IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF OIL AND IN LAMPS FOR BURNING THE SAME
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Merchant, for the Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mackenzie
Ferry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th October 1859.
I, ALEXANDER MACKENZIE FERRY,. of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, Merchant, do hereby. declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF OIL
AND IN LAMPS FOR BURNING THE SAME," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates under the first head to the manufacture or production
of oil from the ordinary rosin of commerce as well as from resinous and
gummy. matters generally. The rosin or resinous matter to be treated in this
way is deposited in an oblate-spheroidal, or other shaped still; fitted up with an
entrance lid or manhole on its upper side, and with a wide pipe passing up
from the centre of its upper side and leading to the usual condensing worm
or refrigerator. A perforated diaphragm or sheet of wire gauze, or other
permeable material is fitted in the interior of the still at the part where the

page_text: uptake pipe branches off. In commencing to distil the rosin a gentle heat
is applied until the rosin is thoroughly melted, agitation being kept up in the
melting mass by stirring it through the manhole door, which is subsequently
closed down. The first product distilled over is of an acidulous character
which is succeeded by a spirituous product, and this again is succeeded by a
heavy oil. When the acidulous matter ceases to come over, and when about
thirteen hundredweight or thereabouts has been distilled over for every ton
of raw rosin originally put into the still, the refuse of the distillatory process
is drawn out of the still by a bottom discharge pipe. The matter distilled
over is then redeposited in the still, and the wire gauze being fitted into its
place, the manhole is closed down and a brisk fire is applied to the still until
nearly the whole of the matter is redistilled. The fire is then put out or
withdrawn, and the bottom waste pipe being opened whatever residue is
formed in the still is drawn off. This redistilled matter is now pure and clear,
but not quite suited for illuminating purposes. To render it fit for use in this
way it is again redistilled when it comes over as a fine pure oil particularly
well suited for burning in lamps, and very economical in cost.
The lamps
employed for burning this oil may be of any general form, but the burner is
so contrived that atmospheric air may be well and completely supplied to the
flame. The wick which may either be a solid tube or in two halves or sections
is passed up from the oil reservoir through an annular space or chamber
which forms the actual burner. The inner cylinder of this annular space is
solid, the outer one is perforated at its lower end for the lateral admission of
atmospheric air. In the centre of the burner there is a short vertical adjust-
able spindle fitted into a deep stationary guide. The top of this spindle carries
a button or horizontal deflecting disc, flat on its surface but carved or rounded
upwards, below from a thick boss to a thin periphery. This button stands
directly over the top of the annular wick space where combustion takes place,
and its office is to spread the flame and deflect both it and the ascending
atmospheric air. It is adjustable as to height so as to give exactly the deflective
action required by means of a milled head on a short laterally projecting
spindle set in bearing in the fixed part of the lamp. The inner end of this
spindle carries a small vertical disc with an eccentric segmental slot in it.
Through this slot there is passed a short lateral pin fast in the lower end of
the central button spindle, hence by turning the milled head the button can
be set up or down as required and whilst the air has free access to the flame
the proper deflection can always be secured and the lamp burns steadily
and brightly.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Mackenzie Ferry in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th April 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACKENZIE FERRY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, Her special license that I, the said Alexander
Mackenzie Ferry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, my executors, administrators, or
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF OIL AND IN LAMPS
FOR BURNING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said.
Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
r
My said Invention relates, under the first head, to the manufacture or
production of oil from the ordinary rosin of commerce as well as from resinous
and gummy matters generally. The rosin or resinous matter to be treated
in this way, is deposited in an oblate-spheroidal or other shaped still; fitted up
with an entrance lid or manhole on its upper side, and with a wide pipe
passing up from the centre of its upper side, and leading to the usual con-
densing worm or refrigerator. A perforated diaphragm or sheet of wire gauze
or other permeable imaterial is fitted in the interior of the still at the part
where the uptake pipe branches off. In commencing to distil the rosin a

