IMPROVE- MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE STORAGE, CARRIAGE, AND DRAWING-OFF OF PETROLEUM AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Howes Howes, of Curtain Road, Shore-
ditch, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE STORAGE, CARRIAGE,
AND DRAWING-OFF OF PETROLEUM AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 9th December 1875, and dated the 15th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Howes Howes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th October 1875.
I, WILLIAM HOWES HOWES, of Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE
STORAGE, CARRIAGE, AND DRAWING-OFF OF PETROLEUM AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE
LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus
to be employed in the storage, carriage, and drawing off of petroleum
and other inflammable liquids, in order to prevent loss and danger

page_text: arising from the leakage and evaporation of such liquids. For this
purpose I enclose or immerse the can or vessel containing inflammable
liquid in another vessel filled with water, leaving any suitable quantity
of water entirely around the internal vessel and between it and the
external vessel.
For vessels from which it is desired to draw off the contents from
time to time for use or sale, I preferably form both inner and outer
vessels of the best tin plate, put together with lap joints rivetted and
soldered together. In the outer case I fix a nozzle provided with a bell
or funnel-shaped mouth and with a screw stopper, the head of which fits
accurately upon the upper edge of the mouth of the nozzle, and aids, in
combination with the screw, to prevent the escape of water from the
outer case; and in order to prevent any escape of vapour through the
nozzle, which may have escaped into the outer vessel from the inner one,
I trap the lower end of the nozzle, so as to secure a water seal thereto.
To the inner can or vessel I fix a supply tube, the end of which
passes out through the external case and concentrically around such
supply tube, leaving a small space between them. I fix another tube by
its upper end to the outer case. These tubes are at their upper ends
provided with screw threads of similar pitch to cach other to receive a
screw stopper, which when screwed tightly down bears upon the
upper
ends of both tubes and seals them at that part. In order however to
afford additional security against the escape of liquid or vapour from
the internal vessel through these tubes I fix to the screw stopper a tube,
which passes down between the two aforesaid tubes, and thereby forms
a water seal. By this arrangement, should any vapour or liquid escape
or leak past the inner tube, it would be compelled to pass downwards
between the inner tube and the intermediate tube, and then to pass
upwards between the intermediate tube and the outer tube before it
could escape past the stopper to the outer air.
In drawing off liquid from such vessel I employ by preference a tap
constructed in the following manner:-The body of the tap has a
slightly tapered or conical hole formed therein to receive a corre-
spondingly shaped plug, provided with a transverse hole or passage.
therethrough to open and close the passage through the tap, in a some-
what similar manner to taps now in use. The plug however does not
pass through the body of the tap, but the latter is closed or solid on its

page_text: under side to prevent the possibility of any liquid leaking through at
that part from the inner case or vessel. At the top of the body of the
tap is hermetically fixed on a suitable flange or seat an elongated
chamber, forming a guide for the plug spindle and a hydraulic packing
or seal. This elongated chamber is formed of two tubes, the outer one
of which passes through the outer case or vessel and is soldered thereto.
The inner tube forms the guide for the plug spindle, which it loosely fits.
The plug spindle has soldered or otherwise hermetically fixed thereto
near the upper part a tube which passes down between the two tubes
above mentioned. On the upper end of the outer tube is screwed a
stopper, which is formed at its centre to fit the plug spindle which
passes therethrough. The centre part of this stopper bears upon the
upper end of the tube fixed to the plug spindle, and whilst forming
a tight joint at such part also serves to keep the plug down in its
seat.
The elongated chamber is filled with water or oil to form an effective
seal to the plug spindle without adding friction thereto. The whole of
the tap and parts connected thereto, except the upper end of the
elongated chamber and plug spindle and the nozzle of the tap, are
preferably immersed in the water in the outer case. The tap however,
in addition to being provided with a plug as before described, is also
provided with a valve and valve seat, the valve being pressed up to its
scat by a strong spring, by which means a double security is obtained.
The spindle of this valve rests against a flat formed on the plug spindle,
and is operated thereby. Thus when it is desired to draw off any oil or
other liquid from the inner case or vessel the plug spindle is turned
partly round, thereby forcing back the valve from its seat, and opening
the passage through the tap, whilst the spring acting upon the valve acts
to close the passage through the tap immediately the hand is released
from the plug spindle.
A vessel formed as above described may be employed cither as a
stationary reservoir, or it may be mounted on a carriage or be provided
with wheels for transport from place to place. When however it is
desired to store a number of casks or other vessels of a circular form
I employ a chamber provided with a spiral guide, so that the casks or
other vessels may be caused to travel down such guides until the bottom
is reached, when the casks or other vessels will rest one on the other
until the chamber is filled. The chamber is filled with water, and is

