IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING OILS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM BITU- MINOUS MATTERS, AND IN PURIFYING AND RECTIFYING OILS OBTAINED FROM SUCH MATTERS
Year: 1841

page_text: OF ALTERATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEOPHILL
ANTON WILHELM Count DE HOMPESCH, of Rurich Castle, near Aix-la-Chapelle,
in the Kingdom of Prussia, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Fourth day of September, in the fifth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, Her especial license, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de Hompesch, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING OILS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM BITU-
MINOUS MATTERS, AND IN PURIFYING AND RECTIFYING OILS OBTAINED FROM SUCH
MATTERS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de Hompesch, by an instrument
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de Hompesch, do hereby declare that the
nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the following
description:
The bituminous, matters to which my Invention refers are schiste or clay
slate and asphalt. It is well known that oils may be obtained from these
substances, but from the imperfection of the process now used the quantity
obtained is small, the quality inferior, and the smell noxious.
My Invention consists in an improved process, whereby I increase the
quantity, improve the quality, and remove or greatly modify the smell; and
this process is carried on by means of apparatus or machinery which is fully
described in the Drawings annexed to this my Specification. The refuse
matter of these substances, after obtaining oils from them, is considered
worthless, principally in consequence of its containing a great quantity of iron
pyrites, which it is most difficult to remove; and my Invention further consists
in subjecting this refuse to such an improved process as to render it available for
manufacturing and other useful purposes.
And, first, as to my improved process for obtaining oil from schiste or
clay slate. I have found by experiment that the oil contained in this sub-
stance possesses. three different characters, which may be called essential oil,
intermediary fat oil, and thick oil, and these oils I separate by means of the
apparatus or machinery which I am now about to describe.
•
The Drawing No. 1 shows a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus
containing four retorts. The Drawing No. 2 exhibits a section of the appa-
ratus. The Drawing No. 3 shows the elevation at the end of the fire-
place, and the Drawing No. 4 is a section of that elevation. The same letters
are employed in each Drawing for the corresponding parts of the apparatus.
The several retorts and other parts of the machinery and apparatus will be in
proportion to the quantities to be produced. The letter A in each Drawing'
shews the stone buildings; the letter B the fireplace or furnace; the letter C
the ash box; the letters D, D, are the entrance places for the coke; E, E, are
the chimnies that surround the retort; F is the door of the fireplace; G is
the tube conducting to the condenser; and H shews the condenser with its box.
I now refer to Drawing No. 2. a, b, c, d, e, exhibit one of the retorts, com-
posed of four different pieces. Having well cleaned, reduced to powder, and

page_text: and sifted the schiste which is to be operated upon, I proceed to fill the retorts.
Each retort, when filled, contains about one hundred pounds weight. I place the
charge in the reservoir m; the workman opens the hoppers o, o, and the charge
falls into the box n, from whence it is received into the retort at a, a, b, b.
The two hoppers 0, 0, and h, h, are moved by the wheels shewn in the Drawing,
so that one of them can be opened to allow the charge to pass through, while
the other is closed in order to prevent the escape of the vapour. i, k, repre-
sent an endless or Archimedean screw, which, when moved by the handle t,
connected with the two wheels r, s, j, draw the schiste forward. The workman,
turning the screw pushes the charge partially forward, and heat is then applied
until the temperature reaches 100 degrees Reaumur, at which heat essential
oil will rise in vapour through the tube into the tube v, and from thence
through the tube G into the condenser or refrigerator H (see Drawing. No. 3),
where the vapour is condensed, and an essential oil obtained. The charge
having been now subjected to this temperature for half an hour, the workman,
by the application of the screw, passes the charge further on in the retort, which
is now subjected to a heat of 200 degrees of Reaumur, by which increased
heat the vapour given off, passing, as before, through a separate tube u into the
tube v', and, from thence through the tube G into a separate condenser or
refrigerator H, becomes condensed, and the intermediary or fat oil is thereby
obtained. After having subjected the charge to this increased temperature for
about half an hour, the workman again, by the operation of the screw, pushes
the charge further on to the end of the retort, where it becomes of a red heat,
and the vapour then given out, passing, as before, through its separate tube "
into the tube v", and from thence into its separate condenser, yields the thick
oil. The carbonization is now complete; and I obtain these three separate oils
by the gradual increase of the heat; and I effect this distillation without decom-
position of the substance, the vapours escaping as soon as they are formed
through the different tubes u, u', and u", by which they are separately con-
ducted through the tubes v, v', and " into their separate condensers or
refrigerators. Every time the workman propels the schiste forward he opens
the hopper of the reservoir containing the schiste, so that the process may be
continued in its different stages without interruption. The refuse, after having
been subjected to its last degree of heat, is now passed on to the end of the
retort d, d, e, e, when it falls, by removing the hoppers 9, g, into the box f, where
it cools. The figures 1, 1, 1, 1, in Drawing No. 3, shew the supports of the end-
less screw.
A little experience will suffice to shew the time which is required
for the different stages of the distillation, and for supplying the fresh charges.
I have found from a quarter to half an hour a proper time.

