A NEW OR IMPROVED RESERVOIR FOR STORING PETROLEUM OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE OILS OR SPIRITS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Gray, of the Offices for Patenting
and Introducing Inventions, 16, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex; Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
.
.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED RESERVOIR FOR STORING PETROLEUM OR OTHER
INFLAMMABLE OILS OR SPIRITS." -A communication from abroad by
Guiseppe Bianchini, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 14th October 1873, and dated the 19th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Gray
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 19th April 1873.
I, JOHN WILLIAM GRAY, of the Offices for Patenting and Introducing
Inventions, 16, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED RESERVOIR FOR STORING PETROLEUM OR OTHER INFLAM-
MABLE OILS OR SPIRITS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to or consists in a new or improved reservoir
for storing petroleum or other inflammable oils or spirits in such a way

page_text: that spontaneous combustion thereof is impossible, and that even if the
reservoir be surrounded with fire it is impossible for its contents to burn
by reason of the air being totally excluded therefrom. This I accomplish
as follows:-
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent respectively
a vertical central section and a plan of the apparatus.
R, R, R, R, is a reservoir of sheet iron or other suitable material,
square in section, shut at the top, open at the bottom, and fastened
at its lower ends to a trough of masonry of the same form and a little
larger in size, thus leaving a space between the sides of the reservoir
and of the trough. A man-hole O is constructed about the centre of
the top of the reservoir, and is provided with two lateral apertures to
which are attached valves R', R", thus providing means of opening or
intercepting communication between the reservoir and the pipes C and D.
The vertical sides of the reservoir extend above the top plate so as to
form a tank A from which liquid can be run out by a cock r (worked
by a vertical rod as shewn). A pipe Q, Q', open at both ends traverses
the reservoir nearly to the bottom thereof. M is an overflow pipe, the
use of which will be hereafter explained; Z is another tube provided
with a cock and communicating with the man-hole.
Let us suppose
that the apparatus is completely empty, and that it is desired to intro-
duce the petroleum therein for storage. The operation is commenced
by first filling the reservoir with water, for which purpose the tap in the
tube Z is opened, the overflow pipe M and the cocks R¹ and R" shut
and the cock opened. Water from any convenient source T is then
let into the annular space between the reservoir and the trough, flowing
down which it enters the reservoir through the perforations near the
bottom thereof, and driving out the air by the tube Z which is open,
rises and taking the same level in the bell B, B, the tube Q, Q', and
the surrounding annular space reaches the man-hole, fills it and extends
to the highest level L, L³, after having penetrated into and filled the
tank A, A, through the cock r, at this moment everything is full of
water except the tubes C and D, whilst no particle of air remains in
the apparatus. Now suppose a cask of petroleum to be placed at V in
order that its contents may be passed into the reservoir shut off Z and r
and open R¹ and M. This being done water will flow out of the
tube M and diminish in the said annular space and in the tube Q, Q', till it
reaches in both cases the level of M, at the same time the petroleum will

page_text: flow into the tube C, C. Thus there are two columns of liquids com-
municating with one another, the one (of water) in the annular space
and the interior column formed by the water in the reservoir covered"
on the top by the petroleum flowing down the tube C. This latter
column being higher than the other descends and forces more water
out of the pipe M, whilst the petroleum being lighter than the water
remains on the top thereof. The reservoir is thus filled from top to
bottom.
It will be evident, however, from the foregoing that as the petroleum
is lighter than the water (bulk for bulk), if the reservoir be constructed
sufficiently deep a point will be arrived at where the two columns, the
one of petroleum and the other of water will balance one another
notwithstanding the column of petroleum being higher than that of the
water. At this point the introduction of petroleum would cease and
the reservoir would be filled as far as it possibly could be. As however
it would not always be convenient to construct the reservoir sufficiently
deep for this purpose, I employ the following means for indicating when
the petroleum has reached the bottom of the reservoir, as at this point
its introduction must be stopped for fear of its overflowing the surround-
ing trough at the pipe.M.and thus proving dangerous.
During the filling of the reservoir with petroleum the pipe Q, Q',
remains full of water. When however the petroleum has reached the
level X, Y, and a little below the bottom end of the pipe Q, Q', the
water column contained therein cannot support itself on the top of
the petroleum, and consequently falls down into the water of the trough
and is replaced by a column of petroleum which rises to the level of
the supply. This point having been arrived at may be indicated by a.
float contained in the tube Q, Q', which being clevated suddenly by the
oil will work an alarm and thus attract the attention of the attendant.
The top of the tube Q, Q', is then stopped by means of a screw capsule,
or by other suitable mean's the valve R' and the overflow pipe M are
shut and the reservoir is full.
.
For recovering the petroleum from the reservoir I proceed as follows:
— The annular space is filled with water to the line L, L', and the
valve R¹¹ is opened. In the two columns of fluid now communicating.
with one another the column of water is heavier than the column of.
petroleum, which will thus be forced out at V', the water taking its
place. As the water descends it is replaced from the source of supply T
'

