Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for the Conveyance and Transference of Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Oils and Light Liquids.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
זגים תחת זתו
Improvements in Apparatus and Appliances for the Conveyance and
Transference of Petroleum and other Hydro-carbon Oils and
Light Liquids.
I, WILLIAM BUCKWELL, Civil Engineer, of Brighton, Sussex, residing at Aspra
Sabina in the Kingdom of Italy, 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 :-
The object of my Invention is to transport and convey combustible liquids, Oils in
general, petroleum, Kerosene and other light liquids, not mixable with water, from
one place to another or from one vessel to another with safety, ease and economy
without contact with air and without leaving void spaces in any vessel or tank to
accumulate gas or vapour and to thereby avoid all danger of explosion.
My Invention can be applied as hereinafter explained to the following amongst other
uses;-
Firstly, For the transport of crude or refined petroleum from the Oil Wells,
places of production or storeage to any port for shipment or otherwise, or for direct
use in any furnace or burner for heat or for light.
Secondly, My Invention may also be applied to effect the transfer of the liquids
such as previously named from stores, tanks, reservoirs, cisterns or containers,
whether at a higher or lower level than the original Store, including the loading and
discharging of Petroleum Tank-Steamers and other Vessels and the transference from
one Ship to another in port or at sea of petroleum or liquid fuel, without pumping
or agitation of the liquid and without leaving air spaces to accumulate gasses or
vapour in any tank or container, thus avoiding the risks of explosions in such vessels.
Thirdly, For the transfer or transport of the liquids previously named-such as
petroleum from any fixed low-lying or under-ground reservoir or tank for use at any
higher point or points without pumping, as for the supply of light-house burners
from a tank or tanks in the base of the structure,-or for any high placed oil light,
or for supply under any desired pressure to any burner or series of burners in any
furnace, or for any oil-spray high power lights.
Fourthly, For the distribution of Kerosene or petroleum throughout any single
house or series of houses, factory, mill, shop or any other building or throughout
any village town or city with perfect safety, and to any level or height, or to various
levels for direct use in heating, warming or lighting, or for re-storeage, sale or
distribution at any different points.
:
Fifthly, For the regular and controlable supply of liquid fuel from the tanks and
reservoirs of War-Vessels and Steamers in general to the furnaces of steam boilers or
for other purposes, without alteration of the trin or flotation of the Vessel and without
leaving any air spaces in the tanks or reservoirs even when exhausted of oil.
This applies also to Locomotives or other Vehicles using liquid fuel as well as to
any fixed oil fed fire or furnace.
Sixthly, The transfer of oils for burning from a reservoir in the base of any
fixed or portable lamp to the burner or burners above it with or without the use of
capilliary wicks and such reservoirs may be small or large to supply the burners for
any length of time desired, or with any required quantity of oil.
Seventhly, For the lighting or warming of Railway and Tram carriages or any
vehicle with petroleum or other oils at a low or at a high pressure as required
without agitation of the liquids in the lamps or containers.
Eighthly, For the ejection of oils under or over water at the entrance of any port
or harbour or on any river bar or from any vessel in the open sea,--so as to spread
the oils upon the surface of the water for stilling the commotion of the waves, to
admit of Ships or other Vessels passing or riding in safety.

page_text: According to my Invention I make use in the manner as hereafter described of
the gravity of a heavier liquid than that requiring to be moved, transferred or sup-
ported and one not mixing with the lighter fluid, using preferably water-as the most
easily and universally obtainable while the simplest to use, in conjunction with
cisterns tanks, reservoirs or containers, with syphons, pipes, valves or cocks and other
appliances such as the various uses of the lighter liquid may require.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood I will describe certain
examples of its general construction and application with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Similar letters of reference to like parts are in all the figures.
Figure 1, a diagram view shewing in sectional elevation the arrangement of the
apparatus and appliances I employ when my invention is applied for the purpose of
supplying oil from one reservoir or place to another reservoir or place at a higher
level.
