IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING MINERAL OILS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Humfrey, of 9, Hough Green, Chester, in the
County of Chester, for the Invention of "IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING
MINERAL OILS."
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 12th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Humfrey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1876.
CHARLES HUMFREY, of 9, Hough Green, Chester, in the County of Chester.
"IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING MINERAL OILS."
Having for the last 12 years manufactured on the large scale the heaviest and best
hydrocarbon lubricating oils in the market, my attention has naturally been turned
towards still further improving their quality.
Heretofore it has been necessary to mix the hydrocarbon or mineral lubricating
oil with a considerable proportion of fat oil to give it the necessary body or viscidity.
Now the fat oils (both animal and vegetable) are all more or less oxydisable in the
air, producing gunmy matter, becoming very acid, and if left in warm places on
cotton, wool, cloths, sawdust, or similar material are exceedingly liable to spon-
taneous combustion.
For lubricating the pistons of high-pressure compound surface condensing engines,
both marine and stationary, the fat oils are particularly objectionable, for in addi-
tion to the before-mentioned faults the high-pressure steam decomposes them into
the fat acids and glycerine, which are of course carried into the boilers, where the
fat acids corrode most powerfully, and with the glycerine make a kind of soap suds,
producing excessive priming. Now, by my Invention, I am able to produce mineral
or hydrocarbon lubricating oil, of such body that no mixture of fat oil whatever is
required, the viscidity being equal to the best olive, and considerably superior to
sperm, while being perfectly neutral it cannot act on or corrode the condensers or
boilers, nor form concretions in the cavities of the pistons and steam passages, nor
does it act on the india-rubber valves of the air pump to any injurious extent when
used for internal lubricating of steam engines. For ordinary lubrication it is
perfect, as it forms no gum or acid, and is absolutely safe from spontaneous combus-
tion, with a lubricating power equal to sperm. I first submit the oil to careful
fractional distillation, and collect the heavy portion of the product.

page_text: In the refining or chemical treatment instead of agitating the chemicals with the
oil by means of paddles, screws, or other inechanical means as have heretofore been
used I force a large stream of compressed air through a pipe at or near the bottom
of the vessel, by which very important advantages are obtained, as well as a most
thorough and complete agitation; a considerable oxydizing effect is produced,
powerfully aiding the action of the chemicals used, at the same time the great
volume of air passing through carries off all traces of oils of low gravity and
boiling points, the result being lubricating oil possessing more body and higher
specific gravity and flush point than any mineral lubricating oils heretofore produced,
making it especially adapted for lubricating the pistons, slide valves, and other parts
of marine, locomotive, and other steam engines, steam hammers, and other ap-
paratus.
The oil may be produced from coal, shale, peat, bitumen, asphaltum, petroleum, or
other material as is found most economical and convenient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Charles Humfrey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th November
18
1876.
CHARLES HUMFREY, of 9, Hough Green, Chester, in the County of Chester.
IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING MINERAL OILS."
Having for the last 12 years manufactured on the large scale the heaviest and
best hydrocarbon lubricating oils in the market my attention has naturally been
turned towards still further improving their quality.
Heretofore it has been necessary to mix the hydrocarbon or mineral lubricating
oil with a considerable proportion of fatty oils to give it the necessary body or
viscidity. Now these fatty oils (both animal and vegetable) are all more or less
oxidisable in the air producing gummy matter becoming very acid, and if left in
warm places on cotton, wool, cloths, sawdust, or similar material are exceedingly
liable to spontaneous combustion.
For lubricating the pistons of high-pressure compound surface condensing engines,
both marine and stationary, the fatty oils are particularly objectionable, for in addi-
tion to the before-mentioned faults the high-pressure steam decomposes them into
fatty acids and glycerine, which are of course carried into the boilers, where the
fatty acids corrode most powerfully, and with the glycerine make a kind of soap suds,
producing excessive priming. Now, by my Invention I am able to produce mineral
or hydrocarbon lubricating oil of such body that no mixture of fatty oils whatever
is required, the viscidity being equal to the best olive, and considerably superior to
sperm, while being perfectly neutral it cannot act on or corrode the condensers or
boilers, nor form concretions in the cavities of the pistons and steam passages, nor
does it act on the india-rubber valves of the air pump to any injurious extent when
used for internal lubricating of steam engines. For ordinary lubricating it is per-
fect, as it forms no gum or acid, and is absolutely safe from spontaneous combustion,
with a lubricating power equal to sperm. The oil treated by my Invention is also
specially suited for lubricating fast running machinery, spindles and looms, and for
all kinds of fast running mechanism. I first submit the oil to careful fractional dis-
tillation, and collect the heavy portion of the product.
In the refining or chemical treatment, instead of agitating the chemicals with the
oil by means of paddles, screws, or other mechanical means as have heretofore been
used, I force a large stream of compressed air through a pipe at or near the bottom
of the vessel, by which very important advantages arcobtained. As well as a most
thorough and complete agitation, a considerable effect is produced powerfully aiding
the action of the chemicals used, at the same time the great volume of air passing
through carries off all traces of oils of low gravity and boiling points, the result

page_text: being lubricating oil possessing more body and higher specific gravity and flash
point than any mineral lubricating oils heretofore produced, making it specially
adapted for lubricating the pistons, slide valves, and other parts of marine, locomio-
tive, and other steam engines, steam hammers, and other apparatus.
The oil may be produced from coal, shale, peat, bitumen, asphaltum, petroleum,
and other oil producers as is found most economical and convenient.
Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of carry-
ing the same into effect, I declare that I claim the treatment of mineral oils by
fractional distillation and agitation by compressed air, as described, and the employ-
ment of oils so treated for lubricating purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Humfrey, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of November, Ono thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
CHARLES HUMFREY. (LS.)