A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING PURIFIED OIL FROM COAL, SHALE, AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING PURIFIED OIL
FROM COAL, SHALE, AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES."-A communication
from Alfred Ely Beach, of New York.
Sealed the 17th October 1856, and dated the 22nd April 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd April 1856.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING PURIFIED OIL
FROM COAL, SHALE, AND OTHER BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved method of distilling coal, shale,
and other bituminous substances, whereby a pure oil suitable for illumination
and other purposes is obtainable at the first distillation.
In carrying out the process, the coal, shale, or other bituminous substance to
be distilled is broken up into small pieces and deposited upon the bottom of
the retort. Upon the coal is placed a stratum of common sand, in quantity
about four times greater (by weight) than the weight of coal, the object being
to cause the gas as it is generated to pass through the sand. A condensing
tube leads from the upper part of the retort to the refrigerating worm. The
retort thus prepared is submitted to a low fire, the heat of which is very

page_text: gradually and carefully increased until the moisture contained in the coal and
sand begins to rise into the condensing tube in the form of steam, and on
passing into the worm is condensed into water and escapes; the water thus
brought over is loaded with black carbonaceous impurities. The same tem-
perature being continued, the condensed water gradually becomes clearer, and
the oil begins to form, both oil and water escaping together from the worm,
the oil rising to the surface in the receiving vessel. The oil as it thus exules
is beautifully clear and pure, and when burnt in an argand lamp with button
over the wick gives a most brilliant light, totally free from smoke. After the
heat passes a certain point, which is determined by the nature of the sub-
stance under distillation, no more pure oil can be bad, and crude oily and
tarry matter comes over. The gas out of which the oil is formed should be
set free, and have an opportunity of passing slowly through the filtering or
straining substances, so as to leave behind its impurities. If too much heat
is applied the filtering or straining operation will be imperfectly accomplished.
If preferable, the sand or other straining substances, instead of being mixed
directly with the coal, may be separated from it by a diaphragm or by being
placed in a separate heated vessel; so long as the gas is thoroughly strained,
whether it is done in either of the modes mentioned, the oil when condensed
will be purified. Instead of using sand as the straining medium for the gas,
clay and earths of most kinds will answer the purpose, also chalk, gypsum,
lime, black oxide of manganese, some salts, plumbago, charcoal, &c. These
may be used separately or in combination. They are not all suitable for
every kind of bituminous substance; some of them improve the color and
quality of the oil, probably by chemical action. The filtering substances may
have chemicals mixed with them for the purpose of changing or removing the
odor of the oil or for increasing its purification if desired. When it is needed
to refine the oil beyond the purity of the first distillation, the oil may be re-
distilled in the herein-described manner until the desired quality is obtained.
The same process is applicable to the purification of nearly all kinds of oils.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd October 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license, that I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 "A NEW
METHOD OF OBTAINING PURIFIED OIL FROM COAL, SHALE, AND OTHER BITUMINOUS
SUBSTANCES," being a communication from Alfred Ely Beach, of New York,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to a new or improved method of distilling coal, shale, and other bituminous
substances, whereby a pure oil suitable for illumination and other purposes is
obtainable at the first distillation.
It has long been known that many varieties of coal, shale, and bituminous
substances were capable of affording oil and oily matters when subjected to
dry distillation at a low temperature, but in general the oil obtained at the
first distillation comes over in a crude coarse condition, totally unfit for use.
Several processes have been invented for purifying this crude oil, and some of
them are attended with great success, but nearly all of them are expensive.
They involve the use of large quantities of sulphuric and other acids, salts,
repeated distillations, heatings, boilings, agitations, decantations, and other
labors. The bituminous substances before referred to yield on distillation at
a low temperature a gas which if passed through a worm or other suitable
refrigerator condenses into what is known as crude oil, requiring purification,
as described.