page_text: gentle heat is applied until the rosin is throughly melted, agitation being kept
up in the melting mass by stirring it through the manhole door which is sub-
sequently closed down. The first product distilled over is of an acidulous
character, which is succeeded by a spirituous product; and this again is
succeeded by a heavy oil. When the acidulous matter ceases to come over,
and when about thirteen hundredweight or thereabouts has been distilled over
for every ton of raw rosin originally put into the still, the refuse of the
distillatory process is drawn out of the still by a bottom discharge pipe. The
matter distilled over is then redeposited in the still, and the wire gauze being
fitted into its place, the manhole is closed down, and a brisk fire is applied
to the still until nearly the whole of the matter is redistilled. The fire is then
put out or withdrawn, and the bottom waste pipe being opened, whatever
residue is formed in the still is drawn off. This redistilled matter is now pure
and clear but not quite suited for illuminating purposes. To render it fit for
use in the way it is again redistilled, when it comes over as a fine pure oil
particularly well suited for burning in lamps, and very economical in cost.
The lamps employed for burning this oil, may be of any general form, but the
burner is so contrived that atmospheric air may be well and completely
supplied to the flame. The wick which may either be a solid tube or in two
halves or sections is passed up from the oil reservoir through an annular space
or chamber which forms the actual burner. The inner cylinder of this annular
space is solid, the outer one is perforated at its lower end for the lateral
admission of atmospheric air. In the centre of the burner there is a short
vertical adjustable spindle fitted into a deep stationary guide. The top of this
spindle carries a button or horizontal deflecting disc flat on its upper surface,
but curved or rounded upwards below, from a thick boss to a thin periphery.
This button stands directly over the top of the annular wick space where
combustion takes place, and its office is to spread the flame and deflect both it
and the ascending atmospheric air. It is adjustable as to height, so as to
give exactly the deflective action required by means of a milled head on a
short laterally projecting spindle, set in bearings in the fixed part of the lamp.
The inner end of this spindle carries a small vertical disc with an eccentric
segmental slot in it. Through this slot there is passed a short lateral pin fast
in the lower end of the central button spindle. Hence by turning the milled
head the button can be set up or down as required, and whilst the air has
free access to the flame, the proper deflection can always be secured, and the
lamp burns steadily and brightly.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in the manufacture
or production of oil, and in lamps for burning the same, may be properly

page_text: understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on
the two Sheets of explanatory Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for
the purpose of showing certain modifications under which my improvements
may be judiciously carried out in practice, that is to say, the Figure on Sheet 1
of the accompanying Drawings is a partially sectional elevation of one
modification of the apparatus for preparing rosin oil; Figure 1, on Sheet 2, is
an elevation of an arrangement of lamp for burning the refined rosin oil;
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same; Figure 3 is a plan corresponding
to Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a transverse section of the lamp, taken below
the chimney gallery or holder.
The apparatus delineated in Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings
represents a brick built furnace A, in which is arranged the oblate-spheroidal
still B. The furnace is built so that the flame of the burning fuel and heated'
products of combustion pass completely round the still or retort B. The still
is by preference made of iron; it is formed in two parts, which are secured
together by bolts passing through the laterally projecting flanges. From the
lower part of the still a horizontal pipe C projects out through the brickwork
of the furnace; this pipe terminates in a cock D, and serves to draw off the
refuse matters from the still. The charging of the still is effected through the
aperture or manhole which is made in the side at the upper part; this opening
is closed by means of the usual moveable plate E, which is screwed tightly
down by the hand wheel F. Across the opening in the upper part of the still;
through which the vapours arising from the heated rosin ascend, is fitted a
diaphragm of wire guaze or perforated zinc G. To the flange of the still,
immediately above this opening, is bolted the hood H, which is continued
upwards for some distance in a vertical direction, and then branches off at
right angles. The head of the still is connected, by means of a downwardly
inclined pipe, with the upper extremity of the condensing worm or re-
frigerator I, which is arranged in the tank or water holder J. The tank is
supported upon piers of brickwork, as shown in the Drawing, or in any other
convenient way. The lower end of the condensing worm I is carried out
through the side of the tank, and terminates over a receiver or vessel placed
beneath to receive the distilled product. In distilling with this apparatus, the
rough rosin is put into the still B through the manhole, which is left open.
At first only a gentle heat is applied until the rosin is thoroughly melted, the
contents of the still being meanwhile stirred by means of an agitator or rake,
which is passed into the still through the manhole, the stirring serving to bring
the unmelted. masses of rosin in contact with the heated surface of the still.
When the rosin is properly melted the manhole is closed by screwing down

