IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OILS AND HYDROCARBONS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME AND OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH MATTERS HAVE TO BE PURIFIED, CLARIFIED, AND REFRIGERATED OR CONDENSED
Year: 1864

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Louis Philippe Edouard Max, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, and of 8, Upper Stamford Street, in the County of
Surrey, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OILS
AND HYDROCARBONS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME AND OTHER OPERATIONS
IN WHICH MATTERS HAVE TO BE PURIFIED, CLARIFIED, AND REFRIGERATED OR
CONDENSED." A communication from abroad by Etienne Laporte, of
92, Boulevart de Sebastopol, Paris, France.
ealed the 9th June 1865, and dated the 30th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Philippe Edouard
Max at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th December 1864.
I, LOUIS PHILIPPE EDOUARD MAX, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
and of 8, Upper Stamford Street, in the County of Surrey, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING OILS AND HYDROCARBONS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME AND OTHER
OPERATIONS IN WHICH MATTERS HAVE TO BE PURIFIED, CLARIFIED, AND REFRI-
GERATED OR CONDENSED," communicated to me from abroad by Etienne
Laporte, of 92, Boulevart de Sebastopol, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
One process consists in using sulphuric acid and soda, or other decolorizing
agents, hot instead of cold. The rectified oil may be kept till wanted on a
film of soda; instead of soda chloride of zinc may be used.

page_text: Another process consists in causing the oil (or other matter) to flow through
two or more vessels containing the agents with which it is to be treated, and
which vessels are placed at different levels, one below the other in succession,
and communicate by pipes or hollow columns leading one from each one
vessel to near the bottom of the next succeeding, so that the oil may pass
down the pipes from one vessel to near the bottom of the next, and rise
through the contents thereof and overflow into and down the next succeeding
pipe into the next succeeding vessel, and rise up through the contents thereof
into the next pipe, and so forth. The height of the inlet pipes may be varied
according to the density of the fluid. It is best to introduce the oil or matter
into the agents through small perforations, so as to divide it into a number of
minute atoms or streams, and for this purpose it is preferred to fit at the
lower end of the inlet pipes a number of perforated pipes branching radially
therefrom, and of different lengths. Oil may be treated by passing it, as
above described, through a series of vessels, the first containing sulphuric acid,
the next caustic soda, the third alkaline lye. By these means agitation may
be dispensed with.
The refrigerating and condensing apparatus consists of a chamber or series
of chambers, in which or in each of which are two concentric pipes, or two
pipes placed one within the other, the oil or fluid flows down the inner pipe,
which is preferably perforated at bottom for its passage, and then partly up
the next, whence it flows into a second such apparatus, and so on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Philippe Edouard Max in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
PHILIPPE EDOUARD MAX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, and of 8, Upper
Stamford Street, in the County of Surrey, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Philippe Edouard Max, Her special licence that I, the said
Louis Philippe Edouard Max, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Louis Philippe Edouard Max, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from

page_text: 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 TREATING OILS AND HYDROCARBONS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME AND OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH MATTERS HAVE
TO BE PURIFIED, CLARIFIED, AND REFRIGERATED OR CONDENSED," communicated to
me from abroad by Etienne Laporte, of 92, Boulevart de Sebastopol, Paris,
France, upon the condition (amongst others) that J, the said Louis
Philippe Edouard Max, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Louis Philippe Edouard Max, 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, reference being had to the accompany Drawings, that is.
to say
One process consists in purifying oil by using sulphuric acid and soda, as-
herein-after mentioned, but hot instead of cold as heretofore. The rectfied oil
may be kept on a film of a solution of caustic soda till wanted; instead of
the film of soda chloride of zinc may be used.
Another process consists in causing oil or other liquid matter to flow through
two or more vessels containing the agents with which the oil or matter is to
be treated, which vessels are placed at different levels, one below the other in
succession, and communicate by pipes or hollow columns leading from one
vessel to near the bottom of the next, so that the oil or liquid matter under
treatment may pass down the pipes from one vessel to near the bottom of the
next and rise through the contents thereof, and flow into and down the next
pipe into the next vessel, and in turn rise up through the contents thereof into
the next pipe, and so forth, the height of the pipes being regulated according
to the density of the oil or other matter under treatment. It is best to
introduce the oil or matter into the agents through small perforations, in order
to divide it into minute globules or streams, and for this purpose it is preferred
to fit at the lower end of the inlet pipes a number of perforated pipes branching
radially therefrom, and of different lengths. Oil may be treated by passing
it, as above described, through a series of vessels, the first containing sulphuric
acid, the next caustic soda, and the third alkaline lye, or the vessels may