page_text: and thus the level is maintained. It will be observed that during the
emptying process the tube Q, Q', will be full of petroleum by reason
of the water which enters from the bottom isolating it from the rest of
the petroleum. To get rid of this small quantity communication is
established between the tube Q, Q', and the tube D, D, and at the height
of the latter by means of a small tube and cock.
is for the
purpose
It will further be observed that the lid of the man-hole O is not
horizontal. This slightly inclined form
of permitting
the expulsion of the last particles of oil. The tank A is for the purpose
of counterbalancing the pressure exerted by the columns of liquid on
the under surface of the top plate of the reservoir, which pressure has
a tendency to tear it from its seating. This is accomplished by filling
the said tank with water to such a height that the weight of such water
will counterbalance the pressure underneath.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John William Gray in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM GRAY, of the Offices for Patenting and Introducing Inventions,
16, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John William Gray, Her special
license that I, the said John William Gray, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John William
Gray, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "A NEW OR IMPROVED RESERVOIR FOR STORING PETROLEUM OR OTHER

page_text: INFLAMMABLE OILS OR SPIRITS," a communication to me from abroad by
Guiseppe Bianchini, of Paris, in the Republic of France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John William Gray, my
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 John William Gray, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to or consists in a new or improved reservoir
for storing petroleum or other imflammable oils or spirits in such a way
that spontaneous combustion thereof is rendered impossible, and that if
even the reservoir be surrounded with fire it is impossible for its contents
to ignite by reason of the air being totally excluded therefrom.
And in order that such Invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with the
aid of the accompanying Drawing, reference being had to the letters
and Figures marked thereon, and in which Figure 1 represents a vertical
central section of my new or improved reservoir; and Figure 2 a plan
thereof. In each Figure the same letter of reference whenever it occurs
indicates like or corresponding parts.
A is a reservoir of sheet iron or other suitable material, square in
section, closed in at the top, open at the bottom, and fastened at its
lower end to a trough of masonry of the same form and a little larger in
size, thus leaving an annular space N between the sides of the reservoir
and of the trough. This reservoir A is also perforated near its lower end
by one or more rows of holes, as shewn. A man-hole B is constructed
about the centre of the top of the reservoir, and is provided with two
lateral apertures to which are attached valves C, D, thus providing
means of opening or intercepting communication between the reservoir
and the pipes E and F. The vertical sides of the reservoir extend above
the top plate so as to form a tank G, from which liquid can be run out

