IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE DECANTATION AND DAISING OF TROLEUM AND OTHER OMG
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Jacovenco, of Bucharest (Wallachia), at
present residing at 11 & 12, Panton Square, Coventry Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR THE DECANTATION AND DAISING OF TROLEUM AND OTHER OMG,
Sealed the 19th December 1865, and dated the 28th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Jacovenco at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
June 1865.
I, PAUL JACOVENCO, of Bucharest (Wallachia), at present residing at
11 & 12, Panton Square, Coventry Street, in the County of Middlesex, do
_ hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR THE DECANTATION AND RAISING OF PETROLEUM AND OTHER OILS,"
to be as follows:-
If two liquids of different density be poured into two distinct tubes com-
municating with the bottom of a cylinder those liquids will take a different

page_text: level, the lighter liquid taking the higher level. This principle may be applied
to the decantation and raising of petroleum and other oils.
The apparatus for this application is composed of a cylinder, of which a
vertical section is given in the annexed Drawing, Fig. 1, and represented by
the lines a, a, a, a. The bottom of the cylinder a, a, a, a, is furnished with a
tube extending from the point g. This tube descends about 2 feet from the
bottom of the cylinder and is bent at the point 7, whence it rises to the point d,
to a height less by a few inches than the height to which the petroleum or
any other oil is to be raised. The tube 9, 1, d, is furnished with a tap F, and
the place for fixing it must be determined according to the specific weight of
the oil for which the apparatus is employed. For example, if the oil has
0-800, the tap must be placed at the corresponding level at of the height
of the cylinder a, a, a, a, measured vertically from the point g, as shown in
the Drawing by the level m, m, m; if the specific weight be 0.900, the tap
may be fixed at of the height of the cylinder measured vertically from the
point 9; when the oil is heavy the tap may be fixed higher up, and when
the former is light the latter may be fixed lower down. The cover of the
cylinder a, a, a, a, is furnished with an ascending tube c, b, which ascends a
few inches higher, according to the level corresponding with the opening d of
the tube g, 1, d. The funnel i with the tap k is fixed on the cover of the
cylinder. To bring the apparatus into action the tap F of the tube g, l, d,
and the tap of the funnel i are opened, and a quantity of water is poured
into the cylinder, corresponding with the size of the part of the tube g, l, d,
from the point g to the level of the tap F. Subsequently the oil is introduced
by the funnel i, and when the cylinder a, a, a, a, is filled, which is seen by the
filled funnel i, the tap k and the tap F of the tube g, l, d, are closed. To raise
the oil water is introduced into the cylinder a, a, a, a, by the opening d of the
tube g, 1, d. The water thus introducod drives out the oil by the tube c, b,
which overflows at the point b. From the point b the oil is conducted to any
part by the ordinary means. The point 6 of the pipe c, b, is a little higher
than the point d of the tube g, l, d, but the oil runs out because it is lighter
than the water; for instance, if the oil be of the density of 0-800 it will rise
th higher than the column of water which makes it rise. It is easy to
discover that all the oil of the cylinder, a, a, a, a, runs out, because the water
which is introduced into the opening d of the pipe g, 1, d, does not enter the
cylinder, but overflows.
To re-commence the operation, the tap F of the tube g, 1, d, is opened for
the purpose of letting the water run out which is contained in the cylinder
a, a, a, a, and in the tubes. The water runs out to the level m, m, m, corre-

