IMPROVEMENTS IN REFINING AND COMPOUNDING OILS OR FATTY MATTERS WITH OTHER
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Yockney, of Pockeredge, near Chippenham,
in the County of Wilts, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REFINING AND COMPOUNDING OILS OR FATTY MATTERS WITH OTHER
Sealed the 14th February 1860, and dated the 17th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Yockney at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th August 1859.
I, AUGUSTUS YOCKNEY, of Pockeredge, near Chippenham, in the County of
Wilts, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REFINING AND COMPOUNDING OILS OR FATTY MATTERS WITH OTHER
SUBSTANCES FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in refining or treating oils
or fatty matters for lubricating and other purposes, and also for forming certain
compounds by combining the products obtained from the refining process with
oils or fats, and with other substances, as herein-after explained for lubricating
and other purposes.
the
In describing the first part of my Invention for refining oils, I will describe
process I prefer to employ in treating or refining certain oils. For this
purpose I put lard or other similar oil of good quality into an iron pan or
vessel, and heat slowly to about one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

page_text: When at this temperature pour in gently five gallons, or thereabouts, of soda
lye to every one hundred gallons of oil (the lye being previously prepared as
follows) In five gallons of clear soft cold water dissolve from one to two
pounds best quality crystallized subcarbonate of soda or common soda of
commerce. Plunge or stir the oil and lye well together in the proportions
above directed for about twenty minutes, allow the contents of the pan or
vessel to stand for about ten hours; then skin off all the scum from the
surface (which scum is valuable in carrying out another part of my
Invention,
as hereafter described). I now proceed to dip off the oil into an open tank
of iron or wood, lined with zinc or lead, being careful not to disturb the
soapy impurities which have settled at the bottom of the pan or vessel, this
soapy residuum being valuable for combining with oil and other substances in
carrying out another part of my Invention, as hereafter described.
By the process above described the oil has become greatly purified, but it
has assumed a soapy yellowish complexion, and requires to be treated as
follows: Place it in a clean pan or vessel, and heat it again gradually to
about two hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit, carefully removing all scum
which rises to the surface (which scum may be mixed with the scum of former
process, to be used as hereafter described). Regulate the fire so as to keep
the oil at about 250° to 260° Fahrenheit for from three to five hours, when, if
on placing a small quantity in--a-glass vessel- to cool, it remains when cold
semiclear and limpid, the fire must be withdrawn, and the oil allowed to cool.
If the oil is not sufficiently clear apply more heat, but not enough to. make the
oil bright. The cooling may be accelerated by baling the oil into cooling
tanks or tins. The whole contents of the pan or vessel will now be found of a
very superior quality of refined oil, suitable for lubricating machinery, for
burning in lamps, or for other purposes where oil of this description is
employed.
I will now describe the process I prefer to employ when treating lard or other
oil, and combining it with the soapy residuum obtained from the first process,
and with other substances for making what I prefer to call "white oil ;"
I take about fifty gallons of good lard or other suitable oil, and, heat slowly
in an iron pan or vessel to about 150° Fahrenheit; I then add to and mix it
well together with from five to ten gallons of soapy residuum obtained from the
process previously described. I then stir in three gallons, or thereabouts, of
potash lye previously prepared as follows:-Dissolve thirty pounds of common
potash in warm water till specific gravity of solution is indicated by 17° of
Beaumé's hydrometer; add 12 lbs. quicklime, stir well, and boil; allow
insoluble matters to subside, and if specific gravity of solution is now 20°