Figure 2, shews my Invention as applied to a portable lamp, burning mineral or
other oil.
Figures 3 & 4, shew different arrangements of apparatus arranged according to my
Invention and applicable for loading and discharging petroleum to or from Tank-
Steamers, War or other Vessels.
Figure 5, shews apparatus arranged for supplying oil to the surface of water, at the
mouths of Harbours or other places.
Figure 6, shews the application of my invention to supplying oil direct from a low
level reservoir to the burners of a Light-house.
Referring more particularly to the apparatus shewn at Figure 1; which is
particularly adapted for raising light liquids such as petroleum, naptha & oils from
a low to a high level or at any level above the reservoir up to nearly one fourth more
height than that at which a supply of water can be obtained, as in the case shewn
at Figure 1, where W is the water and L the lighter liquid to be raised or
transferred.
A, is a tank or cistern or more simply a head of water from any pipe or conduit, a,
-with the pipe P, of any convenient size or material connecting the tank A, or
pipe A, with the oil reservoir or container C.
The pipe P is always inserted into the bottom of the container C, at its lowest
point, forming in the pipe P an inverted syphon S before entering the container, or
otherwise the pipe P may enter a dip-box or pocket below the bottom of the con-
tainer C. From the top of the container C, there is a pipe P¹ extending to any
distance required or to any height not exceeding one fourth higher than the head of
water at command as aforesaid, and this pipe P¹ may have any number of outlets or
branches d, d, d upon it or a cistern or tank as at B, each outlet or branch being fitted
with any suitable valve or cock, to be opened or closed as the liquid in the pipes may
be required for any purpose or use.
In the water pipe P', at or about the level of the top of the container C, a branch
pipe b with a cock or valve is placed as a waste pipe for the water used as herein-
after explained, and above this branch pipe b, is fixed a valve V on the pipe P.
On the outlet pipe P1 of the reservoir or container C, is fixed a cock or valve V1
to shut off the contents of the pipes beyond it when filling the reservoir or con-
tainer from the small cistern or funnel f; the pipe connecting this funnel with
the reservoir C being also provided with a cock or valve V1.
The pipe ending at e, with its Valve V shews a main branch pipe to continue
or carry on the supply of oil or light liquid to any greater distance or place lower
or higher than the reservoir or container C.
The reservoir or container C, may or may not have a gauge g, as shewn or
of any other form or construction, to indicate the level depth or height of the liquid
or liquids therein contained.
The cistern or tank B, where used may have an expansion or air pipe h, which
may be carried up to any convenient point and open to the atmosphere, all other
parts of the apparatus being closed air tight and when in action, admitting of no

page_text: air spaces or vacuums to serve as receptacles for gases or vapours from the liquid in
use, thus avoiding all risks of explosions.
The pipes, tanks, cisterns, reservoirs and containers used may be of any suitable
material but preferably of metal and the joints and valves of any kind or make
suitable to contain and withstand the pressure of the liquids used under the varying
heads or pressures used for the various purposes enumerated herein.
The pipes, valves, tanks, cisterns, reservoirs and containers may be of any con-
venient size or form suitable to the quantity of liquid to be transferred transported
or used, but it is advisable in all cases that the tanks reservoirs, receptacles or con-
tainers for the oil or light liquid, should be in form as for example is shewn by the
container C,that is that they should have bottoms draining to the lower pipe
and tops rising at the highest point to the upper pipe entering them, so that no
oil can remain or lodge in the tanks receivers, reservoirs or containers, when emptied
of oil nor any air spaces be left when filled with oil.
