Evening star., 1929-09-01

STANDARDS, conducted last E@ek
in connection with the re-ref1ne-
ment of crank-caSe oil, may lead
to the conservation of one OF the
greatest of Americas resources.
YhG machine for this purpose
was set uS 1T the Bureau of
Standards and witnessed in
operation by representatives of
Bureau of Engineering. United
eoGsEGs Navy Department.; the
bureau of Engineering, United
States Coast Guard; the Bureau
of AeronauticS, United States
Navy, and B. E. Lunon of the Dis
trict sewer department.
Interests Sewer Branch.
Mr.. Lunon is interested in the
project because of his appeal to
prevent the dumping of the useH
oils into the sewers, which he be-
lieves to be fire hazard because
OF their infiamB' ability.
DR.. HerSchel states that re-
teffne9 c!!s eye as good, if not bet
ter, tnan the product taken from
the refinerieS in the beginning, If
the re-refining is properly done.
He declares that the lubricating
part of the oil cannot be lost by
usage, and that if the con-
taminating particles, both solid
and liquid, are removed the oil
does not suffer by the treatment.
Other experiments have been
brought before the Government
testing bureau in this regard, but
last week was the second time
that a machine fer this purpose
has been put into actual opera
tion, although on small scale.
Conservation Need Shown.
The value of conserving the
@ation'S oil resources can be
realized by a few statistics. It is
estimated that there are existent
in the world today 9,000,000,000
barrels of oil. Last year 100000
900 barrels were consumed, 70 per
cent derived from the United
States, although the oil supply of
the United States is only 18 per
cent Of the total world supply. It
. is said that 100000 gallons of
used oil was wasted last year in
the District of Columbia, and that
New York City'S daily waste is
10000 gallons.
Supporters of this new inven-
tion to save the consumption of
oil declare that the lubricating
value Of oil cannot be destroyed.
It can be broken down and its
viscosity lowered by usage, but not
permanently. Usage also subjects
the oil to contaminationS of such
solids as metal wearingS. dust and
carbon, and liquids such as water,
gasoline. kerosene and so forth.
In order to restore waste oil to
its lubricating value, it is de-
termined by oil experts that
proper re-reflning process will not
only bring it back to its original
lubricating capacity, but will
make better oil than before, be-
cause OF its complete absence of
contamination.
Two Distinct Operations.
The corporation which gave it's
tests last week has evolved a
process which includes two dis
tinct operations. First the oil is
treated by a secret chemical COM
pound in a tank that is mechan-
ically agitated and heated to a
suitable temperature to permit of
the solids precipitating to the bot
tom of the settling tank, leaving
after a suitable period of settling
a distinct line of demarkation be-
tween the oil which is above the
line and Sludge or sediment which
is below the line. The oil above
the line contains lubricating oil
and certain light ends" being
condensed moisture, such as gaso-
line, kerosene, naphtha, ether, etc
The second stage in the process
is taking the oil as separated from
the Sludge and running it through
a still and separating the light
ends or distillateS from the lubri-
eating Oil. After the diStillateS
have been run off they are cut
out and the lubricating oil cut in
and thereafter run out of the still
and placed in storage tanks ac-
cording to viScoSity tests and
other tests required.
Local Plant Likely.
The setting up and operation
OF a re-reflning plant in the Dis
trict OF Columbia is thought likely.
Any company which plans con-
Servation of such a needed prod
uct should be encouraged, whether
1t Is purely business proposition
or not. Gasoline once used, is
gone forever, and the only con-
Servation possible is improved
carburetorS and roadwayS, which
alone can tend to cut 1own the
vast consumption. Much is being
done in this way these days.
Details of Americas first front
drive passenger automobile, the
Cord, were announced to the
public by E. L. Cord, president Of
Auburn.
pulls Instead of Pushing"
It is a car that pulls" instead
of pushing" driving through the
front wheels, and introducing for
the first time the unit power plant
permits the application of power
near its source, adding to safety,
efficiency and ease of operation,
inaSmuch as the power is al
ways applied in the direction
which the front or guiding wheels
are steered.
The chassis frame is straight,
no elbow being needed at the rear
to clear a rear axle housing. Thus
the body is built much lower than
is possible with rear drive auto
mobiles and the center of gravity
of the car is consequently lower,
reducing skidding and side sway.
Highways of y. S. L