page_text: by a cock H, worked by a vertical rod, as shewn, or otherwise as con-
venient. A vertical pipe J, open at both ends, traverses the reservoir
from a short distance from the bottom up through the top plate, and
extends to a short distance above the top of the tank. The use of this
tube will be herein-after described. K is an overflow pipe; L is another
tube provided with a cock and communicating with the man-hole.
Let us now suppose that the apparatus is completely empty, and that
it is desired to introduce petroleum therein for storage. The operation
is commenced by first filling the reservoir with water, for which purpose
the tap in the tube L is opened; the overflow pipe K and the valves C
and D shut, and the cock H opened. Water from any convenient
source M is then let into the annular space N, from which it enters the
reservoir through the perforations near the bottom thereof, and driving
out the air by the tube L, which is opened for that purpose, rises, and
taking the same level in the reservoir A, the tube J and the annular
space N reaches the man-hole B, fills it, and extends to the highest
level O after having penetrated into and filled the tank G through the.
cock H. At this juncture the whole apparatus is full of water except
the tubes E and F, whilst no particle of air remains in the apparatus.
Now, suppose one or more casks of petroleum to be placed at P in order
that the contents thereof may be passed into the reservoir, shut off L
and H, and open C and K; this being done, water will flow out of the
tube K, and diminish in height in the said annular space N and in the
tube J till it reaches in both cases the level of K. At the same time
the petroleum will flow into the tube E. Thus there are two columns of
liquid communicating with one another at their lower ends, the one of
water in the said annular space N and the other or interior column
formed by the water within the reservoir superposed by the petroleum
flowing in by the tube E, which being of lighter specific gravity than
the water remains on the top thereof. This latter column being higher
than the other descends and raises the outer column, thus causing more
water to flow out of the overflow pipe K. As the superior height of the
interior column is maintained so long as the petroleum continues to flow
in at the pipe E, so long is water caused to flow out at the overflow
pipe K, such water being replaced in the outer column by the water
forced out of the interior of the reservoir, which is in its turn replaced
by the petroleum flowing in by the pipe E, and this process is continued
until the whole of the water is forced out of the reservoir A, and is

page_text: replaced by petroleum. The reservoir is thus filled with petroleum from
top to bottom, whilst the air is totally excluded therefrom.
It will be evident, however, from the foregoing that as the petroleum
is of lower specific gravity than the water, if the reservoir be constructed
sufficiently deep a point will be arrived at where the two columns, the
one of petroleum and the other of water and petroleum, will balance one
another, notwithstanding the column of water and petroleum combined
being higher than that of the water alone. At this point the introduction
of the petroleum would cease, and the reservoir would be filled therewith
as far as it possibly could be. As however it would not always be con-
venient to construct the reservoir sufficiently deep for this purpose to
be accomplished I employ the following means for indicating when
the petroleum has reached the bottom of the reservoir, as at this point
its introduction must be stopped for fear of its overflowing the surround-
ing trough at the pipe K and thus proving dangerous.
During the filling of the reservoir with petroleum the pipe J remains
full of water, when, however, the petroleum has descended to the bottom
end of the pipe J the water column contained therein cannot be
supported on the top of the petroleum, and consequently falls down into
the water of the trough and is replaced by a column of petroleum which
rises to the level of the supply. This point having been arrived at may
be indicated by a float contained in the tube J, which being depressed
by the fall of the water or elevated suddenly by the rising of the oil
will actuate an alarum and thus attract the attention of the attendant.
The top of the tube J is then stopped by means of a screw capsule, or
by other suitable means, the valve C and the overflow pipe K are shut
and the reservoir is then full of petroleum.
For recovering the petroleum from the reservoir when desired I
proceed as follows:-The annular space N is filled with water to the
line O. In the two columns of liquid now communicating with
one another, viz., the one of water in the said annular space and the
other of petroleum within the reservoir the column of water is both
higher and heavier than the column of petroleum. If therefore the
valve D be now opened the petroleum will be forced out through the
pipe F into any suitable vessel R placed there to receive it. The
petroleum forced out of the reservoir through the pipe F is replaced
from underneath by the water entering from the surrounding annular

page_text: space, which is in its turn replaced by water from the supply M, and
thus the height of the water column is maintained until the whole of
the petroleum is forced from the reservoir in the manner described.
It will be observed that during the emptying process the tube J will
be full of petroleum by reason of the water which enters from the
bottom isolating it from the rest of the petroleum. To get rid of this
small quantity communication is established between the top of the
tube J and the tube F by means of a small tube and cock S, and thus
the petroleum contained in the tube J is forced out of the tube F as the
water rises..
It will be further observed that the lid of the man-hole B is not
horizontal; this slightly inclined form is for the purpose of permitting
the expulsion of the last particle of oil.
The tank G is for the purpose of counterbalancing the pressure exerted
by the columns of liquid on the under surface of the top plate of the
reservoir, which pressure has a tendency to tear it from its seating.
This counterbalancing effect is attained by filling the said tank with
water to such a height that the weight of such water will counter-
balance the pressure underneath.
my
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of
this said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may
be performed, I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, the new or improved reservoir
for storing petroleum or other inflammable oils or spirits, substantially
as herein-before set forth and described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Gray, have hereunto
--set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three