An Improved Process and Apparatus for Preparing or Re-con- ditioning for Use Petroleum and other Barrels or Vessels.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Improved Process and Apparatus for Preparing or Re-con-
ditioning for Use Petroleum and other Barrels or Vessels.
I HENRY PETER RIETH of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In many trades and especially in the petroleum industry the question of rensing
casks barrels and similar vessels is of great importance.
According to the usual practise such vessels are dried by either storing them in
highly heated rooms, or stacking them in the open air. The objection to the first
method is that while only the interior of the cask requires drying the heat is first
applied to its exterior and hence a great heat is required for a long time to penetrate
the walls of the cask, and shrinkage cracking and injury results sooner or later.
The second method of drying by stacking in the open air is objectionable as being
dependent on atmospheric conditions and essentially demanding a long period.
The present improved process consists first in washing casks when desired by the
injection of steam, and second in drying the interiors whether washed or not by
the injection of hot air, which may also be applied again with most important
advantages after the interior of the cask has been varnished or sized.
In carrying my invention into effect I use the following apparatus.
A main pipe is arranged from which are led at suitable intervals secondary dis-
tributing pipes each provided with a stop valve. From each such distributing pipe
branch out curved injection pipes preferably in pairs at either side and suitably
spaced apart. The diameter of these injection pipes is less than that of the bung
ID Q77

page_text: holes of the casks. Any desired number of such pipes may be employed, and above
the range of pipes is placed a multiple cask gantry or stool of convenient form to
receive and support the casks which are inverted thereupon so that each injection
pipe will enter one bung hole and pass into the cask for a suitable distance.
For washing casks the main pipe of one such range is connected to a steam
generator and steam is injected until the condensed water flows clear through the
intervening space between the injection pipe and the edges of the bung hole.
For drying casks the main pipe of another such range is connected to a chamber
wherein air is heated to the desired temperature, and any suitable apparatus may be
used to accelerate the velocity of the jet such as a "Root" blower, and hot air is
injected into the cask until it is dry.
The interior may then be coated if required by pouring in varnish, size, stearine,
or any suitable substitute, and distributing it evenly over the surface by turning the
vessel about and then draining off excess. The previously heated interior facilitates
the drying which is perfected by a further injection of hot air as described, and by
virtue of the force of its egress through the bung hole any accumulation of size there
is completely prevented.
In some cases cold air may be injected but a longer time is required. I may
provide two bung holes when required for more rapid efflux of air or humid
vapour.
Thus the barrels will not only be completely and rapidly washed heated and dried
by direct injection upon the interior only but are not liable to be injured in any way.
Moreover the internal coating is distributed of an even thickness and thoroughly and
evenly dried all over, whereas by prior processes size was apt to accumulate in
greater thickness about the inside of the bung hole and putrify to the deterioration
of the contents especially in the case of petroleum the value of which is greatly
diminished by any cloudiness or contamination.
·Dated this 19th low of Inly 1000

page_text: An Improved Process and Apparatus for Preparing or Re-con-
ditioning for Use Petroleum and other Barrels or Vessels.
I HENRY PETER RIETH, of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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:-
In many trades and especially in the petroleum industry the question of rensing
casks barrels and similar vessels is of great importance.
According to the usual practise such vessels are dried by either storing them in
highly heated rooms, or stacking them in the open air. The objection to the first
method is that while the interior of the cask requires drying the heat is first
applied to its exterior and hence a great heat is required for a long time to
penetrate the walls of the cask, and shrinkage cracking and injury result sooner
or later.
The second method of drying by stacking in the open air is objectionable as being
dependent on atmospheric conditions and essentially demanding a long period.
The present improved process consists in drying the interior of casks whether
previously washed or not by means of a jet of air injected into the interior of the
cask through the bung hole as more particularly hereinafter set forth, which process
may also be applied again with most important advantages after the interior of
the cask has been varnished or sized.
In order to enable my improved process to be readily carried into practical effect
I will now further explain it and have illustrated in the annexed drawings the
apparatus for the purpose which I have found to give good results.
Figure 1 is a front end elevation, and Figure 2 is a plan.
A is the main pipe from which at suitable intervals are led the secondary dis-
tributing pipes a a each provided with a stop valve v. From each distributing pipe a
branch out the curved injection pipes bb preferably in pairs at either side suitably
spaced apart (each being intended to clean out one cask at a time). It is an essential
feature of my invention that the diameters of all injection pipes shall be so much less
than the diameters of the bung holes into which they pass that the free return and
escape of vapour may not be interfered with, and I find it advantageous for this
purpose to leave an annular intervening space between the exterior of the injection
pipe and the edge of the bung hole of a quarter of an inch. Any desired number of
such pipes may be employed, and above the range of pipes is placed the multiple cask
gantry or stool B, hollowed out as illustrated for the reception and support of the
casks which are inverted thereupon so that each injection pipe b b will enter one bung
hole and pass into the cask for a certain distance, about one third of the diameter,
(more or less) being best.
For washing casks the main pipe A of one such range may be connected to a steam
generator and steam injected until the condensed water flows clear through the inter-
vening space between the injection pipe and the edges of the bung hole, which process

page_text: may take twenty to thirty minutes according to the state of the barrels ; but I would
have it understood that I lay no claim to the washing of casks by the injection of
steam as this I know to be old.
For drying casks the main pipe of another such range is connected to a chamber
wherein air is heated to the desired temperature, and any suitable apparatus may be
used to accelerate the velocity of the jet such as a "Root" blower, and hot air is
injected into the cask until it is dry. I find 40° to 50° (Centigrade) is a good
temperature for the air of injection.
The injected air having circulated in the interior escapes at the bung hole com-
pletely saturated with moisture. It may in some cases be advantageous to make a
second bung hole to allow the air thus charged with moisture to escape more rapidly.
The interior may then be coated if required by pouring in varnish, size, stearine or
any suitable substitute, and distributing it evenly over the surface by turning the
vessel about and then draining off excess. The previously heated interior facilitates
the drying which is perfected by a further injection of hot air as described, and by
virtue of the force of its egress through the bung hole any accumulation of size there
is completely prevented.
In some cases cold air may be injected but a longer time is required.
Thus by the above described process the barrels will not only be completely and
rapidly dried and heated by direct injection upon the interior only allowing the
exterior of the cask to be exposed to the atmospheric air, but are not liable to be
injured in any way.
Moreover the internal coating is distributed of an even thickness and thoroughly
and evenly dried all over, whereas by prior processes size was apt to accumulate in
greater thickness about the inside of the bung hole and putrify to the deterioration of
the contents, especially in the case of petroleum the value of which is greatly diminished
by any cloudiness or contamination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process hereinbefore described for preparing or re-conditioning for use
petroleum and other barrels or vessels, consisting in the employment of a jet of air
of suitable velocity and temperature injected into the interiors at the times and in the
manner set forth.
2. For effecting the process bereinabove specified and claimed, the apparatus
arranged substantially as described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.