AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION AND EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE STORAGE, TRANSPORT, AND DELIVERY OF GASEOUS OR INFLAMMABLE OIL OR SPIRIT.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi, of Lewisham
High Road, New Cross, in the County of Kent, Spirit Merchant,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
PREVENTING THE FORMATION AND EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE STORAGE,
TRANSPORT, AND DELIVERY OF GASEOUS OR INFLAMMABLE OIL OR SPIRIT.'
-Partly a communication from abroad by Pierre Sinibaldi, of
Paris, France.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Raphaël Francis
Sinibaldi at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th January 1875.
I, GEORGE RAPHAËL FRANCIS SINIBALDI, of Lewisham High Road,
New Cross, in the County of Kent, Spirit Merchant, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION AND EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE
Storage, TransporT, AND DELIVERY OF GASEOUS OR INFLAMMABLE OIL OR SPIRIT,"
partly a communication, to be as follows:-

page_text: '
venting explosions of the gas generated from petroleum and other like
gaseous and inflammable materials in the storage or transport or
measuring and delivery of the same.
The said Invention consists, first, in storing the petroleum or other oil
or spirit in a vessel in such a manner that to be withdrawn therefrom it 5
must be displaced by the introduction of another liquid of different
specific gravity, so that there is never any empty space in the vessel
above the gascous liquid, and therefore no gas can be generated from
the said liquid in the vessel.
The said Invention also consists in apparatus composed of a cistern or 1
reservoir of iron or other suitable material in which the petroleum and
other oil or spirit is stored, and from which the same is drawn off ready
measured by hydraulic pressure applied at the base or at the top of the
said cistern or reservoir to the oil or spirit through a tube, whose upper
end is at a higher level than the reservoir, or by a force pump when it 1
is desired to economize time.
The oil is introduced into the cistern through an aperture hermetically
closed by a screw stopper, and the said cistern or reservoir should be
completely filled therewith, all other apertures in the said cistern being
closed at the time of its introduction. The said stopper is then screwed
down. The aforesaid tube has a movable funnel at its upper extremity,
and its lower end opens into the cistern. I use water for displacing the
oil, and this water is poured or forced in, as the case may be. The said
tube is provided with a cock or tap, by which the water is admitted to
the oil or shut off therefrom. Another cock or tap is provided at the
highest part of the highest side of the cistern or reservoir through which
the oil is drawn off. But this drawing off can only be effected by dis-
placing the oil by the water, that is to say, the quantity of oil drawn
from the cistern must be replaced by the same quantity of water
admitted through the aforesaid tube, and the oil will issue through the
delivery cock or tap as long as water flows into the admission tube, and
no longer. When no more oil is to be drawn the top of the admission
tube is closed, cutting off the communication between the said tube and
the cistern. A gauge is provided to indicate the quantity of oil in the
eistern. When the oil is entirely exhausted the water is discharged by
another cock or tap; or the admission tube and cock may be unscrewed
and removed from the reservoir for discharging the water, thus obviating

page_text: the expense of a third cock or tap. The admission tube may either bo
attached to the reservoir externally or internally, or may be in one piece
with the side of the reservoir.
The above description applies particularly to stationary tanks, cisterns,
or reservoirs; but I may construct portable tanks or vessels in a similar
manner, with the exception that instead of a common cock or tap I use
a pecular form of cock in the admission tube, that is to say, this tubo is
arranged in the manner above described, but has a hole in one side of its
lower extremity, which is fitted in a movable socket that turns in a part
of the cock, which is fixed in and communicates with the reservoir.
When oil is to be drawn out of the reservoir the said tubo is screwed
into the movable socket of the cock, bringing the orifices in the two
parts opposite each other. The water is then poured or forced into the
tube, a half turn is given to the said tube and socket to form a com-
munication between the tubo and the interior of the reservoir.
apparatus then operates in the manner above described.
The
When the gascous or inflammable liquid is a spirit which would mix
with water I use for the displacing liquid any suitable kind of oil. In
this case the delivery aperture should be at or near the bottom of the.
cistern or reservoir..
The advantages of this Invention are that no air is contained in the
cistern or reservoir when the same is quite full of oil or spirit, and when
any is drawn off its place is taken by the water or other displacing
liquid. Therefore no vacuum is formed in the cistern and no air is
admitted to the same, consequently no gas can be generated. Should
the oil cock or tap bo left open through carelessness no oil would escape,
and another advantage is that the quantity of oil drawn off equals that
of the water admitted. For instance, if a gallon of oil is wanted it is
only necessary to pour in a gallon of water.
By using the peculiar cock or tap above described I avoid having a
tube for each separate reservoir or vessel, one tube serving for any
number of cocks or taps of the same size. The said cock or tap can be
applied to any existing reservoir or vessel used for the purpose of this
Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
RAPHAËL FRANCIS SINIBALDI, of Lewisham High Road, New Cross, in
the County of Kent, Spirit Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Georgo Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi, Her
special licence that I, the said George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi, my
'executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR FREVENTING THE FORMATION AND EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE STORAGE,
TRANSPORT, AND DELIVERY OF GASEOUS OR INFLAMMABLE OIL OR SPIRIT," partly
the result of a communication to me from abroad by Pierre Sinibaldi,
of Paris, France, and partly of Invention and Discovery made by me,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Raphaël
Francis Sinibaldi, executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, referenco being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
This Invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for pre-

