Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of Mineral Oils.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1891-Accepted. 23rd May. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of
Mineral Oils.
I, JOHN LAING, of 34 East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland Analytical &
Consulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to the treatment of mineral oils by destructive distillation
under high pressure & so to convert them into lighter products. I put a regulation
or escape valve on outlet from steel & load it to the required pressure the oil is
to be distilled at, so that as the gases overcome this pressure they will blow off &
escape into a large iron tank or suitable vessel connected therewith (which I shall
call the relief-tank) & so relieve the pressure by distributing it over a large area;
the outlet from this relief-tank being connected to the worm-condenser which has
a free outlet. This relief tank may be submerged in a suitable vessel having a
continuous flow of cold water passing through it and thus act as a condenser. This
relief-tank to be of such dimensions, relative to the condensing area of the worm-
condenser, as will permit of all the vapours being condensed before they leave the
worm condenser & thus all the pressure will be absorbed & the distillate run off at
atmospheric pressure. I also take a branch pipe from the relief tank & connect it
either into the worm-condenser or lead it direct to the tank-receiver, for the
purpose of running off any oil which may have condensed in this relief-tank.
Dated this 25th day of July 1890.
JNO. LAING,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of
Mineral Oils.
I, JOHN LAING, of 34, East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, Analytical
and Consulting Chemist, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the treatment of mineral oils by destructive
distillation under high pressure in order to convert them into lighter products.
In carrying out my invention I apply a regulation or escape valve to the outlet
from the oil still and load it to the required pressure at which the oil is to be
distilled. As the oil gases or vapors exceed the pressure to which the valve is
loaded they pass through the valve into a large iron vessel, which I term the relief
tank as it relieves the pressure by distributing it over a large area. An outlet
pipe from the relief tank is connected to a condensing worm which has a free
terminal outlet. The relief tank may be placed in an outer vessel and be submerged
in cold water made to flow continuously through the vessel, the relief tank being
thereby made to act as a condenser. The relative aggregate capacity of the
condensing worm and relief tank when the latter is used as a condenser should
be such that all the oil gases or vapors will be condensed and the distillate will
run off at atmospheric pressure.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings

page_text: to be hereinafter referred to and representing by way of example, a modification
of my improved apparatus.
The figure on the sheet of drawings is a longitudinal vertical section showing
a part of the primary oil still, A, and the apparatus connected therewith. This
oil still, A, may be constructed and may operate like what is described in my
Patent Specification No. 4120, of 1890, in which case the part shown will be the
last compartiment of the still, the oil having undergone successive stages of
destructive distillation in the several compartments. Or the still, A, may be of
ordinary construction.
The gas or vapor evolved in the still, A, passes off by a pipe, B, a continuation, C,
of which leads to a condensing worm, D. A stop valve, E, is interposed between
the parts, B, and, C, and in the part, B, there is arranged a valve, S, loaded by
means of a weighted lever, T, acting on the valve spindle which extends through
a stuffing box. Between the valves, S, and, E, a branch pipe, U, communicates
with a relief tank or vessel, V, which is placed inside of an outer vessel, W, having
cold water flowing continuously through it. The relief tank, V, communicates by
a pipe, X, connected to its upper end with the pipe, C, leading to the condensing
worm, D and there is also a smaller pipe, Y, connected to the bottom of the
relief tank to lead off condensed oil either to the pipe, C, and condensing worm
as shown, or it might be to a separate receiver. A small inverted siphon pipe, Z,
is fitted under the valve, E, to allow any oil which may condense in the part of
the pipe between the valves, E, and S, to pass on to the condensing worm, D.
A suitable pressure to which to load the valve, E, will depend upon the kind of
oil to be operated on and will be best ascertained by trial; it may however be
stated by way of example that I believe 80 pounds per square inch will be found
a suitable pressure for operating on a mineral oil of 970 specific gravity in order
to obtain therefrom an oil of about 700 specific gravity.
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 improved combination of apparatus for the destructive distillation of
mineral oils, substantially as herein before described and as shown in the accompany-
ing drawings.
2. The combination with a still for the destructive distillation of mineral oils,
of a loaded outlet valve, and a relief tank interposed between the said outlet valve
and an ordinary condenser, the said relief tank being used more or less as a
condenser substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-first day of April 1891..
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.