IMPROVE- MENTS IN OIL STILLS
Year: 1879

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd October 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OIL STILLS." A communication from abroad by Elijah Weston, of
Buffalo, State of New York, United States of America.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical
section; Figure 2, a transverse vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1, of a still
embodying the Invention. The Invention relates to stills for separating the
hydrocarbon products from crude petroleum and other volatile oils by the appli-
cation of heat, and the object of this Invention is to promote the circulation of the
oil during its volatilization.
The Invention consists in arranging rigid partition plates within the oil space of
the still adjacent to the heating surfaces, so as to separate that portion of the oil
in contact with the heating surface from the portion next the exterior shell, said
plates being opened at their edges to permit a free passage of the oil, and whereby
a constant circulation of the same is maintained and every particle brought in
rapid and direct contact with the heating surfaces in divided quantities.
To enable others to understand and use this Invention I will first describe the
same and subsequently point out in the claim its novel features.
In the accompanying Drawings is shown an ordinary type of still to which the
present Invention is applied, but it is to be understood that the inventor does not
confine himself to this particular form, as this Invention may be used in connection
with other types of stills for such purpose without departing from the principle
involved.
A represents the shell of a still, which may be set in brick work, as shown, to
form a furnace B and the usual connections with the uptake. The shell A is
cylindrical in form and provided with a series of fire tubes a, a, distributed at
about equal distances from each other passing longitudinally through the same, and
connecting the combustion chamber c and uptake.
D represents a sliding gate arranged within the combustion chamber c, as shown,
to operate to close the upper tiors of fire-tubes when the quantity of oil within the
still has been reduced by vaporization below the level thereof.
b, b, represent the partition plates, which are generally composed of thin sheets
of iron or steel, and bent to conform to the contour of the adjacent heating-surface.

page_text: These plates should be located at such distance from the heating surfaces to permit
a free circulation, and contain sufficient oil in the separated space to prevent
burning and cover the heating surfaces.
Different kinds and densities of oils will require greater or less space to effect the
above conditions, which may be readily determined in practice.
The function of the partition plates is to separate that portion of the oil next
the heating surface from the remaining and greater portion, which produces a
variation in the temperature of the separated portions.
The part next the heating surface being of higher temperature naturally rises,
and its place is supplied from below by the outer part. This action creates a
constant circulation of the oil and causes every portion contained in the still to
flow in a reduced quantity in direct contact with the heating surfaces, so that
every particle of the oil is subjected to the highest degree of heat contained in the
still, which produces a rapid and perfect volatilization.
In this explanation of the operation of the present Invention it is not deemed
necessary to illustrate or describe the usual adjuncts of these stills, such as means
for receiving or removing precipitated matter and conveying the refined product
therefrom, as such elements are well known and understood by those skilled in the
CLAIM.
A still for volatilizing oils by heat, provided with internal partition plates
adjacent to the heating surfaces and forming open passages for a free circulation,
whereby the oil is brought in direct contact with the heating-surfaces in separated
quantities, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my 2
hand and seal, this Second day of October, A.D. 1879.