The same firm also makes a generator known as the "A-to-Z," which is less costly than either of the above. In it water is supplied from the tank of a bell gasholder to a drawer type of generator placed in the base of the gasholder tank. The supply of water is controlled by an external piston- valve actuated through the rise and fall of the bell of the gasholder. The flow of water to the generator is visible.
Maker: THE ACETYLENE GAS AND CARBIDE OF CALCIUM CO., PONTARDAWE, R.S.O., GLAM.
Type: Automatic; water-to-carbide; flooded compartment.
The "Owens" generator made by this firm comprises an equalising bell gasholder alongside which are placed two or more inclined generating cylinders. The front lower end of each cylinder is fitted with a lid which is closed by a screw clamp. There is inserted in each cylinder a cylindrical trough, divided into ten compartments, each of which contains carbide. Water is supplied to the upper ends of the cylinders from a high-level tank placed at the back of the gasholder. In the larger sizes the tank is automatically refilled from a water service through a ball-cock. The outlet-valve of this tank is operated through a counter- weighted lever, the unweighted end of which is depressed by a loop, attached to the crown of the gasholder bell, when the bell has nearly reached its lowest position. This action of the bell on the lever opens the outlet-valve of the tank and allows water to flow thence into one of the generating cylinders. It is discharged into the uppermost of the compartments of the carbide trough, and when the carbide in that compartment is exhausted it flows over the partition into the next compartment, and so on until the whole trough is flooded. The gas passes from the generating cylinders through a water-seal and a baffle plate condenser placed within the water link of the gasholder to the bell of the latter. There is a water seal on the water supply-pipe from the tank to the generators, which would be forced should the pressure within the generators for any reason become excessive. There is also a sealed vent- pipe which allows of the escape of gas from the holder to the open should the holder for any reason be over filled. The gas passes from the holder through a purifier charged with "Owens" purifying material to the service pipe. The plant is shown in Fig 41.
Maker ACETYLENE ILLUMINATING CO, LTD, 268-270 SOUTH LAMBETH ROAD, LONDON, SW
Type (1) Non automatic, carbide to water
The generator A of this type made by this firm is provided with a loading box B, with gas tight lid, into which the carbide is put. It is then discharged by moving a lever which tilts the hinged bottom D of the box B, and so tips the carbide through the shoot E on to the conical distributor F and into the water in the generating chamber. There is a sludge cock G at the base of the generator. Gas passes as usual from the generator to a washer and storage gasholder. Heratol is the purifying material supplied.
(2) Non-automatic; water-to-carbide; contact.