US1159814A - Safety acetylene-gas generator. - Google Patents

Description

L. WAGSCHAL. v SAFETY ACETYLENE' GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-11.1915- Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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L. WAGSCHAL.

SAFETY ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1915.

1 ,1 59,81 4. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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44M fw W W ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS WAGSCHAL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SAFETY ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.-

Application filed March 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS W'AosoHAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Safety Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing and obtaining acetylene gas under high pressure, more especially without endangering the operator or attendant, the invention having reference more particularly to gas-generating and controlling apparatus that is designed for delivering limited quantities of acetylene gas under extremely high pressure, for directly charging portable tanks or reservoirs, which may be carried on vehicles to supply gas lamps, or for welding operations or other purposes.

An object of the invention is to provide acetylene gas-generating apparatus that shall be so constructed as to be simple and inexpensive and capable of being reliably and efliciently operated with safety.

Another object is to provide an acetylene gas generator and controlling apparatus therefor of such construction as to avoid the necessity of an operator exposing himself to danger that might arise through unavoidable defects, oversight, or carelessness on the part of others.

A further object is to provide a safety high-pressure acetylene gas generator that shall be so constructed as to be adapted for charging containers without pumping operations and not be liable to generate dangerous overpressure, and controlling apparatus of such construction as to permit of operation thereof by anattendant at a distance from the generator, so as to be entirely out of the danger Zone in case of the explosion of gas in the generator from unavoidable cause.

Vith the abovementioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in an improved acetylene gas generator, and conprising more particularly improved means for feeding or measuring the carbid of calcium in quantities not liable to result in dangerous overpressure in the generator; the invention including also improved means for controlling the generation of the gas in a safe manner. And the invention consists Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 13,559.

also further in the novel parts, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further set forth in the accompanying claims. I

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a top plan of an acetylene gas generating plant constructed substantially in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the improved gas generator; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the generator on the line A A on Fig. 2 with the carbid feeder in a different position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the principal parts of, the carbid feeder; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line B B on Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of an improved carbid holder constructed for contributing to the control of the feeding of carbid of calcium; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating shaft of the carbid feederg Fig. -8 is a diagrammatic sec tional elevation of the complete gas plant; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section of the bottom of the gas generator on an enlarged scale; and, Fig. 10 is a top plan of the bottom of the generator.'

Throughout the drawings, like reference characters indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

A practical embodiment of the invention includes a very strong generator vessel which consists of a cylindrical shell or wall 1 capable of resisting great internal pres. sure, and also a bottom 2 and a head or top 3 of similar shape, each being very thick and strong, the inner side of one having an annular groove 4: and the other having a similar groove 4 therein in the bottoms of which are suitable packing rings 5 and 5 respec tively. One end of the shell is removably seated in the groove 4 upon the packing ring 5, the opposite or top end of the shell being seated inthe groove 4; against the packing ring 5. Thus arranged the packing rings cannot be forced out of place by gas pressure in the vessel and insures against leakage. The bottom is provided with bolt holes 6, the head with similar holes 6 to receive securing bolts or rods 7, 7, which are arranged externally to the shell and have nuts 8, 8, on their ends engaging the outer'sides of the bottom and the head respectively; The bottom has a drain-hole 9 and a drain-pipe 10 provided with a removable cap 11. Ashaft 12 is rotatably mounted centrally in the head 3, the latter being provided with a packing box 13 and a packing nut le through which the shaft extends. The inner portion of the shaft has a collar 15 thereon that engages the inner side of the head to prevent the shaft from being blown outward by the gas pressure, the shaft having also a squared end portion 16 that extends downward beyond the collar and has a tapered end 17. The upper portion of the shaft has a squared end portion 18 whereby the shaft may be rotated by a suitable device. The vessel so constructed is capable of holding water into which the carbid of calcium is to be fed.