To manipulate the apparatus and appliances herein described,-the whole being sup-
posed empty or containing air only,-close all valves or cocks except V on pipe P
and V below the funnel, which are to be left open. Water is then to be run from
the supply pipe a into cistern A to descend by pipe P and fill the container C, the
air escaping by the funnel f.-When the water rises into f, the valve V on water
pipe P is closed, leaving the low reservoir or container C full of water. Any supply
of the oil or light liquid then available whether from barrels or reservoir,-near or
at a distance or from any supply pipe of any other similar apparatus to this herein.
described may be discharged or supplied to the funnel without pressure or under
pressure; the valve on the branch or waste pipe 6 being opened, the water in the
container C will then run out thereby and oil will occupy its place and completely
fill the container C, which may be a reservoir of comparatively large capacity, thus
providing a large store of the oil or light liquid required for an. uses.
b
All valves being closed and the container C full of oil as aforesaid, the valve V on
pipe P and the valve VI or pipe P1 are opened,—the oil will rise and fill the pipe P¹ and
the tank or cistern B, it being forced up without agitation by the gravity of the water
from the cistern A, entering the reservoir or container C by the inverted syphon S at
the bottom and lowest point thereof;-thus, all parts of the apparatus being filled
with liquid without air spaces, no gas or vapour can accumulate and no explosion
can by any possibility occur,-while a supply of oil for distribution or any uses can
be obtained with certainty and safety at any time and at any level within the range
of the apparatus, all as aforesaid.
Figure 2, shows the application of my invention to a portable lamp or lamps
burning ordinary paraffin, Kerosene or other oil and is applicable to all such lamps
fixed or portable.
The Vase A or other equivalent arrangement for water cistern, the pipe P.
leading to dip or pocket S in the base of the lanp in lieu of the inverted syphon
as in the figure; d, d, are the points of supply or use at the burners, shut off by
the valves or cocks immediately below them;-b, the waste water outlet fitted with
a cock; C, the container or reservoir in the base of the lamp containing the oil L
and water W.
The lamps may be filled at any time through a special opening or through the
burner screw openings, the excess or waste water running off by the waste outlet b,-
and when filled the oil will remain at or as near the burner as desired by
replenishing the vase A or water inlet with water from time to time as required.
Any form or kind of burner may be used and with or without capilliary wicks,
but in all cases the apparatus is so arranged that there shall be no bulb, vase or
container immediately below the burner and hence no air space to accumulate any
gas or explosive mixture of air and vapour, so that such lamps shall be absolutely
free from any chance of explosion.
The container, pipes, tubes and vases of such lamps I prefer to make in metal so as
to be unbreakable and so that when upset by accident or otherwise, the water therein

page_text: immediately flows to the lowest part at the burner, (by reason of the larger diameter
of the base containing the reservoir,) and the light is at once extinguished.
Figures 3 and 4, shew different arrangements of my apparatus for the loading and
discharge of Petroleum Tank-Steamers or for the supply of liquid fuel to any War-
vessel or Steamer using such liquid fuel, wholly or in part in lieu of solid fuel.
In Figure 3, T is one of several tanks or cargo-bulk containers and T¹ one of
the ballast or liquid fuel tanks on one side of a vessel,-similar tanks being on the
other side, or, the tanks may be arranged in any other manner, or so that the tops of
the ballast or liquid fuel tanks T¹ may form the bottoms of the main tanks or cargo-
bulk containers T,-but each seperate tank connected to a main pipe at its bottom or
lowest point and the branch connection closed with a valve; as also the top of each
tank at its highest point to be connected to another main-pipe and having a valve
upon each branch; the pipes connected to the bottoms of tanks to be used for water
and the pipes from the tops of tanks to be used for petroleum.
The container C, being supposed full of petroleum derived from a source of
production or distant reservoir L,-the water reservoir W being at any distance or
elevation above the vessel to be loaded; or a near reservoir or water conduit under
pressure of say 23 feet head of water above the Quay as at WI;-the pipes P and P
having valves V, V as shewn, the tanks T in the steamer or other vessel lying
alongside the Quay, being full of water;-to load the vessel with petroleum, the valves
on the inlet and outlet pipe of any one tank as T or T¹ being opened and a waste pipe
from the water pipe opened at deck level,-the petroleum will flow into the tank T
or T as the case may be and its contained water flow out to waste until the tank is
full of petroleum, without air space remaining,-when the inlet valve on the top of
the tank can be closed and other tanks filled in the same manner, till the vessel is
fully laden.
