoined description, and the actual scope of the invention will be defined by the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation through a gas-generating machine, the plane of the section through the generator being indicated by the dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view on the plane of the dotted line2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged invert-ed plan View of the cover for the carbid-container. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the carbid-container forming a part of the generator, the cover being removed. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the gas-outlet valve, one of which is provided for each cell. or compartment of the carbid-holder. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a carbid charge and its absorbent jacket or wrapper, one of said charges being adapted for insertion into each cell of the carbid-container.

The generator, which is shown by Figs. 1 and 2, consists of a tank 5 and a bell 6, the latter arranged to extend into the compartment '7 of the tank and to be immersed in the water which forms a seal insaid compartment. The tank 5 is provided with an imperforate false bottom 8, havingthe upstanding rest 9, said false bottom serving to divide the tank into a seal-chamber 7 and the subchamber 7 The bell 6 is removable easily from the tank in order that the carbid-holder may be withdrawn bodily from said tank and be placed in like manner therein. This carbidholder, which is shown more clearly by Figs. 2, 3, and 4, consists of a receptacle 10,'which is provided with an imperforate bottom 11 and with a central tube 12, the latter opening through the bottom and terminating flush with the top edge of the receptacle. Between the annular wall or shell of the receptacle and the central tube 12 is arranged a number of tubular containers 13, which form the cells or pockets of the carbid-holder. These cells are disposed in annular series within the carbid-holder, and each cell is closed at its bottom and open at its top. In the drawings I have shown a series of seven cells within the carbid-holder; but it is evident that the number is immaterial and maybe varied at pleasure.

The receptacle and the carbid-cells therein are adapted to be closed by a cover 14, having a series of depending tubes 15, said tubes corresponding in number tothe cells and adapted to telescope over the tubular containers-13. The cover 14 is shaped as shown more clearly by Fig. 3, so as to fit snugly to the receptacle and to enable the tubes 15 to inclose or surround the tubular containers 13; but this cover is open at its middle in order to expose the central tube 12 and to leave certain openings or spaces between the cells and the carbid-holder.

ICO

One of the peculiarfeatures of my invention consists in providing a series of waterinlets to the cells of the carbid-holder, said water-inlets being disposed in operative relation to the individual cells and arranged to admit the attacking fluid successively to said cells. Each tubular container is provided at its lower portion with an inlet-port 16, and Within the container is a water tube or flue 17. The tubes or flues in the series of cells 13 are of different heights, and beginning with one container of the series the tubes or flues i ncrease in length progressively th roughout the series, so that the longest tube will be in the last cell of the series. This arrange ment of the tubes is indicated particularly by Fig. 1, wherein the cell on the right is provided with a comparatively short tube, while the cell on the left is equipped with a tube or flue that extends nearly to the upper edge of the container 13.

The cover 14 of the carbid-holder is provided with gas-outlet ports 18, which are adapted to communicate with the chambers of the cells or containers 13, thus providing for the escape of the gas under pressure from the cell which may be in service. Each port 18 is adapted to be closed by means of a Valve 19, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) and this valve is held in operative position relative to the port by means of a suitable cage 20, that is fastened to the cover-14.

The carbid-holder is adapted to he slipped into place within the chamber 7, so as to be supported by the rest 9 of the false bottom 8, and during the service of the generator water in regulated volumes is adapted to be supplied by automatic mechanism to the receptacle 10 of the carbid-holder. The water radually increases in this receptacle until it passes through the port 16 and the tube or fine 17 of one cell of the series, whereby the water is adapted to attack the carbid contained in one cell, and this cell will remain in service as long as the carbid is active or unspent. After the first cell becomes exhausted the water continues to accumulate in the receptacle 10 until the level thereof overflows the second tube or flue of the series, and thus the carbid in the second cell of the series is exposed to the action of the water, whereby the second cell is automatically brought into service and gas is supplied by the generator to the expansible gas-holder. This operation is continued throughout the series of cells in the generator, and by the time that the last cell is subjected to the action of the water an audible alarm mechanism is automatically brought into service to notify the owner of the plant that the generator requires renewal. When the carbid in all the cells is exhausted, the water fills the carbid-holder and the latter is closed against the escape of gas during the removal of said holder and its cover from the generator. The

