Oils or Substances of Different Specific Gravities.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 16th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
from Oils or Substances of Different Specific Gravities.
We, ARCHIBALD FULTON CRAIG, of the Caledonia Engine Works, Paisley, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, ALEXANDER NEILSON, of Inkermann,
in the same County, Oil-works Manager, and JAMES SNODGRASS, of Inkermann,
aforesaid, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows,
that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object the continuous and expeditious separation of
mineral or other oil from oils or substances of different specific gravities, one important
application of our Invention being in the refining of mineral oils for the separation of
the lighter oils from the heavier oils or tarry or other matters used or produced in the
refining operation. We also intend to use our improved apparatus for separating oil
from congealed paraffin, and also for separating various kinds of oils from various
substances.
Our improved apparatus is of the centrifugal class and comprises a rotating vessel
having impermeable sides and which may be placed with its axis in any position, but
preferably in a vertical position. The oleaginous mixture to be operated upon may be
supplied so as, when thrown by the centrifugal action against the sides of the vessel,
to proceed either upwards or downwards, the upward movement being preferred.
When the movement on the sides of the vessel is to be upwards, the bottom of the
vessel is by preference closed, and the oleaginous mixture is supplied to it either
through the central vertical shaft carrying the vessel and made tubular for the purpose,
or through one or more separate pipes. The bottom and lower part of the sides of the
vessel are by preference formed with ribs or feathers for the purpose of quickly
imparting rotatory motion to the entering oleaginous mixture and carrying it to the
sides of the vessel. The vessel is made with its sides increasing slightly in diameter
upwards, and of sufficient vertical length to give ample time for the separation of the
components of the oleaginous mixture according to their specific gravities, as they
gradually rise along the sides. At and near the top the sides of the vessel are flared
outwards and an annular cover is fixed on the top, the flared part of the sides forming

page_text: with the cover at the top of the vessel an annular channel into which the heaviest
component of the oleaginous mixture is carried by the centrifugal action. Upon the
annular cover two separate sets of passages or outlets are formed by means of suitably
shaped covering plates or otherwise, each set comprising one or more passages. The
passages for the heavier component of the oleaginous mixture consist each of an under
part and an upper part, and the under part communicates by openings at its otherwise
closed outer end with the outer part of the annular channel under the cover, whilst
the upper part communicates with the inner end of the under part at a point near the
inner edge of the annular cover, and has its outer end open. The heavier component
of the oleaginous mixture has thus on leaving the annular channel to pass first towards
the centre through the lower part of the passage and is then discharged through the
upper part into an annular channel provided to receive it in the fixed part of the
apparatus. The passage of the heavier component towards the centre in this way
causes the maintenance of a certain radial depth upon the sides of the vessel and
insures a better separation of the heavier from the lighter component. The outlet or
outlets on the cover for the lighter component consist of one or more single passages
to which the component has access just a little nearer the centre than the edge over
which the heavier component flows and the outer end of each passage discharges into
a separate annular channel in the fixed part of the apparatus. The edges over which
the components flow may be made adjustable.
The passages for the discharge of the components of the mixture are by preference
curved, as viewed in plan, so as to avoid friction and absorption of power as much as
possible; and their outer parts may even be curved so as to give back a part of the
power producing their motion, this action being increased, if desired, by subdividing
the passages.

page_text: from Oils or Substances of Different Specific Gravities.
We, ARCHIBALD FULTON CRAIG, of the Caledonia Engine Works, Paisley, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, ALEXANDER NEILSON, of Inkermann,
in the same County, Oil Works Manager, and JAMES SNODGRASS, of Inkermann,
aforesaid, Chemist, 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, that is to say:
Our said Invention has for its object the continuous and expeditious separation of
mineral or other oil from oils or substances of different specific gravities, one important
application of our Invention being in the refining of mineral oils for the separation of
the lighter oils from the heavier oils or tarry or other matters used or produced in the
refining operations. We also intend to use our improved apparatus for separating oil
from congealed paraffin, and also for separating various kinds of oils from various
substances.
Our improved apparatus is of the centrifugal class, and comprises a rotating vessel
having impermeable sides, and which may be placed with its axis in any position, but
preferably in a vertical position. The oleaginous mixture to be operated upon may be
supplied so as, when thrown by the centrifugal action against the sides of the vessel,
to proceed either upwards or downwards, the upward movement being preferred.
Our improved apparatus, as made according to one modification is shown on two
accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, figure, 1, on sheet, 1, being a vertical
section. Figure, 2, on sheet, 2, is a section of the cover and figure, 3, is a plan of the
cover but with the covering plates of certain passages removed. In figure, 1, the
cover is shown in section as at the line, A-A, in figure, 3; and in figure, 2, the cover
is shown in section as at the line, B-B, in figure, 3. Figures, 4, 5, and 6, show
modifications of certain parts. In these drawings the same reference numerals are
üséd to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus is supported by and contained within a casing, 10, the rotating
vessel, 11, being fixed upon a vertical shaft, 12, having a footstep, bearing at the
bottom of the casing, 10, and a collar bearing in a bridge piece, 13, bolted to flanges
or brackets, 14, formed at the tops of the sides of the casing. The shaft, 12, has fixed
on it near its lower end a pulley, 15, by means of which it is driven the belt passing
through an opening in the sides of the casing, 10, to a pulley on a driving shaft which
is not shown. The upper part of the shaft, 12, is made tubular; and the oleaginous
mixture to be operated upon is introduced through it and finds its way through holes
at the lower part beneath an inverted cup, 16, fixed on the shaft. The bottom of the
vessel, 11, is closed and has fixed on it a number of radial ribs or feathers, 17, which
ácting on the oleaginous mixture as it issues from under the inverted cup, 16,' quickly