A carbid holder is provided which comprises an open-top cylindrical body portion or shell 19 having a bottom 20 in its lower end, the middle portion of the bottom having a journal bearing 21 therein. A suitable number of legs 22, 22, are secured to the bottom and normally rest upon the bottom 2 for support, the carbid holder being slightly less in diameter than the shell 1 of the generator vessel and removably inserted in the vessel. The legs are of suflicient length to support the carbid holder above the water in the vessel with the top of the carbid holder near to the head 3. The bottom 20 has an aperture 23 therein adjacent to the body portion or wall 19, the aperture preferably being approximately a quarter segment or nearly equal. to one-fourth of the area of the bottom 20. An improved feeding device comprises a central shaft 2a having a journal 25 that is removably inserted in the bearing 21, the upper end of the shaft having a squared socket 26 therein that normally receives the squared portion 16 of the operating shaft of the feeder. A suitable number of wings or blades 27, 28, 29 and 30 are fixedly connected or cast integrally with the shaft 2 1 and normally rest upon the bottom 20, the wings extending to the wall 19 and upward to the top thereof. Preferably a web 31 is fixedly connected to the tops of two adjacent ones of the wings, the web being placed above the feed aperture 23 when the carbid holder is being charged so as to prevent particles of the carbid from falling downward and through the aperture.

For drawing off the generated gas from the generator the head 3 is provided with an outlet aperture 32 and a delivery pipe 33 provided with a check valve 34 for preventing the return of gas to the generator, a conducting pipe 35 being connected with the check valve and provided with a union 86 by which the pipe is connected to a conducting pipe 37 which has a suitable pipe 38 connected thereto. A large pressure-gage 39 is connected to the pipe 38 and is suliiciently large to be clearly seen from a considerable distance from the operator or attendant, in order that he may observe the pressure indicated in the generator while at a safe distance therefrom. In order that the operator may feed the carbid of calcium. at will and under control, suitable gearing, preferably comprising a wheel A0, is provided and connected to the shaft 12, preferably being re movably connected to the squared portion 18 of the shaft. In order that the wheel may be operated by the attendant at a safe distance from the generator, the wheel is constructed as a sprocket wheel and has a chain n thereon. A support 12 is arranged at a safe distance from the generator, being preferably mounted on the inner side of a wall 43 of a building in which the tanks or con tainers may be filled with the gas, the wall having a window-opening l l therein through which the attendant may observe the gage 39. A sprocket wheel 45 is rotatably mounted on the support 42 and has a sprocket chain as thereon. which is suitably connected with the chain 11. Preferably the two chains are not continuous and are cheaply connected together by a rod or cable 17 connected to one end of the two chains and a similar rod or cable A8 connected to the remaining end of the two chains.

In order to reduce the temperature of the gas in its passage to the point of delivery, the pipe 37 is extended into the adjacent ground and is connected to an underground pipe 49 that extends through the wall of the building and is connected to a riser pipe 50 that preferably has a horizontal pipe 51 connected thereto, the latter being provided with a stop valve 52. A pipe 53 is connected to the pipe 51 so as to practically form a continuation of the pipe 50 for the escape of air before the valve 52 is opened for the passage of gas. The pipe 53 preferably has an extension 5st connected thereto to which a blow-off valve 55 is connected, the latter preferably being provided with a blow-off pipe 56 that extends through the wall of the building.

The complete apparatus preferably comprises also a suitable washer 57 that is connected with the valve 52 by means of a pipe 58 to conduct the gas into the lower portion of the washer chamber, the latter having water therein. A gage 59 is connected with the chamber to indicate the pressure therein. A suitable purifier 60 is connected with the washer by means of a pipe 61 provided with a stop valve 62. An outlet pipe 63 is con nected with the purifier and provided with a stop valve 6 1. The pipe 63 may be provided with any desired number of branches for expeditiously conducting the gas to tanks or containers under high pressure.

