Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of Mineral Oils.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of
Mineral Oils.
I, JOHN LAING of 34 East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, Analytical &
Consulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to the treatment of mineral oils by destructive distillation
& so to convert them into oils of light specific gravity.
The invention consists of a superheater provided with suitable inlet & outlet
passages for the oil gases which pass through it from the oil still; & also a syphon
trap at end of condenser to prevent back passage of atmospheric air. I place the
said superheater in the flue connected with the oil still & connected with a suitable
arrangement for the proper regulation of the heat. The gases from the still pass
through this superheater & are further split up and a lighter distillate is thus
produced than if the gases had gone direct to the condenser.
In the fitting up of this superheater I propose having it as a loop or branch from
the main outlet pipe from still to condenser, & so connected therewith that it can
be completely shut off, if desired, & the gases allowed to pass direct from swan-
neck outlet on still, to condenser.
Dated this 15th day of July 1890.
JNO. LAING,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Apparatus for Destructive Distillation of
Mineral Oils.
I, JOHN LAING, of 34 East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, Analytical
and Consulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the treatment of mineral oils by destructive
distillation in an improved manner and so as to convert them into oils of lighter
specific gravity.
In carrying out my invention I employ a superheater with suitable inlet and outlet
passages for the oil gases or vapors which pass through it from the oil still; and
also a siphon trap at the end of the condenser to prevent backward passage of
atmospheric air. I place the said superheater in the flue connected with the oil
still, a suitable arrangement being provided for the proper regulation of the heat.
The gases or vapors from the still pass through the superheater and are further
split up, and a lighter distillate is thus produced than if the gases or vapors had
gone directly to the condenser.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to, and representing by way of example a modification of appa-
ratus which I employ in carrying out my invention.
The figure on the sheet of drawings is a longitudinal vertical section showing a
part of the primary oil still, A, and the apparatus connected therewith. This oil
still, A, may be constructed and may operate like what is described in my Patent
Specification No. 4120 of 1890, in which case the part shown will be the last

page_text: compartment of the still, the oil having undergone successive stages of destructive
distillation or decomposition in the several compartments. Or the still, A, may be
of ordinary construction. The gas or vapor evolved in the still, A, or in its end
compartment passes off by a pipe, B, a continuation, C, of which leads to a
condensing worm, D. A stop valve, E, is interposed between the parts, B, and C,
and a branch, F, provided with a stop valve, C, communicates from the part, B,
with a superheater, H. This superheater, H, is a metallic vessel which may be of
any convenient simple form; and it may be placed within an outer casing, J, of
The super-
firebrick if required to moderate or equalise the heat acting on it.
heater, H, is placed in an extension, K, of the flue space serving for heating
the still, A, a damper, L, being provided for shutting off the fire gases from
the space, K, to a greater or less extent, so as to regulate the heat acting on the
superheater.
The superheater, H, is connected to the condenser worm, D, by a pipe, M,
provided with a stop valve, N. When desired for any purpose the superheater, H,
can be cut off from the apparatus by closing the valves, G, and, N, and opening
the valve, E, so as to allow the gases of vapors to pass directly from the still, A, to
the condenser worm, D.
The oil condensed in the worm, D, passes from the end thereof by a pipe, P, to a
tank or receiver, Q, this pipe, P, being made as shown in the form of a siphon trap
the lower bend of which always retains oil as a seal to prevent the entrance of.
air. A small pipe, R, is also connected to the bottom of the worm, D, for leading
or drawing off air or incondensible gas. If found advantageous a partial vacuum
may be maintained in the condensing worm, D, in which case the outlet pipe, P, may
be extended downwards sufficiently to hold a column corresponding to the degree
of vacuum, its bottom end being scaled by dipping into the oil in the receiver, Q.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1
1. The improved combination of apparatus for the destructive distillation of
mineral oils, substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. The combination with a still for the destructive illation of mineral oils, of
a superheater or vessel in which the gases or vapors fn the still can be subjected
to a regulated temperature prior to their condensation substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
Dad this Fourteenth day of April 1891
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.