page_text: Beaumé it is ready for use; if less than 20° boil longer, if more than 20°
reduce strength by adding water. The insoluble matter may be thrown away;
I next plunge or stir the oil, lye, &c., well together, and raise the temperature
of the mixture to about 212° Fahrenheit. It is now ready to receive fifty
pounds steatite, previously prepared as follows:-I take the best quality of
French chalk (steatite) carefully selected, and free from iron or coarse
impurities, and grind it to an impalpable powder. To about fifty pounds of
this pulverized steatite I put about twenty-five gallons of clean cold water, and
mix well till the water and steatite assume a uniform milky consistency. I
then pour this mixture into the boiling oil, &c. gradually, so as not to allow
the temperature to get below boiling point (212°). The mixture should be
kept at this temperature for about an hour, and plunged or stirred well
together all the time. It may then be allowed to cool, when a product of
very superior quality will be obtained, commonly called "white oil," suitable
for lubricating machinery or for other purposes. The introduction of the
soapy residuum from the first process for making extra refined oil imparts
great whiteness to the white oil, and is a great saving from waste.
I will now describe my improved process for making another compound of
oily or fatty matter combined with other substances, which compound is
suitable for lubricating the axles of railway carriages, &c., and is commonly
called "railroad grease." To make this grease I put about thirty gallons of
second quality lard or other oil, including "lipperings," waste gatherings, and
scum (obtained from first process described in making extra refined oil) into
an iron pan or vessel, and heat to about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit; I
then add about twenty pounds of beef or mutton tallow or lard stearine; then
add about twenty gallons soda lye, prepared as follows:-In twenty gallons
cold water dissolve 20 lbs. subcarbonate of soda, adding about five pounds quick-
lime, stir well, and allow insoluble matter to settle, which may be thrown away.
Heat the lye and oil and fat to about 250° Fahrenheit, and stir well together
for about one hour; then dissolve 8 lbs. of finely ground plumbago in two
gallons of water, and mix and stir well with the heated contents in the pan or
vessel; I then take out a small quantity to cool in an open vessel, and if it
does not harden to the consistence required 1 add more water and soda; I
then dip or bale in barrels or other vessels in a fluid state, passing it through
a sieve to keep back any dirt or grit which may have been gathered with the
ingredients.
In the above described processes the strength of the lye will require to be
varied according to the quality of the oils or fatty matters employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Augustus Yockney in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTUS
YOCKNEY, of Pockeredge, near Chippenham, in the County of Wilts, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Augustus Yockney, Her special licence that I, the said Augustus
Yockney, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Augustus Yockney, 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 Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFINING AND COMPOUNDING OILS OR FATTY MATTERS WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR
LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Augustus Yockney, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Augusus Yockney, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in refining or treating oils or
fatty matters for lubricating and other purposes, and also for forming certain
compounds by combining the products obtained from the refining process with
oils or fats, and with other substances, as herein-after explained, for lubricating
and other purposes.
In describing the first part of my Invention for refining oils, I will describe
the process I prefer to employ in treating or refining certain oils. For this
purpose I put lard or other similar oil of good quality into an iron pan or
vessel, and heat slowly to about one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit.

page_text: When at this temperature pour in gently five gallons or thereabouts of soda
lye to every one hundred gallons of oil, the lye being previously prepared as
follows: In five gallons of clear soft cold water dissolve from one to two
pounds best quality crystallized subcarbonate of soda, commonly known as the
soda of commerce. Plunge or stir the oil and lye well together in the pro-
portions above directed for about twenty minutes. Allow the contents of the
pan or vessel to stand for about ten hours. Then skim off all the scum from the
surface (which scum is valuable in carrying out another part of my Invention,
as hereafter described). I now proceed to dip off the oil into an open tank of
iron or wood lined with zinc or lead, being careful not to disturb the soapy
impuritics which have settled at the bottom of the pan or vessel; this soapy
residuum being valuable for combining with oil and other substances in
carrying out another part of my Invention, as hereafter described.
By the process above described the oil has become greatly purified, but it
has assumed a soapy yellowish complexion, and requires to be treated as
follows: Place it in a clean pan or vessel, and heat it again gradually to
about two hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit, carefully removing all scum
which rises to the surface (which scum may be mixed with the scum of former
process to be used as hereafter described). Regulate the fire so as to keep
the oil at about 250° to 260° Fahrenheit for from three to five hours, when,
if on placing a small quantity in a glass vessel to cool, it remains, when cold,
nearly limped, the fire must be withdrawn, and the oil allowed to cool. If
.the oil is not sufficiently clear apply more heat, but not enough to make the
oil bright. The cooling may be accelerated by baling the oil into cooling
tanks or tins. The whole contents of the pan or vessel will now be found of
a very superior quality of refined oil suitable for lubricating machinery, for
burning in lamps, or for other purposes where oil of this description is
employed.
I will now describe the process I prefer to employ when treating lard or other
oil and combining it with the soapy residuum obtained from the first process, and
with other substances, for making what I prefer to call "white oil." I take
about fifty gallons good lard or other suitable oil, and heat slowly in an iron
pan or vessel to about 150° Fahrenheit. I then add to and mix it well
together with from five to ten gallons of soapy residuum obtained from the
process previously described, or I prepare one by a weak solution of crystal
soda or common soap. I then stir in three gallons or thereabouts of potash
lye, previously prepared, as follows:-Dissolve thirty pounds of common potash
in warm water till specific gravity of solution is indicated by 17° Beaune's
hydrometer; add twelve pounds of quicklime, stir well and boil, allow