page_text: The present Invention consists in straining the gas which produces the oil
by passing it through a stratum or strata of sand or other suitable medium, so
that when condensed it forms a clear and valuable oil ready for immediate
use. This result is obtained by the following process, viz:-The coal, shale,
or whatever bituminous substance is to be distilled is broken up into very
small pieces, and deposited upon the bottom of the retort. Upon the coal is
thrown a quantity of common sand, about four times greater in weight than
the weight of coal. The sand should be made to cover the coal evenly, so
that the gas in escaping from the coal will pass through the sand. A con-
densing tube leads from the upper part of the retort to the refrigerating
worm. The retort, thus prepared, is submitted to a low fire, the heat of which
is very gradually and carefully increased until the coal and sand having
reached a temperature about two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit, the
moisture contained in the coal and sand begins to rise into the condensing
tube in the form of steam, and on passing into the worm is condensed into
water and escapes; the water, thus brought over, is loaded with black car-
bonaceous impurities. The same temperature being continued, the condensed
water gradually becomes clearer, and the oil begins to form; both oil and
water escaping together from the worm, the oil rising to the surface in the
receiving vessel. The oil as it thus exudes is beautifully clear and pure, and
when burned in an argand lamp with a deflecting button over the wick gives
a most brilliant light, totally free from smoke. As the distillation proceeds
the quantity of water that comes over lessens. The temperature before
named should be steadily maintained until no more pure oil. is produced.
With some varieties of bituminous substances, however, the oil ceases to come
over before it has all been exhausted from the material, although exposed to
the above heat for a time, as described. In such cases a higher temperature
is then required. Such additional heat should be applied very gradually, and
with the utmost care. The distillation may proceed, adding degree of heat by
degree, so long as the distilled substance yields pure oil. When the beat has
passed a certain point, which is determined by the nature of the substance
under distillation, no more pure oil can be had, and crude oily and tarry
matter comes over. If on commencing the distillation, or during any of its
stages, the heat be too suddenly or too greatly raised, the pure oil will cease to
flow, and the thick oil or crude oily matter and tar will come over. It will
also be found that a slight change of temperature produces a change in the
color of the oil. The lower the temperature that can be maintained, the
lighter in general will be the color of the product. Owing to the great
variety of bituminous substances existing it is impossible to lay down the exact

page_text: degree of heat required for the distillation of each by the process, but as a
general rule the following method should be observed: Commence, with
a low temperature and carry it up very gradually until the pure oil-begins to
condense, continue the same temperature so long as the oil exudes; if the oil
ceases, increase the heat very gradually, as before described; until no more
pure oil can be obtained. The gas out of which the oil is formed should be
set free, and have an opportunity of passing slowly through the filtering or
straining substances, so as to deposit its impurities. When too much heat is
applied the filtering or straining operation will be imperfectly accomplished.
If preferred, the sand or other filtering substance, instead of being mixed
directly with the coal, may be separated from it by a diaphragm or by being
placed in a separate heated vessel; so long as the gas, is thoroughly strained,
whether it is done in either of the modes mentioned, the oil when condensed
will be purified. Instead of using sand as the straining or filtering medium for
the gas, clay and earths of most kinds may be employed, as also chalk, gypsum,
lime, black oxide of manganese, some salts, plumbago, charcoal, &c. These
may be used separately or in combination, but they are not all equally suitable
for the various kind of bituminous substance, as some of them will improve
the color and quality of the oil, probaby by chemical action. The filtering
substances may have chemicals mixed with them for the purpose of changing
or removing the odour of the oil or for increasing its purification, if desired.
When it is needed to refine the oil beyond the purity of the first distillation,
the oil may be re-distilled in the herein-before described manner until the
desired quality is obtained. The same process is applicable to the purification
of nearly all kinds of oils. In every case care should be taken to cause the
gas out of which the oil is made to be thoroughly strained. The quantity of
sand or other material needed for straining the gas may be varied to suit
circumstances. Where a larger proportion of the filtering material is used
than that herein named the oil will generally tend to be clearer. The nature
of the substance to be distilled must regulate the quantity and formation of
the straining media.
The coke remaining after distillation will be found valuable as a fuel, and
the filtering sand or earths, becoming charged as they do to some extent with
ammoniacal products, may be employed with advantage for agricultural pur-
poses. Some of these products when mixed with sulphur will harden on
exposure to the atmosphere, and may be used for roofing, forming artificial
stone, &c.
Having now described the Invention of "A new Method of Obtaining
Purified Oil from Coal, Shale, and other Bituminous Subtances," as commu-

page_text: nicated to me from abroad, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim, passing the gas which produces the oil
through a stratum or strata of sand or other suitable substance or substances
that will produce an analogous result, for the purpose of straining or filtering
the gas, and obtaining a pure oil, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)