page_text: the plate E, and the heat of the furnace is now raised, so as to cause the liquid
rosin to boil up and evaporate. The gaseous resinous matters as they are
evolved from the boiling rosin, pass through the still head and down the
refrigerating worm. The first product of distillation condensed in the worm is
an acidulous fluid of no use in the manufacture of the rosin oil. As the
distilling operation proceeds, the product of condensation assumes a spirituous
character, and this product is succeeded by a heavy oil. When about thirteen
hundredweight of rosin has been distilled over from each ton deposited in the
still B, the distilling operation is to be stopped, and the residuum contained in
the still is to be drawn off by the pipe C. The thirteen hundredweight, or
thereabouts, of impure oil is now returned back into the still B, the wire gauze
diaphragm G is fitted into its place, and the manhole is closed. A brisk fire
is made under the still B, and the distilling operation is carried on until nearly
the whole of the contents of the still has passed, or until about twelve hundred-
weight of the impure oil has been redistilled. The fire is then put out or
withdrawn from the furnace A, and the rosin remaining in the still is drawn
off by the waste pipe C. The oil so obtained, although clear and bright in
appearance, is not yet sufficiently purified as to be fit for burning in lamps.
The diaphragm G is now to be taken out and cleaned, if necessary, from any
solid resinous matters that may be adhering to it. The oil produced by the
second distillation is put back into the still, the manhole of which is closed,
and the distilling operation again proceeded with. When the oil has been
nearly all redistilled, the residual rosin in the still is drawn off therefrom; the
oil resulting from this distillation is pure, clear, and bright, and in every way
adapted for burning in lamps. The refrigerating worm I, at about two-thirds
of the way down, has a vertically projecting branch, into which is fitted the
pipe K, which communicates with the larger bent pipe or tubular receiver L.
To the lower part or bend in the receiver L, is fitted a cock M, and to the
extremity of the receiver is connected the pipe N, which is carried through
the brick work and over the fire-bars, its open end overhanging the burning
fuel. The pipe N is furnished with a stop-cock O, by means of which the
contents of the pipe may be from time to time admitted to the furnace.
During the process of distillation a portion of the uncondensed or incondensible
gaseous matters flow off by the pipe K, and any condensible oily matter is
thrown down in the bent part of the receiver L; the gaseous fluid flows off by
the pipe N, and is admitted from time to time into the furnace, where it is
consumed, and assists in heating the still. The oil which condenses in the
bend of the receiver L is drawn off at convenience by means of the cock M
into a vessel placed beneath. A second, pipe P is fitted lower down the

page_text: refrigerator, to carry off any gaseous vapour which may flow past the pipe K.
The pipe P ascends to the receiver Q, which is fitted with the cock R for
drawing off the liquid contents. The receiver communicates with the pipe S,
the passage of which is controlled by the cock T. The last portion of; the
incondensible gaseous vapour escapes up the pipe P, and should it carry off
with it any portion of the oil it collects in the receiver Q, the gaseous vapour
passing down the pipe S into the furnace. Instead of using this gaseous
vapour as a heating medium, it may, if preferred, be collected in a suitable
gasholder, and from thence be conveyed to the different parts of the manu-
factory, and used for illuminating purposes. With this arrangement of
apparatus the manufacture of rosin oil suitable for burning in lamps may be
carried out in an economical and profitable manner.
The arrangement of a lamp suitable for burning the refined rosin oil is
delineated in Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. The several Figures
show only the metal portion of the lamp detached from the oil reservoir and
the stand or pedestal. The metal collar A is the part which is cemented to
the rim of the glass, metal, or other holder for the oil; this collar is made with
an internal screw, into which is fitted the ring B, which forms the lower part
of the lamp. Passing through the disc of the part B, is a semi-cylindrical
tube, which after rising a short distance above the disc, forms the concentric
tubes C and D, between which the wick holder and wick traverse up and
down. Projecting laterally from the outer tube C is a tubular boss, which
forms the bearing of the spindle E; this spindle projects out beyond the lamp,
and terminates in a milled head. The inner end of the spindle E carries a
pinion F, which gears with a rack on the back of the wick holder G, and by
means of which the wick is raised as required. The semi-cylindrical portion
of the tubes C and D opens through the part B into the oil reservoir beneath,
and the lower part of the wick, which is made of a segmental figure to
correspond, traverses in this channel when actuated by the pinion F. The
upper portion of the wick holder is cylindrical, and in trimming the lamp the
tubular wick H is cut partly through to admit of its being passed down the
segmental part of the holder, and into the oil contained in the reservoir. In
the centre of the tube D, and rising up from the disc of the part B, is a tube I,
which forms a guide for the spindle J of the adjustable button K. The lower
end of this spindle is screwed to admit of its being raised or lowered by means
of the pinion L on the inner extremity of the spindle M, which works through
the tubular boss N, and terminates in the milled head O. This arrangement
admits of the accurate adjustment of the button K, so as to obtain the best
deflecting effect on the flame. In the upper end of the tube D is a short

page_text: tubular cap piece P, which terminates immediately round the burning portion
of the wick. Into the part B of the lamp is fitted the cup-shaped guard Q,
to which is soldered the perforated screen R, through which the air passes to
the wick. Inside the air screen is soldered the ring S, which fits the tube D.
The air screen is formed in one piece with the outer gallery T, on which the
lamp shade or globe rests, and to this part is brazed the inner gallery U, which
holds the chimney glass. This arrangement of the air screen and the parts
connected therewith ensures the due and abundant supply of air to the flame,
so as to obtain the full illuminating effect from the burning oil...
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the apparatus or
machinery for obtaining oil from rosin, and refining the same, as herein-before
described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of obtaining oil from rosin, and rendering
the same fit for búrning in lamps, by means of the apparatus and processes
herein-before' described, and delineated in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere equivalent therefor.
Third, the system or mode of arranging and constructing lamps specially
designed for burning the refined rosin oil herein-before referred to, so as to
ensure the complete combustion of the oil, and obtain the full illuminating
power therefrom, as herein-before described, and delineated in Sheet 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mackenzie Ferry, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Third day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE FERRY. (L.s.)