carbid-holder may be removed bodily and in a sealed condition from the tank of the generator, so that said carbid-holder may be carried out of doors without permitting the 0ffensive odor or gas to escape into the room or apartment in which the apparatus is situated. The cover 14 and the tubes 15 of the carbid-holder may be removed from the receptacle and the cells thereof. I prefer to place the carbid chargesin sacks or wrappers of any suitable materialsuch, for example, as cloth or fabric. One of said sacks or wrappers, with a carbid charge, is indicated at 18 in Fig. 6. This material allows the attacking liquid to saturate the Wrapper and have access to the active material, and the advantage of said wrapper is that the carbid charge when exhausted maybe removed easily and quickly from the cell or compartment of the carbid-holder. When the carbid-holder is removed from the generator, it may be cleaned and dried before receiving the charges of fresh active material, and the recharged holder can easily be placed back into the tank of the generator.

The expansible gas-holder which I employ is similar in its general features to apparatus ordinary in the art, in that it consists of a tank 21. and a bell 22, adapted to telescope within the seal-chamber 23 of said tank. A false bottom 24 divides the tank 21 into the seal-chamber 23, just referred to, and the drip-chamber 25, into which drip-chamber is adapted to extend a number of pipes for the purpose of discharging the water of condensation which may accumulate in said pipes. This drip-chamber is provided with an overflow or trap 26 to automatically discharge the surplus water from said chamber and to maintain the water at a certain level therein.

Within the seal-chamber 23 of the gasholder tank is the vertical condenser and filter 27, the latter being attached to the false bottom 24 and extending above the seal in the chamber 23. In its upper part this condenser 27 is provided with the partitions or screens 28, adapted to confine between themselves a suitable charge of filtering material, as at 28 in Fig. 1, whereby the gas as it passes through the condenser will impinge the cold surfaces thereof, so as to condense the aqueous vapors in the gas and make the latter emerge in a cool and filtered condition from the upper end of the condenser. The gas passes from the generator to the gas-holder by means of a pipe 29, the same extending through the central tube 12 of the carbid-holder, the false bottom 8 and the subchamber 7 of the generator 10, the drip-chamber 25 of the gas-holder tank, and thence into the lower part of the condenser 27. This connecting-pipe 29 is pro-- vided with a drip-foot 30, which extends into the seal of the drip-chamber 25, so that provision is made for the escape of the water of condensation from the gas-pipe 29, and at the same time this pipe is sealed in the drip-chainher in a manner to cause the gas to pass from said pipe into the condenser and filter.

The service-pipe 31 is connected in any suit- IOU able way with the main adapted to distribute the gas to the burners, and'this service-pipe has a short branch 32, which extends into the drip-chamber above the level of the seal therein. This branch 32 is connected to a vertical branch 33, which extends through the seal in the chamber 23 and is provided with a foot 34, adapted to extend into the seal of the chamber 25. The telescopic bell 22 of the gas-holder tank is provided with a tube 35, which incloses the vertical branch 33 of the service-pipe 31, and this telescopic tube 35 is provided at its upper part with the gas-ports 36, whereby the highest and driest gas within the bell 22 of the gas-holder may pass through the ports 36, a part of the pipe 35, and the vertical branch 33 of the service-pipe, so that the cool and dry gas may be drawn from the gas-holder for supply to the burners.

As is usual, my apparatus is equipped with a vent or blow-off device consisting of the pipe 37 and the telescopic tube 38, the former being secured to the false bottom 24 and the latter to the bell 22. The said telescopic tube is provided at its lower end with the ports 39, which on the elevation of the bell 22 to a point sufficient to expose the ports 39 will permit the gas to pass from the gas-holder into the pipe 37, thence through the drip-chamber 25 to an off-bearing pipe 40, the latter being attached to the gas-holder tank 21 to communicate with the drip-chamber 25 above the level of the seal therein. Said off-bearing or escape pipe 40 may be carried in any suitable way to the outside of the building.

The tank 21 of the gas-holder is preferably provided at its upper part with a filling-lip 41, by which the supply of water in the sealchamber 23 may be replenished at any time.

