IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BITUMINOUS AND CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS, VOLATILE, LIQUID, AND SOLID WHICH THEY CONTAIN, AND ALSO IN THE TREATMENT AND APPLICATION OF BUCH PRODUCTS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexis Jean Moreau, Chymist, and Adolphe Ernest
Ragon, Gentleman, both of Bernard Street, Russell Square, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE
OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BITUMINOUS AND CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS, VOLATILE, LIQUID, AND
SOLID WHICH THEY CONTAIN, AND ALSO IN THE TREATMENT AND APPLICATION OF
BUCH PRODUCTS."
Sealed the 6th February 1862, and dated the 9th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexis Jean Moreau and
Adolpho Ernest Ragon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 9th August 1862.
I, ALEXIS JEAN MOREAU, Chymist, and ADOLPHE ERNEST RAGON; Gentle-
5 man, both of Bernard Street, Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BITUMINOUS AND CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS, VOLATILE, LIQUID, AND
SOLID WHICH THEY CONTAIN, AND ALSO IN THE TREATMENT AND APPLICATION OP
SUCH PRODUCTS," to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention is to obtain from various bituminous and car-
bonaceous substances the various products they contain in a more economical
manner, and in greater purity than heretofore. In addition to these advan-

page_text: tages the liquid substances intended to be employed for illuminating purposes
are deprived of their empyreumatic odours, and are not liable to catch fire
accidentally. In operating upon solid substances such as bitumen, asphalte,
schists, boghead, cannel coal, peat, and other solid matters, we submit them to
a preliminary process of distillation in order to extract at one operation all the
volatile matters contained therein. The distillate of this preliminary process,
or volatile or other oils or liquid substances, may then be submitted to our
improved process and apparatus.
In carrying out our Invention the liquid substances or hydrocarbons
are placed in a distilling vessel, and submitted to heat, which will cause
them to volatilize, and pass over to a globular or other vessel, in which
they will meet with an atmosphere of steam which is generated in a
suitable boiler, and is conducted into the globular vessel, where the vapours
from the two distilling vessels meet, and the volatile bydrocarbons are
washed or cleansed so as to remove the smell. This operation of destroying
the smell may be facilitated by submitting the gases to the action of chlorine
either in the form of gas, or in combination with other substances as in
chloride of lime. The use of chlorine not only will remove the smell, but will
also render the oils capable of saponification. They then pass along a worm,
during which the vapours will be condensed, and will be delivered in a liquid
state into any suitable receiver. The light oils may be used for lighting pur-
poses, or for any other purpose for which they may be applicable, but the
heavy oils are subsequently treated in order to render them capable of saponi-
fication. To this end a current of chlorine is passed through the mass of oil
until it is saturated, or the oil may be treated with the chloride of lime. The
desired effect may be produced by adding peroxide of manganese, and
hydrochloric acid to the oil, and then beating the mixture quickly until the
oil is saturated with chlorine, or no more chlorine comes off. The distillation
of the oils may then be continued, and the saponifiable oils may be converted
into lubricating compositions, or into soap.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe Ernest Ragon in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEXIS
JEAN MOREAU, Chymist, and ADOLPHE ERNEST RAGON, Gentleman, both of
Bernard Street, Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe Ernest Ragon, Her special license that
we, the said Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe Ernest Ragon, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Alexis Jean Moreau
and Adolphe Ernest Ragon, our 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 Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BITUMINOUS AND CARBONACEOUS
SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS, VOLATILE;
LIQUID, AND SOLID, WHICH THEY CONTAIN, AND ALSO IN THE TREATMENT AND APPLI-
CATION OF SUCH PRODUCTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe Ernest Ragon, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
should particularly describe and ascertain 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 we, the said Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe
Ernest Ragon, 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, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say):
The object of our Invention of "Improvements in the Mode of and Appa-
ratus for Treating Bituminous and Carbonaceous Substances for the Purpose
of Obtaining the various Products (Volatile, Liquid, and Solid) which they
contain, and also in the Treatment and Application of such Products," is to
obtain from various bituminous and carbonaceous substances the various pro-
ducts they contain in a more economical manner, and in greater purity than
heretofore. In addition to these advantages, the liquid substances intended
to be employed for illuminating purposes are by our improved inode of treating
them deprived of their empyreumatic odours, and are not liable to catch fire
accidentally.
In operating upon solid substances such as bitumen, asphalte, schists, bogbend,

