Patent GB-478441-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in oil reclaiming devices
IPC: C10M175/00
Filed: 1936-08-04
Abstract: An oil re-conditioning apparatus comprises means for feeding oil gradually from a reservoir to a vaporizer which is provided with an electric heating means controlled by means actuated upon the emptying of the reservoir.  As shown in the Figure, the apparatus comprises a casing 10 containing an oil reservoir 12, a pivoted counterweighted cup 53, a vaporizer 24, a receiving pan 58 from which depends a filter 62, and a receptacle 74 for the re-conditioned oil.  The oil reservoir 12 is provided with a valve-controlled outlet 17 situated above the cup 53, which is provided in the bottom with a small bleeder hole.  The outlet 17 is surmounted by a filter 22 and is surrounded by an annular projection 23 to retain grease or other impurities in the reservoir.  The vaporizer 24 is provided at the top with a pan 25 situated beneath the cup 53, and with a spiral groove 33 on the outside of its conical wall into which oil overflows from the pan 25.  An electric heater 27 is situated beneath the <PICT:0478441/III/1> pan 25, the circuit to the heater being controlled by a hand-operated switch 40 and an automatic switch 46, e.g. a mercury switch, in series with the switch 40 and controlled by the movement of the cup 53.  The switch 46 is mounted on a bracket 47 on the lever 48 carrying the cup 53, the lever being pivoted to a bracket 49 secured to the casing.  When the cup 53 is empty, it is held in the raised position by the weight of the switch 46, and the circuit to the heater 27 is broken; when, however, oil is delivered from the reservoir 12 and the cup 53 fills, its downward movement operates the switch 46 and thus closes the circuit to the heater. The oil overflows from the cup 53 into the pan 25 from which it flows down the groove 33 into the receiving pan 58.  When the reservoir 12 empties and delivery ceases, the cup 53 empties through the bleeder hole, is raised by the weight of the switch and opens the circuit. The vapours of the volatile diluents and water driven off in the vaporizer escape from the casing through an outlet 93.  The filter 62 is filled with filtering material 64, e.g. fuller's earth, enclosed at the top and bottom by cotton or mineral wool 66, 66<1>, and screens 65, 65<1>. Cylindrical baffles 73 are provided in the filter to divert the oil from the walls.  The lower part of the filter may be heated by electric heaters 81 contained in housing 82 and connected in parallel with the heater 27.  The reservoir 12, pan 58 with attached filter 62, and receptacle 74 are slidably removable from the casing.  In a modification, Figs. 8 to 12 (not shown), all the electrical parts of the apparatus are enclosed in a vapour-tight manner, the heater 27 for the vaporizer being mounted within an enclosed casing over which the vaporizer 24 fits, and the automatic switch 46 being situated in the junction box behind the hand-operated switch 40.  The automatic switch is carried in the end of a shaft fixed at right-angles to a counter-weighted lever carrying the cup into which oil is delivered from the reservoir. In this modification, the heaters for the filters are carried by the arms of a yoke secured to the casing.  In a further modification, Figs. 13 and 14 (not shown), the outlet from the oil reservoir is surrounded by an electric heater mounted in parallel with the heater of the vaporizer, and the automatic switch is controlled by a float in the oil reservoir.ALSO:In an oil re-conditioning apparatus employing a filter constructed as described in Specification 479,292, the lower part of the filter is provided with external electric heaters contained in housings either attached to the filter casing or carried by the arms of a spring yoke secured to a bracket fixed to the casing of the apparatus.