IMPROVE- KENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OR TREATMENT OF BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
KENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OR TREATMENT OF BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES."―
A communication from abroad by John Saunders, of New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 27th May 1864, and dated the 2nd December 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd December 1868.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTILLATION OR TREATMENT OF BITUMINOUS SUB-
STANCES," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in distilling or treating bituminous substances
by means of heated air or gas applied directly to such substances, the air or
gas being heated in a separate apparatus from that containing them.
The apparatus for heating the air may be such as is employed in heating
air for the hot blast in the manufacture of iron. The bituminous substances
are contained in a retort or chamber into which the air or gas is introduced
through pipes, flues, or passages.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors,
administrators, and 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 DISTILLATION OR
TREATMENT OF BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES," (communicated to me from abroad
by John Saunders, of New York, United States of America,) upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 :-
These improvements consist in distilling or treating bituminous substances
by means of heated gas applied directly to such substances, the gas being
heated in a separate apparatus from that containing them.
The apparatus for heating the gas may be such as is employed in heating
air for the hot blast in the manufacture of iron: The bituminous substances

page_text: are contained in a retort or chamber, into which the gas is introduced through
pipes, flues, or passages; the gases mix with the contents of the retort or still,
heat the same, and so cause the bituminous substances to be distilled. I use
any gas that does not destroy the bituminous substances, such as hydrogen, car-
buretted hydrogen, the products of combustion, and others, but I avoid oxygen,
as it destroys the bituminous substances. I prefer to heat the gas in the usual
manner followed in iron furnaces, and I force the gas through the apparatus
from a gas holder or by a pump such as is commonly used at iron works, or by
a fan or by exhaustion. When coal or other solid bituminous substance is to be
distilled the heater should be raised to a red heat, and if the gas comes from
the heater too hot it may be mixed with colder gas, so as to lower the tempe.
rature to the degree required. For distilling petroleum and such like sub-
stances a lower temperature is used than for distilling coal or shale; in all
cases the temperature should be regulated so as to distil the substances
without destroying the products of distillation. The vessel in which the
distillation is conducted may be of any convenient form or material; I have
found a cylindrical iron vessel, covered with brickwork to prevent loss of heat,
answer well. When coal or such substance is to be distilled I form the
vessel with an opening at the bottom covered with a grating to prevent the
coal passing through it; a condensor is attached to this opening. I introduce
the coal at an opening in the top of the vessel, and after this opening is closed
I convey the heated gas by means of a pipe through the top of the vessel, so
that the gas is brought in contact with the top of the coal, and as the supply
of heated gas is kept up, it gradually descends and distils the coal. The
products of distillation pass off with the gas through the opening in the bottom
of the vessel to the condenser. In distilling a fluid, such as petroleum, I form
the passage to the condenser in the top of the still and convey the heated
gas by a pipe to near the bottom, so that the gas passes up through the
petroleum and passes along with the products of distillation through the
condenser.
I am aware that heated steam has been used for the distillation of bitu-
minous substances, but I do not claim the employment of steam. I am also
aware that coal and shale have been distilled by the heat arising from the
combustion of part of the coal or shale in the same vessel or kiln with the
coal and shale which is being distilled, but I heat the gas used for distillation
is a separate vessel or apparatus from that in which the bituminous substance
is distilled.
What I claim therefore is, the distillation or treatment of

page_text: bituminous substances by means of gas heated in a separate apparatus or
vessel from that in which the bituminous substances are contained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.