page_text: inflammable liquid, all the other apertures being closed at the time of its
introduction. The funnel of the tube g is removable from the said tube.
The lower end of this tube opens into the vessel or cistern a. The water
for displacing the oil is poured or forced in as found most convenient. In
cases where it is desired to economize time a force pump is employed for
tho introduction of the water for displacing the oil. As above specified
the said tube is provided with a cock or tap i, by which the water is
admitted to the cistern or shut off therefrom.
It will be observed that the vessel a is higher on one side than the
other, and that the cock or tape is placed at the highest part of the
highest side of the cistern or reservoir. By this arrangement I obviate
the danger of the entrance of air into any small spaces that might exist
above the level of the liquid if the discharge aperture were placed at such
level. By the above discribed arrangement of the admission and discharge
cocks and passages it will be seen that the discharge or drawing off of the
oil can only be effected by displacing the oil by the water, that is to say,
the quantity of oil drawn from the vessel a must be replaced by the
same quantity of water admitted through the aforesaid tubo g, and the
oil will issue through the delivery cock or tap e as long as water flows
into this admission tube, and no longer. When no more oil is to bo
drawn the tap i of the admission tube 9 is closed, cutting off the com-
munication between the said tube and the cistern. The gauge d indicates
the quantity of oil in the vessel a at any moment. The said gauge is
preferably protected by a cover d. When the oil is entirely exhausted
the water is discharged by the cock or tap f; or the admission tube and
cock may be unscrewed and removed from the vessel or cistern a to
discharge the water, thus obviating the necessity of the cock or tap ƒ.`
The admission tube may either be attached to the said vessel externally,
as shewn, or internally, or it may be replaced by a passage formed in
one piece with the sido of the reservoir.
The above description applies more particularly to stationary tanks,
cisterns, or reservoirs; but I may construct portable tanks, barrels, or
the like in a similar manner, with the exception that instead of a
common cock or tap, as above described, I use the device illustrated in
Figures 2 and 3 in the admission tube g. Figure 2 shews the separate
portions of this device in transverse section; Figure 3 shews the same
in place upon the cistern. When this device is used the tube g is
arranged in the position above described. It has a hole j in one side of

page_text: the lower extremity, which is fitted in a movable socket . The latter
is fitted to turn in the part of the device, which is fixed in and com-
municates with the reservoir, as shown. When oil is to be drawn out of
the reservoir the said tube is so adjusted in the movable socket of the
cock as to bring the orifices j, k, in the two parts g, k, opposite cach
other. The water is then poured or forced into the tube g, and a half
turn is given to the said tube and cock to form a communication
through the passage between the tube g and the interior of the
reservoir. The apparatus then operates in the manner above described.
When the gaseous or inflammable liquid to be kept in the vessel a is‘
a spirit which would mix with water instead of rising above it, I use for
the displacing liquid any suitable kind of oil. In this case, as the dis-
placing liquid would be lighter than the said spirit, the delivery aperture
should bo at or near the bottom of the cistern or reservoir.
The advantages of this Invention are as follows, namely, all air may
be excluded from the cistern or reservoir by filling the same quite full of
oil or spirit, and when any oil or spirit is required to be drawn it can
only be obtained from the said vessel by the entrance of the water or
other displacing liquid; therefore no vacuum is formed in the cistern
and no air can enter the same, consequently no gas can be generated
therein. Should the oil discharge cock or tap be left open inadvertently
no oil will escape. Another advantage is that the quantity of oil drawn
off equals that of the water admitted; for instance, if it is desired to
draw off a gallon of oil it is only necessary to measure and pour in a
gallon of water.
By using the peculiar cock or tap above described and shewn in
Figures 2 and 3 I avoid the necessity for a separato tube for cach reser-
voir or vessel, one tube serving for any number of cocks or taps of the
same size. The said cock or tap can be applied to any existing reservoir
or vessel suitable for containing oil or spirit.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. In the storage or transport of petroleum or other explosive or
gaseous oil or spirit, preventing the formation and explosion of gas by the
employment of a vessel or reservoir for containing the same, so con-
structed and provided with a supply of water or other suitable liquid
that the oil or spirit is discharged by hydraulic pressure in such a manner
>

page_text: that no vacant space will over be left above the said oil or spirit in the
said vessel or reservoir.
Second. A cistern or vessel for containing petroleum or other inflam-
mable or gaseous liquid constructed with the side from which the said
oil or liquid is discharged higher than the other side, for the purpose 5
specified.
Third. The combination with the cistern or vessel for containing the
petroleum or other gaseous liquid of the water admission pipe g, the oil
discharge pipe e, and the taps or cocks for controlling the said pipes,
either with or without the gauge d, as herein set forth and for the 1
purpose specified.
Fourth. The device, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, constructed and
operating in combination with a cistern or reservoir containing petroleum
or other explosive oil or spirit, as herein set forth and for the purposes
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Raphaël Francis Sinibaldi,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five
Witness,
GEO. HASELTINE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
G. K. F. SINIBALDI. (L.S.)
'