Year: 1885

page_text: I, NORMAN MACFARLANE HENDERSON, of Broxburn, in the County of Linlithgow,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to construct or arrange apparatus in an
improved manner and for the better and more economical treatment or distillation
of mineral oil such as that obtained from shale or such as petroleum. My
improved apparatus is specially designed for the treatment of the crude oil such as
the shale oil as first obtained by the destructive distillation of shale, or such as raw
petroleum. Similar apparatus may also be used for the subsequent distilling or
refining process; but I prefer for these to use apparatus of the kind described in
the Specification of my earlier Patent No 540 of 1883.
In carrying out my Invention the distilling processes are conducted in a
continuous manner and so as to obtain more uniform results than when the oil is
dealt with in separate and distinct charges. In one modification of my improved
apparatus there is a primary still which is in form like what is known as a
waggon-shaped boiler, and there are two secondary stills one on each side of the
primary still and of the same form as it. The primary still is connected by pipes
and stop valves with the two secondary stills; and each of the secondary stills is
connected by pipes and stop valves with two or more ordinary coking stills which
last are used in rotation, one being cleaned whilst the other is in use.
The primary and secondary stills are heated by furnaces built so that the legs or
lateral deeper parts are built into walls and protected from the direct fire heat.
The fire grate is by preference placed in a low position between the two walls
carrying the still, the space above the grate and between it and the concave
bottom of the still serving as a combustion chamber and tending to prevent smoke.
From the combustion chamber the fire gases pass along under the concavity of the
still bottom from the front end to the back end returning by flues at the sides and
finally descending by vertical flues to underground flues leading to the chimney.
In the primary still the oil operated on enters by a vertical feed pipe dipping just
below the top surface of the oil, whilst in each secondary still the oil enters by a
horizontal feed pipe situated at a short distance above the top of the concavity of
...מ

page_text: the still bottom, the feed pipe entering one end of the still and delivering the oil
near the other end. As the volatile part of the oil is distilled off, the remaining
oil becoming heavier descends to the deep sides of the bottom of the still, the
fresh oil continually fed in being lighter and remaining at the top. The deep
bottoms communicate through outlet valves with the external piping which has
branches leading up to the feed pipes of the secondary stills. The valves on the
branch pipes are adjusted to allow of a regular flow of the oil from which the more
volatile part has been separated in the primary still, and in this way a continuous
supply of oil is kept up for the secondary stills. These secondary stills are
subjected to a somewhat higher heat than the primary still; but the action in them
is similar the oil as it gradually loses its more volatile part descending to the deep
sides of the still, whilst the oil from the primary still is continually entering at
the upper part. From the deep sides of the secondary stills the heavier oil passes
off to the external piping and to one or other of the coking stills, the stop valves
on the branch pipes being adjusted to regulate the flow so that the level of the oil
in the secondary and primary stills is maintained as uniform as possible.
In addition to stop. valves on the external parts of the piping I prefer to have
stop plugs inside of the stills at the outlets, these plugs being moved by rods passing
up to the tops of the stills and out through stuffing boxes; and in the case of the
two secondary and coking stills I also prefer to have internal valves in connection
with the feed inlets. I also prefer to heat the feed oil by the heat of the vapor
passing from the secondary stills, using for that purpose feed-heating apparatus of
the kind described in my earlier Specification herein before referred to.
In some cases there may be a separate primary still in connection with each
secondary still; and instead of leading the oil from the secondary still direct to a
coking still it may in some cases be first passed through one or more intermediate
continuous-action stills like the primary and secondary stills. In some cases, on
the other hand, when a comparatively small quantity of oil is dealt with for
example, the secondary still may be dispensed with and the primary still may be
connected directly to the coking stills.
Dated this twenty-eighth day of October 1885.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Distilling Shale or other
Mineral Oil or Petroleum.
I, NORMAN MACFARLANE HENDERSON, of Broxburn, in the County of Linlithgow,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object to construct or arrange apparatus in an
improved manner, and for the better and more economical treatment or distillation
of mineral oil such as that obtained from shale, or such as petroleum. My improved
apparatus is specially designed for the treatment of the crude oil such as the shale
oil as first obtained by the destructive distillation of shale, or such as raw petroleum.
Similar apparatus may also be used for the subsequent distilling or refining processes;
but I prefer for these to use apparatus of the kind described in the Specification of
my earlier patent No 540 of 1883.
In carrying out my Invention the distilling processes are conducted in a con-
tinuous manner, and so as to obtain more uniform results than when the oil is
dealt with in separate and distinct charges. In one modification of my improved
apparatus there is a primary still which is in form like what is known as a waggon-
shaped boiler, and there are two secondary stills, one on each side of the primary
still, and of the same form as it. The primary still is connected by pipes and stop
valves with the two secondary stills; and each of the secondary stills is connected
by pipes and stop valves with two or more ordinary coking stills, which last are
used in rotation one being cleaned whilst the other is in use.
In some cases there may be a separate primary still in connection with each
secondary still; and instead of leading the oil from the secondary still directly to
a coking still, it may in some cases be first passed through one or more inter-
mediate continuous-action stills like the primary and secondary stills. In some
cases, on the other hand, when a comparatively small quantity of oil is dealt with
for example, the secondary still may be dispensed with and the primary still may
be connected directly to the coking stills.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing apparatus as constructed or arranged
with my improvements.
t
Figures, 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings are a plan and a
front elevation of a set of oil stills, comprising a central primary still, ▲, with two
secondary stills, B1, B2, one on each side of it, and four coking stills, C1, C2, C3, C4,
two of these last being at each end of the set. Figures, 3, and 4, on sheet, 2,
are an enlarged sectional plan and an enlarged sectional front elevation showing
the primary still, A; and ane, Bl, of the secondary stills. In these drawings the