page_text: provided with an inner perforated division, leaving a small open space
between it and the outside of the chamber. The top of the chamber is
provided with a flange or scat upon which the cover rests, and the cover
has attached thereto an inverted chamber, which passes into the space
above mentioned and forms a hydraulic joint therewith.
The cover is forced down to its seat by a somewhat similar arrange-
ment to that employed for the covers of gas retorts, or it may be
otherwise secured. Thus when it is desired to remove one or more
casks or other vessels from the chamber the lid is removed therefrom,
when the casks or other vessels will in succession, as each is removed,
float to the top of the water in the chamber in readiness to be removed
therefrom. The spiral guide may however be dispensed with, and in
lieu thereof the chamber may be formed with a number of compart-
ments, each to receive a can or other vessel; then when filled a cover or
locking piece may be passed over the cans or other vessels in the
chamber, and forced down firmly thereon to prevent their moving. The
outer sealing cover is then applied, as before mentioned; or the chamber
may be employed without any divisions therein, and if desired may be
stationary, or mounted on a truck, or provided with wheels for transport
from place to place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Howes Howes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HOWES HOWES, of Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Howes Howes, Her
special license that I, the said William Howes Howes, my exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Howes Howes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: 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 MEANS OR APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN
THE STORAGE, CARRIAGE, AND DRAWING OFF OF PETROLEUM AND OTHER INFLAM-
MABLE LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Howes Howes, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 William Howes Howes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention, which is represented in the accompanying Drawings,
has for its object improvements in means or apparatus to be employed
in the storage, carriage, and drawing off of petroleum and other
inflammable liquids in order to prevent loss and danger arising from the
leakage and evaporation of such liquids. For this purpose I enclose or
immerse the can or vessel a (see Figure 2) containing inflammable
liquid in another vessel 6 filled with water, leaving any suitable quantity
of water entirely around the internal vessel and between it and the
external vessel.
For vessels from which it is desired to draw off the contents from time
to time for use or sale I preferably form both inner and outer vessels
of the best tin plate, put together with lap joints rivetted and soldered
together. In the outer case I fix a nozzle c, as shown at Figure 1,
provided with a bell or funnel-shaped mouth and with a screw stopper c¹,
the head of which fits accurately upon the upper edge of the mouth of
the nozzle and aids in combination with the screw to prevent the escape
of water from the outer case b; and in order to prevent any escape of
vapour through the nozzle which may have escaped into the outer
vessel from the inner one, I trap the lower end of the nozzle, as shewn
at c², so as to secure a water seal thereto.

page_text: To the inner can or vessel a (sec Figure 2), I fix a supply tube d, the
end of which passes out through the external case and concentrically
around such supply tube d, leaving a small space between them.
another tube d¹ by its upper end to the outer case b.
These tubes d, d¹,
I fix
are at their upper ends provided with screw threads of similar pitch to
cach other to receive a screw stopper d², which when screwed tightly
down bears upon the upper ends of both tubes d, d', and seals them at
that part. In order however to afford additional security against the
escape of liquid or vapour from the internal vessel through these tubes,
I fix to the screw stopper d³ a tube d³ which passes down between the
two aforesaid tubes d, d¹, and thereby forms a water seal. By this
arrangement should any vapour or liquid escape or leak past the inner
tubo dit would be compelled to pass downwards between the inner
tube d and the intermediate tube d³, and then to pass upwards between
the intermediate tube d³ and the outer tube a before it could escape
past the stopper & to the outer air.
I would here remark that a sealed supply tube constructed as above
described may also be applied to a can or vessel of the ordinary con-
struction, that is to say, without a water jacket thereto.
In drawing off liquid from such vessel I employ by preference a tap
constructed in the following manner, as shown at Figures 2 and 3. The
body e of the tap has a slightly tapered or conical hole formed therein
to receive a correspondingly shaped plug e¹ provided with a transverso
hole or passage therethrough to open and close the passage through the
tap in a somewhat similar manner to taps now in usc. The plug e
however does not pass through the body of the tap, but the latter is
closed or solid on its under side e² to prevent the possibility of any liquid
leaking through at that part from the inner case or vessel. At the top
of the body of the tap is hermetically fixed on a suitable flange or seat e³
an elongated chamber forming a guide for the plug spindle and a
hydraulic packing or seal. This elongated chamber is formed of two
tubes e, e, the outer one e* of which passes through the outer case or
vessel and is soldered thereto. The inner tube e forms the guide for
the plug spindle e¹ which it loosely fits. The plug spindle e¹ has soldered
or otherwise hermetically fixed thereto near the upper part a tube eª
which passes down between the two tubes et, e", above mentioned. On the
upper end of the outer tube e¹ is screwed a stopper e', which is formed
at its centre to fit the plug spindle e¹ which passes therethrough. The