page_text: contain any other agents ordinarily used instead of these for treating oils.
By means of this process and apparatus agitation is dispensed with.
The improved condensing and refrigerating apparatus consists of a series
of chambers, in each of which are two concentric pipes, or two pipes placed
one within the other; the oil or liquid flows down the inner pipe, which
is perforated at the bottom for its passage, and then passes partly up the
outer one surrounding it, whence it flows into a second similar apparatus, and
so on.
I proceed to describe the best manner of performing the first process,
whereby alkaline and acid products will be removed, and sulphurous matters,
which infect and discolor oil and render it unsuitable for illuminating pur-
poses, will be destroyed. Ten per cent. of sulphuric acid at 66° Beaumé is
introduced into the oil, and the oil and acid are heated together, agitated
thoroughly, and then washed with another 10 per cent. sulphuric acid. While
the oil is still warm it is washed first with 12 to 15 per cent. of a hot solution
of caustic soda at 36° Beaumé, or with 32 per cent. at 15°, and afterwards
with 10 per cent. at 15°. The oil is then rectified, about 5 to 6
per cent.,
being left in the boiler. The distillate will be a greenish yellow oil, which is
left to settle until the naphthaline crystallizes and hardens, which is eliminated
by filtration through wire gauze, the residue of the oil will be obtained by
pressure in the usual way. The decolorized oil is kept on a layer of soda lyc
in the receiving vats until it has to be sent away. By using a highly con-
centrated solution of chloride of zinc instead of soda lye, an. agreeable odour
will be given to the oil. The more thoroughly the sulphuric acid acts the less
soda will be required.
I now proceed to describe in what manner the second part of the Invention
may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus constructed
according to these improvements; and to exemplify its construction and use, I
•proceed to describe it as applied to purifying oils. Oils treated in this appa-
ratus do not require to be agitated, stirred, or previously heated, none of the
agents are heated except the sulphuric acid.
A, B, C, D, are vessels or receivers supported on brickwork Z, and arranged
one lower than the other, as if on steps; these vessels communicate with each
other by pipes e, f, g, j, i, h. The pipe e leads into the pipe f, which leads
into the vessel B. The pipe 9 leads from near the top of the vessel B into
the pipe which leads into the vessel C. The pipe leads into the pipe h
which leads into the vessel D. A pipe leads from near the top of the
vessel D into a receiver E. The pipes e, g, i, k, are provided with stop-cocks.

