A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF OILS FOR ILLUMI- NATING AND LUBRICATING PURPOSES, AND OF CARBURETTED HYDROGEN GAS FROM THE NATIVE BITUMEN OF THE WEST INDIES
Year: 1858

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Davies at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd-August
1858. A communication.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF OILS FOR ILLUMI-
NATING AND LUBRICATING PURPOSES, AND OF CARBURETTED HYDROGEN GAS FROM THE
NATIVE BITUMEN OF THE WEST INDIES," (a communication from certain
foreigners residing abroad), to be as follows:-.
The apparatus to be employed for the above purposes, is similar to that
employed in the manufacture of coal gas, with the following exceptions:-The
tubes which carry the products of distillation from the retorts, are formed with
a curve or shoulder as near as possible to the head of the retort, and discharge
by a gentle slope into the hydraulic main, which must consequently be placed
but little lower than the heads of the retorts. This alteration is rendered
necessary by the excessive weight of the vapors disengaged from the bitumen,
and the small amount of latent heat therein contained. The hydraulic main
should be slightly inclined, and discharge the liquid resulting from the opera-
tion, and the uncondensed vapor into a column or vertical pipe of a diameter

page_text: proportioned to the number of retorts employed. This column or condensor
is to be furnished with an ajutage at the top, and constantly supplied with
cold water.
The bottom of the ajutage is to be pierced with holes so as to allow of the
water descending in a shower into the interior of the condensor.
This cold shower will condense the products of distillation, and carry them
to the bottom, where they are received into a vessel, and the oil and the
water separating spontaneously, are drawn off by taps placed at different
heights.
At the top of this vessel is a tube which will carry off the incondensible
gases to the furnace to be burnt, or these gases may be used for lighting
purposes.
The oil is then washed once in sulphuric acid, and three or four times in
pure water. The water of the last washing being removed as completely as
possible, about five per cent. in weight of argil, torrefied and sifted, is thrown
on to the oil. The whole is then well agitated, and allowed to settle. The
oil is then drawn off, and re-distilled in a refrigerating alembic by means of
steam superheated to from 200° to 300° centigrade, commencing the dis-
tillation at the lower temperature, and finishing it at the higher. The dis-
tillation is stopped when the oil indicates 65° on the alcohometer. This first
product is then separated, and forms quality No. 1, and serves for illuminating
purposes. The distillation is then continued till the oil indicates only 37°.
This latter product is quality No. 2, and serves for lubricating purposes.
There will remain in the alembic about 10 per cent. of residue, which must
be drawn off immediately by a cock fitted to the cucurbit for that purpose.
This residue will solidify if allowed to cool.
The crude oil produced by the first operation may be used for the manu-
facture of gas for illumination, by means of apparatus similar to that usually
employed in the manufacture of gas from fixed oils.
The gas thus obtained requires no purification, it possesses more illumi-
nating power than that obtained from resin, and almost as much as the gas
obtained from fixed oils:
The rectified oil No. 1, indicating on the alcohometer about 82°, and which
is about two-thirds of the oil submitted to the second distillation, is suitable
for superior illuminating purposes, being burnt in lamps similar to those
used for schist oil. This oil is also applicable for the solution of caoutchouc
and resins, and for the preparation of varnishes.
The quality No 2, either by itself, or mixed with fatty or fixed oils, or
with oleine, which it will dissolve in any quantity, forms an excellent product

page_text: for the lubrication and preservation of machinery, arms, and metals in
general. The residue may be used in the composition of bituminous mastics.
It may also, mixed hot with any cheap fatty matter, serve as a lubricant for
axles, gearing, &c.
The empyreumatic oils obtained from the native bitumen of Cuba, is
applicable to the manufacture of stearine candles, and will also yield paraffine.