AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING PARAFFIN AND LIKE SOLID BODIES FROM MINERAL AND OTHER OILS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Siddeley of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Engineer for an Invention of " AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR EXTRACTING PARAFFIN AND LIKE SOLID BODIES FROM MINERAL AND
OTHER OILS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Siddeley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1883.
JOHN SIDDELEY of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING PARAFFIN AND
LIKE SOLID BODIES FROM MINERAL AND OTHER OILS"
My invention relates to the treatment of oil after it has been reduced to a low
temperature and has for its object to obtain an increased quantity of paraffin or
solid matter at less cost.
At present in treating oils and particularly hydro-carbons the frozen oil is
drawn from the receiver by a pump and forced at high speed or with considerable
agitation into the filter press. This has the effect of breaking up the flakes or
crystals and so-mixing them with the oil or fluid that their separation cannot be
economically effected.
Under my improved method the cooled oil or fluid is moved from the vessel
in which it is cooled practically without internal agitation or friction, the only
friction being that caused by contact with the surfaces of the ways.
The apparatus or appliances for carrying my invention into practice may be
variously modified. One arrangement of plant consists of one or preferably two
cylindrical or other vessels connected to a refrigerator or receiver, to a filter press
or its equivalent and to air and exhaust pumps all by means of pipes provided
with cocks or valves. When in operation a vacuum is produced in the said vessel
or one of them if there be more than one and the oil is thereby drawn from the
receiver into the vessel. When the vessel is filled or nearly so communication
between it and the receiver and exhaust pump is shut off by means of cocks or
valves and communication is opened to the air pump and filter press or the

page_text: equivalent of the last. The air pump causes air at a pressure of say 100 lbs per
square inch to enter the vessel and gradually force the frozen oil into the filter
press. A chamber for storing compressed air can be advantageously interposed
between the air pump and the said vessel.
Under another modification A condensor is employed instead of an exhaust
pump. Steam is injected into the condensor and a vacuum produced. The
condenser is then connected to the vessel above mentioned and the frozen oil is
drawn from the receiver into the said vessel.
Under a third modification one or more cylinders and pistons of large diameter
is or are employed in place of the vessels above mentioned and motion is given
to the piston or pistons by vacuum and pressure appliances as above setforth
or mechanically so as to produce a regular and even flow of the frozen oil at
slow speed from the receiver or refrigerator to the filter press or its equivalent.
Under a fourth modification I form the cylinder piston and filter press in one
piece in such manner that the cylinder forms part of the filter press and motion
is given to the oil by the same apparatus which forces it through the filtering
agents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Siddeley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1883.
JOHN SIDDELEY of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster. Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING PARAFFIN AND
LIKE SOLID BODIES FROM MINERAL AND OTHER OILS"
My invention relates to the treatment of oil after it has been reduced to a low
temperature and has for its object to obtain an increased quantity of paraffin or
solid matter at less cost.
At present in treating oils and particularly hydro-carbons the frozen oil is
drawn from the receiver by a pump and forced at high speed or with considerable
agitation into the filter press. This has the effect of breaking up the flakes or
crystals and so mixing them with the oil or fluid that their separation cannot be
economically effected.
Under my improved method the cooled oil or fluid is moved from the vessel in
which it is cooled practically without internal agitation or friction, the only friction
being that caused by contact with the surfaces of the ways.
The apparatus or appliances for carrying my invention into practice may be
variously modified. One arrangement of plant consists of one or preferably two
cylindrical or other vessels connected to a refrigerator or receiver, to a filler press
or its equivalent and to air and exhaust pumps all by means of pipes provided
with cocks or valves. When in operation a vacuum is produced in the said vessel
or one of them if there be more than one, and the oil is thereby drawn from the
receiver into the vessel. When the vessel is filled or nearly so communication
between it and the receiver and exhaust pump is shut off by means of cocks or
valves and communication is opened to the air pump and filter press or the
equivalent of the last. The air pump causes air at a pressure of say 100 lbs
per square inch to enter the vessel and gradually force the frozen oil into the filter
press. A chamber for storing compressed air can be advantageously interposed
between the air pump and the said vessel.
Under another modification A condenser is employed instead of an exhaust
pump. Steam is injected into the condenser and a vacuum produced. The
condenser is then connected to the vessel above mentioned and the frozen oil is
drawn from the receiver into the said vessel.
Under a third modification one or more cylinders and pistons of large diameter
is or are employed in place of the vessels above mentioned and motion is given to
the piston or pistons by vacuum and pressure appliances as above setforth or
mechanically so as to produce a regular and even flow of the frozen oil at slow speed
from the receiver or refrigerator to the filter press or its equivalent.
Under a fourth modification I form the cylinder piston and filter press in one
piece in such manner that the cylinder forms part of the filter press and motion
is given to the oil by the same apparatus which forces it through the filtering
agents.

