Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Treating Mineral Oils with Acids or Alkalies.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 4th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th July, 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Treating Mineral Oils
with Acids or Alkalies.
I, ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON of 7 Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object by means of improved apparatus to wash or
treat mineral oils with acids or alkalies in a continuous and expeditious manner and so
that large quantities may be satisfactorily dealt with, with comparatively little plant.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cylindrical vessel which may be either
vertical or horizontal or more or less inclined. A shaft arranged to be driven at a
high velocity is carried in the axis of the vessel and has fixed on it a series of turbines
or disks. In the vertical arrangement each turbine consists of two disks, the upper
one being provided with a funnel at the centre, whilst the space between the disks is
crossed by a number of bars placed so that those of the several circular rows break
joint with those of the adjacent rows. Between the turbines annular plates are fixed
to the sides of the vessel and are inclined downwards towards the centre. The oil and
acid or alkali are fed in at the top and entering the funnel of the first turbine are
thrown out by the turbine against the sides the bars inside of the turbine producing a
violent subdividing and mixing action. The mixture thrown out from one turbine is
directed by the fixed annular plate inwards into the funnel of the next lower turbine
and it is operated on by each turbine in succession until it reaches the bottom of the
vessel whence it passes off by a discharge pipe.
In the horizontal or inclined arrangement disks on the shaft are provided with bars
or studs projecting from each side in circular rows; and between each two of the
shaft disks there are annular plates or disks fixed to the vessel these fixed plates being
LD 077

page_text: fitted with bars or studs which project in between the circular rows of bars or studs
of the rotating disks. At the feeding end there is a short part of the shaft without
any disk and there is a plain fixed disk with perforations. An end compartment is
thus formed into which the oil and acid or alkali are fed the mixture finding its way
gradually through the perforated disk to the main part of the vessel where it is
operated on. In this modification the upper half of the vessel is made removable
to give easy access for examining or repairing any internal parts.
The mixture after leaving the apparatus hereinbefore described is passed through
continuous action centrifugal apparatus of the kind used for separating cream from
milk.
1
22
1000

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Treating Mineral Oils
with Acids or Alkalies.
I, ALEXANDER CUNNINGHAM THOMSON, of 7 Ardmillan Terrace, Edinburgh, in
the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Manufacturing Chemist, 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 :-
1
My said Invention has for its object, by means of improved apparatus, to wash or
treat mineral oils with acids or alkalies in a continuous and expeditious manner, and
so that large quantities may be satisfactorily dealt with with comparatively little plant.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cylindrical vessel which may be either
vertical or horizontal or more or less inclined. A shaft arranged to be driven at a
high velocity is carried in the axis of the vessel and has fixed on it a series of turbines
or disks which acting in combination with certain fixed parts in the cylinder cause the
oil to be very thoroughly operated on as it passes through the vessel.'
I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings on which are shown vertical
and horizontal arrangements or modifications of my improved apparatus.
In the vertical arrangement which is shown in vertical section in figure, 1, sheet, 1,
each turbine, A, consists of two disks, the upper one being provided with a funnel, B, at
the centre, whilst the space between the disks is divided by radial ribs or by bars
placed in circular rows arranged so that the bars of one row break joint with those of
the adjacent rows. Between the turbines, A, annular plates, C, are placed with their
outer edges in close contact with the sides of the vessel, and are of a conical form
with an inclination downwards towards the centre. The oil and acid or alkali are fed
in through an inlet, D, at the top and falling on an annular plate, C, are guided by it
into the funnel, B, of the first turbine, A. The rotation of the turbine causes the
liquids to be violently subdivided and mixed; and the mixture thrown out by one
turbine is directed by the next lower annular plate, C, inwards into the funnel, B,
the next lower turbine. The mixture is operated on by each turbine, A, in succession
until it reaches the bottom of the vessel whence it passes off by a discharge pipe, E.
The central shaft, F, is held in a footstep bearing, G, at its lower end and in a collar
bearing, H, fitted at the top of the vessel, whilst it is driven by means of a pulley, I,
fixed at its upper end. The annular plates, C, are made each with legs, J, by which
they are supported one upon the other.
of
The horizontal arrangement is shown on sheet, 2, of the drawings, figure, 2, being
a longitudinal vertical section, and figure, 3, a transverse vertical section, whilst
figure, 4, is a face view of one of the disks, K, fixed on the central shaft, F. These
disks, K, are formed with bars or studs, L, projecting from each side; and between
each two of the rotating or shaft disks, K, there are annular plates or disks, C, fixed
to the vessel, these fixed plates, C, being formed with studs, M, which project in

page_text: between the studs, L, of the rotating disks, K. An inlet, D, is provided at one end of
the vessel, and the oil and acid or alkali gradually pass through the central openings
of the fixed disks, C, and through the compartments into which the vessel is divided
by those disks, being in each compartment violently intermixed by the action of the
rotating disks, K; and finally passing off by an outlet, E, at the opposite end of the
vessel. In this modification the upper half of the vessel is made removable to give
easy access for examining, cleaning, or repairing any internal part.
The mixture after leaving the apparatus herein before described is passed through
continuous-action centrifugal separating apparatus which is by preference of the kind
described in the Specification of Patent No. 3617 of 1887.
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. Apparatus for washing or treating mineral oils with acids or alkalies constructed
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure, 1, of
the accompanying drawings.
2. Apparatus for washing or treating mineral oils with acids or alkalies constructed
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 2, 3,
and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Third day of June 1887
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.