After all tanks are full of petroleum, the main water pipe up to the level of the
deck of vessel and all the branch pipes to the bottom of tanks, their valves being
left open, will remain full of water only; while to provide for the expansion and
contraction of the oil in the tanks, the main water pipe at or above the level of the
deck shall have an enlargement or reservoir of globular form partly filled with water
and of sufficient capacity to admit of any expansion or contraction of the oil in the
tanks, under a low head of water which may be reduced or increased as desired.
In a case where the reservoir of petroleum is somewhat above the level of the vessel
to be loaded, as a reservoir U previously filled from the container C or from a
discharging tank steamer as hereafter described it is only necessary to connect the
reservoir U direct with the main pipe leading to the tops of the tanks T and T",
the main water pipes in the vessel being opened as previously described,-when the
tanks T and T¹ will be filled with petroleum,— -as the extra head or pressure given by
the lighter liquid from a tank U, will force out all the water in the tanks,-leaving
only water in the main water pipes up to or above deck level.
To discharge a tank steamer carrying petroleum with the apparatus and appliances
shewn in figure 3;-the head of water at W at any distance, or W¹ near to and above
.the vessel must be connected to the main water pipe leading to the bottoms of tanks T
and T, the valves on the branch pipes being open; the main oil pipe from the tops
of the tanks T and T¹ connected to the pipe P¹ leading to the reservoir U either at the
bottom or as a shute over the top, and the valves on the branch pipes at tops of
tanks T and T¹ being opened, the oil will flow steadily up the pipe P¹ to the
reservoir U and from thence may be transferred by gravity to the main or distant
reservoir L.
The vessel may however be discharged directly into the main reservoir L or into
the container C,-in the latter case opening the waste water branch b to discharge
simultaneously the water previously contained in C, closing the valve on the branch b
as soon as the container is full of oil.
By opening or closing the proper valves as has been previously described, oil or
petroleum contained in the reservoir or container C can be transferred to the tank U,

page_text: if so required or to the main and distant reservoir I,-or, petroleum from a distant
reservoir I at a low level can be transferred or transported to a high level tank or
reservoir U, by operating with the container Cas herein previously described, and the
container C may be filled with oil and emptied again as required.
Figure 4, shews a simple arrangement of the apparatus and appliances which can
be equally used for loading or discharging Tank Steamers or other Vessels,-where
the tank or reservoir U may be used alternately for oil and for water as required;-
the vessel discharging her oil cargo from the cargo-bulk containers or tanks T and the
liquid fuel containers or ballast tanks T¹ into the tank or reservoir U, or if the tank U
contains water into the container C;-while conversely any vessel may receive cargo
of oil or supply of liquid fuel directly from the tank or reservoir U or container Cas
the case may be and in the manner already previously described.
Oils contained in tanks U can be transferred to container C, by gravity and opening
the waste water branch b,-as also oils contained in C can be transferred to the tank or
reservoir at U, by the pressure of the head of water in tank W. In all cases the
transfer of the oils from vessel to vessel or from tank to tank will be effected without
commotion in the liquid and without leaving any air spaces whatever to accumulate
gases or vapour, thus avoiding all risks of fires or explosions in the tanks, reservoirs,
containers or vessels.
In Tank Steamers having cargo-bulk containers arranged for the carrying of any
general cargo alternately with oils, or to serve both purposes,-their tanks being fitted
with air-tight and oil-tight manholes or hatches,-the discharge of the oil cargo from
the tanks in the manner herein described by use of water, at the same time sweeps
them clean and free from oil, gas and vapour, so that when the water is discharged by
opening a valve to the water in which the vessel floats and one of the hatches raised,
the tanks or cargo-bulk containers are at once ready for any general or dry cargo.