page_text: sponding with the tap F, and then the oil is poured into the funnel i; the oil
drives out the remainder of the water, and on the cylinder being filled with oil
the taps k and F are closed, and the operation may begin again.
The apparatus may be modified as follows:-The pipe g, l, d, instead of
coming from the bottom and descending to the point F, and then ascending to
the point d, may be conducted direct to the bottom of the cylinder, either
externally or internally, as shown by the Drawing, Fig. 2. In this case the
tap F may be adapted to the tube l, o, which descends to the bottom of the
cylinder at a height corresponding with the specific weight of the oil. This
system may also be employed in unloading ships with cargoes of petroleuni in
cisterns (iron tank ships), and for that purpose it will be sufficient to employ
a tube reaching to the bottom of the cistern to conduct the oil, and to place
another tube for the like purpose at the highest point of the cistern. This
apparatus may also be advantageously employed in petroleum distilleries as
well as in any docks which may be constructed for the storing of petroleum;
and in general wherever any liquids are to be raised to a higher level..
The claimi I make is for the aforesaid improvements for the decantation
and raising of petroleum and other oils by means of a water pressure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul Jacovenco in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, PAUL
JACOVENCO, Retired Russian Naval Officer, of Bucharest (Wallachia),
momentarily in London, 11 and 12, Panton Square, Coventry Street, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Paul Jacovenco, Her special licence that I, the said Paul Jacovenco,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Paul
Jacovenco, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DECANTATIONS
AND RAISING PETROLEUM AND OTHER OILS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREIN EMPLOYED,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Paul Jacovenco, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer
tain 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 Paul Jacovenco, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
In manufactories of distilled oils, in gas manufactories, in petroleum works,
a great quantity of oil is decanted which often has to be carried to a very great
height. The pumps employed for this purpose are not economical, requiring
constant repairs, and do not allow of steam engines being employed for working
them, it being dangerous to keep any fire close to these liquids, as they are of
great inflammability. This power would also be too expensive, as the engine
must be kept in working order so as to bring it into action when required.
This decantation becomes more important when ships with a cargo of petro-
leum in tanks have to be unloaded (iron tank ships). The operation must be
done by hand labour, requiring a great deal of time, and is very expensive.
To obviate these inconveniences, the employment of pumps, hydraulic power
may be used.
The hydraulic apparatus for the decantation of oils in the manufactories is
composed of a cylinder, a vertical section of which is given in the Drawing by
the lines a, a, a, a. The bottom of the cylinder a, a, a, a, is fitted with a tube
extending from the point g. This tube descends about 2 feet below the bottom
of the cylinder and is bent at the point l, whence it rises to the point d to a
height less by a few inches than the height to which the petroleum or any
other oil is to be raised. The tube g, l, d, is fitted with a tap f, and the
position of this tap is determined according to the specific gravity of the oil
for which the apparatus is constructed. For example, if the oil is 0.800, the
tap must be placed at a level corresponding to of the height of the cylinder
a, a, a, a, measured vertically from the point g, as shewn on the Drawing by
the level m, m, m; if the specific weight be 0.900, the tap may be fixed at 1
of the height of the cylinder measured vertically from the point 9; in fact the
heavier is the oil the higher this tap must be fixed, and if the oil be lighter it