page_text: And, secondly, as to obtaining the oil from asphalt, the apparatus for effecting
which is described in Plan No. 2. Asphalt becomes liquid by the application
of heat, and therefore requires a different treatment from schiste; and the diffi-
culty of the distillation is considerable, because the bottom of the retort becomes
covered with charcoal. To effect the distillation, I use small iron retorts, which
I place in a reverberatory furnace, so that the action of the fire may operate
upon them on all sides, and I fill them with from about two hundred to three
hundred pounds weight of asphalt. The arrangement of these retorts will be
understood by examining the drawings in Plan No. 2. A, A, A, A, exhibit
the furnace in stone, of a half circular form in the interior part, and containing
five retorts, B, B, B, Figures 1 and 3 of twelve feet long, and one foot in dia-
meter. C, C, Figure 2 and 3, shew the outside of these retorts, each having
two separate tubes, D, E. The ascending tube, D, conducts the vapour con-
taining the most volatile oil into the tube F, from whence it passes into its
condenser, as before described in the process of distilling the schiste, and the
descending tube E conducts the vapour containing thick oil with tar into the
tube G, from whence it passes in like manner into its separate condenser.
I, I show the fireplace and L the chimney. For obtaining essential oil from
asphalt, I find a heat of about one hundred and thirty degrees of Reaumur
necessary, and for obtaining the thick oil I find a beat of about two hundred
and fifty degrees of Reaumur necessary. The retorts are closed by an herme-
tical iron plate O, Figure 3, but which must be opened, and the contents dis-
charged, every time the operation is finished. The refuse of the distilled or
carbonized asphalt is a black hard coal, which may be employed for the same
purposes as the refuse of the schiste. By this process of distillation I obtain
two oils from asphalt, namely, the essential oil and thick oil; and in order to
separate the thick oil from the intermediary oil, both being combined in the
condenser, which communicates with the descending tube E, I subject the
thick oil to distillation in iron retorts, whereby I effect the separation of the
intermediary oil from the tar, which is very fine, and can be employed in the
preparation of varnish and for all purposes where the bitumen of India is now
used. The intermediary fat oil thus obtained by this last process of distilla-
tion may now be mixed with the intermediary fat oil obtained from the dis-
tillation of the schiste; and this brings me to the third part of my Invention,
namely, the rectification of the mixed oil for manufacturing purposes.
0
For better describing my process of rectification, I refer to Plan No. 3,
which exhibits a steam apparatus for bringing a fat oil in contact with a pres-
sure of steam by which any essential oil that may remain will be forced out,
and any empireumatic smell removed. A is an iron or copper cylinder or filter

page_text: in which the purification of the oil takes place, by bringing it into contact with
steam under a pressure of three atmospheres. C is the reservoir of oil. B is
a pipe leading from the reservoir, which pipe is enlarged at the lower end, and
perforated with small holes. e, e, e, e, are a series of copper plates, which are
perforated with small holes, to allow the oil which comes from the reservoir to
pass through them. The steam which escapes from the generator G is let in at
the bottom of the pipe a, a, and rises up through these holes, and forces the
essential oil which may yet remain through the neck d, d, of the vessel into the
condenser D. The plates e, e, e, are well incased, so as to be hermetically sealed,
in order that the steam shall only pass up through the perforated holes; they
are well supported by means of the upright pieces shown in the Drawing. I
have not given any description of the condenser or the regenerator, as those
may be arranged as required. The oil which passes down the filter runs into
the lower part, and from thence into the reservoir E, through the pipe c, c, from
whence it is drawn off by the cock. Should any smell still remain, it will be
entirely removed by the repetition of the operation. The oil thus prepared
requires now to be passed through an ordinary filter, and is ready for applica-
tion to all kinds of machinery, being very fat, works without friction, and leaves
no sediment. With respect to the essential oil which has been obtained from
the schiste and the asphalt, I submit it to a new distillation in a common retort
with a double bottom, which retort I heat by steam, whereby I avoid decom-
position, and can better regulate the temperature, which should range from one
hundred to three hundred degrees of Reaumur; and the different kinds of
essential oil obtained by the different temperatures is applicable for dissolving
caoutchouc, the manufacture of varnishes, the separation of colours, and other
similar purposes. After this renewed distillation of essential oil, a small quantity
of tar may still be held in solution with it, which tar I carbonize and precipitate,
with twenty per cent. of concentrated sulphuric acid, at a temperature of sixty-
six degrees of Reaumur, subjecting it at the same time to agitation or beating
by any convenient means. I then allow the mixture to rest for some time,
when I draw off the essential oil, wash it with fresh water, and add ten per
cent. of caustic potash lees, by which I whiten it, and disinfect it of any bad
smell.
.
I now come to the fourth part of my Invention, namely, my treatment of
the refuse arising from the several operations before described. First, the
ammoniacal water which is formed in the distillation of the schiste. Secondly,
the acidulated tar forming the residuum after the rectification of the essential oil.
Thirdly, the coal or carbon which remains after the distillation or carbonization
of the schiste and asphalt. The ammoniacal water may be used in the manu-

