BELGIUM.
Maker: SOC. AN. DE L'ACÉTYLITHE, 65 RUE DU MARCHE, BRUSSELS.
Type: Automatic; contact.
The generating apparatus made by this firm uses, instead of ordinary carbide, a preparation known as "acétylithe," which is carbide treated specially with mineral oil, glucose and sugar. The object of using this treated carbide is to avoid the effects of the attack of atmospheric humidity or water vapour, which, with ordinary carbide, give rise to the phenomena of after-generation. The generator comprises a water-tank A with conical base, a basket C containing the treated carbide inserted within a cylindrical case B which is open at the bottom and is surmounted by a cylindrical filter D. At starting, the tank A is filled with water to the level N N'. The water rises within the cylindrical case until it comes in contact with the treated carbide, which thereupon begins to evolve gas. The gas passes through the filter D, which is packed with dry cotton-wool, and escapes through the tap M. As soon as the contained air has been displaced by gas the outlet of the tap M is connected by a flexible tube to the pipe leading to a purifier and the service-pipe. When the tap M is closed, or when the rate of evolution of the gas exceeds the rate of consumption, the evolved gas accumulates within the cylindrical case B and begins to displace the water, the level of which within the case is lowered from S S', first to S1 S'1 and ultimately to, say, S2 S'2. The evolution of gas is thereby gradually curtailed or stopped until more is required for consumption. The water displacement causes the water-level in the outer tank to rise to N1 N'1 and ultimately to, say N2 N'2. The lime formed by the decomposition of the carbide is loosened from the unattacked portion and taken more or less into solution as sucrate of lime, which is a soluble salt which the glucose or sugar in the treated carbide forms with lime. The solution is eventually run off through the cock R. The cover T of the filter is screwed down on rubber packing until gas- tight. The purifier is charged with puratylene or other purifying material.
Maker: L. DEBRUYNE, 22 PLACE MASUI, BRUSSELS.
Type: (1) Automatic; carbide-to-water.
The generating plant made by this firm, using granulated carbide, comprises an equalising gasholder E alongside a generating tank B, which is surmounted by a closed carbide receptacle A and a distributing appliance. The carbide receptacle is filled with granulated carbide and the lid N screwed down; the carbide is then withdrawn from the base of the receptacle by the distributing appliance and discharged in measured quantities as required into the water in the generating tank. The distributing appliance is actuated by a weighted cord H attached to the bell I of the gasholder and discharges at each time a quantity of carbide only sufficient nearly to fill the gasholder with acetylene. The gas passes from the generator through the pipe J and seal-pot D, or bypass F, to the gasholder. The generating tank is provided with a funnel G for replacing the water consumed, a sludge-stirrer and a draw-off cock L, and a water-level cock C. The gas passes from the gasholder through a purifier K, charged with heratol, to the service-pipe.
(2) Automatic; carbide-to-water.