It will be understood that the generator is located at a considerable distance from the building and that proper safeguards are contemplated to prevent the approach of persons other than the attendant to the generator. It should be understood also that various modifications in the details of construction or arrangement of parts are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

In practical use, the head 3 being removed from the shell or body portion 1 of the generator vessel, a suitable quantity of water is placed in the vessel. The carbid holder is placed in the vessel and is supplied with carbid or calcium either before or after insertion in the vessel, each compartment between the wings or blades of the feeder, ex-

cepting that covered by the web 31, being supplied with the carbid, so that approximately three-fourths of the bottom 20 is covered by the carbid. The head 3 is placed in position while the squared portion 16 of the operating shaft is inserted into the socket 26 of the feeder, after which the head is properly secured in position so that the vessel is sealed. The operator leaves the generator, and passing into the building turns the operating wheel l5, with the result that the shaft 12 turns the shaft 24 so as to cause the blades or wings to move and force the carbid in one of the chambers from the bottom 20 so that the carbid falls through the aperture 23 into the water in the lower portion of the vessel, resulting in the production of gas which rises from the water and passes by the carbid holder and into the pipe The valve 55 is opened and the outlet end of the blow-off pipe 56 observed while the stop valve 52 is closed, so that the air that may be in the pipes and the upper portion of the generator may escape. WV hen sufficient pressure has been developed by the formation of the gas to cause a slight noise at the end of the pipe 56, it is understood that the air has been forced out, after which the valve 52 is opened and the valve 55 closed, so that the gas is conducted through the washer and the purifier to the delivery pipe 63. The gage 39 is watched and when it indicates the desired pressure the feeding of the carbid is stopped, or the feeding is intermittently continued until the required pressure desired has been obtained as indicated by the gage. The gage 59 may be observed also when delivering the gas which may be used for various purposes other than the charging of port-able tanks or containers.

\Vhen the recharging of the generator is required the valve 52 may be closed, and after disconnecting the union 36 the head 3 is removed, after which the carbid holder is replenished to be followed by the replacing of the head 3 and coupling of the union 36. The generator vessel may be cleansed by drawing off the water and sediment through the pipe 10, but in practice the vessel is thoroughly cleansed of all matter and recharged with clean water after removing the carbid holder and feeder, the operations being facilitated by removing the wheel 40 from the shaft 12, the flexible belt abovedescribed that connects the driving wheell5 with the wheel 40 permitting the latter wheel to be readily removed or replaced on the shaft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of a generator vessel, with a carbidcontainer placed in the upper portion ofthe vessel and having an opening in its bottom, a feeder rotatable within the container and having a centrally disposed shaft'and' a series of wings radially extending from the shaft, a web between the tops of two adjacent ones of the wings and fixed thereto, the web being arranged to cover the open ing in the bottom when the carbid-container is being filled, and means for rotating the feeder.

2. In an acetylene gas apparatus, a generator vessel provided with a removable head detachably secured on the vessel and also containing a carbid-holder and a rotatable feeder having a polygonal socket in its upper end, and means for rotating said feeder comprising a shaft vertically journaled in the head and having a polygonal lower end fitting the socket when the head is in normal position, a rotatably supported driving wheel, a driven wheel secured on the upper end of the shaft, and a driving connection between the said two wheels, the driving connection being laterally flexible and perthe carbid-holder, the wings and said side Y wall forming pockets, the cross-section of each pocket between two adjacent ones of the wings being substantially equal to the segmental opening in the bottom of said carbid-holder, and a web connecting the said two adjacent wings at the tops thereof and extending to the upper portion of the said side wall.

4!. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination of a closed water holding vessel, the top of the vessel being removable, a carbid-holder statio-narily supported in the vessel and comprising a bottom and a side wall fixed thereon, the bottom having a central journal bearing and also an aperture on one side of the bearing, a feeder comprising a shaft rotatably guided in the journal bearing and wings radially arranged and fixed on the shaft, the Wings extending movably on the bottom and to the Wall in movable relation thereto to form compartments for receiving and moving the carbid along said bottom to said aperture, one of the compartments having a cover comprising a Web connected to the tops of two adjacent ones of the Wings, and a shaft rotataoiy mounted LOUIS \VAGSCHAL. Witnesses E. T. SILVIUS, M. E. SPARROW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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