IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING OIL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Charles de Kroeber of Baku in the Empire of
Russia, at present residing at Osnaburgh Street Regents Park in the County
of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LUBRICATING OIL"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Charles de Kroeber
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1883.
NICHOLAS CHARLES DE KROEBER of Baku in the Empire of Russia at present
residing at Osnaburgh Street Regents Park in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING OIL "
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
lubricating oil.
I take the residue from the distillation of petroleum that is to say what is loft
after the removal of the light and burning oils and this residue I place in a vessel
of circular or other form containing a wheel like agitator which can be rotated in
any convenient manner. By means of a pipe I admit sulphuric acid to the vessel
to mix with the residue. The agitator is kept in movement for six hours and
then the contents of the vessel are left at rest for six hours. Next the agitator
is again set to work for three hours and afterwards a period of twelve hours repose
is allowed during which a separation takes place. The wheel like agitator is
so arranged that it can be raised out of the vessel and it is lifted when not
at work.
The oil after the treatment described is pumped from the first vessel into a
second and the acid also is drawn off by opening a valve. The acid passes through
a strainer into a cistern in which it is stored; it is afterwards used together with
some fresh acid for the treatment of another charge. A pitch like material
remains in the vessel it is removed and preserved for use for purposes for which
pitch is.at present employed and for the manufacture of coloring matters.
The vessel into which the oil is pumped from the first vessel is shallow and it

page_text: must be in the open exposed to sun and air. When the sun is not sufficiently
powerful I raise the temperature of the oil artificially.
The oil remains in this vessel for twenty four hours and is then to be transferred
to a third vessel like the first. In this vessel quick lime is placed this is moistened
with water and whilst steam rises from the lime the oil is run in upon it. By
means of the wheel agitator the oil and lime are then thoroughly mixed. The
wheel is kept in constant movement for six hours, then it is stopped for a short
time and afterwards again set to work and so on during twelve hours. The
wheel is then lifted and the contents of the vessel left at rest for twenty four
hours.
The clear oil is now pumped off into a fourth vessel like the second and in this
it is again exposed to sun light and air for a like period.
The oil which cannot be drawn off clear from the lime is separated by straining
and filtering. It is afterwards treated in the same way as the oil first drawn off
but separately and it forms a second quality.
Finally after exposure as described the oil of either quality is filtered through a
filter charged with birch wood charcoal and it is then ready for the market.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nicholas Charles de Kroeber in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1883.
NICHOLAS CHARLES DE KRŒEBER of Baku in the Empire of Russia at present
residing at Osnaburgh Street Regents Park in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING OIL"
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
lubricating oil.
I take the residue from the distillation of petroleum that is to say what is left
after the removal of the light and burning oils and this residue I place in a vessel
shewn at A in the annexed drawings of circular or other form containing a wheel
like agitator which can be rotated as shown or in any convenient manner. By
means of the perforated vessel a I admit sulphuric acid to the vessel to mix with
the residue.
I employ about 10 per cent by weight of acid more or less according to the
quality of the residue to be treated and of a strength of about 66° Reaumur. The
acid is not mixed in all at once but gradually so that the effect can be watched
and the quantity graduated. The agitator is kept in movement for six hours and
then the contents of the vessel are left at rest for 6 hours. Next the agitator is
again set to work for 3 hours. The wheel like agitator is so arranged that it can
be raised out of the vessel and it is lifted when not at work.
The oil after the treatment described is pumped from the first vessel into a
second vessel B having within it a perforated bucket b as shown. It is allowed
to rest in this vessel for a period varying from 18 to 36 hours (according to the
changes of temperature) during which time separation takes place. The acid
collects in the space between the vessel and the bucket and is drawn off by the
cock b'. The acid passes through a strainer into a cistern in which it is stored;
it is afterwards used together with some fresh acid for the treatment of another
charge.
A pitch like material remains in the bucket b which is taken out and the pitch
removed and preserved for use for purposes for which pitch is at present employed
and for the manufacture of coloring matters.
The vessel into which the oil is pumped from the first vessel is shallow and I
prefer it to be in the open exposed to sun and air.
When the sun is not sufficiently powerful I raise the temperature of the oil
artificially.
I prefer to employ two or three vessels B to one vessel A as the oil has to be
left in the second vessel longer than in the first and in drawing off the oil from
the vessel A I first take that which is at the top (which is of superior quality)
then the next layer and so on. The oil is then to be transferred to a third vessel C
like the first. While the oil is in this vessel quicklime is thrown in immediately
after the lime has been moistened with water and whilst steam rises from it. By
means of the wheel agitator the oil and lime are then thoroughly mixed. If
necessary more lime is added until the oil attains the proper color and purity.
The total quantity of lime is about 10 per cent by weight of the oil treated. The
wheel is kept in movement for 12 hours or thereabouts. The wheel is then
lifted and the contents of the vessel pumped off into a fourth vessel D divided into
two portions by a perforated false bottom (lined with a filtering material or cloth).
The upper portion is of the same capacity as the vessel C. In this vessel the oil
is again exposed to sun light and air for a like period as in the vessel B. Two

page_text: three or more of these vessels may be used. The water from the lime collects
under the false bottom d whilst the lime settles upon it.
The oil which cannot be drawn off clear from the lime is separated by pressure
and filtration. It is afterwards treated in the same way as the oil first drawn off
but separately and it forms a second quality.
Finally after exposure as described the oil of either quality is filtered through
a filter charged with birch wood or animal charcoal and it is then ready for the
market.
What I claim is :-
3. First Treating the residue from petroleum by agitation with acid exposure to
light and air and to contact with lime or alkali as described.
Second-The combined processes substantially as described for the treatment of
the residue from petroleum.
In witness whereof I the said Nicholas Charles de Kroeber have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty sixth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.