page_text: impart rotatory motion thereto and carry it to the sides of the vessel. The vessel, 11, is
made with its sides increasing slightly in diameter upwards and of sufficient vertical
length to give ample time for the separation of the components of the oleaginous
mixture according to their specific gravities, as they gradually rise along the sides.
At and near their top, 18, the sides of the vessel are flared outwards, and a cover, 19,
is fixed on them the flared part, 18, of the sides forming with the cover, 19, an annular
channel, 20, into which the heaviest component of the oleaginous mixture is carried by
the centrifugal action. Upon the cover, 19, two separate sets of passages or outlets
are formed, each set comprising two diametrically opposite passages as shown in the
drawings. The number of the outlet passages may however be varied in different
cases. The outlet passages for the heavier component of the oleaginous mixture
consist each of an under part, 21, and an upper part, 22; and the under part, 21,
communicates by an opening at its otherwise closed outer end with the outer part of
the annular channel, 20, under the cover, 19, whilst the upper part, 22, communicates
with the inner end of the under part, 21, at its inner end, and has its outer end
provided with an open discharge spout, 23. The heavier component of the oleaginous
mixture lias thus on leaving the annular channel, 20, to pass first towards the centre
through the lower part, 21, of the passage, and is then discharged through the upper
part, 22, and spout, 23, into an annular channel, 24, provided to receive it in the fixed
part of the apparatus. The passage of the heavier component towards the centre in
this way causes the maintenance of a certain radial depth upon the sides of the
vessel, 11, and insures a better separation of the heavier from the lighter component.
The radial depth thus determined by the conformation of the outlet passages, 21, 22,
for the heavier component of the oleaginous mixture, is made capable of alteration by
employing movable pieces, 25, at the inner ends of the partitions which divide the
lower parts, 21, from the upper parts, 22, of those passages; and by fixing in a
broader or narrower piece, 25, the point at which the liquid gets into the upper and
outward part, 22, of the passage can be made nearer to or further from the centre.
Removable ends or covers, 26, are fitted to the inner ends of the passages, 21, 22, to
give access for inserting the pieces, 25, and for cleaning, and these covers, 26, have
tubes, 27, fixed to them to admit air for the purpose of preventing siphonal action
through the passages, 21, 22.
The outlets on the cover, 19, for the lighter component of the oleaginous mixture
consist of two diametrically opposite curved passages, 28, to which the component
has access through openings, 29, formed in the cover, 19, in positions a little nearer
the centre than the edges, 25, over which the heavier component flows; and the outer
end of each passage, 28, discharges into a separate annular channel, 30, in the fixed
part of the apparatus. The discharge passages, 28, are by preference curved as viewed
in plan and as shown in figure, 3, so as to avoid friction and absorption of power as
much as possible; and their outer sides may even be so curved as to give back a part
of the power producing their motion, this action being increased if desired by sub-
dividing the passages, 28. A stationary cover, 31, is fixed over the whole and has a
flange, 32, fixed to its under side to direct downwards any oil which may be thrown
up against it and towards the centre.
Instead of utilising in the manner hereinbefore indicated the force imparted by the
rotation to the lighter component of the oleaginous mixture, it may be utilised in
elevating the liquid an action which will in many cases be of considerable service and
save the cost of employing pumps for that purpose. When it is desired to elevate the
liquid in this way, the modified arrangement shown in vertical section in figure, 4,
may be used. In this arrangement an annular channel, 33, is formed on the cover, 19,
to receive the lighter component of the oleaginous mixture through the openings, 29;
and into this channel, 33, there is inserted an annularly curved pipe, 34, forming the
lower end of a vertical pipe, 35, through which the oil is to be elevated. The annular
part, 34, of the pipe has on its outer side a number of openings formed in a manner
which will be understood from figure, 5, the parts cut to form the openings being bent
out a little so as to act as inclines. The oil moving relatively to the openings in the

page_text: direction indicated by the arrow in figure, 5, enters the openings and its energy takes
effect in making it rise up the pipe, 35. Instead of the annular pipe, 34, being made
with a number of small openings as shown in plan in figure, 5, it may be shaped as
shown in figure, 6, that is with the inlet end of the pipe, 35, cut off obliquely.
With the apparatus as shown in the accompanying drawings a speed of about
600 revolutions per minute is found to answer well, but the speed may be varied in
different cases.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1-Constructing and combining the parts of apparatus for separating mineral or
other oils from oils or substances of different specific gravities substantially in the
improved manner herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2-In centrifugal apparatus for separating oils from oils or other substances of
different specific gravities, the combination of an annular channel formed by the
flaring of the sides of the rotating vessel at the larger end with one or more outlet
passages proceeding firstly inwards from the outer part of the annular channel and
next returning outwards, the said parts being arranged and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3-In centrifugal apparatus for separating oils from oils or other substances of
different specific gravities, the forming of the discharge passages for the lighter
component of the oleaginous mixture operated upon substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to figures, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicants' Agent.