page_text: cannel coal, peat, and other solid matters, wo submit them to a preliminary
process of distillation in order to separate all the volatile matters contained
therein from the moro solid portions. The distillate of this preliminary process
(that, is to say, tho volatile or other oils or liquid substances),, may then be
submitted to our improved. process.
"
The form of apparatus we prefer for carrying out our Invention is shewn in
the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the
apparatus. The liquid substances or hydrocarbons to be operated upon are
first deodorized by the action of hydrochloric acid gas, which is made to pass
through it, after which the liquid is conducted to the distilling vessel, whero it
is submitted to heat which will cause the volatile matters to distil and pass
over to a globular or other vessel where they will meet with an atmosphere of
steam which is generated in a suitable boiler, and is conducted into the
globular vessel, where the vapours from the two distilling vessels meet, and
the volatile hydrocarbons are washed or cleansed so as to remove all foreign
matters. This operation of destroying the smell may be facilitated by sub-
mitting the gases to the action of chlorine either in the form of gas, or in
combination with other substances, as chloride of lime.
The apparatus shewn in the Drawing is so arranged that the whole process
forins one continuous operation. The rough liquid bydrocarbon is placed in
a large tank or vessel a, into which is introduced a coiled pipe b, perforated
with small holes. Into a vessel c, which is beated by a sand bath, are placed
any suitable substances for the production of hydrochloric acid gas, such for
instance, as manganese, and a solution of bydrochloric acid. The cover of
the vessel c is pierced with two holes, one to admit the bent end of the per-
forated tube b, and the other to admit the straight and vertical tube.d, whereby
the manganese and bydrochloric acid are admitted. The lower end of this
latter tube & nearly reaches to the bottom of the vessel, while the open end of
the bent tube b is always exposed above the surface of the contents of the
vessel. The gas generated in the vessel c passes down the tube b and
bubbles up among the liquid contents of the vessel a until the liquid is satu-.
rated with the gas. The contents of the vessel a are then run off in suitablo
quantities at a time into the still e, from which they are volatilized, and the
vapours are conducted into the globular vessel f, where they will meet with
an atmosphere of steam which has been generated in the boiler or retort g.
By mingling with the steam the vapours will be well washed, and all unplea-
sant odour or empyreumatic smell which might remain, and the hydrochloric
acid gas will be removed therefrom; the mixed vapours and gases will then,
pass from the vesself along a worm h, during which the vapours will be con-

page_text: densed, and will be delivered in a liquid state into any suitable receiver i
placed below. The light oils will by their specific gravity float on the top,
and form an upper stratum, which may be drawn off and used for lighting
purposes, or for any other purpose for which they may be applicable. The
heavier oils after being separated from the hydrochloric acid gas solution may
then be subsequently treated, and rendered capable of saponification. To this
end, should they require further purification from unpleasant smell, a current
of chlorine may be passed through the mass of oil until it is saturated, or tho
oil may be treated with chloride of lime. Heavy oils obtained from other
sources, that is to say, from substances from which the lighter portions have
been previously separated by other processes may be deprived of their empy-
reumatic odour by submitting them to the action of hydrochloric acid gas in
the manner already explained. The distillation of these oils may then be pro-
ceeded with, and the saponifiable oils may be converted into lubricating
compositions, or into soap.
It has been heretofore found extremely difficult, if not impossible to saponify
mineral oils. This difficulty we consider has arisen from the fact that in all
such attempts endeavours have been made to cause-the alkali to act directly
upon and combine with the oil. We have discovered that although it is
impracticable to cause the oil and alkali to combine when alone, yet, that if
saponification can be set up with other substances when the oil is present, the
latter will be induced to saponify also. To this end we place in a suitable
iron or other cauldron, vessel, or boiler, one hundred parts of white tallow, fish
oil, or animal matter for saponification in the usual way. To this we add two.
bundred parts of soda lye, marking twelve degrees of Cartier's hydrometer,
and one hundred parts of water. As the saponification of the tallow, or other
vegetable or animal oils, and soda lye proceeds the water is added gradually,
and the whole is stirred so as to produce a homogenous mass. Two hundred
parts of the heavy mineral oil are then added gradually, and the whole boiled
up, during which the mass should be continually stirred, and the product will
be a perfectly saponified mass, which may either be used as a grease or sub-
stance for lubricating machinery, or the wheels of railroad carriages, or it
may be converted into a hard marketable soap by any of the usual processes.
Having now described our Invention of "improvements in the mode of and
apparatus for treating bituminous and carbonaceous substances for the purpose
of obtaining the various volatile liquid and solid products which they contain,
and also in the treatment and application of such products, and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, we claim as the Inven-
tion secured to us by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-

page_text: First, the mode herein set forth of treating liquid bydrocarbons, whicroby
they may be deprived of all offensive or disagreeable odour, and the lighter or
more volatile may be separated from the heavier portions.
Second, we claim the mode herein set forth of treating heavy oils, so as to
saponify them in order to render them applicable as a grease or lubricating
substance, or 'to be converted into a hard soap in any convenient manner.
In witness whereof, we, the said Alexis Jean Moreau and Adolphe Ernest
Ragon, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Ninth day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. MOREAU. (LS.)
A. RAGÓN.
(L.S.)