IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF GREASE FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Moir Crane, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GREASE FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Moir Crane at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1879.
PATRICK MOIR CRANE, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GREASE FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES."
I take petroleum residuum or the oil which remains in the still after the distilla-
tion of the spirit and burning oils, or the oil as it comes from the wells with the
more volatile portion distilled off, this residuum being usually a thick oil of dark
color capable of pouring from a vessel at a temperature of 60°, and of a specific
gravity of 835 to 860, and agitate the same in a suitable vessel with strong
sulphuric acid, and thus I produce a thick grease suitable for lubricating railway
carriage axles and for other analogous purposes. Grease so produced after being
washed with water or heated with alkali solution is of a light color and is useful
for mixing with other materials commonly used in the manufacture of railway
grease or may be used alone as a lubricant.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to keep the agitating vessel at a moderate
temperature, say, from 80 to 100° Farenheit, and produce the agitating motion
of the said vessel in any well known manner. I find that a good result can be
obtained with from 5 to 20 per cent. of strong sulphuric acid, more or less, according
to the consistency in the resulting lubricant or grease, and when I require a thicker
grease or one with more body I obtain or prepare a petroleum residuum for the
purposes of this Invention with still more of the volatile portion distilled off
and of a heavier specific gravity.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Patrick Moir Crane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
July 1879.
PATRICK MOIR CRANE, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GREASE FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES."
I take petroleum residuum or the oil which remains in the still after the distilla-
tion of the spirit and burning oils, or the oil as it comes from the wells with the
more volatile portion distilled off, this residuum being usually a thick oil of dark
color capable of pouring from a vessel at a temperature of 60°, and of a specific
gravity of 835 to 860, and agitate the same in a suitable vessel with strong
sulphuric acid, and thus I produce a thick grease suitable for lubricating railway
carriage axles and for other analogous purposes.
Grease so produced after being washed with water or treated with alkali solution
is of a light color, and is useful for mixing with other materials commonly used in
the manufacture of railway grease, or may be used alone as a lubricant.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer to keep the agitating vessel at a moderate
temperature, say, from 80 to 100° Farenheit, and produce the agitating motion of
the said vessel in any well known manner. I find that a good result can be obtained
with from 5 to 20 per cent. of strong sulphuric acid, more or less, according to the
requirements of color and consistency in the resulting lubricant or grease, and when
I require a thicker grease, or one with more body, I obtain or prepare a petroleum
residuum for the purposes of this Invention with still more of the volatile portion
distilled off and of a heavier specific gravity.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details and relative proportions hereinbefore described,
as the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention,
but what I claim is,-
The manufacture of lubricating grease in the manner and substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Moir Crane, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thou-