The water is supplied automatically from the gas-holder tank to the carbid holder within the generator, and I employ a waterpipe 42, which extends through the seal-chamber 23, the dripchamber 25, the subchamber 7, and the tube 12 of the carbid-holder. The intake end of the water-tube 42 extends above the level of the seal in the cham-.

ber23, and the discharge end of this pipe 42 is equipped with a nozzle 43, the latter being pivotally coupled, as at 44, to said end of the pipe 42, whereby the nozzle may be adjusted is withdrawn from the tank of the generator,

the tube 12 is adapted to throw or adjust the nozzle 43 to the inclined position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus preventing the further discharge of water from the pipe 42. On the replacement of the carbid-holder within the generator the nozzle 43 is automatically adjusted to its operative position by the carbid-holder engaging with an adj ustingbar 45, which is connected with the nozzle by a chain or cable 46. This adjusting-bar 45 is thus loosely suspended from the pivoted nozzle, so that it may rise and fall therewith, and when the carbidholder is replaced within the generator the receptacle 10 of said carbid-holder is adapted to engage with the bar and to force the latter'upon the rest 9, whereby the depression of the bar 45 will pull down the nozzle 43 positively to its operative position.

The tank 5 of the generator is provided with an upstanding arm 47, with which is adapted to engage the free end of a lockingbar 48, the latter being pivotally connected, as at 49, to the tank 21 of the gas-holder. This locking-bar is adapted to be adjusted across the bell 7 of the generator after the said bell shall have been placed in position to close the generator, and said bar 48 is equipped with a lock 50 of any suitable character, thus preventing unwarranted access to the generator during the service of the apparatus.

The water-pipe 42 between the gas-holder and the carbid-holder of the generator is provided at a point between the gas-holder and the generator with a two-way valve 51, while the connecting-pipe 29 between the generator and the gas-holder is provided with a three-way valve 52, that is situated adjacent to said two-way valve 51 in the waterpipe 42. The locking bar 48 for the generator is equipped with means adapted to simultaneously adjust these valves 51 52, and this means consists of an arm 53 on said pivoted locking-bar, a rod 54, and a link 55, said rod 54 being pivoted to the arm 53 and to the link 55. This link 55 has operative connection with the valves 51 52, and the three-Way gas valve 52 is provided with a branch connection 56, thelatter having communication with the escape-pipe 40. When the parts of'the generator occupy the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the locking-bar 48 is confined by the lock 50 in its operative position across the bell of the generator-tank and the rod 54 and the link 55 are forced to their lowered positions, thereby opening the valve 51 in the water-pipe 42 and adjusting the gas-valve 52, so as to cut off communication through the escape-pipe 40 and to establish communication through the pipe 29, so as to permit the gas to pass from the generator into the condenser 27 of the gas-holder. Previous to opening the generator and withdrawing the carbid-holder it is necessary to lift the bar 48 to the dotted-line position indicated by Fig. 1, and this operation raises the rod 44 and the link 55, whereupon the valve 51 is closed to cut off the further passage of water from the gas-holder to the nozzle '43, which discharges to the generator, and at the same time the three-way gas-valve 52 is adjusted to open communication between the escape- ICC pipe 40 and that length of the gas-pipe 29 which leads into the generator, the other length of the gas-pipe 29, that extends to the condenser 27, and thereby has communication with the gas-holder, being closed, so that no gas can escape from the gas-holder into the pipe 40.

The water is automatically admitted to the pipe 42 on the descent of the bell in the gasholder, and this end is obtained by the provision of the devices shown more clearly by Fig. 1. A flexible tube or hose 57is arranged to have communication with the pipe 42 by a T-coupling 58, situated at a point below the level of the seal in the chamber 23 and attached to the pipe 42. This hose or tube has a pivoted rod 59 attached thereto, and this rod and the hose are sustained above the level of the water in the chamber 23 by afloat 60. A tappet-arm 61 is attached to the venttube 38 and is arranged to ride against the pivoted rod or arm 59, whereby on the descent of the bell 22 the tube 61 depresses the pivoted arm 59 and the hose 57, so as to overcome the buoyancy of the float 60 and force the end of the hose 57 into the water, thus permitting the water to flow through the hose 57 and the pipe 42, so as to be discharged by the nozzle 43 into the receptacle of the care bid-holder. A further increment of gas raises the bell 22 and the tube 38, so as to withdraw the tappet 61 and allow the float 60 to raise the end of the hose 57 above the seal in said chamber 23.