page_text: insoluble matters to subside, and if specific gravity of solution is now
20° Beaume's, it is ready for use. If less than 20° boil longer, if more
than 20°, reduce strength by adding water. The insoluble matter may be
thrown away.
I next plunge or stir the oil, lye, &c., well together, and raise
the temperature of the mixture to about 212° Fahrenheit. It is now ready to
receive fifty pounds of steatite, previously prepared, as follows:-I take the best
quality of French chalk (steatite) carefully selected, and free from iron or
coarse impurities, and grind it to an impalpable powder. To about fifty
pounds of this pulverized steatite, I put about twenty-five gallons of clean cold
water, or the same quantity of thin jelly made from the carregea, or other
similar moss, and mix well till the water and steatite assume a uniform milky
consistency. I then pour this mixture into the boiling oil, &c., gradually so as
not to allow the temperature to get below boiling point (212°). The mixture
should be kept at this temperature for about an hour, and plunged or stirred
well together all the time. It may then be allowed to cool, when a product of
very superior quality will be obtained, commonly called "white oil," suitable
for lubricating machinery, or for other purposes. The introduction of the
soapy residuum from the first process for making extra refined oil, imparts
great whiteness to the "white oil," and is a great saving from waste. If the
"white oil" is required to be of a thicker substance, I prepare a soapy pulp,
as follows: I first dissolve half a hundredweight of common soap in four
hundredweight of boiling water, or four hundredweight of carragea or Trish
moss jelly or pulp. I then mix together half a hundredweight of steatite,
and a quarter of a hundredweight of flour, in one hundredweight of cold
water, to which when mixed, I add one hundredweight and a half of caustic
alkali at the specific gravity of 30° Beaumé. This I mix and boil up with the
soapy liquid until all are well combined. I then thicken the "white oil."
(as previously prepared) to the consistence required by adding a sufficient
quantity of the soapy pulp.
I will now describe my improved process for making another compound of
oil or fatty matter combined with other substances, which compound is
suitable for lubricating the axles of railway carriages, &c., and is commonly
called "railway grease." To make this grease, I put about thirty gallons of
second quality lard or other oil, including "lipperings," waste gatherings, and
scum (obtained from first process deccribed in making extra refined oil) into
an iron pan or vessel, and heat to about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit. I
then add about twenty pounds of beef or mutton tallow or lard stearine.
Then add about twenty gallons soda Iye, prepared as follows:-In twenty
gallons of cold water dissolve 20 lbs. subcarbonate of soda, adding about five

page_text: pounds of qucklime, stir well, and allow insoluble matter to settle, (which
may be thrown away,) heat the lye and oil and fat to about 250° Fahrenheit,
and stir well together for about one hour, then dissolve eight pounds of finely-
ground plumbago in two gallons of water, and mix and stir well with the
heated contents in the pan or vessel, or I add equal quantities of the soapy
pulp. I then take out a small quantity to cool in an open vessel, and if it
does not harden to the consistence required, I add more water and soda. I then
dip or bale into barrels or other vessels in a fluid state, passing it through a
sieve to keep back any dirt or grit which may have been gathered with the
ingredients. In the above described processes the strength of the lye will require
to be varied according to the quality of the oils or fatty matters employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Yockney, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
5
Witness,
JUSTLY W. AWDRY, Sol*.,
Melksham, Wilts.
AUGUSTUS YOCKNEY. (L.S.)