Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying and Refining Oil.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Purifying and Refining Oil.
We, EMIL NOPPEL, of No. 803 Callowhill Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Tinsmith, BRUNO GRUSCHE, of No. 36 Vesey Street City and State of New York
Manufacturers Agent, and JAMES BIGLER, of corner of Smith and 3rd Streets
Newburgh, New York, Merchant all in the United States of America do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention consists of an apparatus for purifying and refining oil, embodying
means for directing the oil through a fluid in different chambers.
It also consists of means for heating the oil so that the impurities are more readily
liberated, and permitted to precipitate.
It also consists of additional means for causing any existing impurities in the oil
that has been treated to be directed to the bottom of the tank.
It also consists of means for directing foam and gas to the receiving funnel or
reservoir.
It further consists of the extension of the heating pipe above the line of the
sediment, so that the latter is not disturbed.
It also consists of the discharge nozzles extending above the line of sediment, so as
not to disturb the latter.
It also consists of means for cleaning the apparatus.
The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of an apparatus for
purifying and refining oil embodying our invention.
A designates a tank within which, at the upper end is supported a funnel or
reservoir B, the latter being provided with a discharge pipe C, which reaches nearly
to the bottom of the tank.
Within the reservoir B is a strainer B₁ for evident purposes, and at the top of the
pipe C is a perforated plug B* for preventing rapid escape of the oil from the
reservoir.
D, and E designates cylinders which are open at bottom, and comparatively closed
at top, and form the chambers F and G, which are partly submerged in the purifying
and refining fluid in the tank A.
The cylinder D is provided with openings a at its upper end, whereby the chambers F
and G are in communication at top.
At the bottom of the chamber G, is a chamber H, which is open at bottom, and in
communication with said chamber. Rising from the top wall of said chamber H,
are pipes J whose upper ends are provided with nozzles J¹ which open into the
tank A.
Within the chamber F is a steam pipe K, preferably of the form of a coil, the
inlet and outlet ends of the same passing through the walls of the tank.
L designates a pipe which is connected with the top wall of the chamber G, and
enters the reservoir, its upper end being provided with a cock or faucet M, which
opens into said reservoir.
In the lower end of the tank, beneath the chamber H is a pipe N, which passes
through the wall of the tank, and is connected with a source of supply of steam said
pipe opening into the tank, so as to direct steam thereinto.
The operation is as follows:
The tank is supplied with water or other fluid suitable for purifying or refining oil,
and the oil to be purified or refined placed in the funnel B.
The oil descends the pipe (, and escapes at the bottom of the same.
It then rises
and enters the chamber F where it is subjected to the action of the pipe E, so that it
is heated, thus reducing the density of the same, causing the impurities thereof to be

page_text: quickly liberated and precipitated, said impurities falling to the bottom of the tank,
where they may be removed through the cock N'.
The oil flows from the chamber F, through the perforations a, into chamber G, and
traversing the latter, enters the chamber H, where it reaches the pipes J, and rises
therein, so as to be discharged through the nozzles J' into the tank, it being noticed
that the oil flows through the water or fluid in the several chambers F, G, and H,
and pipes J, whereby it is purified or refined, and collected in the tank above the
water line.
Should there be any impurities in the column of oil in the tank as treated, they
may settle at the bottom of the same, and primarily lodge on the water line from
whence they will drop to the bottom of the tank.
The conical deflector P, which is above the top wall of the chamber F, .serves to
direct sediment or impurities at the base of the column of oil in the tank, to the sides
of the latter, so that the same may be permitted to precipitate to the bottom of the
tank, said deflector being perforated to receive fluid, so as to be prevented from
floating, and raising the connected parts.
It will be noticed that gas and foam that may be generated in the chamber G
enters the pipe L, and is directed by the same to the funnel or reservoir B, so that
the gas may escape, and the foam returned to the chamber G wherein it may be
again subjected to purifying and refining action.
The tops of the chambers F, G, and steam pipe K together with the discharge
pipes J are above the water line, whereby the sediment or impurities that' may collect
at the base of the column of oil, are not disturbed, said sediment or impurities when
not precipitated, being removable through the cock or faucet Q.
The purified or refined oil may be discharged through the cock or faucet R.
When the apparatus is to be cleansed, steam is admitted into the tank through the
pipe N, whereby sediment and impurities are agitated or liberated, and the tank,
chamber, etc., are subjected to the action of the steam, thus releasing the deposits
therein, after which the cock N is opened, so that the impurities, etc., may flow or be
driven therethrough.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An apparatus for refining and purifying oil, consisting of a tank, a reservoir
therein, a discharge pipe leading from said reservoir to a heating chamber, a
traversing chamber surrounding said heating chamber, and in communication there-
with, discharge nozzles, and a heating pipe, said parts being combined substantially
as described.
Second. A pipe with a reservoir therein, the latter having a discharge pipe extending
to near the bottom thereof, concentric chambers surrounding the outlet end of the
discharge pipe, a heating pipe within the central chamber, and nozzles or outlets on
the outer chamber, said parts being combined substantially as described.
Third. In an apparatus substantially as described, a tank, a reservoir therein, a
discharge pipe leading from said reservoir, a chamber surrounding the outlet end of
said discharge pipe, in combination with a deflector above said chamber, as stated.
Fourth. In an apparatus for refining and purifying oil, a tank with outlets at
different heights, a reservoir with a discharge pipe in said tank, communicating
chambers around the outlet end of said pipe, a heating pipe in one of said chambers,
and nozzles or outlets on the outer chamber, combined substantially as described.
Fifth. In an apparatus for purifying and refining oil, a heating chamber provided
with a pipe for discharging foam and gas from said chamber, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The pipe L leading from the heating chamber G to the reservoir B, sub-
stantially as described.
Seventh. The beating chamber F, and the surrounding chamber G, in combination
with the chamber H, and the discharge pipe J, rising from said chamber H, the

page_text: several chambers being in communication, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Eighth. The chamber H communicating with the heating chamber F, in combina-
tion with the tank A, and the pipes J, the latter rising from said chamber H, and
projecting above the water line of said tank, substantially as described.
Ninth. The tank A, the heating chamber F therein. the steam pipe K in said
chamber, and the chamber G surrounding said chamber F, said pipe K, and said
chamber F projecting above the water line of said tank, substantially as described.
Tenth. In an apparatus for purifying and refining oil, a tank having a heating
chamber therein, and a pipe leading from the supply reservoir into said chamber,
in combination with a steam pipe in said tank, at the bottom thereof, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. In an apparatus substantially as described the hollow deflector P, with
openings therein, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 8th day of April 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.