page_text: facture of ammonia by the ordinary means. The acidulated tar, by an addition
of chloride of sodium in the ordinary manner, will be found applicable to the pro-
duction of the sulphate of soda and the sulphate of glauber. The carbon or coal
of schiste, which contains much pyrites, I place, when taken from the retort, into
well-closed boxes, to prevent the contact of the air, which whitens it. When it is
cold and well dried, I place it for twenty-four hours in a leaden vessel, with
water acidulated at six degrees of Reaumur with sulphuric acid, which pene-
trates through all the pores and attacks the iron. After having soaked for
twenty-four hours, I subject it to numerous washings with cold water until no
trace of the acid is left. I then subject it to renewed carbonization in the
same kind of retort and with the same Archimedian screw as I use in the
first distillation of the schiste, but I do not condense the vapour. I withdraw
the refuse thus re-carbonized in the same manner as in the first operation,
and I then break it, and reduce it to powder, and sift it by ordinary means.
The carbon, which is the product of asphalt, does not contain pyrites, and
therefore only requires to be crushed and sifted when taken from the retort.
The carbon thus obtained and thus sifted may be employed for the following
purposes: firstly, as a discolorant in sugar refinery; secondly, as a manure; and
thirdly, as a black colour. As useful in the sugar refinery, it requires no par-
ticular description. Employed as a manure, it has a great affinity for ammo-
niacal matter and the gases proceeding from putrid matter. It absorbs in
large quantities the azote and ammoniacal gas contained in the air. Mixed
with animal or putrid matters, it forms a most powerful manure, without any
smell, and continues in force for a long time; and I have found by experiment
that upon a surface of about three acres the proportion required will be from
one third to one half less than that of artificial manures now in use, and over
natural manures the proportion is far greater. I find that a proportion of
forty parts of animal matter to one hundred parts of the carbon of schiste or
asphalt makes a suitable average preparation; but the difference of soil will
occasion a variation of these respective quantities. I have also found the
carbon of schiste, from the qualities which it contains, to possess powerful dis-
infecting properties, and therefore useful in hospitals and in infectious disor-
ders. Thirdly, it is extremely useful as a black colour. It is less black than
ivory black, but more black than lamp black; but it possesses a great advantage
over these in its cheapness of price, and in its tendency to dry much sooner.
In making manure from the carbon of schiste and asphalt, I claim it as an
invention, although such carbon may be obtained by any process different
from mine.
-I will here shortly mention some ordinary machinery and apparatus which

page_text: I should use in a manufactory for carrying on the several processes I have
herein-before described, in connexion with the machinery and apparatus
described in the Drawings,
First, a steam engine, with a power in proportion to the quantity to be
produced. This steam engine serves, Ist, to move pestles for pounding the
schiste for the retorts; 2, to raise the pounded schiste above the said retorts,
in order to be at hand for the workmen charging them; 3, to set in motion
the flatting machines and mills to pound the schiste or carbonated asphalte
into powder; 4, to turn the sieve to obtain the fine powder; 5; 'to set in
motion the circular rakes for mixing the compost formed by this powder and
the animal substances which it is to absorb; 6, to set in motion the hopper
placed above the rakes, which lets fall the quantity of powder required for the
mixture; 7, to turn the beetles intended for mixing the oil with the 'sulphuric
acid.
Second, one or more fires for the retorts with the Archimedes screw, put
together in sufficient number for the quantities to be produced in a system of
fires each of which fires heats four retorts; 2, condensers to condense 'the
vapours; 3, extinguishers to cool the carbonized schiste..
Third, one or more fires for distilling the asphalte. 2. The condensers for
condensing the oils. In the apparatus for rectifying and separating the oils I
use:-1, Cleft retort, to separate the oil from the tar which is 'drawn off at the
cock; 2, A generator and a steam apparatus, to carry off the essence and the
smell of the fixed oils; 3, A double-bottomed retort warmed by high pressure
steam, to distil the essence, without decomposing it, which it is difficult to
moderate by a direct fire; 4, A beetle lined with lead, to mix the essences with
the sulphuric acid at 66°; 5, Several tubs lined with lead, to contain the
mixture, and furnished with cocks to pour it off; 6, An oak wood beetle, to
wash the essence with water and caustic potash lees; 7, Several tubs, to con-
tain and clarify it; 8, Several common filters, to filter the oils intended for
greasing the machines; 9, Leaden vessels, washing places to acidulate the
refuse intended for the sugar refineries, and afterwards to wash them with
water to take off the traces of the acid; 10, Common retorts with Archimede's
screw to recarbonize the refuse, and remove from it all foreign substances;
11, A leaden bottle, to prépare the sulphate of soda with the residue of the
acidulated tar proceeding from the rectification of the oils; 12, A. fire, to
calcine the sulphate, and render it fit for sale.
The disposition of all these parts must depend on the locality and the
quantities to be worked. I do not claim as my Invention the separate details