page_text: The vertical pipes f, j, h, have funnel mouths, and they descend to near the
bottom of the vessels, into which they lead. They are closed at bottom, and
communicate with the interior of the vessels, through perforated branch pipes
of different lengths, which open and radiate from the pipes just above the
bottom, as shewn in the horizontal section, Figure 2, so that the oil flows
from the pipe through the branches into the vessel, and is thoroughly
distributed among and intimately mixed with the contents of the same. The
vessels are fitted with discharge cocks V. E is the receiver, into which the
oil is lead after treatment. The oil is pumped from a reservoir W by the
pump P into the vessel A, and the vessel B is supplied about two-thirds full
with sulphuric acid at 66° Beaumé, heated by a furnace 2 (fixed in the brick-
work Z) to about 96° Fahrenheit. The vessel C is supplied in like proportionš
with a solution of caustic soda at 36° Beaumé, and the vessel D with soda lye
at 4° Beaumé. The oil runs from the vessel A through the pipes e, f, to tho
bottom of the vessel B, and the pipe f being constructed of suitable height, as
herein-after explained, the oil rises from the bottom of the pipef through the
sulphuric acid in the vessel B to the surface of the same, and flows over
through the pipes g, j, into the vessel C, up through the contents of which it
passes in like manner, and then through the pipes i, h, into the vessel D, and
through its contents to the top in like manner, and it is lastly discharged
through the pipe k into the receiver E. In order that the oil may flow as
described, the vertical pipes f, j, h, are made of such height that the oil falls
through them into the vessels B, C, D, with such gravity as to acquire a
pressure or power sufficient to overcome the density or difference of gravity of
the contents of the vessels, and therefore on arriving at the bottom of the pipes
it will rise through the contents of such vessels to the surface thereof.
The same principle is applicable whatever be the fluid under treatment, and
the agents through which it is to be passed, the height of the communicating
pipes being regulated to produce the pressure required according to the com-
parative density of the fluid, and the agent through which it is to pass, care
being taken to regulate the height according to the pressure to be overcome,
in such manner as to obtain a continuous delivery, which is an important
advantage.
The communicating pipes may be carried outside the vessels B, C, D, as at
t, t, Figure 3, or syphon pipes &, s*, may be used, as in Figure 4, the pipes
being constructed as to their height on the principle before described.
'
Though I have described the apparatus applied for purifying oil with
certain agents, it may be employed in like manner for purifying oil with other
agents or for purifying liquid matters other than oil, using any required

page_text: number of vessels. The degrees of hydrometer or areometer referred to are
those of the Beaumé's scale.
From the receiver E the oil may be pumped through a pipe 2, Figures 1
and 5, into an ordinary still G, Figure 5, and the distillate may be condensed
in an ordinary condenser and refrigerator, as, for example, in the condensing
worm F and trough refrigerator m, n, Figure 5 (m being the passage for cold
water, and n for oil, and O the receiving tank), but I prefer to condense and
refrigerate in the improved apparatus for the purpose next to be described.)
It is best to cool down the oil as suddenly as possible, and immediately after
its removal from the still).
An improved refrigerating or condensing apparatus for the purpose of
cooling the oil immediately on its being delivered from the still is shown in
elevation Figure 6, vertical section Figure 7, and horizontal section Figure 8.
1, 2, 3, are a series of chambers containing cold water, kept continuously
supplied from a tank through delivery pipes r, r. In each chamber 1, 2, 3,
are two concentric pipes P, Q. The oil from the still flows through the pipe M
and down the inner pipe P in chamber 1, and through lateral perforations at
its bottom end into the outer pipe Q, up which it rises and overflows through
a delivery pipe p into an inner pipe P in the second chamber 2, and up a
pipe Q, also in that chamber in like manner, and so on through any required
number of cold water chambers until it is finally discharged into the receiving
or depositing tank O.
ware waste pipes.
This apparatus may be used for condensing and refrigerating substances
other than oil.
I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the exact agents,
number of vessels or chambers, degrees of hydrometer, or quantities, or
temperatures herein-before mentioned.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, decolorizing and disinfecting oils by using sulphuric acid and soda in
a hot state, substantially as described.
Secondly, the process in which oil or other matter is passed through a scries
of vessels placed at different levels in the manner and for the purpose described.
Thirdly, the apparatus in which a series of vessels are placed one below the
other, as if on steps, and communicate by pipes in such manner that the oil
or other matter to be treated may pass from one vessel to the next, and risc
through the contents thereof, substantially as described.
Fourthly, the mode of condensation or refrigeration by a number of con-
secutive chambers containing concentric pipes, substantially as described.

page_text: Fifthly, the refrigerating or condensing apparatus in which a series of
chambers containing concentric pipes are arranged and combined substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Philippe Edouard Max, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
LOUIS PHILIPPE EDOUARD MAX. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN CHARLES STOVIN,
White Lodge,
Whitehead's Grove,
Chelsea,
London.