Improvements in Devices for Thawing Oils in Oil Tanks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Thawing Oils in Oil Tanks.
I, FRANÇOIS GIORDAN, of 17 and 19, Rue Arson and Smolet, Nice, France,
Inventor, 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:-
The object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus for thawing oils
in oil tanks, adapted to be heated by means of gas, petroleum or other combus-
tible substances, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in
which like numerals refer to like parts throughout all the views:-
-
Fig. 1. is an elevation of the apparatus dipped into a tank filled with oil.
Fig. 2. is a vertical central section of the apparatus.
Fig. 3. is a horizontal section on line A-B of Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings 1 represents a metal cylinder, the lower end of
which is fitted into a strengthening socket 18, whilst the upper end thereof ter-
minates in a funnel 19. Said cylinder 1 contains an inner concentrically arranged
cylinder 2, resting on the bottom of cylinder 1 and provided at its lower part with
a small cross-bar 10.
Two tubes 3 & 4 are branched on said cylinder 2 at opposite points located under
the cross-bar 10, said tubes extending through the walls of cylinder 1 and then
upwards to the upper end of the latter, in which position they are secured by
means of flanges 11, 11, tightened by means of rivets, or equivalents 16, 16. On
the cross-bar 10 is arranged a small support 15 carrying a coiled tube 9 the outer
wall of which is perforated and which communicates with a central tube 5.
Said coiled tube forms a burner and the central tube 5 the upper part of which is
connected with a horizontal tube, serves to lead gas, or its equivalents, to the
burner. Said horizontal tube has an extension 7 to guide the central tube in the
cylinder 2. To this end, when the tube 5 is lowered into the cylinder 2, said
horizontal tube and its extension slide in suitable slots provided in cylinder 2.
Said horizontal tube may be connected with a gas-pipe by means of a flexible
tube 8.
The apparatus operates as follows;—
It is introduced into the oil tank as shown in Fig. 1, and the annular space
between the cylinders 1, 2 is filled with water to 4/5 of its height. Then the flex-
ible tube 8 is connected to a gas-pipe, and the central tube 5 with the burner 9
are withdrawn from the cylinder 2. Then said burner is lighted and again
inserted into the cylinder 2, the necessary air being admitted through the tubes 3
and 4 in the direction of the arrows.
The water contained in the annular space between the cylinders 1 & 2 is thus
heated by the burner and will transmit its heat to the oil to thaw or liquefy the
latter without any alteration.

page_text: 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:
10) An apparatus for thawing oil in tanks adapted to be heated by means of
any desired combustible substances, and comprising an outer cylinder, an inner
cylinder arranged concentrically within the former, the annular space between
said cylinders serving to contain water; a central tube, the lower end of which
is provided with a suitable burner and serving to lead gas or its equivalent to the
latter, said central tube being adapted to be connected to a suitable feed-pipe;
and two air-tubes serving to lead air to the burner for the combustion, substan-
tially as set forth.
20) In the apparatus of the class set forth, the combination with an outer
cylinder 1, of an inner cylinder 2 concentrically arranged in the former, a cross-
bar 10 secured in the interior of cylinder 2, two tubes 3 & 4 branched on said
cylinder 2 and extending upwards along the cylinder 1 and flanges, or their
equivalents, 11 securing said tubes 3 & 4 to the latter, substantially as set forth.
30) In the apparatus of the class set forth, the combination with a cylinder 1,
a cylinder 2 arranged concentrically in the former, two tubes 3 & 4 branched on
the inner cylinder and extending upwards on the outside of cylinder 1, and
cross-bars 10 secured within cylinder 2, of a coiled burner 9, suitably arranged on
said cross-bars, and connected to a vertical central tube carrying a horizontal
branch-pipe adapted to be readily connected to a suitable feed-pipe, slots in
cylinder 2 engaged by said branch-pipe, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
7th day of December 1899.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.