page_text: centre part of this stopper bears upon the upper end of the tube e³ fixed
to the plug spindle e', and whilst forming a tight joint at such part also
serves to keep the plug e¹ down in its seat.
The elongated chamber is filled with water or oil to form an effective
seal to the plug spindle e' without adding friction thereto. The whole
of the tap and parts connected thereto, except the upper end of the
elongated chamber and plug spindle and the nozzle of the tap are
preferably immersed in the water in the outer case. The tap however
in addition to being provided with a plug e', as before described, is also
provided with a valve f and valve seat f¹, the valve f being pressed up
to its seat by a strong spring f*, by which means a double security is
obtained. The spindle f³ of this valve rests against a flat formed on the
plug spindle e¹, and is operated thereby. Thus, when it is desired to
draw off any oil or other liquid from the inner case or vessel the plug
spindle e¹ is turned partly round, thereby forcing back the valve f from
its seat f, and opening the passage through the tap, whilst the spring f*
acting upon the valve facts to close the passage through the tap imme-
diately the hand is released from the plug spindle e¹.
I
A vessel formed as above described may be employed either as a
stationary reservoir, or it may be mounted on a carriage, or be provided
with wheels for transport from place to place. When however it is
desired to store a number of casks or other vessels of a circular form
I employ a chamber y provided with a spiral guide h, as shown by dotted
lines in Figure 4, so that the casks or other vessels may be caused to
travel down such guides until the bottom is reached, when the casks or
other vessels will rest one on the other until the chamber is filled. The
chamber is filled with water, and is provided with an inner perforated
division leaving a small open space between it and the outside of the
chamber I. The top of the chamber is provided with a flange g³ or scat
upon which the cover i rests, and the cover i has attached thereto an
inverted chamber ", which passes into the space above mentioned and
forms a hydraulic joint therewith.
The cover is forced down to its seat by a somewhat similar arrange-
ment to that employed for the covers of gas retorts, or it may be
otherwise secured. Thus, when it is desired to remove one or more
casks or other vessels from the chamber g the lid i is removed therefrom,
when the casks or other vessels will in succession as each is removed
float to the top of the water in the chamber g in readiness to be removed

page_text: therefrom. The spiral guide h may however be dispensed with, and in
lieu thereof the chamber g may be formed with a number of com-
partments, as shewn by the Drawing, each to receive a can or other
vessel j; then when filled a cover or locking piece may be passed over
the cans or other vessels in the chamber, and forced down firmly thereon
to prevent their moving; the outer sealing cover i is then applied as
before mentioned. Or the chamber may be employed without any
divisions therein, and if desired may be stationary or mounted on a truck,
or provided with wheels k for transport from place to place.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the modes
in which I propose to carry the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that what I claim is,―
Firstly. The peculiar arrangements and combinations of parts of
apparatus for storing, carrying, and drawing off of petroleum and other
inflammable liquids, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. I claim the mode of trapping or sealing the water and oil
inlets, substantially as hercin shown and described.
Thirdly. I claim the novel construction of safety tap and mode of
securing the same from leakage, whether applied to a jacketed or non-
jacketed vessel, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Howes Howes, havo here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.