page_text: or refrigerator may be of any usual or suitable construction, g four way cock
controlling the passage of the crude oil from the receiver or refrigerator to the
cylindrical vessels a a¹ and from the said vessels to the filter presses, h exhaust
pump connected to the cylindrical vessels a a¹ by the pipe and branches i, j j¹ are
valves in the branches i, k air pump connected by the pipe to the air chamber m
which latter is connected by the pipe and branches n to the cylindrical vessels a a¹.
o o are valves in the said branches n The exhaust and air pumps are driven by
'direct acting engines or in any other desirable way. Fig 2 is a vertical section
on an enlarged scale of one of the vessels a. The same letters of reference are
used as in fig 1. p is a gauge glass to permit of the level of the oil being observed
when the receiver is nearly empty, so that the connection to the filter press
may be closed before all the oil is forced out of the said vessel, q is a float connected
by a stem r to a valve 8. the stem r passes through a stuffing box in the top of the
vessel.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-all the cocks and valves being closed
the cock g turned so as to open communication from the receiver or refrigerator d
to the vessel a and from the vessel a¹ to the filter presses then the valve j is
opened so as to connect the vessel a with the vacuum pump and the valve o' is
opened so as to connect the vessel a¹ with the air chamber and pump. A partial
vacuum is now formed in a and the crude cooled oil flows from the receiver or
refrigerator d through the pipe c past the cock g and through the pipe 6 past the
valves into the vessel a; when the oil rises in the chamber a to the float q it
causes the said float to rise and close the valve 8 so as to prevent more oil from.
entering the said vessel d. The spindler which projects through the top of the
vessel shows by its motion, or by acting on a whistle or other indicator that the
chamber or vessel is full the cock j is then closed so as to cut off communication
with the vacuum pump h. Whilst the vessel a is being filled the vessel a¹ is being
emptied and as soon as the oil is observed by means of the gauge glass p to be
nearly all forced out, the cock o¹ is closed and communication with the air vessel
and pump cut off. The cock g is now turned so as to open communication between
the receiver or refrigerator d and the vessel a¹ and between the vessel a and the
filter presses. The valves o j¹ are opened and the action of the apparatus is thereby
reversed, the oil in the vessel a is forced through the filter presses and oil is drawn
into the vessel a¹ from the receiver or refrigerator.
Fig 1 also illustrates the second modification of apparatus or appliances under
my invention here the pipe i is connected to a condenser t shown in section in
fig 3, and the exhaust pump h is not required. Steam enters the condenser by a
pipe connected to the flange u and is shut off and water allowed to enter by a pipe
attached to the flange v; as soon as the steam is condensed and a vacuum formed
the water is shut off and communication made by means of one of the cocks j. j.
to one of the vessels a a¹ and the operation is carried on as herein before described,
w is a pipe and cock through which the water and condensed steam are allowed.
to flow away from time to time.
Fig 4 is a plan illustrative of the third modification of apparatus or appliances
under my invention, 1 are cylinders of large diameter fitted internally with pistons
connected' together and to the motor piston 2 by rods 3, 4 inlet valves in the ways
leading to the cylinders 1 from the pipe 5 connected to the receiver or refrigerator;
6 outlet valves situated in the ways leading from the cylinders to the pipe 7
connected to the filter presses. The piston 2 works within a cylinder 8 and is
operated by water under pressure admitted alternately to each end of the cylinder
by the valve 9, motion is given to the valve 9 by means of the tappet gear 10.
It will be obvious that motion might be given to the pistons by means of an
alternate vacuum and pressure produced in one end of each cylinder; it will further
be obvious that a constant flow of oil will take place from the receiver or
refrigerator through the pipe 5 cylinder I and pipe 7 to the filter presses.
Fig 5 is a plan of apparatus or appliances under the fourth modification here the
filter presses 10 are connected direct to the cylinders 1.

page_text: Having now described and illustrated my said invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect I claim :-
First. The method of extracting paraffin and like solid bodies from mineral and
other oils substantially as herein setforth.
Second. Apparatus or appliances substantially as herein described for the purposes
setforth.
In Witness Whereof I the said John Siddeley have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JOHN SIDDELEY (LS.)