IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND PREPARATION OF MINERAL OILS AND SPIRITS FOR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Pickin, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Lamp Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT AND PREPARATION OF MINERAL OILS AND SPIRITS FOR
ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES."-Partly a communication from
abroad by Henry Chadburn, of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United
States of America.
Sealed the 13th March 1868, and dated the 16th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Pickin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th September 1867.
I, GEORGE PICKIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Lamp
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND PREPARATION OF MINERAL OILS AND SPIRITS
POR ILLUMINATING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has more particularly for its object improvements in the.
preparation and treatment of volatile oils or spirits obtained by the distillation
or refining of petroleum, shale, or coal oil, or gas tar, or other analogous
mineral oils, whereby the illuminating power of such spirits or light oils is
improved, and by which means they are rendered safe.and free from danger
by explosion or ignition by contact of flame with the vapours.

page_text: And for the purpose of carrying out the improvements as above described I
take a quantity of light oil or spirit and to every hundred gallons by measure
I add the following ingredients, viz.,―
Of pulverized hemlock bark
flax seed
وو
white oak bark -
"
muriate of soda
"
- 1 lbs.
- 1 lbs.
- 3 lbs.
1
lbs.
These are to be carefully mixed with a portion of the bulk of the spirit
other light oils, and after being steeped for a sufficient time are to be strained
off through suitable strainers or bags, and then returned to the main bulk of
the spirit or oil. With another portion of the light oil or spirit is mixed the
following ingredients :-
Pure nitre
Camphor
Borax
• Alcohol
-
1 ounces.
- 3
ounces.
-
6 ounces.
-
3 lbs: weight.
After being properly dissolved and amalgamated with the portion of spirit or
light oil these ingredients are returned along with the previous quantity to
the main bulk of the spirit or oil, and after being properly agitated and
mixed the improved spirit or oil according to this Invention is ready for use
and has lost its explosive and inflammable qualities which it had previously
possessed. I do not confine myself to the exact quantities of each particular
ingredient above named, but those mentioned are what I have found to be
most suitable.
Although I have described the Invention as being more particularly
applicable to the treatment and preparation of the lighter class of mineral
oils or spirits to improve their illuminating properties and render them safe
for general use, these improvements may be advantageously applied to the
treatment of the heavier descriptions of mineral oils and spirits employed
for illuminating, heating, and other purposes for which such oils are used.
SPECIF
TIO
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Pickin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PICKIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Lamp Manufacturer,
send greeting.
16th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
PICKIN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Lamp Manufacturer,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Pickin, Her special licence that I, the said George Pickin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Pickin, 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
THE TREATMENT AND PREPARATION OF MINERAL OILS AND SPIRITS FOR ILLUMINATING
AND OTHER PURPOSES," (partly a communication to me from abroad by Henry
Chadburn, of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, and
partly an Invention and discovery made by myself), upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Pickin, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 George Pickin, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has more particularly for its object improvements in the
preparation and treatment of volatile oils, or spirits obtained by the distillation
or refining of petroleum, shale. or coal, oil or gas tar, or other analogous
mineral oils, whereby the illuminating power of such spirits or light oils is
improved, and by which means they are rendered safe and free from danger
by explosion or ignition by contact of flame with the vapours.
And for the purpose of carrying out the improvements as above described
I take a quantity of light oil or spirit, and to every hundred gallons by
measure, I add the following ingredients, viz.,―
Of pulverized hemlock bark
1lbs.
flax seed-
"
"
white oak bark
"
muriate of soda or common salt
-
1
lbs.
4 lbs. to 5 lbs.
3 lbs. to 5 lbs.

page_text: other light oils, and after being steeped for a sufficient time are to be strained
off through suitable strainers or bags and then returned to the main bulk, of
the spirit or oil. In some cases with the above ingredients I use 6 lbs. of
alkanet root or other suitable coloring materials for the purpose of tinting
the spirit or oil, but this is not an essential part of my improvements. With
another portion of the light oil or spirit is mixed the following ingredients.:.
4 to 5 ounces.
-3 ounces.
Pure nitre
Camphor-
Borax
Alcohol
6 ounces.
3 lbs. weight.
After being properly dissolved and amalgamated with the portion of spirit
or light oil these ingredients are returned along with the previous quantity.
to the main bulk of the spirit or oil, and after being properly agitated and
mixed the improved spirit or oil according to this Invention is ready for use,
and has lost its explosive and inflammable qualities which it had previously
possessed. I do not confine myself to the exact quantities of each particular,
ingredient above named, as they may be varied according to the specific gravity.
of the oil or spirit to be treated, but those mentioned are what I have found,
to be most suitable for treating the light oils and spirits known as paraffin,
mineral naptha, and petroline spirit, and other similar oils or spirits.
Although I have described the Invention as being more particularly
applicable to the treatment and preparation of the lighter class of mineral
oils or spirits to improve their illuminating properties and render them safe
for general use, these improvements may be advantageously applied to the
treatment of the heavier descriptions of mineral oils and spirits employed for
illuminating, heating, and other purposes for which. such oils are used.
In witness, whereof, I, the said George Pickin, have hereunto. set my:
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
'
GEORGE PICKIN. (L.S.)