page_text: same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
The primary and secondary stills, A, B1, B2, are alike in form being of the
waggon type with the middle, M, of the bottom of a concave form, and with
deeper sides or legs, D, as indicated by dotted lines in figures, 2, and 4. These
stills are heated by furnaces built so that the legs or deeper lateral parts, D, are
built into walls, 5, and protected from the direct fire heat. The fire grate, F, is by
preference placed in a low position between the two walls, 5, carrying the still, the
space above the grate and between it and the concave bottom, M, of the still
serving as a combustion chamber and tending to prevent smoke. Each grate is
beneath the front end of the still and from the space above the grate and which
has at the back of it a wall or bridge, W, the fire gases pass over the bridge and
along under the concavity, M, of the still bottom from the front end to the back
end, returning by floes, 6, at the sides, and finally descending by vertical flues, 7,
to underground flues, 8, leading to the chimney.
In the primary still, A, the oil operated on enters by a vertical feed pipe, 9,
dipping just below the top surface of the oil in the still; whilst in each secondary
still, B1, B2, the oil enters by a horizontal feed pipe, 10, situated at a short
distance above the concavity, M, of the still bottom, the feed pipe, 10, entering one
end of the still. and delivering the oil near the other end. As the volatile, part
of the oil is distilled off, the remaining oil becoming heavier descends to the
deep sides, D, of the bottom of the still, the fresh oil continually fed in being
lighter and remaining at the top. The deep bottoms, D, communicate through
outlet valves, 11, with external piping, 12, which has branches, 13, leading up to
the feed pipes, 10, of the secondary stills, B1, B2. The valves, 14, on the feed
pipes, 10, are adjusted to allow of a regular flow of the oil from which the more
volatile part has been separated in the primary still, A; and in this way a con-
tinuous supply of oil is kept up for the secondary stills, B1, B2. These secondary
stills, B1, B2, are subjected to a somewhat higher heat than the primary still, A.;
but the action in them is similar, the oil as it gradually loses its more volatile part
descending to the deep sides, D, of the stills whilst the oil from the primary still, A,
is continually entering at the upper parts through the valves, 14. From the deep
sides, D, of the secondary stills, B1, B2, the heavier oil passes off by outlet valves, 15,
to external piping, 16, and by branch pipes, 17, thence, to one or other of the coking
stills, C1, C2, C3, C4, the stop valves, 18, on the branch pipes, 17, being adjusted to.
regulate the flow so that the level of the oil in the secondary stills, B1, B2, is
maintained as uniform as possible.
In addition to stop valves on the external parts of the piping, 12, 13, 16, 17,
I prefer to have safety stop plugs inside of the stills at the outlets, as shown
and claimed in my earlier Specification bereinbefore referred to, these, plugs being
moved by rods, 19, passing up to the tops of the stills, and out through stuffing
boxes 3; and in the case of the secondary stills, B1, B2, and the coking
stills, C1, C2, C3, C4, I also prefer to have internal valves (as at 20 figure, 3,)
in connection with the feed inlets I also prefer to heat the feed oil by the heat of
the vapor passing from the secondary stills, B1, B2, using for that purpose feed-
heating apparatus of the kind described and claimed in my earlier Specification
hereinbefore referred to.
A feed heater as now made by me is shown in figures, 3, and 4, and consists of
a horizontal cylinder or pipe, 21, of larger size than the pipe, 22, by which the
vapors pass from the secondary still, B1, to it, the connection being formed at the
side near one end of the feed-heater cylinder, 21, whilst to the opposite end is
connected the pipe, 23, by which the vapors pass on from the feed heater to the
condensers. Within the cylinder or pipe, 21, there is placed a smaller cylinder or
pipe, 24, indicated by dotted lines in figure, 3, and which is formed with, a closed
inner end and is fixed, by means of a flange at its outer end, this flange being
bolted between a flange on the end of the outer pipe, 21, and an end cover, or

page_text: A
disk, 25. The pipes, 26, 27, for the entrance and egress of the oil to be heated,
are connected to stopcocks, 28, 29, fixed to the end cover, 25, so as to communicate
with the interior of the inner vessel or pipe, 24, the egress having fixed to it
internally a pipe, 30, extending to near the end furthest from the entrance.
small pipe with stop valve, 31, is connected to the highest part of the inner
vessel, 24, to lead off any vapor or air or gas which may separate from the oil
whilst being heated, this pipe, 31, being connected to the egress pipe, 27, beyond
the stop valve, 29, of that pipe.
Provision is made for injecting steam into the primary and secondary
stills, A, B1, B2, by branch pipes, 32, (from a main steam pipe not shown), these
pipes, 32, being provided with stop valves. Each steam pipe, 32, enters the still
at the front end near the top, and inside has attached to it branches, 33, passing
down to the deep lateral parts, D, of the still, and near the bottoms of those parts
extending along nearly to the opposite end of the still. The bottom horizontal
parts of the branch steam pipes, 33, are perforated on their undersides to allow the
steam to issue amongst the oil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The constructing of a still for shale or other mineral oil or petroleum like a
waggon-shaped boiler, and with furnace and flue arrangements, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of a primary waggon-shaped still with one or more secondary
stills of similar form, and with pipe connections arranged for continuous action
substantially as hereinbefore described.