The signal mechanism for automatically indicating the exhaustion of the carbid-holder, forming a part of the generator, contemplates the employment of a tube 62, which extends through the subchamber 7 and into the central tube 12 of the carbid-holder, said tube 62 also passing to the outside of the generatortank 5 and having an upstanding branch, which forms a trap 63. The tube and its trap are designed to be filled with liquid up to a certain level, the height of the level of the water in the trap 63 being determined by a gage or drip-cock 64. The pipe 62, which extends into the tube 12 of the carbid-holder, is provided With a restricted inlet 65, adapted to extend into the receptacle 10 at a point just below the overflow end of the highest tube or flue 17 in the series omployed in connection with the seals 13 of the carbid-holder. In the outer exposed end of the trap 63 of the indicator-tube 62 is arranged a floatable circuitcloser 66, having a suitable metallic contactplate, (not shown,) adapted to close an electric circuit, which is formed by the conductor 67 and which includes any suitable signal mechanism 68, adapted to be energized by a local battery 69. (See Fig. 1.)

After the generator shall have been in service for a length of time necessary to exhaust the carbid charges in all the cells but the last one and just before the Water passes from the highest tube or flue 17 into the last cell of the series the water will slowly pass from the receptacle 10 into the restricted mouth of the tube 62. By the time that the water has reached the last carbid charge in the last cell the Water rises in the trap-63 sufficiently to elevate the circuit-closer 66, and thereby close the signal, because the last generator will rev main in service for some time after the signal has been given.

The receptacle 10 of the carbid-holder is provided with suitable handles 70, and the cover 14 of said carbid -holder is provided with a bail 71, whereby the receptacle and its cover may be conveniently handled.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an acetylene-gas generator, a carbidcontainer comprising cells having inlets arranged at different levels to admit an attacking fluid successively to carbid charges in said cells, a cover provided with a series of tubes corresponding to the cells and individually inclosing the latter, gasports in said cover to communicate separately with the cells, and valves normally closing the ports and opened automatically by gas-pressure from the cells.

2. An acetylene-gas generator comprisinga tank and a two-part carbid-container insertible and removable bodily into and from said tank, one part of said container being a receptacle having a series of individual cells each provided with a water-inlet, and the other part of the container being a cover provided with a series of tubes and with a series of automatic valves,each tube being arranged to inclose one of the cells and each valve controlling the egress of gas under pressure from one cell.

3. An acetylene gas generator provided with a removable carbid-holder, the same comprising a receptacle having a central tube and a series of separate containers forming a series of isolated cells or pockets, a series of tubes of graduated lengths disposed Within the cells or pockets successively, and arranged to communicate with the ports and with the chambers of the cells, and a cover removably fitted to the receptacle, and having tubes arranged to inclose the containers forming the cells or pockets.

4. An acetylenegas generator provided with a removable carbid-container, the same comprising a receptacle having a series ofseparate cells or pockets, and a cover having tubes arranged to inclose the cells or pockets, said cover also provided with ports having communication individually with the cells or pockets, and adapted to be closed by automatic valves which are normally confined in operative relation to said ports by suitable restraining devices.

IIO

an expansible gas-holder, of a water-supply.

tube connected to the generator and arranged to be supplied with water from the gas-holder, a float within said gas-holder, a hose or pipe connected with said water-tube and normally sustained by the float in a raised position above the water-level in the gas-holder, and means actuated by a movable member of the gas-holder to positively depress the hose or tube against the buoyancy of the float.

8. The combination with a generator having a series of carbid-containers adapted to be successively brought into service, of an indicator-tube provided with a restricted waterinlet disposed in a position to admit water thereto simultaneously with its admission to the last carbid-container of the series, and a signal mechanism having a circuit-closer disposed in a position to be influenced bythe accumulation of water in the signal-tube.

9. The combination with a generator and an expansible gas-holder, of a water-supply tube having a branch disposed within said gas-holder, a hose or pipe connected with said Water-supply branch or pipe, 3. pivoted rod connected with said hose, a float adapted to sustain the rod and the hose in a raised position, and a tappet actuated by the rise and fall of the gas-holder bell and adapted to ride upon said pivoted rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. LA CELL.

Witnesses:

' P. S. DUNHAM, F. B. WARE.

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