The "Photolithe" generating plant made by this firm comprises an equalising bell gasholder A in the tank O, alongside a generating tank B which is surmounted by a carbide storage receptacle divided into a number of compartments. These compartments are fitted with flap bottoms secured by catches, and are charged with carbide. Through the middle of the storage receptacle passes a spindle, to the upper end of which is attached a pulley b. Round the pulley passes a chain, one end of which carries a weight n, while in the other direction it traverses guide pulleys and is attached to a loop on the crown of the gasholder bell. When the bell falls below a certain point owing to the consumption of gas, it pulls the chain and rotates the pulley b and therewith an arm d, which liberates the catch supporting the flap-bottom of the next in order of the carbide compartments. The contents of this compartment are thereby discharged through the shoot C into the generating tank B. The gas evolved passes through the cock R and the pipe T into the gasholder, the rise of the bell of which takes the pull off the chain and allows the weight at its other end to draw it up until it is arrested by the stop f. The arm d is thereby brought into position to liberate the catch of the next carbide receptacle. The generating tank is enlarged at its base to form a sludge receptacle E, which is provided with a sludge draw-off cock S and a hand-hole P. Between the generating tank proper and the sludge receptacle is a grid, which is cleaned by means of a rake with handle L. The gas passes from the gasholder through a purifier H charged with puratylene, to the service-pipe.
The same firm also makes a portable generating apparatus in which the carbide is placed in a basket in the crown of the bell of the gasholder. This apparatus is supplied on a trolley for use in autogenous soldering or welding.
FRANCE.
Maker: LA SOC. DES APPLICATIONS DE L'ACÉTYLÈNE, 26 RUE CADET, PARIS.
Type: Automatic; carbide-to-water.
The "Javal" generating plant made by this firm consists of an equalising bell gasholder A in the tank B with a series of buckets D, with removable bottoms h, mounted on a frame F round the guide framing of the holder. Alongside the gasholder stands the generating tank H with shoot K, into which the carbide discharged from the buckets falls. On top of the generator is a tipping water-bucket I supplied with water through a ball cock. The bell of the gasholder is connected by chains a and c, and levers b and d with an arm which, when the bell descends to a certain point, comes in contact with the catch by which the bottom of the carbide bucket is held in place, and, liberating the same, allows the carbide to fall into the shoot. When the bell rises, in consequence of the evolved gas, the ring of carbide buckets is rotated sufficiently to bring the next bucket over the shoot. Thus the buckets are discharged in turn as required through the rise and fall of the gasholder bell.
The carbide falling from the opened bucket strikes the end i of the lever k, and thereby tips the water-bucket I and discharges its contents into the shoot of the generator. The rise in the level of the water in the generator, due to the discharge of the water from the bucket I, lifts the float L and therewith, through the attached rod and chain u, the ball s of the valve t. The sludge, which has accumulated in the base N of the generator from the decomposition of the previous portion of carbide, is thereby discharged automatically into a special drain. The discharge- valve closes automatically when the float L has sunk to its original level. The gas evolved passes from the generator through the seal-pot M and the pipe r with cock q into the gasholder, from which it passes through the pipe x; with condensation chamber and discharge tap y into the purifier R, which is charged with heratol.
Maker: L'HERMITE, LOUVIERS, EURE.