Acetylene-gas generator.

S. A, WHITSETT.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1915.

1,201,409.

Patented Oct. 17,1916.

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IHC NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-UTHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. WHITSETT, OF BELFAST, TENNESSEE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR,.

1,201,409. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 17. 1916.

, Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Samuel A. Whitsett, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belfast, in the county of Marshall and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to acetylene gas generators, and aims to provide a 10 novel and improved apparatus of that character.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an acetylene gas generator provided with unique means for releasing a 15 small quantity of carbid when the bell approaches its lowermost position, so that the carbid will drop into the xvater when the bell lowers a predetermined amount, until the bell rises due to the formation of the 20 gas.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an acetylene gas generator, of novel means for discharging the carbid, so that the gas xvill be quickly and effectively 25 generated, xvhereby the carbid xvill be properly consumed without waste.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an acetylene gas generator which is improved generally in its construction 30 and details, to enhance the utility thereof, the structure being comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as xvell as being serviceable, convenient, practical and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which xvill appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de⁴⁰ scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, xvithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

⁴⁵ The invention is’illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:—

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the generator. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1. .

⁵⁰ In carrying out the invention, there is provided a xvater tank 1 having an upstanding sleeve 2 therein, and providing an annular trough 3 betxveen the sleeve 2 and walls of the tank 1 for holding the water. The ⁵⁵ upper end of the tank 1 is flared or enlarged, as at 4, whereby xvhen the xvater level is

1915. Serial No. 31,708.

raised due to the loxvering of the bell 5, the flared or enlarged portion 4 xvill properly receive the xvater, xvithout danger of the xvater ox^Terfloxving. The bell 5 lias its rim θο received by the trough 3, xvhereby the w^Tater forms a seal for the bell, and alloxvs the bell to move vertically xvhen being . filled and emptied.

The gas discharge pipe 6 extends along 65 one side of the sleeve 2 from xvithin the bell 5, and projects out through the tank 1 for conducting the gas from the bell 5 to the point of discharge or consumption.

A vertical escape pipe 7 is secured to one 70 wall of the bell 5, within the bell, and projects upwardly through the top of the bell, the lower end of the pipe 7 terminating slightly above the lower end of the bell, xvhereby when the xvater level xvithin the 75 bell reaches the loxver end of the bell, due to the raising of the bell and the lowering of the xvater level, the gas xvill escape through the pipe 7, instead of escaping around the lower end of the bell which 80 would be objectionable. An upstanding pipe 8 is connected to the top of the bell 5 and is provided xvith a controlling valve 9, xvhereby when the ‘valve 9 is opened, the air is allowed to escape from the bell, when 85 the generator is started.

Seated xvithin the sleeve 2, is a sludge can or receptacle 17, and spider 18 is seated upon the upper end of the can 17, and carries a depending carbid holder or receptacle 19 of 90 rectangular or square cross section. The carbid holder 19 is suspended xvithin the can 17 and is spaced above the bottom of the said can, and opposite walls of the holder 19 have their loxver ends bent inwardly, as at 20, 95 betxveen the other, opposite sides of the holder 19. There is an opening betxveen the inturned ends 20 communicating with the space or chamber xvithin the can 17.

A vertical pipe 21 is engaged through the 109 center of the spider 18 and depends xvithin the'earbid holder 19, and a rod 22 is slidable through the pipe 21. A nut 23 is threaded upon the pipe 21 and seats upon the spider 18 for adjustably supporting the ¹⁰⁵pipe 21.

A pair of inclined plates or chutes 24 are secured to the pipe 21 adjacent its loxver end, and form a gable whose edges overhang the inturned portions 20. A coiled xvire spring 11° 25 surrounds the upper protruding terminal of the rod 22 and seats against the upper

1,201,409 end of the pipe 21 and a head 26 secured to the upper end of the rod 22. The ends of the plates or chutes 24 are secured to opposite side plates 27 which rest slidably against opposite walls of the carbid holder 19.

Wings 28 are hinged to the inturned portions 20 and project toward one another, so that the free ends of the said wings may be swung upwardly and downwardly, and links 29 connect the free ends of the wings 28 and the lower end of the rod 22, whereby when said rod is raised and lowered, the wings will be raised and lowered correspondingly. The upper end of the rod 22 projects upwardly sufficiently in order that the rod 22 will be depressed when the bell 5 lowers a predetermined amount. The wings 28 normally project angularly upward toward one another, so that the carbid will be effectively held back thereby, and the free edges of the wings are spaced apart.

In operation, presupposing that the bell S is raised, as seen in Fig. 1, when the gas is withdrawn from the bell 5 through the pipe 6, so that the bell lowers a predetermined amount, the top of the bell will strike the upper end or head 26 of the rod 22. Then when the bell lowers still further, the rod 22 will be moved downwardly, against the tension of the spring 25, which normally lifts the said rod, and the wings 28 will be swung downwardly, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Normally, the wings 28 are swung upwardly, as seen in full lines in Fig. 1, whereby they support the carbid thereon and prevent the carbid from dropping into the water in the lower portion of the sludge can 17. Now, when the wings 28 are swung downwardly, they permit the carbid to slide or gravitate downwardly into the water, and this will start the generation of the acetylene gas, causing the bell 5 to rise. When the bell is raised, the rod 22 is released, and will be moved upwardly by its spring 25, to again swing the wings 28 upwardly for arresting the discharge of carbid. The carbid within the holder 19 gravitates over the lower edges of the inclined plates or chutes 24 and is directed onto the wings 28 by the inturned portions 20 of the respective side walls of the carbid holder, whereby when the wings ' 28 are swung downwardly, the carbid will be gradually discharged into the water. The carbid being dropped into the water will form the gas quickly and effectively, and without waste of carbid.

The pipe 21 may be adjusted vertically, by rotating the supporting nut 23, for ad- 60 justing the plates 24 and 27 vertically within the holder 19, when desired, so that various grades of carbid may be used, it being noted that when the plates 24 are adjusted vertically, their lower edges are moved away 65 from or toward the inturned portions 20 to increase or decrease the delivery openings or spaces between the plates 24 and inturned deflecting portions 20.

Should the bell 5 be filled with an exces- 70 sive quantity of acetylene gas, so that the gas would be liable to escape under the lower end of the bell 5, the gas would first escape out through the pipe 7, to prevent the upsetting of the bell and other mishaps. If 75 desired, a hose or other connection may be attached to the outer end of the pipe 7 for catching the acetylene gas which escapes through the said pipe.

When it is desired to clean and refill the so apparatus, the bell 5 is removed, and the sludge can 17 may then be removed. The carbid holder .19 may be lifted out of the can 17, whereby the sludge may be dumped, and the holder 19 may then be filled with 85 carbid. The parts are then again assembled.