page_text: of this machinery and apparatus; and wherever I have not set forth such
details I wish it to be understood that the result is to be attained by known and
familiar processes. But I do claim as my Invention,―
First. The process carried on by means of the apparatus or machinery
exhibited in the plan No. 1, for obtaining oil of the three characters before
described from schiste or clay slate.
Secondly. The process carried on by means of the machinery or apparatus
exhibited in plan No. 2, for obtaining oil of the characters before described
from asphalt.
Thirdly. The process carried on by means of the machinery or apparatus
exhibited in plan No. 3, for purifying and rectifying this oil, and adapting it for
manufacturing purposes.
Fourthly. The process for rendering the refuse of the schiste and asphalt,
after distillation or carbonization, subservient to manufacturing and agricultural
purposes, as herein-before described.
Fifthly. The following products as obtained by means of my said several
processes, namely: First, The several oils of schiste and asphalte, as well
before as after rectification; Second, The tar produced upon the distillation of
the thick oil of asphalte; Third, The carbon or black refuse of schiste and
asphalte; Fourth, The acidulated tar remaining after rectification of the
essential oil; Fifth, The ammoniacal water.
And lastly, I claim as my Invention the application of these several pro-
ducts to the several manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural purposes I
have before described, and to any other similar purposes to which the same
may be found applicable,
And such my Invention, being to the best of my knowledge and belief
entirely new, and never before used in that part of Her Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my
Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification
doth comply in all respects fully and without reserve or disguise with the
proviso in the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent. Wherefore I
hereby claim exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de
Hompesch, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of
March One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of March, in the
year of our Lord 1842, the aforesaid Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de
Hompesch came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified, in form above written. And also the Specification afore-
said was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-two..

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THEOPHILL
ANTON WILHELM Count DE HOмPESCH, of Rurich Castle, near Aix la Chap-
pelle, in the Kingdom of Prussia, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty, by Her Letters Patent, under the Great
Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of
September, One thousand eight hundred and forty-one, did give and grant
unto me, the said Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count de Hompesch, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial licence that I, the said Theophill Anton
Wilhelm Count de Hompesch, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others
as I, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING OILS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM BITUMINOUS MATTERS,
AND IN PURIFYING OR RECTIFYING OILS OBTAINED PROM SUCH MATTERS." And
whereas by a certain Specification under my hand and seal, and duly enrolled
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery on the First day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-two, I did declare that the bituminous
matters to which my Invention referred were schiste or clay slate and
asphalte: And whereas I am desirous of confining and limiting this
description:
Now, therefore, by virtue of the power contained in an Act of Parliament,
made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of His late Majesty King
William the Fourth, intituled "An Act to amend the Law relating to Letters
Patent for Inventions," I do hereby alter my said Specification as follows:-
I substitute the terms "bituminous schists, shales, or slates, or other rocks or
minerals containing bitumen or bituminous substances," in every part of my
said Specification, for the term "schiste or clay slate," and I also substitute the
terms "solid and other bituminous substances, such as mineral pitch, mineral
tar, and naptha," in every part of my Specification, for the term "asphalt."
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day
of July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
COMTE D'HOMPESCH. (L.S.)

page_text: To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
This is to certify, that the above-named Theophill Anton Wilhelm Count
de Hompesch has applied to me, for leave to enter with you the above-written
Memorandum of Alteration of part of the Specification of a certain Invention
for which Letters Patent were duly granted to him, and dated at Westminster,
the Fourth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and forty-one; and
having considered the said application, and no objection having been made to
the same, I have accordingly granted leave to the said Theophill Anton
Wilhelm Count de Hompesch to file his said Memorandum of Alteration,
pursuant to the Statute passed in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His
late Majesty King William the Fourth, entitled "An Act to amend the Law
touching Letters Patent for Inventions."