New or Improved Apparatus for Delivering Inflammable Liquids from Closed Tanks or Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1858
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd. Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Delivering Inflammable Liquids from
Closed Tanks or Vessels.
I, PATRICK MOLYNEUX, of Atlantic Wharf, Bow Common, London, E., Wharf
Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to new or improved apparatus for delivering inflammable
liquids from closed tanks or vessels.
In connection with closed tanks or vessels used for containing inflammable liquids
the plan has been proposed of filling the space above the liquid in the tanks or vessels
with carbonic anhydride (CO) or as it is more usually termed carbonic acid gas.
This offers several advantages inasmuch as the carbonic anhydride, being a non-supporter
of combustion, so long as it surrounds the inflammable liquid will prevent the latter
from burning, and being a gas whose specific gravity considerably exceeds that of
atinospheric air it remains suspended as it were over the surface of the liquid, and
When the tank
does not so readily pass away as would be the case with a lighter gas.
or vessel containing the inflammable liquid is tightly closed and none of the
inflammable liquid is abstracted it suffices to fill the space above the surface of the
liquid with the gas at the ordinary atmospheric pressure; but in the case of vessels
from which quantities of the liquid are drawn off from time to time it is obvious that
carbonic anhydride must be added to make up for the liquid removed and in order that
this may be effected it has been proposed to connect the tank or vessel with a reservoir
containing, or an apparatus generating, carbonic anhydride. In order however that
such a plan should work satisfactorily it is necessary that the reservoir of carbonic
aubydride should be of very large size as compared with the tank or vessel containing
the inflammable liquid, or if of relatively small size that the gas should be stored
under very high pressure. The first of these plans is extremely inconvenient where
space is valuable and in addition it is very costly; whilst the second plan is open to
the objection that owing to the high pressure the petroleum or other inflammable
liquid is delivered highly charged with the gas and under such pressure that it is
impossible to deliver small quantities without a large loss through splashing and
thero is also great danger incurred through such splashing covering or impregnating
surrounding objects with a spray of the inflammable liquid, and so rendering such
objects liable to easy ignition. The oil or inflammable liquid in fact issues in much
the same way as soda-water from a siphon. The plan proposed of connecting the tank
or vessel with an apparatus generating the carbonic anhydride is so troublesome and
costly as to be in fact impracticable.
In carrying out my invention I adopt the plan of replacing the liquid delivered
from the tanks or vessels by carbonic anhydride. This carbonic anhydride is supplied
from strong reservoirs such as the cast steel cylinders in which liquid or highly
compressed carbonic anhydride can at present ho obtained in the market and in which
it exists in a liquid or in a highly compressed gaseous state. These reservoirs of the
gas may either be detachable from or integral with the tank or vessel containing the
inflammable liquid. In order to prevent the gas entering the said tank or vessel
under such high pressure that it would produce the undesirable effects herein.before
mentioned, I interpose between the gas reservoir and the tank or vessel containing the
inflammable liquid a reducing valve of any convenient type serving to admit the gas
into the said tank or vessel at, or nearly at, atmospheric pressure, and this irrespective
of the pressure in the gas reservoir. By this means the inflammable liquid can always
be drawn off from the tank or vessel without any splashing or loss and just as
simply as from an ordinary open tank, and at the same time without the same danger
at innition

page_text: My invention is very useful in the case of fixed or portable storage tanks used by
wholesale or retail dealers or by consumers of petroleum and the like as well as
in the case of railway or other waggon-tanks in which the inflammable liquid
has to be transported, and from which quantities have to be drawn off from time to
time.
In the case of small portable storage tanks used by retail dealers or consumers,
when the gas reservoir is integral with the tank containing the inflammable liquid, the
whole apparatus may be sent to the factory to be recharged the tanks to be charged
with the liquid and the reservoir with the gas: but when the gas reservoir is detachable
from the tank containing the liquid either the gas reservoir or the liquid tank may be
sent to the factory or wholesale warehouse to be refilled as may be desired. In the
case of fixed storage tanks fresh gas reservoirs may be screwed on whenever a new
supply of gas is required, a very large quantity of gas being easily contained under
great pressure in a very small reservoir.
Dated this 3rd day of Databar 1000
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. M.E., M.S.T.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, Norfolk Houso,
Norfolk Street, London, W.C.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Apparatus for Delivering Inflammable Liquids from
Closed Tanks or Vessels.
I, PATRICK MOLYNEUX, of Atlantic Wharf, Bow Common, London, E., Wharf
Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to new or improved apparatus for delivering inflammable liquids
from closed tanks or vessels.
In connection with closed -tanks or vessels used for containing inflammable liquids,
the plan has been proposed of filling the space above the liquid in the tanks or vessels
with carbonic anhydride (CO2), or as it is more usually termed carbonic acid gas.
