IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING OILS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Baird, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TREATING OILS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 13th September 1872, and dated the 18th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Baird at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th May 1872.
I, JAMES BAIRD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TREATING OILS FOR LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows, that
is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to the treatment of mineral, vegetable,
and animal oils in order to render them better adapted for lubricating,
burning, and other purposes, consists in digesting sulphur with the oils
in the proportion of about 5 to 10 parts of sulphur to 100 parts of the
oil by weight, and the superfluous quantity is allowed to crystallize in
the vessel. The digestion of the sulphur with the oils is effected by hcat

page_text: applied to the vessels in which the process is conducted, the temperature
being raised sufficiently to liquefy the sulphur so that combination takes
place and the specific gravity is thereby increased.
By means of this Invention oxidisable oils are rendered fit for
lubricating purposes, and mixtures of the oils herein-before mentioned a
may be used in place of using each separately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Baird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BAIRD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Baird, Her special license that I, the
said James Baird, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Baird, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from 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 FOR
LUBRICATING AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Baird, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
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 James Baird, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in the treatment of
mineral, vegetable, and animal oils, so as to render them better adapted
for lubricating and other puposes, herein-after mentioned, consists in
digesting sulphur with the oils in proportions varying according to the
purposes for which the said oils are to be employed. The digestion of
the sulphur with the oils is effected by placing them in an open pan or
vessel to which heat is applied, the temperature being raised sufficiently
to liquefy the sulphur, so that combination of the sulphur with the oils
is effected, and the specific gravity of the oils is thereby increased.
In treating lubricating oils according to this Invention a quantity of
mineral oil and sulphur, in the proportion of from 2 to 5 parts of
sulphur to 100 parts of oil, are placed in an open pan or vessel which is
then subjected to heat, the temperature of the oil and sulphur being
slowly raised up to from 270 to 290 degrees Fahrenheit, and maintained
at such temperature until the sulphur is liquefied and combines with the
oil. The oil, still heated, is then mixed with one or more suitable
animal or vegetable oils, such as lard, tallow, olive or rape oils, lard being
by preference employed and in such proportions as to give the oil when
mixed therewith a specific gravity of from 900 to 910 of Twaddle's
hydrometer, or thereby, according to the class of machinery for which
the oil is intended to be employed as a lubricant.
In the manufacture of engine grease or tallow the tallow is under this
Invention digested with sulphur in an open pan or vessel in the manner
herein-before described, and in the proportion of about 1 part of sulphur
to 100 parts of tallow.
In the production of such non-volatile, that is, non-drying oils as are
employed in spinning wool and other fibrous substances, these are under
this Invention digested, as herein-before set forth, with from 2 to 3 parts
of sulphur to 100 parts of oil.
Drying oils in being prepared according to this Invention are digested
with from 4 to 5 parts of sulphur to 100 parts of oil.
In the manufacture of fish oils to be employed in spinning jute and
other similar fibrous substances, such oils are under this Invention
digested with about 4 parts of sulphur to 100 parts of oil.

page_text: The effect of this Invention is to render oils which are naturally
oxidisable non-oxidisable. In the case of lubricating oils the non-
volatile, that is, the non-drying oils as hitherto prepared for this purpose
are soon decomposed and become rancid on exposure to the atmosphere.
When such oils are sulphurized according to this Invention the sulphur
prevents, the oils from absorbing oxygen and becoming decomposed, and
in the case of such oils as are employed in spinning wool and other
similar material, or in spinning jute or other similar fibrous substances,
the combination of sulphur with the oil tends to render such oils less
liable to burn spontaneously.
In lieu of combining the sulphur and oils in proportions as herein-
before set forth the sulphur may be added to the oils in excess, and the
superfluous quantity allowed to crystallize out, but I prefer to add or
combine sulphur with the oils in proportion as required for the various
purposes for which the oils are to be employed; and the said Invention
may also be applied for preventing oils or fats, such as salad oil, lard, or
tallow, from becoming rancid.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe
in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the digesting of sulphur with mineral, animal,
and vegetable oils in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Baird, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two.