page_text: must be placed lower. The cover of the cylinder a, a, a, a, is fitted with an
ascending tube c, b, which ascends a few inches higher than the level corre
sponding with the opening d of the tube g, 1, d. A funnel i with a tap k is
fixed on the cover of the cylinder. To bring the apparatus into action the
tapf of the tube g, 1, d, and the tap k of the funnel i are opened and a quantity
of water is poured into the cylinder corresponding, or nearly so, with the size
of the part of the tube g, l, d, from the point g to the level of the tap f. After
this the oil required to be raised is introduced by the funnel i, and when the
cylinder a, a, a, a, is filled, which is seen by the funnel i being full, the tap k
of the funnel and the tapf of the tube g, l, d, are closed. To raise the oil
water is introduced into the cylinder a, a, a, a, by the opening d of the tube
g, l, d. The water thus introduced drives out the oil by the tube c, b, which
overflows at the point b. From the point 6 the oil is conducted to any part
by ordinary means. The point 6 of the pipe c, b, is a little higher than the
point d of the tube g, l, d, and the oil runs out because it is lighter than the
water; for instance, if the oil be of the density of 0.800 it will rise 4th higher
than the column of water which makes it rise. It is easy to discover when
all the oil of the cylinder a, a, a, a, has run out, because the water which
is introduced into the opening d of the pipe g, l,d, does not enter the cylinder,
but overflows. .
To re-commence the operation the tapf of the tube g, l, d, is opened for
the purpose of letting out the water contained in the cylinder a, a, a, a, and in
the tubes. The water runs out till it reaches the level m, m, m, corresponding
with the tap f, and then the oil is poured in by the funnel i; the oil drives
out the remainder of the water, and on the cylinder being filled with oil the
taps and fare closed, and the operation is continued as already described:
In works where oil is distilled this apparatus may be advantageously employed,
because it can be so disposed that the cylinder a, a, a, a, receives the producė
of the distillation, from which the oil can be conducted into the reservoirs by
means of water pressure. The transport of petroleum in iron tank ships
offers advantages which are beyond any competition. The principal difficulties
for a general use of these vessels are, the want of convenient means for storing
the oil and the difficulty of loading and unloading the ships.
As to the question of storing, it is completely resolved by the use of
reservoirs at double pressure of water, which completely shelter the petroleuni
from fire, evaporation, and leakage.
.As. to the question of loading and unloading the ships, it is completely
resolved by the possibility of adapting to this operation the means of tranship-
ments from the ships into reservoirs, and vice versa, by bydraulic pressure.

page_text: To adapt more easily our system to iron tank ships it would be useful to
construct these ships with two rows of cisterns or tanks placed one above the
other; to each of the tank two pipes must be fitted, one intended for water,
which reaches the lowest point of the cistern, and the other for the oil will be
fixed at the highest point. When the water is poured by the first tube in the
tank containing oil the oil will run out by the second tube, which is fixed at
the highest point of the cistern, and the rapidity of the transhipment will be
proportioned to the pressure of water coming into the cistern. The tubes
intended to conduct the water of several cisterns, or even of all the cisterns,
may be joined together at one same point of the ship in order to be supplied
with water by only one pipe; as well all the tubes intended for the oil may be
joined together at one same point in order to let the petroleum run out by
only one opening. Let us suppose that all the cisterns of the vessel would
not be unloaded at the same time, but successively in four series. The
necessary time to unload one of these series would not be more than 15
minutes, because the tube can be made of a sufficient large diameter, and if
the oil gets mixed with water a few minutes will be sufficient to allow it to
settle. If the oil runs out mixed with a small quantity of water there will be
no inconvenience from this, because when it is poured into the cylinders at
double pressure of water the water will settle and will easily run out. Thus,
when the cisterns of a ship are unloaded in four series, one hour is sufficient
to accomplish this operation. To take out of the cisterns the water which
has taken the petroleum's place it is sufficient that the superior row of cisterns
placed above the water line be fitted with taps by which the water will be
allowed to run out. The water contained in the cisterns of the lower row,
and situated under the water line, can serve as ballast in the ship and remain
until a new cargo of petroleum is taken in. This water is then driven out by
the pressure of oil. To obtain this it is sufficient to have taps fitted to the
pipe intended for water at a point th below the level at which the petroleum
enters into the cistern.
The apparatus for the decantation and transhipment of petroleum and
other oils, compared to the pumps, presents the following advantages:-The
apparatus, by the simplicity of its construction, requires no repairs or main-
tenance, and its duration is limited only by the duration of the metal of which
it is constructed. The rapidity of action of this apparatus cannot be compared
with any other means of decantation or transhipment. The pump requires
the application of a power which between each operation must remain idle.
For the apparatus above described a power long accumulated can be used, as
it is the case with water, it can at any given moment be brought into action

page_text: with full force, thus avioding the loss caused by the motive power remaining
idle. The water necessary to put the apparatus into action can be accumulated
in large quantities and at small expense.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Jacovenco, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
PAUL JACOVENCO. (L.B.)