This offers several advantages, inasmuch as the carbonic anhydride, being a non-supporter
of combustion, so long as it surrounds the inflammable liquid, will prevent the latter
from burning; and, being a gas whose specific gravity considerably exceeds that of
atmospheric air, it remains suspended as it were over the surface of the liquid, and
does not so readily pass away as would be the case with a lighter gas. When the tank
or vessel containing the inflammable liquid is tightly closed, and none of the
inflammable liquid is abstracted, it suffices to fill the space above the surface of the liquid
with the gas at the ordinary atmospheric pressure; but, in the case of vessels from
which quantities of the liquid are drawn off from time to time, it is obvious that
carbonic anhydride must be added to make up for the liquid removed: and in order
that this may be effected, it has been proposed to connect the tank or vessel with a
'reservoir containing, or an apparatus generating, carbonic anhydride. In order how-
over that such a method should work satisfactorily, as it has been proposed, it is
necessary that the reservoir of carbonic anhydride should be of very large size as
compared with the tank or vessel containing the inflammable liquid, or, if of relatively
small size, that the gas should be stored under very high pressure. The first of these
plans is extremely inconvenient where space is valuable and in addition it is very
costly; whilst the second plan is open to the objection that, owing to the high pressure
of the gas, the petroleum or other inflammable liquid is delivered highly charged with
the gas and under such great pressure that it is impossible to deliver small quantities
without a large loss through splashing: and there is also great danger incurred through
such splashing in covering or impregnating surrounding objects with a spray and film
of the inflammable liquid, and so rendering such objects liable to easy ignition. The

page_text: oil or inflammable liquid in fact issues in much the same way as sola-water from a
gas siphon. The pian proposed of connecting the tank or vessel with an apparatus
generating the carbonic anhydride is so troublesome and costly as to be in fact
impracticable.
In carrying out my invention I adopt the plan of replacing the liquid delivered
from the tanks or vessels by carbonic anhydride. This carbonic anhydride is supplied
from strong reservoirs, such as the cast steel cylinders in which liquid or highly
compressed carbonic anhydride can at present be obtained in the market, and in which
it exists in a liquid or in a highly compressed gaseous state. These reservoirs of the
gas may either be detachable from or integral with the tank or vessel containing the
inflammable liquid. In order to prevent the gas entering the said tank or vessel
under such high pressure that it would produce the undesirable effects herein before
mentioned, I interpose between the gas reservoir and the tank or vessel containing the
inflammable liquid a reducing valve or equivalent device serving to admit the gas
into the said tank or vessel at, or nearly at, atmospheric pressure, and this irrespective
of the pressure in the gas reservoir. By this means the inflammable liquid can always
be drawn off from the tank or vessel without any splashing or loss, and just as
simply as from an ordinary open tank, and at the same time without the same
danger of ignition.
It will thus be seen that the essence of my invention lies in the introduction between
the reservoir of carbonic anhydride and the tank or vessel containing the inflammable
liquid of the pressuro reducing device which enables the gas to be admitted to the
tank at the desired pressure and this irrespective of the pressure in the gas reservoir
itself.
In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate similar or equivalent parts, I show how my invention is to be or may be
carried into effect.
In figure 1A is an ordinary fixed storage tank, partly filled with the inflammable
liquid. B is the pressure reducing valve. C is the reservoir of carbonic anhydride,
and D the cock or tap of the same.
E is the draw off cock. In figure 2 my invention
is shown in connection with an ordinary road transport cart for petroleum. In figure 3
I show my invention as applied in the case of a railway truck waggon. In figure 4 [
illustrate a case wherein the reservoir C instead of being detachable as shown in
figures 1, 2 and 3 is integral with the tank.
It will be seen that the action of the reducing valve B is simply to act as a regulator
so that whatever may be the pressure in C the pressure of the gas in A will be kept at
or about the atmospheric pressure.
1 desire it to be understood that my invention does not embrace any particular form
of reducing valve. Such reducing valves are well known and any ordinary form
suitable for or adjustable to the large range of pressure required will answer my
purpose.
In the drawings I have for this reason illustrated the said reducing valve in
a purely diagrammatic manner.
My invention is very useful in the case of fixed or portable storage tanks used
by wholesale or retail dealers or by consumers of petroleum and the like as well
as in the case of railway or other waggan-tanks in which the inflammable liquid
las to be transported, and from which quantities have to be drawn off from time
to time.
In the case of small portable storage tanks used by retail dealers or consumers,
when the gas reservoir is integral with the tank containing the inflammable liquid, the
whole apparatus may be sent to the factory or store to be recharged, the tanks to be
charged with the liquid, and the reservoir with the gas: but when the gas reservoir is
detachable from the tank containing the liquid either the gas reservoir or the liquid
tank may be sent to the factory or wholesale warehouse to be refilled, as may be desired.
In the case of fixed storage tanks fresh gas reservoirs may be screwed on whenever a
new supply of gas is required, a very large quantity of gas being easily contained
under great pressure in a very small reservoir.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The new or improved apparatus for delivering inflammable liquids from closed
tanks or vessels substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the gas reservoir and the pressure reducing device substantially
as set forth.
For the Applicant,.
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, Norfolk House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.
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