In War-vessels or other Steamers requiring to use liquid fuel,-the reservoirs for
the oils may be the ballast tanks or in lieu of them and the oils may be conveyed to
the burners of the furnaces under any pressure desired, while the consumption of the
fuel being replaced by an equal bulk of water does not alter the trim of the vessel or
materially affect its flotation as where solid fuel is used.
Figure 5. shews the manner of applying my Invention to the discharge of oils
under water at the mouth of any harbour, or on any river bar, or in any port for
stilling the commotion of waves, and the apparatus is equally applicable to the
discharge of oil upon the surface or from any vessel in the open sea for a like
purpose.
W, represents the water vessel or tank placed at a convenient height so as to give
the desired pressure connected by pipe P and the inverted syphon S, with the
container or oil reservoir C, b is the waste water outlet and f the funnel for use when
filling the container C;-V, V, are valves upon the pipes and P₁ the pipe leading to
the point of application at d, where may be fixed a back pressure valve or other
equivalent arrangement to open only when the apparatus is put into action. The
container C inay equally well be placed at a point below the level of the point of
discharge d, as in the hold of a vessel, or a ballast tank may be utilized as an oil
reservoir or container, and the water pressure obtained by a tank at or above the deck
of the vessel to discharge the oil in a jet or in spray with any desired pressure upon
the surface of the water from pipes leading from the oil reservoir to any part of the
side of the vessel where required to be used.
Figure 6. shews the application of my Invention and appliances to the supply of
oil direct from a low lying or underground reservoir to the burners of a light-house,-
or its application to any other similar use with the oil under pressure or at atmospheric
pressure only;-where W shews the water vessel at high level,-C the container or
reservoir S the inverted syphon,--V, V, the valves, b the waste water outlet and
cock, the filling tube to the container C,-P the connecting pipes and d the point
of use or application at the burners.
With the burners of a Light-house which may require 5 gallons of oil per night
to supply them, will be necessary for the light-keeper to supply an equal quantity

page_text: of water to the tank at W,-so that the quantity being small all the connecting pipes
may be of very small size.
For the supply of petroleum or other similar oils under pressure to the "Lucigen
and other high-power lights of that class, my Invention and apparatus can he
adapted, as the pressure required can be obtained to any desired extent from a high
placed tank cistern or water supply, or direct from town water mains working under
pressure from a distant reservoir or water-tower.
For the supply of oils to any point or to any burner, furnace, or for other use,-
requiring the oil to be regulated to any fixed or average consumption or issue at the
point of use, under pressure or at atmospheric pressure, the supply of water may
be checked or regulated in accordance with the quantity of oil desired to be used or
needed, by the application of a regulating valve, cock or tap or a water-meter, sight-
feed appliance or other suitable arrangement attached to or in conjunction with the
water supply pipe or cistern.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. The apparatus and appliances described and shewn for the transport, transfer
and conveyance for use of oils, combustible liquids, petroleum and other hydro-
carbon liquids of less specific-gravity than, water and non-mixing therewith, from
sources of production, preparation or storeage to any other point of place for storeage,
use, distribution or application thereof substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
Second. The apparatus and appliances described and shewn for the conveyance and
transfer of the liquids defined from one or more reservoirs, tanks, cisterns or vessels
to any one or more other receptacles without any air spaces being created and without
any agitation of the liquids by the use of water pressure in the appliances substantially
as set forth.
Third. The apparatus and appliances for supplying Kerosene or other hydro-carbon
oils to lamps for heating or lighting purposes, substantially as and for the purpose
shewn and described with special reference to figures 2 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. Loading and discharging petroleum to and from Tank-Steamers or other
vessels and the supply of liquid fuel to War-vessels or other Steamers and the transfer
of the same from one Ship or Vessel to another in port or at sea with ease and
safety and without risk of fire or explosion, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein described with special reference to figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth. The means for discharging oils under or over water for stilling the commotion
of waves and prevent them breaking, substantially in the manner herein described,
with special reference to figure 5.